Kristi Lee: Canadian True Crime at Episode 200
- Matt Cundill
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
Kristi Lee has quietly become one of the most trusted voices in true crime – and in this episode of the Sound Off Podcast, we dig into how and why. As the host of Canadian True Crime, Kristi has eclipsed **75 million downloads** over more than **200 episodes**, including milestone instalment **“Robert Picton – The Final Chapter”** for episode 200.
Born in New Zealand, raised and educated in Australia, and now based in Toronto, Kristi’s path to podcasting wasn’t linear. A family move driven by her husband’s love of hockey brought them to Canada, where she eventually turned her obsession with shows like *Casefile* and *They Walk Among Us* into her own podcast in 2016.
She talks about those early days working late at night after her kids went to bed, secretly teaching herself Audacity and spending an entire week crafting her first 18‑minute episode on the Paul Bernardo case. From there, her storytelling evolved through cases such as Cody Legebokoff and Victoria Stafford, culminating in a powerful moment when she heard from a victim’s father who appreciated how she told his daughter’s story. That feedback cemented her commitment to ethical, trauma‑informed storytelling.
We also get real about the business side of podcasting in Canada: the limitations of baked‑in ads, why she waited to partner until ACast could offer dynamic ad insertion and geo‑targeted sales, and how she’s chosen to be a “bigger fish in a smaller pond” by focusing on Canadian listeners. Kristi pulls back the curtain on her small but trusted team, her very hands‑on production style, and why she refuses to sacrifice care for scale.
Kristi closes by sharing her plans to tackle complex topics like human trafficking, emphasizing empathy, nuance, and a deep sense of responsibility to victims and communities. This episode is a masterclass in how to do true crime responsibly—and sustainably.
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