Prove You Are
Smarter Than The Killer
A true crime trivia podcast competition. Listen to each episode, answer the questions, and compete for the championship.
Three Steps to Compete
Listen
Stream the latest episode on your favorite podcast app. Pay close attention to the case details.
Answer
Come back here and submit your answers before the deadline. You'll need the episode's secret code word.
Compete
Your score is tallied instantly. Climb the leaderboard and earn your tier. Season champion wins the shirt.
S1E01 — The Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer terrorized Northern California in the late 1960s, taunting police with cryptic ciphers. His identity remains one of the greatest mysteries in American criminal history.
7 questions · Easy, Medium & Hard · Up to 140 points
Answer QuestionsTop Competitors
| Rank | Player | Points | Streak | Tier |
|---|
*Image is a representation. Actual shirt design may vary.
The Champion Shirt
"This shirt cannot be purchased. It can only be earned."
At the end of Season 1, the top-ranked player will receive an exclusive Champion shirt — a badge of honor that proves you outsmarted every case and every competitor.
Only one per season. No exceptions.
12 weeks · 24 episodes · Began March 16, 2026
Think you can catch me? Prove it.
How to Play
Listen to the Episode
Each episode covers a true crime case. Stream it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.
Come Here & Answer
Navigate to the episode page. You'll see answer choices A, B, and C — but no questions. The questions are only revealed in the episode.
Enter the Code Word
Each episode contains a secret code word. Enter it with your answers to prove you actually listened.
Submit Before Deadline
Answers must be submitted before the deadline. Late submissions are not accepted.
Get Your Score
Your answers are graded instantly. See which you got right, your points earned, and any bonuses.
Climb the Leaderboard
Points accumulate across the season. Build streaks for bonus points. The top player at season's end wins.
Scoring Breakdown
| Category | Points | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Questions (Q1-Q2) | 10 pts each | Straightforward facts from the episode |
| Medium Questions (Q3-Q5) | 15 pts each | Requires careful listening |
| Hard Questions (Q6-Q7) | 25 pts each | Deep knowledge of the case |
| Participation Bonus | +5 pts | Awarded for submitting with valid code word |
| Perfect Score Bonus | +20 pts | All 7 correct + valid code word |
| Streak Bonus | +5 pts/episode | Per consecutive episode played (streak of 2+) |
| Maximum Per Episode | 140 pts | Base 115 + Participation 5 + Perfect 20 |
Anti-Cheat Design
Questions are only heard in the episode. The website shows answer choices only — no question text. This means you must actually listen to the podcast to know what each question is asking. Combined with the secret code word, this ensures fair competition for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. True Crime Trivia is completely free to play. The podcast is free, and the competition is open to everyone with an account.
No. You get one submission per episode. Once submitted, your answers are final. Choose carefully.
You can still listen anytime, but you can only submit answers before the deadline. Missing an episode breaks your streak, but you can start a new one with the next episode.
Each episode contains a secret code word that proves you listened. You must enter it with your answers. Without a valid code word, you won't receive the participation bonus.
When you submit answers for consecutive episodes, you build a streak. Starting from your 2nd consecutive episode, you earn +5 bonus points per episode. Miss an episode and your streak resets to zero.
Competition Rules
Season Structure
- • Each season runs for 12 weeks with 24 episodes (2 per week)
- • New episodes air on Mondays and Thursdays
- • Each episode has a submission deadline (typically 3-4 days after air date)
- • The leaderboard updates in real-time after each submission
- • The player with the most points at the end of the season is crowned Champion
Scoring System
| Event | Points |
|---|---|
| Easy question correct (Q1, Q2) | 10 pts |
| Medium question correct (Q3, Q4, Q5) | 15 pts |
| Hard question correct (Q6, Q7) | 25 pts |
| Participation bonus (valid code word) | +5 pts |
| Perfect score bonus (7/7 + code word) | +20 pts |
| Streak bonus (consecutive episodes) | +5 pts per episode |
Leaderboard Tiers
Just getting started. Every detective was once a suspect.
You're on the radar. Showing consistent knowledge.
Cracking the case. Serious competitor status.
Deep in the evidence. Elite-level competitor.
The ultimate true crime detective. Crowned at season's end.
Submission Rules
- • One submission per episode per player. No re-submissions.
- • All answers must be submitted before the episode deadline.
- • A valid code word is required for the participation bonus.
- • You must have an account and be signed in to submit.
- • Each player may only have one account. Duplicate accounts will be banned.
Prize Rules
- ★ The season champion receives an exclusive True Crime Trivia Champion shirt.
- ★ Champion shirts cannot be purchased and are not available for sale.
- ★ In case of a tie, the player who reached the winning score first wins.
- ★ Champions are immortalized in the Hall of Fame.
Episodes
Leaderboard
| Rank | Player | Points | Streak | Tier |
|---|
Hall of Fame
Season 1 is currently in progress. When the season concludes, the champion will be immortalized here.
Coming Soon — Season 1 in Progress
Season 1 Champion
This slot awaits the player who proves they are smarter than the killer.