Killer's Prison Calls: Inside Olson's Secret Confessions
Newly released CBC podcast features hundreds of hours of recorded phone calls from serial killer Clifford Olson's prison cell
In May 2025, the CBC True Crime podcast "Calls From a Killer" released a series of episodes that expose one of Canada's most chilling criminal cases through an unprecedented archive: hundreds of hours of secret phone calls made by serial killer Clifford Olson from his prison cell.
Olson was convicted in 1982 of murdering 11 children and teenagers in the 1980s. His victims ranged in age from 9 to 18 years old, including 14-year-old Judy Kozma, who disappeared after her shift at McDonald's in the summer of 1981. The case would become one of Canada's most infamous serial killer investigations, yet key details about the crimes remained buried—until now.
The recordings began in 1990 when journalist Arlene Bynon received collect calls from Olson's prison cell. Bynon, working with her former reporting partner Pete, recorded these calls over years, creating an extraordinary archive that would later be shared with Pete's grandson Nathaniel Frum. Together, the three co-hosts the podcast that brings these chilling tapes to international audiences.
What makes these recordings particularly significant is what Olson reveals. Speaking from behind bars, he disclosed information "he hasn't told anyone else"—details about his crimes that had never surfaced during the original investigation or legal proceedings. The calls paint a portrait of a man willing to confess while imprisoned, offering insights into cases that had long gone unsolved.
