About This Episode
Sword and Scale launched on January 1, 2014, establishing itself as a distinctive voice in true crime media by prioritizing raw audio evidence over traditional narration. The weekly podcast and internet radio show has built its reputation on unflinching access to the sounds of crime and justice—911 calls, courtroom testimony, and first-hand interviews that place listeners directly into criminal investigations.
Created by Mike, the platform expanded its team in 2020 with the addition of Mish, a former member of the punk band White Lung. This evolution reflects the show's growth from a solo venture into a collaborative production capable of handling increasingly complex case investigations.
The podcast's commitment to detailed case coverage is evident in its handling of high-profile investigations. One landmark case featured on the platform involved Andrew Urdiales, an ex-marine and security guard convicted of murdering eight women between 1986 and 1996 across California, Indiana, and Illinois. The victims—Robbin Brandley, Julie McGhee, Mary Ann Wells, Tammie Erwin, Denise Maney, Laura Ulyaki, Cassandra Corum, and Lynn Huber—represent a span of systematic predation. The show's coverage included testimony from survivor Jennifer Asbenson, whose account provided rare insight into Urdiales's methods and psychology.
Beyond serialized investigations, Sword and Scale documents individual cases that reveal patterns within the criminal justice system. The platform has covered the 2016 case of Cati Blauvelt, a 22-year-old found stabbed in an abandoned house basement, alongside the 2007 of Anita May Knutson, a first-year college student discovered in her off-campus bedroom. These cases underscore the show's focus on crimes affecting young women and the investigative procedures—or failures—that follow.