Your Next Favorite Podcast: Affirmative Murder
Affirmative Murder is the podcast trying to bring equailty to true crime, and every week Fran and Alvin tell each other murder stories involving minorities. If your first love is comedy + true crime, Alvin and Fran are here to show the rest of us how it’s done! We recently got to chat with Alvin about his inspiration behind Affirmative Murder and his love of cults!
What inspired you to start your podcast?
My co-host Fran and I have been best friends since we were about 11. A few years ago when true crime podcasts started booming we would tell trade recommendations of different podcasts we were enjoying, and inevitably start rattling off details from the insane stories we were being introduced to by podcasts like MFM, Last Podcast On The Left, and others. We noticed that although we loved these podcasts, there was no perspective like ours present in the genre, 20 something millennial black dudes who are very interested in true crime, but are far from experts. So we decided to introduce that perspective ourselves!
What got you interested in true crime? Was there a murder in your hometown? A story that has always haunted you?
Being from Baltimore, you have a familiarity with the criminal justice system in some form or fashion. My mother was a correctional officer and I have family members who made a career out of being on the other side of the law. So I inherently gravitated toward shows like Cops and First 48. But my senior year in high school changed everything for me, when I took a psychology class and became infatuated with the why of it all. Why do people kill? Why can trauma manifest itself into a pattern of violence? And that led me to audiobooks and podcasts about serial killers. And from there my love of true crime grew a pair of legs and took off running.
What’s your favorite murder, mystery, or disappearance?
I personally am obsessed with cult stories. It fascinates me how a person can get so wrapped up in a belief that they are literally capable of doing anything on behalf of it. For example; Scientology, WHAT?! I mean the power and fortune they’ve been able to amass is terrifying. They intimidate people, and steal all of your money! That’s nuts! And where is Shelly Miscavige? Anything cults really just revs my brain up.
What true crime podcasts are you listening to right now? If podcasts aren’t your thing, we would also love to hear about a spooky book you’re reading or your favorite murder-related tv show!
I don’t listen to true crime podcasts as much as I used to, because once you start doing one of your own these stories start to weigh on you more, but I will always consider myself a murderino and listen to My Favorite Murder when I can because they sort of gave us the spark to start a podcast! I also love Once Upon a Crime, hosted by Esther Kudlow, not only because it’s a fantastic and well researched podcast, but because Esther is a really kind and helpful person.
How can our readers find and support you?
If you want to feel like your talking true crime, as well as whatever is happening on your twitter feed while enjoying a 2 for $20 and endless apps at your local TGI Friday’s, come on over to Affirmative Murder! We know comedy and true crime and banter aren’t for everybody (like TGI Friday’s) but all are welcome to come join our conversation. You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or just about anywhere you get your pod fix.
Instagram: @affirmativemurderpod
Check out our YouTube interview with Alvin:
