Ashley Flowers didn't set out to become America's most influential true crime podcaster. Born and raised in Indiana on December 19, 1989, she started with volunteer work for local Crimestoppers, which led to a radio segment. That grassroots beginning shaped everything that followed: a commitment to responsible storytelling and real investigative impact.

Today, at 36 years old, Flowers oversees a $250 million audio empire. Crime Junkie, her flagship weekly podcast launched before 2019, now reaches 10 million listeners per week and ranks among the most-listened-to podcasts in America. By 2022, it had climbed to No. 2 overall in the U.S., and secured the No. 1 spot on Apple Podcasts in 2022 and 2023. The numbers are staggering: over 1 billion downloads and 400-plus episodes by 2024, with Crime Junkie commanding the largest female audience of any podcast in the country.

But Flowers refused to stop there. In May 2024, she launched Crime Junkie AF and Crime Junkie Radio, a true crime streaming channel on SiriusXM's app. She also relaunched So Supernatural in September 2024. These moves reflect her broader vision: Audiochuck, the podcast network she founded and leads as CEO and Chief Creative Officer, now produces 20 podcasts across a 70-person operation.

Audiochuck's roster includes standout shows like Anatomy of Murder, which won a Webby Award People's Voice Winner in 2022, and CounterClock, hosted by Delia D'Ambra. Flowers serves as Chief Creative Officer, overseeing quality and editorial direction across the network's growing catalog.

Flowers' influence extends beyond audio. In 2022, she published All Good People Here, a debut novel that became a New York Times bestseller. In May 2025, she announced an ambitious expansion into film and television, bringing her mystery and thriller brand to visual media—a natural next step for a creator with such a massive, engaged audience.

What sets Flowers apart in the crowded true crime space is her advocacy focus. She founded Season of Justice, a nonprofit that funds DNA testing grants for cold cases, and serves on its board. Her podcast hasn't just entertained millions; it has moved them to action. Crime Junkie helped exonerate an innocent man in Texas, and mobilized listeners to contact the Colorado attorney general regarding a 1987 unsolved murder and wrongful conviction case. These aren't abstract victories—they represent real people freed or cases reopened because an audience of millions cared enough to get involved.

Flowers has been clear about her philosophy: true crime storytelling carries responsibility. She prioritizes collaboration with law enforcement, victim justice, and ethical content standards. That approach has earned her appearances on major platforms, from SXSW to Conan O'Brien and The Kelly Clarkson Show, where she has discussed both her media work and her justice advocacy.

From a Midwest volunteer to the operator of a quarter-billion-dollar media enterprise, Ashley Flowers has proven that true crime content, when executed with integrity and purpose, can be both culturally dominant and genuinely consequential. Crime Junkie isn't just a podcast anymore—it's become a platform for accountability, justice, and change.

**Sources:**

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Flowers

https://ashleyflowers.com/about

https://fortune.com/2025/05/30/ashley-flowers-crime-junkie-audiochuck-film-tv-new-ceo/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kks6QC-5NEc

https://thedeckpodcast.com/ashley-flowers-about/