It Was Simple: The Betty Broderick Murders

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These were murders that would turn any town on its head, but La Jolla, Calif? That rich jewel by the sea? Thirty years ago, a man and his new wife were murdered in their bed. That’s a long time for a double homicide to stay in the public eye and imagination, but these were no ordinary murders. The killer was the man’s first wife, Betty Broderick. Betty and Dan Broderick had looked like the perfect couple, right up until they weren’t. After four children and nearly 15 years of marriage, after the riches they both worked for were finally within reach, he walked out and began having an affair with his assistant. But divorce ended the Brodericks’ marriage only on paper. “Till death do you part” turned out to be the way it would ultimately end: bitter, savage and fatal. It took two criminal trials to send Betty Broderick to prison, and we’ll hear not only from her divorce attorney, but also from the criminal defense attorney who argued for her in two murder trials, plus the foreman of the jury that convicted her. So many things burned this case into memory: The principals were rich. The jealous killer was, for a change, the woman, not the man. It’s been the subject of TV movies and books. It’s resonated with two generations of Americans -- deserted wives, unhappy husbands. And it’s raised some questions about how divorce laws may contribute to what’s called the feminization of poverty. All of these issues remain critical and controversial in contemporary America today. Thirty years after five bullets, two coffins and one California prison inmate No. W42477, why can’t we look away from Betty Broderick?

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Recent Reviews
  • Lexryland
    So LA Times
    Leave it to the times to turn this into Clinton political commercial…. GAD NOTHING YO DO WITH ANY OF IT
  • TuffBunny091836
    Confusing writing.
    It goes for fifteen minutes introducing the story by telling you the ending. It finally gets to the story and then goes out of sequence.
  • The Window Whisper
    Amateurish, Tone Deaf
    Clunky pacing. Plays cutesy funny music over portions of story depicting shocking harassment and abuse of the man, kept thinking how they would never do this with the roles reversed. Dismissive tone towards people with traditional values. Snooty and callous narration.
  • @debrn60
    Debbie
    So well done !! Pat tells the story perfectly I love episode two the best ! Great podcast and I highly recommend this
  • Lawyr49
    Retells the show on tv, no new info
    If you've watched the tv series, this podcast just retells everything that happened in that show with very little additional detail or information. The music during narration is terrible.
  • hosin7
    What ??!
    What does Hilary Clinton have to do with this story?
  • reviewer74698653
    Excellent! Very entertaining
    Done very well, written well, all around excellent and definitely recommend! The music- perfect, timeless! (The reviewer who wrote that they didn’t like it because it had to be chosen by someone who was 50- what a clown). Great podcast! Thanks
  • Jeanniekini2
    Goes deeper in explaining the Broderick story
    Interesting! Explains the different angles of this case. How different mind-frames were when Elizabeth was maturing, married, divorced, etc. It had changed a lot in just the 20 years they were married. I’m 53 (b. 1967) and it has messed with me some the way I grew up to how things are now. My mother was home with my brothers and I. Had a job outside of home for about a year only. I’ve worked more outside the home but was still able to be mostly stay at home. Unfortunately for some, way it’s suppose to be for others, as far as mother working outside the home. Murder was not a good choice! But also do understand most of why Elizabeth broke down. She was used by Dan! She worked hard supporting him to become successful as he was! Totally!! Dan never supported her as a person…sounds like he never even thanked her for all she did. That Betty did not get how much she hurt her children was so sad. Kills me. Heartbreaking.
  • Boston Jody
    Slightly frustrating
    It was frustrating that there wasn’t enough detail about the actual murders. The victims were shot in the chest, but were they aware Betty shot them or was it sudden death? What was the coroner’s opinion? The description of the murders was superficial.
  • harlowm589
    Could’ve done without the loud background music
    Couldn't here the horrible narration over the cheesy and too loud twinkling sounds
  • Milktooth Maiden
    Pretty good.
    Pretty good story, decent narration, terrible theme music. Who ever gave the green light on that must be at least 50 and have terrible taste.
  • pocketfullofsunshine13
    Garbage people in reviews
    Feminism is apart of this case... if you can’t understand that then you should keep listening. Calling it feminist babble is garbage... thanks for contributing to why we need feminism 😘
  • Cry2stal
    Enjoyable Recap of Tragedy
    Well done
  • Bzxy123
    Outstanding!
    I've listened to the trial and this podcast captures Betty's mindset perfectly.
  • Brasfieldsmith
    Good overall
    I mostly enjoyed this. The feminism stuff seems like a non-sequitur.
  • Bapho52
    Great Podcast
    Of you know the story, this is the rest of it. Very informative and well done.
  • gezzuz
    Hmm
    Wonder why my negative reviews wont go through
  • Stevesweezie
    Compelling
    Have followed this story from the beginning. The insight in this podcast is compelling along with the interviews from Some of the key people. Enjoyed listening.
  • KristinaY
    Know your audience
    Wanted to hear the story, but couldn’t get past the first 15 minutes of 1st episode. Just tell us the story leave politics and personal opinions out- not why most people listen to.
  • Rosy_9
    I recommend, some people just didn’t give it a shot
    The first few minutes were a little confusing, but the rest of the narrative was good. I don’t know why people are so negative, she did good reporting. It was short and sweet and gave a lot of emphasis on WHY people are paying attention to this case, even after this long. I recommend if you’re looking for a quick summary. Her voice is so calm too!
  • queendomhuh
    Weak First Episode But It Gets Better
    The first episode is full of a lot of fluff. It thinly connects the case to modern politics for some reason, and mentions other figures unnecessarily. After that, the tone changes and becomes much more informative. Good overall, but definitely needed some edits.
  • Aaron746
    A double standard
    It’s difficult to listen to this story be so sensationalized when women are being killed by their ex’s every day in this country. We ask “why couldn’t she get over it” and call her names like scorned and crazy. Yes, she is a murderer. She took two lives that were not for her to take. But, I think it is necessary to those still covering this case to ask WHY it is so infamous. Why don’t we ask the same questions and use the same language about men who do this at a shocking high rate?
  • PJsd
    Great series!
    I found this podcast series to be entertaining and interesting. I saw some unfavorable reviews that mention the first episode keeps discussing Hillary Clinton but I think those listeners were listening to the BONUS Episode 1, which discusses the social climate in the era the events took place (1960s to 1990s). I think the series is fascinating because they include interviews by persons involved in the Broderick divorce and murder trial. (Lawyers, friends, reporters) as well as recordings of witness court testimony.
  • ChrissyCat182
    Interesting....but....
    Too much emphasis on feminism and Hillary Clinton. Leave that out of it. Stick with the murder and what lead up to from both points of view. I am on episode 4 and don’t think I will listen to anymore of it.
  • Mcpe203
    Can’t get through the first episode
    Too much about Hillary, feminism, and other things not that relevant. I came for crime, not that
  • Wehttam32
    Ugh
    I really want to hear this story but can barely get through episode one. Just get on with it. If I wanted to listen to a feminist rave about Hillary and name-drop Oprah, Obama, Bill, etc., this would be great. But I just want the facts of what happened, not some feminist babble!
  • woweewow
    Very interesting
    I’m surprised at the negative reviews on this one. I was really impressed by the production quality, and I truly enjoyed the narrator (which is the most important part for me). I don’t remember hearing about this case, so the subject was pretty fascinating as well. This should be a 5-star podcast.
  • annbo
    Bad Commercials
    The pod cast was really great and really gave a great perspective!! Whoever was voice seen the commercials was terrible. I could hardly listen. The person really doesn’t have a voice for podcasts or radio. I almost stopped listening
  • Jani'qua
    Spit it out already
    First 20 minutes were so bad I couldn’t get through the first episode. Was really looking forward to this podcast too. Why the sound effects? Why do you keep repeating yourself? Why won’t you just tell me the story already omg
  • Ransom Zebra
    Good narration, too many commercials
    I liked the narrators voice and pacing. Not overwrought like so many crime podcasts.
  • Beth Iowa
    Well done
    I’ve never really been interested in the Betty Broderick story but this podcast was interesting and well produced so I listened. It was better than watching the latest Dirty John 2 version of the story. Many new details were given in the podcast. I love the music as well. I don’t know why people don’t like it. It makes the story seem current.
  • silhavy
    Unbearable music and narration
    I’d never heard about this case and was intrigued, but the “whimsical” background music combined with the song song narration make the podcast sound like an old timey audiobook for kids or something. Had to turn it off.
  • babyblubelle
    Felt Rushed
    The story was covered at a very surface level. There was no sympathy created for Dan or Linda. The sound-bites poorly executed. This could have been such a rich podcast. Instead it felt hurried and like it was trying to build up hype for USA’s series. Skip.
  • njdhjd1978
    Annoying!
    Can’t stand the music! Won’t listen after 15 minutes.
  • Moosie1972
    The podcast has victimized Dan and Linda all over again
    This is so one sided and harshly slanted. So much about Betty’s vile behavior was left out. Her violent outburst in jail while awaiting the trial. Her smearing feces all over the wall. It’s on FILM! THEN she played victim AGAIN claiming she was provoked. Provoked into smearing feces on the wall ??? Playing victim again. You read the transcripts of her voice messages and recorded calls for instead of playing them censoring the language to lesson the impact of her verbal child abuse. I’m embarrassed for you.
  • Hmh795
    Let’s not forget about the cheating
    I have watched and listened to several docs and pods on this. And of course it was terribly wrong what she did to her ex and her husband. But I took a bit of issue with what an “angle” they made the second wife to be. She was a home wrecker. She had not respect for the fact that she was dating a married man w children. I would say she was the nicest person. I would have liked it better if the narrator would have acknowledged that all parties hurt each other. Betty’s actions were unforgivable, but there were no innocent people except for the kids.
  • Mia.11
    So Unbearable I Quit on Episode 1
    I wanted to listen to this, I really did, but the "background" music is unbearable and overwhelming, and the narrator speaks in an advertisement-type voice that is totally inappropriate for this kind of podcast. I couldn't even get through the first episode. It's like listening to two bad radio stations at the same time.
  • ecd5
    Very interesting telling of this famous story
    This is a very interesting report on this tragic story. I thought it was handled informatively, compassionately, and factually. It’s a sad story and I feel very bad for her children.
  • LaColl
    Yeah, it’s exploitative
    I listened to this hoping it would “round out” what I saw on the show with some interesting cultural insights. It didn’t. It was just a retelling of the story in a way that exploited the story and was perhaps slightly “fair” to both perspectives. Betty is clearly not a well woman, or she would not have done this. She has been diagnosed with two mental illnesses, and I think at one point she was even called “crazy” or something along those lines in this podcast. Rather than say this, I would have loved to have heard about the feminization of poverty, which was mentioned in the notes about the series. That’s a real issue, not diminishing someone’s very real mental illnesses.
  • Ktritch
    A little exploitative
    I know it’s an interesting story, but it definitely feels very exploitative. Betty is an extremely sick, obsessive person who will always feel justified in what she did. Her husband may have been in the wrong for cheating, but the only thing Betty deserves is to spend the rest of her life in prison.
  • doodlesnoz
    An interesting story trivialized
    After 18 min and numerical commercials I had learned almost nothing. I couldn’t stomach the usual cliches about a disappointing marriage. The reference to Hilary Clinton was stupid and the final straw. I like Hillary. She didn’t belong in this narrative.
  • GretchenWeinersss
    Ugh. So good!
    I love the way this podcast was done. I appreciate script vs discussion as I do not have the patience for podcast hosts talking over each other or going off on tangents. This format is clear, linear, and informative; Rich with information. And excerpts from other media are the icing on the cake. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
  • Jeepfoxrn
    Highly recommended
    very riveting complex story that is delivered superbly by the narrator! A must listen for true crime podcast fans. More please !
  • Lblohm39
    Weirdly Pro-Clinton
    I couldn’t get past the first episode. There was so much push for the Clintons (no idea how they fit in here) and almost justifying Betty’s action while simultaneously villainizing her for traditional views such as motherhood. While listening to true crime, I expect to hear facts of the case, not personal viewpoints of the host. Maybe it was better in further episodes but I couldn’t past the political aspect this time.
  • ChunkyKitty
    Eh, Could be better
    I don’t know why I don’t like this. I don’t think it was done as well as it could have been. A little boring.
  • Sioux2
    Too Much Filler!
    Many podcasts are guilty of this but this was maybe a 2 hour story stretched over four episodes. At the conclusion I felt much more compassion for Betty Broderick.
  • fzrgrl
    Lacked detail
    I enjoyed this podcast, but it lacked detail. Many times the host mentions gaslighting but offers no specific examples to explain while other sources provide this information.
  • Thefinderofthings
    I can’t put my finger on it
    Maybe I don’t like it because it’s more like she’s reading a script and not discussing it. Another reviewer wrote that she spoke too fast but I’m thinking maybe that persons speed was turned up. I made it half way through the first episode. I normally wouldn’t leave a bad review, but since I am I would suggest that this would be improved if she didn’t seem as if she’s reading ya a book during story time.
  • flap1980
    Do better!!
    This story is a CLASSIC true crime story. Why would you leave it in the hands of a narrator that is so dull? Why overproduce it with terrible music? This could have been so good, but it’s sadly a very boring podcast about a NOT boring story.
  • RuralPhilly
    Ok
    It is not like I hate it but I JUST am not into it as much but keep it up
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