JFK Assassination Podcast Has More Than 200 Episodes, But It's Not Close to Done

Host Jeff Crudele talks about enduring commitment to the 'JFK: The Enduring Secret' podcast, Biden and the CIA's Transparency Plan, Rob Reiner's podcast and more

It started as a trial run for a promotional podcast about a health-care start-up. 

But before Jeff Crudele knew it, he was “absolutely hooked” on audio storytelling. And that’s how “JFK: The Enduring Secret” morphed from being a vehicle to learn some podcasting skills for a new business venture into 40 episodes on one of history’s greatest murder mysteries … and then 80 episodes … and then 200+.  

And it’s why Crudele figures he’ll be producing another 200 installments before he calls it a day.  

The 62-year-old is a one-man show. He plots the topics, writes the scripts, records the audio, handles the editing and pushes out “JFK: The Enduring Secret” all on his own. He estimates he’s devoted about 3,000 hours to its production since the first episode (on the 1960 election) dropped in February 2021. 

Jeff Crudele, host of “JFK: The Enduring Secret.” (Credit: Courtesy Jeff Crudele)

He considers himself less a researcher and primarily a synthesizer, unspooling what he calls “story tells” that are based on his three decades immersed in the case and the in-depth dives he does when prepping any individual episode.

In most cases, he’ll laser in on a specific topic for several episodes, and then move his focus to what he views as the next logical strand. Examples include a recent 20-episode run on the Secret Service, or an earlier 22-installment exploration of JFK’s autopsy. He’ll also do shorter bursts, such as the handful of episodes that were focused on Richard Case Nagell or the similar number dedicated to the history of the Mafia.

When a listener makes a commitment to “The Enduring Secret,” they’re making a commitment to getting to know Crudele, who has been married to his wife Kelly for more than 32 years and splits his time between South Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. As heavy as the podcast is on JFK evidence and theories, and as encyclopedic as it is in its attack, it’s the host’s avuncular earnestness and emotional availability that frequently stand out.