Murder, Mystery, And Millions Of Views: Inside The True Crime Podcast Blowing Up Online

Move over, amateur sleuths, because there’s a new dynamic duo digging into the darkest corners of true crime on "Clues."

PAVE Studios recently dropped Episode 3 of “Clues,” a bold new crime series from Crime House that’s redefining the podcast game.

Hosted by Morgan Absher (“Two Hot Takes”) and Kaelyn Moore (“Heart Starts Pounding”), “Clues” is already making waves for its mix of deep research, emotional storytelling, and YouTube-first visuals.

In May 7’s chilling episode, the creators dove into the murder of Mary Ann Clibbery, a successful businesswoman whose death days before Christmas stunned her Illinois community. With no sign of forced entry and a staged robbery scene, suspicion quickly turned inward, until a floating bag of evidence cracked the case wide open.

The Blast sat down with Absher and Moore to talk about their creative chemistry, how they handle emotionally heavy cases like the murder of Mary Ann Clibbery, and why “Clues” is unlike anything else in the true crime space.

So, how did these two creators come together?

“Kaelyn and I got connected through PAVE, and after meeting, I knew we had the chemistry to do an amazing show together,” Absher told The Blast exclusively. “We really go deep into research and treat these cases with the dignity they deserve.”

Moore echoed the sentiment, adding, “We both love research and advocacy, and we come at the genre from totally different, but complementary, angles. I think people will really enjoy listening to a show from two very different creators.”

With millions of followers between them, Moore and Absher wanted "Clues" to feel different from the rest, especially on YouTube.

“We noticed that while this genre is super popular, there aren’t a lot of two-person true crime shows that perform well on YouTube. That was a must for us,” Moore said.

Absher added, “It feels like a ‘have your cake and eat it too’ situation with us. Kaelyn’s digging through books and transcripts. I’m scouring the internet and documentaries. It makes the show really well-rounded.”

The May 7 episode delves into the murder of Mary Ann Clibbery, a case that immediately grabbed their attention.

“What drew me in most was how long this scheme was going on,” Moore explained. “Mary Ann was being poisoned and was made to feel crazy for thinking she was. That’s a real fear a lot of women have.”

Absher was struck by the forensics. “A bag of evidence tossed over a bridge ended up floating on ice the next day,” she told The Blast. “From the different coagulation times in her blood to the poison in her tea, the technology really let the evidence speak for itself.”

But “Clues” doesn’t just retell horror stories. It honors the lives at the center of them.

“Mary Ann wasn’t just a victim,” Moore said. “She ran a business, was deeply involved in her community, and still managed to send out hundreds of Christmas cards each year. Her partner was intimidated by that.”

“These are real people with real lives,” Absher added. “We always try to keep that front and center.”

For Moore, true crime is in her DNA…literally. Her great-grandfather helped catch a serial killer.

“He cared about his community and wasn’t afraid to wreck his reputation to save lives,” she said. “The woman he caught was one of the biggest donors to the church. People hated him for going after her, but he did what was right.”

As for Absher, her start with Reddit stories shaped the way she approaches real-life crimes. “You see so much humanity online," she said. "People helping, people struggling, people trying to escape bad situations. It’s made me more open to considering all angles.”

When asked about the one case they haven’t tackled yet but are dying to, the answer was instant. JonBenét Ramsey.

“It’s our most requested,” Moore laughed. “But we’re also interested in the Jamison Family deaths and the Black Dahlia case.”

Their go-to documentary recs? Moore’s is "Tell Them You Love Me," which dives into disability rights through a true crime lens. Absher swears by "American Nightmare," especially after covering the Denise Huskins case.

So what’s the one clue that always gives them chills?

“For me, it’s when someone is told for years that what they saw or heard was wrong, and then they turn out to be right,” Moore said. “People are so often dismissed.”

Absher’s answer? DNA. “It’s hard to refute and it’s changing lives," she told The Blast. "I hope we see a major push to use it to free the wrongfully convicted, especially people of color who’ve been disproportionately affected.”

With its balance of entertainment and advocacy, "Clues" is already shaping up to be a must-watch (and must-listen) for any true crime fan.

New episodes of “Clues” premiere weekly on YouTube and across all major podcast platforms.