Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

James Wolner

dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

For verified host and producer emails, sign up to view.

Booking Overview

This is a serialized investigative true-crime series focused on unsolved murders, disappearances, and cold cases in North Dakota and the Midwest, with external guests including investigative journalists and people connected to the cases. Credible pitches include investigative reporters, documentary and true-crime creators, forensic or legal experts, and firsthand family sources with relevant case knowledge; booking difficulty is medium because the show has a focused editorial brief and favors strong subject-matter relevance over general celebrity.

Metrics

Episodes: 240

Frequency: Weekly

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Estimated listeners: 10k-100k

Gender skew: Female

Location: USA

Contact Information

dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

For verified host and producer emails, sign up to view.

Host

James Wolner - Investigative journalist and creator of Dakota Spotlight, specializing in reporting on unsolved murders, cold cases, and missing-person investigations in North Dakota and the Midwest.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
Investigative journalists, documentary or true-crime creators, and individuals with direct knowledge of a relevant unresolved case. Guests should bring original reporting, documented expertise, or meaningful firsthand perspective.
Required Achievements:  
Produced or reported an investigative series, Published substantial reporting on an unresolved case, Created a documentary or podcast about true crime or investigative journalism

Recent Guest Discussions

Leah Sottile - Investigative Journalism, The Ethics Of True-crime Storytelling, Reporting On Unresolved Cases In Rural Communities, And The Production Of Hush Season 2.

Recent Topics

True Crime, Cold Cases, Missing Persons, Investigative Journalism, North Dakota

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations
:

Call Me Shelly (1): Fly on the Wall

July 09, 2026

In August 1994, 26-year-old Michele "Shelly" Julson drops off her three-year-old son with his grandfather, planning to return a few hours later. She never does. As family, friends, and police begin searching, troubling details emerge about the days leading up to her disappearance, including reports that Shelly believed she was being harassed. Inspired by Dakota Spotlight Season 7, Call Me Shelly is now a documentary film. Inspired by Dakota Spotlight Season 7, Call Me Shelly is now a documen...

400 Feet From Home - Leah Sottile on Hush Season 2

June 25, 2026

Leah Sottile joins Dakota Spotlight for a conversation about investigative journalism, the ethics of true crime storytelling, and the challenges of reporting on unresolved cases in overlooked rural communities. Leah discusses the making of Hush Season 2, the line between mystery and journalism, and the emotional weight of reporting on the 2019 death of Sarah Zuber in rural Oregon. Following the interview, hear the first episode of Hush Season 2. In March 2019, 18-year-old Sarah Zuber was fou...

The Bagpiper and His Brother (6) Update: Who Was Harold Pieper?

June 18, 2026

After the release of The Bagpiper and His Brother, listeners who knew Harold Pieper began reaching out. In this update episode, Harold's stepdaughters and granddaughter share memories that reveal a devoted husband, caretaker, and grandfather. Their stories offer a fuller picture of the man whose life was forever changed by the 1971 bombing. Binge the full season of The Bagpiper and His Brother ad-free with Spotlight PLUS. Sign up on the Dakota Spotlight show page in Apple Podcasts or Spotify...

Get your clients booked on top podcasts

Try us risk free with a FREE 3 days trial.

Start Your Free Trial

Join hundreds of PR teams using Podseeker to pitch and land bookings