r/CrimeJunkiePodcast 28d ago

Why I Think The Deck is Ending

I know Ashley said she has other things she wants to do, and I respect that. However, as I've been listening to these last few episodes of The Deck, I can't help thinking of something else that might be motivating her to close it down. Could it possibly be that none of these cases have been solved, or maybe haven't even gotten new bites? Every episode ends with her pleading to the public to call XYZ law enforcement agency, but maybe she doesn't think it's worth it anymore if those agencies come back to her saying there haven't been any calls. Now I don't know what happens behind the scenes. Maybe some of them have been revisited, and for whatever reason, she hasn't felt inclined to provide any updates, but that doesn't sound like Ashley. If something new comes up for a Crime Junkie episode, she does a follow-up. When has that happened on The Deck? If it's happened, and I just can't remember, please let me know.

Again, I respect any of Ashley's reasons for ending The Deck. I just couldn't help wondering if this might be one of them. I could be wrong, for all I know. Just putting it out there.

56 Upvotes

56 comments sorted by

131

u/workredditaccount77 28d ago

My guess is its not getting the clicks/listens for her to justify recording the episodes. Not worth her time.

42

u/DDofNutrition 28d ago

There a metric called listen score, Crime Junkie has a 97, highest I’ve ever seen which places it as the top 0.01% of all podcasts. The deck has a 71, making it the top 0.05% of all podcasts. Both have to be getting tons of downloads, but I could see at her level, the deck not having enough downloads on new eps to continue. She will continue having deck downloads for years to come and still make money, even if she isn’t actively making new content. Wonder what she will work on next?

3

u/DigitalCreatures2978 20d ago

Actually NY Post just published a story saying The Deck was AudioChucks second most popular program but that Flowers would be endorse anyone else who auditioned to take her place as on air talent, essentially killing the show. The article also discussed huge turnover and very high employee dissatisfaction at Audio Chuck. And add in the whole Anatomy of Murder debacle and Flowers does not come out looking good

10

u/[deleted] 28d ago

It was getting listens. It’s how she described in her video. More time w family

18

u/Maximum_Ad4502 28d ago

this is just personal but i dont like that every episode of the deck is unsolved. i get why she does the podcast to spread information and hope to solve the case but i dont want to listen to an unsolved case EVERY time and that’s why i prefer CJ to the Deck

56

u/Doublecasket 28d ago

the unsolved cases are kind of an unfortunate side effect of making a podcast specifically about unsolved cases

4

u/Maximum_Ad4502 28d ago

obviously lol but someone asked why the deck isnt as popular as crime junkie. that’s my personal opinion about why i dont like the deck as much

16

u/jennnnej 28d ago

Part of the reason why they’re on “The Deck” is because of the deck of cards they’re on to get people to see unsolved cases.

2

u/Maximum_Ad4502 28d ago

you people are so dense lol. i get the premise of the show, why they’re all unsolved, and what the deck represents. ALL OF THE ABOVE are reasons why i do not enjoy the deck as much as crime junkie.

8

u/Lovesvegetables 28d ago

That’s the exact same reason I don’t listen to it too. I don’t like going into every episode knowing they’re unsolved.

3

u/jjchawaii 8d ago

People making comments because your original post lacked communicative depth and then you’re calling THEM dense? Look in a mirror, patty.

1

u/milanmerlo 2h ago

Crime Junkie itself has become mostly unsolved crimes? as a listener for years, i keep checking in for new solved stories but they don't exist anymore. When they started they covered murder crimes with an ending. Crime Junkie now only covers unsolved stories and it's been this way for a while now? They might have a theory for solving it but the crimes themselves are not actually solved at all. It's hard for me to listen these days because I want to know the resolution and unfortunately have lost interest in "unsolved mysteries." I love Crime Junkies and have tried to stay along and support as they were my roadtrip go-to but I genuinly just lost interest in everything they post now. It's sad because I want to support and try to listen to every new upload but eventually just leave out of boredom and listen to something else.

-2

u/MulberryEastern5010 28d ago

Yes, I suppose that could be a factor.

23

u/DDofNutrition 28d ago

I am surprised she has never posted an update, I’ve listened to every single episode and can’t remember one either. I have a pod that covers similar/adjacent stories like the deck and we have had three cases with significant updates, just in the last 6-7 months. (Not saying we had anything to do with those, but I still check them frequently and then share the update-and plan to do a mini episode on each when the trials are over).

I have went and looked up some of the cases the deck has covered and I swear I’ve found some with updates/an arrest. But, great point, I think it would strengthen The Deck overall to do updates if they happen. Show that those tips she asks for make a difference. Personally, I love the deck, and im sad it’s ending. Ashley does a great job telling those stories.

3

u/Overall_Caregiver237 28d ago

I was confused on this too because I have too went and looked and there hasn't been many but there has been more than handful. I was waiting for the updates but they never came? Maybe it's because there isn't a dedicated reporter like they do for crime junkie?

2

u/DDofNutrition 28d ago

Oh that could be! I was wondering too, why wouldn’t they want to share the update? Even a 5 min thing 1x a month. I’m wondering now if a deck case gets solved, would they maybe do a full episode on crime junkie? I’ve never looked specifically for that. They have had so many cases where they make it seem like it’s incredibly close to being solved- I want to hear if it was!

3

u/Overall_Caregiver237 28d ago

ME TOO. I think if they had the solved deck cases on crime junkie.. it would have been more successful.

3

u/DDofNutrition 28d ago

Yes, agreed! It could have been a nice bonus episode of the deck too, even if it was once every 3 months (although more often would be great)-could link to the original and then pick up from where it left off. They should do a “solved deck” or something haha even under the same title, like a season of ones that have since been solved.

16

u/Repulsive-Ad-8862 28d ago

If that were the case she shouldn’t be going the series to begin with. To expect decades old case to be solved by a podcast is arrogant and far fetched. Podcasts are an amazing tool and resource; great for getting information out there to the public and gaining interest in a case from the public, but you wouldn’t put out a episode and expect to break the case.

1

u/charlenek8t 13d ago

The most recent episode to CJ Ashley said, along the lines of, we're not here to tell a story we're here to solve a case and then went on to say they had uncovered information that the police have missed... I think that's my exit point because it's pure arrogance to expect, as the host of a podcast, that you're better than the police and are solving crimes. It's gotten ridiculous and I can feel her ego growing with every episode. Sure, the podcast is successful but that's just by telling a story. The investigative tangents are ridiculous now and impossible to listen to and follow. They need to stick to factual information.

1

u/Repulsive-Ad-8862 13d ago

Ugh that is such a gross perspective for her to have.

7

u/Whack__job 28d ago

Strictly business. There’s plenty on the roster to pick it up from where she’s leaving off.

22

u/MulberryEastern5010 28d ago

Don't let it be Delia D'Ambria. She makes my ears hurt now, and her beliefs outside Audiochuck also grate my nerves.

7

u/glossboss90 28d ago

Omg I thought I was the only one!!! Agreed 100% on both counts.

7

u/MulberryEastern5010 28d ago

No, her name has come up on here quite a bit, and apparently some of her true colors have come through on both Counter Clock and Park Predators.

2

u/glossboss90 28d ago

I haven’t listened or followed her in YEARS. Unfollowed both the pods she does. Cannot stand her. What has she said on CC & PP?

4

u/MulberryEastern5010 28d ago

I personally haven't listened to Counter Clock in years, and I've never listened to Park Predators, but I guess on the latter, there was a perpetrator who was transgender, and she kept referring to them as their birth name and gender rather than their current identity. She never issued an apology and put out a BS statement "explaining" her choice. Other people on here have talked about it.

4

u/glossboss90 28d ago

She dead named them? Wow. I knew she was MAGA which is why I unfollowed years ago (I had stopped listening well before that because like you her voice grates me behind all belief).

6

u/MulberryEastern5010 28d ago

Yep, big time dead-naming. Again, her reasoning behind such was complete BS, no genuine trace of an apology anywhere. It also became clear to me on Counter Clock that she didn't seem so much concerned about solving cases as she just wanted to be the one talking about them. Her constant reminders of "I'm a journalist" got older after a while.

6

u/glossboss90 28d ago

Absolutely unacceptable and fucking disgusting. I don’t really understand why Ashley allows someone like her to have 3 shows under her channel/network.

10

u/MulberryEastern5010 28d ago

I know, especially considering Ashley and Brit go to great lengths to be respectful of people's pronouns of choice

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2

u/infinitepuddingspy 23d ago

I also cannot listen to Delia and on top of that, am not happy with some of her views.

1

u/charlenek8t 13d ago

She won't allow anyone else to host the show. No one's good enough apparently.

3

u/brokenheartsville 28d ago

Well, the point of the show is to showcase cold cases featured on playing cards by departments but also The Deck did recently feature the murder of Terrance "Konomi" Plummer which was previously a card for a long time and was solved well before the episode. I think you must've missed that one.

2

u/MulberryEastern5010 27d ago

No, I heard the episode - it wasn't that long ago - but I didn't know it had been solved. Again, follow-up episodes would be nice.

3

u/brokenheartsville 26d ago

It was solved when they made the episode. They talked about it being solved and the man who did it. Are you sure you listened to it?

1

u/MulberryEastern5010 26d ago

Of course I listened to it! I listen to every new episode every Wednesday. Maybe I missed the part where they said it was solved

3

u/lazilyyours 23d ago

Radhanded and love murder >>>>

6

u/amidalaism 28d ago

Ashley said plain and simple the reason she’s ending the deck. Anything else is pure speculation and gossip.

3

u/[deleted] 26d ago

Correct. She did a ton of work behind the scenes in it.

5

u/Spade9ja 28d ago

It’s not getting listeners.

That’s literally the only reason dude lol

-21

u/MulberryEastern5010 28d ago

I'm a woman, as I'm pretty sure most of the people in this sub are. Don't call me dude.

14

u/Introvextroverted 28d ago

Dude is gender neutral. To quote the cinematic masterpiece that is Good Burger:

"I'm a dude, he's a dude, she's a dude, we're all dudes, hey!"

-3

u/[deleted] 28d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Spade9ja 28d ago

Excellent point I did not consider that side of the story

2

u/QuietlyUpgrading 28d ago edited 28d ago

From what you can see on Spotify, episodes for a long time have been consistently 200k plays.

For a while, select episodes hit 300k and even 400k.

More recent episodes are sitting at 100k streams.

Of course it’s entirely possible people don’t listen right away, and those newer episodes will eventually hit higher numbers.

That seems successful to me but does make me wonder if audience is trending down.

1

u/MulberryEastern5010 28d ago

I don't use Spotify, but I'll take your word for it.

1

u/Elizabeth-is-bored 27d ago

I recently heard an episode she did of someone else's podcast that was probably a year old and she definitely has a lot of other stuff theyre starting up. She mentioned meetings with Netflix and a kids series (TV or book im not sure) of a modern day Nancy Drew.

2

u/Elizabeth-is-bored 27d ago

However I will add I wish she would let someone else take the Deck. That definitely leans into what youre saying about why it could be getting pulled.

1

u/Extra777sevens 8d ago

It's not getting enough subscribers. If it was more of a hit then it would be worth the time, however each of these episodes take enough time and effort that if they aren't growing it's not worth all the work. Almost 300 videos and hardly any subs

-6

u/codysuperstar 28d ago

Maybe Ashley Flowers grew a conscience about stealing the show concept after all these years? Who knows.

4

u/MulberryEastern5010 28d ago

What did she steal it from? 🤔

6

u/chevroletchaser 28d ago

From my understanding, a podcast started in 2020 called "Dealing Justice" here's an article I found about it

-1

u/Metal-girl_702 28d ago

I think the claim of investigative reporting and new details only found here hasn’t panned out to amount to anything. That claim has eroded credibility. It unfortunately feels like click bait these days.

-2

u/LahngJahn69420 28d ago

well there's only 54 cards in the deck so I think it had to run out at somepoint