The MLK Tapes

1,210
History #194

According to the official story, on April 4th, 1968, a lone gunman assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. That man, James Earl Ray, pled guilty and for most people the case was closed. The MLK Tapes, a new true crime podcast from the creators of Atlanta Monster and Monster: DC Sniper, explores rare recordings of eye-witness testimony and new interviews with people who were there to reveal the true story of the plot to kill Dr. King.

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Recent Reviews
  • Hagstoz
    The Complexity of Truth is Easy to Subvert
    I just finished this…..mind blowing. Sometimes it just takes distance and time to learn the truth of things. This is one of the most important corrections of an historical event that will probably take several more decades to be accepted. If I were a history teacher I would include it in the curriculum after teaching the obligatory history on the assassination of MLK and use it as an example of how a true conspiracy is orchestrated and how truth is constantly stranger than fiction.
  • Vela55
    Truth
    The meticulous care taken to reveal the truth about this heinous crime that affected humanity and the everyday lives of Americans is appreciated. All Americans would have benefited so much from MLK’s movement for justice, equality and equity.
  • Castle, Frank
    History that is all lost
    I never have done a review for a podcast. This show made me sad. So very sad. The injustice done. So many involved criminals that got away. Our government was extremely criminal and still is. Young people today don’t even care about history. This is more than history. We move so fast nowadays, news is fresh for 24 hours and gone. So much fluff is pushed out, that real enemies are right in front of us. We don’t care enough it would seem. I’m 42. I read so much about older times, read books, about the actual times. Spoke to my father about the times he lived through. We let so much go and be. The system of government is overpowering and it would seem no way to bring down. It’s unfortunate. I’m not a conspiracy person. I am an actual factual seeking person. It’s just too obvious what happened. Money and power will destroy everything good. This is America.
  • Stephanie ella
    Black lives matters
    ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
  • Ahdawnis
    2028 Will Be a Big Year
    Just as the creator of this pod suggests, I knew NONE of this. I hope this pod (and Pepper) are still around when the 60 year threshold passes because getting those documents is going to be MAJOR. Phenomenal podcast; highly recommend.
  • CoriLizTay
    Fantastic, but -
    **i will remove this once it is fixed** I love the show But please fix episode 8, it is playing an episode of Algorithm instead!! Im obsessed enough that, as a Tenderfoot TV subscriber, I am listening thru ads on iHeart Radio. Ugh, but goes to show how I can’t get enough.
  • Em.Mu🤭
    OUTSTANDING!!!🤠👍
    ONCE YOU START LISTENING YOU WONT BE ABLE TO STOP. I just started getting into podcasts and this is one of the best I’ve heard so far!!! Very clean ( doesn’t have a lot of bad words, or other things) I would very much recommend this podcast. The evidence is very clear and well put out. Idk why they didn’t hire this guy for the MLK Case!! 💯👍😊.
  • darlingdae
    episode 8 is wrong podcast entirely
    i stopped at episode 8 bc it’s not even the correct show. it’s from something called algorithm. i’ll come back and update my rating if they ever correct the episodes.
  • Husky Pup
    Podcast is called MLK Tapes BUT YOU CANT HEAR THE TAPES
    Besides the narration, the tapes are the crux of this entire podcast but the audio of these tapes is ATROCIOUS. You literally cannot hear anything that’s being said in the tapes. This would work if this were a documentary w subtitles but the narrator assumes we understood what was said in the audio just played from the tapes and goes on w the story. You would think this would all be figured out considering podcasts have been around for 1000 years now but here we are. Other then that I’m still going to listen to the whole thing :).
  • desireec08
    Amazing
    I’m surprised there aren’t higher ratings. There is so much information compiled into this series. In an odd way, I was sad when it ended because I wanted to know more. I hate that the King family never got the Justice they deserved and I respect them so much for fighting for Justice for the man wrongfully convicted. That just shows how amazing of a family the Kings are. I hope the truth does come to light in the near future but it seems the truth keeps getting suppressed.
  • LauraMireles
    Amazing podcast.
    American History revealed. This was put together so well. I loved hearing for all of the players in their own words.
  • sara.tucker89
    Very good podcast, very poor sound quality on some recordings
    I appreciate the authenticity of having audio recordings but it is lost if I can’t understand it all because of echos and the tinny sound as it plays. It was better when voice actors read transcripts.
  • Just an ave. American
    One word!
    BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!!!!!!!
  • UnkelL
    Confirmation
    This was an excellent source to confirm how unethical political figures were and still are today. To silence a man or a race of people due to their selfishness and bigotry was so predictable but, in a sense, unstoppable due to fear.
  • kjhwill72
    Historical
    I learned something. This was excellent reporting. I found myself looking things up. So glad I listened.
  • Iamthewizz
    Informative, balanced (mostly), incapsulating story telling
    Impeccably researched, & documented podcast. Narrated brilliantly. Sourced without contradiction due to thorough research Only reason I couldn’t give the entire series a 5* review was episode 12. Extremely biased episode with political leanings that almost derailed the entire series.
  • JustPost!!!
    Amazing.
    This was absolutely mind blowing to me. I never knew in depth about MLK’s murder. Before this podcast, I probably wouldn’t have been able to give the name of the man “accused” of his murder. But now, with the impeccable investigation done by all who put these pieces together, and the bravery of those who came forward…. there’s a bigger, and more sickening picture of the truth. I don’t typically share podcasts with others, but this one was beyond worthy of sharing.
  • Whatever 1965
    Sound quality
    The recordings are too difficult to understand. The hollowness, the in & out, ( people turning their head?). The reverberation. But a solid job investigating. I just wish I could have understood some of the recordings without players it over and over It was great when host had a voice actor. If people couldn’t/wouldn’t believe a voice actor they wouldn’t believe any of it Thank you for your time Keep up the good work
  • prooooof
    One of the best podcasts on all time
    Very interesting, measured template for how to run an investigative podcast. So well done!
  • it will hook you
    Audio is a JOKE
    FIX the audio - UNACCEPTABLE. You literally cannot hear any of the live recordings. FIGURE IT OUT AMATEURS. NOT okay to tell the listener to put in earphones. Additionally this is all heresay and there is no alternate PROOF - so this is a dead end podcast with NO answers. Overhyped and amateurishly done.
  • Hollanderica
    Incredible
    I had no idea how many people were involved in his assassination. For years I thought it was James Earl Ray. Great job on presenting the real facts.
  • DejaDrewit
    Wow!
    Incredible how much I never knew about MLK’s death. A must listen for sure. Heartbreaking there has been no justice and how many more cases like this exist due to our corrupt govt. this podcast is very well done!
  • Sluggo is Chris
    Entertaining and thought provoking
    Another winner of a pod cast from this group. This one really makes you think. Keep them coming
  • Steven Loy
    Compelling research
    A mountain of evidence surrounding the assassination of dr. Martin Luther King Jr is presented methodically, thoughtfully and skeptically. The most shocking thing is that even though much of this evidence was presented more than 20 years ago and has appeared in a handful of books (however there is some important new evidence presented here), most people still believe the fabricated story they were taught in school. Give this podcast a listen, decide for yourself what the truth is.
  • jmanning89
    Wow!
    Thank you for this podcast! It was so informative and I learned so much. Thank you!!!
  • wpmcdaniel
    MLK Tapes
    What do we know and how do we know it? From school, teachers, books, newspapers, and the news. For my entire life, each of the outlets taught me that Martin Luther King Jr was killed by James Earl Ray…end of story. This podcast however, produces ideas, real people, scenarios, and witnesses that prove otherwise…..a terrific podcast that will change how you see the death of a King!! Paul McDaniel
  • Bookish C
    Riveting
    What would our world have looked like if MLK had not been killed? Incredible podcast.
  • rootdown42
    Want to understand what America is really about?
    Truly fascinating and terrifying. It morphs from a crime narrative to something much larger and disturbing. I found it gripping the whole way through. And unlike some reviews, the old audio clips didn’t detract from the story at all. With a narrative that interesting it seems like a petty complaint. Definitely worth checking out
  • Bull8255
    Very much enjoyed it
    Let’s be honest, of course, the government is going to move mountains to dispute the findings in this podcast. There’re the government, it’s what they do, taking our tax money and using it to do what they want! Great work in your reporting and my hats off to you for not being silenced!
  • MMJ1908
    Wow - Great Podcast
    Very informational. Lots of interesting perspective from individuals who were in close proximity to the events that occurred before, during and after the assassination of Dr. King.
  • Air Assault Hog
    Amazingly Shocking
    The MLK Tapes is simply an astonishing tale that should awaken every US Citizen as to how corrupt and murderous our federal government can become when we allow them to do so.
  • MaryAnne68
    Nicely done
    This is a very well done podcast into the assassination of Dr. King. Many of us have always questioned the official story but did not have the back story of the people involved.
  • god below
    Mandatory listening!
    Extremely well researched & compelling narrative
  • BigEinThumb
    Too much Pepper
    Interesting story, probably fiction, terrible archival recordings and did we talk about attorney Bill Pepper?
  • MommaDoc
    This is chock full of errors and omissions
    This podcast is a sham. It is riddled with factual errors and so much material that has been proven about the MLK assassination that is conveniently neglected. It clearly wasn’t fact-checked and is wholly irresponsible. It shouldn’t be listed in the History category on Apple, it should be in the Fiction area.
  • Danithang
    No we didn’t need a Zac
    Let’s be real, the government narrative is most likely not the complete truth so let’s not pretend they are the pillars of truth. I think there are a lot of inconsistencies with these narratives and we are just supposed to sit down and accept it, I don’t think so. I respect people like Bill who digs deeper than what was told and tries to get the answers we deserve to hear. No, we don’t need a Zac who decided to go down the rabbit hole of the RFK tapes but decided to abruptly stick with the mainstream narrative ignoring all of the inconsistencies.
  • Ty Guy P
    Fun listen but
    It is an interesting and fun listen but most of information presented as “evidence” has been proven inaccurate or is just out and out lies. This is from a conspiracy theorist. If this aligns with the King Family why are they discreetly telling us it doesn’t?
  • LucyMishel
    Why don’t we hear more about this?!
    A lot of very interesting information. Even if you have heard that James didn’t shot MLK there is still a lot of information you probably haven’t heard here. If you still think James killed MLK don’t think you will think that as soon as you start listening to this.
  • Andrei Vironov
    Frustrating
    This would be so good if only they didn’t keep playing archive that is utterly incomprehensible. The narrative is fascinating and the story important then they cut to a 50 year old recording of a guy with a strong southern accent making some point that is critical to the plot. I’ve no idea what he’s saying and I have a good ear for accents and speak several languages. It’s great that they have original recordings but they could a) summarise what’s been said Or b) re-voice with actors. English is my mother tongue. God knows how non native speakers are supposed to understand the recordings. Or do they not expect anyone outside the Deep South to listen to this? Argh!
  • bill in bama
    Old dog new tricks…..
    Excellent…. Been alive nearly 60 years and never heard half of this content! Ray sounds innocent…. Of killing King anyway!?
  • apodcastaddict
    Sound is terrible
    Interesting podcast, but long pieces of unintelligent tape was a mistake. That’s what voice actors are for.
  • The Vito Corleone
    Too Much Irrelevant Content
    This podcast is all over the place with the theories. Most of the content is completely irrelevant. If there were as many people involved in the conspiracy to assassinate MLK as what this podcast portrays, the truth would have come out many years ago as that many people would not be able to keep it hidden from the public all these years. There is some interesting information provided, however, at the end of the day, there are no real answers provided.
  • julieavm
    Content is amazing. Audio is unintelligible.
    I keep listening to this even though I’m missing entire chunks of the story because it’s such compelling evidence for a conspiracy. And so much history I’ve never known. But for a show called the MLK Tapes, you think you’d be able to understand at least the majority of the tapes! I’m missing 75% of the dialogue and wishing this somehow had subtitles. Or could you please summarize what’s on the tapes after they play? Or have them acted out?! We’re completely missing so much of the story. Also if I turn the tapes up really high to try to hear, then the host comes back on and I have to turn it down… you’ve gotta have an audio engineer who can improve some of these things.
  • Trothboy
    Excellent Journalism
    Excellent reporting and carefully presented. Another disturbing political murder which has wider implications.
  • jmam9913
    Great storytelling; great investing.
    This is what makes the podcast platform what it is. I’m telling all my friends about this, it’s so well done.
  • minpinjenn
    Had high hopes
    I was very interested initially but it’s easy to get lost. Narration is very droning and had to keep your attention. Excellent topic but wish it had been better executed.
  • aen911
    Hard to follow
    Super interesting topic. However hard to follow. Some episodes just start right off with peoples names and maybe it was said in previous episodes who that person was. On episode 8 and am lost, even restarted from the beginning but there is too much name dropping without a reminder of who they are.
  • Raymond Burrhead
    The MLK Tapes
    Very thought provoking. I was 10 when MLK was assassinated and remember it vividly. It was a sad moment in America’s history.
  • LAT34
    Very interesting but inconsistent
    The narrator and story is good but is inconsistent with things James Earl Ray said. Hope the podcast deals head on with those inconsistencies- like Ray not being a racist. He was clearly a racist, that’s from multiple sources.
  • pinko-perchik
    Needs a Zac
    What The RFK Tapes had that I wish this podcast had is a skeptic to challenge what Bill puts forward. Someone who won’t simp for the FBI—they absolutely wanted him dead—but who will look at the same evidence and, for example, point out what an insane amount of inter-agency cooperation would be needed for it to go down the way Bill theorizes.
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