The Ballad of Billy Balls

by iHeartPodcasts

It’s 1982, and a man bursts into an East Village storefront apartment and shoots punk musician Billy Balls. Author and activist iO Tillett Wright and Crimetown Producer Austin Mitchell unravel a mystery of love and loss, the tender binds of family, and the stories we tell ourselves just to survive. ...

Insights from recent episode analysis

Audience Interest

Estimated Reach: 33K to 110K

Listeners across platforms

Podcast Focus

Categories: society · culture

+1 more

Publishing Consistency

Frequency: ~Weekly

26 episodes since 2019

Platform Reach

Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.

Medium Confidence

Total monthly reach

33K to 110K

Estimated from 2 chart positions in 2 markets.

By chart position

🇦🇺
AU · Society & Culture
#97
30K to 100K
🇨🇱
CL · Society & Culture
#97
3K to 10K

Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
23K to 77K
🎙 Weekly cadence·26 episodes·Last published 10mo ago
Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
33K to 110K
🇦🇺91%🇨🇱9%
Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
9.9K to 33K

Market Insights

This ShowCategory Avg

No category insights available.

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Platform Distribution

Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly

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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.

On the show

Recent episodes

Introducing: American History Hotline

Jul 2, 2025

1m 13s

The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi

Aug 9, 2024

2m 42s

Introducing | Firebug

Jul 23, 2021

2m 29s

Introducing | Morally Indefensible

Aug 18, 2020

4m 05s

S2 [BONUS] The Ballad of The Ballad | The Ballad of Billy Balls

Aug 15, 2019

39m 04s

🔗

Social Links & Contact

Official channels & resources

🌐

Official Website

📡

RSS Feed

Episodes

every 100 days

Avg length

24m 43s

1m 13s – 41m 52s

Range

Aug 2020 – Jul 2025

Total runtime

10h

Last episode

11 months ago

24 of 24

Date	Episode	Description	Length
7/2/25	Introducing: American History Hotline	Hi, RFK Tape listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts' latest release, American History Hotline. American History Hotline: Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.   Listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio App or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	1m 13s
8/9/24	The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi	Listen to The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi here: https://lnk.to/confessionsofanthonyraimondiFD!rfktapes In 1978, Pope John Paul I was found dead in his bed just 33 days after he was elected. The official story is that he suffered a fatal heart attack. But in the years since his death, some have claimed he was murdered to cover up crimes in the Vatican. The question of the Pope’s death has never been definitively answered, but there is one man who claims to know the truth. A man from one of New York City’s crime families who has deep ties to the Italian mafia. He was there the day of the Pope’s death and witnessed his murder firsthand. Or, at least, that’s what he says. His name is Anthony Raimondi, and these are his confessions. From USG Audio and Truth Media in association with Clockwork Films.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	2m 42s
7/23/21	Introducing \| Firebug	From the co-creator of The Ballad of Billy Balls, Crimetown and host of Morally Indefensible comes a new podcast, Firebug. In the early 1990s, a manuscript for a novel called “Points of Origin” lands at literary agencies across the country. It tells the story of a fictional serial arsonist who lights up southern California. The thing is… the fires described in the novel may actually be real. Was Points of Origin a work of fiction, or the confessions of a prolific arsonist and murderer? Host Kary Antholis goes on a journey to figure out where fiction meets reality. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	2m 29s
8/18/20	Introducing \| Morally Indefensible	1979 is the year that Ex-Green Beret Doctor Jeffrey MacDonald is convicted of the murders of his pregnant wife and two young daughters. It’s also the year he meets a new friend in famous journalist Joe McGinniss. Joe agrees to write a book about Jeff’s case. That book becomes a smash bestseller and a TV limited series watched by over 65 million people, but the story it tells isn’t quite the story Jeff expected and that sets off a series of events that ruin both men’s lives…Who’s the real bad guy here, the journalist or the murderer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	4m 05s
8/15/19	S2 [BONUS] The Ballad of The Ballad \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	iO, Austin, and Zac sit down for a very special behind-the-scenes bonus episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	39m 04s
8/8/19	S2 [BONUS] The Lawslinger \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	iO and Austin pay a final visit to everyone's favorite lawslinger, Ron Kuby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	32m 02s
8/1/19	Introducing Crimetown, Season 2	From the same team behind The Ballad of Billy Balls comes Crimetown, Season 2. This season, Crimetown heads to Detroit, Michigan. From its heyday as the Motor City to its rebirth as the Brooklyn of the Midwest, Detroit’s history reflects a series of issues that strike at the heart of American identity: race, poverty, policing, loss of industry, the war on drugs, and our universal desire for a savior. Detroit’s a tough town, and its residents are even tougher. They’ve weathered riots, a drug epidemic, political scandal, and innumerable other hardships, but they’re still here—and they have stories to tell.Learn more at www.crimetownshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	9m 05s
7/18/19	S2 [BONUS] I'll Call You Back \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	iO returns some of the many compelling listener calls, while Austin checks in with old friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	33m 05s
7/11/19	S2 [BONUS] Leave a Message \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	In the afterglow of the season, we play some voicemails we've received from our wonderful listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	31m 12s
7/4/19	S2 [13] Life After Death \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	As the show comes to an end, iO tries to figure out what the wisdom of it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	41m 52s
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6/27/19	S2 [12] The Guy in the Cowboy Hat \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	The elusive character at the center of the mystery is found, and iO gets his story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	29m 21s
6/20/19	S2 [11] There’s Someone Under This Ground \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	iO takes Rebecca on a trip 37 years in the making. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	33m 20s
6/6/19	S2 [10] Something Bigger Than Me \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	iO's upbringing pushes him to a life or death moment, and his path toward healing leads straight to Billy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	41m 21s
5/30/19	S2 [9] Ophelia \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	Rebecca's grief in the years following Billy’s death leads her to an unlikely source of comfort, and a big surprise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	36m 18s
5/23/19	S2 [8] Cops Tend to Shoot \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	After months of anticipation, iO and Austin receive the biggest piece of evidence yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	35m 27s
5/21/19	Introducing Gangster Capitalism	Gangster Capitalism Season 1 is centered on the 2019 college admissions scandal that is exposing everyone from CEOs to celebrities. Award-winning documentarian Andrew Jenks uncovers the origins and inner workings of this unprecedented scam, introducing you to the people involved, and exploring the larger debate around higher education that is being brought to the forefront.Gangster Capitalism is a production of C13Originals, a division of Cadence13. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	6m 20s
5/9/19	S2 [7] The Hunt for Paper \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	iO and Austin track down some concrete evidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	27m 50s
5/2/19	S2 [6] Amanda \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	Amanda, a game-changing character, tells her story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	40m 02s
4/25/19	S2 [5] Those High-Powered Lawyers \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	Was there a conspiracy to murder Billy in order to keep him quiet? iO's search for an answer leads to a sobering reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	35m 12s
4/11/19	S2 [4] Get in the Wind \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	iO explores a darker side of Billy - did it lead to his death? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	23m 41s
4/4/19	S2 [3] Billy the Kid \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	As the investigation begins, iO explores Billy's journey to New York City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	30m 22s
3/28/19	S2 [2] He's Not Done Yet \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	After Billy dies, his body disappears and strange things start to happen. Rebecca insists the whole thing is a cover up and we set out to find the truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	24m 15s
3/28/19	S2 [1] Billy Balls and His Babygirl \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	New York City. The 1970s. Artists flock to the East Village hoping to make a name for themselves. Enter Rebecca, an aspiring model, who meets Billy Balls, a rock and roll musician like no other. They fall madly in love and are inseparable, until one night, when Billy is mysteriously shot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	29m 15s
3/21/19	S2 Trailer \| The Ballad of Billy Balls	"Crimetown Presents: The Ballad of Billy Balls" premiers March 28th, 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.	3m 30s