New True-Crime Podcast, Come Closer, Debuts

You have to hand it to true-crime podcaster Rae Review (AKA Kendall Rae). She truly commits to the role. She has nearly two million followers and a popular podcast, and is a trusted name in true crime. Not only that, but she just unveiled Come Closer — a new podcast, a new identity, and a new favorite destination for the darkest true crime.

Rae Review’s work focuses on blending in-depth research with storytelling and personal commentary. Her style often emphasizes victim advocacy, examining the human psyche, and exploring the pursuit of justice. In addition to her regular case coverage, she frequently partners with networks like Netflix and Lifetime to discuss documentaries and true crime adaptations.

To be clear, Come Closer is not a rebranding, but an evolution. The same mind, the same analytical lens, the same unflinching commitment to the truth of dark things — now fully, visually, unapologetically herself.

Even her marketing pitch gives me the willies: “She came from darkness. She knows it intimately. She does not live there, but she is not afraid of it. She goes back, regularly, on purpose — and she takes her audience with her. She is in full glamour makeup, but the character is armor. The glamour is not performance for an audience. It is the thing that makes it possible to stand in front of the worst of humanity and hold steady. Beautiful women have always done this. They have always been underestimated while being looked at. Rae uses that.”

In every episode, Rae Review is your tour guide through one of history’s darkest stories, as you dive into the most unsettling details to uncover the sordid truth lurking at the bottom. Prepare to be uncomfortable, and come closer…

This isn’t just a revamped podcast. In collaboration with Mercury, this is an evolution of her entire brand, bringing all channels in sync to create a powerhouse of true crime content.

Mercury, an innovative independent podcast network, has been collaborating closely with Rae throughout this year, and with the launch of Come Closer, they hope to leverage her existing audience to create a huge new brand that owns the darkest corner of the true crime space. Mercury is representing distribution and sales for Rae across all platforms, including podcast, social, and YouTube.

The first episode of Come Closer is now available on all podcast players. Listeners can also binge all previous episodes of Dark Stories, available on the same feed.

“We have loved working with Rae on bringing her bold idea to life,” says Mercury founder and CEO Liam Heffernan. “This is an evolution, not just of Rae’s brand, but of the entire true crime genre. Come Closer is dark and immersive, but it has a strong moral compass as its core. It’s a one-of-a-kind show, and we’re about to change the game!”

Mercury Podcast Network was born from the lived experience of its founder, Liam Heffernan. Like many independent podcasters, Liam encountered a common challenge familiar to all indie creators: while the shows were strong in content, they lacked the time, visibility, and strategy to grow into sustainable ventures. Promotion and monetization often felt out of reach.

Through years of navigating the ups and downs of podcasting, Liam noticed a striking gap in the industry. At one end sit the massive, celebrity-driven shows that dominate listener attention and advertising dollars. At the other, countless small podcasts struggle to find their footing. But in the middle exists a vibrant tier of talented, independent creators, shows too good to be overlooked, yet too small to attract traditional network support.

Mercury was designed to serve this overlooked community. Its ambition is clear: to build an ecosystem for independent podcasters to create, collaborate, grow, and earn. Mercury is a big network with an independent spirit, tearing down gatekeepers and giving a platform to the best indie shows and creators. Unlike larger networks burdened by high costs, Mercury is built to grow sustainably, providing the right support without compromising independence.

Today, Mercury is home to a diverse slate of standout podcasts, and its mission is simple but ambitious: to level the playing field, empower indies, and make space for voices that deserve to be heard.

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There’s an odd duality to awards in podcasting. There are a lot of different award programs within the industry. However, most of those award organizations set their sights on the most high-profile podcasts and hosts instead of the BEST podcasts, often developed and hosted by highly skilled but relatively unknown podcasters.

The NYC Podcast Awards proudly display its independent streak, with its Director, Cory Choy, noting, “The NYC Podcast Awards recognize excellence in audio storytelling while championing voices that have been historically underrepresented. We believe exceptional podcasting knows no boundaries — whether geographic, cultural, or economic — and our awards reflect that commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.”

Last week, Awards Director, Cory Choy, announced, “While some in the podcast industry chase video feeds and AI-generated content, the NYC Podcast Awards and the audio communities they support are doubling down on the opposite. The awards — featuring the iconic LIBBY statuette — have opened submissions for their second season, with a live ceremony in New York City on March 12, 2027.”

Entries are open now at www.podcastawards.nyc and close November 15, 2026.

Organized by Emmy Award-winning Silver Sound, the NYC Podcast Awards launched in direct opposition to download-first culture, recognizing exceptional audio CRAFT, the CREATORS themselves, and CONTENT quality. The inaugural festival drew 100+ nominees from around the globe, crowned winners across 38 categories, and filled Bravo Studios in Manhattan during a raucous and joyful, admission-free winners’ celebration.

Cory proudly tells us: “Year one of the NYC Podcast Awards proved there is an expansive world of extraordinary audio work that deserves more attention. Year two is about continuing to showcase the best work, known or unknown. Winning a LIBBY Award is a serious accomplishment, and winning shows will be amplified by our festival and the Silver Podcast Network.”

The LIBBY statuette, a vintage microphone reimagined as Lady Liberty, was designed by Zach Shukan of Omega Darling and has quickly become one of the most sought-after audio awards because of its unique look.

New for 2027 are five categories, including Best Field, Foley’d, or Found Sound — a celebration of recording the real world in the age of AI — along with Creator awards honoring immigrant creators and creators with disabilities, Best Community/Local Podcast, and Best Debut Podcast.

Cory explains: “That brings the field to 54 categories across the awards’ three pillars — CRAFT, CREATOR, and CONTENT — with the Creator Award Hall of Fame permanently honoring excellence from historically underrepresented voices through categories named for figures including Hari Kondabolu, Debbie Millman, Noura Erakat, Joanna Fang, and Grace Lee Boggs. Creator Award entry is free with any paid submission.”

In addition, every category also crowns an Audience Choice winner, voted entirely by the public when nominees are announced February 4.

Accessibility remains central: entry fees are $75 for students, $100 for independents, and $150 for companies, with full-fee-waiver scholarships available by application (announced November 10, 2026). Eligible episodes are those created January 1, 2025, or later, and entry is open to creators worldwide.

I was honored to be a judge last year, and the entire process was organized and supportive of indie podcasters. This awards process is a necessary counterpoint to the big-name, high-profile awards that establish submission fees that are not affordable for indie podcasters and often assuage their guilt by creating one indie podcast category so that they can tell the media that they “support indie podcasters.”

To me, if you are going to hand out awards in podcasting based on metrics like downloads and plays, don’t bother with the nominations and judging. Just choose the winners based on the latest Podtrac rankings. BUT, if you are attempting to discover and illuminate quality creative content that lands with an audience (regardless of size), then give indie podcasters a fair chance to compete.

Submissions open at www.podcastawards.nyc on November 15, 2026. Submissions close (late entries accepted through December 1, 2026, at a 50% surcharge). On February 4, 2027, Nominees will be announced, and an audience vote opens Mid-Feb 2027.