My Favorite Detective Stories

• October 15, 2018
• by John A. Hoda
• Articles

Debuting in June 2018 with a tripleheader, My Favorite Detectives Stories is a podcast for investigators with investigators (and investigative journalists) hosted by, you guessed it, an investigator. When starting to think seriously about my encore career and what resonated most, I wanted to leave a legacy of helping other investigators in an entertaining format. I've had a great forty-two years of detective work, first as an insurance fraud investigator and then as a private investigator, but I want to inspire people new to the investigation profession with the stories from heavy-hitters of how they got started, who were their mentors, why they decided to pursue a career in investigations, and most importantly, what their favorite stories were.

When cops, detectives, and private eyes get talking around the bar, the stories flow like the latest seasonal brew on tap. “Did I ever tell you about the time I was in the south side of Chicago?" The story is told and the next guy says, "That reminds of the time in Key West when..."

Before you know it, people eavesdropping from nearby tables and bar stools form a circle and now the storytellers have an audience of avid listeners. Many private investigators can attest to this when they go to a party or dinner engagement and get prodded to talk about the latest caper. Long after the plates are cleared, and another pot of coffee is brewing, the guests are begging for more. Today, my guests’ stories are told via the Internet for both private investigators and the general public to enjoy on johnhoda.com. The podcasts vary from 30 minutes to an hour, allowing us to go in-depth and cover the stories in full detail.

Every Monday, a new podcast arrives with new stories, insight, and perspective. I’ve spoken with a variety of investigators, from Ken Mains, author of Unsolved No More and co-star of the History Channel’s Hunt for the Zodiac Killer, to a Librarian, turned Internet Sleuth, Cynthia Hetherington, and with Pat McGaha, former Shreveport, Louisiana Homicide Detective and prolific blogger.

We are more than a dozen shows into this inaugural year and show no signs of stopping. We receive high praise for our content focused podcast full of heavy-hitters and investigative experts. We focus on storytelling and advice for a podcast that is as exciting as it is informative.

My request of the guests is simple and honest: a great personal story to tell aspiring investigators along with one or two entertaining stories. The podcast lets the investigators develop their story, drawing myself, and the listener, into all the engrossing details.

For an overview of our guests and what to expect on the podcast, take a listen to our promotion snippet:

John A. Hoda is the owner of Hoda Investigations, LLC in Milford, CT specializing in Personal Injury, Wrongful Convictions, Locates and Statement-Taking. He is the creator of the DVD: The Ultimate Guide to Taking Statements. His cases have appeared in the headlines of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New Haven Register. He is launching a three-book series of How to’s for Private Investigators at Thanksgiving along his crime thriller "Odessa on the Delaware."