CrimeLess Podcast: True Crime With a Twist | Will Ferrell & Johnny Knoxville Bring Comedy to Chaos
Move over, grim true-crime documentaries — there’s a new player in town turning felonies into fun. Hollywood comedy meets true crime in “CrimeLess,” a brand-new anthology podcast that blends mystery, mischief, and mayhem — with a wink.
Produced by an all-star lineup — Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network, iHeartMedia, SmartLess Media, and Campside Media — this isn’t your typical dark and brooding true-crime series. Instead, it’s a laugh-out-loud, eyebrow-raising look at real crimes so absurd they sound like movie scripts.
The debut season, “Hillbilly Heist,” takes listeners on a chaotic ride through one of America’s most unbelievable robberies — a story of ambition, greed, and spectacularly bad planning. And leading the charge? None other than stunt icon and comic legend Johnny Knoxville, who narrates the wild escapade with his trademark grin.
What Is “CrimeLess”? The Birth of a Genre-Bending Podcast
In a world overflowing with dark true-crime stories and gritty docuseries, “CrimeLess” dares to ask: What if we could laugh at the stupidity behind the crimes without trivializing their consequences?
This podcast series merges the meticulous storytelling of investigative journalism with the comedic sharpness of improv and satire. The result is an audio experience that’s both shocking and side-splitting.
Each episode revisits outrageous real-life crimes — from harebrained heists and crypto capers to monkey gang wars — dissecting what went wrong, who got caught, and why it’s impossible not to laugh.
The collaboration between comedy giants and crime storytellers brings a fresh voice to a genre that usually thrives on tension. Instead of gasping at horror, listeners are giggling at human folly.
The Dream Team Behind “CrimeLess”
The creative partnership driving CrimeLess is nothing short of podcast royalty:
🎬 Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network — known for producing comedy gold like The Ron Burgundy Podcast
🎙 iHeartMedia — one of the largest podcasting platforms in the world
🎧 SmartLess Media — the brainchild of actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, best known for their chart-topping show SmartLess
🎤 Campside Media — the production house behind acclaimed investigative hits like Chameleon and Hooked
Together, these industry powerhouses are reinventing the true-crime wheel with humor, heart, and Hollywood polish.
Season One: “Hillbilly Heist” – The Dumbest Great Robbery in History
Launching October 15, 2025, “CrimeLess” opens with an eight-episode miniseries titled “Hillbilly Heist.”
This debut arc dives deep into the bizarre yet true story of David Ghantt, a small-town security guard who somehow managed to pull off the second-largest cash theft in U.S. history — and almost got away with it.
Ghantt’s story has it all:
Millions in stolen money
A band of hopelessly unqualified accomplices
A trail of mistakes so absurd it’s hard to believe it’s true
Knoxville, who narrates the series, sums it up perfectly:
“If there’s one thing I love, it’s criminals who are bad at being criminals. They’re not evil — just spectacularly bad at planning, worse at execution, and absolutely hopeless at cover-ups.”
Inside the “Hillbilly Heist”: A Comedy of Criminal Errors
The story of David Ghantt and his accomplices reads like a Southern-fried Shakespearean comedy — if Shakespeare wrote about armored trucks and piles of cash.
Here’s a snapshot of how the “heist of the century” went hilariously wrong:
💰 The Inside Job: Ghantt, a security guard at Loomis Fargo, fell for his coworker Kelly Campbell, who convinced him to help rob his own company.
🚚 The Getaway: The crew stuffed $17 million into a van but left behind key evidence — including security footage of their faces.
🏠 The Aftermath: Ghantt fled to Mexico, where he quickly ran out of cash and patience.
👮 The Arrests: The conspirators began spending lavishly, drawing immediate FBI attention. They were caught within months.
The absurdity of it all made the case legendary — inspiring the 2016 film Masterminds, and now, the CrimeLess team is retelling it with the flair and insight only comedy veterans can provide.
Johnny Knoxville: The Perfect Narrator for Chaos
If you were going to cast someone to narrate a story about reckless decision-making and outrageous stunts gone wrong, Johnny Knoxville would be the obvious choice.
Known for pushing limits in Jackass and Fear Factor, Knoxville brings an unfiltered, cheeky energy that matches the “Hillbilly Heist” tone perfectly.
“David, Kelly, and Steve aren’t hardened criminals,” Knoxville laughs in the podcast trailer. “They’re people who thought robbing a bank was a fun idea — until reality hit.”
His narration transforms the tale from a simple crime story into a roller-coaster of missteps and mishaps that somehow keeps you rooting for the underdogs — even as they dig their own graves.
The Comedic Duo Taking Over: Rory Scovel and Josh Dean
After the “Hillbilly Heist” finale in December, CrimeLess will shift gears into a weekly anthology format hosted by:
Rory Scovel — acclaimed comedian and actor, known for his absurdist humor and sharp social commentary.
Josh Dean — veteran journalist, true-crime podcaster, and co-founder of Campside Media.
Together, they promise to uncover crimes so bizarre they’ll make listeners question how these events ever happened — and laugh at the irony of it all.
Each new episode will tackle a different wild story, ranging from:
Ridiculous heists and scams
Crypto cons and digital hustles
Animal-related crimes, like infamous monkey gangs
And other unbelievable true tales of human mischief
This rotating format ensures that CrimeLess never grows stale — every week is a new dive into the absurd side of criminal behavior.
Why “CrimeLess” Works: Humor as a Gateway to Truth
The magic of CrimeLess lies in its ability to find humor without cruelty. The producers understand that crime can be tragic — but they also know that sometimes, the stupidity behind it deserves to be examined (and laughed at).
Three Reasons “CrimeLess” Stands Out in a Crowded Market
Comedy Meets Journalism The show merges investigative rigor with comedic timing, offering depth and entertainment in equal measure.
Real Stories, Real Lessons Beneath the laughs, CrimeLess reveals the psychology of impulsive criminals, exploring greed, ego, and the human tendency to overestimate genius.
Celebrity Power with Purpose With names like Ferrell, Knoxville, and Scovel, CrimeLess is not just a podcast — it’s a pop-culture event redefining true-crime storytelling.
Behind the Mic: The Producers Speak Out
Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts, calls the collaboration a creative milestone:
“We’re thrilled to team up with SmartLess Media and Campside on such a unique, hilarious project. Pairing Rory and Josh’s comedic curiosity with Knoxville’s narration gives listeners something totally new in the true-crime genre.”
The teams at Campside and SmartLess Media echo that sentiment — noting how the blend of humor and high-quality storytelling is exactly what modern audiences crave.
From “Hillbilly Heist” to Crypto Crimes: What’s Next for “CrimeLess”
After the debut arc, CrimeLess plans to dive into an even wilder roster of cases:
“Crypto Chaos” — A tale of scammers, blockchain billionaires, and digital delusion.
“Monkey Mafia” — A hilarious yet shocking exploration of animal gangs terrorizing towns.
“The Great Pancake Fraud” — Yes, someone once faked an entire breakfast-food company to launder money.
Each episode promises the same sharp humor and jaw-dropping storytelling — balancing absurdity with insight.
The Future of True Crime Podcasts: Why Humor Works
The rise of “darkly funny” crime shows isn’t accidental. Listeners are craving relief from the constant gloom of traditional true-crime.
“CrimeLess” taps into that shift, offering:
Catharsis through laughter — Humor helps audiences process the chaos of real life.
Fresh storytelling energy — It avoids clichés, focusing instead on the sheer unpredictability of human behavior.
Broad audience appeal — From true-crime buffs to comedy fans, everyone finds a hook.
How and When to Listen
🎧 Premiere Date: October 15, 2025
📱 Where to Stream: Exclusively on the iHeartRadio app for early access
🔁 Wider Release: Episodes drop every Wednesday on all major podcast platforms
🎙 Hosts Transition: Knoxville narrates “Hillbilly Heist” (Episodes 1–8), followed by Scovel and Dean starting December 10, 2025
So whether you’re on your morning commute, at the gym, or winding down after work, CrimeLess promises an irresistible mix of crime, comedy, and chaos.
Final Thoughts: “CrimeLess” Redefines What True Crime Can Be
True crime has long been one of podcasting’s most successful genres — but it often leans into darkness. With “CrimeLess,” the creators are proving that you can laugh at the absurdity of crime while still respecting its consequences.
By transforming unbelievable criminal escapades into cautionary tales with a comic twist, CrimeLess delivers something audiences didn’t know they needed — a break from the bleak, without losing the truth.
