CrimeCon 2024: I Volunteered… Because Who’s Paying $300+?

Bree Leaves
Jun 18
3 min read

Let’s kick this off with my very first True Crime Travel experience: CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee—a weekend-long convention dedicated to everything true crime, from the investigative to the outrageous. And yes, I was there… but I didn’t pay for a ticket (because hello, this is BreeLeaves—paying full price is against my religion, if I can avoid it).

Instead, I volunteered! 🙌🏽

CrimeCon brings together true crime fans, podcasters, journalists, advocates, law enforcement, and TV personalities for panels, meetups, and behind-the-scenes insights into some of the most fascinating and heart-wrenching cases out there. The event is hosted by CrimeCon, produced by Red Seat Ventures, and has become the go-to gathering for fans of justice and mystery alike.

Each year, it takes place at one of the iconic Gaylord Resorts (you already know I love the Gaylord!). 2024 was in Nashville, and the 2025 edition is heading to Denver. And yes… every single CrimeCon has been hosted at a Gaylord. I’m still salty I didn’t get to see all of the ICE! winter productions last year, but I’ll be running that back this fall. Best believe.

Volunteering: Work Hard, Fangirl Harder

The CrimeCon volunteer team is equal parts work and play. For every half-day shift you work, you get to enjoy the convention for the other half. Do a full-day shift? You earn a full day’s access. That’s a huge win in a world where con tickets can run hundreds of dollars.

I met amazing people while helping out—and I got a front-row seat to moments money literally couldn’t buy. I even had the honor of volunteering during the Clue Awards, where I saw Chris Hansen (To Catch a Predator), John Walsh (America’s Most Wanted), and my favorite podcast duo from A Date With Dateline be honored on stage.

👉🏽 Interested in volunteering? CrimeCon is always looking for great people!

Check out the volunteer info here.

The Panels, the Podcasts, the VIBES

One thing about CrimeCon? It’s podcaster paradise. From top-charting shows to rising voices in the true crime space, the lineup is packed. Some standout moments from this year:

Sistas Who Kill — Hosted by MaRah and Taz, this podcast centers Black women and tells the stories you don’t always hear in mainstream true crime. Seeing them on the lineup was a full-circle moment for me. We’re not just the subject—we’re the storytellers, too.
A Date With Dateline — My personal favorite, and I nearly screamed seeing them in person. They blend comedy and compassion like no one else in the true crime world.
The Clue Awards — CrimeCon’s Oscars, honoring the best in storytelling, reporting, advocacy, and podcasting.

There were also live episodes, Q&As with FBI profilers, case deep-dives with victims’ families, and a sprawling podcast row where you could connect with creators up close. I promise you—it’s a true crime nerd’s Disneyland.

But Where Were the Black People?

Now listen. As much as I loved every second of CrimeCon, I have to say—it was shocking how few Black attendees I saw. And that’s wild, because we love true crime. We listen. We engage. And we’re often the subjects of the stories told.

I want to see more of us in those rooms. More Black faces in podcasting. More Black vendors. More of our voices in panels, in advocacy, in journalism, in the audience. CrimeCon is a space we belong in, too.

And if I have anything to do with it? I’m bringing us with me, one trip at a time.

Travel Tip: Ball on a Budget Like Me

BreeLeaves is about more than aesthetics—it’s about navigating the world as someone who’s Black and BROKE. In this economy, I want to maximize my fun while minimizing my costs. So here’s the game plan for CrimeCon Denver 2025:

✈️ Book that cheap Frontier flight

🏨 Grab an affordable hotel or split a room

📝 Sign up to volunteer (and skip the ticket price!)

🍽️ Budget for snacks, souvenirs, and your fave pod merch

You don’t need a VIP badge to have a VIP experience.

Final Thoughts: This Is Just the Beginning

CrimeCon was the perfect start to what I’m calling my True Crime Travel Era. But this is just one stop on a journey I plan to take worldwide. Did you know there’s also CrimeCon UK and even The CrimeCruise?! Baby, when I step on that ship, just know I’ve reached my final form.

Until then, I’ll be highlighting the crime history, ghost tours, criminal hotspots, and travel tales that bring BreeLeaves into uncharted territory.

Because we’re not just brunching—we’re investigating.

Stay curious. Stay cautious. Stay tuned.

—

Bree