‘Mama Mystery’ podcast builds true crime following from serial entrepreneur’s St. Joe home studio

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri — Kelly Evans is no stranger to a good mystery. But the real puzzle, the mother of four said, is how she mastered multitasking her true crime podcast, multiple businesses, and a radio show — all while hooking her audience with gripping storytelling and a dash of humor to balance out the horror of real-life stories.

“I started out doing hair, and I owned a salon with one of my best friends,” the “Mama Mystery” podcast host said of her former business, Blush Hair Studio in St. Joseph. “We opened it three months before COVID forced us all to shut down. I had nothing else to do.”

Kelly and Austin Evans; courtesy photo

With two kids at home at the time, Evans leaned into her longtime fascination with true crime. She started a YouTube channel, but quickly realized the production demands were overwhelming. That’s when she and her husband, Austin, made a game-changing suggestion in 2020 to evolve the idea into a podcast instead.

“I didn’t even know what a podcast was at the time, to be honest,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve always loved true crime, writing, and storytelling. So I just kind of combined those passions into a true crime podcast.”

Now, “Mama Mystery” draws thousands of loyal listeners every Tuesday for deep dives into chilling cases. The podcast gained national attention with a four-part series on the Casey Anthony case, released concurrently with a documentary from Peacock a decade after the high-profile courtroom drama (in which a mother was accused of murdering her daughter, but ultimately found not guilty).

“I remember how irate I was when she was acquitted,” said Evans. “When she came out 10 years later, trying to spin the narrative, I was very passionate about reminding people of the details.”

Click here to explore cases covered by “Mama Mystery.”

Her coverage resonated with audiences, leading to a wave of new listeners, including Melissa Rycroft, television personality and former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, who raved about “Mama Mystery” on her own podcast.

“That was kind of a turning point,” Evans said. “People saw how passionate I was about not just that story, but all stories.”

 

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Austin and Kelly Evans family at Kris and Kate’s Ice Cream in 2020; courtesy photo

From ice cream to investigations

In addition to “Mama Mystery,” the Evans own multiple ventures in St. Joseph, including Kris and Kate’s, a community-favorite ice cream shop, Fit Republic, a fitness supplement store, and Lean Kitchen, a meal prep business that has since expanded into a national franchise.

Despite managing multiple businesses and now four children, Evans still makes time for recording her podcast, she said. Her early episodes gained traction quickly, thanks in part to the addition of Austin as a co-host.

His off-the-cuff reactions and comedic timing have made him a fan favorite, she said. 

“Sometimes he says stuff that I’m like, we might have to edit that out,” Evans laughed. “But most people have been really accepting of that, and they enjoy it. So I appreciate them appreciating him.”

Click here to follow the Evans and their “Mama Mystery” podcast on Instagram.

Austin and Kelly Evans of “Mama Mystery”; courtesy photo

More cases, more CrimeCon, and a radio gig

Evans has big plans for “Mama Mystery,” including its continued presence at CrimeCon — returning to podcast row at the September event in Denver.

“CrimeCon is such an amazing experience for true crime lovers. You get to meet experts, learn about forensic science, and even meet your favorite creators. Last year, someone came up to our table and started crying because they were so excited to meet us. That was surreal,” she said.

Beyond the podcast, Evans has also ventured into radio, joining Kansas City’s Q104 for True Crime Tuesdays, a recurring segment with morning show host and longtime local media personality Jenny Matthews.

“I went down and hosted the morning show with her one day, just because she was so into true crime,” Evans said. “We just clicked so well that now I’ve been back a few times, and then at the start of the year, we decided to make this a weekly thing.”

Even with other ventures, Evans still feels driven by her original mission to tell the stories of victims; shedding light on the mysteries that still haunt their loved ones. 

“I’m very passionate about innocent people who were victimized by either total strangers or by people who love them,” she said. “My heart really breaks for those types of cases, especially the ones that went unsolved or where justice was not served.”