Ignorance Was Bliss

How do you define success?This could be a huge, rabbit-hole type question, but when joined by my friend Michelle, we're able to stay comparatively focused on the topics of criminal justice and incarceration. And life, and finances, and... well, we tried.But, seriously: there are a handful of primary theories about what criminal justice and prison are supposed to accomplish. Do we come even close? (Hint: No.)Disclaimer: Mike Morford, from Criminology, Murder in my Family and Crime SpherePromos: The Hidden Staircase and Murder was the CaseSponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate for 15% off at checkout)

As a parent, I often think that the worst thing that could ever happen would be the death of a child. Mine, or another, it almost doesn't matter. The mere concept is almost beyond expression.But what if there's something even scarier? Warbaby from Murderous Minors: killer kids helps me lose sleep over a truly awful, all-but-next-door case.Disclaimer: Murder BlowsPromos: Good Nightmare and It's Always Funny in PhillySponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate for 15% off)

The rules and laws aren't necessarily consistent from state to state. We know this. But neither are the ways we handle emergency health care, including mental health crisis. Go listen to Episode 136 of Getting Off, for a discussion of how even the simplest distinctions can get real complicated, real quick, when you throw two lawyers and a psychologist together. Then come back here to listen to a few examples of the kinds of crisis evaluations that might happen in a jail. Disclaimer: Bonnie from Writing About CrimePromos: Bloody Murder and Something's Not RightSponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate for 15% off)

Gamers. A violent, unpredictable, antisocial bunch... or not so much. Derek (from Sometimes Geek and Rolling Misadventures) joined me to talk about the different ways to play, theories about violence and addiction, and several other major world problems.A chunk of the conversation was carved out, both due to time and content (nothing too scandalous, it just involved a 14-year-old and his classmates), so that's on my Patreon feed, at all tiers.Disclaimer: Warbaby from Murderous Minors: Killer Kids Promos: No Remorse and Folklore on the Rocks Sponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate for 15% off)

People are only locked away in psychiatric facilities for good reason... right? Right??Maybe not. I'm joined this time by Jenni and Shelby from Wives' Tales to talk about some of the late nineteenth century criteria for psychiatric admission, as well as a few urban legends and a lot of laughs (because involuntary hospitalization is just hilarious... or not, but we laugh instead of screaming...). List, for reference:https://dangerousminds.net/comments/list_of_reasons_for_admission_to_an_insane_asylumDisclaimer by Reed Messerschmidt from the Irrationally Exuberant podcast.Promos by Killafornia Dreaming and Killer Jobs.

Podcasters are just one big, happy, cheerful, supportive family... right? Well... no. Mostly, but like any big family, there are always a few particularly fun ones.I have had the privilege of getting to know a pretty sizeable pile of them, and the vast majority are genuinely fantastic people. I am honored to call them friends, I look forward to getting to check in with them through the day and getting to know them, both through and outside their work.And in the moments when I come across those I find less positive and happymaking, I remind myself of that majority.Helping me to do so this time is Justin, from The Peripheral and Generation Why. He's been around for a minute or two, and he knows a few things.Disclaimer: Minna from True Crime FinlandPromos: Mugshot and Vodka and GhostsSponsor: Bath By Bex

So you've found yourself on death row. You're guilty, both factually so and legally convicted. You're just waiting on your date, and you'll be done. But wait, there's one last step...Nicki T, from Strictly Homicide, joined me to talk through a case as disturbing for its lack of information as for its legal process. And, as we have all come to expect, some serious meandering from topic, because why not?? Disclaimer: MariticidePromos: Crime in Movies and Nordic True CrimeSponsor: Bath By Bex

Well, lookit that. 100,000 downloads?? And at least some of those must be on purpose... right? Right. As I watched the downloads accumulate, I started collecting "Ask Me Anything" type questions, and... boy, did you. So, get ready. And remember, this time, you -- literally -- asked for it.Disclaimer: Ashlie Promos: Corpus Delicti and Our True Crime Podcast Shoutouts: Martinis and the Macabre, Serial, Criminal, Minds of Madness, Nature vs Narcissism, MAUL, Augie Peterson, Obsura, Targeted, All Crime No Cattle, Blood on the Rocks, Mens Rea, People Are Wild, Hoosier Homicide, Go Postal, Sometimes Geek, Redrum Blonde, Our True Crime Podcast, True Crime Island, Dark Divide, Trace Evidence, The True Crime Enthusiast, Wives Tales, Cult of Domesticity, Wining About Crime, Dani, Sparky, Laura, Tosha, Louisa, Shannon... Sponsor: Bath By Bex (CBDkate for 15% off)

Attention, class. Please be seated. Actually, I don't care whether you're sitting down, but please do prepare yourselves for my effort at cramming an overview of a really complicated and broad and minimally understood phenomenon into 45 minutes. Wait, what? You thought we knew more about serial killers than that? Well... yes, and no. But hang in there, because after that, you can spend the next 45 minutes vicariously hanging out with me and another (but far cooler) podcaster, Mike Morford from Criminology, The Murder in my Family, and Crime Sphere. Is your brain full yet?? OK, good. Class dismissed... for now. Disclaimer: Getting Off podcast Promos: Targeted and SKRIM Sponsor: Bath By Bex (15% with code CBDkate)

There are certain things we don't talk about in polite society: Religion. Politics. Bodily functions. Alcoholism.Suicide. Let's ignore politeness and flaunt society, shall we? Because this stuff matters.So, so many thanks to my friend Pam, for her courage and vulnerability. Bravo to Kit from Forgotten News for an amazing disclaimer. Gratitude to Mike for a promo from The Murder in my Family.Kudos to Dese'Rae Stage for a seriously important project in Live Through This. I need a nap.  

In case my efforts at staying on topic, kind of, on Episode 37 were just not your cup of tea, fear not! Emily joined me for a remix on the ADHD/anxiety discussion (Now! With More Depression!), and things get both goofier and more intense. Disclaimer: Cambo from True Crime Island Promos: Irrationally Exuberant and True Crime Finland Sponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate at checkout for 15% off)

One bad night. One series of bad decisions. One wrong turn. And suddenly you're in prison, for decades. What's that like? What do you miss about the outside world? What is surprising? What should change? What is loaf, anyway?? Listen in on a conversation with Chris Roy, author, PR rep, and inmate at Parchman in Mississippi.  Disclaimer: Bethan at Seeing Red Podcast Promos: Swindled and Status Pending Sponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate for 15% off at checkout) Art: Chris Roy-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Roy is the author of Shocking Circumstances, Sharp as a Razor, and Her Name Is Mercie. He is a published tattoo artist (Rise Tattoo Magazine, ATC Tattoo Books app) and the illustrator of two children's books. Raised in South Mississippi, he lived comfortably with the criminal ventures of his youth until a fistfight in 1999 ended tragically. Since January, 2000, he's been serving a life sentence in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Nowadays he lives his

So you're in a cult... or are you? How do you know? When do you know it's time to get out, and how on earth do you do that, anyway? I don't have the answers to really any of these questions, but I found someone who knows what it's like firsthand...   Disclaimer: Roseanne from Killafornia Dreaming Promos: The Outlines and the Old Still Radio Show Sponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate for 15% off at checkout)

What makes a murderer? Who would possibly sign up to fight for a different country in a war with no personal significance? Just how immature is your host, anyway? These and more are addressed in a crossover involving three different countries, a 70-year-old murder and a botched (but maybe not so botched) execution in Canada.  Bonnie's regular podcast is Wining About Crime, and Minna's is True Crime Finland. Do yourself a favor and go binge them. Now. Maybe twice. Further reading on this case, if so inclined. (Though, no. I did not include a link to the Awful Awful Website. No.) Kallonen, K. (2016). Tähtilippu talvisodassa: Amerikan suomalaisen legioonan tuntematon tarina. Revontuli. https://www.truecrimelibrary.com/crimearticle/william-newell/   http://spacing.ca/toronto/2015/10/28/75-years-ago-silk-stocking-murder/   https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/bill-newell-wanted-to-divorce-aune-for-her-and-her-news-photo/502804495#/elna-lehto-bill-newell-wanted-to-divorce-aune-for-her-and-her-helped-picture

Some of the strongest, smartest, amazingest people I know are women with a history of addiction, two of whom I've never met in person, all of whom stubbornly refuse to see themselves as brave, admirable or beautiful.   Whatever.   They are, and I know it. Now you can, too, because I was joined by Kim (People Are Wild), Karla (Go Postal) and Danielle (Hoosier Homicide), to check in a month after our last conversation... to clarify, to update, and to tell a few stories. There might be inappropriate language and even more inappropriate humor.   Disclaimer is by Matt Bolea (1st Focus podcast). Promos by Relic and Killafornia Dreaming. Sponsored by Bath By Bex (use code CBDkate for 15% off at checkout).

"I don't want to seem pushy... but you're wrong." One might imagine that two female podcasters, one in the crime/psychology genre and the other a horror fiction writer, would have a lot in common. One would be both correct and incorrect.   A big thanks for Augie Peterson for talking through some complicated stuff with me today. Promos by Canadian True Crime and Out of the Shadows. Sponsored by Bath By Bex (code CBDkate for 15% off).

Recently, I was joined by Jason Eric Ross, psychotherapist, actor and writer, to answer the age-old question:What happens when two psychologists come at topics from different backgrounds but similar goals? ...guess you'll just have to tune in to find out. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Podcasts covering Keith Hunter Jesperson: Dark Poutine True Crime All the Time True Crime Guys ---------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer by Hoosier Homicide. Promos by The Unseen and Murder Blows. Sponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate at checkout for 15% off).

If you haven't already checked out our shared episode on Chris' excellent show, Killer Jobs, please head over there and listen to that, first. It's not strictly necessary, in order to enjoy this one, but it will fill in a lot of blanks and maybe you'll pick up on a few more of the goofy references. Regardless, whether you wanted it or not, here you go: my concerns about sentencing and incarceration, my thoughts on what we should change first in the criminal justice system, and why this whole damn episode leaves me more optimistic than I have felt in a really long time. Because Chris and I come at this stuff from very different philosophies and perspectives, yet we're able to engage in a respectful, intelligent discourse without resorting to name-calling or insults.   Amazing.   Promos from Blood on the Rocks and Dark Histories.

A quick-and-dirty sort of episode, to give you an update on the case that we talked about on Episode 32... Scott Reeder from Suspect Convictions called to talk about jury selection, the experience of being a court reporter, and why paper books still matter.  Book: https://www.amazon.com/Short-Strange-Life-Herschel-Grynszpan/dp/087140740X  

This episode is different for me, in several ways.   For one, it has not one, but two disclaimers. The first is done by Allyson from Dumb and Busted, and she did a lovely job. The second was my own compulsion, because the episode goes into much more graphic and specific details of a serial rapist and murderer's crimes than I typically include.   For another, about half of it is scripted, and I never script anymore. It stresses me out. But I was helped -- and this is the next big exciting difference -- by the incomparable Roseanne, from Killafornia Dreaming. She wrote the first half, and I mostly stuck to it without getting distracted or perfectionistic!   The second half is where we go entirely off-script, and we land in places that are both familiar and completely unexpected.   Buckle in, kids. It's a wild ride.   The Flickr album containing unidentified subjects in photos from Alcala's storage locker is: https://www.flickr.com/photos/scpr/sets/72157623600695928/Promos by Murderous Minors: Killer Kids and Mi