Forensic Tales

We are often told that if we accomplish as much as possible in a day’s time we’ll feel fulfilled come day’s end. Enter to-do lists, which provide focus, direction, and purpose. But action doesn't always equal progress; it's no surprise, then, that so many of us feel drained and dissatisfied once the sun goes down. On today's show: how to find freedom in your to-do list and (finally!) m...

We have nearly engineered out all discomfort from our modern lives. Great, right? Not so fast: doing so comes at our own expense. On today's show: comfort creep's harms, with practical thoughts on course correction.   Here's a preview: [1:30] Humans have evolved to prioritize comfort. What's so wrong with being ultra-comfy? [6:30] Research finds that when we adopt a new comfort in...

#198 - Doctors at hospital in England become alarmed after several premature babies start dying in the neonatal unit leaving some to wonder if someone working at the hospital is to blame.   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a positive rating with a review. You can also tell your family and friends about Forensic Tales. Patreon - If you woul...

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, October 13 2023: [00:30] The "apocalyptic" mass death of over 100 freshwater dolphins in the Amazon [3:00] The fall migration season and mass bird deaths in Chicago [5:30] Electric bikes may (finally) be getting cheaper [10:00] 3 cheers for Norway's latest re-wilding efforts [13:00] Are McMansions a thing of the past?   Resources mentioned:...

There are tens of thousands of chemicals currently used in the US and (shocker!) most aren't adequately tested for health and safety. The fewer we come into contact with, the better. Still, no one wants to stink. Enter deodorant and antiperspirant, two pesky places in which we conscious consumers can certainly buy better. On today's show: everything you never knew you *needed* to know abou...

#197 - In 1980, a young teenage girl is kidnapped while babysitting her nieces, leading to a four-decades long search for her killer. Can forensic science and new advancements in DNA testing help catch a child predator and finally put him behind bars for good? And are there other victims out there?   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a posi...

Your enviro-news for Friday, October 6 2023: [00:30] Everything you need to know about monster fracking  [5:00] Better late than never? Vaccines, horseshoe crab blood, and (finally) a synthetic alternative [9:00] Will our grandchildren know frogs? [12:00] Introducing the Climate Corps, a green jobs training program   Resources mentioned:  American Climate Corps  (via The White House)  Upstate NY p...

Cheat codes for living are handy tricks that help us navigate this crazy game called life in a more easeful (and perhaps more joyful!) manner. On today's show we break down 16 of the most important.   Here's a preview: [2:15] The hands down best way to rewire your brain to forget about rejection [10:00] Head or heart? Answering this age-old question once and for all (with the help of scien...

There may indeed be a singular solution that addresses environmental racism, the climate crisis, pollution, and withering US ecosystems simultaneously. That solution? Green Amendments. Constitutions are the people's documents. Although getting environmental rights included may indeed be ... well, difficult, advocates argue it's possible. In fact, it's already being done. Today attorney...

#196 - Three suitcases containing the dismembered body of an adult female and her unborn many are found washed ashore in a river in Pennsylvania. For decades, the identity of the woman and her baby stumped investigators until new forensic testing was used to identify her and bring her killer to justice.   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a...

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, September 29 2023: [00:30] Antarctic winter sea ice hits 'extreme' record low [3:00] Net-zero "pledges" and "ambitions" in the food and restaurant industries [9:00] Don't call it a (snow leopard) comeback [11:00] The simple and cost-effective way Japanese businesspeople are combatting emissions   This show is listener-support...

We humans have lived within a surprisingly narrow range of temperatures for most of our history. But this range? It's slowly and steadily moving north. As the planet warms and weather events become more severe, it's natural to wonder about safety. How do we know it's time to leave our beloved homes and move for good? Where are the so-called climate havens, and do they have infrastructu...

Difficult truth time: A child born today will live on a planet that’s hotter than it has ever been since human civilization developed. And us humans? We’re the ones who created this problem. According to one study, each child born in the United States adds thousands of tons of carbon to their parents’ lifetime carbon legacy. While some would-be parents rightly question whether it’s ethical to have...

#195 - One morning in 2012, 15-year-old high school cheerleader Sierra LaMar walked to her school bus stop in Morgan Hill, California. After that, she simply vanished off the face of the earth. What can the forensic evidence tell us about what really happened to Sierra and who is responsible for her kidnapping?   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leav...

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, September 22 2023: [00:30] Updates from the Climate Ambition Summit [2:00] Climate protesters march in Manhattan [4:00] California sues fossil fuels giants [11:00] Dogs are joining the conservation movement   Resources mentioned: Working Dogs For Conservation Join our (free!) community  here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on  Facebook,  ...

Sourdough bread is alchemy personified, as just 3 ingredients — flour, salt, and water — transform themselves into a delicious food item that also happens to be insanely healthy. Yet despite centuries of sourdough wisdom, 21st century bread is made with dozens of unnecessary (and perhaps unsafe) additives. And those microbiome benefits that sourdough boasts? Sadly, modern bread has none. Today in...

About 60 percent of the foods Americans eat these days are processed, and diet-related illnesses are the leading cause of mortality in the USA. If you’re like most people you may be spending your hard-earned dollars on food you’ve been told is healthy and safe but simply isn't.  Amidst both all the conflicting diet information and all the greenwashing it has never been more important to pay at...

#194 - When Shawn O'Brien mysteriously died inside his Cranston, RI, apartment, his family was left with so many unanswered questions. And not even experts in the field of forensic science can agree on what actually happened to him.   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a positive rating with a review. You can also tell your family and friend...

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, September 15 2023: [00:30] Biden blocks oil drilling in Arctic Alaska (yay!). But don't forget about Willow ... [3:30] Extreme heat and indoor recess  [9:00] A (gorgeous) once-extinct bird is reintroduced to New Zealand [13:00] Millennials are racking up 'romantic debt' in the pursuit of love   Resources mentioned: A Rare Pair of Chicks for...

Our experiences - the big trips, the small moments of joy, and everything in between - are the real wealth of our lives. So why is it that we consistently fail to do the things we're yearning to do? And how can we live lives that are experientially rich despite the daily grind? Today's show is a conversation with authors Bridget Hilton and Joe Huff about how to treat time as our most valua...

For many, weekends are for chores. They're also for carting kids to sports games and getting caught up on errands. But amidst all that driving and laundering, where are the opportunities to rest, rejuvenate, and fully live our lives? Feeling rested is so much more than a good night's sleep and on today's show we discuss research-backed ways to reclaim your time and wellness by making w...

#193 - A college student goes missing from his dorm room in 2014. But early on, the North Dakota police realized this was anything but a typical missing person search because Andrew Sadek was anything but a typical college student when he disappeared.   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a positive rating with a review. You can also tell you...

The enviro-news you need to know about for Friday, September 8 2023: [00:30] 3 cheers for the rise of tiny forests [5:00] What sea ice loss means for emperor penguins  [10:00] We're running out of groundwater ... [14:00] Revisiting climate havens   Resources mentioned: Episode  #137: 5 Facts About The Global Water Crisis Join our (free!) community  here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalis...

We live in a world that's always trying to sell us more stuff, and much of it is junk. Enter environmental degradation, wasted money, unnecessary headaches, and clutter. Lots of clutter. Today we continue this week's Buy Just Once theme with  BuyMeOnce.com  founder Tara Button, who's here to lay bare the tenets of what she terms 'mindful curation'. Here's a preview: [7:00]...

These days, durable and long-lasting products often seem like elusive unicorns. But they do exist, and finding them is a 2-step process. First, it's imperative that we check our collective predisposition for disposability at the curb. Second, we must learn insider tricks for discerning the buy-for-life products from the cheap junk that lines store shelves. Enter Buy Just Once Week!  On today&#...