Forensic Friday

The 2012 disappearance and murder of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway in Westminster, Colorado, shattered a community and forced parents everywhere to re-evaluate their children's safety. This episode revisits the tragic case and the unsettling capture of her killer, Austin Sigg. We engage in a difficult but necessary debate about sympathy for the killer—examining his troubled history and whether...

A data breach on an app touted as a safety tool for women inadvertently exposed personal private information about its users. Women using the app to share information about men then had their information leaked by men. Where does the line fall between sharing red flags and defamation? Is it okay to share pictures of men without consent in the name of safety? We spill the tea on the Tea app. Tell u...

Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, better known as the Hillside Stranglers, were a pair of cousins who became one of the most infamous serial killer duos in American history. In this episode, we revisit their reign of terror and the victims they left in their wake. We also explore the critical psychological themes that emerged during the investigation. We'll discuss malingering, as one killer...

A listener (who we love) submitted a question that we really want to talk all about. What is trauma, and do all traumas require therapy? We talk through some common definitions, talk a little about trauma therapy, and give you some things to look out for if trauma might be sneaking up on you without your knowledge. Ad for Southeast Counseling in Parker, CO Support the show Disclaimer: Jeannine and...

 Join us as we recount the baffling case of Amy Bradley, a college student on a family vacation who disappeared from a cruise ship more than 25 years ago. We'll walk through the timeline of the events on the Rhapsody of the Seas , from Amy's last known interactions to the moment her absence was discovered. We’ll also analyze the various leads, from her family's tireless search effor...

In this episode, we give our takes on the sentencing of Bryan Kohberger. We read through our favorite portions of the families' victim statements and the harsh words from the judge. We also talk about what we know more about the unsealed evidence, and why we think he took the plea instead of fighting it out in court. Ad for Southeast Counseling in Parker, CO Support the show Disclaimer: Jeann...

Who among us hasn't been caught snuggling an affair partner in the kiss cam at a rock concert and gone mega-viral? Oh...none of us, that's right.  But why do people cheat? And can a relationship recover? Moving beyond simplistic explanations, we consult Esther Perel's transformative insights into why people cheat, often revealing a longing not just for another person, but for a diff...

In this episode, Nat and Jeannine give a quick look at two developing cases a little too close to home: a man who tried to commit a legit axe murder in a parking lot near the office, and a body that was found on the side of the highway. We talk a little bit about the demographics of DV, prevention and self-preservation, and why you gotta look out for those red flags. Support the show Disclaimer: J...

Shortly before and less than 5 miles away from the largest annual gathering of domestic violence providers in Colorado, an offender was arrested and charged with multiple violent offenses and then released on bail. Then, while the conference was ramping up, Nat and Jeannine (along with all the other early attendees) got a cell phone alert to lock down due to an active shooter in the nearby Blue Ri...

Y'all...we are so tired! We're back from our annual conference with brains full and voices shot. We just want to shout out some of our wonderful friends and fans we met in the mountains and let you know we appreciate all our listeners. We're keeping it brief this week to let our voices (and out producer) rest, but we love our Forensic Friends! Support the show Disclaimer: Jeannine a...

In this episode, we discuss the July 20th, 2012 mass shooting at the midnight premier of the Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado. We talk about the events that took place and the heroic actions of law enforcement in the immediate aftermath. We dissect the deep psychological issues that plagued Holmes throughout his life and discuss his mindset in the lead up to the atrocity, including a debate a...

Back by request, we bring you more of our hand-picked, ripest, reddest flags. Who is paying for dates? Who's criticizing whom? And bro, why is your ex calling me rn? Listen in and sound off in the comments and DMs about your own list of dating red flags Ad for Southeast Counseling in Parker, CO Support the show Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information....

How does a seemingly reckless act by teenagers escalate to murder? We dive into the Joseph Koenig case, where a night of throwing rocks tragically ended a life. This episode unpacks the psychological factors behind such actions, including the unique challenges of juvenile impulsivity and the powerful, often unseen, force of peer dynamics that can lead young individuals astray. We'll also prov...

In this episode we talk about the effects of DV and high-conflict relationships on kids in the house. Yes, they hear it. Yes they notice. Yes it affects them. No, being on the ipad doesn't protect their brain from the stress. Listen in for a breakdown of some statistics, some brain physiology, and a whole lot of experience from Nat and Jeannine. And remember, it's never too late to turn...

This episode we turn our focus to the ongoing Lindsey Shiver case, using it as a lens to explore the critical issues surrounding high-conflict divorce, the welfare of children, and adherence to legal mandates. We investigate the dynamics of the Shivers' separation, discussing the failures in co-parenting that often accompany such disputes. A significant part of our conversation will center on...

Ever wished you had a roadmap for trust? This mini-episode introduces you to just that: Brené Brown's transformative BRAVING framework for the Anatomy of Trust. Discover how setting Boundaries, demonstrating Reliability, practicing Accountability, holding a Vault, showing Integrity, offering Non-judgment, and extending Generosity are key to both earning and discerning trust. We'll explor...

Catch a quick update on the Karen Read verdict before we plunge into a true crime story almost too wild to believe: the case of Michelle Hadley. Imagine being falsely accused, jailed, and facing life in prison for horrific crimes you didn't commit, all at the hands of your ex-partner and his new spouse. This episode uncovers the intricate and twisted 'rape fantasy' Craigslist scheme...

Caution: spoilers ahead!  In this episode, we talk about the Netflix series Ginny and Georgia and discuss what the writers absolutely nailed about the characters' personalities (and personality disorders, maybe?) and the real world consequences we've seen in kids who grow up in emotional turmoil and traumatic, criminogenic, and antisocial households. Ad for Southeast Counseling in Parker...

Join us as we recount the chilling story of Ariel Castro, the Cleveland man who abducted and held three young women captive for years. This episode walks through the disturbing timeline of how Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus disappeared, their agonizing decade in captivity, and the complex investigation that eventually led to the charging Castro with 977 horrific crimes. We examine...

When it comes to a relationship, there's a fine line between quirk Rom-Com persistence and being on the wrong end of a Lifetime thriller. In this episode, Nat and Jeannine share their list of the top red flags you might miss in that pink relationship cloud. From cyberstalking to early codependency to the underhanded leaving-my-earring-behind, we help you identify problem behaviors before you...

In this follow up episode, we talk about Sherri Papini's not-so-glorious return to the spotlight. We dissect the latest documentary and try to suss out what part of her latest story is truth or fiction (or somewhere in between). We also give our thoughts on things like histrionic personality disorder, childhood trauma and attention seeking, and how easy it is for some therapists to get snowed...

Do you believe you're the architect of your own success, or a pawn in a game of chance? This quick dive into locus of control will help you figure it out! We explain the core tenets of internal locus of control – where your efforts drive outcomes – versus external locus of control, where luck, destiny, or other people call the shots. Discover how identifying your dominant locus of control can...

How did one individual's hatred and sense of entitlement spark a dangerous movement? In this episode, we explore Elliot Rodger's profound influence on violent incel culture. We break down the elements of his worldview, including his distorted locus of control, and his acts of violence that resonate within these communities, leading to his 'saint'-like status among some. We&apos...

Ahead of this Friday's episode, here's an introductory episode designed to clarify the often-mystifying world of incels and the redpill movement. We define essential terms, from the symbolic 'red pill' to the archetypes of 'Chad' and 'Stacy,' explaining the foundational beliefs that fuel these online groups. This episode is crucial listening to understand th...

In this episode, we talk about the case of the so-called "cool mom", Silvia Ann Johnson, who engaged in drug fueled sex with her high- school- aged kids' friends, ultimately ending some lives and destroying others. We talk about the underlying psychology of what kind of person does something like this, the criminogenic needs that do and don't feed this kind of behavior, and tou...