Dr Fiona M Girkin - Shenanigans Podcast

In most episodes, we have examined one case in depth, but in this special and final episode, we will examine five neonaticide cases from three countries: Paris Mayo from England, Katarina Jovanovic from Germany, and Alexee Trevizo, Alexis Avila, and Melissa Drexler from the United States. Through these stories, we will compare and contrast circumstances, methods, legal outcomes, and the role of da...

In this episode, we revisit one of the most infamous cases in American true crime: the Susan Smith case. A young South Carolina mother, in 1994, strapped her two little boys into their car seats and rolled the vehicle into a lake, drowning them in cold water. She then spent nine days lying to the world, claiming a Black man had carjacked her and kidnapped her sons. This is a story of manipulation...

Watch on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast app. In this episode, we descend into one of Britain's most notorious House of Horrors: the case of Rose West. A mother of eight who, alongside her husband Fred, turned their family home into a torture chamber. Rose didn't just fail to protect her children – she actively participated in their abuse and the murders of at least ten young women and...

Neonaticide is the deliberate killing of a newborn within the first 24 hours of life. Almost exclusively committed by the mother, it is often linked to pregnancy denial. Megan Huntsman, a Utah mother who, over a decade, secretly gave birth to seven babies, taking the lives of six of them within minutes of their first breath. She then stored their tiny bodies in cardboard boxes in the garage like u...

In this episode, we examine the heartbreaking case of Kristel Candelario. A 32-year-old mother from Cleveland, Ohio, who chose a beach vacation in Puerto Rico over the life of her 16-month-old daughter, Jailyn. She left the toddler alone in a playpen for more than ten days with only a few bottles of milk. What followed was a slow, agonising death from starvation and dehydration. This is a story of...

In this episode, we confront one of the most disturbing cases in recent true crime history: Lori Vallow Daybell, the so-called "Doomsday Mom." A former beauty queen and mother of three who spiralled into apocalyptic delusions, ultimately sacrificing two of her children to satisfy twisted beliefs that they were evil zombies. This was in part fuelled by her desire to marry and start and have an unte...

From YouTube momfluencer to convicted child abuser — the shocking downfall of Ruby Franke. In this Podcast episode, we dive deep into the disturbing case of Ruby Franke, the Utah mother of six who built a massive following on her channel "8 Passengers" by promoting strict parenting and "tough love." What viewers saw as wholesome family content slowly revealed itself as something far darker, with e...

Welcome to the latest podcast series from Shenanigans, Bad Mumma. This podcast series dives into the chilling true stories of maternal monsters who harm their children. From stories of newborns thrown away like trash, to mothers who don’t want parenting to get in the way of a career or a holiday. To stories of women who hold their children captive to discipline them. I am Dr Fiona Girkin, a specia...

The Dark Beauty Series ends here – and it’s the most important episode yet. In this feature-length finale, clinical psychologist Dr Fiona M. Girkin connects the dots across nine real cases of women who deceived, manipulated, abused, and even killed. From Elizabeth Holmes and Anna Delvey to Erin Patterson, Melissa Caddick, Belle Gibson, Sherri Papini, Istarlin Hassan, Jordan Worth, and Sarah Rigby...

In this powerful episode, we highlight the landmark UK case of Alex Skeel, a 21-year-old father from Bedfordshire who endured nine months of horrific abuse from his girlfriend Jordan Worth—the first woman convicted of coercive control. Meeting as teenagers in 2012, their relationship produced two daughters but descended into isolation, starvation, and brutal violence: Worth stabbed Alex with knive...

In this chilling episode, we examine the notorious "mushroom murders" case of Erin Patterson, the 50-year-old Victorian mother convicted of poisoning her estranged husband's elderly relatives with death cap mushrooms hidden in beef Wellington. On July 29, 2023, Patterson lured Don and Gail Patterson (75 and 70), along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson (66) and her husband Ian (66), to her Leong...

In this powerful episode, we uncover the shocking case of Gareth Jones, a 40-year-old NHS worker from Cheshire, who endured nine months of brutal psychological, physical, and financial abuse at the hands of his partner, Sarah Rigby. What began as intense "love bombing" on a dating app spiralled into a nightmare of coercive control, humiliation, and violence. Gareth was forbidden from using the toi...

In this episode, we dive into the unbelievable story of Anna Sorokin, the fake heiress who conned New York’s elite by posing as ‘Anna Delvey.’ From lavish hotels to exclusive events, Anna spun a web of lies that fooled banks, friends, and high society circles. We unpack her rise, her scams, the fallout for her victims, and what her story reveals about greed, ambition, and deception. Website – www....

In 2016, Sherri Papini vanished during a morning jog, sparking a nationwide search and fear of a brutal abduction. When she reappeared weeks later, her shocking story of being kidnapped by two women gripped the media. But years later, the truth came out: it was all a hoax. In this episode, we break down the case, the lies, the FBI investigation, and the lasting impact on her family and community....

Istarlin Hassan, a mother of seven from Victoria, was accused of masterminding one of Australia’s most shocking welfare fraud schemes. Over several years, she allegedly exploited multiple government programs—including childcare subsidies, parenting payments, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)—to pocket an estimated $800,000. Investigators claim Hassan misused NDIS funds meant for...

Belle Gibson’s story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of misinformation and influencer culture. Her case highlights the importance of verifying health claims, questioning authority, and holding fraudsters accountable. While she has largely disappeared from public view, her legacy serves as a stark reminder: always fact-check before placing trust in online personalities. Contact: info@drfiona...

**This episode includes references to suicide, please seek assistance if you find this episode upsetting** Melissa Caddick’s story is one of deception, greed, and fraud against family and friends. Melissa was raided by the Australian Federal Police and the following day she disappeared. Her foot turned up on a beach several months later. The rest of her remains have never been found. While her vic...

Elizabeth Holmes' story is a powerful reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of ethical leadership. Her rise and fall offer critical lessons for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone navigating the high-stakes world of innovation. Thanks for tuning in. Stay with us for more stories that reveal the human psychology behind the headlines. References [1] Theranos Founder Eliza...

Leadership Shenanigans started as a podcast about leading, following and running away, focusing on leadership and coping with toxic behaviour at work and at home. Since completing her PhD, Dr Fiona Girkin from Tasmania, Australia, wants to focus this podcast on the bad side of human nature. You will get to hear about the dark side of everyday people and how psychopathy and other dark traits can ca...

Gaslighting was the most searched term on Google in 2022 even though the term has been around since the 1930’s it appears to become the new ‘it’ word.  Gaslighting is when one person manipulates another to make them question reality.  In the episode learn about who are the instigators and victims and how to protect yourself of workplace bullies who use gaslighting. Enjoy!   Episode Links: Very Wel...

We all have toxic people in our lives who we wish would find someone else to torment.  But what if the person you find exhaustedly emotionally draining is at work.  How do you know they are toxic?, Why are they being such a self-esteem vampire? And what can you do to combat their impact on you? Learn all this and more. Cause lets face it, humans are complicated!   drfionagirkin@gmail.com  

In July 2022, I presented at the WorkSafe Tasmania Conference, Safe Minds, Safe Bodies. This is the audio recording of my presentation, Enjoy! Workplace culture can make or break the mental health and well-being of employees. One of the key impacts on culture can be individual interactions in the office, at the warehouse or around the water cooler if respect and empathy are missing. This presentat...

R E S P E C T .... it can sometimes be hard to get as a leader.  In this episode you will learn about how to give and receive respect as a leader.  You will be learn 5 key ways to gain respect from your employees as well as how to develop an understanding of why someone might be disrespectful.  Enjoy Fiona :)  drfionagirkin@gmail.com  

I can't believe its nearly been 2 years since I last recorded a podcast, why? Because I have been procrastinating. I could give you a million excuses but what it comes down to is a list of poor excuses.  Episode #7 will discuss procrastination and a few strategies for over coming putting things off for another day, so like me you don't get 2 years down the track and still not done anything on your...

A deadly virus is a psychopath’s dream and although non-criminal psychopaths known as primary psychopaths or successful psychopaths are not normally killers they could essentially become secret killers in a pandemic. In the workplace, a psychopath may use this time to carelessly put staff in danger. They may appear to be abiding by the rules giving out hand sanitizer or expecting you to bring your...