Forensic Tales

Cooking takes time, and few of us have time to spare. Convenient food options—like processed snacks, meal subscriptions, and even takeout—solve problems for busy adults who feel the pull towards what's quick and easy, and those with disabilities view such options as daily necessities. But for those of us who are able and do indeed have a bit of time? Convenient alternatives have disconnected u...

#094 - In May 2004, the body of 23-year-old Alonzo Brooks was found In La Cynge, Kansas, 27 days after he was reported missing. He was last seen attending a house party with friends but he never returned home from the party. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death promoted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate Alonzo's death. Bu...

Non-toxic, eco-friendly living is rapidly growing in popularity, and many corporations that sell home cleansers are modifying their marketing (not their products!) to garner more sales. We may not have the time or energy to DIY our own cleaning products, and rampant greenwashing muddles our best attempts at finding the products aligned with our values. What are green cleaners, exactly, and where c...

Excessive amounts of shoes. Keys that are somehow always lost. We feel it when our entryways *don’t* flow, sure. But in what ways can we elevate an entryway’s function while also ensuring that it remains aesthetically pleasing? My guest today believes that tidy homes elevate personal style. This week I’m speaking with globally recognized home organizing expert Shira Gill who’s here to offer up her...

#093 - In September 2010,  Florida sheriff deputies are called to the scene of an apparent suicide. When the police arrived at the condo, they realized the condo belonged to a fellow deputy within the department. Inside the bathroom, they found deputy Jeremy Bank's girlfriend, Michelle O'Connell dead from a gunshot wound to the head. There was Jeremy's service weapon on one side of her body. And a...

“Do you have any tips for making kids arts and crafts more sustainable? I have a craft shelf that the kids love. I keep it stocked and love to encourage their creativity, but it feels so wasteful!”   Pom pons, glitter glue, and googly eyes, oh my. While we all want to provide our children with opportunities to express their creativity, I believe there’s a fine line between offering artistic inspir...

Your Minimalism-Guided Life And Career   67% of workers say excessive meetings keep them from getting their best work done, and up to half of an employee’s day is wasted on unproductive effort (source). While we are well-versed in the whys and hows of slow living in our personal lives, our professional ones may be hindered by societal expectations and workplace norms. This week, Chris Lovett and I...

#092 - In May 2008, 13-year old Aarushi Talwar was discovered dead in her bedroom by her parents, Dr. Nupur and Dr. Rajesh Talwar in Noida, India. The Talwars suspected that the family's live-in servant, Hemraj Banjade, was Aarushi's killer. But Hemraj was nowhere to be found after the murder. Early on in the investigation, the police failed to secure the crime scene and caused valuable forensic e...

Apple pie, Jack-o-lanterns, and gourds galore: Autumn has arrived! Saving money and environmental resources starts by reducing—or even better, eliminating—food waste in your home. With a bit of forethought, we can get creative in the kitchen and commit to making use of *entire* food items this fall. In this short and sweet episode I’m offering my best suggestions for using every part of our favori...

Automobiles convey freedom and status. They’re also a symbol of modern convenience: why walk when you can drive? Why take public transit if you can ride in the comfort of what’s decidedly yours? But a car’s convenience comes with a host of environmental problems that extend beyond the obvious guzzling of gas (which indeed comprises approximately 80-percent of a car’s impact). An automobile’s befor...

#091 - On April 27, 2012, mother and wife Lisa Cutler was found dead in her bathtub. Lisa's husband, Chad, insisted to the police that his wife committed suicide.  Can forensic science help determine whether Lisa's death was an accident, suicide, or murder? 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...

“I really like fixing and building, and my wife and I like to go around on garbage day and pick up useful odds and ends. This of course also turns into a lot of stuff from a minimalist perspective. How do you deal with useful things that have no specific purpose yet?”   I believe that determining an item’s potential starts first by knowing thyself. On today’s show, I’m explaining my concept of the...

Amidst 2021's frenetic pace, curating a life that satisfies your professional, financial, and familial obligations and also leaves space for fun may seem unattainable. What's work-life balance, and is achieving such balance even possible? Today I speak with author, chef, and farm CEO  Shannon Hayes . Despite her many professional endeavors, Shannon makes sure to find time for coffee dates...

#090 - On August 22, 1990, Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson drove to “Lovers Lane” in a wooded area of Houston. They were never seen alive again. Cheryl’s body was found underneath a fence not too far from Andy’s abandoned car. She’d been sexually assaulted and murdered. Andy’s body was discovered tied to a nearby tree. His throat had been slashed so deeply that his head was nearly decapitated. Hous...

“I have to ask about your handmade soap recipe. How do you make soap at home? I’ve been thinking about making my own for a while (maybe also add some oat pulp that remains from making oat milk?). It would be interesting to see if there’s a minimalist and safe way to  make homemade soaps.”   Ever wondered how to make soap at home? Here’s a secret: soap making is ridiculously easy; it’s also fun! In...

Supermarkets rose to prominence in the 1960’s and these days, the grocery store is the Number One place where Americans buy food. But supermarkets have disconnected us from our food; worse, the global food chain is responsible for up to one third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Making smart food decisions starts by first understanding the intricacies of global food supply chain. This...

#089 - In 1992, a Tennessee man who worked at the Knoxville Zoo was arrested for murdering four local women. But after his arrest, he claimed he wasn't the person responsible for the murder. It was his alter-ego, Kyle. 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...

Electromagnetic fields (or EMFs, for short) are all around us. While anything that uses electricity deploys EMFs, the rise of wireless technology has exponentially increased our exposure to EMFs in recent years. But what’s particularly concerning is that such products that boast convenience—the wireless ones, the “smart” ones—aren’t necessarily safe for ourselves or for our families. In fact, the...

“My question is about moving. I have four weeks to pack up my house and the amount of plastic we will probably be needing is giving me nightmares already. Any eco-friendly moving tips for me?”   Carbon emissions from diesel-burning trucks. Excess trash (a.k.a. all the stuff not moving with us) we’re sending to landfills. Bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, tape, plastic liners, and countless other singl...

#088 - Since 2007, at least 20 detached human feet have washed up onshore in British Columbia, Canada, and the United States. Many of the feet were discovered still inside a single shoe. The shocking discoveries led many to believe there was a serial on the loose with a foot fetish. Could forensic science explain why so many feet washed ashore? Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way...

“I would love to know what your minimalist eco-friendly skincare essentials looks like, especially in the dry summer months.”   While using too few skincare products can leave your skin dehydrated and undernourished, using too many can disrupt its natural pH. Minimalist skincare is a ‘thing’, and dermatologists argue that a comprehensive routine relies on just 5 products. On this bite-sized episod...

How To Be Better At Budgeting   In America, capitalism entices us to spend now and pay later. But paying for what you don’t need with credit is a precarious practice, as living outside of your means may create a shaky financial future. Today I’m speaking with Certified Financial Counselor Ericka Young. Ericka helps clients learn how to be better at budgeting, as believes that successful money mana...

#087 - In December 1991, four teenage girls were brutally murdered inside an Austin, Texas "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt Shop." Even though suspects have been arrested over the years, the case remains unsolved three decades later. Can DNA evidence obtained from the crime scene help solve this 30-year old case? Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is b...

“I have struggled with climate anxiety for awhile now … I try to have a positive look on the climate crisis and say that we can still fix it but … it’s taking its toll. How do you not get stopped by this? Can we still fix the climate?”   The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC) released its latest report earlier this month, and its outlook was dire. The report—prepared by 234 scientist...

Surprise, surprise: Our culture reveres youth. Getting older, then, becomes a dreaded rite of passage that many of us feel we must outrun. And although dyeing our graying hair is one way in which we can turn back the clock for at least a little while, conventional dyes are full of toxic chemicals including formaldehyde, ammonia, and titanium dioxide, to name a few. This week, guest Megan Mikkelson...