Forensic Tales

Eco Conscious Christianity with Lisa M.   Meet Lisa from Adelaide, Australia. Lisa is a long-time podcast listener who believes that eco conscious living is the ultimate expression of her Christian faith. She excels at reducing carbon emissions from transportation (her family only has one vehicle, and it’s an electric car), but she has trouble cutting down on soft plastics. In our conversation tod...

#054 - In 2008, 2-year old Caylee Anthony from Orlando, Florida was reported missing by her grandmother, Cindy Anthony.  The missing toddler hadn't been seen for 31 days. Her mother, Casey Anthony, claimed her daughter had been kidnapped by the babysitter. Within hours of the missing persons report, Casey Anthony was arrested in her own daughter's disappearance. What happened next turned Case Anth...

Feng Shui, Meet Modern Minimalism   Modern minimalism is all about clean lines, clear countertops, tidy spaces, and houseplants. (Lots of houseplants.) But feng shui, too, has a lot to say about whether or not your living space feels peaceful, and that’s why the modern minimalist movement would do well to take a few cues from this ancient Chinese philosophy. Indeed, combining old design ideals wit...

#053 - In 2014, 12-year old Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier were charged with attempted first degree intentional murder. The girls plotted their attack for months. On the day of the attempted murder, Morgan and Anissa lured their friend, Payton Leutner into the Wisconsin woods and stabbed her 19 times with a kitchen knife. Morgan and Anissa said it was "kill or be killed". They claimed th...

When Living Green Gets Exhausting   I’ll just go ahead and say it: eco-friendly lifestyles can leave us feeling weary, and that’s because living green requires extra time, patience, energy, and—sometimes—financial means. But the heaviness associated with choosing sustainable choices day in and day out stems from experiencing a trifecta of difficult emotions, too, including confusion, hopelessness,...

#052 - Part 2 - The brutal murder of kid beauty pageant contestant, JonBenet Ramsey inside her Boulder, Colorado home on Christmas 1996 sent shock waves felt around the country. Her killer left behind a  3-page ransom letter demanding $118,000. Quickly into the investigation, her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey came under an umbrella of suspicion as possibly being involved in JonBenet's murder. But...

Eco Friendly Laundry Products and Routines   While bathrooms boast zero-waste swaps and kitchens can overflow with sustainable alternatives, the laundry room is considered the final frontier for offering eco friendly products. Indeed, Americans continue to discard nearly 1 billion plastic detergent jugs each year, and just one third of them are recycled. Laundry products have remained staunchly un...

#051 - Part 1 - The brutal murder of kid beauty pageant contestant, JonBenet Ramsey inside her Boulder, Colorado home on Christmas 1996 sent shock waves felt around the country. Her killer left behind a  3-page ransom letter demanding $118,000. Quickly into the investigation, her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey came under an umbrella of suspicion as possibly being involved in JonBenet's murder. But...

New Year’s Resolutions for All   It’s mid-December and you know what that means: It’s time to start thinking about your 2021 new year’s resolution. Resolutions tend to be self-serving. Humans as a species are often centered around the self, and so it’s no surprise, then, that when we plan our resolutions for the coming year many choose ones that benefit the individual. But my guest today argues th...

#050 - On May 29, 2016, eyewitnesses watched as a SUV drove off a 200-foot cliff on the winding Hana Highway on the island of Maui. The SUV was seen accelerating towards the cliff with no signs of breaking. Inside the SUV were two identical twin sisters, Alexandria and Anastasia Duval. The terrible crash left one twin injured and one twin dead. The police believed the crime scene evidence pointed...

Sustainable Fashion: Where It’s Been & Where it’s Going   Although sustainable fashion has come a long way in the past 3 decades, ethical clothing continues to suffer from some quite-common misconceptions: It’s boring. It’s expensive. It’s beige. Is it possible to find affordable, transparent, and sustainable fashion in today’s world, or are we not *quite* there yet? Today I bring you an inter...

#049 - On January 26, 2011, 27-year old elementary school teacher Ellen Greenberg was found dead inside her locked Philadelphia apartment. She had a total of 20 stab wounds to her chest, stomach, and back of her neck.   The initial autopsy ruled her death a homicide until the ruling was reversed a few weeks later to suicide.   For over 9 years, the Greenberg's have fought to get their daughter jus...

  How to organize your way Many times, we organize our homes the way we see organization done on television. But if you’ve ever looked to the gurus for tips on how, exactly, to organize, you may have felt disappointed when your efforts didn’t translate into long-term success. When your home is organized in a way that’s in alignment with your unique personality, you work less and relax more. That’s...

#048 - Christian Andreacchio, a 21-year old from Meridian, Mississippi, was found dead inside his apartment from a single gunshot wound to the head. His death was ruled a suicide but the circumstances surrounding his death left his family wondering what really happened inside that apartment in February 2014. Was this a tragic suicide? Or was there more to the story? For a complete list of sources...

How to Live Below Your Means (Without Feeling Deprived)   There are only two ways to live below your means: One is to earn more; the other is to spend less. Living below your means boasts obvious benefits including increased financial security and decreased financial stress. Having a savings net is also a critical step toward self-sufficiency because it provides a buffer against setback, too. This...

#047 - On Thanksgiving day 2009, four members of the same family were shot and killed by another family member.  Following the murders, the shooter evaded police capture for five weeks. What caused the shooter to turn the gun on his very own family? For a complete list of sources used in this episode visit forensictales.com Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support...

How Minimalists Combat the Symptoms of Burnout   The symptoms of burnout include fatigue, hopelessness, and diminished motivation. And while Western cultures revere busyness, simplifying schedules and paring down To-Do Lists benefit our health, our happiness, and our sanity. Minimalism at its most fundamental level is an experiment in intentional living, and so on today’s episode we explore how a...

#046 - Between September and October 1982, seven people throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area were killed after ingesting the over-the-counter painkiller Tylenol. The pills were discovered to have been laced with cyanide. Their deaths sent shock waves throughout the country and forever changed the way we take medicine in the United States. The person behind the Chicago Tylenol murders r...

Sustainable gifts for everyone on your list They’re nearly here: The holidays. As consumers, we have a collective responsibility to support companies that have ethical and eco-friendly practices at the center of their missions. Still, greenwashing runs rampant, and it can be difficult (if not downright impossible!) to discern sustainable gifts from no-so-sustainable ones as we give to loved ones....

#045 - In November 1978, four employees of a Burger Chef fast food chain in Speedway, Indiana were murdered in cold blood. A poorly investigated crime scene led the murders to become a cold case lasting over 4 decades.   Will forensic science be able to finally solve the Burger Chef murders?   Support My Work   If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a positive...

The Case for Part-Time Plant-Based It’s likely no surprise that plant-based diets are better for the planet than carnivorous ones, as shifting food production from meat to vegan proteins could remove up to 16 years’ worth of global fossil fuel CO2 emissions (source). Vegan diets support animal rights and holistic health, too. But despite the countless benefits of going plant-based, my guest this w...

#044 - In January 2013, 17-year old high school student Kendrick Johnson didn't return home from school. The following morning, his parents learned that their son missed class the day before. Something that was completely out of character for the student. Nearly 21 hours after Kendrick Johnson was last seen, a couple students made a shocking discovery inside the high school's gym. A discovery that...

  The Effects of Climate Change on Human Health   Global warming and climate change threaten wildlife, ecosystems, and existing ways of life. There’s plenty of evidence that the effects of climate change are already impacting human health, too. Some American politicians on the campaign trail pontificate over the big picture and argue that climate change poses an existential threat to human beings....

#043 - For three weeks in October 2002, the areas of Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia were terrorized by a series of coordinated shootings. Innocent people were being gunned down at gas stations, bus stops, and while just walking down the street. At the end of the rampage, 17 people would be murdered and 10 people would be seriously injured. The killers became known in the media as the D.C....

  10 Secrets of Successful Declutterers   There’s a big difference between declutterers and *successful* declutterers. In fact, a lot of time, effort, and intention goes into creating (and maintaining!) a tidy home. This week, I divulge 10 minimalist secrets that keep my living space decluttered. I’m hopeful the 10 tips will help you, too, as you consider both how to best create your version of a...