Forensic Tales

How to Buy Nothing By Joining a Gift Economy   Have you ever heard the popular saying, “Nothing in life is free”? Thanks to Buy Nothing groups, this platitude isn’t *exactly* true. Gifting has been around for almost as long as humans, and such economies rely on relationships—not personal gain—to spread love and share resources. And although market economies have pushed gifting aside in recent cent...

#029 - September 11, 2001 is a day all Americans will forever remember. But the 9/11 terrorist attacks weren't the only thing that happened. While the world watched the World Trade Center buildings crumble to pieces, the family of missing 31-year old Sneha Philip were busy searching for her. The missing doctor hadn't been seen or heard from since the day before the attacks, September 10, 2001. Was...

Advanced Simple Living Tips for Seasoned Minimalists   Simple living is a lifestyle that refuses to accept busy and harried as normal. Instead, intentionality is about removing unnecessary conflicts, excessive to-do items, and pointless distractions as a means of experiencing all life has to offer. But if you Google “how to live slow” (or some facsimile thereof), you will likely see the same strat...

#028 - Oscar Pistorius, also known as "Blade Runner", is a South African former professional sprinter who competed in 3 Paralympic Games and the 2012 Olympics as a double amputee. He was celebrated as the first amputee runner to ever compete at an Olympics Games. But, blade runner won’t just be remembered for his athletic achievements. He will also be remembered as a murderer. In 2015, h...

  5 Facts Carbon Footprint Facts You Likely Didn’t Know   Carbon footprints are confusing. What’s a carbon footprint, exactly, and how is yours related to climate change? Carbon footprints are a handy-dandy metric that makes clear how severely your lifestyle impacts the planet.  Your diet, travel habits, and your home’s cooling and heating practices are just some lifestyle considerations that may...

#027 - The man simply known as B.T.K, Bind Torture and Kill , has become known as one of America’s most notorious serial killers. From 1974 until 1991, BTK was responsible for murdering 10 people in the Wichita, Kansas metro area. Including 4 members of the same family.  After selecting and killing his victims, he taunted the police by sending letters and poems, detailing the events of the murders...

  Eco-Conscious Gifts for New Parents (That Are Actually Helpful)   Are you always on the hunt for gifts for new parents, but often feel as though you’re coming up short? OR do you plan to become a new parent someday but find it difficult – if not downright impossible – to distinguish true needs amidst all the hype? It’s time to discern new baby Must-Haves from Don’t-Needs, once and for all. On th...

#026 - On March 1, 1932, the 20-month old son of the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh went missing from his bedroom. The kidnapper or kidnappers left behind a ransom note demanding money for the return of the Lindbergh baby. The missing baby and the hunt for his kidnapper became the biggest story since the Resurrection. How could forensic evidence help investigat...

How to Simplify (and Green-ify!) Housework   Laundry, dishes, and general home cleaning: Mundane housework got you down? Sustainable minimalism is about doing less and living more. The good news? It’s entirely possible to apply the tenets of sustainable minimalism to housework by simplifying tasks, minimizing magnitude and -finally! – incorporating incremental eco-friendliness to our efforts. On t...

#025 - This is Part 2 of the Staircase Murder. On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the staircase inside her home in Durham, North Carolina. Her husband, Michael Peterson, discovers the body and was thought to be a tragic accident. But, as the forensic evidence evolved in the case, the incident started to look less like an accident. And more like a homicide. Suppo...

How to Save Money Like a Minimalist   The minimalist lifestyle often centers itself around possessions. Yet how we spend our money – what we choose to buy and how long we must work to make purchases – matters, as the tenets of minimalism uniquely lend themselves to finances. Indeed, simplified money matters can reduce stress, contribute to savings goals, and increase free time. On today’s show I s...

#024 - On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the staircase inside her home in Durham, North Carolina. Her husband, Michael Peterson, discovers the body and was thought to be a tragic accident. But, as the forensic evidence evolved in the case, the incident started to look less like an accident. And more like a homicide. Support My Work If you love the show, the eas...

Environmental racism occurs every day and all over the globe. Worse, it rarely receives the media attention it deserves. In the United States, African Americans are more likely to live near toxic waste facilities and breathe polluted air. Their communities are less likely to receive adequate protection to prevent disasters and – when disasters do occur – they are less likely to receive an immediat...

#023 - In the late 1990's, a young wife and mother goes in for a routine plastic surgery procedure, but doesn't survive. Shortly after the patient's tragic death, the wife of the surgeon in charge of the procedure falls ill with what appears to be intentional poisoning. Was this revenge for the botched cosmetic surgery that cost an innocent woman her life? Or, was this something else entirely? Onl...

COVID-19 has forced many of us to look critically at consumerist culture for perhaps the first time. If you don’t like what you see, you aren’t alone. Although anti-consumerism is countercultural, it isn’t uncommon. Proponents argue that breaking free from the purchasing hamster wheel ushers in financial freedom; it provides clarity around what’s *actually* important, too. My guest this week is Al...

#022 - The disappearance of 13-year old Yara Gambirasio became known as the murder that obsessed Italy for years . Her killer left behind DNA on her clothing, but Italian police could only identify him as "Unknown 1". But, the police didn't know who "Unknown 1" was. His DNA didn't match any sample in local or national DNA databases. It was as if their suspect didn't even exist....

  Summer is all about living the simple life, with extended bedtimes, spur-of-the-moment jaunts, and a general commitment to squeezing out every last frills-free moment in the sunshine. But thanks to unnecessary purchases, chemical-laden sunscreen and bug repellent, and unsustainable vacations that create excessive carbon emissions, our summer celebrations may harm the planet. The good news is it’...

#021 - In early 1999, the small lake town of Newman Lake, Washington, experienced a string of crimes that almost seemed more fiction than reality. They involved murder, arson, fraud and embezzlement, and... it involved suicide . How might the popular choice of breakfast, cereal, help forensic scientists bring a cold  blooded killer to justice? Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way...

The best online thrifting stores Prefer vintage? Love designer? If you have a distinct style – or if you simply prefer new clothes! – you may assume that thrifting couldn’t possibly be for you. But thanks to 5 of the best online thrifting stores, secondhand shopping makes thrifting for unique styles, shapes, and price ranges accessible for all of us. Corporations have fed us the false truth that n...

#020 - What happens when you mix religion, with sex, with jealousy, with lies . You get the perfect combination that leads to not only murder, but one of the most highly followed criminal trials in history. It's a case that instantly became a media sensation . Millions tuned in daily to watch live courtroom footage of the trial, the testimonies, and the stories. This is the complete story of Jodi...

5 Unique Ways to be Frugal Without Being Cheap   Pennypincher. Tightwad. Cheapskate. Under normal circumstances, public opinion tends to shun frugality. But frugality has been reborn, so to speak, thanks to the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Many are wasting less food and experimenting with gardening. Others are making conscious efforts to send less to the landfill by reusing, repurposing, and rethin...

#019 - A well respected Canadian doctor is accused by one of his patients of rape in October 1992. The only problem is, the patient doesn't remember anything the night of the assault. The doctor voluntarily takes 3 separate DNA blood samples, each time proving his innocence. His DNA did not match the rape kit. Years would go by without an update, until one day, a shocking admission would force the...

Work From Home Tips (Konmari Homeschool Ideas, too!)   Quarantined in a small space with a big family? Establishing spaces within our homes that work for everyone, including the work from home professionals, the homeschooled kids, and the adults in charge of keeping All. The. Clutter. under control maintains cohesion and reduces family tension. My guest this week is minimalist and Konmari consulta...

#018 - Best friends Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" Rose Lynn German were murdered while hiking near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, Indiana in February 2017. Before their murders, Libby secretly recorded the killer on her cell phone. Police have the suspect's voice, photo, and even have him on video. But as of today, the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German r...

Fair Trade, Certified B and More   Ever wonder what the Fair Trade label on products *really* means? How about that elusive Certified B Corp distinction? “All-natural”, “fat-free”, and “non-toxic” are blanket marketing statements that have no real meaning. But third party certifications? Their distinct logos distinguish the best from the rest. Yet while certifications are meant to give consumers c...