Forensic Tales

Less is more, and not just with possessions: A minimalist lifestyle decreases stress and increases peace of mind. Many of us could benefit from intentional lifestyle tweaks that prioritize free time, reduce financial stress and curate fulfilling relationships. The single-best way to accomplish all these (lofty) tasks? Simplify wherever possible. On today’s show I’m thrilled to offer 6 minimalist l...

#004 - Jeffrey MacDonald was a decorated U.S. Army Officer and Physician. He lived the All American Dream by all accounts. He had a beautiful wife, Colette and two daughters, Kimberely and Kristen. Jeffrey's life was turned completely upside one early February 1970 morning. His wife and two daughters were brutally murdered inside their very own home. Jeffrey told police 4 intruders attacked him an...

Are you concerned you have an unhealthy attachment to stuff? Do you worry for a loved one who has trouble letting possessions go? Hoarding Disorder isn’t necessarily all piles and pathways; in real life, hoarding can look much different than the extremes highlighted on television. There’s a fine line between a cluttered household versus a hoarding household and – for many of us – pinning down the...

#003 - Gary Leon Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer confessed to killing 71 girls and women throughout the state of Washington. He evaded police capture for nearly two decades while he continued to live his life as a father and husband. It wasn't until the notorious Ted Bundy sat down with police investigators to provide his personal opinion of who he thought the killer would be. It tur...

#002 - The Golden State Killer is one of the nation's most notorious serial rapist and killer who evaded police capture for over 40 years. He is accused of killing 13 innocent people and raping over 50 women across the entire state of California. He's been called the East Area Rapist, the Original Night Stalker, the Visalia Ransacker, and most recently, the Golden State Killer.   Today, the world...

Greenwashing Examples: Have you Been Duped?   Eco-friendliness is hot right now. It’s in. But marketing teams have their fingers on the pulse and know that consumers increasingly demand green products. So they tout misleading claims to sound more eco-friendly than they actually are to – you guessed it! – make a profit. It’s called greenwashing, and consumers are being duped by greenwashing example...

Ever wondered where Goodwill donations really go? Our society craves what’s shiny and what’s new. We toss broken stuff without bothering to repair it; we donate perfectly good stuff to make room in our homes for newer, sleeker models, too. Between 1967 and 2017, the amount Americans spent annually on stuff increased nearly twenty-fold. And while some items will be recycled into new goods or given...

#001 - In May 2015, Savvas Savopolous finally realized his lifelong dream. He lived a life that can only be described as perfect. Husband to a wife dedicated to fighting brain trauma. Father to three outstanding children. And CEO of his own, successful company. But life is never perfect. A house fire exploded in an upscale Washington D.C. suburb. The Woodley Park Mansion engulfed in flames. Terror...

Forensic science has completely changed how criminal investigations are conducted. We can now identify John and Jane Does from the smallest amounts of DNA. Or catch serial killers because a family member submitted their DNA to a database. The Forensic Tales podcast is here to talk all about it.  Hosted by me, Courtney Fretwell, with a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology, Forensic Tales is a wee...

Eco-friendly communities drive big ideas   Few would object: Kinship is important. Humans are evolutionarily designed to live alongside others; eco-friendly communities facilitate the sharing of resources, too. Still, many of us have minimal – (if any!) – contact with our neighbors. And although we may quite physically live within a community, so many of us feel isolated. My guest today argues tha...

Green buying and Overconsumption Ever buy on impulse? If so, you know those feel-good endorphins after handing over your credit card are real. Is it safe to assume, then, that shopping makes us happier? Where does green buying fit in? On today’s episode my guest and I explore the connections between materialism, green buying and lasting life satisfaction. Dr. Sabrina Helm is an associate professor...

In-store or Online Shopping: Which is Better for the Planet? Every year, 165 billion packages are shipped in the United States. Does this figure seem staggering? It should. Because all these packages generate enough cardboard to equal more than 1 billion trees. Online shopping isn’t going anywhere; in fact, e-commerce sales are expected to double in the next decade. This week, I tackle both the en...

  Declutter tips for *before* the holidays The holidays are coming, and you know what that means: Stuff, stress, and more stuff. Enacting simple declutter tips enable you to create space in our homes, heads and hearts so that we may usher in the festivities with open arms. My guest this week is blogger Rebecca Benson. Rebecca is on the show to identify 5 very specific spaces to tackle this instant...

(Anti) Black Friday 2020   What are you doing on Black Friday? Will you elbow your way through crowds of fellow consumers in hopes of scoring an epic Black Friday-only deal, or are you curious about enjoying a different kind of day? I’ll never forget the first (and only) time I participated in Black Friday festivities. I woke up early—too early, if I’m honest—and stood in a line that snaked around...

It’s cliche but true: Our children are always watching. As eco-conscious parents, we consistently lead by example on the ‘big’ actions (reducing air travel, cooking plant-based meals) as well as on the small stuff, too (repurposing water, line-drying clothes). We assume that – because our kids are always observing our behavior – they’ll naturally pick up on our low-waste, environmental ideals. And...

Is it me, or do we often forget self-care during the holidays? For better or worse, the holiday craze starts on November first. Christmas commercials inundate our favorite television programming. Christmas trees abound in stores. Holiday “sales” entice us here, there and everywhere. In November, it often feels as though being busy – and being stressed – is expected. But the weather is cooling; it’...

They’re nearly here: the holidays. And with ethical gift giving on the rise, it’s no surprise that discerning shoppers aspire to support sustainability with their dollars. But how, exactly, to give ethically? Although shoppers are becoming more brand conscious + 1 in 5 Gen Z’ers are taking extra steps to shop with intention, confusion abounds over what ethical gift giving really means. The Ethical...

Why Being Self-Sufficient Matters   Our grandparents and great-grandparents knew the importance of being self-sufficient. They survived an economic depression and major wars so they fostered age-old skills, just in case. These days, you and I are a generation (or two!) removed from crisis, and we are heavily dependent on products that make our lives easier. This lack of perspective coupled with re...

Planned Obsolescence: What It Is + What To Do About It They just don’t make things the way they used to. It’s true: These days, electronics and appliances are often made with cheap parts that are designed to break just after warrantees expire.  But planned obsolescence is more than just cheap products; it’s automatic software updates that render our tech useless. It’s missing user manuals and disc...

Minimalism For Moms Minimalism for moms may at first seem impossible, for 3 reasons: – First, there’s all the stuff children need and somehow accumulate. – Then there are the endless calendar-fillers including appointments, extracurriculars, playdates, birthday parties and volunteer opportunities. – Finally, mothers manage an increased mental load because organizing, planning and juggling all the...

How (Exactly) to Cook Zero Waste Meals   If you’re like most eco-friendly parents, you’d like to cook zero-waste, plastic-free meals for your family, but you’ve realized that doing so is much harder than it sounds. Does this sound right? – Feeding your family demands significant mental energy. Although you’d like to serve low-plastic, zero-waste meals, you have no idea where to start. – You eat ou...

The Healing Effects of Sentimental Clutter Cleaning   Sentimental clutter lives in the past; keeping it around often prevents full presence in the here and now. Conversely, removing what’s unnecessary ushers in freedom. It presents opportunities for personal growth, too. If you have items in your home that leave you emotionally drained, it’s likely time for a sentimental clutter cleaning. My guest...

Declutter tips for tackling sentimental items   You listeners often ask for declutter tips when tackling sentimental items. What should you do with a talented family member’s paintings? What about that box of childhood mementos? How about the yellowed wedding dress hanging in the far recesses of the closet? Although the “stuff” in question differs from query to query, the underlying obstacle is al...

Eco Friendly Home Decor Ideas   Are you tired of your decor? Maybe your furniture isn’t contemporary enough for your taste. Or perhaps your once-trendy, heavily-patterned curtains feel stale. But you lean toward the sustainable side of things—you’re a stand-up human, too—so you won’t chuck your old decor for new stuff without a bit of eco-guilt. You’d like to find eco friendly home decor ideas, ev...

25 Ways to Create an Eco Friendly House   Green living sometimes gets a bad rap as being reserved only for the privileged. And curating an eco friendly house? Many people assume that doing so requires a hefty upfront cost. Here’s why: –  While organic food + hybrid cars are certainly green, they have oversized price tags and therefore aren’t accessible to everyone. – Some eco-friendly products wil...