Ignorance Was Bliss

I've covered anxiety a few times already. I really, really wish that was enough... but it's not. Because there are too many stories, and perspectives, and experiences.  So we keep talking, because sometimes it's all we can do. This time, I'm joined by Gerald, from the AnxZenity podcast, who talks about a next-level sort of anxiety: panic disorder. It's hard and scary and his story is important. Li...

We've talked about substance abuse (specifically alcoholism) and sobriety more than once, here, and we're about to do so again. Kind of.  But this time, there's an added element: my 18-year-old, who has yet to indulge in illegal substances to excess -- as far as I know -- and has not yet come remotely near addiction. As any good teenager does, she has lots of opinions and thoughts on the matter......

There are a lot of ways you could approach things like, say, being a podcaster... being a professor... being an author... being human... But, at the heart of it, basically, you need to give a damn. Mark Vincent, an author and lecturer at the University of East Anglia, talked with me about all of the above... and then some. Disclaimer: Kate, from Kids on Bikes Promos: Evidence Locker and Of Myth an...

Talk of rape, and rapists, and safety, and the horrific, unknown backlog of rape kits yet to be processed... it's not funny or light, but it's really important and so please listen.  Rhonda, from Spaz on Wine and Spaz on Health, joined me to talk it through.  Disclaimer: Michael Marshall Promos: Life After Linc and Martinis and the Macabre Sponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate for 15% off) Merch: htt...

When our babies are sick, we are terrified and alone and sad. We look to their caregivers to keep them safe. Most of the time, that's an excellent idea. But sometimes... Bethan and Mark, from the Seeing Red podcast, walked me through the case of Beverley Allitt, a horrible terrible no good very bad person. Disclaimer: Paul, from the Varmints podcast Promos: People Are Wild and Best Forevers Sponso...

There are certain professions that are uniquely qualified to provide flashbulb moments: absolute best days, and absolute worst ones. Some professions are exceptionally demanding and require regular judgment calls. Some stay with you long after you have theoretically retired .Law enforcement fits all of these. Steven David Lampley ( https://stevenlampley.com ) shared some of his perspectives with m...

Are you part of my screwed-up tribe? Here's a quick test: If you knew you had a family connection to a serial killer, would you be thrilled or appalled? If you answered "thrilled," we are tribe. We can be terrible people together. Listen in when I talk to Red (of the Conversations with Paycheck and Red podcast) about his particular family connection, the story of a truly awful serial killer, books...

The whole podcasting thing is still a process of planning, researching, recording, editing, publishing... just like it was back at episode 23.  But in the last 43 episodes (for me), Justin (of Obscura fame) and I have each had time to find our voices, and use them. Better, I hope. You be the judge. Disclaimer: Adrienne Promos: Brew Crime and Meddling Kids Sponsor: Bath By Bex (15% off with code CB...

How do you know the difference between a good guy and a bad guy?  Are there even such things are good guys or bad guys... or good or bad? I settled in for a long chat with a woman who has had ample opportunity to think about both, and she was willing to take sides.  This is Dani, and she has a job with a guy you just might have heard of. Listen in as she defends her friend and coworker, some dude...

When people hear that I live in Salem, they immediately think of Halloween. And most of them don't seem to understand why that sits a little uneasy with me. I'm joined by one of my favorite storytellers ever, Mike Brown of the Pleasing Terrors podcast, who can help me make sense of why...  Disclaimer: MAUL podcast Promos: Nighttime and Play Comics Sponsor: Bath By Bex (15% off with code CBDkate)

When you're severely depressed (or dealing with certain forms of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or PTSD), life gets bleak. You can feel desperate for something, anything to change it.  But shock treatments?? Actually... Yeah.  Rachel (from We're All Mad Here) (eek!) joined me to talk about the history of ECT treatment and the prevailing wisdom today.  Disclaimer: Nicki T from Strictly Homicide  P...

Pain. Anxiety. Sciatica. Psoriasis. Panic. Crappy things happen inside our bodies, and sometimes Western medicines aren't the answer.  They don't work, or they're too hard to get, or you just don't want them. Now what? I was joined by my sponsor, Bex from Bath By Bex, who talks about why she got into the CBD business.  She makes some compelling points. Disclaimer: Mo from Targeted Promos: Things T...

What is it like to live in a body that has fundamentally betrayed you?  Whether by acute illness or long-term crud, some people just break. How does that feel? How can you help? And do the people inside those bodies still matter? Because, too often, they don't feel like they do. Huge thanks to Natalie from Some Kind of Brown for being vulnerable and courageous.  Go to her podcast to hear her story...

STOP. Before you listen to this episode, go over to We Too podcast and listen to episode 3 (Dryer). That tells the backstory of what you're about to hear... which is the bigger, and smaller, picture of why even brief interactions can build into a whole new podcast. And if you just refuse to listen to instructions, then go listen to it after, because it's kind of a big deal. Thank you so much to @t...

Change is hard. Podcasting when you're sick is also hard.  Lucky for me, I've got Bonnie, from Writing About Crime, to talk me through it .Disclaimer: Dark Divide Promos: That's Weird and Tuesdays With Mari Sponsor: Bath By Bex (code CBDkate for 15% off)

How do you define success? This could be a huge, rabbit-hole type question, but when joined by my friend Michelle, we're able to stay comparatively focused on the topics of criminal justice and incarceration.  And life, and finances, and... well, we tried. But, seriously: there are a handful of primary theories about what criminal justice and prison are supposed to accomplish. Do we come even clos...

As a parent, I often think that the worst thing that could ever happen would be the death of a child. Mine, or another, it almost doesn't matter. The mere concept is almost beyond expression. But what if there's something even scarier?  Warbaby from Murderous Minors: killer kids helps me lose sleep over a truly awful, all-but-next-door case. Disclaimer: Murder Blows Promos: Good Nightmare and It's...

The rules and laws aren't necessarily consistent from state to state. We know this. But neither are the ways we handle emergency health care, including mental health crisis.  Go listen to Episode 136 of Getting Off, for a discussion of how even the simplest distinctions can get real complicated, real quick, when you throw two lawyers and a psychologist together.  Then come back here to listen to a...

Gamers. A violent, unpredictable, antisocial bunch... or not so much.  Derek (from Sometimes Geek and Rolling Misadventures) joined me to talk about the different ways to play, theories about violence and addiction, and several other major world problems. A chunk of the conversation was carved out, both due to time and content (nothing too scandalous, it just involved a 14-year-old and his classma...

People are only locked away in psychiatric facilities for good reason... right? Right?? Maybe not. I'm joined this time by Jenni and Shelby from Wives' Tales to talk about some of the late nineteenth century criteria for psychiatric admission, as well as a few urban legends and a lot of laughs (because involuntary hospitalization is just hilarious... or not, but we laugh instead of screaming...). ...

Podcasters are just one big, happy, cheerful, supportive family... right? Well... no.  Mostly, but like any big family, there are always a few particularly fun ones. I have had the privilege of getting to know a pretty sizeable pile of them, and the vast majority are genuinely fantastic people. I am honored to call them friends, I look forward to getting to check in with them through the day and g...

So you've found yourself on death row. You're guilty, both factually so and legally convicted. You're just waiting on your date, and you'll be done. But wait, there's one last step... Nicki T, from Strictly Homicide, joined me to talk through a case as disturbing for its lack of information as for its legal process. And, as we have all come to expect, some serious meandering from topic, because wh...

Well, lookit that. 100,000 downloads?? And at least some of those must be on purpose... right? Right.  As I watched the downloads accumulate, I started collecting "Ask Me Anything" type questions, and... boy, did you.  So, get ready. And remember, this time, you -- literally -- asked for it. Disclaimer: Ashlie  Promos: Corpus Delicti and Our True Crime Podcast  Shoutouts: Martinis and the Macabre,...

Attention, class. Please be seated.  Actually, I don't care whether you're sitting down, but please do prepare yourselves for my effort at cramming an overview of a really complicated and broad and minimally understood phenomenon into 45 minutes.  Wait, what? You thought we knew more about serial killers than that? Well... yes, and no. But hang in there, because after that, you can spend the next...

There are certain things we don't talk about in polite society: Religion. Politics. Bodily functions. Alcoholism. Suicide.  Let's ignore politeness and flaunt society, shall we?  Because this stuff matters. So, so many thanks to my friend Pam, for her courage and vulnerability.  Bravo to Kit from Forgotten News for an amazing disclaimer.  Gratitude to Mike for a promo from The Murder in my Family....