The Alarmist

Who’s to blame for the attack on Pearl Harbor? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes author and journalist Jess McHugh to discuss one of America’s most epic historical tragedies, the attack on Pearl Harbor. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. What led up to this calculated and massively devastating attack and why didn’t American forces see it c...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Ryan Williams about Burt and Linda Pugach and their long and complicated relationship history. An Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Illinois Springfield, Dr. Williams details the psychological toll stalking has on its victims and the difficulties they might encounter seeking justice. Afte...

Who’s to blame for the tabloid “love story” of Burt and Linda Pugach? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes back Kelly Hudson to discuss the troubling tale of Burt and Linda Pugach. What the tabloids once called a bizarre “love story” sounds a lot more like assault and oppression once you hear the facts. Will the problematic realities of the American nuclear family take the fall...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Professor of Economics at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Mario Macis. Dr. Macis breaks down the concept of scarcity economics, reflects on whether or not finding a golden ticket was truly left to chance alone and gets into our irrationality when it comes to low probability events. Afterward, Patr...

Who’s to blame for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes actor Toccarra Cash to discuss the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the the downright dirty and deceitful incidents that occur while Mr. Wonka searches for an heir to his candy filled kingdom. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Ea...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca follows up on the Tasman Bridge Collapse with Australian historian and Hobart native, Dr. Imogen Wegman. Considering her parents drove over the Tasman Bridge an hour before its collapse, Dr. Wegman brings new meaning to the term ‘local historian!’ Dr. Wegman also shares vital new information about the local environment, weather patterns, and topo...

Who’s to blame for the Tasman Bridge Collapse? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes Allan McLeod, host of the new podcast Walkin’ About , to discuss the Tasman Bridge Collapse in Hobart, Tasmania. Are we as a society really discussing the vulnerability of bridges enough? Could sailing familiar waters cause you to let your guard down? And what is the difference between a captain...

Mail Call! Hey Alarmy! It’s been awhile since we last checked in and it turns out you have a lot on the brain. Sounds like it’s time for a good old fashioned Mailbag episode. Join The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith), Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early as they go through episode suggestions, reviews and reactions from listeners old and new to the Alarmy Family. Plus, there’s an up...

Who’s to blame for the Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes old friend and all around funny guy Arthur Meyer to discuss the gruesome events that went down at Ramree Island during WWII. With so much second hand information flying around, how big a role did the crocodile’s play afterall? Are sharks to blame too? Maybe man simply doesn’t belong in...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the US Women’s National Soccer team pay disparity with Dr. Nancy Lough. Dr. Lough is the founding director of the Sports Innovation Institute and specializes in sports marketing, sponsorship and improving gender equity in the sports world. Her deeply insightful input is sure to fascinate, infuriate and inspire you. Afterward, Patreon sub...

Who’s to blame for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Pay Disparity?  This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes filmmaker Christina Dodson and the owner of Rough and Tumble , Seattle's home for women's sports, Jen Barnes to discuss the complicated history of US Women’s Soccer and their fight for equal pay. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the downfall of notorious mobster Al Capone with historian and author Dr. Luciano Lorizzo. Having written a biography on Capone and even growing up in Park Slope Brooklyn, where Capone spent his early days, Dr. Lorizzo shares some fascinating insights on the people and places that shaped Capone’s outward persona. Afterward, Patreon subsc...

Who’s to blame for the downfall of Al Capone? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes writer Seth Reiss to take on the downfall of one of history’s most infamous mobsters, Al Capone. And we nailed it! Or did we? If indeed Capone had a downfall, who was ultimately to blame? Did his violent leadership style lead to his eventual demise? Was it the familiar tale of tax evasion? Or is...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Privacy AI researcher Jen Caltrider about the rising dominance of AI and the role it plays in the fictional thriller M3GAN. Full disclosure, Jen couldn't watch the movie because horror films are too scary for her. But, trust us when we say what she shares about her work and privacy concerns with developing AI is MUCH scarier. Afterwar...

Who’s to blame for M3GAN (The Movie)? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with Actor Farah Merani about the artificial intelligence gone dreadfully awry in the 2023 box office blockbuster M3GAN. Are humans really prepared for the power of AI? Is the lure of convenience clouding our better judgment? Do we honestly think AI and childcare are a good mix? Needless to say, we’re than...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the tragic murder/suicide of Chris Benoit with author Irv Muchnick. Having written numerous books about the dark side of the sports industry, Irv thoughtfully depicts the historical culture of pro wrestling and contemplates the idea of bigger risk equaling bigger reward, but at what cost? Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post-...

Who’s to blame for the Chris Benoit Murder/Suicide? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes return guest, and host of the Hatch true crime audio series Pillow Talk, Deanna Ortiz to discuss the tragic circumstances around the murder/suicide of professional wrestler Chris Benoit in 2007. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. We know who did it, but c...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Gabi Hegerl about her expertise in climate system science and how her research on the record breaking heat waves during the 1930’s in America’s great plains led her to one of their biggest contributing factors, what we now know as The Dust Bowl. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post-interview breakdown with Producer Cla...

Who’s to blame for The Dust Bowl? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes fellow podcaster Mike Rugnetta, host of Never Post , to discuss a major bump in the road during America’s westward expansion. Well, more like a big bowl of dust which swept up the country's notion of manifest destiny. Was this wheat bubble also part of our destiny or was it created by poor planning and farmi...

Guest Expert? Make it a double! As promised, we have the first ever Aftermath Doubleheader this week. First up, join Rebecca as she chats with historian Dr. Josiah Osgood about the assassination of one of Rome’s most famous citizens, Julius Caesar. Then, stay tuned as she revisits the Cancellation of Armie Hammer with Dr. Gloria Brame, a published author with a PHD in Human Sexuality. And if you’r...

Who’s to blame for the cancellation of Armie Hammer? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes friends and hosts of the podcast Non Drinking Buddies Rebekka Johnson and Anne Gregory to discuss the highly disturbing circumstances around the cancelation of Hollywood celebrity Armie Hammer. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. How does kink shaming fac...

New Mailbag! This week, we’re pushing back our Julius Caesar Aftermath just a tad for a much needed Mailbag catch up session. We’ve got new insights on past episodes, a few Alarmy members writing in to defend Fact Checker Chris and some intriguing new listener suggestions for future topics. Plus, there’s a new wing in The Alarmist Jail! Tune in to hear all about it. And don’t worry, we’re not done...

Who’s to blame for the Assassination of Julius Caesar? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes comedian DeAnne Smith to discuss the alluring life of Julius Caesar and his dramatic ascension to prominence, adoration and ultimately assassination. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Were Caesar’s dictator tendencies the cause of his demise? Was Brut...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca returns to the Mary Kay Letourneau case with Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic. Dr. Jeglic is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at John Jay College in New York. Together, they discuss the process of sexual grooming, the gender stereotypes and misconceptions at play at the time and the shift this case represented for American culture. Afterwa...

Who’s to blame for the Mary Kay Letourneau Case? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes award winning journalist and cohost of the podcast In Retrospect Jessica Bennett to revisit the long and complicated case of Mary Kay Letourneau and her 12 year old student Vili Fualaau. Why was Mary Kay given such a lenient initial sentencing? Were the 90’s media and entertainment industries...