The In Between Podcast with Mel Barrett

In this episode, we unpack a whirlwind week of legal maneuvers and local drama. We start with a comprehensive Kelsey Fitzsimmons recap, then, we shift gears to the Afroman civil trial. What happens when a viral music video meets a lawsuit from the law enforcement officers who raided his home? We discuss the intersection of art, privacy, and the police.  Back in Canton, the tension at the Selectboa...

This week on NewsLIGHT, Mel Barrett navigates a world where alliances are fraying and domestic battles over the ballot are reaching a fever pitch.  We lead with a massive diplomatic rift: "Not Our War." As the conflict in the Middle East intensifies, President Trump’s urgent request for European and Asian allies to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz has been met with a resounding "no". From the...

In this solo deep-dive, Mel recaps the case of former North Andover police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons as we head into trial next week.  For months, we’ve been questioning the narrative of the night Kelsey was shot by her own colleagues while they were serving a restraining order. Now, just days before her trial is set to begin, the case has been blown wide open with a series of legal bombshells. ...

On an impromptu episode of Something's Off, Mel and Rebecca react in real-time to the bombshell conclusion of the Kouri Richins trial. In this episode: A Shockingly Fast Verdict: After weeks of wild testimony, digital footprint debates, and the infamous "Walk the Dog" letter, the jury deliberated for just a few hours before coming back with their decision: Guilty on all counts. We break down exact...

Grab your coffee and get ready to head back into the trenches! In this episode of Something's Off, Mel and Rebecca are breaking down the final, high-stakes maneuvers in two massive cases. In this episode: The Boldest Strategy in the Playbook: After two and a half weeks of wild testimony, the Kouri Richins trial hits closing arguments today. We dissect the shocking decision by the defense to rest w...

Lots to discuss this morning on Something's Off. Join Mel and Rebecca as they break down the absolute shocker that happened just before both sides rested their cases in the Kouri Richins trial, AND discuss Kelsey Fitzsimmons' huge day in court. Let's break it all down!  In this episode:  The Ultimate Flex or a Massive Gamble? After 2.5 weeks and 42 state witnesses, Kouri Richins’ defense team stun...

AFTER A TWO DAY BREAK, Mel and Rebecca are back to breakdown the (e)motions.  In this episode, we dive into a sudden and dramatic halt in Day 11 of the Kouri Richins murder trial. On Tuesday, what was supposed to be a standard day of testimony turned into a tense, hours-long legal standoff that ended with the judge sending the jury home early and assigning the lawyers some high-stakes homework. Th...

Join Mel Barrett and guests, Mari Forth and Sarah Carradine from the podcast, Crime Seen to discuss the international reaction to the Epstein Files and Trump and Bebe's war on Iran. If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-... If you like us, please tip us:  venmo: @melbarre...

As the Kouri Richins murder trial entered its third week on March 9, 2026 (Day 10), the proceedings underscored a profound tension between the prosecution’s pursuit of a clear motive and the defense’s attempt to expose what they call a family-funded "hit job". The day featured pivotal testimony from a business partner, a handwriting expert, a lead detective, and the private investigator whose 936-...

Mel Barrett and Rebecca Lavoie are back to dissect Day 10 of the Kouri Richins trial, and we are officially in the "piling on" phase of the prosecution’s case. As the state prepares to rest, they’re throwing everything at the wall—from forged signatures to high school drug rumors—but something is definitely off about the actual proof. In this episode, we break down the heavy hitters from Monday’s...

As the prosecution begins to wrap up its case against Kouri Richins , the testimony from her inner circle painted a chilling portrait of a woman who was not just in financial ruin, but allegedly vocal about a world where her husband no longer existed. We’re breaking down the testimony of Kouri’s childhood best friends, Allie Staking and Chelsea Barney . From a "funny" story about hidden THC gummie...

Mel Barrett and Rebecca Lavoie are back to dissect Day 8 of the Kouri Richins trial, a day that felt less like a courtroom and more like a post-mortem of a "shadow war" Eric Richins didn't know he was losing. In this episode, we’re talking about the arrival of the "other man," Robert Josh Grossman.  Grossman sat in that box and confirmed the affair, but he also dropped a chilling detail: ten days...

Join Mel and Marti Cummings as they discuss the current state of politics that led to war with Iran. Is the Epstein Files or Trump's ego?  Mel is building this new show from scratch and can use your help!  If you appreciate the work, please consider tipping.  Venmo: @melbarrettwrites Cashapp: $newslight  If you are unable to tip, that's totally okay! Please consider liking, sharing, commenting, an...

Mel Barrett and Rebecca Lavoie are breaking down Day 7 of the Kouri Richins trial, an eight-hour masterclass in forensic accounting that suggests Kouri’s financial empire wasn't just crumbling—it was a full-blown "implosion". In this episode, we dive into the staggering testimony of Brooke Karrington, the state's star financial witness. Karrington detailed a web of debt totaling $8 million and a n...

There is the official story: A mother, a nurse, and a "premeditated" tragedy in a quiet Massachusetts suburb. And then there is the truth that lives in the gray area. In this episode, Mel Barrett deconstructs the case against Lindsay Clancy . As the July 20, 2026, trial date looms, the legal battle has shifted from the "what" to the "why." We dive deep into the medical records that reveal a stagge...

Join Mel and Rebeccas as they recap day six of the Kouri Richins trial PLUS did the O'Keefe's let their confirmation bias color what they think Karen Said on a private recording? Also...how does Kate Peter suddenly have access to Aidan Kearney's private messages?  Let's discuss!  If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch...

Mel breaks down pre-trial motions and day-by-day coverage of the first week of the Kouri Richins trial. Here's what you'll find inside the episode:  A new straight bear we love: Judge Daddy False testimony sloppy investigators witness recantation a member of the gallery thrown out of the courtroom lead detectives threatening to take a witness' dog if she doesn't comply with their requests to testi...

Join Mel + Rebecca as they break down the new filing from Kelsey Fitzsimmons team alleging that her ex-fiance, Justin Aylaian, broke into her home while she was recovering from her gunshot wound and destroyed her surveillance system, burglarized her home, and illegally gained access to her electronics where he proceeded to steal money from her bank accounts and infiltrate her social media. And the...

Mel + Rebecca finally share the lowdown on the Kouri Richins case and trial, while asking questions of our DOJ. If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-8a84-40df-8d88-7e1b032252f1?play=false&utm_source=shared_link If you like us, please tip us:  venmo: @melbarrettwrites...

Well...the State of the Union Happened. Mel watched, so you wouldn't have to. Plus, a disgraced monarch has fallen and did the DOJ hide Epstein Files that would hurt Donald Trump, plus the Supreme Court of the United States finally does its job and acts as a check on this unlawful president. Guests: Mr. Winks and Ellyn Marsh. Mel is building this new show from scratch and can use your help!  If yo...

A Utah mother writes a children’s book about grief. A year later, she’s charged with murdering her husband with fentanyl. In this episode, Mel Barrett breaks down the financial timeline, the alleged prior poisoning attempt, the mansion flip, the boyfriend, and the prosecution’s theory against Khouri Richins — as her five-week trial begins. Money. Marriage. Motive. And the evidence that will decide...