The Silver Linings Handbook

In this episode, Jayson sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian Gilbert King. Gilbert shares his journey of uncovering dark and traumatic areas of American history, focusing on civil rights and wrongful convictions. They delve into his award-winning books, "Devil in the Grove" and "The Execution of Willie Francis," and discuss his podcast "Bone Valley," which raises question...

Dive into the world of education with Laura Mead, a seasoned expert in special education, as she explores the nuances of teaching and learning. From her work at Pathways Academy to her philosophies on student engagement, we unravel the intricate tapestry of student needs, the impact of testing, and the quest for a just and fair educational system through personal stories, professional insights, an...

In Part 2 of this episode of The Silver Linings Handbook and Vintage Villains, Jayson Blair and Allison Dickson, we continue about the 1975 disappearances of two sisters, Katherine and Sheila Lyon,. We follow the cold case detectives as they discover witnesses, suspects and forensic evidence that becomes key to cracking one aspect of the case. We explore and the bizarre culture that surrounded thi...

In this episode of The Silver Linings Handbook and Vintage Villains, Jayson Blair and Allison Dickson discuss the 1975 disappearances of two sisters, Katherine and Sheila Lyon. The girls vanished from a mall in Wheaton, Maryland. Witnesses reported seeing a strange man with a tape recorder, but after a massive search, this case, that transformed the Washington, DC area, went cold. That was until 2...

Join us on the second part of a profound journey through the heart of Indian country as we delve into the unique challenges faced by tribal emergency medical service professionals. Jayson sits down with Monty Fronk, Chasity Williamson Tatzi, and Joshua Ellison—frontline heroes who share their experiences and the deep cultural connections that shape their life-saving work. We're going to continue t...

Join us on a profound journey through the heart of Indian country as we delve into the unique challenges faced by tribal emergency medical service professionals. Jayson sits down with Monty Fronk, Chasity Williamson Tatzi, and Joshua Ellison—frontline heroes who share their experiences and the deep cultural connections that shape their life-saving work. In this first of two episodes, we're going t...

When Paula read about Temujin Kensu's plight—a Michigan man serving life for a crime he claims he didn't commit—she couldn't have predicted that her life was about to change. Their story, unfolding in this episode, is a saga of advocacy, love, and the quest for justice. As Paula becomes Temujin's wife and fiercest advocate, they confront a flawed legal system together, challenging a conviction bui...

Discover the heart-wrenching journey of Paula Kensu, a woman whose love knows no bounds, as she navigates the labyrinth of the criminal justice system to prove her husband's innocence. We delve deep into Paula's story of resilience, the flawed trial of Temujin Kensu, fighting for the innocence of your loved one, marriage and other close relationships, your loved ones behind bars, advocacy and what...

We're diving into the gripping journey through the cold case of Brianna Maitland with Greg Overacker, the investigator who's been chasing shadows for nearly two decades. Discover how a chance encounter at a rest stop led Overacker to a friendship with Brianna's father and a lifelong commitment to solving her case. From the haunting rural roads of Vermont to the heart of a family's pain, this episo...

Step behind the scenes of true crime podcasting with Jayson Blair, Dana Poll, Kevin Greenlee, and Áine Cain. This episode delves into the heart of what it means to be a responsible creator in the true crime genre, exploring the delicate balance between informing the public and respecting those involved. Discover how these podcasters use their unique backgrounds to enhance their investigative work,...

In this bonus episode, Jayson joins Michael Ely on his podcast and YouTube channel, Just Legal History. They are also joined by Brett from The Prosecutor's Podcast to have a discussion on the free press and a fair trial. In this discussion, they talk about the idea of how do we balance the first amendment right to a free press and for the public to know the actions of their government and protect...

Delve into the responsibilities of true crime creators with Jayson Blair, Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee of the Murder Sheet podcast and Dana Poll of the True Crime P.I. podcast as they explore the impact of their work on real people's lives, the challenges of navigating social media's murky waters, and the role of the audience in discerning the truth. This episode is a deep dive into the ethics of...

In this bonus episode, Alison Dickson and Jayson unraveled a dark saga of Patty Cannon, a mastermind behind what was called the reverse underground railroad. Patty and her gang, The Johnson Cannon Gang would capture free blacks and runaway slaves in the north and sell them to Southern Plantation owners who are desperate in the wake of them after imported slaves were banned in 1807. Patty and her g...

Jayson is joined by Julia Cowley, a retired FBI agent and Criminal Profiler. In this second part of a two part discussion, we're going to discuss the unsolved killing of 36 year old Phil Demaro, a gay man who is killed in his San Francisco apartment, the unsolved Zodiac Killer case, the Lewis-Clark Valley serial killer case and answer more listener questions. Check out Julia's podcast, The Consult...

This episode is a riveting deep dive into the aftermath of one of the most shocking events in American history: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. Join Jayson and Allison as they follow a harrowing journey through the escape route of a killer. From swampy hideouts to the pursuit of cavalry, uncover the motivations, the missteps, and the myths that surround Booth's...

Journey back to 1865 with Jayson Blair and Allison Dixon, as they delve into the complex and riveting tale of John Wilkes Booth, a man whose actions rippled through American history and left an indelible mark on the nation's fabric. In this two-part episode, we'll traverse the tumultuous landscape of a country at war, explore the life and times of an infamous assassin, and discover how his story i...

This episode is a compelling conversation with Julia Cowley, a former FBI profiler whose expertise helped crack cases like the Golden State Killer and the Long Island Serial Killer. Julia opens up about the motivations that led her to law enforcement, the challenges of providing closure to victims' families, and the consultative role of the BAU in high-stakes investigations. Get ready for a behind...

This is the second of two episodes on Dawn Pasela with Dana Poll, Lexi Kakis, and Andrea Cipriano, who are investigating Dawn's suspicious death. We're going to dig deeper into the case exploring among other things, the star witness against Tony Viola, Catherine Clover, who is given an office in the prosecutor's office and who was later alleged to have been in a sexual relationship with the prosec...

Dive into the gripping tale of Dawn Pasela, a young woman with a bright future, whose life was cut short under mysterious circumstances. In this episode, Jayson is joined by three tenacious guests, Dana Poll, Lexi Kakis, and Andrea Cipriano as they unravel the complex web of Dawn's last days. From her promising career in the Ohio attorney general's office to her secret collaboration with a man wro...

Dive into the ethereal world of ghost stories with Chris Soucy, the renowned paranormal investigator and storyteller from Savannah, Georgia. Uncover the most common ghostly encounters, explore the historic haunts of America's spookiest town, and learn why the scariest monsters are often the ones we conjure in our minds. Join us for a conversation that transcends the veil between life and the after...

What compels a mother of seven, including five with special needs, to take on the cold case of a murdered teenager? LaDonna Humphrey shares her multifaceted life and her dedication to solving the murder of Melissa Witt. With a blend of personal narrative and investigative insight, LaDonna reveals the emotional highs and lows of her quest, the impact of advocacy, and the hope that drives her to con...

Tiffanie Richards, a survivor turned advocate, joins us to share her personal journey through intergenerational trauma and abuse that has led her to create a podcast that transcends the genre. We're going to talk about trauma and stigma, victims and abusers, the danger of flattening people into characters, healing and advocacy in the value of that learning, that leaving and that letting go. Visit...

In this bonus episode, we discuss myths around detecting deception, interrogation techniques that have led to false confessions, the pitfalls of using Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to detect deceptions and Kent's new book, Holistically Contextual Credibility Assessment. The full length episode is on YouTube, which explores much more, including the emotional health and wellbeing of C...

Dive into the gripping journey of Chey Vyshnya, a young woman whose life was marred by personal struggles, from a turbulent family life to chronic health battles, and how she channeled her experiences into creating 'True Compass', a true crime podcast with a Gen Z perspective. In this episode we uncover Chey's transformation from a forensic science enthusiast to a true crime podcaster, her mission...

On the Ding Dong Darkness Time podcast, Jayson and Allison Dickinson tackle the movie and book "Gone Girl." Allison says the topic of Gone Girl was an inevitable for this show. The 2012 bestselling phenomenon by Gillian Flynn blew millions of readers away with its stunning plot twist, but it also caused one of the biggest plot twists in Allison's own life. We explore the dark and faceted marriage...