The Alarmist

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Nicholas D. Smith about Athens, the Peloponnesian War, Socrates and so much more. Author of many books on ancient Greek philosophy and contemporary epistemology, Professor Smith dives deep into Athenian life and shares some exciting and controversial views about the life and death of Socrates. Afterwards, Patreon subscribers can revis...

Who’s to blame for the Death of Socrates? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) decides who’s to blame for the death of perhaps the most famous philosopher of all time, Socrates. With Athens in post-war political turmoil and a people with a strong deference to the will of the Gods, is it any wonder his “Gadfly Style” of questioning authority rubbed some Athenians the wrong way? Did The O...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with professor and historian Bob Hutton about the great Hatfield-McCoy Feud. Specializing in the political and social history of Appalachia, Professor Hutton shares fascinating insight about what he describes as phase 1 and 2 of the epic feud and how it expanded beyond these two families. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can revisit the boar...

Who’s to blame for the Hatfield-McCoy Feud? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) is taking on the legendary Hatfield-McCoy Feud which spanned generations between two Appalachian families. The stuff of newspaper sensationalism and regional lore, is it possible this all started over a stolen hog? Did the Civil War complicate matters? Or maybe they just needed some more people in this spar...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca sits down with music journalist and award-winning author Holly George-Warren to discuss the life and untimely death of Janis Joplin. Author of Janis: Her Life and Music , Holly goes into great detail about her formative years, how the culture was influencing Janis and the obstacles she faced as a woman in a male dominated music industry. Afterwar...

Who’s to blame for the death of Janis Joplin? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) discusses the Rock and Roll legend Janis Joplin and her untimely death at the young age of 27. Joining what would later be called the 27 Club. Bullied relentlessly in her youth and then celebrated for her raw and wild artistry in young adulthood, Janis rose to fame and died in only 4 short years. Did fame...

On this week’s Aftermath REWIND, Rebecca speaks with Professor Lynn Wood Mollenauer about all things La Voisin and the Affair of the Poisons. Specializing in the history of France between the Renaissance and the Revolution, and having coined the phrase “Criminal Magical Underworld” herself, Professor Mollenauer lends fascinating new insight to this dark underworld in 17th century Paris. Afterward,...

Who’s to blame for the demise of La Voisin?   On this week's REWIND, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes a dear friend (and potential real life witch!) Jen Curran to discuss the Affair of the Poisons which ultimately led to the execution of the French “wise woman” La Voisin. Are witches real or were they the product of the religious mystique at the time? Could the Criminal Magi...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Brenna Wynn Greer about the arrest of civil rights leader Rosa Parks and the 381 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama that followed. Dr. Greer dives deep into Rosa Parks involvement in the civil rights movement while also breaking down some of the myths that surrounded the textbook version of her story often taught in schools. After...

Who’s to blame for the arrest of Rosa Parks? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) discusses the cultural impact of the Montgomery Bus Boycott which was prompted by the arrest of civil rights icon Rosa Parks on December 1st, 1955. What started as a one day protest turned into 381 days of action. Though it was met with extreme violence, the boycott was hugely successful and resulted in a...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with writer Ishbel Addyman about the legendary Cyrano de Bergerac and the play that continues to carry on his legacy. And much to our delight, it turns out the historical Cyrano de Bergerac is just as lovely and beloved as the fictional Cyrano. Which Ishbel shares in great detail from her research writing a biography about the man himself....

Who’s to blame for the Tragic End of Cyrano de Bergerac? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) explores the themes of love, insecurity and deception which ultimately lead to the tragic demise of the famous fictional character Cyrano de Bergerac. She’s joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Are Cyrano and Christians lack of self esteem the culprit? Could the idea o...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with investigative journalist and NYTimes best selling author Cathy Scott about the Robert Durst murders and the possible explanations behind his extremely delayed conviction. Her book Murder of a Mafia Daughter: The Life and Tragic Death of Susan Berman , is a true-crime book about the 2000 murder of Susan Berman. Afterward, Patreon Subsc...

Who’s to blame for the Robert Durst Murders and his delayed Conviction? Happy 2026 Alarmy. We’re back! This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) discusses the enigma that is Robert Durst. Obviously we know who’s responsible for his crimes. But, who’s to blame for his extremely delayed conviction? Could Durst’s nefarious charisma have something to do with it? Are his lawyers and loyalists res...

Who’s to blame for the demise of the Radium Girls? On this week's REWIND, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with author and journalist Jane Borden about the Radium Girls and the untimely death of numerous dial painters of the 1920’s. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Is this another classic case of greed, sexism, or good old fashioned Capitalism? Tune...

Who’s to blame for Balloonfest ‘86? On this week's REWIND, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with fellow podcasters Arielle Nissenblatt and Lauren Passell about the 1986 Balloonfest fail in Cleveland. Hosts of Podcast Therapy and self-avowed members of The Alarmy, Arielle and Lauren are the perfect duo to get to the bottom of this spectacular fiasco. They’re joined by Fact Checker Alex P...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Professor Moyara Ruehsen about the nature of the crimes committed in the 1988 film Die Hard. Beyond that, she discusses the plausibility of the attempted heist and what modern day equivalents are taking place in the world of financial crime. Professor Ruehsen is a Certified Specialist in Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crime. Afte...

Who’s to blame for the criminal mayhem in the 1988 film Die Hard? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) is coming to you LIVE from the Elysian Theater in Los Angeles with special guests Mary Grill, Dan Klein and Cass Buggé to discuss the 1988 Christmas classic Die Hard. She’s joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Don’t miss this extra special LIVE episode with au...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Professor of Sociology at Yale University, Emily Erikson, about The Black Hole of Calcutta and the legacy that emerged in its wake. Emily's work has focused on the emergence of early multi-national firms and the structure of early modern global trade and reflects on the events that led to what we now know as British Imperial Rule. Aft...

Who’s to blame for The Black Hole of Calcutta? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) discusses the infamous Black Hole of Calcutta and the controversy that followed. Set in Fort William owned by the British East India Company circa 1756, an atrocity occurred that would go on to shape history as we know it. Speculations about the event live on, but the fallout is undeniable. Was a lack of...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Lindsay Stallones Marshall about the Nez Percé Nation and the epic War of 1877 they found themselves wrapped up in. Dr. Marshall is an author and Assistant Professor of History at Illinois State University and details much of the gross negligence by the US Government and local settlers that led to this horrific war. Afterward, Pat...

Who’s to blame for the Nez Percé War of 1877? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) takes on the Nez Percé War of 1877 and decides once and for all who is to blame. She’s joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. With a combination of broken treaties, settler hostility and general disregard for native inhabitants one thing was clear; the US Government would stop at n...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Jody Lyneé Madeira about the shocking case against fertility doctor Donald Cline. Her research has been profiled internationally, including the Netflix documentary “Our Father,” and she shares some fascinating (if not infuriating) details about the lack of regulation for reproductive medicine. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can he...

Who’s to blame for Donald Cline’s Secret Children? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) tackles the shocking case of fertility doctor Donald Cline and his decades long practice of deception and fraud with vulnerable and hopeful young parents who came to him for help with artificial insemination. Is this what happens when the emotional toll of infertility combines with the stigma and sha...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. James Francis Jr. about the 1990s miniseries IT and the cultural and psychological impact it had on a generation of viewers. Talk about generational trauma! Dr. Francis is a Professor of English at Texas A&M and helps us dig deeper into the loss of childhood playfulness, collective irrational fears and the terror of the uncann...