What happens when political corruption leads to a wrongful conviction? Unfortunately, that’s what unfolds in the podcast, Murder in Oregon, hosted and produced by today’s guest, Lauren Bright Pacheco. Lauren is an Emmy award winning TV Producer who has parlayed her storytelling skills to podcasting. It’s in this medium that she discovered “audio activism” which has illuminated something I’ve been seeking for quite some time!

Let’s spook it up a little since it’s Halloween week! Christine Schiefer is here to talk about her podcast, ‘And That’s Why We Drink,’ and the book she co-wrote with her show co-host, Em Schulz; ’A Haunted Road Atlas: Sinister Stops, Dangerous Destinations, and True Crime Tales.’

The Business of Cults is a three-part series hosted by Rebekah Sebastian with the DIE-ALOGUE Podcast and Javier Leiva of PRETEND podcast. Over the next three episodes, you will hear from; cult experts Rick Alan Ross and Dr. Janja Lalich, author and linguist, Amanda Montell, ABC Correspondent, Rebecca Jarvis, Cult Survivors, Frank Lyford, and Sarah Edmondson.

The Business of Cults is a three-part series hosted by Rebekah Sebastian with the DIE-ALOGUE Podcast and Javier Leiva of PRETEND podcast. Over the next three episodes, you will hear from; cult experts Rick Alan Ross and Dr. Janja Lalich, author and linguist, Amanda Montell, ABC Correspondent, Rebecca Jarvis, Cult Survivors, Frank Lyford, and Sarah Edmondson.

Cults are businesses too. Like any company, cults recruit, have middle management, and some even have succession plans.

Many of these religious sects are tax-exempt. Like Scientology, even some fringe religions are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Not all cults are religious. At first glance, some cults don't seem culty at all. For example, take a closer look at businesses such as multi-level marketing companies. These companies are masquerading as a business, but in reality, they're run by narcissistic ego-maniacs.

The Business of Cults is a three-part series hosted by Rebekah Sebastian with the DIE-ALOGUE Podcast and Javier Leiva of PRETEND podcast. Over the next three episodes, you will hear from; cult experts Rick Alan Ross and Dr. Janja Lalich, author and linguist, Amanda Montell, ABC Correspondent, Rebecca Jarvis, Cult Survivors, Frank Lyford, and Sarah Edmondson.

Part one focuses on The C Suite: Chief Cult Executives. Part two features an interview with former NXIVM member Sarah Edmondson. And Part three explores the question, can a cult survive without its leader?

I watched Cheer Season 2 and decided: We need to talk about Jerry. Our beloved athlete known for his inspiring “mat talks” has had a fall I invited past guests (and current friends) Dr. Shiloh and Dr. Scott, of the LA Not So Confidential Podcast. Learn more about them and their show here:https://www.la-not-so-confidential.com/

In addition to their current roles as forensic psychologists, the doctors bring past experience working with sex offenders to help us process the complicated feelings around Jerry’s arrest and alleged crimes.

This is a tough conversation and I am grateful to Dr. Shiloh and Dr. Scott for their professional insight and ability to explore the nuance in this complex situation.

Let's go back to 1970's Chicago when the mob ruled the courts. What could go wrong? I had an incredible conversation with the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Jake Halpern.

Jake is the host of the new investigative podcast, Mob Land, which just dropped this week! The story centers around Bob Cooley - a mafia "fixer" turned FBI cooperator. Jake and I get into whether or not Bob can be trusted, what justice is or isn't — especially when corruption exists — and I think I stun Jake into silence with a Real Housewives analogy.

Ethical, transparent and accessible. Is that what comes to mind when you think of private law practice? Me either. But the work my guest today is doing, is trying to change all that.

Laurie Gilbertson left her work as a Prosecutor in New York City, where she tried everything from fraud to murder cases. In fact her last case was highly unique in that it took three times to get the defendant an attempted murder conviction despite the plethora of evidence and solid witnesses. This was the trial of Christopher Prince in Queens, New York. She now sits on the board of Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice - a legal incubator, designed to operate in a totally new way.

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Today's big question: Is it ever ok to do the wrong thing, for the right reason? We're talking about vigilantes on the show today.

My guest, Sam Walker, is a multi-award winning journalist, broadcaster and podcaster. Her show, American Vigilante, is about a man named KC. KC is the American Vigilante. A hugely complex, intelligent, contradictory man who could save your life but end it too. He leads a group of violent men standing on the blurred line between right and wrong, between revenge and redemption. A man you want on your side when it all falls apart. American Vigilante is true crime, but so much more. It’s saving abducted children, it’s stepping beyond the law. It’s rescue missions, assassination attempts and last-gasp protection. It’s all the stuff you hope never comes to you, until it does.

This is not a whodunnit. This is a complicated look at what happens when a woman who has endured abuse at the hands of her partner, shoots and kills him. Nikki Addimando went from being viewed as a victim to a cold blooded killer when she shot and killed her partner, Chris Grover, in 2017.

Elie Honig is a Senior legal analyst at CNN. We bonded over our Jersey roots and love of Italian food. We cover the code of ethics and conduct within the mafia, our cultural obsession with the mob, and I am most proud that I got him to agree (slightly reluctantly), that Mob bosses are akin to cult leaders!

What a thrill meeting and speaking with Rebecca Jarvis, ABC News Chief business, economics, and technology correspondent, and of course, host of the Drop Out, now in its' second season: Elizabeth Holmes on trial.

I spoke with Brittany Bookbinder who is covering his current trial for the 2000 murder of Susan Berman in Los Angeles. Along with Kary Antholis, Brittany reports for, and co-hosts the podcast, JURY DUTY: The Trial of Robert Durst.

First of all, #FREEBRITNEY

I was lucky ( subtle Britney reference) enough to grab some time with my friend and podcast colleague, Dr. Scott, of LA Not So Confidential Podcast. As a former dancer and forensic psychologist who works with clients facing conservatorships, he was the perfect guest to break down the ongoing legal saga around Britney Spears' conservatorship.

Maggie Freleng is a returning guest, friend, investigative journalist, and host of the podcast MURDER IN ALLIANCE, which is the second season of her show, Unjust & Unsolved. MURDER IN ALLIANCE explores one case that she just couldn’t resist despite its layers of challenges. She has teamed up with Jason Baldwin and his non-profit, Proclaim Justice, to get to the bottom of this perplexing story: Who killed Yvonne Lane and why is David Thorne sitting in prison for her murder?

Kara Robinson Chamberlain shook things up on TikTok when she shared her story of surviving an 18 hour kidnapping and assault at the young age of 15. She went on to work in law enforcement, and in victims assistance, and she now spends her time parenting and empowering others to survive and thrive after trauma. Kara is producing a documentary about her story that will premier in the fall on Oxygen. She is light, bright and incredible; a true force to be reckoned with, and I am grateful she was on the podcast.

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Today's guest is the multi-talented Lenora Claire – TV producer, casting director, art curator, media personality and victim’s advocate. Lenora has been stalked by a man for years and she quickly learned how to be her own advocate and her life’s work is now helping others do the same. Lenora pulls no punches. She speaks candidly about her experience and her ideas on how to improve the system for victims and prevent further traumatization within the true crime industry as well!

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Kathleen is an executive producer, journalist and podcast host from Canada, and she recently launched a great new podcast called "Do You Know Mordechai?" It's a twisty and intimate story featuring one of her closest friends who fell for a man who was not who he said he was. The rest is...not quite history, in fact, this man continues to interact dishonestly with women online. Listen to this conversation which explores friendship, online dating, betrayal, and mental health.

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We learned A LOT about NXIVM last year. But we barely scratched the surface. My guest today, reporter and author, Sarah Berman, has covered NXIVM extensively for years — first at VICE, and most recently, in her new book, DON'T CALL IT A CULT. This book is THE place to get the whole story of how NXIVM came to be and ALL the players within. Sarah and I get into all the details including the branding, the coercion and trafficking, as well as getting comfortable with the inconceivable.I promise you will learn something ( if not many things) you didn't know about NXIVM before and I think you will appreciate Sarah's thoughtful coverage as much as I do.

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Malibu, California is a practically mythical place. I love the new podcast, LOST HILLS, because of the way host, writer and producer, Dana Goodyear, sets the scene in the wild hills of Malibu - a series of shootings, one murder, a reluctant investigation, and an uncooperative suspect. It makes for a really good podcast.

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