Episodes
Published 10/10/23
Published 10/10/23
Published 09/23/22
Published 09/08/22
True crime podcasts have developed a devoted female following. It’s made fun of in SNL skits and coined cutesy phrases on t-shirts like “true crime, glass of wine, bed by nine.” The thing is, some of the most popular true crime podcasts are largely led by white women and focused on white victims. And that white lens... well it impacts how they view violent crime, policing and what justice looks like. And that’s what this episode is about – what happens when those voices and those stories are...
Published 09/08/22
Published 09/01/22
Published 09/01/22
This week on Spectacle, forensic sciences. Shows like CSI or Forensic Files make us believe that fingerprints, bite marks or tool marks can close the case. But in reality, aside from DNA, none of it is legit. In fact, it’s been publicly called out by the National Academy of Sciences for lacking scientific merit but regardless, it’s still used in criminal cases around the country – leading to misleading testimony and worse, wrongful convictions. Featuring interviews with The Intercept’s Jordan...
Published 09/01/22
This week on Spectacle, forensic sciences. Shows like CSI or Forensic Files make us believe that fingerprints, bite marks or tool marks can close the case. But in reality, aside from DNA, none of it is legit. In fact, it’s been publicly called out by the National Academy of Sciences for lacking scientific merit but regardless, it’s still used in criminal cases around the country – leading to misleading testimony and worse, wrongful convictions. Featuring interviews with The Intercept’s Jordan...
Published 09/01/22
Published 08/25/22
If you’re turned on any streaming channel, from Netflix to Hulu to HBO Max, true crime dominates. As of late, what’s especially popular are shows and movies that give true crime the arthouse movie treatment. There's killer cinematography, an A-list cast and a gripping story. The thing is... these stories are often based on tragic events in the recent past. The victims, the families of the victims and the perpetrators are often still alive and aren’t involved. In this episode of Spectacle, we...
Published 08/25/22
Published 08/18/22
It's not often that cases get the justice they deserve, unfortunately. But in the Law & Order: SVU universe, victims always get justice delivered by a certain superwoman detective. In this week’s episode, Host Mariah Smith looks into how this popular crime procedural show serves as a feminist fantasy -- led by its hero Olivia Benson -- and how the show has set up an unrealistic perception of policing in America. Featuring interviews with ICYMI podcast co-host Rachelle Hampton, and Laurie...
Published 08/18/22
Published 08/15/22
Published 08/11/22
On this week’s episode of Spectacle, our obsession with certain missing women. When Gabby Petito disappeared in September 2021, the world went crazy. It was covered on the news regularly and ordinary folks joined in the investigation as well, scouring her Instagram for digital clues. But why do women like Gabby get so much attention... while others, especially Black women, get little to none? We talk to HBO’s Black & Missing EP Soledad O’Brien and Natalie and Derrica Wilson of the Black...
Published 08/11/22
Published 08/04/22
From tech bro scammers to fake heiresses, there’s a scammer story for everyone... nearly everywhere. In this week’s episode, Host Mariah Smith digs into our fascination with conartists with the podcast that kicked off the latest craze... Dirty John. Featuring interviews with Los Angeles Times Reporter Chris Goffard and Huffpost Reporter Caroline Bologna. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly...
Published 08/04/22
Published 07/28/22
In this week’s episode, host Mariah Smith digs into the phenomenon of citizen sleuths. It’s nothing new but with the internet, it’s exploded in the last few years… most notably in 2021 with the disappearance of Gabby Petito. We’ll dig into how citizen sleuths work and the impact this work has on them with Don’t F**k with Cats’ Deanna Thompson. And ICYMI co-host Rachelle Hampton tells us the good and the bad of sleuthing in the internet age. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment...
Published 07/28/22
Published 07/21/22