Bound by the Cloak

What does it feel like to live without empathy—or guilt? Sociopathy is one of the most misunderstood diagnoses in psychology. We chat with Jamie who offers a rare, first-person glimpse into life with antisocial personality disorder.

We discuss stigma, resilience, and the complexity of being "different" in a world built for emotional connection.

Jamie, also known by the pen name M.E. Thomas, is the author of Confessions of a Sociopath, A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight. She is a former law professor who has written extensively on music copyright issues, a current California attorney, and the founder of a non-profit. She is also a professional musician.

Is race written in our DNA—or is that one of the most dangerous myths of modern science?

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Rina Bliss, sociologist and author of What's Real About Race: The New Genetics and the Future of Racism. With Rina, we challenge long-held assumptions about biology and race, revealing how cutting-edge genetic research is being misinterpreted in ways that reinforce inequality.

We discuss why race is not a biological truth but a social construct—and why that distinction matters more than ever in the age of consumer DNA tests, precision medicine, and tech-driven bias.

Bio:

Rina's work explores the personal and societal significance of emerging genetic sciences. She is Associate Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University and the author of Rethinking Intelligence: A Radical New Understanding of Our Human Potential, Race Decoded: The Genomic Fight for Social Justice and Social by Nature: The Promise and Peril of Sociogenomics. She lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with her family.

Kris Pedretti is the 10th known survivor of the Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo. After remaining silent for 42 years, she now courageously shares her journey of post-traumatic growth. In this episode, Kris opens up about what it took to confront her trauma decades later, how she found her voice, and why she's dedicated her life to empowering other survivors.

Kris is a powerful voice for survivor advocacy, participating in national podcasts, documentaries, and public speaking engagements to raise awareness and promote healing. She travels the country speaking at conferences on trauma-informed care, law enforcement training, and survivor support.

As the founder and CEO of Phyllis's Garden, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault, Kris leads vital initiatives, including the creation of soft interview rooms in police stations and the facilitation of survivor-led support groups. Her work helps others break their silence, reclaim their voice, and find strength in healing.

Why does parenting feel so much harder today? In this episode, we sit down with Nicole Runyon, a former child psychotherapist turned parent coach, author, and keynote speaker with over 22 years of experience in child and adolescent mental health. Nicole brings a rare ability to bridge the gap between generations, helping adults truly understand what's going on inside the minds of today's kids.

We talk about how technology is reshaping childhood, the emotional toll of growing up in today's world, and why so much mainstream parenting advice misses the mark. Nicole shares practical insights on how to build stronger, more connected relationships with children, plus a few hilarious stories from her own life as a parent. Whether you're raising kids, teaching them, or just trying to relate to the young people in your life, this conversation will leave you feeling more informed and a little more hopeful.

What happens when the paranormal meets storytelling and community? Welcome to Windy City Paranormal Fest, Chicago's celebration of all things strange and unexplained. In this episode, two of the creators, Franky Everleigh and Christina Rappel, share the story behind this unique fest, which brings together the curious and the courageous to explore everything from spirits and cryptids to psychic phenomena and UFOs.

Franky and Christina are passionate about uplifting underrepresented voices in the paranormal world and fostering a community that honors both the fun and the historical weight of haunted spaces. Windy City Paranormal Fest is about more than just the supernatural. It's about creating a space for diverse voices, fostering inclusivity, and celebrating the weird and wonderful in all its forms.

Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most exciting and inclusive paranormal gatherings around. If you're in Chicago this June, join in person, or catch the action through a live stream.

What does it truly mean to be healthy in today's world, where diet culture and social pressures shape our perceptions of wellness? Martina Cartwright helps us break down the myths surrounding "perfect" health and wellness, offering empowering insights on how to reclaim a balanced, self-compassionate approach to living well.

Martina is a registered dietitian and expert with over 26 years of experience in clinical practice, research, and education. She has worked in diverse fields—from pharmaceutical research to clinical dermatology—and is a pioneer in understanding how external pressures—from beauty pageants to social media—affect our body image and relationship with food. She's the author of the first peer-reviewed paper on child beauty pageants and body image and has been at the forefront of bringing attention to how nutrition can affect skin health.

Whether you're navigating the world of social media, parenting kids, or simply seeking a healthier relationship with food, dive into this conversation on why wellness is a personal journey, free from external pressures, and how we can start redefining healthy—on our own terms.

We've explored the world of escort service as well as the life of an OnlyFans model. This time we thought we'd explore the industry as it pertains to strippers.

NatsHoney is an industry veteran with years of experience. NatsHoney is the President of Strippers United, a labor organization led by strippers advocating for fair wages, safety, and dignity in the industry. We caught up with her to discuss her experience in the industry, how strippers face wage theft,and a lack of labor protections.

NatsHoney is an entrepreneur, artist, and advocate. She founded Honey's Artistic Pot in 2008, a collective focused on mentoring and supporting artists through collaboration, consulting, and event production. With 12 years of experience leading medicinal cannabis collectives in Los Angeles, she has been deeply involved in advocacy, entrepreneurship, and policy reform. Today, she balances motherhood, creative pursuits, and serves as the President for Strippers United, while continuing to embrace her passion for pole dancing.

What exactly is a rape kit? What goes into it? Who created it? It's a question most of us have never thought to ask. The rape kit revolutionized forensic science and gave sexual assault survivors a powerful tool in the pursuit of justice.

Pagan Kennedy had questions and went on a search for answers. While digging around, she learned of Marty Goddard and her quest in the 1970s to help create a system for collecting evidence.

Pagan is the author of The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story. She is also a journalist who has written over twelve books and countless articles. Her journalism has appeared in dozens of publications including The New Yorker and Atlantic Monthly; she has worked as a columnist for The New York Times Magazine, The Boston Globe Magazine, and The Village Voice. Her awards include a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT, an NEA Fellowship, a Smithsonian Fellowship, and two Massachusetts Cultural Council fellowships.

The Furry subculture is a subculture that's often misunderstood, misrepresented and wrapped in myth. So, what's the real story behind the fandom? With Dr. Courtney Plante and others, we hear about the world of furries - the creativity, community, and identity of it all. Courtney is a social psychologist and co-founder of FurScience, the leading research group dedicated to studying the furry community. As an associate professor at Bishop's University, he's spent years researching the psychology of fandoms, identity, and the power of belonging. He helps us break down common misconceptions, explore why people become furries, and discuss how the fandom provides a supportive space for self-expression. Whether you're curious, skeptical, or already part of the community, this episode challenges misconceptions and reveals the deeper meaning behind the fur.

The Gullah Geechee Corridor spans multiple states throughout the southeastern U.S. and is comprised of a deep and rich history, culture, language and lifestyle. The Gullah Geechee people are the descendants of enslaved Africans who worked on rice, indigo and cotton plantations throughout the south. Being enslaved on plantations on remote coastal islands allowed for them to develop and retain a strong, deep culture that is evident in their music, food, language, artwork and more.

Luana Graves Sellars is the founder of the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation. She is an activist and preservationist, an award winning podcast host, a documentarian, a writer and more. Lowcountry Gullah raises money for Gullah heirs property and works to preserve and ptotect the Gullah culture.