Wondering how a tragedy like the recent Macy’s stabbing in New York City could happen - and what it reveals about our mental health system? In this episode of Freud and Felons, I explore the history behind America’s psychiatric care and why so many vulnerable individuals end up on the streets or in jail.

Starting with Kerri Aherne, a woman with schizophrenia who was released from a long-term hospital only to become involved in a violent incident, I take a step back and dive into how former presidents JFK and Ronald Reagan shaped our current system, from the Kennedy family’s personal struggles with mental illness to Reagan’s deep federal funding cuts.

Misguided reforms, the rise of antipsychotic medications, and the closure of state hospitals left people with severe mental illness with nowhere to turn, leaving correctional facilities to become the largest providers of psychiatric care.

Will you do something unethical if you were ordered to do so? Most people say NO but research tells another story.

In this episode, we explore the Milgram experiment, a pivotal study on obedience to authority conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s. The discussion delves into the psychological mechanisms that drive individuals to obey authority figures, even when it leads to harmful actions. We emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics to resist undue influence and highlights the complexities surrounding free will and moral responsibility in the context of obedience.

A mother kills her children. A man shoots the President to impress a movie star. Another turns human skin into furniture.
They all share one shocking verdict: Not guilty by reason of insanity.

In this episode, we expose the reality behind one of the most misunderstood legal defenses. From John Hinckley Jr. to Andrea Yates and Ed Gein, we uncover how the insanity plea works, why it’s so hard to prove, and what really happens when the verdict is reached.

Is it justice—or a loophole?

Ted Bundy is infamous not just brute force, but for using charm, fake injuries, and simple requests for help to lure victims. In this episode, we examine how serial predators turned politeness into a weapon. Why these tactics worked, and what they reveal about the social rules women still carry today- ignoring instincts and stepping into danger despite better judgment? Why do women care so much about being polite?

Ever wonder why true crime is so popular? Why we seem to be obsessed with a good true crime story? Listen to my theories on why humans are so attracted to the dark and twisty.