Madness on Trial: John Hinckley Jr. and the Insanity Defense

Madness on Trial: John Hinckley Jr. and the Insanity Defense

By Dan GreenstoneSociety & CultureTrue CrimeHistory
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Madness on Trial: John Hinckley Jr. and the Insanity Defense episodes

  • Announcing: The Fringe on Youtube

    We've launched a new YouTube channel — The Fringe — bringing together all of our documentary films and podcast series in one place.

    Currently available:

    🎬 Last Believer: the story of Ron Taylor, the story of the sole surviving member of the House of David commune 🎬 Far Out West: Inside California's Kerista Commune — full feature documentary, free to watch 🎬 Surviving Zendik Farm — trailer for our newest film, Official Selection Chicago Film Frenzy 2026 🎙️ American Utopia — podcast series on the Oneida Community.

    Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT_8XOwxWWClj6crZdTVVcw

    More films and episodes coming regularly. Thanks for listening — and for helping spread the word.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2 min
  • Episode 11: John Hinckley On Tour!?
    "Now it's time to rock and roll!" So said John Hinckley Jr. when he was released from judicial supervision.  And shortly thereafter he announced he was launching his "Redemption Tour." But so far every show he's booked has been cancelled due to a public backlash.

     In this episdoe, the season finale of Madness on Trial, we discuss John Hinckley's (so far unrealized) ambitions to mount a rock tour.  Club owner and booker, Donnie Biggins (The Golden Dagger), and musician  Sid Yiddish,  talks us through how the ethics of booking an artist who, like Hinckley, has a troubled past.  

    If you've enjoyed the show, please spread the word and give us a 5 star review. 
    Also, we love hearing from listeners. 

    Email us at [email protected]  

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  • Episode 10: John Hinckley in 5 Songs
    John Hinckley Jr. has wanted to be a famous singer-songwriter since he was in high school. And now, after a 5 decade detour, it's happening!  He's on Spotify and Youtube, racking up listens. And one of his songs has been covered by the Pop/Punk band Elway. He's also the subject of songs by Devo, Stephen Sondheim, and the punk band Suicidal Tendencies.  On episode 10, we evaluate the music by and about the man who tried to murder President Reagan. 


    If you enjoy the show, please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. It's by far the best way to for us to spread the word. 
    Oh, and email us at [email protected] 
    We love emails! 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  • Episode 9: John Hinckley For President!
    Can you believe John Hinckley is running for president?! Well, he is. At least according to his website, which offers merch for his 2024 campaign, paintings of his cat,  and dozens of pictures of the members of his  new "community." We investigate! And we also react to his recent media tour. Join us! 

    If you enjoy the show, please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. It's by far the best way to for us to spread the word. 
    Oh, and email us at [email protected] 
    We love emails! 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  • Episode 8: Does Jodie Foster Get a Vote?
    Like all people committed to mental institutions, John Hinckley Jr. had the right to petition a judge for more freedoms and ultimately for release. His appeals give us  a fascinating window into his life at St. Elizabeth's hospital and into his recovery from his mental illness. Oh, and a listener voice memo prompts a game of Robot or Not?

    If you enjoy the show, please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. It's by far the best way to for us to spread the word. 
    Email us at [email protected] 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  • Episode 7: John Hinckley Verdict Mailbag!
    Madness on Trial  has been called "the funniest, most entertaining podcast ever made about the insanity defense." We blush. But, in truth, we think Episode 7 lives up to the hype.  
    Join us as we tackle listener questions on a variety of topics, including: 
    -whether the Hinckley not guilty verdict was correct
    - whether we should all stop using the word "crazy"
    -how the insanity defense changed after the Hinckley trial 
    -why  robots from New Zealand are superior to those from Miami. 
    -how politicians should apologize for using offensive language
    Oh, and Dan Greenstone tells a story that seems designed to answer the question of whether hosting a podcast episode can get you fired from your day job. 

    If you enjoy the show, please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. It's by far the best way to for us to spread the word. 
    Email us at [email protected] 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  • Episode 6: The Trial of John Hinckley Jr. Part 2
    Criminal defense attorney Harold Hall is back! He joins Dan and Travis to talk through the controversial testimony, and surprising background, of prosecution expert witness Park Dietz, the jury deliberations and the verdict, and whether the emerging field of neuro-criminology will  lead to a dystopian future or a more just and humane system. 

    And for the Daniel-stans out there, Daniel Mokrauer Madden was in Kenya while we recorded this episode and the next one. But fear not; he will back for Episode 7! 

    If you enjoy the show, please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. It's by far the best way to for us to spread the word. 
    Email us at [email protected] 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  • Episode 5: The Trial Of John Hinckley Jr. Part 1
    Criminal defense attorney Harold Hall joins Dan and Travis to talk through the key points  in the John Hinckley Jr. Trial, including Jodie Foster's videotaped testimony, key rulings by the judge, some incredibly awful poetry that was admitted as evidence, and Hinckley's removal from the courtroom for an outburst.  Oh, and for you Daniel-stans out there, Daniel Mokrauer Madden was in Kenya while we recorded this episode and the next one. But fear not; he will back for Episode 7! 

    If you enjoy the show, please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. It's by far the best way to for us to spread the word. 
    Email us at [email protected] 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  • Episode 4: If You Come for the Queen... The Insanity Defense before Hinckley
    Travis and Daniel take a pop quiz on which states have banned the insanity defense. Then the crew asks some big questions about the insanity defense. Why do we have it? When did it begin? How has it changed over time? How broadly should it be available to defendants? And what was the law that governed John Hinckley Jr.'s trial. To answer these questions, we have 3  of the country's leading scholars of the insanity defense: forensic psychiatrist Dr. Ken Weiss, and law professors  Michael Perlin and Richard Bonnie. 
    We learned a ton and had some laughs too. 
    You can email us at [email protected]
    And if you enjoy the show, spread the word! Tell your people, and leave us a review/rating on Apple Podcasts. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  • Episode 3: The Sound of Popping Balloons
    On the morning of March 30, 1981,  John Hinckley Jr. was planning to travel from Washington, D.C. to New Haven with the intention of murdering Jodie Foster. But when, by chance, Hinckley saw that Reagan was giving a speech that afternoon he packed his guns, and headed over to the Washington Hilton. 
    Del Wilber,  the author of the best selling book, Rawhide Down, takes us through this historic day, explaining how the heroics of Secret Service agents and the frantic efforts of Emergency Medicine specialists saved President Reagan's life.  Wilber also makes the case that Reagan's grace and humor that day forged a bond with the country that was never broken. 

    We also speak with David Prosperi, White House Assistant Press Secretary, who survived the shooting. Prosperi gives us his eyewitness account of the events that day. 
    Email us with questions and comments at [email protected]

    And if you like the show, please leave a rating and review. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

About Madness on Trial: John Hinckley Jr. and the Insanity Defense

From the publisher's feed

John Hinckley Jr.’s acquittal was the most important insanity defense case of the past century. Join hosts Dan Greenstone, Travis Chandler and Daniel Mokrauer-Madden, as they trace how one young man’s…