In light of the overturned ruling of Kowalski v Johns Hopkins and Serial’s The Preventionist, we’re reairing an episode from our Kowalski season in which Andrea dives into the complexities around reporting child abuse suspicions.

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With the jury's stunning $242 million verdict in favor of the Kowalski family, host Andrea Dunlop looks at why this case has struck such a nerve on both sides of the political spectrum. She examines why some mothers accused of medical child abuse are viewed as monsters and others as martyrs.  

Andrea looks at the charges against social worker Cathy Bedy the woman who became the face of the child welfare bureaucracy during the Maya Kowalski case and examines her testimony.  

We also seek out answers about the troubled state of child welfare in America by talking to Dr. Jessica Pryce, author of the forthcoming book Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services—Notes of a Former Caseworker. 

Dr. Pryce shares heart-wrenching stories of mothers whose lives have been turned upside down by investigations and sets out a compelling and urgent case for an overhaul of CPS. With her inside view of the system, she also gives insight on how doctors and other mandated reporters can do the best for the families they want to help even within the current, deeply flawed system.  

This episode grapples with the complexity around reporting child abuse suspicions and the potentially chilling ripple effects of the explosive verdict in Kowalski v Johns Hopkins All Childrens. It examines the lack of support for struggling parents in America, while leaving the listener with urgent questions about justice and equity. 

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Learn more about Dr. Pryce’s work on her website: https://jessicaprycephd.com/  

Tickets for Nobody Should Believe Me LIVE: https://www.andreadunlop.net/nobody-should-believe-me-live

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In the second part of Andrea’s rebuttal to The Preventionist, Serial Productions’ podcast on child abuse pediatrician Dr. Debra Jenssen, she speaks with Dr. Jim Hamilton, a leading expert on Munchausen by proxy. They break down how prevalence statistics are misused, what The Preventionist gets wrong, and why leaving out key details—like the Steltz’ teenage son coming forward and emancipating himself—is so damaging. Ultimately, the episode asks what it means when the media gives a platform to alleged abusers while erasing survivors.

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Tickets for Nobody Should Believe Me LIVE: https://www.andreadunlop.net/nobody-should-believe-me-live

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In this episode, Andrea sits down with Ethen Shapiro, trial counsel for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, to unpack the landmark appellate decision overturning the $200 million verdict in the Kowalski v. Johns Hopkins case. Ethen explains how the ruling reinforces the immunity given to mandatory reporters acting in good faith when reporting suspected abuse. Together, they explore how the decision challenges the “medical kidnapping” narrative and clarifies that the hospital’s actions were guided by law and necessity, not malice. The discussion also highlights what this ruling could mean for similar cases nationwide, where lawsuits against hospitals and social workers are on the rise. 

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Tickets for NSBM Live - Seattle 3.18.26 https://tickets.thetripledoor.net/eventperformances.asp?evt=2181

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In this episode, Andrea continues delving into the Olivia Gant case with Detective Melissa Kalish, who uncovered the vast fraud and abuse behind Kelly Turner’s lies. Kelly continued to exploit compassion: fabricating diagnoses, staging her daughter’s suffering, and committing large-scale Medicaid fraud.

Within days of Olivia’s death, she entered new relationships, inventing pregnancies, fabricating ex-wives, and posing as a nurse. Andrea closes the episode by reminding listeners that Olivia’s story is a warning about the systems and people who looked away when she most needed protection.

Get in touch with Serial and the NTY: [email protected]

Justice for Collin: ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tEg2mpbrwNJnuVMNdbHANCofEFYvH9_bO5MULHUxqLs/edit⁠

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In response to Serial Productions’s series The Preventionist, we’re re-airing our episode “What’s Happening in Lehigh?”, where Andrea and Dr. Marc Feldman dive into the claims of “overdiagnosis” of Munchausen by Proxy in Lehigh, PA. This episode includes an intro covering some key details missing from Serial's reporting.

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This week Andrea is joined by Dr. Marc Feldman as she dives into the complexities and controversies surrounding medical child abuse and the developing story in Lehigh, PA about "overdiagnosis". They delve into the media’s role in shaping perceptions and the potential for a moral panic about doctors "falsely accusing" parents of child abuse. Andrea and Dr. Feldman address the challenges in protecting children, critiques of the healthcare and legal systems, and the broader social and political movement emerging from these cases.

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Tickets for NSBM Live - Seattle 3.18.26 https://tickets.thetripledoor.net/eventperformances.asp?evt=2181

Order Andrea’s book The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy. 

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The disturbing parallels between Collin McDaniel and Olivia Gant's cases led Andrea to speak with Melissa Kalish, the lead detective in the investigation of Kelly Turner, for season 6. Now we’re diving deeper into Olivia’s story in a two part series where Detective Kalish walks listeners through her investigation into this case of medical child abuse.

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Justice for Collin: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tEg2mpbrwNJnuVMNdbHANCofEFYvH9_bO5MULHUxqLs/edit

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This week Fran and Alvin discuss food, Pakistan, and American history.

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Listen to Affirmative Murder: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/340-em-eye-ess-ess-eye-pee-pee-eye/id1296864488

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In this episode, Andrea and the Nobody Should Believe Me team reflect on the emotional impact of making season 6 and the ethical considerations of reporting on Collin’s story. They also address listener feedback, explore the roles of perpetrators and medical professionals, and highlight the importance of accountability in philanthropy and child protection systems. Their conversation emphasizes the need for community engagement and the complexities of navigating these sensitive topics.

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Justice for Collin: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tEg2mpbrwNJnuVMNdbHANCofEFYvH9_bO5MULHUxqLs/edit

More from Myrriah: https://www.goodget.xyz/

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Two cousins. Four murders. One homicidal summer. In 2004, Angel Ford-Wright & Caroline Peoples lured victims with false promises, then executed them. One confessed. One went to trial. Both got life.

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Listen to Fruitloops: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fruitloops-serial-killers-of-color/id1400426755

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Welcome to the final installment of True Story Media Presents! This week Andrea is talking to Wendy and Beth, the creators behind Fruitloops: Serial Killers of Color. The three of them chat about how they first met and what drove Wendy and Beth to dive into true crime podcasting. They reflect on the shared thread of how cultural and societal ideals shape policy and how that engages with true crime. Wendy and Beth share what they hope listeners take away from their podcast. They also touch on the case of Antoinette Frank—a New Orleans police officer turned murderer.

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Listen to Fruitloops: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fruitloops-serial-killers-of-color/id1400426755

Listen to Antoinette Frank: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e80-antoinette-frank/id1400426755

Order Andrea’s book The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy. 

Click here to view our sponsors. Remember that using our codes helps advertisers know you’re listening and helps us keep making the show!  

Subscribe on YouTube where we have full episodes and lots of bonus content. 

Follow Andrea on Instagram: @andreadunlop

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For more information and resources on Munchausen by Proxy, please visit MunchausenSupport.com

The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children’s MBP Practice Guidelines can be downloaded here.

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