Though it took place well over two decades ago, I’ll never forget the high school musical rehearsal when my friend Tom – the lead – walked into an off-stage bathroom while wearing his wireless microphone. The audio engineer was apparently asleep at the switch, as we all then heard Tom “do his business” loud and clear over the auditorium speakers.

New York real estate tycoon and accused murderer Robert Durst recently found himself in a similar – yet much worse – predicament. During the filming of an HBO documentary, Durst excused himself to the bathroom while still “wired” for the interview. What followed, according to Reuters, was a series of mumblings that sounded an awful lot like an accidental confession. “There it is, you’re caught. What a disaster,” he said, reportedly adding: “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.”

Durst learned a rather extreme version of a lesson that every broadcaster will tell you: If you’re near a mic or wearing one, assume it’s always on and that someone is recording it.

In this week’s episode, we use Durst’s misstep to illustrate the types of pitfalls that could affect anyone who does a TV or radio interview – or even a speaking engagement – in which a microphone is involved.