Join us for the season finale of the Secret Passage Podcast. We look at the world of parasocial relationships, exploring how social media and influencers create an illusion of intimacy that fuels both fandom and fierce criticism. From nostalgic celebrity crushes to the devastating impact of online shaming, we unpack the emotional pull of digital connections and the dark side of snark communities. Touching on recent influencer tragedies, mimetic desire, and the psychological toll of public shaming, we question our investment in curated lives and call for more empathy in a hyper-connected world. Join us for a look at how technology reshapes relationships, identity, and accountability.   Join our Patreon community!   www.patreon.com/SecretPassagePodcast   Like, subscribe, and follow us. Here's how:

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver

Join us as we dive into the world of prepping. From chasing crows to save baby bunnies to dodging wildfires, we share what sparked our interest in prepping. Why do we resist preparing for disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, or even a zombie apocalypse? We explore psychological barriers, debunk myths about preppers, and offer practical tips to start small. Come along with us as we discuss self-sufficiency, community, and surviving chaos.    Links:   The Urban Prepper - Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/@theurbanprepper

Doomsday Preppers: National Geographic

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/show/6e70ab41-6da6-478f-9d76-565070aa757d/season/1

Inside the Prepper Movement: Preparing for Disaster and Ensuring Survival - WELT Documentary

https://youtu.be/jjuvNBwmi3w?si=L0NzuhVI6N5aLtej

The Casual Preppers Podcast:

https://www.casualpreppers.com/

Join our Patreon community!   www.patreon.com/SecretPassagePodcast   Like, subscribe, and follow us. Here's how:

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver

In this special episode of the Secret Passage Podcast, co-host Shannon Rogers interviews Dana Vespoli for an intimate look into her life and career. From her journey in the adult industry to her reflections on its challenges and evolution, Dana shares personal stories, professional insights, and her recent spiritual journey.    Join our Patreon community!   www.patreon.com/SecretPassagePodcast   Like, subscribe, and follow us. Here's how:

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver

In this episode we explore the Vietnam War, focusing on the My Lai Massacre as a lens to examine the psychological toll of war and the fragility of human morality.   Links:   Kill Anything That Moves by Nick Turse  https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250045065/killanythingthatmoves/   Vietnam War Timeline:  https://www.history.com/articles/vietnam-war-timeline   Pulitzer Article:  https://www.pulitzer.org/article/i-sent-them-good-boy-and-they-made-him-murderer   Four Hours in My Lai (film):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NwnnLnvQYA   Like, subscribe, and follow us. Here's how:

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver

This week we discuss kidfluencers, exploring the ethical implications and parental responsibilities associated with children in the digital entertainment space. We look at the complexities surrounding child influencers, the psychological impacts on children, and the dilemmas faced by parents. 

Links:

Mom Uncharted:

https://www.momuncharted.com/

Bad Influence: The Darkside of Kidfluencing

https://www.netflix.com/title/81728889

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke

https://press.hulu.com/shows/devil-in-the-family-the-fall-of-ruby-franke/

Kidfluencers:

https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/kidfluencers/umc.cmc.7iou8l4mc4jufv51a0k3sxera

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver

In this episode of the Secret Passage Podcast, we look at the life of Jayne Mansfield, 1950s Hollywood icon and proto-influencer. We explore her rise to fame, her branding and marketing savvy, her complex relationships, her tragic death, and her enduring impact on celebrity culture.   Links:   Jayne Mansfield and the American Fifties:   https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Martha-Saxton/dp/0553025562   Like, subscribe, and follow us. Here's how:

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver

This week's episode provides a sneak peek into the kind of content we'll offer on our upcoming Patreon. Our producer, Tim, interviews us as we revisit the Dubai Porta Potty Parties episode together. Join us as we discuss our favorite moments from the Porta Potty episode, our worthless college degrees, youthful mischief, and much much more.    Like, subscribe, and follow us. Here's how:

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This week we discuss the heartbreaking case of Gabriel Fernandez, an eight-year-old boy from Palmdale, California, who was brutally abused and murdered by his mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, in 2013. We explore the systemic failures that allowed the abuse to continue despite multiple reports from family, Gabriel's teacher, and a security guard.    Links:   The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez:  https://www.netflix.com/title/80220207   Murder In America: The Torture and Murder of 8-Year-Old Gabriel Fernandez:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-99-california-the-torture-and-murder-of-8/id1547409175?i=1000600169959   Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline:  https://www.childhelphotline.org/   Like, subscribe, and follow us. Here's how:

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver

This week we explore Dubai porta potty parties, where influencers and Only Fans models are allegedly paid exorbitant sums for degrading acts. We discuss addiction, porn’s cultural impact, and Dana's experience in the adult industry. This episode (trigger warning: graphic content) mixes humor, horror, and introspection—perfect for those with an iron stomach and a taste for the bizarre. Listener discretion is advised.       Links:   Article about Only Fans model Maria Kovalchuk:   https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/onlyfans-model-found-on-side-of-the-road-with-broken-spine-report/   Medium article by Gal Darrash:   https://medium.com/@galdarrash/the-dubai-porta-potty-is-the-end-product-of-the-digital-crisis-b644090a379e   The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease:   https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/237880/the-biology-of-desire-by-marc-lewis/9780385682305   The Fit Mind Podcast featuring Donald Hilton MD:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fitmind-podcast-mental-fitness-neuroscience/id1461518124?i=1000484919097   Ways to get help for porn addiction:   NoFap

Reboot Nation

Your Brain On Porn

Fight The New Drug  

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver

This week we discuss the Casey Anthony case and her emergence as a TikToking, Substacking legal advocate. Rather than rehashing the trial, we speculate on what drives Casey’s audacity and apparent lack of remorse, drawing parallels to psychopathy and narcissism. We examine her family dynamics, the infamous 911 call, and the chilling Firefox search history (including "foolproof suffocation") that the prosecution overlooked. Was Caylee’s death an accident or a calculated act by a mother who saw her child as an obstacle? We wrestle with these questions, blending behavioral analysis with personal reflections on compassion, forgiveness, and the limits of understanding someone who seems "reptilian" in nature.

Links:

Coach Steph's website:

https://stephanielicata.com/meet-stephanie

Nancy Grace, like a dog with a bone:

https://nypost.com/2025/03/07/us-news/casey-anthony-new-legal-advocate-career-called-out-by-nancy-grace/

Casey's Substack:

https://substack.com/@therealcaseyanthony

Psychololgy Today Article:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spycatcher/201107/the-not-so-obvious-lessons-from-the-casey-anthony-trial

Psychopaths are capable of empathy:

https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/dark-triad/

Television Documentaries:

Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies

https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/tv/casey-anthony-where-the-truth-lies/8263985552066829112?orig_ref=https://www.google.com/

Casey Anthony's Parents: The Lie Detector Test

https://www.hulu.com/series/casey-anthonys-parents-the-lie-detector-test-b02e99c1-8c67-4f0d-9885-f7e7e245e8ab

Casey Anthony's Parents Speak

https://www.aetv.com/specials/casey-anthonys-parents-speak

 

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Secret Passage Podcast is hosted by Dana Vespoli and Shannon Rogers

Producer: Tim Rogers

Editor: Mitch Silver