This Side Quest Minisode opens a short Holiday Mini-Arc, where I’m stepping away from main case-file episodes and turning the lens inward for the season.

In this episode, I explore why music has always had the power to quiet my mind when silence feels overwhelming. Through personal reflection and psychological insight, I examine how some brains use sound as regulation rather than distraction, why familiarity can feel grounding, and what it means when music becomes a form of emotional containment.

During this Holiday Mini-Arc, Side Quest episodes will temporarily replace main episodes, offering space for reflection, curiosity, and connection before we return to full forensic character analyses.