Welcome to the premiere episode of Firehouse Files, hosted by Steve Buscemi, Marian Fontana, and Dennis Gordon. Firehouse Files features firefighters and first responders sharing firsthand accounts of the calls that have stayed with them.

Today’s special episode, “Never Forget,” commemorates the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and honors the firefighters who were lost that day and in the years since.

Steve, Marian, Dennis, and their guest, former FDNY Fire Commissioner Dan Nigro, were all in New York City on September 11 and each experienced the tragedy from a different perspective. Dan was serving as the FDNY’s Chief of Operations when the first plane struck the World Trade Center and became Chief of Department after Chief Peter Ganci was killed in the collapse.

Together, they reflect on what they witnessed that day, the firefighters who entered the towers, the rescue and recovery efforts that followed, and the enormous personal toll 9/11 took on the firefighting community. They also discuss survivor guilt, mental health, and the 9/11-related illnesses that continue to claim the lives of first responders 25 years later.

“Never Forget” serves as both a memorial to those we lost and an introduction to Firehouse Files.

The full first season will premiere in January 2027.

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A new kind of DNA analysis changes everything. After learning how genetic genealogy helped identify an unknown victim in a kidnapping case, Paul Holes begins to wonder whether the same method could be used to find the Golden State Killer. Working with a small team, he uses an SNP profile to identify distant relatives and build family trees that may ultimately lead to a name. After decades of dead ends, the case begins to move with astonishing speed - culminating in, at last, the arrest of Joseph D’Angelo.

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Years after stepping away from the case, Paul is pulled back in. The files are still there. The case is still unsolved. And a suspect emerges who seems to fit. Paul Holes spends years chasing this man he believes could be the Golden State Killer, only for DNA to prove him wrong. We learn all about false leads, investigative humility, and the emotional toll of a case that followed Paul into every part of his life.

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The crimes continue in Southern California, with the murders of Manuela Witthuhn and Janelle Cruz. Paul Holes explains how the offender’s violence evolved, how patterns emerged across cases, and how investigators eventually linked the East Area Rapist attacks in Northern California to the Original Night Stalker homicides in the south. For a moment, Paul believes the case may finally be solved. Instead, the investigation enters another long silence.

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the East Area Rapist disappears from Northern California, an attack with a similar MO happens hundreds of miles away in Goleta. At the time, investigators had no reason to connect it to the Sacramento series. Paul Holes helps us understand the shift into Southern California, the jurisdictional gaps, and the violence of the Lyman and Charlene Smith case. Years later, evidence from this phase will become critical to identifying the Golden State Killer.

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The East Area Rapist did not stop terrorizing victims when he left their homes. Paul Holes walks us through the phone calls, threats, and psychological cruelty inflicted on the victims long after the attacks. This episode explores fear as part of the offender’s pattern. Paul also traces the final Northern California attacks and the moment the series abruptly stops in the north before starting up again somewhere else in the state.

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As fear spreads through Sacramento, the public demands answers. Communities hold meetings. Newspapers cover the case. And all the while, Paul Holes believes the East Area Rapist was likely watching closely. In this episode, we examine a chilling turning point in the series: the first known attack with a man present in the home, and the possibility that the offender targeted that couple after a town hall comment. The case draws more public attention, and the crimes become more calculated.

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The case moves into Cordova Meadows, a Sacramento-area neighborhood that became key to understanding the East Area Rapist. Through maps, geography, victimology, and old case files, Paul Holes explains how the offender’s movements revealed familiarity, planning, and confidence. What may have looked random from the outside begins to look very different when Paul studies the streets, fences, backyards, and anchor points that help shape the investigation.

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The crimes move north, and a new name emerges: the East Area Rapist. Paul Holes explains how the offender’s behavior changed after Visalia, how early attacks in the Sacramento area unfolded, and how investigators struggled to understand whether they were dealing with a new offender or just someone who had evolved. As the crime spree expands, Paul begins to unpack one of the most disturbing facts of the case: Joseph DeAngelo was a police officer.

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Holes begins the story in 1970s Visalia, California, when the Golden State Killer was just beginning to make a name for himself. Before the East Area Rapist, before the Original Night Stalker, there was the Visalia Ransacker, a prolific offender breaking into homes and leaving fear behind. Paul walks Yeardley, Dan, and Dave through the early crimes, the killing of Claude Snelling, the shooting of Officer McGowan, and the case files that first pulled Paul into what would become a career-defining 24-year pursuit.

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices