This is an experimental podcast series. All content has been created using A.I. tools. Not all information may be factually correct and the hosts may occasionally suffer AI Hallucinations and fabricate information entirely disconnected from reality.  Independent fact-checking is advised.

Madonna spent the 1990s at the very peak of global fame—but behind the platinum records, sold-out tours and Hollywood glamour was a terrifying reality. Charlie West and Jack Mercer unravel the disturbing case of Robert Dewey Hoskins, the stalker whose delusions escalated from handwritten notes to a violent break-in at Madonna's Los Angeles estate, forcing one of pop music's biggest stars to confront a nightmare no amount of fame or security could prevent.

Along the way, Charlie and Jack explore the psychology of stalking, parasocial relationships, severe mental illness, and the difficult balance between public safety and civil liberties. It's a gripping story of obsession, survival and the lasting impact of one of Hollywood's most infamous stalking cases. And don't worry—while the subject matter is dark, nobody's asking you to patrol the Hollywood Hills with a flashlight after listening... although locking the front door probably isn't a bad idea.

Memorable Moments

• 🏰 A fortress wasn't enough: How a determined stalker breached Madonna's Hollywood Hills mansion despite extensive security. 
• 🧠 Inside a dangerous delusion: Exploring the psychology behind erotomania, psychosis and celebrity obsession. 
• ⚖️ Justice vs. protection: Why prosecuting a stalker forced Madonna into the same courtroom as the man who threatened her life. 

CHARLIE WEST
Charlie has a lifelong fascination for the psychology behind criminal obsession. Known for her sharp wit, fearless opinions and ability to find humour in even the darkest conversations, she's never afraid to challenge accepted narratives or ask the awkward questions others avoid!

Stalker Spotlight: Charlie's favourite stalker is the bizarre story of the "Hollywood Letter Stalker"; a woman who became convinced she was destined to marry a famous actor, sending thousands of letters over several years. The case perfectly illustrates the blurred line between fantasy and dangerous fixation, and remains one of the examples Charlie returns to when discussing how obsession can spiral into criminal behaviour.

JACK MERCER
Jack is a former investigative analyst with a deep-rooted interest in human psychology, particularly the patterns of behaviour that lead to obsession, fixation and control. Calm, measured and highly credible, he brings structure and clarity to even the most disturbing cases, often translating chaotic behaviour into understandable psychological frameworks.

Stalker Spotlight: Jack's favourite stalker is the case is of the “Watcher Letters” in New Jersey, where an unknown individual sent increasingly unsettling letters to a suburban family over several years. For Jack, the case is a stark example of how anonymity, patience and psychological manipulation can create fear without ever needing physical contact.

For more details on STALKERS : https://www.carrotcruncher.com/stalkers

This is an experimental podcast series. All content has been created using A.I. tools. Not all information may be factually correct and the hosts may occasionally suffer AI Hallucinations and fabricate information entirely disconnected from reality.  Independent fact-checking is advised.

Rebecca Schaeffer was a 21-year-old actress on the verge of becoming Hollywood's next big star when a dangerous obsession ended her life in one of the most shocking celebrity crimes of the 1980s. Charlie and Jack examine how a series of institutional failures, untreated mental illness, and easy access to personal information converged in a tragedy that forever changed the way stalking is understood and prosecuted in America.

From the psychology of fixation to the landmark laws born from Rebecca's legacy, this episode explores the truth behind one of the most pivotal stalking cases in modern history. It's a difficult story, but Charlie and Jack also find time for the occasional sideways observation—because even when you're discussing the darkest corners of human behavior, a little gallows humor can help everyone survive the journey. (Don't worry—they leave the private investigators in the 1980s.)

You'll discover:

•  🎬 How Rebecca Schaeffer's murder led directly to America's first anti-stalking law and stronger privacy protections. 
•  🧠 What happens psychologically when admiration spirals into dangerous obsession and delusion. 
•  📜 Why this 1989 case continues to shape celebrity safety, personal privacy, and stalking laws today.

CHARLIE WEST
Charlie has a lifelong fascination for the psychology behind criminal obsession. Known for her sharp wit, fearless opinions and ability to find humour in even the darkest conversations, she's never afraid to challenge accepted narratives or ask the awkward questions others avoid!

Stalker Spotlight: Charlie's favourite stalker is the bizarre story of the "Hollywood Letter Stalker"; a woman who became convinced she was destined to marry a famous actor, sending thousands of letters over several years. The case perfectly illustrates the blurred line between fantasy and dangerous fixation, and remains one of the examples Charlie returns to when discussing how obsession can spiral into criminal behaviour.

JACK MERCER
Jack is a former investigative analyst with a deep-rooted interest in human psychology, particularly the patterns of behaviour that lead to obsession, fixation and control. Calm, measured and highly credible, he brings structure and clarity to even the most disturbing cases, often translating chaotic behaviour into understandable psychological frameworks.

Stalker Spotlight: Jack's favourite stalker is the case is of the “Watcher Letters” in New Jersey, where an unknown individual sent increasingly unsettling letters to a suburban family over several years. For Jack, the case is a stark example of how anonymity, patience and psychological manipulation can create fear without ever needing physical contact.

For more details on STALKERS : https://carrotcruncher.com/stalkers

This is an experimental podcast series. All content has been created using A.I. tools. Not all information may be factually correct and the hosts may occasionally suffer AI Hallucinations and fabricate information entirely disconnected from reality.  Independent fact-checking is advised.

When actress Teresa Saldana stepped outside her West Hollywood apartment in 1982, an obsessed stranger turned an ordinary morning into a fight for survival. Charlie and Jack unravel the chilling story of Arthur Richard Jackson, the failures that allowed him to find his victim, and the extraordinary courage of delivery driver Jeffrey Alan Fenn, whose split-second decision saved her life.

But this isn't just the story of a brutal attack—it's the story of how one survivor refused to let trauma have the final word. From transforming victim support to helping spark the first anti-stalking laws in America, Teresa Saldana's legacy is still protecting people today. Plus, Charlie discovers that giving out your home address over the phone was once considered perfectly normal... and Jack tries very hard not to judge an entire decade.

You'll remember:

•  🔪 How a stalker used social engineering decades before anyone had a name for it. 
•  🛡️ The remarkable act of bravery that saved Teresa Saldana's life—and why it earned a Carnegie Hero Medal. 
•  ⚖️ How one survivor's determination helped change the law and redefine how stalking is treated across America. 

CHARLIE WEST
Charlie has a lifelong fascination for the psychology behind criminal obsession. Known for her sharp wit, fearless opinions and ability to find humour in even the darkest conversations, she's never afraid to challenge accepted narratives or ask the awkward questions others avoid!

Stalker Spotlight: Charlie's favourite stalker is the bizarre story of the "Hollywood Letter Stalker"; a woman who became convinced she was destined to marry a famous actor, sending thousands of letters over several years. The case perfectly illustrates the blurred line between fantasy and dangerous fixation, and remains one of the examples Charlie returns to when discussing how obsession can spiral into criminal behaviour.

JACK MERCER
Jack is a former investigative analyst with a deep-rooted interest in human psychology, particularly the patterns of behaviour that lead to obsession, fixation and control. Calm, measured and highly credible, he brings structure and clarity to even the most disturbing cases, often translating chaotic behaviour into understandable psychological frameworks.

Stalker Spotlight: Jack's favourite stalker is the case is of the “Watcher Letters” in New Jersey, where an unknown individual sent increasingly unsettling letters to a suburban family over several years. For Jack, the case is a stark example of how anonymity, patience and psychological manipulation can create fear without ever needing physical contact.

For more details on STALKERS : https://carrotcruncher.com/stalkers

This is an experimental podcast series. All content has been created using A.I. tools. Not all information may be factually correct and the hosts may occasionally suffer AI Hallucinations and fabricate information entirely disconnected from reality.  Independent fact-checking is advised.

For seven years, Lily Allen endured an escalating campaign of stalking that began with bizarre tweets and ended with a terrifying home invasion. Charlie and Jack trace the case from its earliest warning signs through police reports, court records, psychiatric evidence, and Lily's own interviews, exploring how repeated opportunities to intervene were missed before the danger reached its devastating climax.

This episode examines the complex intersection of stalking, celebrity, mental illness, and the justice system, asking difficult questions about where institutions failed both the victim and the perpetrator. It's a story that's equal parts heartbreaking, infuriating, and deeply thought-provoking... and we promise next week's episode contains significantly fewer spiral letters and much better sleeping prospects.

Memorable moments:

•  🔍 How one strange Twitter account evolved into a seven-year stalking campaign. 
•  🚨 The chilling night Lily Allen came face-to-face with her stalker inside her own bedroom. 
•  ⚖️ Why this case became a powerful example of the challenges surrounding stalking laws, policing, and severe mental illness. 

CHARLIE WEST
Charlie has a lifelong fascination for the psychology behind criminal obsession. Known for her sharp wit, fearless opinions and ability to find humour in even the darkest conversations, she's never afraid to challenge accepted narratives or ask the awkward questions others avoid!

Stalker Spotlight: Charlie's favourite stalker is the bizarre story of the "Hollywood Letter Stalker"; a woman who became convinced she was destined to marry a famous actor, sending thousands of letters over several years. The case perfectly illustrates the blurred line between fantasy and dangerous fixation, and remains one of the examples Charlie returns to when discussing how obsession can spiral into criminal behaviour.

JACK MERCER
Jack is a former investigative analyst with a deep-rooted interest in human psychology, particularly the patterns of behaviour that lead to obsession, fixation and control. Calm, measured and highly credible, he brings structure and clarity to even the most disturbing cases, often translating chaotic behaviour into understandable psychological frameworks.

Stalker Spotlight: Jack's favourite stalker is the case is of the “Watcher Letters” in New Jersey, where an unknown individual sent increasingly unsettling letters to a suburban family over several years. For Jack, the case is a stark example of how anonymity, patience and psychological manipulation can create fear without ever needing physical contact.

For more details on STALKERS : https://carrotcruncher.com/stalkers

This is an experimental podcast series. All content has been created using A.I. tools. Not all information may be factually correct and the hosts may occasionally suffer AI Hallucinations and fabricate information entirely disconnected from reality.  Independent fact-checking is advised.

Ken Dodd spent decades making audiences laugh, but behind the scenes he became the target of one of Britain's most disturbing stalking cases. Charlie West and Jack Mercer trace the shocking escalation from fan letters and handmade gifts to arson, anonymous threats, and the infamous perfumed dead rat that left investigators stunned.

Along the way, Charlie and Jack explore the psychology of obsession, erotomania, celebrity fixation, and how delusion can turn rejection into dangerous behaviour. It's a dark story—but if nothing else, you'll probably never look at gift wrapping quite the same way again!

Memorable moments:

•  🐀 The chilling story behind the perfumed dead rat. 
•  🔥 How a celebrity crush escalated into arson and terror. 
•  🧠 The psychology of erotomania and obsessive stalking.

CHARLIE WEST
Charlie has a lifelong fascination for the psychology behind criminal obsession. Known for her sharp wit, fearless opinions and ability to find humour in even the darkest conversations, she's never afraid to challenge accepted narratives or ask the awkward questions others avoid!

Stalker Spotlight: Charlie's favourite stalker is the bizarre story of the "Hollywood Letter Stalker"; a woman who became convinced she was destined to marry a famous actor, sending thousands of letters over several years. The case perfectly illustrates the blurred line between fantasy and dangerous fixation, and remains one of the examples Charlie returns to when discussing how obsession can spiral into criminal behaviour. 

JACK MERCER
Jack is a former investigative analyst with a deep-rooted interest in human psychology, particularly the patterns of behaviour that lead to obsession, fixation and control. Calm, measured and highly credible, he brings structure and clarity to even the most disturbing cases, often translating chaotic behaviour into understandable psychological frameworks.

Stalker Spotlight: Jack's favourite stalker is the case is of the “Watcher Letters” in New Jersey, where an unknown individual sent increasingly unsettling letters to a suburban family over several years. For Jack, the case is a stark example of how anonymity, patience and psychological manipulation can create fear without ever needing physical contact.

For more details on STALKERS : https://carrotcruncher.com/stalkers