What is a public defender really up against? Emily Galvin Almanza fought for over 2000 clients in some of America's toughest courts and saw firsthand how even being accused of a crime can derail someone's life. Today, we speak with Emily about her most memorable cases and her new fight to reform the criminal justice system. 

Emily's book: The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America 

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Attorney Michael Cowgill joins us to discuss a wrongful death lawsuit involving Kratom, the widely available and largely unregulated substance sold in gas stations across the U.S. At the center of the case is Patrick Coyne, a 39-year-old husband and father, whose death has been attributed to Kratom use. We explore the legal battle, the risks associated with the substance, and the questions surrounding oversight and consumer safety. 

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Paul Fronczak discovered that he was not biologically related to his parents, Dora and Chester Fronczak, but was born in New Jersey as Jack Rosenthal. He also learned he had a twin sister, Jill, who was missing. Paul's search for his identity had expanded. He was now looking for three people: the real Paul Fronczak who was kidnapped in 1964, the kidnapper, and his biological twin sister, Jill. 

Referenced in the episode:  

Paul Jack Fronczak's podcast: The Fronczak Files

Paul Jack Fronczak's books: The Foundling and True Identity 

Documentary: The Lost Sons 

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In 1964, Paul Fronczak was kidnapped from a Chicago hospital just one day after he was born. Miraculously found and returned two years later, he grew up unaware of his past until a childhood discovery sparked a search for the truth. As an adult, Paul’s investigation into his own identity uncovers astonishing secrets that rewrite everything he thought he knew. 

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Investigative reporter Samantha Michaels of Mother Jones spent a year digging into Oklahoma’s controversial “failure to protect” laws—statutes meant to safeguard children, but that can also send victims to prison. At the center of her reporting is Kerry King, a mother of four, and the fallout from a single night in January 2015, when her boyfriend, John Purdy, brutally abused both her and her four-year-old daughter, Lila. 

In this episode, we speak with Michaels about her investigation and the broader implications of these laws. We also hear directly from Kerry King in a phone call from prison. 

Article: https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2022/08/failure-to-protect-domestic-abuse-child-oklahoma-women-inequality-prison/ 

Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DEPpYkl8gI 

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Patia tells Hannah the story of LaVonne Skalias and her fight to survive two brutal attacks by her stalker, a man she barely knew. 

Recommendation: Girl on the Run: The Hunt For America's Most Wanted Woman

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Chancy Lewis, a retired schoolteacher and recent widower, struck up an unlikely online friendship after receiving a text from a wrong number. Five short weeks later, his entire world began to unravel. 

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In today's episode, we're speaking with Dusty Turner, who was recently released from prison after 31 years. Dusty reflects on the night that changed his life forever and shares with us his plans for the future.

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In 1995, 21-year-old Jennifer Evans was murdered in Virginia Beach. Dusty Turner and Billy Brown were both convicted and sent to prison. But from the beginning, Dusty maintained his innocence. Erin Lottman joins us to walk us through Dusty's case. 

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Hannah tells Patia the story of a six-year undercover FBI operation infiltrating an international smuggling operation. Plus, Patia tells Hannah about her favorite new podcast.  

Recommendation: Adults in the Room 

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