In 2016, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee—and changed American sports forever. What began as a quiet act of protest became one of the most polarizing and powerful moments in modern history.

In this episode, we trace Kaepernick’s journey from star athlete to activist—exploring how one man’s silent protest against racial injustice reshaped conversations about patriotism, free speech, and the role of athletes in society. From his early career and rise with the San Francisco 49ers to his sacrifice, backlash, and enduring influence on movements like Black Lives Matter, this is the story of courage, conviction, and the cost of standing up by kneeling down.

The Modern Tapes examines the culture, conflict, and conscience of our times—one story at a time.

Ryan Wurst’s next mini documentary explores the night of Princess Diana’s death and the decades of questions that followed. Moving from the 1997 crash in Paris to the British investigations that ruled it an accident, Ryan traces how grief, secrecy, and the media’s hunger for drama transformed tragedy into conspiracy. From theories about a mysterious white Fiat Uno to accusations of royal cover-ups, the episode examines what evidence shows, what it doesn’t, and why the world still struggles to let the story rest.

It’s a story of fame, loss, and the human need to find meaning when truth feels unsatisfying.

In this episode of The Modern Tapes, Evan Secor explores the chilling story of Ted Kaczynski—the Unabomber—a Harvard-educated mathematician turned domestic terrorist who waged a seventeen-year mail-bomb campaign against universities, airlines, and technologists. Through archival audio, psychological insight, and analysis of his infamous manifesto Industrial Society and Its Future, this episode asks: what drives a man of brilliance to war against modernity itself?

From his reclusive life in a Montana cabin to the FBI’s largest manhunt and his brother’s heartbreaking decision to turn him in, The Unabomber: Genius, Madness, and the Machine examines how technology, alienation, and ideology collided to create one of the most haunting figures of the late 20th century—and how his warnings about modern society still echo in the digital age.

Tags: Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, Domestic Terrorism, FBI, Industrial Society, Technology, Anarchism, True Crime, Psychology, American History

In this episode of The Modern Tapes, Ryan Wurst returns with Part II of the JonBenét Ramsey case—the haunting mystery that has captivated America for nearly three decades. From the chilling discovery on Christmas morning in 1996 to decades of media frenzy, forensic breakthroughs, and conspiracy theories, this episode unpacks what really happened inside the Ramsey home. With careful research and balanced storytelling, it explores the family’s ordeal, investigative failures, evolving DNA evidence, and the modern science that could finally crack the case.

Episode Description:

Before tragedy struck their Boulder home, the Ramseys were an emblem of suburban success and holiday charm. In this reflective episode of The Modern Tapes, we step back from the crime and focus on the lives behind the headlines — John, Patsy, Burke, and six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey.

Through interviews, archival footage, and local accounts, we explore who the Ramseys were before December 26, 1996: a close-knit family balancing faith, ambition, and the spotlight of child pageantry. We examine JonBenét’s rise in the world of beauty contests, Patsy’s role as a proud mother and former Miss West Virginia, and John’s success as a tech executive. The result is a nuanced portrait of an American family who seemed to have it all — until their story was forever changed.

Tags: JonBenét Ramsey, True Crime, American Family, 1990s, Boulder, Pageants, Suburban Life, Media, Modern Tapes, Family Dynamics

In this chilling and deeply reflective episode of The Modern Tapes, Irene Kim unravels how a tragedy at Columbine High School rippled through decades of American culture—reshaping conversations about violence, media, and art. From Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold’s warped legacy to the eerie mainstream success of Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks,” this episode explores how tragedy becomes myth in an age of music, memes, and misinformation.

Through archival research, interviews, and first-hand analysis, we ask: when awareness turns to apathy, does art still have the power to change anything? Featuring insights from journalists, psychologists, and students, Echoes of Columbine examines the uncomfortable intersection of pop culture and pain in the digital age.

Tags: Columbine, School Shootings, Pumped Up Kicks, Foster the People, Media, Music, Psychology, TikTok, American Culture, True Crime, The Modern Tapes

Works Cited

A, Preti. "School Shooting as a Culturally Enforced Way of Expressing Suicidal Hostile Intentions."

"Adam and Nancy Lanza: An Investigation into Their Family Life." Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2013, .

Barker, Olivia. "Foster the People's 'Pumped Up Kicks' Strides on: The Infectious Song 'Wasn't an Accident.'"

Case, Wesley. "From Cereal Jingles to 'Pumped Up Kicks': Foster the People Lead Singer Mark Foster Talks about Writing a Ubiquitous Pop Hit; Concerts."

Chyi, Iris. "Media Salience and the Process of Framing: Coverage of the Columbine School Shootings."

Columbine Glorification Content Easy to Find on TikTok, Gaming Sites - ISD,

"The Complete Columbine Archive (Videos, Audio, Documents, Etc.) :

Cullen, Dave. "The Columbine Guide: Eric Harris Dylan Klebold: Journals,Evidence."

Cullen, Dave. "The Columbine-Killers Fan Club." The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company,

"Foster the People: An Outsider Anthem, A Viral Hit." Morning Edition

"From the Archive, 21 April 1999: 'Trench Coat Mafia' Blamed for Massacre."

Guynn, Jessica, and Will Carless. "Columbine School Shooters Glorified by Young Followers: Inside the Scary Online Obsession."

Jenkins, Mark. "Foster the People's Homicidal Singalong."

Kostinsky S, Bixler EO, Kettl PA. Threats of School Violence in Pennsylvania After Media Coverage of the Columbine High School Massacre: Examining the Role of Imitation

Lawrence, Regina G., and Thomas A. Birkland. "Guns, Hollywood, and School Safety: Defining the School-Shooting Problem Across Public Arenas."

"The Long, Shameful List of Gunfire on School Grounds in America."

Martens, Todd. "The Burdens of Pop Success: With its Sophomore Album, Foster the People Delves into the Sociopolitical -- Set to a Friendly Beat. it's One Way Mark Foster is Trying to Reach the People.

Martens, Todd. "Foster the People: Pumped Up, Indeed: Genre-Hopping LA Band is on the Fast Track to Major-League Success and some Controversy."

Mears, Daniel P., Melissa M. Moon, and Angela J. Thielo. "Columbine revisited: myths and realities about the bullying–school shootings connection." Victims & Offenders 12.6 (2017): 939-955.

Park, Eugenie. "Teens and Social Media Fact Sheet."

Rico, Andrew Ryan. "View of Fans of Columbine Shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold: Transformative Works and Cultures."

Rogers, Kara. "Marilyn Manson."

Rosenwald, Michael S. "Md. Radio Station Bans 'Pumped Up Kicks' Following Newtown Shooting (Posted 2013-01-09 20:57:29): The Song by Foster the People has Disappeared from Stations Around the Country. the Lyrics are about Kids Outrunning Guns."

Scaggs, Austin. "Foster the People." Rolling Stone,

Seung Hui Cho's "Manifesto,"

Tomasik, Emily. "1 in 5 Americans Now Regularly Get News on TikTok, up Sharply from 2020."

Zaru, Deena. "Foster the People's Mark Foster Talks 'Pumped Up Kicks' and Gun Violence."

In this episode of The Modern Tapes, Brody Fletcher revisits the opening hours of the 1991 Gulf War—when precision bombs and satellite-guided missiles replaced the thunder of tank columns. From President George H. W. Bush’s televised address to the eerie aftermath of the “Highway of Death,” this documentary-style episode traces how Operation Desert Storm marked the death of the tank’s century-long reign. Featuring firsthand analysis, historical narration, and striking sound design, The End of the Tank explores how technology, air power, and information warfare reshaped the modern battlefield forever.

Tags: Gulf War, Desert Storm, Military History, Tanks, M1 Abrams, Cold War, Iraq, Air Power, Warfare Technology, Documentary

Music I use: Bensound

License code: OHK9P5EHEQAQZRKO

Artist: : Roman Senyk