The Silver Linings Handbook

Amy Carlson claimed to be the reincarnation of Robin Williams, Joan of Arc, Marilyn Monroe, Jesus Christ and the Hawaiian goddess Pele—along with being Elvis Presley’s mother and Donald Trump’s daughter in other lifetimes. In 2023, the HBO documentary Love Has Won: The Mother God Cult traced Carlson’s journey from a McDonald’s manager in Dallas to cult leader, promoting beliefs that the COVID pandemic was planned, 9/11 was staged, Sandy Hook was a hoax and drinking silver particles was a path to spiritual and physical healing.

Blending QAnon, New Age mysticism, authoritarian religion, pseudoscientific wellness influencers and science denial, Love Has Won thrived until Carlson’s mysterious death in 2021, when followers drove her mummified body from Oregon to Colorado, awaiting her reincarnation. Today, as conspiracy theories move further into the mainstream, I’m joined by her former lover, Andrew-Ryan Profaci, to talk about community, belonging, loss, power, and the cults that hide not just in buildings—but in ideas.

Contact me at [email protected]

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

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https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

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https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Morgan Dana Harrington went missing and was then found dead in a Virginia field, her parents' world was shattered. When her parents found out about the long string of crimes that went unpunished by her killer, Jesse Matthew Jr., they turned their outrage into a fight to "save the next girl."

Morgan was a vibrant 20-year-old college student attending a Metallica concert in Charlottesville, Virginia, when she disappeared in 2009. She wanted to be an educator. Five years later, Matthew would be arrested for the abduction and murder of another college student, 18-year-old Hannah Graham. Now, her parents, Gil and Dan Harrington, have honored her death by fighting to protect others and her life by educating students all over the world.

Dan and Gil join me to discuss Morgan's life, death and legacy, their grief and their triumphant aftermath in the second of two episodes.

Listen to Part 1 here.

Find out about Dan and Girl's charity here.

Read a companion article on The True Crime Times here.

Contact me at [email protected]

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

Check out our Patreon to support the show at:

https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbook

Join our Facebook Group at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

Visit The True Crime Times Substack at:

https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Morgan Dana Harrington was a vibrant 20-year-old college student attending a Metallica concert in Charlottesville, Virginia, when she vanished in 2009—an event that captured national attention and ignited public grief. Her killer wasn’t identified until the 2014 abduction and murder of another University of Virginia student, 18-year-old Hannah Graham, just miles away.

The two cases forced society to confront chilling questions about personal safety and predators who operate quietly among us. In this episode, I’m joined by Morgan’s parents, Gil and Dan Harrington, to reflect on her life, her legacy and how unimaginable tragedy gave birth to advocacy that reached far beyond what they ever envisioned.

Together, we look closely at Morgan’s case—and what to do with the pieces of your world that have been shattered.

Find out about Dan and Girl's charity here.

Read a companion article on The True Crime Times here.

Contact me at [email protected]

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

Check out our Patreon to support the show at:

https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbook

Join our Facebook Group at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

Visit The True Crime Times Substack at:

https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Robert Peters spent most of his life as a prosecutor and a Christian. Those two things came together when he took his position as the director of institutional response for GRACE, an organization that investigates sexual abuse in Protestant churches.

Founded in 2003 after a reporter called the founder about a case of sexual abuse mishandled by a pastor, GRACE, which stands for Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment, the group's leadership became convinced that Protestant institutions were not properly addressing incidents of sexual abuse that would eventually lead to the damage seen in the Catholic Church. In their view, authoritarian cultures of some organizations were particularly susceptible to spiritual abuse and silencing victims.

Following in the footsteps of James Lutrell, a prosecutor in the case of the Delphi, Indiana murders of Abby Williams and Libby German, Robert puts a laser focus on victims, getting to the truth and promoting change. Robert joins me today to discuss stemming out abuse in the church.

Contact me at [email protected]

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

Check out our Patreon to support the show at:

https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbook

Join our Facebook Group at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

Visit The True Crime Times Substack at:

https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paul Volkman was a University of Chicago-trained doctor who seemed destined for greatness. Instead, he was sentenced to life in prison for the prescriptions he wrote that devastated southern Ohio and the surrounding areas.

In the tradition of true crime, Philip Eil tells Volkman's story and the sordid history that led to the American opioid epidemic. In the 1980s and 1990s, following decades of criticism for not considering patients' pain, medical doctors recognized it as the Fifth Vital Sign. However, unlike heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature, pain cannot be easily measured. Into the breach, unscrupulous doctors and businesspeople stepped in, seeding devastation for patients, towns and families. Volkman may be the most egregious example, but the results of his actions were echoed across the country.

To read Philip's book:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739577/prescription-for-pain-by-philip-eil/

Contact me at [email protected]

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

Check out our Patreon to support the show at:

https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbook

Join our Facebook Group at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

Visit The True Crime Times Substack at:

https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Haley Omeasoo was at the University of Montana, she remembers hearing the news that her friend, classmate and relative, Ashley Loring Heavyrunner went missing. Years later, Haley, a doctoral student in forensic anthropology, has founded a growing nonprofit organization focused on bringing crime scene investigation services to reservations. After meeting while searching for Ashley, Haley and I sat down to discuss her journey.

To find out more about her forensic science firm:

https://www.ohkomiforensics.com/

Contact me at [email protected]

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

Check out our Patreon to support the show at:

https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbook

Join our Facebook Group at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

Visit The True Crime Times Substack at:

https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Juárez to the Indigenous reservations of Montana, Irish artist Brian Macguire has used his paintings to build his awareness and as his form of protest against the marginalization of certain people. Macguire, who grew up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, knows the suffering of the disappeared all too well.

To see Brian's work:

https://www.kerlingallery.com/artists/brian-maguire

To find out more about Brian's "Outrage: Missing and Murdered" exhibit on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People at the Missoula Art Museum:

https://missoulaartmuseum.org/exhibits/outrage-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-people-by-brian-maguire

To find out about Brian's work "Invisible Women" about the missing and murdered women in and around Ciudad Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-show-at-fergus-mccaffrey-inspired-by-murder-of-1400-women-in-juarez-270800

Contact me at [email protected]

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

Check out our Patreon to support the show at:

https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbook

Join our Facebook Group at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

Visit The True Crime Times Substack at:

https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the Emilee Weaver case faded from the headlines, Clara S. Lewis uncovered truths every woman—and every partner—should know. Muskingum University student Emile Weaver gave birth in the bathroom at her sorority house at the Ohio school. She was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to life without parole after her baby was found dead. Did we get it wrong? Clara S. Lewis, a Dartmouth College professor who wrote the upcoming book American Infanticide, and I discuss whether we did.

Contact me at [email protected]

To read Clara's book:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-infanticide-clara-s-lewis/1146418496

https://www.amazon.com/American-Infanticide-Politics-Sympathy-Critical-ebook/dp/B0DJSRLLFR?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

Check out our Patreon to support the show at:

https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbook

Join our Facebook Group at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

Visit The True Crime Times Substack at:

https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lane Igoodin, a writer, activist and professor, joins me to discuss the challenges of adopting his children from foster care, the challenges of navigating intersectionality in this world, the balancing act between the rights of parents and what's best for children and love under pressure as you fight to keep your family together.

Contact me at [email protected]

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

Check out our Patreon to support the show at:

https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbook

Join our Facebook Group at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

Visit The True Crime Times Substack at:

https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kristin Louise Duncombe grew up traveling the world as the daughter of a U.S. State Department foreign service officer. But Kristin’s childhood and those of at least six other girls were shattered when they crossed paths with an American diplomat in Africa who sexually abused them. After one of the girls came forward with her story, the State Department swiftly sent him back to Washington, but officials declined to refer the case for investigation or prosecution. Kristin kept the secret for decades until she heard about the cover-up of sexual abuse by U.S. Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Kristin joins me to discuss what happened in Africa, the investigation and cover-up, better ways to handle childhood sexual abuse and why she feels it is important for us, as a society, to have these conversations.

To read Kristin’s book about the abuse and coverup, Object: A Memoir:

https://www.kristinduncombe.com/object-a-memoir/

Contact me at [email protected]

Check out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:

https://silverliningshandbook.com/

Check out our Patreon to support the show at:

https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbook

Join our Facebook Group at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store

Visit The True Crime Times Substack at:

https://truecrimemessenger.substack.com

The Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.

See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.