True Crime Reality

The family of Perez Hilton has updated fans on his condition, saying he’s in serious, but stable condition and will require surgery in the coming days. Hilton’s family acknowledged he is hospitalized under the Baker Act, which allows someone to be committed to a mental health treatment center for up to 72 hours. The family is also asking the media to leave the family’s home, to stop following and taking pictures of Hilton’s children and to give the family space and privacy. The irony was not lost on many celebrities who suffered from Hilton’s vicious posts, but one in particular, Ireland Baldwin, led the way in grace and kindness in her powerful response. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The internet has gone wild with speculation after Usher’s concert Saturday night at Met Life Stadium.  Videos and photos are circulating showing what some fans are saying is a clone, or a look a like, on stage instead of Usher,  singing “Love In This Club”. We aren’t sure where we stand after carefully looking at the clips, but some fans are demanding their money back, saying they didn’t pay good money to see a stand in sing an Usher song. Meantime, Usher has responded by commenting on one of the posts, saying “Ya’ll are funny.  Clone? You can’t clone this.” Hmmmmm…. He didn’t exactly deny it?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We continue our Sunday series, offering some inspiration, perspective and guidance from spiritual and religious leaders around the world. Today, we have a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation with the Reverend Dr. David Breeden, the Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis and a longtime humanist minister, author and professor. Dr. Breeden explains what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist and a humanist, and how people can find morality, purpose, hope and community without believing in God or an afterlife. He also opens up about his journey from being raised Pentecostal to becoming a humanist, why he believes humans can solve the problems humans have created, and what he thinks happens to us after we die.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We had a blast going over the latest dating trend making the rounds on social media: eventationships.  It’s described as an agreement between two singles who commit to being each other’s plus ones, especially around wedding season. Sounds like the exact plot of the 2005 rom com “The Wedding Date” starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney, however it’s now a thing…. Or was it always?  We discuss how it works, how it can get messy, and why we actually think this may be how our relationship started. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a fascinating conversation spawned from a Yahoo article this week that details the small, and sometimes invisible signs your relationship is done. Having lived through breakups and divorces, these seven signs were eye opening and validating. The first and most notable sign: the arguing stops. Experts say the last year of a relationship is often the calmest one on record. We go over the other signs, like who is the first person you tell good news to? Does he show affection when he walks past you, or is there just an obligatory kiss goodbye each morning?   

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is she for real? Former Miss North Carolina Brittany Boltinhouse gave a 12 minute interview to The Carolina Journal where she never once acknowledged, let alone apologized, for several years’ worth of social media posts where she uses the n-word.  In fact, Boltinhouse, who is Latina, went so far as to say she believes she was stripped from her title because of her political stance (she supports Trump) and her Mormon faith. We have some thoughts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elisa Donovan and Jennifer Fessler examine two cases that captivated the nation: the Idaho murders and Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children.

They explore the role of mental health, the responsibility of true crime storytellers, and why we’re drawn to stories that confront the darkest parts of the human experience.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A true crime story right out of a horror movie: a 15-year-old dressed in a clown suit, charged with first degree murder for randomly stabbing a 78-year-old man to death in East St. Louis, Illinois.  Just hours earlier, several ring cameras captured the teen dressed as a clown going door to door with a large knife, saying “I’ve been looking for you” and “I have a gift for you.” Prosecutors plan to charge the teen as an adult, as the victim’s family remembers a man who was a wonderful brother, a navy vet and bus driver, who was in the area to visit his sister.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The woman who spent 4 years in an Italian prison before her murder conviction was overturned, is now about to star in a one woman comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Amanda Knox describes “Cartwheel” as a show about “juggling motherhood and finally getting around to being furious about the whole wrongful-imprisonment thing.”  Friends and family of murder victim and former roommate of Knox, Meredith Kercher, say the comedy show trivializes violence against women and mocks the horrific events surrounding Kercher’s murder. They are asking for it to be canceled, but Knox has a pointed response to her detractors. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a growing number of lawmakers asking Ohio Republican Congressman Max Miller to drop his re-election campaign amid multiple domestic violence accusations. Add to that, a series of disturbing texts and exchanges over a blue bunny Miller allegedly held hostage from his daughter, along with Miller’s former father-in-law telling reporters he’s sent his wife, daughter and granddaughter to a secure location “until such time as they feel safe.” Republicans have until August 10th to replace Miller on the ticket, but Miller is vowing to stay in the race, denying all of the mounting allegations against him. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.