Bound by the Cloak

At just 17 years old, Jeff Deskovic's life took an unexpected turn when he found himself wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of his classmate. Despite maintaining his innocence, he spent over 16 years behind bars, enduring the unimaginable hardships of prison life. We spoke to Jeff and uncovered the shocking details of his wrongful conviction and the injustices he faced along the way. 

But Jeff's story doesn't end with his wrongful conviction. Against all odds, he eventually secured his freedom and became a powerful advocate for criminal justice reform. Through his foundation, The Deskovic Foundation, Jeff works tirelessly to prevent wrongful convictions and provide support to exonerees.

Dr. West's journey is more than just a story of scientific achievement, but it's a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and the unwavering belief in the potential of one's dreams. Through her groundbreaking work, Dr. West shattered barriers, challenged conventions, and inspired countless individuals to achieve their dreams.

As we celebrate Black History Month and honor the trailblazers who shaped our world, we explore the remarkable life and groundbreaking achievements of Dr. Gladys West, a trailblazing mathematician whose contributions paved the way for modern GPS technology. We spoke to Dr. West’s daughter, Carolyn Oglesby, who continues to educate the public about her mother’s contributions to society. 

Dr. West's journey is more than just a story of scientific achievement, but it's a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and the unwavering belief in the potential of one's dreams. Through her groundbreaking work, Dr. West shattered barriers, challenged conventions, and inspired countless individuals to achieve their dreams.

Against the backdrop of ongoing debates surrounding police accountability, racial justice, and community trust, it’s more important than ever to address the uncomfortable truths surrounding police brutality, shining a spotlight on the systemic issues that continue to perpetuate violence and injustice within our communities.

We sat down with David Couper, a seasoned veteran of law enforcement who shared his personal experiences, professional insights, and his profound commitment to fostering positive change. David served over 20 years as the chief of police in Madison, Wisconsin, four years as chief of police in Burnsville, Minnesota. Prior to that, he was a police officer in Edina and Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota and Edgewood College in Madison. After retiring from the police department, became ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church.

Not many know about the Mad Bomber and his trail of terror across New York City in the 1940’s and 50’s. The uncertainty and fear that gripped the city had New Yorkers bracing themselves for the possibility of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Many are also unaware of Dr. James A. Brussel, the father of modern criminal profiling and his role in assisting the authorities in catching the Mad Bomber.

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the author and journalist Michael Cannell and his exploration of the notorious Mad Bomber. Michael unravels this twisted and sinister narrative, examining the mind of a criminal who terrorized New York City for years. He also shares the pivotal role played by Dr. Brussel, who revolutionized criminal investigations and is known to be the father of criminal profiling.

Michael is the author of four non-fiction books, including Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling. Michael has worked as an editor for The New York Times. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated and many other publications. 

Join us as we step behind the scenes of one of the most infamous social experiments in history - the Stanford Prison Experiment. We spoke with Rich Yacco, who recounted his experiences as a "prisoner" in the simulated prison environment, shedding light on the blurred lines between authority, abuse, and conformity. 

In this episode we provide a glimpse into the mind of someone who lived through the Stanford Prison Experiment, unraveling its complexities and leaving us with a deeper understanding of human behavior, the consequences of power dynamics, and the enduring legacy of this groundbreaking study, 52 years later.

In this eye-opening episode, we spoke with historian Donald Yacovone to unravel the layers of history taught in American schools. In a candid and thought-provoking conversation, Donald takes us on a journey through time, exposing the untold stories, overlooked perspectives, and hidden chapters that have shaped our nation. 

Donald Yacovone is an Associate at Harvard University’s Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. His ninth book, Teaching White Supremacy: America's Democratic Ordeal and the Forging of Our National Identity, just came out in paperback through Vintage Books. The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross, co-written with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., won the 2014 NAACP Image Award and he received the W.E.B. Du Bois medal, Harvard’s highest honor in African American studies. He earned a Ph.D. at the Claremont Graduate University, helped edit the Black Abolitionist Papers, and has written widely on abolitionism, gender, African Americans and the Civil War, and American cultural history.

Where are you in the sibling order - first,  middle, last? Regardless of the order, everyone's been curious about the profound impact birth order has on who we are and who we become.  After all, in the grand saga of family, every sibling plays a crucial role.

In this episode, we go beyond the conventional wisdom, delving into groundbreaking research that explores why birth order captures the collective imagination and how it weaves an intricate narrative into the fabric of our personalities. We sat down with psychologists, Brent Roberts and Rodica Damian, who have conducted a groundbreaking study to unravel the mystery behind birth order and its profound impact on shaping who we are. 

Join us as we navigate the corridors of family dynamics, psychological influences, and the universal quest to understand what makes us uniquely ourselves. 

Description: Recently, big banks like Chase, HSBC and Capital One have started to pull back from safe deposit box services and aren’t offering them for new customers. So, where should you store your valuables? 

Dave McGuinn has been keeping banks and the valuables that reside within them safe for over 50 years. He is the industry expert when it comes to bank vault and safe deposit security. In this episode, Dave gave us the key to understanding safe deposit services, why banks are trying to eliminate them and some of the most interesting things people have stored in the safe deposit boxes.

Having faced the harrowing experience of losing a loved one to homicide, Dr. Jan Canty opens up about her personal journey of survival, healing, and transformation. Through her inspiring narrative, she offers profound insights into the human spirit's ability to overcome even the darkest of moments.

We spoke with Jan, discussing the challenges she faced, the support that sustained her, and the remarkable ways in which she has channeled her grief into positive change. Jan’s story is one of resilience, redemption, and unwavering strength in the face of the unthinkable. Jan reminds us that, even in the face of life's darkest trials, there is hope, healing, and the potential for a brighter tomorrow.

It's time for our annual Halloween special, and this year we had a chance to hang out with Robery Gonyo of Haunted Manhattan!

Haunted Manhattan has been providing NYC with it's own brand of haunted history for over 10 years. NYC is a unique place around Halloween and many embark on one of the city's many haunted walking tours. Robert told us all about the beginnings of Haunted Manhattan, how it's different from other haunted walking tour companies and what it's like to actually take a tour. Also, we get to hear a couple of ghost stories!

There are also audio clips from the Greenwich Village tour that our team went on this season! Our tour guide was "Professor Clerval"

Of course Haunted Manhattan has tours around Halloween, but they also have tours year round!

For more info check out their website https://hauntedmanhattan.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d7602091-Reviews-Haunted_Manhattan-New_York_City_New_York.html 

Book a tour today!

The After School Satan Club, with its provocative name, is in the hot seat these days. Now, before you conjure images of devilish gatherings and dark rituals, the After School Satan Club is not about worshiping the dark Lord. Rather, it's about enlightening young minds, promoting critical thinking, and exploring alternative perspectives. We're here to uncover the truth, demystify the misconceptions, and give you an inside look at what this club is really all about.

We went right to the source and spoke with June Everett, the Satanic Temple's Campaign Director for After School Satan Club. She's a passionate advocate for critical thinking, free speech, and science-based education, and is dedicated to demystifying misconceptions and reshaping our understanding of this thought-provoking project.

Vampires aren't real, right? From the classic novel Dracula to more modern novels by Anne Rice or even Twilight, vampires have been a part of cultures and folklore from all around the world. What if vampires are real? If someone tells you they're a vampire, do you believe them?

There are true crime cases like that of Richard Trenton Chase. Chase never described himself as such, yet his crimes are reminiscent of the vampire archetype. Then there are self-proclaimed vampires that belong to a vampire subculture, which was more prominent in the early 2000's. 

This week we're joined by Dr. Katherine Ramsland as we discuss Richard Trenton Chase (The Vampire of Sacramento), deinstitutionalization, the vampire subculture and her career.

Dr. Katherine Ramsland teaches forensic psychology at DeSales University in Pennsylvania, where she is the Assistant Provost. She has appeared as an expert in criminal psychology on more than 200 crime documentaries and magazine shows, is an executive producer of Murder House Flip, and has consulted forCSI, Bones, and The Alienist. The author of more than 1,500 articles and 69 books, including The Forensic Science of CSI, The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds, How to Catch a Killer, The Psychology of Death Investigations, and Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, The BTK Killer, she was co-executive producer for the Wolf Entertainment/A&E four-part documentary based on the years she spent talking with Rader. Ramslandconsults on death investigations, pens a blog for Psychology Today, and is currently writing a fiction series based on a female forensic psychologist who manages a private investigation agency. The first one,I Scream Man, was published in September 2022. 

Schenectady, NY is a small city that's had a troubled past. Once known as "The City That Lights and Hauls the World", Schenectady has faced a police corruption scandal as well as other tragic events over the years. In the late 90's and early 2000's, Schenectady's Police Dept. was the focus of a federal investigation by the FBI while under the tenure of former police chief Greg Kaczmarek. 

Author David Bushman was traveling up near Albany, NY when he got a Lyft ride from no other than former police chief Kaczmarek. The two formed a relationship which spurred the writing of his book, Forget It, Jake, It's Schenectady: The True Story Behind "The Place Beyond the Pines." The book reflects on the events that transpired while Kaczmarek was chief of police from 1996 to 2002.

Life after prison is far from a straightforward path. The formerly incarcerated face the harsh reality of reintegration into society, from finding employment and securing housing to dealing with the societal stigma that often accompanies a criminal record.

 David Rothenberg's story is one of unwavering commitment to social justice and compassion for individuals caught in the web of the criminal justice system. He founded The Fortune Society in 1967, with a mission to support and empower formerly incarcerated individuals, helping them successfully reintegrate into society. We explore the power of second chances, the importance of education and employment opportunities for the formerly incarcerated, and the transformative impact of restorative justice practices.

Ever wonder what really happens at a crime scene? Barbara Butcher, the second woman ever hired for the role of Death Investigator in New York City, takes us behind the scenes of her riveting investigations, revealing the meticulous attention to detail required to reconstruct the final moments of a person's life. From high-stakes cases to unexpected twists, we explore the gripping tales that have defined Barbara's remarkable career. Join us as she walks us through the intricate process of piecing together clues from the remains of the silent witnesses left behind.

Do you know what roller derby is? It's okay if you don't, we've got someone who can definitely tell you all there is to know about it. Roller derby is a sport that many know absolutely nothing about and we're going to change that. It's a fast paced, hard hitting, alternative contact sport that's played all over the world. Since its early beginnings to its modern iteration, which started in 2001, roller derby has always been super inclusive, and this still holds true today!

Suzy Hotrod has been playing roller derby with Gotham Roller Derby (GRD) for around 20 years and she's still going strong. Gotham Roller Derby is NYC's roller derby league. They compete locally, nationally and even globally. Suzy has appeared in ESPN Magazine's 2011 body issue, has memorabilia in the Smithsonian and has appeared in a few documentary films. 

We tracked down Suzy for a chance to learn all we could about roller derby, Suzy herself and see what GRD has been up to recently.

Have you ever had a question for a flight attendant that you've always wanted to ask but never had the chance? Well you're in luck, so do we. We caught up with Toni, a flight attendant with her very own blog, "A Wheel in the Sky." 

We asked Toni about everything from what her typical flight routine is like to the craziest things she's experienced on a flight! She did not disappoint. 

Toni blogs about work, travel and just life in general. Her blog is a great insight into the world of a profession that doesn't always get the respect it deserves. 

Be sure to sign the petition for flight attendants to get paid for boarding! Not all flight attendants get paid for boarding, even though it's part of their responsibilities. It's time for that to change!

https://www.change.org/p/flight-attendants-need-to-be-paid-for-boarding

This Minisode is the extended interview with Mandi Shepp from our Lily Dale episode. In this wpisode you'll hear more about the history and culture of Lily Dale, learn which old Hollywood actress would frequent Lily Dale and learn more about what makes Lily Dale so unique.

Amanda M. “Mandi” Shepp received her MLS in Library & Information Science in 2013 from the
State University of New York at Buffalo. From 2014 - 2018, she worked for the Lily Dale
Assembly as the first professional Librarian of the Marion H. Skidmore Library, a special
collections and rare books facility which houses the largest private library collection of
Spiritualist and Occult books in the world, and became the Library Director in 2016. In 2017
Mandi was presented with the WNYLRC Excellence in Library Service Award for her role in
completely revitalizing the library and bringing it up to modern academic standards. In 2018,
she transitioned to The State University of New York at Fredonia’s Daniel A. Reed Library
Special Collections & Archives Division where she currently serves as the Coordinator of
Special Collections & Archives.

In addition to her professional duties, Mandi presents and writes on topics related to collections
and historical subjects within the realms of Freethought, Spiritualism, and the Occult; she also
serves as the co-chair of the Harvest Moon Cemetery Tours planning committee. When she’s
not elbow-deep in materials from a bygone era, Mandi can be found homebrewing,
experimenting in the kitchen, and enjoying life with her happy-go-lucky husband, Chris, and
enormous Norwegian Forest Cats, Kujira and Bakemono.

During the early to mid-20th century, Chicken Bone Beach served as one of the few areas where African Americans were allowed to enjoy the Atlantic City shoreline. In this episode, we spoke with Cheryl Woodruff Brooks, the author of Chicken Bone Beach - A Pictorial History of Atlantic City’s Missouri Avenue Beach. We explored the challenges and triumphs of the Black community as they fought against racial discrimination and carved out a space of joy and leisure amidst a deeply divided society. The history of Chicken Bone Beach also includes the 20th century jazz and entertainment scene, featuring legendary musicians who performed on its stages. With Cheryl, we celebrate the resilience and spirit of those who once gathered on Chicken Bone Beach and explore the efforts to preserve its memory for future generations.