Work of a Professional, Made for All

This is absolutely the kind of work that crime-related media should learn from: retelling of stories centered around the victims, survivors, the impact of crime and when the justice system/law enforcement fail to do their job, analyses of events that are detailed, surgical, informative as well as educational. It is a much-needed breath of clean air in the murky space of crime genre, setting itself apart from empathy-voided tales of over-sensationalized violence, further exploitation of victims and survivors, glorification or mystification of criminals, or the lack of reflection on the toxic cultures that have allowed them to proliferate.

From the qualification of the host Laura Richards to the professional quality of the episodes, from the guests' input to the survivors' many inspirational stories, this podcast is truly remarkable throughout. The issues of violence, abuse, and other crimes perpetrated predominantly by men towards women and children, and the failure of societies to take effective actions to protect them are, sadly, still very much globally relevant in this day and age. Such matters are the core of this podcast, as Laura examines case after case through a critical lens, with no detail too small to spare. Indeed, it's all been going on for far too long. I do believe that, no matter who you are, there is something to be learned from this podcast, but perhaps even more so for the decision-makers, those in power, and men who want to make a difference.

For me, it is a difficult listen, for the simple fact that the content of the cases presented can be hard to process emotionally. Though Laura always reminds us that we are lovely and her voice carries a firm, steady and reliable presence, in many episodes, it is a constant exercise to keep the overwhelming feelings of sadness, disgust and rage in check. As Laura says, it can be triggering, and do take care!

(My 2 cents: When listening, keep many videos/pictures of animals being cute handy, I know they definitely help me stay calm-ish during the most stressful parts. Also take breaks as needed, remember to do breathwork, and listen to something lighter also helps!)