The Escape Pod Traumedy

Murder or Self-Defense? The Mashek Case - EP. 105 In a case defined by disturbing surveillance footage, power imbalance, and a single fatal shot, the line between victim and perpetrator is anything but clear. 

In this episode of The Escape Pod, we examine the tragic and legally complex case of Richard “Dickey” Mashek and Kelly Ann Croyle—a case that forced prosecutors, experts, and the public to confront a difficult question: Whe...

They looked like harmless grandmothers. Well-dressed. Polite. Unassuming.  But behind the bleach-blonde hair and designer handbags was a calculated, cold-blooded scheme that turned human lives into insurance payouts. 

In this episode of The Escape Pod, we uncover the shocking true story of Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt—two elderly women who targeted homeless men, gained their trust, insured their lives for millions, and waited...

Eight Minutes That Changed America: The Legacy of Amber Hagerman

On January 13, 1996, nine-year-old Amber Hagerman left home on her pink bicycle for one more ride—and never returned. In just eight minutes, she vanished from an abandoned parking lot in Arlington, Texas, setting off one of the most heartbreaking child abduction cases in American history.

Her story would transform grief into action, outrage into advocacy, and a single...

In this harrowing episode, Charity uncovers the almost-unbelievable true story of Theresa Knorr — a mother whose escalating paranoia, rage, and brutality turned her own home into a prison, and her children into victims, witnesses, and unwilling accomplices. 

This case begins on a quiet stretch of California highway, where a passerby spots flames in the woods… and stumbles onto a burned body that would remain unidentified for nine l...

In this devastating episode, Charity takes listeners back to 1983 Griffin, Georgia—where racism, silence, and unchecked hatred converged to steal the life of 23-year-old Timothy Coggins. A charismatic, funny, deeply loved young Black man, Timothy was brutally tortured and murdered in an act of racial violence so horrific that it stunned even seasoned investigators.

For decades, the truth was buried—covered up by fear, intimidation,...

In this harrowing milestone episode, Charity unpacks one of the most shocking and heartbreaking cases to ever come through the foster care system—the murder of Lisa Knoefel, a dedicated social worker and loving mother, at the hands of the teen she brought into her home to protect.

What began as an act of compassion—taking in 16-year-old Sabrina Zunich, a girl with a traumatic past and severe mental health struggles—quickly twisted ...

In this chilling and emotionally heavy episode, Charity dives into the rare but deeply disturbing world of pregnancy abductions, fabricated pregnancies, and pregnancy denial. Sparked by a previous conversation with guest Vallen Webb, this episode examines how the intense psychological pull toward motherhood can lead to deception, violence, and—tragically—murder.

With fewer than 40 documented fetal abduction cases worldwide, these c...

In this episode of The Escape Pod, we confront a sobering truth: the legal shield meant to protect victims of domestic violence can sometimes be little more than paper. Protection orders—also called restraining orders—are often hailed as a first line of defense, but as we’ll hear in today’s stories, their promises of safety are not always enough.

Through real cases, data, and expert insights, we explore the deadly gaps in enforceme...

In today’s episode, we dive into the disturbing intersection of digital obsession, parasocial relationships, online sex work, addiction, and the psychological phenomenon known as hybristophilia—the attraction to criminals. Few cases capture this toxic blend more clearly than the story of Grant Amato, a Florida man who murdered his entire family in 2019 to continue funding a fantasy relationship with a cam model.

This case is a haun...

Episode Summary 

In Part 2 of our deep dive into the Idaho College Student Murders, we turn the focus to the man behind the crime: Bryan Kohberger. This episode explores his past—childhood, adolescence, addiction, mental health struggles, academic obsessions, interpersonal dynamics, and online behaviors—in an attempt to understand what could have driven such calculated brutality. 

While no psychological profile can ever justify vio...

Episode Summary:  In November 2022, the quiet college town of Moscow, Idaho was shaken by the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students. In Part 1 of this two-part series, we break down the timeline of the night, the discovery of the crime, and the investigative work that led authorities to their prime suspect: Bryan Kohberger. From chilling behavioral patterns to cutting-edge DNA genealogy, this case is a haunting blend ...

Guest: Seth Malott, Host of Sober City Theme: Sobriety, Recovery, and the Power of Honest Conversations

Show Summary: In this powerful episode of The Escape Pod, hosts Charity and KB sit down with Seth Malott, the voice behind the Sober City podcast, to unpack what it really means to live beyond addiction.

Seth shares his own story of recovery, the inspiration behind Sober City, and the raw truths he’s learned from others walking t...

Theme: Ethical Dilemmas, Digital Boundaries, and Everyday Chaos

Show Summary: In this episode of The Escape Pod, Charity and KB dive into one of the internet’s most brutally honest corners—Reddit’s Am I the A-hole? From overbearing parents and Life360 tracking to messy family drama and relationship double standards, we’re unpacking the moral gray areas that make us all human. You’ll laugh, cringe, and maybe even question your own i...

Escape Pod After Dark: Ghost Stories (Haunted Tech, Time-Travel Ghosts & Shadows at the Door) Ep. 92

Drop Date: 10/29/2025 

Summary of Episode  It’s Halloween 2025, and the Escape Pod goes After Dark. From haunted laptops and glitchy Canva screens to OneHeart staff members setting off EMF detectors under their desks (yes, seriously), this year’s special blurs the line between the digital and the supernatural. You’ll also hear...

Navigating Loss and Embracing Hope — A Conversation with Vallen Webb on Pregnancy, Grief, and Motherhood - Ep. 91

In this powerful and tender episode of The Escape Pod, Charity and KB sit down with Vallen Webb — a mother, creative, and deeply reflective soul — to share her story of losing her daughter, Evelyn, at birth, and what it means to live with both love and loss intertwined.

Vallen opens up about the joy of expecting her thi...

Cellphones. We all have them—and most of us can’t live without them. But could these pocket-sized lifelines actually be quietly sabotaging the next generation’s ability to focus, learn, and succeed?

In this eye-opening episode of EscapePod, hosts Charity and KB dig into the growing crisis of smartphone distraction in schools with returning guest Lieutenant Tim Doyle, who spent seven years as a school resource officer. Together, the...

What happens when two minds fracture in perfect sync? In this chilling episode of EscapePod, Charity and Karabeth unravel the haunting true story of Ursula and Sabina Eriksson—identical twins whose shared descent into psychosis became one of psychology’s most baffling mysteries.

From their ordinary beginnings in Sweden to their shocking rampage on a British motorway, this episode explores the rare psychiatric phenomenon known as fo...

What if your attention wasn’t really your own? In this episode of EscapePod, Charity and Karabeth uncover how algorithms quietly hijack our focus, emotions, and even beliefs. From endless scrolling to the rise of deep fakes, we dive into how AI-driven platforms shape what we see, how we feel, and what we believe—often without us realizing it.

But here’s the good news: you can fight back. We’ll share practical strategies for reclaim...

Eligio Bishop’s journey from Harlem street kid to self-proclaimed messiah is a story of charisma, control, and destruction. Preaching a return to nature and freedom from systemic oppression, he built Carbon Nation—a cult that promised community but delivered manipulation, violence, and abuse.

From livestreams that drew thousands of followers to brutal assaults, deportations, and tragic deaths, Bishop’s reign as “Natureboy” spiraled...