Best Criminal Makeup Podcasts (2025)

1
156: Teen Records “YouTube Confession” before Plotting WORST Killing Spree EVER 51:07

1d ago51:07

51:07

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us⁠⁠⁠ *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline…

1
Why a 25-cent pill is being sold to cancer patients for nearly $1,000 26:43

1d ago26:43

26:43

When ProPublica health-care reporter David Armstrong was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, he began taking a lifesaving drug called Revlimid. When he learned that each pill of this medication is sold for nearly $1,000 but costs drug companies only cents to make, he went on a quest to uncover the reasons behind its shocking price tag. Armstrong sa…

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155: “Nightmare Teen” becomes WORST Sex Predator in UK…EVER 58:06

9d ago58:06

58:06

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at ⁠⁠https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us⁠⁠ *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline n…

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How Joe Biden’s inner circle hid his cognitive decline 37:43

9d ago37:43

37:43

Throughout his presidency, Joe Biden faced questions about his age and his health, so much so that he ultimately ended his 2024 reelection campaign. In a new book, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson reveal the true extent of Biden’s declining cogni…

1
How toxic chemicals quietly took over our lives 33:04

15d ago33:04

33:04

Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, are found in virtually every corner of the world, including in most people’s bodies. These synthetic compounds have been linked to a wide range of health issues — from infertility to cancer to neurological problems — even at low levels of exposure. In a new book, They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the …

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154: Creepy Minister Locks Woman in Cage before Planning to Sell her as MEAT on the Dark Web 44:59

16d ago44:59

44:59

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at ⁠https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us⁠ *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline nat…

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Rebroadcast: They killed 24 people, including children. No one was ever held responsible. 30:27

22d ago30:27

30:27

This week, the New Yorker was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for its podcast In the Dark, which is featured in this episode from our archives. On Nov. 19, 2005, a group of U.S. Marines killed 24 men, women, and children in Haditha, Iraq. It would become known as the Haditha massacre and set off one of the largest war-crimes investigations in American his…

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153: Female Therapist Grooms 13yr Old for Sex… before trying to MURDER Mom for Revenge 33:57

22d ago33:57

33:57

Hey everyone, today we're covering the true crime case of Payton Shires. If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *tim…

1
How one small town battled a deepfake-porn criminal 25:53

29d ago25:53

25:53

In 2020, dozens of young women from a small Long Island, New York, community discovered violent and sexualized manipulated images of themselves on a deepfake-porn site. Local police found themselves ill-equipped to handle the case, but some of the victims did their own sleuthing. Their quest for justice is featured in Bloomberg Businessweek’s podca…

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They work full-time jobs. Why are they homeless? 38:59

1M ago38:59

38:59

Millions of Americans cannot afford housing despite working full-time jobs. They live in cars, shelters, or extended-stay hotels and often don’t qualify for assistance programs. Journalist and anthropologist Brian Goldstone follows five Atlanta families who are stuck in this cycle in his new book, There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in A…

1
The White House is going after universities. This college president is speaking out. 31:09

1M ago31:09

31:09

The Trump administration is upending college campuses across the U.S. In recent weeks, the White House has launched investigations into dozens of the nation’s top universities, accusing them of antisemitism and threatening to freeze major federal grants if the schools don’t end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and make other changes to add…

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He’s a makeup artist seeking asylum. Why was he targeted by ICE? 34:18

2M ago34:18

34:18

Last month the Trump administration deported, without due process, 238 Venezuelan migrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. The White House says that these people have ties to a Venezuelan gang but has provided little evidence to support this claim. Most of them do not have criminal histories. Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Bas…

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152: Scotland’s WORST Child Sex Ring EVER… Drug-Addict Pedophile Gang Becomes "The Beastie House" 57:09

2M ago57:09

57:09

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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The dark side of Johnson & Johnson 43:57

2M ago43:57

43:57

For more than a century, Johnson & Johnson has billed itself as one of the most trusted companies in American history. But, in a stunning investigation, journalist Gardiner Harris documents decades of misconduct and malfeasance by the health-care conglomerate. Harris’s book, out April 8, is called No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnso…

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151: Influencer KILLED by “Instagram Lookalike” To Steal Identity & FAKE Own Dеаth – Sharaban K. 50:16

2M ago50:16

50:16

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

1
Inside Elon Musk’s digital government takeover 28:50

2M ago28:50

28:50

This year, Elon Musk and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency have swept through federal agencies — ingesting data, enacting mass firings and cuts, and causing confusion among federal workers. Reporters Leah Feiger and Zoë Schiffer, along with their colleagues at Wired, recently spoke with over 150 sources, including current and for…

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150: Cheating Man Catfished by Fiancé Into Murdering Entire Family – Nathaniel Huey 51:17

2M ago51:17

51:17

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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A travel expert’s secrets for inexpensive luxury trips 31:06

2M ago31:06

31:06

Brian Kelly, founder of the Points Guy, has made a career out of helping people travel using credit-card points and frequent-flyer miles. His readers have taken trips across the globe, flown first class, and stayed in five-star hotels — all using rewards. Kelly is out now with a new book, How to Win at Travel, which details travel advice that goes …

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149: America’s Worst “OB-GYN” Doctor Ever – Licked & Sexually Abused 245+ Patients FOR OVER 20 YEARS – Dr. Robert Hadden 1:30:39

2M ago1:30:39

1:30:39

Where victims can get support: https://www.atdlaw.com/blog/where-can... Article on case: https://www.propublica.org/article/co... Podcast Series: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mt9ZSf... If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic …

1
What’s behind the U.S. military’s recruitment crisis? 26:43

3M ago26:43

26:43

The U.S. military is the most powerful and lethal in the world. But several branches of the armed forces have failed to meet their recruiting goals in recent years. That has some experts concerned about whether the country would be prepared to defend itself in the event of war. In a recent piece for the New Yorker, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist…

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148: “Sugar Daddy Vampire” Uses Tinder To Create Sex Cult That Ended in MURDER – Bailey Boswell & Aubrey Trail 1:05:08

3M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

This episode is sponsored by: Shopify If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse …

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Inside the Murdoch family’s succession drama 34:47

3M ago34:47

34:47

Last year, media mogul Rupert Murdoch tried to wrest control of his family trust — and the future of his massive news conglomerate — away from three of his children in favor of his eldest son, Lachlan. The bitter court battle that followed strained the family to the breaking point and prompted his youngest son, James, to share his story, for the fi…

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147: "SехyTriplet" Instagram Model Turns DEADLY To Protect Tоxic BF’s Dark Secret – Oliver Karafa & Lucy Li 1:04:01

3M ago1:04:01

1:04:01

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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How this brutal sport took over America — and helped elect Donald Trump 27:12

3M ago27:12

27:12

The Ultimate Fighting Championship and the sport at its center, mixed martial arts, have exploded in popularity in recent years — and President Donald Trump is a fan. Trump and UFC CEO Dana White are also close friends, and have been for decades. For a story in Rolling Stone, Jack Crosbie details how the two have helped each other rise. Apple News …

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146: Female Teacher Grooms Boy Before Having Sex in Class While Other Student Watches – Brittany Zamora 57:46

3M ago57:46

57:46

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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How much power does a president have? 29:20

3M ago29:20

29:20

One month into his second term, President Trump has made a lot of big moves quickly, from pardoning 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters and attempting to stop all foreign aid to ordering mass firings of federal employees. These actions have triggered a flurry of challenges in the federal courts. Beyond each individual case, a larger picture is forming of the exec…

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145: Polygamist Cult “Abuse Wives & Impregnate Them” Before Mom Does the Unthinkable – Chloe Driver 1:11:16

3M ago1:11:16

1:11:16

This episode is sponsored by: Shopify If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse …

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“It’s like the Hunger Games”: Behind the scenes at ‘Saturday Night Live’ 30:03

4M ago30:03

30:03

Saturday Night Live has churned out dozens of unforgettable stars — from Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy to Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig — but the biggest force behind the show is executive producer Lorne Michaels. Ahead of SNL’s 50th anniversary, Susan Morrison, author of Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live, talks to Apple News In Conversati…

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144: America’s “Most Evil” Mother-Daughter Duo – the Crazy Case of the Staudte Family 53:27

4M ago53:27

53:27

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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The dark side of the global human-egg trade 30:22

4M ago30:22

30:22

In at least 6% of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cases, the eggs come from donors — and that number is growing. The scarcity and value of human eggs have given rise to a flourishing global industry already worth billions of dollars. A new investigation in Bloomberg Businessweek reveals how this sprawling and largely unregulated market is ripe for exp…

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143: “Dеranged Security Guard” Kіlls Student, Takes Another Hоstаge… Before LIVESTREAMING on Facebook – Edwin Lara 1:01:51

4M ago1:01:51

1:01:51

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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Social media was supposed to be a force for good. What happened? 31:07

4M ago31:07

31:07

The social-media grounds are shifting. In recent weeks, there have been major developments at platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Meanwhile, more and more experts are raising alarm bells about the harms of social media on society and our mental health. To understand how we got here and what might come next, Apple News In Conversation ho…

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142: Twistеd Wоmаn Lurеs Mеn Tо “Sеx Fаrm” Оn Divinе Мission Tо KILL ALL Pеdоphіlеs – Sheila LaBarre 1:02:26

4M ago1:02:26

1:02:26

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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He infiltrated America’s militias — and then spilled their secrets 24:57

4M ago24:57

24:57

The militia movement in America has a long, embattled history — and President Trump ushered in a new chapter with his sweeping grant of clemency to the more than 1,500 people charged for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. ProPublica reporter Joshua Kaplan sat down with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to …

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141: “World’s Wоrst Cаtfish” Gamer Who Abusеd 3000+ Kids From His Bedroom – Alexander McCartney 1:13:23

4M ago1:13:23

1:13:23

This episode is sponsored by: Apostrophe - promo code: CRIMINALMAKEUP Shopify If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-u…

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Behind the scenes of ‘Severance’ with Ben Stiller and Adam Scott 33:16

4M ago33:16

33:16

The Apple Original series Severance takes place in a world where people can split their memories in two — and create completely separate selves for inside and outside the workplace. It was a hit when it debuted in 2022, and in the season finale the characters’ “innies” and “outies” collide in a shocking cliff-hanger. In the three years since, fans …

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140: The “Most Revolting” Serial KiIIer You’ve Never Heard Of – Fritz Haarmann 1:02:36

4M ago1:02:36

1:02:36

This episode is sponsored by: Apostrophe - promo code: CRIMINALMAKEUP If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times…

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How America’s student-debt problem got so big 27:31

5M ago27:31

27:31

Forty-five million people in the U.S. — about one in six adults — owe a total of $1.7 trillion in student-loan debt. Canceling some of these federal loans has become a flash point in modern American politics. In a new book, Burdened: Student Debt and the Making of an American Crisis, Ryann Liebenthal traces the origins of the student-loan system an…

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Rebroadcast: Esther Perel on the real reasons couples fight 31:52

5M ago31:52

31:52

This is an episode from our archives. Esther Perel is the relationship expert many couples dream of scheduling a session with. Her podcast, Where Should We Begin? With Esther Perel, offers the next best thing. In it, she helps couples work through their issues, often providing insights that are relevant to other relationships. Apple News In Convers…

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139: The Worst Murdеr Video on the Internet – Dnipro Maniacs 1:05:37

5M ago1:05:37

1:05:37

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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Rebroadcast: How to unlock your family’s history 26:22

5M ago26:22

26:22

This is an episode from our archives. Elizabeth Keating didn’t realize how little she knew about her mother’s life until after she had died. A trained anthropologist, Keating decided to develop a guide for interviewing and recording loved ones’ histories before it’s too late. Her book The Essential Questions: Interview Your Family to Uncover Storie…

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138: True Crime Fan Poses as Schoolgirl To Commit Murdеr “Out of Curiosity” – Jung Yoo-jung 49:56

5M ago49:56

49:56

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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Malala Yousafzai on women’s resistance under Taliban rule in Afghanistan 22:50

5M ago22:50

22:50

After the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban came to power and quickly began stripping women and girls of their rights. With the support of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and actor Jennifer Lawrence, Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani gathered footage from women activists fighting against this oppressive regime. The resulting…

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137: Most Evil “YouTube Mom” Who Adopted & Abused 7 Kids Before FORCING To Perform in Videos – Machelle Hobson 1:16:17

5M ago1:16:17

1:16:17

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse helpline: 01926 402 498 Safeline natio…

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How one of Trump’s harshest policies started out under the radar 26:51

6M ago26:51

26:51

The separation of migrant families by the Trump administration is one of the most controversial policies in modern American history. It began in mid-2017 but was only acknowledged publicly about a year later. In 2020, NBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff came out with a book on the subject called Separated: Inside an American Tragedy. Most recently, So…

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136: “CospIay Model” Turnѕ DEADLY To Keep Internet Fame AIive – MeIissa Turner 47:41

6M ago47:41

47:41

This episode is sponsored by: Shopify If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic abuse …

1
How Taylor Swift changed the music industry forever 34:25

6M ago34:25

34:25

Taylor Swift requires no introduction. She recently became the first artist to win the Grammy for Album of the Year four times. Her Eras Tour, the highest-grossing music tour ever, ends this month. Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield, who has been covering Swift since the beginning of her career, is out with a new book on the star, Heartbreak Is the Nati…

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135: Michigan CаnnibaI Uses Grіndr to Lurе “Mеat Bоys” Into His Ѕех Dungеon – Mark Latunski 50:52

6M ago50:52

50:52

This episode is sponsored by: Skylight Frame If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic…

1
Rebroadcast: Why we keep buying stuff we don’t need 20:28

6M ago20:28

20:28

This is an episode from our archives. Holiday spending is expected to reach record levels this year. That makes for a lot of packages — and a lot of returns, donations, and junk. On Apple News In Conversation, host Shumita Basu speaks with The Atlantic’s Amanda Mull, who reveals the strategies retailers use to get you to buy more stuff and what you…

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134: The “Baby Stealing” Cult Mom – the Dark Secrets of the Brooks Family 1:30:01

6M ago1:30:01

1:30:01

This episode is sponsored by: Skylight Frame If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider visiting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Refuge domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 (live chat is also available at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us *times apply) Safeline domestic…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Criminal Makeup Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen