Larry is joined by writer and media executive Mark Whitaker to discuss his newest book ‘The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon’s Enduring Impact on America’. They begin their conversation by talking about what inspired Mark to write the book and detailing Malcolm X’s Shakespearean life journey from harrowing childhood to celebrated civi…

Larry starts off a special listener mailbag episode by sharing some of his biggest concerns with Donald Trump’s second term so far and his administration’s attack on government agencies and the Constitution. Next, he talks about the brand-new Pope Leo XIV and the role of religion in modern society (22:23). After the break, Larry discusses the futur…

Larry is joined by professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School and co-host of the podcast ‘Strict Scrutiny’, Leah Litman, to discuss her forthcoming book ‘Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes’, publishing on May 13th. They begin their conversation by talking about how the politi…

In EP267, we examine the deeply unsettling case of Cary Stayner, the Yosemite Killer. On the surface, Cary seemed quiet--reserved, even overlooked. But behind that silence was a storm of inner torment, obsession, and darkness. What makes his story even more chilling is the irony: Cary Stayner, was the brother of Steven Stayner (who we discussed in …

At just seven years old, Steven Stayner was kidnapped by a predator who would hold him captive for seven long years--years in which the world moved on, but Steven was forced to grow up in the shadows of a stolen identity. His eventual escape and heroic rescue of another young boy made national headlines and turned him into a symbol of courage. But …

The manhunt was massive. The victims were piling up. And yet, for years, Andrei Chikatilo continued to slip through the cracks of the Soviet justice system. In Part 2 of this Early Release series, we follow the chilling escalation of The Red Ripper’s crimes—his increasingly brazen attacks, the wrongful arrests, and the sheer horror of a killer who …

Larry is joined by billionaire entrepreneur and ‘Shark Tank’ costar Daniel Lubetzky, and they begin their conversation by analyzing the importance of independent thought in today’s political climate. They then focus on the objectives of the Builders Movement and Daniel's efforts to curb political extremism and heal divisions within the business com…

He seemed a mild-mannered teacher, a family man... and he was one of the most prolific serial killers in history. Dubbed The Red Ripper, Andrei Chikatilo terrorized the Soviet Union for over a decade, preying on society’s most vulnerable while hiding in plain sight. In a system riddled with secrecy and denial, his crimes went unchecked—leaving a tr…

Larry is joined by political journalist Tara Palmeri, writer of ‘The Red Letter’ Substack and host of The Ringer podcast ‘Somebody’s Gotta Win’, to discuss all of the latest buzz shaking up Washington D.C. They begin their conversation by analyzing the possible political repercussions of Trump’s new tariffs. This leads into a talk about the viabili…

Larry is joined by Axios Senior Political Reporter Alex Isenstadt to talk about his new book ‘Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power’. They begin their conversation by discussing Alex’s approach to writing the book and the environment surrounding Trump when he decided to run for president a second time. They then analyze the personali…

In 1931, William and Julia Wallace had what seemed to be the perfect life. The couple had been married for over 16 years and resided in Liverpool. This perfect life, however, came to a screeching halt when Julia Wallace had her skull smashed in with a blunt object on the night of January 20, 1931, in the Wallace family home. This heinous crime led …

Larry is joined by actress Krys Marshall to talk about the Season 2 release of her Hulu show ‘Paradise’. They begin their conversation by examining Marshall’s upbringing and the many factors that inspired her to become an actor. This leads to a conversation about the mental, interpersonal, and familial hurdles Krys overcame to reach her personal go…

Grant Amato was drowning in a world of fantasy—obsessed with a Bulgarian cam girl and willing to do anything to keep the illusion alive. When his family tried to intervene, they had no idea the depths of his desperation. In January 2019, their once-loving son and brother repaid their concern with cold-blooded murder.In this Early Release episode, a…

If you grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, the idea of supermodels strutting on the runway in sleek, sophisticated, and sometimes whimsical outfits is woven into the fabric of international culture. However, it wasn’t always that way. High-profile design icon Giovanni (Gianni) Versace gets much credit for that runway revolution. Sadly, his legacy and l…

In 1997, Christina Marie Riggs, a single mother from Arkansas, made a decision that would shock the nation. Struggling with depression and financial hardship, she convinced herself that there was only one way out—for her and her children. What followed was an unspeakable tragedy that left her two innocent children dead and a community searching for…

Larry is joined by filmmakers George and Teddy Kunhardt to discuss their newest documentary ‘Becoming Katharine Graham’, currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. They begin their conversation by talking about what inspired them to start the project and shining a light on the male-dominated world Katharine lived in when she was running the Washing…

Ricky “Coolie” Gray, his nephew, Ray “Lucky” Dandridge, and Ashley Baskerville (Ricky’s girlfriend) were cruising the streets of Richmond in Ricky’s van during the mid-morning of January 1, 2006 "looking for a house to rob" when they ended up in the middle-class neighborhood of Woodland Heights. By the time they were caught, 7 people were dead, and…

Larry is joined by writer and cultural critic Thomas Chatterton Williams to discuss his latest essay for The Atlantic, "How the Woke Right Replaced the Woke Left". They begin by shining a light on the political left’s weak hold on the cultural landscape, and breaking down the definition, history, and downfall of "woke" ideology. Next, they take a l…

A small Pennsylvania town was forever changed on Halloween night in 1992 when 11-year-old Shauna Howe vanished while walking home from a Girl Scout event. Days later, her body was found beneath a railroad bridge, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Oil City. The investigation spanned more than a decade, filled with dead ends, fal…

On the morning of May 1, 1990, at around 10:10 PM, Pamela Smart was pulling onto her street to the condo she shared with her husband, Gregg. When she noticed the porch light wasn't on, she sensed something was amiss. After parking her car in the garage, Pamela walked inside and turned on the foyer light. What she saw next shocked her to the core. S…

Before he was unmasked as a serial killer, Todd Kohlhepp was a seemingly successful real estate agent with a terrifying secret. We dive into the chilling case of the South Carolina murderer who kept his victims hidden on a secluded property while living a double life in plain sight. From his disturbing past to the shocking moment of his capture, th…

Larry is joined by actor and comedian Roy Wood Jr. and they begin their conversation by acknowledging Black History Month. Roy then breaks down his new CNN show ‘Have I Got News for You’ and opines on whether or not comedic "bubbles" will last under the new Trump administration (5:41). They then pivot to his recently released stand-up special on Hu…

Nubia Barahona was a ten-year-old little girl with blonde hair and hazel eyes who was brutally murdered before she reached her eleventh birthday. Her time on this planet was filled with horrors and abuse so terrible that many people could not even imagine it. Everyone that was put in place to help her ended up letting her down at every turn. Some p…

Larry is joined by journalist and MSNBC political analyst Juanita Tolliver to discuss her new book, ‘A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm and Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics’. They begin their conversation by talking about what inspired Tolliver to write about the legendary political fundraiser and shining a light on the many influent…

On the morning of April 29, 1992, Sidney Reso did what he did almost every morning: he took the long drive down to the end of his driveway to pick up the daily newspaper. However, this morning was different: the husband and father of five never made it to work that morning. Sidney was shot in the arm, bound and gagged, and thrown into the back of a…

Larry is joined by CNN Anchor and Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates, and they begin their conversation by talking about Laura’s stylistic approach to the interviews she conducts on her show ‘Laura Coates Live’. They then break down the defamation case between ABC News and Donald Trump and discuss the reasons why there is currently a general mistrust…

Beneath the surface of a seemingly tight-knit friend group lurked jealousy, deception, and a chilling plot that ended in tragedy. In this episode, we unravel the haunting story of Rachel Burkheimer, a spirited young woman whose life was cut short by those she trusted most. From the petty grudges that festered into violence to the web of lies that u…

Larry weighs in on the L.A. fires. He’s then joined by writer and Academy Award-winning filmmaker RaMell Ross to discuss his newest movie ‘Nickel Boys ’(8:33). They begin their conversation by talking about how the project came together, RaMell's experimental inspirations, and the screenwriting process with co-writer Joslyn Barnes. Next, they dive …

On July 18, 2014, around 11 am, Dan Markel was driving home, after dropping his two children off at preschool, and visiting the gym for a morning workout. Dan, a law professor at Florida State University, was in the middle of a bitter divorce and custody battle with his wife, Wendy Adelson (who ALSO was a law professor at FSU). Distracted because h…

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Alan Zweibel to discuss his experiences working on ‘Saturday Night Live’ during its first few years on the air. Alan begins the conversation by sharing his feelings about the 50th anniversary of ‘SNL’ and detailing the anatomy of a good joke. Larry and Alan then talk about Lorne Michaels’s o…

Step into the dark and tangled web of Betty Lou Beets, The Black Widow. In this exclusive Early Release episode, we unravel the chilling story of a woman whose life was marked by love, betrayal, and murder. With five husbands and two mysterious deaths, Betty Lou’s tale blurs the line between victim and villain. Was she a misunderstood woman fightin…

Larry is joined by technology journalist Emily Chang to talk about her Bloomberg Originals limited series ‘Posthuman’, and her podcast ‘The Circuit’, which features interviews with influential figures in the tech industry. They begin their conversation by discussing the inspiration for ‘Posthuman’, which delves into humanity’s connection to artific…

On June 10th, 1983, the decomposing body of a well-dressed man was found in a desolate canyon near Los Angeles. John Doe #94 would soon be identified as missing variety show producer Roy Radin. He'd last been seen after meeting with a mysterious woman in a gold dress. Her name was Lanie Jacobs. Jacobs and Radin were obsessed with becoming Hollywood…

Larry is joined by writer and historian Timothy Shenk to discuss his newest book, ‘Left Adrift: What Happened to Liberal Politics’. They begin their conversation by talking about why they think the Democrats failed with their messaging in the 2024 election and what the rise of Trumpism means about American culture today. Next, Shenk shares the hist…

On Tuesday, June 18, 1985, Jerry Estes was woken by pounding on the door of his office. After a busy Monday, he’d stayed late socializing and drinking beer after hours with some employees and fallen asleep at the Sale Barn, his cattle auction house and café in Nixa, Missouri. He opened the office door half-dressed. His cook, Alice, was standing bef…

In this episode, we’re diving into the twisted and tragic story of Ezra McCandless, a young woman with a turbulent love life that led to a shocking and brutal crime. Ezra’s tale is one of passion, betrayal, and deadly obsession—capturing headlines and the public's morbid curiosity.We’ll dissect the events that led up to that fateful day, the comple…

Larry weighs in on the results of the presidential election and the future of the Democratic Party. He’s then joined by political commentator and host of the new iHeartRadio podcast ‘Off the Cupp’, S.E. Cupp, and they begin their conversation by sharing their reactions to Donald Trump winning the presidential election (18:01). They then examine the…

On September 16, 2019, police officers responded to a car crash in the city of Hickox, Brantley County, Georgia. Michael Wayne Jones Jr.'s white Chrysler Pacifica minivan was the only car involved in the accident. When police responded to the crash, nobody was prepared for what Michael had to say about his wife, Casei Jones, and his children. SOURC…

Larry is joined by comedian Samantha Bee and chief content officer at The Daily Beast, Joanna Coles, to discuss their latest venture ‘The Daily Beast Podcast’. They begin their conversation by shining a light on how they started the podcast and the interesting way Joanna connects creative luminaries in her industry. They then quickly pivot to an ex…

Marybeth Tinning murdered each of her children in cold blood. The motive was that she enjoyed the sympathy and attention she received when her children brought to the hospital.The causes of death for Tinning's first eight children was initially thought to be genetic. Even when her sixth child, Michael – who was adopted and not of blood relation – d…

Larry is joined by journalist and writer Craig Unger to discuss his newest book ‘Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of the Treason That Stole the White House’, which investigates the secret collusion between the U.S. government and Iran and how it affected the 1980 presidential election. They begin the pod by diving into the histo…

On the morning of March 12, 2011, Rachel Orteli, the manager of a Lululemon in the suburbs of Washington D.C., walked up to the storefront ready to start her day and get the store opened. As Rachel approached the front door, she noticed that the door was already unlocked. Once inside, Rachel found the store in disarray: clothes thrown about, manneq…

We are diving into the tumultuous and controversial life of Bonny Lee Bakely, a woman whose ambitions and manipulations put her at the center of a Hollywood tragedy. From her string of relationships with wealthy men to her final marriage to actor Robert Blake, Bakely’s life was one marked by scandal, deception, and obsession. But her story came to …

Larry weighs in on his recent tour, the newest season of ‘Reasonable Doubt’, and the upcoming presidential election. He’s then joined by writer, statistician, and founder of the site FiveThirtyEight Nate Silver to discuss his newest book ‘On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything’ (15:27). They begin their conversation by talking about why certain…

The Citizen Record reported on Thursday, June 7, 1934: “4 MEMBERS OF MURDER SYNDICATE WHO FINALLY KILLED ‘DURABLE’ MALLOY DIE IN CHAIR TONIGHT – At Sing Sing Prison tonight, in the little room with the horrible chair, the Bronx murder syndicate will sit down to death. One by one the undertaker Frank Pasqua, the speakeasy owner Anthony Marino, the b…

The human body is a miracle. But when it’s not working, it can be the stuff of nightmares. On this new series from master storyteller MrBallen, we’re sharing medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are surgically calibrated to make your blood run cold.From bizarre, unheard-of diseases and miraculous recoveries to strange medical mishap…

Larry is joined by historian and author Yuval Noah Harari in front of an audience at Live Talks L.A. to discuss his newest book, ‘Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks From the Stone Age to AI.’ They begin their conversation by talking about the nature of information and how it's been manipulated throughout human history, starting with the…

The Citizen Record reported on Thursday, June 7, 1934: “4 MEMBERS OF MURDER SYNDICATE WHO FINALLY KILLED ‘DURABLE’ MALLOY DIE IN CHAIR TONIGHT – At Sing Sing Prison tonight, in the little room with the horrible chair, the Bronx murder syndicate will sit down to death. One by one the undertaker Frank Pasqua, the speakeasy owner Anthony Marino, the b…

SHOUT OUT TO STACY M. FOR SUGGESTING THIS EPISODE! THANK YOU! In October 1989, 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling and his brother, Trevor (age 10), and best friend, Aaron (age 11), convinced Jacob's parents to allow them to ride their bikes to a local convenience store in St. Joseph, Minnesota. It got dark early in the evening in Minnesota in October, an…

Larry is joined by journalist and host of CNN’s ‘NewsNight’, Abby Phillip, and they begin their conversation by discussing Donald Trump and his influence on the news media and the Republican Party. They then pivot to Kamala Harris and shine a light on her meteoric rise to the top of the Democratic ticket and break down the effectiveness of her medi…