Crime Writers On...

As David Lee Roth said, "I heard you missed us. We're back."

A one-week break gives us plenty of time to listen to stuff. And catch up on the latest news from the world of true crime.

We circle back for a listen to the sophomore installment of "Ear Hustle." Thank you again to Lt. Sam Robinson for approving this story.

Lara reports on the whirling dervish that is the Brendan Dassey appeal. He wins. He loses. He loses again. The "Making a Murderer" supporting player isn't going anywhere soon. Will the state give him is court-ordered re-trial or just appeal to higher and higher courts? (Sound familiar, Adnan?)

Next we look at Gimlet's new podcast, "Mogul." It tells the story of hip-hop executive Chris Lighty - the most important musical figure you've never heard of. The podcast is part biography/part hip-hop history lesson. Is Lighty's life story strong enough to carry this series and can the podcast appeal to listeners unfamiliar with his music?

In Crime of the Week: A Florida man sits on a gun and then exactly what you'd guess happens.

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Love mail galore as listeners weigh in on Ear Hustle, Toby's dog-like voice, and listening to our show during the most important moments of their lives (really!). Then, our take on the not-so surprising (but still upsetting) verdicts in the trials of Bill Cosby and Jeronimo Yanez, the cop that killed Philando Castille. In the back half, we look at a documentary that even Lara Bricker's fire chief husband enjoyed, Sour Grapes on Netflix. This tale of a high-end wine con man had us asking - do we give a crap when a smart guy bilks a Koch brother out of millions of dollars? And in our Crime of the Week, a Maine woman is more badass than we could ever hope to be. This episode's sponsors: Thrive Market - Get a 30 day-free trial AND an additional 25% off your first purchase and free shipping at thrivemarket.com/crimewriters Le Tote - Go to www.letote.com and get 50% off your first month with promo code CRIME Select Blinds - Great deals on window coverings at selectblinds.com. Mention our podcast at checkout. RXBar - Get 25% off your first order at rxbar.com/crime. Use promo code CRIME Podcast Movement - Save $100 off conference registration with promo code CRIME

What should Toby's standard karaoke song be? THE WORLD IS WEIGHING IN. Rebecca heard something in this week's Undisclosed episode on Adnan Syed's cross appeal proceeding that she REALLY wants you to hear. The judges really seem to get it...we think? S-Town is making SO much news as the trial of Tyler Goodson will now incorporate his part in the podcast as evidence. Should Brian Reed have used tape that put Tyler in legal peril? The panel is split. (Note: This episode was recorded before news of Tyler's arrest for animal cruelty.) Ear Hustle is finally here, and - spoiler alert - it's AWESOME. But we review it anyway. In our crime of the week, Florida Man is back! And he REALLY loves Hooters. This week's sponsors: Thrive Market - Get a 30 day-free trial AND an additional 25% off your first purchase and free shipping at thrivemarket.com/crimewriters MHZ Choice - Free 30 days and 50% your first month at mhzchoice.com/writers. Use code WRITERS at checkout Bombas Socks - They'll be your favorite socks as soon as you put them on. To save 20%, go to Bombas.com/crime Thumbtack - Find the services you from pros in all kinds of industries. Try it out at Thumbtack.com

The State of Maryland got its bite at the apple, asking a three judge panel to reinstate Adnan Syed's conviction. The hour-long hearing dove more into Asia McClain and not-so-much into fax cover sheets. What's next for the "Serial" season one subject? We also talk about the latest epic filing in the Steven Avery case. Will "brain fingerprinting" save the day for the man at the middle of Making a Murderer? And what's up with Brendan Dassey's case? Did we forget to mention the CRAZIEST thing that came out of "The Keepers"? Like a particular body part wrapped in newspaper and thrown on the table during the interrogation of a priest? We're backing the train up so we can unwrap (sorry) that one. The Crime Writers spend more than 74 seconds discussing the podcast "74 Seconds" from Minnesota Public Radio. This look at the fatal shooting of a motorist by a cop (live-streamed on Facebook) tackles the familiar themes of race, violence, and law enforcement training. With some episodes exploring the back story of the players in the shooting - and other episodes providing real-time updates from the court house - 74 Seconds feels like two separate podcasts. What's working? What's not? We'll give our review In Crime of the Week: Some wanted men just can't stop the music. How karaoke landed a fugitive in jail. Episode sponsors: MHZ Choice - go to mhzchoice.com/writers and use code CRIME for 30 free days and 50% off your first month Kopari Beauty - Get 20% off your order at KopariBeauty.com/crime. Hubble Contacts - Get 15 pairs of contacts for free at hubblecontacts.com. Storyworth - Get $20 off your subscription at StoryWorth.com/crime

We start with a pat on the back for Kevin, as our spin-off podcast "...These Are Their Stories" has been nominated for Best TV/Film Podcast by the Academy of Podcasting. No one know how or why the show was picked, but they needed 10 to fill out the category, so... Thanks to the many listeners who helped fill in some of the narrative holes left by "Mommy Dead and Dearest." Among the questions answered from last week include facts about feeding tubes, Dede's medical knowledge, and reasons why she was able to fool physicians into thinking Gypsy was chronically ill. Rebecca comments on the media coverage of the DUI arrest of Tiger Woods. Is it the typical case of a hero plummeting to Earth, or is race playing a role in the negative coverage? Then...the show you've been waiting for...Netflix's "The Keepers." The documentary seemed to have everything: murder, sex trafficking, cover-ups. Despite the great source material, did the film makers really make the most of the story that was there? In Crime of the Week, two teachers come to blows fighting over a man. The students can't even... Our sponsors this episode Sock Fancy - go to sockfancy.com/crime and use code CRIME at checkout MHZ Choice - go to mhzchoice.com/writers and use code CRIME for 30 free days and 50% off your first month Le Tote - go to LeTote.com and use code CRIME to get 50% off your first month Audible - get a 30-day trial and your first book free at audible.com/crime Lola tampons - go to MyLola.com and use code CRIME to get 60% off your first order.

The crime writers take on the super weird and (sort of) satisfying HBO film Mommy Dead and Dearest. Plus, we explain why we talk about some podcasts and not others, Rebecca asks our listeners for a HUGE favor, and a listener schools the panel on how to pronounce a certain city in Maine. Then, in the crime of the week, we make a BIG decision about doody. Subscribe to Rebecca's new podcast HGTV & Me! Sponsors for this week: - 74 Seconds - A new podcast by APM - Sock Fancy! - Get an extra pair of socks added to any subscription for FREE when you go to sockfancy.com/CRIME now and enter code CRIME at checkout - MHZ Choice - Try MHZ Choice free for 30 days, and after that you’ll save 50% off your first month! Visit mhzchoice.com/writers and use the code WRITERS at checkout! - Nudu (natural skin care) Nudu has a 20% off SPECIAL OFFER for our listeners. Order TODAY at nudu.com and use promo code CRIME - Select Blinds. Go to selectblinds.com and mention this podcast at checkout!

First: More listener-driven shenanigans Next: The panel makes recommendations for podcasts you should be downloading. They include finishing the long-but-excellent "Crimetown," a double recommendation for "My Dad Wrote a Porno," and the brand new show "True Crime Obsessed." Further: Undisclosed just dropped a special pre-appeal episode about the Adnan Syed case. In it, Rabia poses the question of whether justice is served when the appellate judges know less about the case than the general public. The main event: The crime writers discuss Hulu's adaptation of "The Handmaid's Tale." Is the story about a nation of subjugated woman - forced either into servitude, exile, or procreation - a feminist manifesto? From costuming, cinematography, and color schemes, there's much to ponder. In crime of the week: is it wrong that a topless cleaning lady would be arrested for stealing underwear? THIS WEEK'S SPONSORS INCLUDE HBO's Mommy Dead and Dearest. Premiers May 15 Zebit - Shop with zero interest, zero fees, & zero credit check at Zebit.com/crime. Kopari -Get 20% off your order at KopariBeauty.com/crime. Harry's razors - Get your free trial set at Harrys.com/crime.

We open up the mail bag and let you weigh in on our discussions about "13 Reasons Why" and the former-profiler-turned-podcaster who's caused a bit of a dust-up among our fans. Richard Simmons may have lost touch with many people, but his lawyers aren't among them. The now-reclusive fitness guru is suing the National Enquirer for a story saying he's had a sex change operation. He also says he's being blackmailed by (say it ain't so!) former companion Mauro. If the stories are false, we think it should be easy to demonstrate so ("Your honor, we submit exhibit D."). Then we explore the most original entrant in the JonBenet Ramsey look-back-a-thon. Netflix's non-investigation "Casting JonBenet" features average Coloradoans who think they're auditioning for a movie on the case. In reality, the auditions are an excuse to get them to candidly share their thoughts and observations about the crime. And we get to see kids smash watermelons with flashlights for good measure. In the Crime of the Week, what did the drunk driver know and when did she know it? OUR SPONSORS THIS WEEK Audible - Get a 30-day free trial at audible.com/crime. Le Tote - Get 50% off your subscription at LeTote.com with promo code CRIME. Lola - Get 60% off your first order at MyLola.com with promo code CRIME.

We needed that week off. Seems like everyone's got a podcast side gig now. Toby's hosting Radio Free Dystopia, Kevin's making an appearance on Jed Bartlet is My President, and Rebecca is a new permanent panelist on Slate's Mom and Dad Are Fighting. Rebecca didn't get verified on Twitter and she's PISSED! In a true crime podcast update podcast update, we'll give our take on how the experts from Real Crime Profile used their profiling skills on John B. McLemore from S-town. For a character who's so beloved, the enumeration of his less-than-desirable traits has stirred lots of feelings. At the intersection of entertainment and suicide lies Netflix's "13 Reasons Why," the most controversial series of the year. Great acting, interesting plot, but is possible to tackle teen suicide in a way that doesn't make the problem worse? Despite earnest intentions to make the show a conversation-starter, there remain legit concerns that the series irreparably sends the wrong message. In essence, everything that makes 13 Reason great are what also what makes it dangerous. In the crime of the week: beware the sniper cat. Our sponsors this week are Chris Gethard: Career Suicide, premiering Saturday, May 6th at 10pm, on HBO. Zebit - get up to $2,500 interest-free credit at zebit.com/crime. Away Luggage - Get $20 of at awaytravel.com/crime - use promo code CRIME at checkout StoryWorth - Get $20 off your subscription at StoryWorth.com/crime

Did Missing Richard Simmons flush out our favorite fitness guru? The Crime Writers give their take. Plus, Kevin reaches out to Legal Siri (AKA Colin Miller of Undisclosed) to get the latest scoop on the never-ending Adnan Syed appeal. Then, WTF was up with that three-part Investigation Discovery special Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery? Do *any* of the Crime Writers think this case is a mystery? And how does Toby feel about the first I.D. show he's ever been forced to watch? Much less having to talk about it TWICE?? (Listen to Toby on The Blotter Presents with Sarah D. Bunting.) Sponsors for this episode: Bosch Season 3 on Amazon KopariBeauty.com/crime (get 20% off!) LeTote.com - use promo code CRIME for 50% off your first month! SelectBlinds.com - mention our show at checkout for a special deal!