Mind on Crime

This week on our Halloween Special, we look beyond the veil at the field of parapsychology and the science behind psychic investigators. Which founders of modern psychology believed in telepathy and premonitions? How can neuroscience explain psychic trances, channeling & ouji boards? Could extra-sensory powers really exist? Then, Erin covers the infamous psychic Sylvia Brown's prediction about the kidnapping of Amanda Berry. And Kathleen describes a case where a psychic investigator seemed to stop a serial killer in his tracks.

This week, we interview London Ontario based author Vanessa Brown on her new true crime book, 'The Forest City Killer: A serial murderer, a cold case sleuth, and a search for justice.' We learn how Vanessa uncovered the trail of a sadistic serial killer operating in the London area in the 60s & 70s through an exhaustive investigation of case files, media reports, and interviews with witnesses and victims' family members. Then, we discuss how modern techniques like DNA testing, online sleuthing, and geographic profiling could help finally catch the killer (or killers), that has escaped justice for 50 years. Order the book and learn more at brownanddickson.com

This week, Erin talks about different ways that we are all biased in our decisions. Sometimes, this means thinking that there is a referee conspiracy against the Toronto Raptors. Other times, these biases influence juror decisions and determine whether or not someone will go to jail. Imagine you were a juror alongside Veronica Mars, and join us as we discuss racial and gender biases in the courtroom. Kathleen talks about the tragic death of Cindy Gladue, whose tragedy continued post-mortem. Then, Natalie tells the story of Dewey Bozella who fought for justice inside and outside the boxing ring.

This week, Kathleen interviews Jeremy Viczko about his research in psychological trauma. Jeremy tells us all about the impact of this kind of trauma on the body and brain, why posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop and how we can help people who have experienced trauma. Then, Natalie talks about the experiences of the survivors of the most deadly school shooting, and Erin tells us about a woman who survived a lifetime of abuse at the hands of her father.

***We are sorry for the delay and the sound quality; this episode was cursed from the beginning, with lost mics, scheduling mix ups, and internet problems, but we did our best and we hope you enjoy!*** In this episode, Natalie travels back in time to the 1940s and calls the girls on a rotary phone to talk all about medical malpractice! So called "adverse" medical events kill an avg of 28,000 Canadians/year, but cases seldom go to court. Which Drs are most likely to commit malpractice, and which patients are most vulnerable? Then, Kathleen introduces us to a Harvard trained neurologist who teamed up with a pair of proto-athleisure moguls in a sordid plot of identity theft, insurance fraud, tasers and FBI chases to Italy. And Erin tells the tale of a prominent plastic surgeon (& inventor of the 'snap-on toupee') who has his medical license revoked when a patient dies in his clinic. But after release from prison, his family is plagued by vandalism, death threats and a mysterious illness...

This week, Erin discusses “unusual” sexual interests – otherwise known as paraphilias. When is a paraphilia just an exciting part of someone’s sexual experiences, and when is this sexual interest pathological? Erin discusses the difference between paraphilias that involve non-consenting people versus those that involve consenting adults. Then, Natalie discusses the tragic story of Bruce McArthur that continues to shake Toronto to the core. For an uplifting finish, Kathleen tells the story of her personal hero: a diplomatic and considerate dominatrix.

This week, Kathleen tells us about the science behind stalking. What is illegal stalking, and how is it different from ‘courting’ behavior? What motivates stalkers? What is the impact of stalking on the victim? And who among the Mind on Crime ladies stalked a celebrity as a teenager? Then Erin tells us about a stalking case that led to legal changes to the psychology profession, and Natalie tells us about one of the first ever cyberstalking cases.

How could someone confess to a crime they didn't commit? Turns out it's easier-and more common- than you think. Natalie explains how manipulative interrogation techniques, stress, suggestible personalities, sleep deprivation and false memories can coerce admissions of guilt from almost anyone. Then Erin describes the devastating consequences a false confession had in the infamous case of the West Memphis Three, and Kathleen tells the tale of a woman so desperate to escape an abusive relationship she turned herself in for a heinous murder.

This week, Erin explores the impact of the big bad media. Do romance novels corrupt the morals of good, innocent people? Are 11-year-old Grand Theft Auto addicts likely to get behind the wheels of their parents’ Oldsmobiles? Tune-in for a complicated journey from comic books to pornography to find out how the media does - or does not - influence our behaviour. Then, Kathleen discusses a pretty questionable video game and a tragedy that proceeded its release. Natalie looks at movie-inspired crimes, and the result of a trial that attempted to hold movie directors accountable for the messages in their movies.

This week, Kathleen tells us all about misconduct and fraud within science. What is scientific misconduct? Why would a scientist be motivated to commit fraud? And how is this type of crime caught and punished in academia? Then Natalie tells us a tragic story of a prominent researcher who just wouldn't listen to evidence against his theory on sudden infant death syndrome, and Erin tells us the scandalous tale about a stem cell scientist who was involved with the black market, money laundering, government ties, and some very questionable research practices.

This week, Natalie talks about forensic pathology: the medical science that determines how and when a person died. She explains how our bodies decay, and what clues a crime victim can provide to catch their killer. From cadaver dogs to blow flies, hyoid bones to undigested fries - the dead never lie. Then, Erin presents a case where investigators used every forensic tool in the book to get justice for a girl who vanished into thin air. And Kathleen unravels the layers of a famous vintage crime so brazen & bizarre, it ended in a trans Atlantic boat chase - or did it? *You'll need a strong stomach for this one, folks.*

This week, Erin interviews Dr. Joshua Bourdage about so-called “unproductive workplace behaviours”, ranging from mundane to criminal. How common is sleeping at your desk? Stealing a hole punch? Workplace Harassment? Dr. Bourdage discusses all things sinister in the workplace. Then Kathleen presents some serious cases of falsified qualifications, and Natalie discusses one of the most infamous fraudsters of all time.

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the 'cast, the ladies discussed holiday crimes from the past, A weed-loving Santa, a Barbie car heist, Repeated kidnappings of lil jesus christ, A grinch and his missus, caught robbing their hood, A bank robbing Santa gang, all up to no good, So could it be true, what was thought for some time? Are the holidays specially rampant with crime? We'll look at the science, examine the facts, And laugh at these holiday criminal acts!

This week, Kathleen explains how memories are formed and stored in our brains, and what factors make our memories more or less reliable. Can we trust witness memory? What are false memories, and how common are they? Do high stress situations improve or impair memory? Then, Erin and Natalie discuss cases where a witness or victim’s memory has been called into question.

Erin discusses the science of personality, with a particular focus on the dark tetrad: narcissism, sadism, machiavellianism, and psychopathy. How do we assess for these traits? What's the difference between psychopath and sociopath? Are Kathleen and Natalie sadistic narcissists? Erin discusses all! Then Kathleen talks about the local case of the bedroom strangler, and Natalie tells us about the case of a man who faked mental illness to get out of a prison, but ended up locked up for longer.

This week Natalie interviews Dr. Adrienne Borrie about Deoxyribonucleic acid (aka DNA), and how scientists have been able to use this incredible molecule to solve crimes. Why do almost all humans have different DNA profiles? What DNA of our own are we potentially leaving at crime scenes? Can we get away with murder by posing as a DNA lab technician? Dr. Borrie answers all! Then Kathleen and Erin chat about two crimes where DNA played a pivotal role. First the murder of Yara Gambirasio, a crime whose investigation led to thousands of people having their DNA tested. Second, the case of Dr. John Schneeberger, a crime where all was not as it seemed.

In our Halloween Special, we chat about the origins of our favorite scary stories, including the Killer in the Backseat, the Wendigo, the Canadian Witch Trials, Vampires, and Frankenstein. Do some of these stories come from real life diseases, crimes, or scientific possibilities? Does Canadian politeness extend to witch trials? Why is Buffy the Vampire Slayer so great? We answer all these questions, and more! We also discuss the psychology behind why human existence is so dependent on narratives and why we all sometimes believe things that are not based on facts or reality. Happy Halloween! **A huge thank you to Dan Machado for this great episode idea!**

Natalie talks with special guest Jeremy about the latest sleep research and parasomnias. How do you sleep walk, talk? What about sleep sex? Then Kathleen and Erin present cases of two infamous sleepwalkers. Decide whether or not these 19th-century killers are culpable of their crimes.

Check out our pilot episode! Kathleen delves into the latest neuroscience research linking brain injury with violent criminality and discusses what it would take for scientists to discover if head injuries lead to serial killers. Then Natalie and Erin present the cases of two prolific murderers with and without serious head injuries -“The Gorilla Killer” and “the Scorecard Killer”.