Podcast appearances and mentions of melanie curtis

Episode 116 John Stuart spent years insisting he had been framed. Most people dismissed the claim as just another excuse from a career criminal with a long history of arrests, escapes, and bad decisions. But the attempted murder conviction that haunted Stuart's life may not have been as straightforward as it appeared. In Part 3 of our Whiskey Au Go Go series, we examine the 1965 shooting of Sydney underworld figure Jacky Steele, the conviction that transformed Stuart into a deeply paranoid man, and the conspiracy he believed followed him for the rest of his life. Along the way, Stuart develops an obsession with alibis, begins documenting his movements through postcards, befriends one of Queensland's most respected detectives, and repeatedly warns nightclub owners about the growing threat of protection rackets. As Brisbane's criminal underworld collides with allegations of police corruption, organized crime, and extortion, Stuart finds himself once again at the center of the story. The question is whether he's a whistleblower, a criminal opportunist, or something in between. Because when the Whiskey Au Go Go burns, investigators will discover that John Stuart had been warning people for months that a nightclub was going to be firebombed. The problem is that John Stuart was also the man they suspected of setting the fire. Sources for this episode include Geoff Plunkett's excellent book, The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre: Murder, Arson and the Crime of the Century, along with contemporary reporting and historical records. If you'd like a much deeper dive into the case, we highly recommend the book. As always, keep your exits clear and your fire escapes free of storage. CHECK OUT MY NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.anauthornamedapril.com The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Plunkett, Geoff. The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre: Murder, Arson and the Crime of the Century. Big Sky Publishing, 2018. Siganto, Talissa. "Whiskey Au Go Go fire bombing witness told by police to change her statement, inquest hears." ABC News Australia, June 16, 2021. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-16/qld-whiskey-au-go-go-inquest-witness-police-statement/100220474 "Murdered Because She Knew Too Much: The Untold Story of the Whiskey Au Go Go Fire." 7NEWS Spotlight, YouTube, June 15, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH4kz5dbj8g Australian Associated Press. "Police were warned Brisbane's Whiskey Au Go Go would be burned down, inquest told." The Guardian, May 11, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/11/police-were-warned-brisbanes-whiskey-au-go-go-would-be-burned-down-inquest-told Cavallaro, Ebony. "Whiskey Au Go Go inquest reveals new evidence into fatal nightclub fire." Nine News Australia, February 3, 2022. https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/whiskey-au-go-go-inquest-new-evidence-in-queensland-1973-nightclub-fire-that-killed-15-people-20220203-p5yegq.html "From the Archives: The Deadly Whiskey Au Go Go Nightclub Fire." Brisbane Times, March 7, 2019. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/from-the-archives-the-deadly-whiskey-au-go-go-nightclub-fire-20190306-p5127e.html    

Episode 115 In Part 2 of our Whiskey Au Go Go series, we leave the nightclub behind and turn our attention to the man who would become the central figure in the investigation: John Andrew Joshua Stuart. Long before the Whiskey Au Go Go fire claimed 15 lives, Stuart was already well known to police, journalists, and much of Brisbane's criminal underworld. Raised in a home marked by violence, poverty, and abuse, Stuart's life became a revolving door of arrests, reform schools, mental institutions, prison escapes, and newspaper headlines. This week, we follow Stuart's journey from troubled child to notorious criminal, exploring the brutal conditions at Westbrook Farm Home for Boys, his involvement in Australia's bodgie and widgie subculture, his repeated clashes with police, and his growing reputation as a man who always seemed to be at the center of the action. We also examine Stuart's unusual relationship with Sunday Truth reporter Brian "The Eagle" Bolton, a connection that transformed Stuart from an ordinary criminal into something far more influential: a source. Time and again, Stuart appeared to possess insider knowledge of crimes, escape plots, and events before they occurred. Sometimes he warned people. Sometimes he claimed no one listened. As police would later discover, that pattern would become impossible to ignore. Because years before the Whiskey Au Go Go burned, John Stuart had already established himself as a man who seemed to know things before they happened—and a man who desperately wanted people to pay attention. Sources for this episode include Geoff Plunkett's excellent book, The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre: Murder, Arson and the Crime of the Century, along with contemporary reporting and historical records. If you'd like a much deeper dive into the case, we highly recommend the book. As always, keep your exits clear and your fire escapes free of storage. CHECK OUT MY NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.anauthornamedapril.com The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Plunkett, Geoff. The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre: Murder, Arson and the Crime of the Century. Big Sky Publishing, 2018. Siganto, Talissa. "Whiskey Au Go Go fire bombing witness told by police to change her statement, inquest hears." ABC News Australia, June 16, 2021. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-16/qld-whiskey-au-go-go-inquest-witness-police-statement/100220474 "Murdered Because She Knew Too Much: The Untold Story of the Whiskey Au Go Go Fire." 7NEWS Spotlight, YouTube, June 15, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH4kz5dbj8g Australian Associated Press. "Police were warned Brisbane's Whiskey Au Go Go would be burned down, inquest told." The Guardian, May 11, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/11/police-were-warned-brisbanes-whiskey-au-go-go-would-be-burned-down-inquest-told Cavallaro, Ebony. "Whiskey Au Go Go inquest reveals new evidence into fatal nightclub fire." Nine News Australia, February 3, 2022. https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/whiskey-au-go-go-inquest-new-evidence-in-queensland-1973-nightclub-fire-that-killed-15-people-20220203-p5yegq.html "From the Archives: The Deadly Whiskey Au Go Go Nightclub Fire." Brisbane Times, March 7, 2019. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/from-the-archives-the-deadly-whiskey-au-go-go-nightclub-fire-20190306-p5127e.html    

Episode 114 In March 1973, a firebomb ripped through Brisbane's Whisky Au Go Go nightclub, killing 15 people and injuring many more in one of Australia's deadliest nightclub fires. But according to one man, the tragedy wasn't a surprise. Months before the fire, career criminal John Stuart had been warning police, reporters, and nightclub owners that organized crime was planning a series of nightclub firebombings. First an empty club. Then a crowded one. Most dismissed the warnings as the paranoid ramblings of a convicted criminal. Then an empty nightclub called the Torinos was firebombed. Less than two weeks later, the Whisky Au Go Go burned. In Part 1 of this series, we examine the Brisbane nightclub scene of the early 1970s, the layout and fire safety issues inside the Whisky Au Go Go, the events of the March 8, 1973 fire, and the disturbing warnings that suddenly made investigators ask one question: How did John Stuart know? Sources for this episode include Geoff Plunkett's excellent book, The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre: Murder, Arson and the Crime of the Century, along with contemporary reporting and historical records. If you'd like a much deeper dive into the case, we highly recommend the book. As always, keep your exits clear and your fire escapes free of storage. CHECK OUT MY NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.anauthornamedapril.com The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Plunkett, Geoff. The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre: Murder, Arson and the Crime of the Century. Big Sky Publishing, 2018. Siganto, Talissa. "Whiskey Au Go Go fire bombing witness told by police to change her statement, inquest hears." ABC News Australia, June 16, 2021. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-16/qld-whiskey-au-go-go-inquest-witness-police-statement/100220474 "Murdered Because She Knew Too Much: The Untold Story of the Whiskey Au Go Go Fire." 7NEWS Spotlight, YouTube, June 15, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH4kz5dbj8g Australian Associated Press. "Police were warned Brisbane's Whiskey Au Go Go would be burned down, inquest told." The Guardian, May 11, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/11/police-were-warned-brisbanes-whiskey-au-go-go-would-be-burned-down-inquest-told Cavallaro, Ebony. "Whiskey Au Go Go inquest reveals new evidence into fatal nightclub fire." Nine News Australia, February 3, 2022. https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/whiskey-au-go-go-inquest-new-evidence-in-queensland-1973-nightclub-fire-that-killed-15-people-20220203-p5yegq.html "From the Archives: The Deadly Whiskey Au Go Go Nightclub Fire." Brisbane Times, March 7, 2019. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/from-the-archives-the-deadly-whiskey-au-go-go-nightclub-fire-20190306-p5127e.html  

Episode 113 For decades, the people of Cleveland watched their river catch fire—and barely seemed to care. In this special two-year anniversary episode of Crime to Burn, we dive into the astonishing history of the Cuyahoga River. Long before the Environmental Protection Agency existed, the Cuyahoga River became a dumping ground for oil, industrial waste, sewage, and chemical runoff. The result? A river that burned not once, but at least thirteen documented times. But the burning river is only half the story. As pollution worsened, Cleveland embarked on an ambitious effort to secure cleaner drinking water by constructing massive offshore intake tunnels beneath Lake Erie. What followed was a decades-long saga of explosions, cave-ins, toxic gas, decompression sickness, fires, and rescue attempts that claimed dozens of lives. In this episode, we explore: Why the Cuyahoga River kept catching fire How industrial pollution transformed a waterway into a recurring fire hazard The deadly construction of Cleveland's offshore water tunnels The 1916 tunnel disaster that killed nineteen workers Garrett Morgan's heroic rescue efforts using an early gas mask The massive 1952 river fire that became one of the largest in American history How a photograph of the wrong fire helped spark the environmental movement The surprising recovery of a river once considered biologically dead What happens when a city becomes so accustomed to disaster that a burning river feels normal? Join us as we examine one of the most remarkable environmental and industrial stories in American history—a tale of flaming waterways, deadly engineering projects, political indifference, and a river that ultimately helped change the nation. CHECK OUT MY NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.anauthornamedapril.com The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Bellamy, John Stark. Cleveland's Greatest Disasters! 16 Tragic True Tales of Death and Destruction: An Anthology. Cleveland, OH: Gray & Company, Publishers, 2009. Boissoneault, Lorraine. "The Cuyahoga River Caught Fire at Least a Dozen Times, but No One Cared Until 1969." Smithsonian Magazine, June 19, 2019. Smithsonian Magazine Article Dubelko, Jim. "The 1916 Waterworks Tunnel Disaster – Twenty Clevelanders Die Four Miles Out in Lake Erie." Cleveland Historical. Cleveland Historical Article "River Burned 13 Times and Changed the Nation Forever." Wild Versus YouTube Channel, January 4, 2025. Wild Versus Video "U.S. River Burned for Over 100 Years – You Won't Believe How It Recovered." Make Tech Future YouTube Channel, February 4, 2026. Make Tech Future Video Source for the bonus story at the end: "Replacement Window." GoFundMe Campaign. GoFundMe Page

Episode 112 In the finale of Shockwaves: The 1947 Texas City Explosion, we examine the aftermath of one of the deadliest industrial disasters in American history—and the devastating questions that followed. Why didn't the firefighters, longshoremen, and citizens of Texas City understand the danger they were facing? Who did understand the risks of ammonium nitrate? And how did knowledge of those dangers fail to reach the people whose lives depended on it? In this episode, we trace the history of ammonium nitrate from wartime explosive to postwar fertilizer, explore how critical safety knowledge became fragmented after World War II, and break down the landmark legal battle that followed the disaster: Dalehite v. United States. We also examine the Federal Tort Claims Act, the government's controversial defense before the Supreme Court, and the chilling realization that the Texas City disaster may have been entirely preventable. This is the conclusion of our three-part series on the 1947 Texas City disaster. CHECK OUT MY NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.anauthornamedapril.com The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Stephens, Hugh W. The Texas City Disaster, 1947. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997. Minutaglio, Bill. City on Fire: The Explosion That Devastated a Texas Town and Ignited a Historic Legal Battle. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2003. International Association of Fire Chiefs. The Texas City Disaster. National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center Hazmat History. https://www.iafc.org/docs/default-source/1haz/hazmat_history_texas_city_disaster.pdf Fire Prevention and Engineering Bureau of Texas and National Board of Fire Underwriters. Texas City, Texas Disaster Report. https://www.local1259iaff.org/report.htm Havel, Gregory. “Texas City Disaster.” Fire Engineering, October 6, 2008. https://dam.clarionengage.com/downloads.pennnet.com/fe/misc/20081006havel_texascity.pdf Ross, Cheryl Lauersdorf. “The 1947 Texas City Disaster: Changing Lives in a Heartbeat.” Houston History Magazine, vol. 15, no. 1. https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Texas-City-Disaster.pdf

Episode 111 As Texas City struggles to respond to one of the deadliest industrial disasters in American history, chaos spreads across the burning waterfront. With the entire volunteer fire department wiped out in the first blast, civilians, medical workers, military personnel, and rescue crews are forced to improvise a disaster response in real time while rumors, chemical fires, and mass casualties overwhelm the city. But sitting just yards from the wreckage of the Grandcamp is another ship loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer: the High Flyer. In Part 2 of Shockwaves: The 1947 Texas City Explosion, we follow the fragmented and increasingly desperate efforts to understand the danger still lurking in the harbor—and the catastrophic failures, misunderstandings, and expert reassurances that would lead Texas City toward a second devastating explosion. CHECK OUT MY NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.anauthornamedapril.com The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Stephens, Hugh W. The Texas City Disaster, 1947. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997. Minutaglio, Bill. City on Fire: The Explosion That Devastated a Texas Town and Ignited a Historic Legal Battle. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2003. International Association of Fire Chiefs. The Texas City Disaster. National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center Hazmat History. https://www.iafc.org/docs/default-source/1haz/hazmat_history_texas_city_disaster.pdf Fire Prevention and Engineering Bureau of Texas and National Board of Fire Underwriters. Texas City, Texas Disaster Report. https://www.local1259iaff.org/report.htm Havel, Gregory. “Texas City Disaster.” Fire Engineering, October 6, 2008. https://dam.clarionengage.com/downloads.pennnet.com/fe/misc/20081006havel_texascity.pdf Ross, Cheryl Lauersdorf. “The 1947 Texas City Disaster: Changing Lives in a Heartbeat.” Houston History Magazine, vol. 15, no. 1. https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Texas-City-Disaster.pdf

Episode 110 On April 16, 1947, a routine morning in Texas City, Texas turned catastrophic when a fire broke out aboard the French cargo ship Grandcamp, which was loaded with thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. As smoke poured from the vessel, onlookers gathered and firefighters responded—unaware of the danger posed by the volatile cargo. Efforts to contain the fire instead intensified the conditions inside the ship, leading to a massive explosion that devastated the port, killed hundreds—including the entire responding fire department—and injured thousands more. The blast triggered widespread destruction, secondary fires, and a cascading disaster that engulfed nearby industrial facilities. In this episode, we examine how a combination of misunderstood chemistry, risky cargo practices, and critical decision-making failures led to one of the deadliest industrial disasters in U.S. history—and why the danger wasn't over when the Grandcamp exploded. CHECK OUT MY NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.anauthornamedapril.com The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Stephens, Hugh W. The Texas City Disaster, 1947. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997. Minutaglio, Bill. City on Fire: The Explosion That Devastated a Texas Town and Ignited a Historic Legal Battle. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2003. International Association of Fire Chiefs. The Texas City Disaster. National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center Hazmat History. https://www.iafc.org/docs/default-source/1haz/hazmat_history_texas_city_disaster.pdf Fire Prevention and Engineering Bureau of Texas and National Board of Fire Underwriters. Texas City, Texas Disaster Report. https://www.local1259iaff.org/report.htm Havel, Gregory. “Texas City Disaster.” Fire Engineering, October 6, 2008. https://dam.clarionengage.com/downloads.pennnet.com/fe/misc/20081006havel_texascity.pdf Ross, Cheryl Lauersdorf. “The 1947 Texas City Disaster: Changing Lives in a Heartbeat.” Houston History Magazine, vol. 15, no. 1. https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Texas-City-Disaster.pdf

Episode 109:  In Part 2 of the Joey Lynn Offutt case, we move beyond the fire and into the contradictions that define this investigation—examining Joey's life, relationships, and the nine critical days before she was reported missing. Investigators confirm the fire was intentional and that her infant son died before it began, but answers only become more elusive as timelines, witness accounts, and physical evidence raise new questions instead of resolving them. Joey's history—marked by instability, complicated relationships, and conflicting reports about her mental state—collides with a series of unsettling details: groceries left to rot, a possible sighting days after she was last heard from, and her car discovered far from home under circumstances that suggest someone else may have been driving. While Alexis Brolin Jr. cooperates with investigators and initially appears unlikely to have carried out such a crime, later developments in his life cast that assumption into doubt, opening the door to more troubling possibilities. Nearly two decades later, with no definitive answers and multiple competing theories—from voluntary disappearance to foul play—Joey Lynn Offutt remains missing, her case suspended in a space where every explanation feels incomplete and every detail seems to point in more than one direction. The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Disappeared. Season 5, Episode 10, “Lost Little Girl.” Directed by Chris Gidez. Aired March 12, 2012. Accessed via Amazon Prime Video. Crime Junkie. “Missing: Joey Lynn Offut.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kLEOjghknE Profiling with Pat Brown. “What Happened to Joey Lynn Offutt.” YouTube video, uploaded September 7, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ikKVCyF2OY Find Joey. “Changelog.” https://www.findjoey.org/changelog.asp Facebook. “Help Find Joey Lynn Offutt.” https://www.facebook.com/HelpFindJoeyLynnOffutt/ Thompson, Hayden. “Missing Jefferson County Woman Declared Dead, PSP Still Searching for Answers.” WTAJ, March 26, 2025. https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/missing-jefferson-county-woman-declared-dead-psp-still-searching-for-answers/ Cloonan, Patrick. “State Police Reopen Cold Case Out of Sykesville.” Indiana Gazette, July 5, 2024. Updated August 9, 2025. https://www.indianagazette.com/news/police_emergency_and_courts/state-police-reopen-cold-case-out-of-sykesville/article_0be4d6a2-38a4-11ef-9976-ef34d740f211.html Ciampi, Raquel. “Joey Lynn Offutt: PA Officials Remain Mystified Years After Woman Vanishes, Infant Found Dead.” WTAE, updated July 2, 2024. https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/crime/2026/01/02/nearly-two-decades-later-state-police-continue-investigation-into-missing-jefferson-county-woman-171917/ Associated Press. “Family of Missing Pa. Woman Seeks Answers.” Fox News, July 11, 2011. Updated November 30, 2015. https://www.foxnews.com/us/family-of-missing-pa-woman-seeks-answers

The Joey Lynn Offut Case follows the disappearance of Joey Lynn Offut in July 2007 after a suspicious early morning fire tore through her Pennsylvania home. Inside, investigators made a devastating discovery—her six-week-old son, Alexis Brolin III, was found dead in the upstairs bathroom. But Joey was gone, along with her car, and nearly two decades later, no one has been held accountable. In this episode, we walk through the case the way investigators experienced it, starting with the fire and working backward through the days leading up to Joey's disappearance. As timelines are reconstructed, details begin to shift. Witness accounts change, key observations remain uncorroborated, and what initially appears to be a domestic dispute stretches into nine days of silence that no one can fully explain. Along the way, questions begin to build—about what was known, what was assumed, and what may have been missed. At the center of it all is a timeline that doesn't sit right. A fiancé reporting Joey missing just hours after her home burns. A baby found in a location that raises more questions than answers. A pattern of behavior that may explain the delay in concern—or may have obscured something far more serious. As investigators piece together what happened, the evidence doesn't resolve the case. It complicates it. This is where the investigation begins—not with answers, but with uncertainty. And as we move through the events of that week, one question remains: what happened inside that house, and why has no one been able to say it out loud? The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Disappeared. Season 5, Episode 10, “Lost Little Girl.” Directed by Chris Gidez. Aired March 12, 2012. Accessed via Amazon Prime Video. Crime Junkie. “Missing: Joey Lynn Offut.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kLEOjghknE Profiling with Pat Brown. “What Happened to Joey Lynn Offutt.” YouTube video, uploaded September 7, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ikKVCyF2OY Find Joey. “Changelog.” https://www.findjoey.org/changelog.asp Facebook. “Help Find Joey Lynn Offutt.” https://www.facebook.com/HelpFindJoeyLynnOffutt/ Thompson, Hayden. “Missing Jefferson County Woman Declared Dead, PSP Still Searching for Answers.” WTAJ, March 26, 2025. https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/missing-jefferson-county-woman-declared-dead-psp-still-searching-for-answers/ Cloonan, Patrick. “State Police Reopen Cold Case Out of Sykesville.” Indiana Gazette, July 5, 2024. Updated August 9, 2025. https://www.indianagazette.com/news/police_emergency_and_courts/state-police-reopen-cold-case-out-of-sykesville/article_0be4d6a2-38a4-11ef-9976-ef34d740f211.html Ciampi, Raquel. “Joey Lynn Offutt: PA Officials Remain Mystified Years After Woman Vanishes, Infant Found Dead.” WTAE, updated July 2, 2024. https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/crime/2026/01/02/nearly-two-decades-later-state-police-continue-investigation-into-missing-jefferson-county-woman-171917/ Associated Press. “Family of Missing Pa. Woman Seeks Answers.” Fox News, July 11, 2011. Updated November 30, 2015. https://www.foxnews.com/us/family-of-missing-pa-woman-seeks-answers

Episode 107 They were looking for a serial arsonist. What they found… was a love story gone completely off the rails. After five months and more than 80 fires, investigators finally catch the person responsible—but the truth behind the Accomack County fires is far stranger than anyone expected. A former firefighter. A controlling relationship. A motive that makes less sense the deeper you look. And in the end? It wasn't just one crime spree. It was two. This is the unhinged conclusion of Lit by Love: The Accomack County, Virginia Serial Arson Case. Buy Monica Hesse's amazing book on this case: American Fire: Love, Arson and Life in a Vanishing Land here: https://a.co/d/0609yUqG The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Hesse, Monica. American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land. Liveright Publishing, 2017. Johnson, R. Scott, M.D., J.D., LL.M., and Elisabeth Netherton, M.D. “Fire Setting and the Impulse-Control Disorder of Pyromania.” American Journal of Psychiatry Residents' Journal, Vol. 11, No. 7, April 2017. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707 Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission. 2022 Annual Report. “Burning Down Accomack – 10 Years Later.” WBOC Delmarva's News Leader. https://www.wboc.com/news/watch-burning-down-accomack---10-years-later/video_0aa43587-4fdc-5678-96d2-ce9eb85d62e2.html “Second Accomack Arsonist Tonya Bundick's Prison Sentence Ends.” Curtis, Sean. WBOC Delmarva's News Leader, September 24, 2025. https://www.wboc.com/news/second-accomack-arsonist-tonya-bundick-s-prison-sentence-ends/article_62e90020-318e-475a-9ae9-a3e8d90557c6.html “Accomack Arsonist Charles Smith to Be Released from Prison Tuesday.” WBOC Delmarva's News Leader, October 31, 2023. https://www.wboc.com/news/accomack-arsonist-charles-smith-to-be-released-from-prison-tuesday/article_3f047cee-7825-11ee-8c0b-b3dda31728b0.html Cohen, Stefanie. “How a Man's Sexual Performance Led to a Massive Arson Spree.” New York Post, August 5, 2017. https://nypost.com/2017/08/05/how-a-mans-sexual-performance-led-to-a-massive-arson-spree/ Vaughn, Carol. “Serial Arsonist Told Cops Fires an Act of Love.” The Salisbury Daily Times, via Delaware Online. https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/crime/1/01/01/serial-arsonist-told-cops-fires-an-act-of-love/3476357/ “The Arsonist Was Like a Ghost.” Longreads, August 2, 2017. https://longreads.com/2017/08/02/the-arsonist-was-like-a-ghost/ “Were There Any Copycats During the Eastern Shore Arson Spree?” WTVR News 3, April 11, 2014. https://www.wtkr.com/2014/04/11/were-there-any-copycats-during-eastern-shore-arson-spree Delmarva Public Media (Don Rush) “Charles Smith Gets 15 Years for Accomack County Fires.” April 24, 2015. “Bundick Enters Alford Plea to Virginia Eastern Shore Fires.” April 21, 2015. “Bundick Faces Third Trial for Accomack County Fires.” December 4, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Gets Over 10 Years in Prison for Arson.” September 4, 2014. “Bundick to Be Sentenced in Eastern Shore Arson Spree.” September 4, 2014. “No New Court-Appointed Attorney for Tonya Bundick.” August 22, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Convicted of Arson in Second Trial.” July 16, 2014. “Bundick Trial Begins, Has New Relationship.” July 15, 2014. “Arson Trial for Bundick Begins Today.” July 14, 2014. “Other Fires Could Be Mentioned in Bundick Arson Trial.” June 17, 2014. “Bundick Could Get 62 Separate Arson Trials.” April 29, 2014. “Arson Trial for Tonya Bundick Will Be Moved to Virginia Beach.” April 11, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Trial Delayed.” February 21, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Pleads Guilty in Accomack Arson Trial.” January 14, 2014. “Bundick's Fiancé Testifies at Arson Trial.” January 14, 2014. “New Details from Indictment in Accomack County Arsons.” December 5, 2013.

Happy Mindset Monday!Melanie Curtis is a professional skydiver with 12,000+ skydives and 30+ years in the sport. She's a world record holder. One of 80 women jumping out of five aircraft, going upside down at 200 mph.But this episode isn't about skydiving.It's about what Melanie learned in the most intense environment imaginable and how she helps people access the far reaches of their human potential.We talk about Type 2 fun: stuff that's fun only after it's over. Hard things. Climbing mountains. Writing books. Deep healing work.We talk about the fear of humiliation. Being willing to look stupid. Earning confidence through doing scary things.We talk about healing versus self-care. Support systems. Ambition as a dirty word when it shouldn't be.Melanie said: "We cannot access the far reaches of our human experience without going down and to the left. If we go there, we can go so much further because we don't know what's actually weighing us down."

In this high-energy episode of What Are You Made Of?, host Mike "C-Roc" sits down with world-record skydiver, keynote speaker, and peak performance coach Melanie Curtis for a powerful and inspiring conversation about human potential, authenticity, and pushing beyond perceived limits. With over 12,000 skydives and decades of experience leading and coaching around the world, Melanie shares what it truly means to live on the edge—both physically and mentally. From breaking records with an 80-woman vertical formation at 20,000 feet to helping individuals unlock their inner drive and alignment, she reveals how curiosity, self-awareness, and intentional growth can elevate every area of life. The conversation dives deep into identity, energy, and the lifelong journey of becoming your most authentic self, while also exploring how Melanie turned a passion for skydiving into a global platform for impact, leadership, and even comedy. Blending humor, grit, and wisdom, this episode challenges listeners to “do ridiculous things” in pursuit of extraordinary results—and to fully embrace the power and light within them.Website-https://melaniecurtis.com/ Social Media Links/Handles-https://www.instagram.com/melaniecurtis11/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniecurtis11/

Episode 106 In Part 2 of Lit by Love, the fires in Accomack County escalate from suspicious to unmistakably intentional—spreading fear through a rural community unaccustomed to this level of destruction. As investigators struggle to keep up with a growing number of blazes, tensions rise among residents, rumors take hold online, and volunteer firefighters are pushed to their limits responding to near-nightly calls. But beneath the surface of this arson spree, a more personal story begins to emerge. This episode dives into the background of Charles Smith—a troubled man shaped by addiction, loss, and a lifelong search for belonging—and his intense relationship with Tonya Bundick. What starts as connection and devotion quickly becomes something more volatile, as financial strain, emotional instability, and deep-seated insecurity collide. As the fires continue to burn across Accomack County, one question looms larger than ever: Is this just arson… or something driven by love, desperation, and a need to prove it? Buy Monica Hesse's amazing book on this case: American Fire: Love, Arson and Life in a Vanishing Land here: https://a.co/d/0609yUqG The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Hesse, Monica. American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land. Liveright Publishing, 2017. Johnson, R. Scott, M.D., J.D., LL.M., and Elisabeth Netherton, M.D. “Fire Setting and the Impulse-Control Disorder of Pyromania.” American Journal of Psychiatry Residents' Journal, Vol. 11, No. 7, April 2017. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707 Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission. 2022 Annual Report. “Burning Down Accomack – 10 Years Later.” WBOC Delmarva's News Leader. https://www.wboc.com/news/watch-burning-down-accomack---10-years-later/video_0aa43587-4fdc-5678-96d2-ce9eb85d62e2.html “Second Accomack Arsonist Tonya Bundick's Prison Sentence Ends.” Curtis, Sean. WBOC Delmarva's News Leader, September 24, 2025. https://www.wboc.com/news/second-accomack-arsonist-tonya-bundick-s-prison-sentence-ends/article_62e90020-318e-475a-9ae9-a3e8d90557c6.html “Accomack Arsonist Charles Smith to Be Released from Prison Tuesday.” WBOC Delmarva's News Leader, October 31, 2023. https://www.wboc.com/news/accomack-arsonist-charles-smith-to-be-released-from-prison-tuesday/article_3f047cee-7825-11ee-8c0b-b3dda31728b0.html Cohen, Stefanie. “How a Man's Sexual Performance Led to a Massive Arson Spree.” New York Post, August 5, 2017. https://nypost.com/2017/08/05/how-a-mans-sexual-performance-led-to-a-massive-arson-spree/ Vaughn, Carol. “Serial Arsonist Told Cops Fires an Act of Love.” The Salisbury Daily Times, via Delaware Online. https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/crime/1/01/01/serial-arsonist-told-cops-fires-an-act-of-love/3476357/ “The Arsonist Was Like a Ghost.” Longreads, August 2, 2017. https://longreads.com/2017/08/02/the-arsonist-was-like-a-ghost/ “Were There Any Copycats During the Eastern Shore Arson Spree?” WTVR News 3, April 11, 2014. https://www.wtkr.com/2014/04/11/were-there-any-copycats-during-eastern-shore-arson-spree Delmarva Public Media (Don Rush) “Charles Smith Gets 15 Years for Accomack County Fires.” April 24, 2015. “Bundick Enters Alford Plea to Virginia Eastern Shore Fires.” April 21, 2015. “Bundick Faces Third Trial for Accomack County Fires.” December 4, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Gets Over 10 Years in Prison for Arson.” September 4, 2014. “Bundick to Be Sentenced in Eastern Shore Arson Spree.” September 4, 2014. “No New Court-Appointed Attorney for Tonya Bundick.” August 22, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Convicted of Arson in Second Trial.” July 16, 2014. “Bundick Trial Begins, Has New Relationship.” July 15, 2014. “Arson Trial for Bundick Begins Today.” July 14, 2014. “Other Fires Could Be Mentioned in Bundick Arson Trial.” June 17, 2014. “Bundick Could Get 62 Separate Arson Trials.” April 29, 2014. “Arson Trial for Tonya Bundick Will Be Moved to Virginia Beach.” April 11, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Trial Delayed.” February 21, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Pleads Guilty in Accomack Arson Trial.” January 14, 2014. “Bundick's Fiancé Testifies at Arson Trial.” January 14, 2014. “New Details from Indictment in Accomack County Arsons.” December 5, 2013.

Episode 105 In rural Accomack County, structure fires are rare—maybe a handful a year across an entire district. So when six fires break out in less than 30 hours, investigators know immediately: this isn't coincidence. It's arson. What follows is one of the most baffling serial arson cases to ever hit Virginia's Eastern Shore. Over five months, 87 fires tear through a tight-knit community of just 33,000 people—stretching volunteer fire departments to their limits and leaving investigators with little more than ash to work with. But what makes this case truly unsettling isn't just the scale—it's the motive. There's no money. No revenge. No attempt to cover up another crime. The fires target abandoned buildings, offering no clear benefit to the person setting them. And the suspects? They don't fit the profile. They're not outsiders. Not isolated. Not young thrill-seekers. They're a couple. In this episode, we break down how a quiet rural county became the center of a serial arson spree, what investigators look for when fire scene evidence is all but destroyed, and why cases driven by psychological motives—like pyromania—are some of the hardest to solve. Because when there's no clear reason… there's often no clear path to a suspect. And when someone sets six fires in 30 hours— they're not finished. Buy Monica Hesse's amazing book on this case: American Fire: Love, Arson and Life in a Vanishing Land here: https://a.co/d/0609yUqG The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Hesse, Monica. American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land. Liveright Publishing, 2017. Johnson, R. Scott, M.D., J.D., LL.M., and Elisabeth Netherton, M.D. “Fire Setting and the Impulse-Control Disorder of Pyromania.” American Journal of Psychiatry Residents' Journal, Vol. 11, No. 7, April 2017. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707 Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission. 2022 Annual Report. “Burning Down Accomack – 10 Years Later.” WBOC Delmarva's News Leader. https://www.wboc.com/news/watch-burning-down-accomack---10-years-later/video_0aa43587-4fdc-5678-96d2-ce9eb85d62e2.html “Second Accomack Arsonist Tonya Bundick's Prison Sentence Ends.” Curtis, Sean. WBOC Delmarva's News Leader, September 24, 2025. https://www.wboc.com/news/second-accomack-arsonist-tonya-bundick-s-prison-sentence-ends/article_62e90020-318e-475a-9ae9-a3e8d90557c6.html “Accomack Arsonist Charles Smith to Be Released from Prison Tuesday.” WBOC Delmarva's News Leader, October 31, 2023. https://www.wboc.com/news/accomack-arsonist-charles-smith-to-be-released-from-prison-tuesday/article_3f047cee-7825-11ee-8c0b-b3dda31728b0.html Cohen, Stefanie. “How a Man's Sexual Performance Led to a Massive Arson Spree.” New York Post, August 5, 2017. https://nypost.com/2017/08/05/how-a-mans-sexual-performance-led-to-a-massive-arson-spree/ Vaughn, Carol. “Serial Arsonist Told Cops Fires an Act of Love.” The Salisbury Daily Times, via Delaware Online. https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/crime/1/01/01/serial-arsonist-told-cops-fires-an-act-of-love/3476357/ “The Arsonist Was Like a Ghost.” Longreads, August 2, 2017. https://longreads.com/2017/08/02/the-arsonist-was-like-a-ghost/ “Were There Any Copycats During the Eastern Shore Arson Spree?” WTVR News 3, April 11, 2014. https://www.wtkr.com/2014/04/11/were-there-any-copycats-during-eastern-shore-arson-spree Delmarva Public Media (Don Rush) “Charles Smith Gets 15 Years for Accomack County Fires.” April 24, 2015. “Bundick Enters Alford Plea to Virginia Eastern Shore Fires.” April 21, 2015. “Bundick Faces Third Trial for Accomack County Fires.” December 4, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Gets Over 10 Years in Prison for Arson.” September 4, 2014. “Bundick to Be Sentenced in Eastern Shore Arson Spree.” September 4, 2014. “No New Court-Appointed Attorney for Tonya Bundick.” August 22, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Convicted of Arson in Second Trial.” July 16, 2014. “Bundick Trial Begins, Has New Relationship.” July 15, 2014. “Arson Trial for Bundick Begins Today.” July 14, 2014. “Other Fires Could Be Mentioned in Bundick Arson Trial.” June 17, 2014. “Bundick Could Get 62 Separate Arson Trials.” April 29, 2014. “Arson Trial for Tonya Bundick Will Be Moved to Virginia Beach.” April 11, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Trial Delayed.” February 21, 2014. “Tonya Bundick Pleads Guilty in Accomack Arson Trial.” January 14, 2014. “Bundick's Fiancé Testifies at Arson Trial.” January 14, 2014. “New Details from Indictment in Accomack County Arsons.” December 5, 2013.

Episode 104 Survivor Stories: An Interview with Shawn Simons & Alvaro Llanos In this special Survivor Stories episode, we step away from case analysis and into lived experience. We're joined by Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos, two survivors of the Seton Hall University dorm fire—a tragedy that claimed three lives and forever changed many others. This is not a retelling of the case. This is what it was like to be there. Shawn and Alvaro share their memories from that night, the moments leading up to the fire, the chaos that followed, and the long road of recovery in the years since. Their story is one of survival, resilience, and the lasting impact of a fire that should never have happened. In the years since, they have dedicated themselves to advocacy—sharing their story to promote fire safety awareness, encourage resilience, and help prevent tragedies like this from happening again. Through their outreach efforts, they've worked to improve fire safety on college campuses and ensure that the lessons from Seton Hall are not forgotten. Out of respect for our guests and the weight of their experience, this episode is presented without mid-roll interruptions. We're honored to share their voices with you. Follow Shawn and Alvaro on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alvaroandshawn/ Book Shawn and Alvaro to speak or hear more about their story: https://www.alandshawn.com/ Find the book of Shawn and Alvaro's experience and recovery on their website or purchase on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hnK67Ae The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Episode 103 Across Massachusetts, a series of fires began targeting places tied to faith and patriotism — Protestant churches, American Legion halls, and other community institutions closely associated with “God and country.” From the beginning, investigators knew they were dealing with arson. At scene after scene, the same method appeared: windows smashed to gain entry, gasoline used as an accelerant, and fires intentionally set inside the buildings. The pattern was obvious, but proving the same person was responsible for all of them was another matter entirely. For a long time, investigators had little more than the method of operation linking the fires together. Then the suspect made a mistake. At one scene, a hammer was left behind — a small piece of evidence that investigators were able to connect to another fire through forensic analysis. It was the first physical link tying two of the crimes together. But even then, most of the fires remained connected only by pattern, timing, and method. The investigation would continue until the suspect was finally caught in the act, bringing an end to a string of arsons that had targeted both houses of worship and patriotic institutions across the state. In this episode of Crime to Burn, we break down the investigation, the forensic evidence, and how investigators ultimately stopped a serial firestarter. Buy Burn Boston Burn by Wayne M. Miller: https://a.co/d/ipCuGL2 Buy Bang Boom Burn by Wayne M. Miller: https://a.co/d/a2EACYf The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: Miller, Wayne M. Bang Boom Burn: Explosive True Crime Gun, Bombing, and Arson Cases from a Federal Agent's Career. AuthorHouse, 2021. ISBN 978-1-7333403-5-9. Hardiman, Thomas, et al. Dr. Thomas Hardiman, Affiliated Foot Care, PC, Plaintiffs, v. United States of America, Defendant. Available at: https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/5914f558add7b0493498a0b6 Kocsis, R. N. (2004). Psychological Profiling of Serial Arson Offenses: An Assessment of Skills and Accuracy. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 31(3), 341–361. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854803262586 Patriot Ledger Staff. (2010, October 6). Prosecutor: Plymouth arsonist wanted to go back to jail. The Patriot Ledger. https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2010/10/06/prosecutor-plymouth-arsonist-wanted-to/40167801007/

Episode 102 In the conclusion of our coverage of the Seton Hall University dorm fire, we return to January of 2000, when flames broke out inside Boland Hall, trapping students behind smoke-filled corridors and turning a college residence hall into the scene of one of the most devastating campus fires in recent memory. In this episode, we walk through the fire investigation itself—how investigators began piecing together what happened that night and why, despite the lack of clear physical evidence, they quickly suspected the fire had been intentionally set. We examine the subtle clues that pointed investigators toward arson, from burn patterns and witness accounts to inconsistencies in the early explanations coming from students who had been in the building that night. But the investigation quickly ran into a wall. Witnesses began clamming up, stories changed, and the tight-knit social circles inside the dorm made it difficult for investigators to get reliable information about what had really happened in the lounge where the fire began. As the case stalled, law enforcement took increasingly aggressive steps to move the investigation forward, including compelling testimony through a grand jury in an effort to break through the silence. Eventually, an unexpected development helped investigators finally connect the dots: the involvement of a notorious mafia hitman who had information that helped push the investigation toward indictments. Those indictments would ultimately reach beyond the two students accused of setting the fire. Prosecutors also charged members of one suspect's family with witness tampering, alleging attempts to interfere with the investigation as authorities worked to determine who was responsible for the fire that night. In the final chapter of this story, we examine how the investigation unfolded, how the case was built despite limited physical evidence, and how the legal consequences spread far beyond the two young men accused of starting the fire. Purchase the book After The Fire that we sourced for this episode here: https://a.co/d/08OUjIBm or watch the documentary on Tubi. The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: After the Fire: A True Story of Friendship and Survival (Robin Gaby Fisher) • Back Bay Books / Little, Brown and Company • 2008 (paperback ed. 2010) After the Fire: A True Story of Heroes & Cowards (dir. Guido Verweyen) • Documentary • 2013 • Featuring Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos “Suits filed in Seton Hall dorm fire” • Arizona Daily Sun • Jan 19, 2002 https://azdailysun.com/suits-filed-in-seton-hall-dorm-fire/article_46018ce6-ff78-5daa-b309-879a91f2501e.html “Experts for defense fault Seton Hall in fatal dorm fire” • Chicago Tribune • Aug 18, 2006 (updated Aug 21, 2021) https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/08/18/experts-for-defense-fault-seton-hall-in-fatal-dorm-fire/ “University community reflects 25 years after the Boland Hall fire” (Thomas Canela) • The Setonian • Feb 27, 2025 https://www.thesetonian.com/article/2025/02/25-years-after-boland-fire “Parole denied for 2 who set Seton Hall dorm fire that killed 3 students in 2000” (David Porter, AP) • tucson.com • Apr 1, 2008 https://tucson.com/news/national/article_ddddebb6-d3b8-554c-85fb-0aa0e6cf0c12.html “After the fire: Seton Hall students tell story” (Greg Watry) • New Jersey Herald • Apr 22, 2015 (updated Apr 25, 2015) https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2015/04/23/after-fire-seton-hall-students/4043405007/ “Seton Hall Arsonists Get 5 Years” • CBS News • Jan 26, 2007 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seton-hall-arsonists-get-5-years/ “Three Die in Dormitory Fire at Seton Hall University” (John J. Goldman) • Los Angeles Times • Jan 20, 2000 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-20-mn-55831-story.html “Seton Hall Dorm Arsonist Out on Parole” (Tamara Vostok) • NBC Philadelphia • May 6, 2009 https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/seton-hall-dorm-arsonist/1881069/ “2 Students Charged with Setting Fatal Dorm Fire 3 Years Ago at Seton Hall U.” (Jeffrey R. Young) • The Chronicle of Higher Education • Jun 13, 2003 https://www.chronicle.com/article/2-students-charged-with-setting-fatal-dorm-fire-3-years-ago-at-seton-hall-u/ “Police stage alcohol raid in dorm-fire investigation” • Orlando Sentinel • Feb 21, 2000 (updated Oct 27, 2018) https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/02/21/police-stage-alcohol-raid-in-dorm-fire-investigation/ “Seton Hall dorm arsonist gets parole” (Bryan T. Murray / The Star-Ledger) • nj.com • Mar 25, 2009 https://www.nj.com/news/2009/03/seton_hall_dorm_arsonist_gets.html “Students charged years after dorm fire” • Tampa Bay Times • Jun 13, 2003 (updated Sept 1, 2005) https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2003/06/13/students-charged-years-after-dorm-fire/ “Murder Charges In Deadly Dorm Fire” (Dan Collins) • CBS News • Jun 13, 2003 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/murder-charges-in-deadly-dorm-fire/ “Students go on trial for killer dorm fire” (Emanuella Grinberg / Court TV) • CNN • Nov 14, 2006 https://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/11/14/student.arson/ “Grand Jury Misconduct Alleged in Seton Hall Dorm Fire Prosecution” • law.com • May 23, 2005 https://www.law.com/article/almID/900005429568/?slreturn=20260222213434 “3 Seton Hall Funerals Held” • CBS News • Jan 19, 2000 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/3-seton-hall-funerals-held/

Episode 101 On January 19, 2000, a fire broke out in a third-floor lounge inside Boland Hall at Seton Hall University. Within minutes, thick smoke filled the hallway. Students pounded on doors. Some thought it was a false alarm. Others ran. Three students would not survive. In Part 1, we focus on the night of the fire — what happened, how it unfolded, and why conditions became so deadly so quickly. We discuss: The timeline of events as students began to realize something was wrong The rapid buildup of smoke on the third floor The confusion and delays during evacuation And how the building's concrete construction trapped heat and intensified conditions inside Three young lives were lost in a matter of minutes. Part 1 centers on the human experience — the chaos, the survival decisions, and the early rumors that began circulating almost immediately. In Part 2, we'll examine the investigation, the forensic findings, and the legal aftermath that would divide a campus and raise lasting questions about accountability. Because sometimes the story of a fire isn't just about ignition. It's about what happens after the flames are out.  Purchase the book After The Fire that we sourced for this episode here: https://a.co/d/08OUjIBm or watch the documentary on Tubi. The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  SOURCES: After the Fire: A True Story of Friendship and Survival (Robin Gaby Fisher) • Back Bay Books / Little, Brown and Company • 2008 (paperback ed. 2010) After the Fire: A True Story of Heroes & Cowards (dir. Guido Verweyen) • Documentary • 2013 • Featuring Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos “Suits filed in Seton Hall dorm fire” • Arizona Daily Sun • Jan 19, 2002 https://azdailysun.com/suits-filed-in-seton-hall-dorm-fire/article_46018ce6-ff78-5daa-b309-879a91f2501e.html “Experts for defense fault Seton Hall in fatal dorm fire” • Chicago Tribune • Aug 18, 2006 (updated Aug 21, 2021) https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/08/18/experts-for-defense-fault-seton-hall-in-fatal-dorm-fire/ “University community reflects 25 years after the Boland Hall fire” (Thomas Canela) • The Setonian • Feb 27, 2025 https://www.thesetonian.com/article/2025/02/25-years-after-boland-fire “Parole denied for 2 who set Seton Hall dorm fire that killed 3 students in 2000” (David Porter, AP) • tucson.com • Apr 1, 2008 https://tucson.com/news/national/article_ddddebb6-d3b8-554c-85fb-0aa0e6cf0c12.html “After the fire: Seton Hall students tell story” (Greg Watry) • New Jersey Herald • Apr 22, 2015 (updated Apr 25, 2015) https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2015/04/23/after-fire-seton-hall-students/4043405007/ “Seton Hall Arsonists Get 5 Years” • CBS News • Jan 26, 2007 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seton-hall-arsonists-get-5-years/ “Three Die in Dormitory Fire at Seton Hall University” (John J. Goldman) • Los Angeles Times • Jan 20, 2000 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-20-mn-55831-story.html “Seton Hall Dorm Arsonist Out on Parole” (Tamara Vostok) • NBC Philadelphia • May 6, 2009 https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/seton-hall-dorm-arsonist/1881069/ “2 Students Charged with Setting Fatal Dorm Fire 3 Years Ago at Seton Hall U.” (Jeffrey R. Young) • The Chronicle of Higher Education • Jun 13, 2003 https://www.chronicle.com/article/2-students-charged-with-setting-fatal-dorm-fire-3-years-ago-at-seton-hall-u/ “Police stage alcohol raid in dorm-fire investigation” • Orlando Sentinel • Feb 21, 2000 (updated Oct 27, 2018) https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/02/21/police-stage-alcohol-raid-in-dorm-fire-investigation/ “Seton Hall dorm arsonist gets parole” (Bryan T. Murray / The Star-Ledger) • nj.com • Mar 25, 2009 https://www.nj.com/news/2009/03/seton_hall_dorm_arsonist_gets.html “Students charged years after dorm fire” • Tampa Bay Times • Jun 13, 2003 (updated Sept 1, 2005) https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2003/06/13/students-charged-years-after-dorm-fire/ “Murder Charges In Deadly Dorm Fire” (Dan Collins) • CBS News • Jun 13, 2003 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/murder-charges-in-deadly-dorm-fire/ “Students go on trial for killer dorm fire” (Emanuella Grinberg / Court TV) • CNN • Nov 14, 2006 https://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/11/14/student.arson/ “Grand Jury Misconduct Alleged in Seton Hall Dorm Fire Prosecution” • law.com • May 23, 2005 https://www.law.com/article/almID/900005429568/?slreturn=20260222213434 “3 Seton Hall Funerals Held” • CBS News • Jan 19, 2000 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/3-seton-hall-funerals-held/

Episode 100 In Part 2 of Domestic Detonation, we move deeper into the investigation and unravel how a domestic violence case escalated into a coordinated bombing plot that nearly claimed multiple lives. As investigators began connecting the devices, forensic evidence and witness testimony painted a chilling picture of planning, coercion, and control — revealing just how far one person was willing to go to keep a partner from leaving. We explore the forensic evidence that helped build the case, including tool mark comparisons, and discuss the strengths and limitations of these techniques in the broader context of modern forensic science. We also walk through the critical moments that prevented additional bombs from being delivered, highlighting how coordination between investigators and rapid communication helped stop further attacks before they could occur. This case is a stark reminder of how domestic violence can escalate and how manipulation and coercive control can lead to extreme violence. Buy Burn Boston Burn by Wayne M. Miller: https://a.co/d/ipCuGL2 Buy Bang Boom Burn by Wayne M. Miller: https://a.co/d/a2EACYf The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  Miller, Wayne M. Bang Boom Burn: Explosive True Crime Gun, Bombing, and Arson Cases from a Federal Agent's Career. AuthorHouse, 2021. ISBN 978-1-7333403-5-9. Craig, Gary. “Christmas package bomber who killed 5 in New York dies in prison.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Updated Nov. 14, 2024. “His mouth got him in trouble.” Associated Press, published in The Roanoke Times, Dec. 31, 1993 (Virginia Tech newspaper archive). United States of America v. Michael T. Stevens, 83 F.3d 60 (2d Cir. 1996). Justia. Van Biema, David. “Death on Delivery.” TIME. Jan. 10, 1994. “A Conviction in Case of 5 Deaths by Bombs.” The New York Times. Apr. 1, 1995. (Accessed via Murderpedia; direct link not captured.) “Jury Is Seated in Upstate Mail Bombing.” The New York Times. Mar. 7, 1995. (Accessed via Murderpedia; direct link not captured.) Van Gelder, Lawrence. “Plea Bargain in Mail Bombings That Killed 5 Upstate.” The New York Times. Feb. 9, 1995. (Accessed via Murderpedia; direct link not captured.) “How Detectives Caught the New York Serial Bomber.” Real Responders (YouTube). Posted Feb. 24, 2020. “N.Y. bombing plot may have taken shape as long as year ago.” Tampa Bay Times. Published Jan. 2, 1994; updated Oct. 6, 2005.

Episode 99 Some crimes are impulsive. This one wasn't. In December 1993, six bombs were delivered across upstate New York in less than ninety minutes. Five people were killed. One survived by pure chance. Another device failed to detonate. And one bomb was unknowingly driven around the region in the back of a courier van before police could stop it. The victims weren't politicians. They weren't business rivals. They weren't part of an organized crime war. They were a family. In this episode, we begin breaking down Domestic Detonation—a coordinated bombing campaign driven not by ideology or profit, but by control. According to investigators, the targets shared one connection: they were the support system of a woman trying to leave a volatile relationship. Part 1 focuses on the human story and the investigation: The victims and the nearly identical package bombs How investigators realized these attacks were connected Why one woman was spared while the rest of her family was targeted The early suspects—and why nothing was as simple as it first appeared The unsettling role of loyalty, manipulation, and obsession in escalating violence We'll also introduce the two men at the center of the case—and the red flags investigators couldn't ignore. In Part 2, we'll shift into the forensic evidence: How investigators linked the bombs What the explosive components revealed The confession—and the questions surrounding it How forensic reconstruction unraveled the plot piece by piece Buy Burn Boston Burn by Wayne M. Miller: https://a.co/d/ipCuGL2 Buy Bang Boom Burn by Wayne M. Miller: https://a.co/d/a2EACYf The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  Miller, Wayne M. Bang Boom Burn: Explosive True Crime Gun, Bombing, and Arson Cases from a Federal Agent's Career. AuthorHouse, 2021. ISBN 978-1-7333403-5-9. Craig, Gary. “Christmas package bomber who killed 5 in New York dies in prison.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Updated Nov. 14, 2024. “His mouth got him in trouble.” Associated Press, published in The Roanoke Times, Dec. 31, 1993 (Virginia Tech newspaper archive). United States of America v. Michael T. Stevens, 83 F.3d 60 (2d Cir. 1996). Justia. Van Biema, David. “Death on Delivery.” TIME. Jan. 10, 1994. “A Conviction in Case of 5 Deaths by Bombs.” The New York Times. Apr. 1, 1995. (Accessed via Murderpedia; direct link not captured.) “Jury Is Seated in Upstate Mail Bombing.” The New York Times. Mar. 7, 1995. (Accessed via Murderpedia; direct link not captured.) Van Gelder, Lawrence. “Plea Bargain in Mail Bombings That Killed 5 Upstate.” The New York Times. Feb. 9, 1995. (Accessed via Murderpedia; direct link not captured.) “How Detectives Caught the New York Serial Bomber.” Real Responders (YouTube). Posted Feb. 24, 2020. “N.Y. bombing plot may have taken shape as long as year ago.” Tampa Bay Times. Published Jan. 2, 1994; updated Oct. 6, 2005.

Episode 98 In 1999, Garland “Butch” Martin was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Marcia Poole, and her two young children, Brady and Kristin, and was sentenced on three counts of capital murder in Midland, Texas. The State told a compelling story: domestic abuse, accelerant-driven fire, pre-fire blunt force trauma, and motive. A jury believed it. Twenty-four years later, Butch Martin was exonerated. In Part Two of this two-part series, April breaks down what the jury didn't hear: conflicting fire science, flawed forensic anthropology testimony, discarded physical evidence, and the physics of fire that contradict the State's entire arson-murder theory. We examine the defense, the appellate process, modern NFPA-aligned fire investigation principles, and how the work of Dr. Gerald Hurst and John Lentini unraveled the narrative. Because before you can call something arson-murder, you have to prove arson — and in this case, there is zero credible evidence that this fire was intentionally set. In this episode we cover: The defense's accidental fire theory Conflicting chemical analysis (Norpar & “deparaffinated kerosene”) What Dr. Gerald Hurst and John Lentini found years later Why NFPA 921 rejects “pour pattern” folklore The missing extension cord and freezer on the back porch 40 mph winds and the physics problem for the State's origin theory Cerebral edema vs. “blunt force trauma” Anthropologist vs. medical examiner expertise boundaries The appellate court's reasoning for exoneration How wrongful arson convictions keep happening When you strip away mythology and examine only evidence, this case collapses. Every credible data point points to an accidental fire — and an innocent man lost 24 years of his life. The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  Sources: Please see the source list from Episode 97. 

Episode 97 In this first episode of our two-part series, we go to Midland, Texas, where a fatal house fire claimed the lives of Marcia Pool and two children, Brady and Kristin. In the aftermath, investigators concluded the blaze was intentionally set — and they pointed to one man: Butch Martin. The state built its theory around burn patterns, accelerant findings, eyewitness accounts, and interpretations of fire behavior that were considered reliable at the time, but would later come under scrutiny as fire folklore. Claims about liquid accelerants, pour patterns, and “arson indicators” formed the backbone of the prosecution's case. In Part 1, we cover: The timeline leading up to the fire How investigators interpreted burn patterns and damage The prosecution's theory of how and why the fire was set Eyewitness testimony that shaped the narrative The role accelerant testing played in the case This episode focuses on the fire itself and the state's case. It sets the stage for a larger discussion about how outdated investigative practices — including the interpretation of burn patterns during flashover and the assumed meaning of “pour patterns” — contributed to arson convictions during this era. Next week in Part 2, we take a critical look at the defense, the evolution of modern fire science, and the post-conviction efforts that challenged the original findings. The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  Sources:  Texas Tech University — Fearless (S4 Episode 4) “Butch Martin and Allison Clayton | Part 1” (Published October 2, 2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW3ASCLIu9s Texas Tech University — Fearless (S4 Episode 5) “Butch Martin and Allison Clayton | Part 2” (Published October 9, 2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uH2sK2_10E Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng — Episode #339 “Maggie Freleng with Garland Leon ‘Butch' Martin” (Published March 6, 2023) https://www.firstalert7.com/2024/05/23/midland-man-exonerated-after-23-years-prison/ International Network of Innocent Arson Defendants (NIAD). “Butch Martin.” https://www.niad.info/Butch_Martin.html “Judge Recommends Vacating Conviction for Midland Man Serving Life in Prison.” NewsWest9 (November 2, 2022). https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/judge-recommends-vacating-conviction-for-midland-man/513-81762bbe-303c-4289-b63d-6ad0a042f099 NewsWest9 (YouTube). “Friends of the late Marcia Pool recall alleged abuse from ‘Butch' Martin.” (Posted May 23, 2022). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPvq0AMbsl4 “Beaumont Jury Finds Man Guilty of Pushing Painkillers.” Houston Chronicle (July 1, 2010). https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Beaumont-jury-finds-man-guilty-of-pushing-728398.php Ratemds.com. Physician Reviews for Dr. David Hobbit (reviews as recent as 2015). https://www.ratemds.com

Episode 96 On December 31, 1986, just hours before Puerto Rico would ring in the New Year, flames tore through the luxurious Dupont Plaza Hotel and Casino in San Juan. What began as a labor dispute escalated into one of the deadliest hotel fires in U.S. history, killing 97 people and injuring more than 140. In the aftermath, investigators would uncover arson, negligence, ignored safety recommendations, a chaotic evacuation, and a legal battle that reshaped fire codes across the hospitality industry. In this episode, we examine: The labor tensions and strike that set the stage for disaster The timeline of the fire and how it spread so rapidly How smoke and toxic gases became the primary killers Failures in life safety systems, egress, and emergency planning The investigation that quickly identified arson Criminal charges against arsonists Massive civil litigation and code reforms that followed Lessons learned in the context of other hotel/casino fires of the era The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  Sources:  Video & Documentary Sources Dupont Plaza Hotel Arson Investigation. Señor Onion's Archives. YouTube, April 13, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JyUjUoX_so Dupont Plaza Hotel Arson of 1986. Señor Onion's Archives. YouTube, October 21, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJsFLgxuDJ8 Government / Technical / Legal Reports Nelson, Harold E. “An Engineering Analysis of the Early Stages of Fire Development — The Fire at the Dupont Plaza Hotel and Casino — December 31, 1986.” NBSIR 87-3560, National Bureau of Standards, Center for Fire Research, U.S. Department of Commerce, April 1987. Levy, Harold M. “The Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire Litigation: A Case Study in Cooperative Defense.” Alternatives to the High Cost of Litigation, Vol. 7, No. 12, December 1989, pp. 215–233. José Francisco Rivera-Lopez, Plaintiff, Appellant, v. United States of America, Defendant, Appellee. U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 4 F.3d 982, September 15, 1993. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/4/982/525384/ (Note: First Circuit Local Rule 36.2(b)6 — Unpublished opinions may be cited only in related cases.) News & Contemporary Coverage (1987) “Teamsters Dispute with Dupont Plaza Dates Back Four Months.” UPI Archives, January 13, 1987. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/13/Teamsters-dispute-with-Dupont-Plaza-dates-back-four-months/7070215305413/ Brossy, Julie. “A Dupont Plaza Bar Boy Was Charged Today With…” UPI Archives, January 14, 1987. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/14/A-Dupont-Plaza-bar-boy-was-charged-today-with/8362537598800/ Hernandez, Moises. “Suspect in Hotel Fire Was Honored for Saving ‘Many Lives.'” UPI Archives, January 14, 1987. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/14/Suspect-in-hotel-fire-was-honored-for-saving-many-lives/2708537598800/ Gaulin, Edward J. “Defendants Plead Guilty in Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire.” UPI Archives, April 24, 1987. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/04/24/Defendants-plead-guilty-in-Dupont-Plaza-Hotel-fire/8801546235200/ Wilentz, Amy. “A New Year We'll Never Forget.” TIME, January 12, 1987. https://time.com/archive/6708028/a-new-year-well-never-forget/ Features, Retrospectives & Later Reporting Tepfer, Daniel. “A Vacation in Paradise Turns into Fiery Hell.” CTPost, Updated December 30, 2011. https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/a-vacation-in-paradise-turns-into-fiery-hell-2432149.php Reference / Encyclopedia & Summary Sources Dewey, Joseph. “Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire.” EBSCO Knowledge Advantage Research Starters, 2022. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/dupont-plaza-hotel-fire “Dupont Plaza Hotel Arson.” Grokipedia. https://grokipedia.com/page/Dupont_Plaza_Hotel_arson

Episode 95 In 1980, a seemingly unremarkable fire threatened to expose something far more dangerous than arson. What investigators uncovered was a trail that pointed toward an arms pipeline linked directly to the Irish Republican Army, operating quietly while The Troubles raged overseas. At the center of it all was Charles Galant—a small-time thief who never set out to be part of something so vast, but who became the sole link between a suspicious fire and an armory heist that tied someone in his network to the IRA. In this episode of Crime to Burn, we explore: The fire that first drew police attention How investigators connected a local blaze to an international arms network The role of theft, secrecy, and compartmentalization in terrorist operations How Galant's actions exposed vulnerabilities inside a tightly controlled system And how one overlooked incident nearly unraveled an entire pipeline This is a story about unintended consequences, criminal blind spots, and how fire once again became the catalyst that revealed what was never meant to be seen. Because even the most disciplined organizations fail at their weakest link. Buy Burn Boston Burn by Wayne M. Miller: https://a.co/d/ipCuGL2 Buy Bang Boom Burn by Wayne M. Miller: https://a.co/d/a2EACYf The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.  Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments: Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes. Listener discretion is advised. Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.  Sources:  Miller, Wayne M. Bang Boom Burn: Explosive True Crime Gun, Bombing, and Arson Cases from a Federal Agent's Career. AuthorHouse, 2021. ISBN 978-1-7333403-5-9. Gagnon, Daniel A. “Danvers Armory Robbery, 1976.” Specters of Salem Village, March 17, 2019. https://spectersofsalemvillage.com/2019/03/17/danvers-armory-robbery-1976/ “Official Irish Republican Army.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Irish_Republican_Army “Frank Salemme.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Salemme  

“I'm a big believer in consuming what you sell and practicing what you preach…it's a useful step on the path to understanding what's possible and for growing in the skill set of standing on stage in front of any number of people that makes your body react and become nervous.”In this episode of The Speaker Lab Podcast, host Grant Baldwin sits down with Melanie Curtis, a world record-holding professional skydiver, seasoned coach, and sought-after keynote speaker. Their conversation explores Melanie's unconventional career path, which began in the finance industry before she took the extraordinary leap into professional skydiving, amassing over twelve thousand jumps, and then eventually public speaking.Melanie opens up about the challenges she faced along the way, including imposter syndrome, persistent anxiety, and the internal doubts that can hold back even the most driven professionals. She reflects on why each stage of her journey was essential and shares the turning points that nudged her toward treating public speaking as a serious business, rather than a side endeavor.Throughout their discussion, you'll hear advice on finding your target audience, building meaningful connections in both women-centric organizations and male-dominated industries, and leveraging storytelling to transform your message. Grant and Melanie also dig into the emotional side of entrepreneurship, the highs of big wins, the lows of self-doubt, and the importance of having a strong support network.Whether you're contemplating your first speech or looking to scale your speaking business, Melanie's story will inspire you to trust your intuition, stay persistent, and redefine what's possible for your own speaking journey!You'll learn:Using speaking for marketing a businessOvercoming resistance, anxiety, and limiting beliefsThe importance of high-level coaching and support systemsHow to practice speaking via Facebook/Instagram livesGradual desensitization to rejection, visibility, and performance pressureTo rely on support networks during discouraging timesDesigning personal boundaries for travel and gigsDistinguishing between type one and type two funAnd much, much more!“If I didn't learn how to manage my fears, how to work with my fears and anxieties, my insecurities, I imagine I would have lived a really small life.”Episode ResourcesMelanie's WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“The most fulfilling creativity is the kind that feels like you're standing naked in public.” — Melanie CurtisThis episode is your invitation to explore the meaning of courageous self-expression. I'm joined by Melanie Curtis, professional skydiver, keynote speaker, and life coach. Melanie shares the BTS of her creative journey including: Skydiving naked, building an art installation, and how she uses psychedelics for deeper healing and sharper creative insight.She also opens up about what it means to share from the scar, not the wound. Why risk is a non-negotiable in her creative process. And how “being naked” is less about shock and more about truth.Melanie reminds you that your most meaningful work comes when you let go of how it will land, and make it anyway. Creativity isn't a luxury, it's a necessary to nourish your soul. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create. Get the full show notes & transcript here.xo CarlaPS: See the full post + share your thoughts on SubstackJoin My Community:WebsiteInstagramSubstackDisclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

Host Anusha Harid-Paoletti sits down with author, activist, and world-record skydiver Melanie Curtis to reframe what fear really is—and how to act anyway. Melanie shares the mental playbook she uses from aircraft door to boardroom: identify fear's signal, interrupt it with breath, name the sentence you're believing, and choose a simple, confidence-anchored reframe. She opens up about healing and vulnerability (and why both are skills you can practice), then takes us behind her documentary that parallels the 80-woman, 200-mph world record with the grit of the women's suffrage movement. For parents, educators, and young women, Melanie offers ways to cultivate safe support, permission to care about what lights you up, and a path to real resilience. We close with what's next: fewer jumps, more stages, and a mission to champion women and girls by speaking boldly in every room.Thank you to our sponsors Gies College of Business Want to be considered for the podcast? Send an email to ashton@ellevatenetwork.com with your topic focus and a short bio.To learn more about Ellevate Network and how we're building a community that supports women+ at every stage of their careers, visit ellevatenetwork.com or reach out to info@ellevatenetwork.com.

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From the archive - This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant. Melanie Curtis is a coach, speaker, author and professional skydiver with over 11,000 jumps and 26 years in the sport. Melanie is a passionate entrepreneur and voice in personal development. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Be brave. Break down. Crack up. Be free. 2. Do your best to interrupt your auto-pilot. We tend to not think about intentionally reflecting on what values, ideas, or fears are driving our choices and actions. 3. Preparation is awesome, but it's not great when preparation seems like perfectionism, and then ends up keeping us from ever launching whatever it is. Sign up and get 100 dollars off on a sample session with Melanie - Gift for Fire Nation Sponsors ThriveTime Show - Attend the world's highest rated business growth workshop taught personally by Clay Clark and now featuring Football Star, Tim Tebow, and President Trump's son, Eric Trump, at ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire. Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.com/host. Public - Build a multi-asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more. Go to Public.com/fire to fund your account in five minutes or less. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. Alpha is an experimental AI tool powered by GPT-4. Its output may be inaccurate and is not investment advice. Public makes no guarantees about its accuracy or reliability - verify independently before use. Rate as of 6/24/25. APY is variable and subject to change. Terms and Conditions apply.

Back in the can to talk about his continuing adventures in all things airsports, paragliding, and more, the one and only Jason Moledzki! Skydiving beginnings aren't always blue skies and sunshine as Jason Moledzki can tell you. Sometimes the drive to make that first jump can come from a truly dark place, but it was a place that Jason found the drive and determination to escape through his love of skydiving and BASE. A multiple world champion dozens of times over with world records and accomplishments in competition too long to list, he and his crew were a major driving force in the advancement not only of canopy piloting and its flight out of infancy, but in competition itself. As the co-founder and creative director of Flight-1, Jason has been instrumental in the complete overhaul of canopy instruction both in the civilian and military skydiving world with incredible student numbers going through their courses each year. on top of that, he is the co-creator/host of his own podcast called Trust the Journey with Melanie Curtis offering inspiration and insight along our journey deep within the Lunatic Fringe.  

Send Us Feedback via TextMy guest today is one of the most recognized skydivers and BASE jumpers on planet earth. Say the word “JayMo” in any skydiving community and they know you're referring to Jason Moledzki. Since making his first static line jump from a Cessna 182 at Skydive Toronto in 1994, Jason has amassed an unparalleled resumé that includes seven world titles, eleven world records, and over sixty gold medals in canopy piloting. Jason is a foundational member of the PD Factory Team a co-founder of Flight-1, the quintessential gold standard in the sport for canopy training for the military and civilian jumpers alike and has literally traveled the world because of skydiving. Jason has also amassed more than 1,400 BASE jumps and has been featured in multiple documentaries including the most recent and awe-inspiring film FLY currently out on Hulu. Jason is also the co-host of the podcast Trust The Journey with Melanie Curtis. He is also an artist, a self-mastery coach and an entrepreneur which includes his latest business venture, Paraglide Moab. Jason has lived multiple lives in just 50 years and those experiences have shaped him as a man with infinite wisdom from how be a peak performer to helping others live more full and present lives. MEDIA VIDEO: PD Factory Team - Making of a DreamVIDEO: SkyJumpers MovieVIDEO: FLYVIDEO: Jason Moledzki on DownsizingPODCAST: Trust The Journey

In this episode, Joe interviews Melanie Curtis: world record professional skydiver, keynote speaker, coach, co-host of the Trust the Journey podcast, and author of How to Fly: Life Lessons From a Professional Skydiver. Curtis shares her journey from taking her first transformative leap out of an airplane to becoming a leader in skydiving, public speaking, and now, the integration of psychedelics into personal growth. She discusses the parallels between skydiving and working with psychedelics – most notably in the idea of leaping into the unknown, trusting the universe, and in the potential that can be unlocked after you've come back down to earth. While relatively new to the psychedelic space, she stresses the importance of sharing your story and opening up dialogues, no matter how small you think your voice may be. She talks about: Her early psilocybin journeys and recent ayahuasca experiences How she came out of the psychedelic closet to her Mother, and learning of the power of small steps and trusting the universe Realizing how her Father's behavior affected her, and how it has made her more connected to her femininity and other women The power of confidence and how much better we'd all be if the fear of humiliation wasn't so prominent in our lives and more! For links, head to the show notes page. 

Go Premium! Exclusive bonus episodes, 100% ad-free, full back catalog, and more! Free 7-Day Trial of 5 AM Miracle Premium . Episode Summary Are you ready to jump? Melanie Curtis has jumped out of an airplane more than 11,000 times. What have you done today? Kidding aside, it takes a lot of courage to do something difficult, but there's more to success and fulfillment than learning how to skydive without having a panic attack. In this week's episode of The 5 AM Miracle Podcast I speak with Melanie Curtis, author of How to Fly, about fear, courage, starting over, trying new things, trying hard things, and just trying in general. It's a great conversation you don't want to miss! . Episode Show Notes jeffsanders.com/421 . Perks from Our Sponsors Yahoo Finance → Get comprehensive financial news and analysis from the #1 brand behind every great investor Claritin → Go to Claritin.com right now for a discount so you can Live Claritin Clear Shopify → Grow your business no matter what stage you're in. Sign up for a $1/month trial . Learn More About The 5 AM Miracle The 5 AM Miracle Podcast . Free Productivity Resources + Email Updates! Join The 5 AM Club! . The 5 AM Miracle Book Audiobook, Paperback, and Kindle . Connect on Social Media Facebook Group • Instagram • LinkedIn . About Jeff Sanders Read Jeff's Bio . © 5 AM Miracle Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode SummaryI speak with Melanie Curtis, author of How to Fly, about fear, courage, starting over, trying new things, trying hard things, and just trying in general. It's a great conversation you don't want to miss!.Episode Show Notesjeffsanders.com/536a. Go Premium!Exclusive bonus episodes, 100% ad-free, full back catalog, and more!Free 7-Day Trial of 5 AM Miracle Premium.Perks from Our SponsorsShopify → Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/miracle.Learn More About The 5 AM MiracleThe 5 AM Miracle Podcast.Free Productivity Resources + Email Updates!Join The 5 AM Club!.The 5 AM Miracle BookAudiobook, Paperback, and Kindle.Connect on Social MediaFacebook Group • Instagram • LinkedIn • Twitter.About Jeff SandersRead Jeff's Bio.© 5 AM Miracle Media, LLC

When Melanie Curtis was working at an investment bank, she had the urge to pursue bigger things in life. Therefore, she decided to give skydiving a try and eventually became a life coach. In this episode, she joins Jennifer Cassetta to share her inspiring journey of personal development. Melanie talks about being in the financial industry, to jumping out of an airplane more than 12,000 times professionally, to guiding people in unlocking their fullest potential. She also opens up about getting through her most painful times by trying different healing modalities, working around anxious attachments, and handling fearlessness in life.

Meet Melanie Curtis: world record skydiver, leader of the Highlight Pro Skydiving team,  life coach, author, podcast host,  and speaker.  Melanie boasts 12,000  jumps and recognition from top media publications. She excels in coaching peak performance and personal freedom, inspiring many towards self-growth. Her story is a testament to passion, dedication, and the pursuit of human potential. Show NotesAn Anxious Young GirlA Life Changing First JumpBecoming a Skydiver in AustraliaWhat Is A Healing Journey? "F" Word BreakthroughPlant MedicineProject 19Taking a Break and Coming BackOrigin of Highlight Pro SkydivingA Crossroads MomentMel's Media LinksWebsite - MelanieCurtis.comBook - How To Fly Book - With Our Whole Broken HeartsAudio Book - How To FlyPodcast - Trust The JourneyCoaching - ProgramsTeam - Highlight Pro SkydivingCommunity - Virtual Skydiving CenterYouTube - Melanie CurtisJOIN OUR COMMUNITYLove the show? Help support it by becoming a member of the 20 Minute Call Community! Supporting the show gives access to a private group page where you can:- suggest who you'd like to hear on the podcast- learn what interviews will be upcoming- submit questions for future guests-receive show swagJoin our community and support the pod!Link: patreon.com/The20MinuteCallPodcastADVERTISEAre you interested in partnering with the 20 Minute Call as an advertiser? Let's work together! E-mail us at podcast@beyondmarketing.xyz

As business owners and entrepreneurs many of us have an uncontrollable drive to pave our own way, and we want to have an impact on the world. We answer the calling, and sometimes our personal lives and well-being aren't prioritized. What's easy to overlook is, the personal side of our lives can be what's holding us back professionally. That's when a life coach can be a huge asset. But how do you know when a life coach is something you need and how do you find the right one for you? Our special guest Melanie Curtis from How to Fly, Inc. today has all the answers.

Hello, family! Tune in for a special solocast with Mel! In this episode, Mel shares stories about the deep personal work and transformational growth she experienced through working with various plant medicines. This share is a reflection of Mel's decision to become a public voice in service to sharing about the deep healing potential of […]

Melanie Curtis is a professional skydiver who led a group of  80 women skydivers from 22 countries to make history by setting a new world record: the largest all-women head-down (“vertical”) skydive. Named Project 19 after the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote, the spectacle celebrated women's rights and highlighted women's issues.Though they aimed for a record of 100, this fantastic team still got it done (breaking the 2016 record of 65). They took 29 jumps in total, including practice and warm-ups. The ladies pulled off the only successful skydiving world record this year; there were two others mixed men/women.Melanie has completed over 12,000 jumps to date and is a sought-after speaker and consultant. Melanie also co-hosts her own podcast, Trust the Journey with Jason Moledzki, which focuses on creating conscious connections through raw and vulnerable sharing. She is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Women's Skydiving Network and co-founded the Highlight Pro Skydiving Team, an all-female demonstration jump team.Learn more and follow Melanie: https://womensskydivingnetwork.org/https://www.instagram.com/project19_skydiving/https://twitter.com/womensskydivinghttps://www.facebook.com/project19womensverticalrecord/https://uspa.org/https://www.instagram.com/melaniecurtis11/?hl=enOur Sponsors:* Check out Green Chef and use my code asp250 for a great deal: https://www.greenchef.com/asp250* Check out Oris Watches: https://www.oris.ch* Check out Roark and use my code ASP15 for a great deal: https://roark.com/* Check out Shopify and use my code asp for a great deal: https://www.shopify.com/aspSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/adventure-sports-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Skydiving beginnings aren't always blue skies and sunshine as Jason Moledzki can tell you. Sometimes the drive to make that first jump can come from a truly dark place, but it was a place that Jason found the drive and determination to escape through his love of skydiving and BASE. A multiple world champion dozens of times over with world records and accomplishments in competition too long to list, he and his crew were a major driving force in the advancement not only of canopy piloting and its flight out of infancy, but in competition itself. As the co-founder and creative director of Flight-1, Jason has been instrumental in the complete overhaul of canopy instruction both in the civilian and military skydiving world with incredible student numbers going through their courses each year. on top of that, he is the co-creator/host of his own podcast called Trust the Journey with Melanie Curtis offering inspiration and insight along our journey deep within the Lunatic Fringe.  

Melanie Curtis is on a mission to inspire women and girls to live bold brave lives of their own design, elevate gender equality and motivate social impact. She uses voice as a leader in skydiving and personal and professional development to design and elevate conversations of equality and social justice. As an author, podcast host, and professional skydiver she has been tapped as an expert in Forbes, Fast Company, Thrive Global, on CBS Evening News, CBS Sunday Morning, NBC Know Your Value, Masters of Scale, and more. Mel has jumped out of an airplane 12,000 times. She has competed at the highest levels in the sport of skydiving and has set world records with her team. Melanie is a sought-after speaker and consultant, teaching techniques of peak performance, teamwork and being brave as our access to being free. In this episode, we unpack how being brave can be an access to being free. How to have a new relationship to fear. Why it's important to 'do the work' Ways to 'answer the call' Live a life by design Unplug from indoctrination And much more You can find Mel and her work here Website - http://melaniecurtis.com/ Podcast - http://trustthejourney.today/ Here is a link to Mel's view of the recent 80-way all-women head-down world record https://youtu.be/HuZpg-Wae-k **I dug up my #300th jump (free-flying) with Mel and her friends when we first met. Click here to watch Also, here's an invitation to join me for Life By Design in my private studio with 18 other brave souls 

Welcome to Episode 100 of When Women Fly! To celebrate we go back to where it all began,  Episode 1 with skydiver, life coach and writer - the amazing Melanie Curtis. True success—the kind you can sustain over time—demands a different relationship with ambition and action. Mel takes a deep dive into serving a higher purpose and how that gives meaning to life, a healthier, more sustainable model rooted in elevating the human condition.  We reflect on the last 2 years, current lives and future goals. Melanie Curtis has jumped out of an airplane over 12,000 times, written three books, and co-founded the all-women Highlight Pro Skydiving Team. She's also a vulnerable person who gets nervous in front of a new crowd, has experienced extreme heartbreak, and struggled for a long time to find a sense of belonging within her home community. Melanie is a sought-after life coach, podcast host, speaker, author, professional skydiver, and entrepreneur. She is a champion for growth, healing, and inclusion and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Women's Skydiving Network nonprofit.In this episode, Sylvia and Melanie talk about:- How uncontrollable situations teach you agility, compassion, and resilience - Using skydiving to elevate women, amplify ideas, and inspire others- Showing up to new places and listening to different viewpoints- How to decide if something is worth your time and effort- Learning how to spot and listen to your intuition- The importance of identifying and eliminating limiting beliefs - Melanie's book How to Fly: Life Lessons from a Professional Skydiver- Embracing the unexpected- Leaving your zone of confidence to grow- Melanie's struggle to feel at home in her community and how she overcame itMelanie Curtis is a sought-after consultant, coach, speaker, author, and entrepreneur with over 12,000 skydives under her belt. She is also the co-host of the Trust the Journey podcast, Executive Director of the Women's Skydiving Network nonprofit, and co-founder of the Highlight Pro Skydiving Team. As a leader in skydiving and professional development, Melanie has set world records and been mentioned in Forbes, Thrive Global, and CBS Sunday Morning. She has also authored three books: One Positive Thought Can Change Everything, With Our Whole Broken Hearts, and How to Fly.Resources Mentioned:How to Fly, by Melanie Curtis: https://www.amazon.com/How-Fly-Lessons-Professional-Skydiver/dp/B097RZ9C93  Mark Brand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-brand-92916867/?originalSubdomain=ca  Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Pray-Love-Elizabeth-Gilbert-audiobook/dp/B000FDFY9O Connect with Melanie: Website: www.melaniecurtis.com Instagram: @melaniecurtis11LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-curtis-74ab3540/  Trust the Journey podcast: : https://trustthejourney.today/Stay Connected:Drop Us A Message on PodInbox: https://podinbox.com/whenwomenflyEmail: hello@whenwomenfly.comWebsite: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/Socials: @whenwomenfly

Your host, Devonee Thaxton, is joined by daring life coach, speaker, author and professional skydiver, Melanie Curtis. Melanie helps high performers find their personal form of bravery to live a bold and brave life of their own design. As a leader and known voice in both skydiving and personal development, Melanie has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Thrive Global, on CBS Sunday Morning, Masters of Scale, and more. She has authored three books, and co-hosts the Trust the Journey Podcast. Melanie is the current Executive Director of the Women's skydiving network nonprofit and with that co-founded an all-female demonstration jump team named Highlight Pro Skydiving Team. In this episode, she speaks about how skydiving has created an excellent metaphor for life being that fear isn't telling the whole truth, and the possibilities are there if we can overcome the fear by being prepared. To learn more about Melanie's work, visit https://melaniecurtis.com/ (https://melaniecurtis.com/). If you'd like to be a guest on Savvy, Booked, & Blessed, click https://podcast.prosavvyas.com/podcast-guest (HERE.)

1226 - Structured Goal Setting with Melanie Curtis' Melanie Curtis

Whether you're in business already or entertaining the idea of launching your business idea - we're confident that you have or are currently experiencing fear. In this episode, Nikki interviews professional skydiver and life coach Melanie Curtis about fear and how to take action in the face of it. You can learn more about Melanie here. https://melaniecurtis.com

Melanie Curtis was a successful investment banker, then left it all to pursue a career as a professional skydiver. Since that time, she has made over 11,000 jumps, wrote the book “How To Fly”, and coached and mentored leaders and individuals across the world. In this episode, she talks her journey and the lessons she learned along the way as well as the power that comes from caring to listening to your voice and being courageous in your self-expression. Her energy, genuineness, empathy and desire to help others is refreshing and relevant. You can learn more about Melanie at: melaniecurtis.com #skydiving #melaniecurtis #mentalhealth #HowToFly #Leadership #Coaching #BuildingRelationships

Melanie Curtis is a life coach, an intensely driven entrepreneur, the author of three books, and a comically authentic speaker. She has also jumped out of an airplane over 11,000 times! Melanie shares insights from her exhilarating adventures, both in the air and on the ground.

Melanie Curtis joins Dave and Stump Mel discusses her book How to Fly: Life Lessons from a Professional Skydiver.   The Stumps celebrate their 300th and 3000th jumps together Discussion on Project 19 and the Highlight Pro Skydiving Team A crazy cutaway recovery story from Sebastian  Discussion on trackers for recovering cutaways Safety First with Brian Germain discusses downsizing  Pic of the Week - Lee Barraclough swoops the pond at Sydney Skydivers.  Photo by Craig Garbutt. Feature Interview - Pete Allum

September is #RecoveryMonth - a whole month dedicated to celebrating the gains made by those in recovery from addiction.Addiction does not just harm the person that is directly affected - the families and loved ones are often also left traumatised. This week in Trauma Thrivers we talk about the impact of addiction and trauma on the family. This week I'm joined by Melanie Curtis, Victoria Seed, and Liz Martin as we discuss addiction, how it affects the family, and share our insights and most importantly, how you can help! To listen to more interviews like this, join my Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/traumathrivers

In my latest interview, I'm thrilled to be joined by Professor Stephen Porges - author of the Polyvagal theory, and our regular co-host, Melanie Curtis.Stephen has totally revolutionised the way that we look at mental health, by understanding the nervous system, and safety within the body.If you don't know about Polyvagal theory, then this is your chance to tune in and find out more. When you understand the Polyvagal theory it simplifies everything to do with trauma and how people's neurophysiology reacts - trying to bring safety into our systems is paramount.I'm so delighted that Stephen joined us and shared his wisdom and insights to help us understand his theory - I hope you get loads out of it!Remember you can use our voucher "TT50" to get a 50% discount off The Master Series - Trauma Edition.www.themasterseries.com