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2 episodes with sally smith
2 episodes with sally smith
Since it was seized from the Knights Templar in the 14th century, the Inner Temple in London has housed acolytes of a different sort: men (and eventually women) who serve as advocates of the law. Sally Smith spent her legal career—and now is spending her retirement—inside the 15 acres that comprise the Inner Temple, now one of the four Inns of Court. Smith has previously written non-fiction books about historical crimes and legal figures. When she decided to turn her hand to writing fiction, the familiar setting of the Inner Temple was the perfect setting for her new mystery novel, A Case of Mice and Men. Set in 1901, mere months after the death of Queen Victoria, A Case of Mice and Men introduces a new (and very reluctant) sleuth to the literary scene. Sir Gabriel Ward KC is happiest either when holed up in his Inner Temple lodgings with his books, or when making a compelling case in front of the High Court judges. A solitary, particular and cerebral man, Ward is not looking for excitement beyond the intellectual. But he finds it early one morning when he trips over the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England, which has been left on the doorstep of his professional chambers. The ancient privileges afforded to the Inner Temple mean that no policeman is allowed to enter without permission, and an aghast Ward is told he will conduct the investigation himself or be at risk of being kicked out of his lodgings. Unused to the world outside the Temple walls, or of conversing with any women apart from his old nanny or his mother, Ward must stretch himself to discover who killed Lord Norman Dunning. All the while, Ward is also wrestling with a knotty legal issue involving the rights to a bestselling children's book, and will need to exercise all his skills on behalf of his client, the publisher of Millie the Temple Church Mouse. Written by a mysterious author, the book has been a runaway success, bringing throngs of children to the Temple Church and spawning toys, games and an American publishing deal. Now that the author has reportedly surfaced and is demanding her share of the money and control of the intellectual property, what will happen to Millie the Temple Church Mouse? In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Smith and the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles discuss the launch of this new series, which will contain at least three books following Ward's adventures. Smith describes her own career as a barrister, and why she chose to set the series at the beginning of the Edwardian era. She also discusses the issues of class, gender and the complex world within the walls of the Inner Temple.
Since it was seized from the Knights Templar in the 14th century, the Inner Temple in London has housed acolytes of a different sort: men (and eventually women) who serve as advocates of the law. Sally Smith spent her legal career—and now is spending her retirement—inside the 15 acres that comprise the Inner Temple, now one of the four Inns of Court. Smith has previously written non-fiction books about historical crimes and legal figures. When she decided to turn her hand to writing fiction, the familiar setting of the Inner Temple was the perfect setting for her new mystery novel, A Case of Mice and Men. Set in 1901, mere months after the death of Queen Victoria, A Case of Mice and Men introduces a new (and very reluctant) sleuth to the literary scene. Sir Gabriel Ward KC is happiest either when holed up in his Inner Temple lodgings with his books, or when making a compelling case in front of the High Court judges. A solitary, particular and cerebral man, Ward is not looking for excitement beyond the intellectual. But he finds it early one morning when he trips over the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England, which has been left on the doorstep of his professional chambers. The ancient privileges afforded to the Inner Temple mean that no policeman is allowed to enter without permission, and an aghast Ward is told he will conduct the investigation himself or be at risk of being kicked out of his lodgings. Unused to the world outside the Temple walls, or of conversing with any women apart from his old nanny or his mother, Ward must stretch himself to discover who killed Lord Norman Dunning. All the while, Ward is also wrestling with a knotty legal issue involving the rights to a bestselling children's book, and will need to exercise all his skills on behalf of his client, the publisher of Millie the Temple Church Mouse. Written by a mysterious author, the book has been a runaway success, bringing throngs of children to the Temple Church and spawning toys, games and an American publishing deal. Now that the author has reportedly surfaced and is demanding her share of the money and control of the intellectual property, what will happen to Millie the Temple Church Mouse? In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Smith and the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles discuss the launch of this new series, which will contain at least three books following Ward's adventures. Smith describes her own career as a barrister, and why she chose to set the series at the beginning of the Edwardian era. She also discusses the issues of class, gender and the complex world within the walls of the Inner Temple. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Since it was seized from the Knights Templar in the 14th century, the Inner Temple in London has housed acolytes of a different sort: men (and eventually women) who serve as advocates of the law. Sally Smith spent her legal career—and now is spending her retirement—inside the 15 acres that comprise the Inner Temple, now one of the four Inns of Court. Smith has previously written non-fiction books about historical crimes and legal figures. When she decided to turn her hand to writing fiction, the familiar setting of the Inner Temple was the perfect setting for her new mystery novel, A Case of Mice and Men. Set in 1901, mere months after the death of Queen Victoria, A Case of Mice and Men introduces a new (and very reluctant) sleuth to the literary scene. Sir Gabriel Ward KC is happiest either when holed up in his Inner Temple lodgings with his books, or when making a compelling case in front of the High Court judges. A solitary, particular and cerebral man, Ward is not looking for excitement beyond the intellectual. But he finds it early one morning when he trips over the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England, which has been left on the doorstep of his professional chambers. The ancient privileges afforded to the Inner Temple mean that no policeman is allowed to enter without permission, and an aghast Ward is told he will conduct the investigation himself or be at risk of being kicked out of his lodgings. Unused to the world outside the Temple walls, or of conversing with any women apart from his old nanny or his mother, Ward must stretch himself to discover who killed Lord Norman Dunning. All the while, Ward is also wrestling with a knotty legal issue involving the rights to a bestselling children's book, and will need to exercise all his skills on behalf of his client, the publisher of Millie the Temple Church Mouse. Written by a mysterious author, the book has been a runaway success, bringing throngs of children to the Temple Church and spawning toys, games and an American publishing deal. Now that the author has reportedly surfaced and is demanding her share of the money and control of the intellectual property, what will happen to Millie the Temple Church Mouse? In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Smith and the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles discuss the launch of this new series, which will contain at least three books following Ward's adventures. Smith describes her own career as a barrister, and why she chose to set the series at the beginning of the Edwardian era. She also discusses the issues of class, gender and the complex world within the walls of the Inner Temple.
Barbara Peters in conversation with Sally Smith
Masked raiders have stolen £100,000 worth of stock from a wholesalers in Medway.At least eight people are thought to have cut their way into the industrial estate unit in Chatham in the early hours of last Wednesday. Hear from reporter Sean McPolin who has been covering the story.Also in today's podcast, a woman who was tied up during a violent robbery in Sevenoaks has described it as an "horrific experience".A man armed with a gun stole nearly £1.5 million worth of jewellery from a property in Parkfield near Wildernesse Golf Club last June.The work and pensions secretary's confirmed personal independence payments won't be frozen following a backlash from Labour MPs.Liz Kendall's also announced changes to the eligibility for universal credit from 2028. Hear the response from shadow minister and Faversham MP Helen Whately.A Kent pub chain boss has warned fewer part-time jobs will be available and prices will rise as major tax changes come in next month.The amount employers have to pay towards national insurance is to increase after being announced in last autumn's budget. We've been speaking to Phil Thorley from Thorley Taverns in Thanet.Work to clear woodland near Ashford of tonnes of illegally dumped waste is due to get under way next week.The Environment Agency's confirmed equipment will start to be moved onto Hoads Wood and removing the rubbish will take more than a year. We've got reaction from Sally Smith from Kent Wildlife Trust.And, Bedgebury Pinetum have announced a program of events to celebrate their 100th anniversary.Since 1925, the site has grown from a tree collection into an internationally significant conservation centre which welcomes more than half-a-million visitors each year.
This week on the podcast I'm joined by Sally Smith. Sally is a London based psychotherapist supporting people with personal development and she is also a fitness trainer and body transformation coach running her 8 week SHRED program both online and in person 4 times a year. I've had the opportunity to work with Sally personally and our messages aligned so much that I thought it would be valuable for us to share this conversation.Listen in as we dive into topics like chronic shame, trauma and how these often lead to alcohol misuse. Learn more about Sally Smith here: www.sallysmith.lifewww.blackheath-bootcamp.co.ukwww.theshredprogramme.co.ukNew to the podcast? Download the Podcast Listening Guide.Want to schedule a call to talk about how I work with people? Click here for a FREE call. Join my private FB group Alcohol Minimalists here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/changeyouralcoholhabitHas this podcast helped you? Please leave a review.Follow me on Facebook & Instagram: @AlcoholMinimalist Low risk drinking guidelines from the NIAAA:Healthy men under 65:No more than 4 drinks in one day and no more than 14 drinks per week.Healthy women (all ages) and healthy men 65 and older:No more than 3 drinks in one day and no more than 7 drinks per week.One drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. So remember that a mixed drink or full glass of wine are probably more than one drink.Abstinence from alcoholAbstinence from alcohol is the best choice for people who take medication(s) that interact with alcohol, have health conditions that could be exacerbated by alcohol (e.g. liver disease), are pregnant or may become pregnant or have had a problem with alcohol or another substance in the past.Benefits of “low-risk” drinkingFollowing these guidelines reduces the risk of health problems such as cancer, liver disease, reduced immunity, ulcers, sleep problems, complications of existing conditions, and more. It also reduces the risk of depression, social problems, and difficulties at school or work. ★ Support this podcast ★
Dom talks with Awapiri high country farmer Sally Smith about her recent mountain biking trip to Mongolia and her impressions and observations of farming in that part of the world. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.
For Tony Award winner Maryann Plunkett, she will always be a shy person. But thanks to theatre she's learned how to enter a room and own it. Currently playing as Older Allie in the Broadway adaptation of "The Notebook," Maryann delves into her approach to embodying the character, the collaborative process with her co-stars and director, and the importance of observing her fellow actors to create a seamless portrayal of Allie across three different ages. With previous experiences on Broadway, she notes that her last starring role in a Broadway musical was in 1987. She reflects on her decision to return to musicals, and how she resonates with “The Notebook”, seeing her role as a way to honor her mother who lived with dementia and showcase the importance of entering the world of those affected rather than dismissing their experiences. Maryann gets more personal as she talks about her family, how she met her husband on an episode of a television show, and their first kiss… which was actually scripted and caught on film. Growing up shy, she opens up about overcoming her struggles through theatre, and “the power and strength in living one's life in a way that one can be proud of.” Maryan Plunkett is a celebrated actress and singer who has captivated audiences on both Broadway and the screen for decades. Her career began on the prestigious stages of New York, most notably with her Broadway debut as Sister Agnes in “Agnes of God”, but it was her portrayal of Sally Smith in “Me and My Girl” that truly launched her into the spotlight and earned her a coveted Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical in 1987. She has delivered powerful performances in plays, including but not limited to Arthur Miller's “The Crucible”, “Sunday in the Park with George”, replacing Bernadette Peters, “A Little Hotel on the Side”, “The Master Builder”, and “A Man for All Seasons”. She also spent 12 years doing Richard Nelson's “Rhinebeck Panorama”. Her TV and film credits include “Bull”, “Chicago Med”, “Little Women”, “Blue Valentine”, “Dr. Death”, and “Manifest”. She can now be seen as Older Allie in “The Notebook” on Broadway, which just nabbed her another Tony award nomination. Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com My personal Instagram: @alanseales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sally Smith is STUCK once again! This time it's not at the hands of Pinky and Thumb but her own stubborn refusal to look away from her work for even a moment. We rush to Sally's aid and find her stuck in a corner with her eyes and arms crossed, ready to give up. Instead of that, we give her eyes some much needed technological TLC—thanks to Mr. Honeybee's proprietary googly-eyed glasses massagers. We make Sally laugh and, in short order, have to claw her away from her work for some FOCUSED FUN.https://EJmissions.comCaptain EJ - over and out.
Sally Smith is STUCK once again! This time it's not at the hands of Pinky and Thumb but her own stubborn refusal to look away from her work for even a moment. We rush to Sally's aid and find her stuck in a corner with her eyes and arms crossed, ready to give up. Instead of that, we give her eyes some much needed technological TLC—thanks to Mr. Honeybee's proprietary googly-eyed glasses massagers. We make Sally laugh and, in short order, have to claw her away from her work for some FOCUSED FUN.https://EJmissions.comCaptain EJ - over and out.
Sally Smith is STUCK once again! This time it's not at the hands of Pinky and Thumb but her own stubborn refusal to look away from her work for even a moment. We rush to Sally's aid and find her stuck in a corner with her eyes and arms crossed, ready to give up. Instead of that, we give her eyes some much needed technological TLC—thanks to Mr. Honeybee's proprietary googly-eyed glasses massagers. We make Sally laugh and, in short order, have to claw her away from her work for some FOCUSED FUN.https://EJmissions.comCaptain EJ - over and out.
In this podcast episode, learn how Jack and Jill successfully flip land. They emphasize the importance of experience and knowledge in the land flipping business, and highlight the value of learning from those who have been in the industry for a long time. They outline the 10 steps involved in flipping land, including identifying a target market, sending out mailers, managing inbound responses, acquiring properties, listing them with a real estate agent, and closing the deals. They also provide insights into what makes someone successful in this business, such as taking action, making quick decisions, and being willing to ask for help and funding. They conclude by encouraging listeners to be prepared, motivated, and committed to their land flipping endeavors. Transcript: Steven Jack Butala: I’m Steven Jack Butala. Jill K DeWit: And I’m Jill DeWit, and this is the Land Academy Show. Steven Jack Butala: This is episode number 1,998, and today we are talking about how to flip land successfully. Jill K DeWit: You know what’s cool? I need to add up the numbers, but we’ve been doing this now going on 10 years. Not just our land business, that’s decades. We’ll get to that later. Steven Jack Butala: We’ve been teaching for 10 years. Jill K DeWit: But just teaching and sharing our business model now for going on 10 years. We have people who have been in Land Academy with us since the beginning. They’re going on 10 years. So my point is- Steven Jack Butala: Totally, I didn’t think about that. Jill K DeWit: If anyone is qualified to talk about how to make millionaires, and I don’t like to drop numbers like that, but it’s the fact, and really teach people how to start and grow and make a really successful land flipping business, it’s us. Steven Jack Butala: So I have a whole framework about how for this episode, about how to actually flip land successfully, but Jill brings up a good point. I wonder if it’s a good thing with all this experience or a bad thing. Jill K DeWit: It’s a great thing. Steven Jack Butala: I do too. Jill K DeWit: Are you kidding? I was talking to somebody the other day and they even said it to me or they’re like, “Duh, why would I want to learn from someone who’s done 100 deals versus someone who’s done 10,000 deals?” And we’re going on and we have like 17,000 deals and these are our deals. I want to make sure everybody knows it’s not the community deals. I can’t even imagine as a community how many deals we’ve done, because we’ve got some heavy hitters that are just male and flip like crazy. They’re always the quiet ones in the group. You don’t hear about them very often, but they’re there. I know they’re pulling a lot of data. I see the charges go through and it’s really, really cool. Steven Jack Butala: When I was young, I was always the smartest in the room professionally when it comes to computers. This is when Apple just started and Windows started to become names and products you could buy that could really enhance your business. And so as you can imagine from the older people that I was doing business with at the time or working for, there was a lot of pushback. They literally thought computers and technology was a fad. Jill K DeWit: Oh, gosh. Steven Jack Butala: It was going to go away, and there’s no real replacement for personal relationships. And I think half of that’s true. So I do think there is no replacement for personal relationships and there never will be. It’s the reason we still have real estate agents and we still go to buy a car to car dealership, God forbid. Jill K DeWit: Right. Steven Jack Butala: It’s because people just need to have a face and talk to somebody. So I understand that, and the technology part, that’ll apply too. It certainly applies to everybody. There are over the years since what, 25 years I’ve been doing this, the technology changes are staggering without going into the details. Jill K DeWit: Oh, my gosh. Steven Jack Butala: And I decided a long time ago to keep up with them, but the basic stuff’s never changed. Jill K DeWit: Well, even be ahead of them. Steven Jack Butala: Yeah, be ahead of them. Jill K DeWit: I’m going to say, “You’re not a, ‘Oh, I’ll catch up with you guys.'” What do you think? No, you find something and tweak it and say this and pull us all with you in a really positive way. Steven Jack Butala: Yeah, so my point is you keep up with or stay ahead of the technological changes, and I’ve made a commitment to that a long time ago. But I think that there’s young people, and I love this by the way, who think that people who are older and have a lot of experience in stuff might not be the best place to learn from, because they are not embracing these brand new concepts. The newest one now is AI, which that term is grossly misused. AI is now what I believe is a term that’s used for querying a database. And there is such a real thing of learning intelligence out there. It just doesn’t apply to the internet. And so I think that there’s so many buzzwords that go on with things on the internet now, like, “Oh, well. We’re applying AI to buying and selling land.” You’re never- Jill K DeWit: Please define. And if you ask them, explain and then it goes into a black event. Steven Jack Butala: Well, I’m just not, you know? Jill K DeWit: I don’t know. Steven Jack Butala: That’s not going to be a title for us. Jill K DeWit: Oh, yeah. Steven Jack Butala: It’s just not, because I understand the implication of AI and we can sit here and talk about it for two hours if you want. Probably looking at me or Jill and I, probably don’t look like the people that are capable of talking about that stuff. Jill K DeWit: You know what? There’s stuff behind the scenes. I have two points to make, first about the AI thing. There’s stuff behind the scenes though that our team is using that, so we really are using it. It’s not like, “Oh, we’re old school, we’re never going to do that. And I have an IBM electric on my desk.” No. So there’s stuff that we are behind the scenes utilizing this new intelligence and way of doing things. We’d be nuts not to. And the second thing I wanted to say was back to your point when you said in the very beginning of this paragraph, I don’t know what to call that. Steven Jack Butala: I call it a rabbit hole. Jill K DeWit: Yeah. You were the smartest one in the room in these areas always. I may not have been the smartest one in the room in a lot of environments, but I was probably the most talkative. Steven Jack Butala: And most energetic. Jill K DeWit: Thank you. Steven Jack Butala: And none of that’s changed. Jill K DeWit: Oh, thank you. None of that’s good or bad. Boy, who’s that person in the corner and what are they talking about? Steven Jack Butala: I’m almost never the smartest person in the room any more about anything. Jill K DeWit: Oh, please. Steven Jack Butala: But I was really early on. So my point is there’s a real serious value to the amount of transactions that Jill and I have done. And that was my lead into our topic, How to Flip Land Successfully. We’re qualified to talk about this topic. Jill K DeWit: I’m going to argue the fact that if you are in any room of real estate professionals, you are the smartest one, period. I’m just going to say it. Steven Jack Butala: Oh, boy. Jill K DeWit: Come on. You’ve been doing it the longest. Steven Jack Butala: It’s too much responsibility. Jill K DeWit: You invented all this stuff. Look how many people are following in our footsteps and it’s beautiful. You started this thing. Steven Jack Butala: Yep. Jill K DeWit: Thank you. Steven Jack Butala: All right, so what’s the very first step about how to flip land successfully? Number one- Jill K DeWit: Are we jumping into the topic? Steven Jack Butala: Oh yeah, right. We have to do this. Three [inaudible 00:06:22]. Jill K DeWit: Like we have no question and I’m like, I missed all this. Steven Jack Butala: Each week on the show… I’ll get back to that in a second. Jill K DeWit: Okay. [inaudible 00:06:29]. He got us all excited. Steven Jack Butala: Each week on the show we answer a question from our Land Academy Member Discord Forum and take a deep dive into a land-related topic by popular request from our Land Academy community. So let’s take that question, Jill. Jill K DeWit: Okay. So Sandy wrote, “Hello all. I’m new to Land Academy, but not new to land flipping. I came from another online land group where I realized about 10 land deals in” Excuse me, “Where I completed about 10 land deals and then I sold them on terms. I realize now that buying for cash and selling for cash is where the real money is. I’m a Jack, not a Jill. What advice do you have for me in making this transition and any advice in general to be successful in this space?” Steven Jack Butala: Well, welcome. Jill K DeWit: Yay. Steven Jack Butala: You are joining the ranks of probably more than half of the people who have ever passed through Land Academy here in an existing membership group. For whatever reason, I don’t think that we’re the best marketers out there, but people seem to land. They choose us last after going through other programs. Jill K DeWit: You may not start here, but you’re probably going to end here if you’re good. Yes. Steven Jack Butala: No. So what’s my advice for you for starting out? Or I don’t know, you’re probably in second gear right now, which is great. Jill K DeWit: That’s good. Steven Jack Butala: I would clear your mind, go through the programs and utilize all the tools that Jill and I have put in place to help you be successful from wherever you’re joining us. So you’re joining us in the middle, which is great. You have some experience. Join our Discord Forum, get through Land Academy 3.0, the education. Somebody told me recently, it’s like 26 hours. Jill K DeWit: Oh, it was like 14 hours. Steven Jack Butala: Okay, good. Jill K DeWit: Yeah, I don’t think it was 26. I think it was like 14. Steven Jack Butala: It’s a lot. There’s a lot of detail. Jill K DeWit: But I think we thought it was like six or eight hours and they’re like, “No, no. It’s more than that.” I’m like, “Okay.” Steven Jack Butala: And then there’s a user dashboard where you can access everything. We have a Thursday member webinar. There’s 100+ people on there every Thursday where we look at our deals, ask any questions. There’s a lot. There’s that and a lot more. We will do your mailer for you with a product called Concierge Data. We own… This is not a sales pitch. She’s asking where she should start? Jill K DeWit: Utilize the tools, utilize the resources. Steven Jack Butala: That’s it. Jill K DeWit: That’s the main thing. We provide you with, not only the education, but all the tools and support that you need. You only have to ask. Steven Jack Butala: They’re all there. And so it’s your job to get yourself organized, stay on track with the program and execute each little piece. And then there’s all kinds of support for wherever you’re coming, we will meet you there. Jill K DeWit: Can I add one little note too, because she said she’s a Jack and not a Jill? Steven Jack Butala: Yeah. Jill K DeWit: There are other Jills in this group that need Jacks. So if you’re not sure what we’re talking about, he’s always the data guy, picking the areas, pricing the mailers, doing all that stuff, right? Getting it out there and making my phone ring. And then the phone starts ringing now, and that’s where I jump in, getting these sellers to getting the deals, getting them to fall in love with me and my team and wanting to do the transaction with us, make it easy for them all the way to the sales point when it’s all done. So it’s interesting that there’s a lot of Jacks. Now more Jills are coming around. Steven Jack Butala: Yeah, it’s true. Jill K DeWit: But in the beginning when we started Land Academy nine years ago, we had way more Jacks, way analytical and nobody could answer the phone. It was actually funny, and now it’s like we pivot a little bit, pivot a little, even more women, which is a whole nother conversation. But more Jills. So my point in bringing this up is there are so many partnerships I have seen made successfully running that met within Land Academy, and so that’s a huge thing. So don’t worry about that too, Sandy. If you’re like, “Great, I can do all this but I can’t do this.” Then again, all you need to do is reach out to your peers, because there’s probably somebody there that said, “You know what? I need you, Sandy.” No, I’m serious. Steven Jack Butala: Today’s topic, How to Flip Land Successfully. So I want you to just clear your mind for a second and think about what flipping a piece of land really is. You’re buying something and you’re selling it for more. And through that transition, you’re taking money, you’re buying an asset. You’re redressing it up on the internet, not physically, but redressing it up on the internet and selling it for more. And keeping the money, that’s in between. So if you buy a piece of property for 20,000 bucks, you sell it for 40,000… I’m oversimplifying here, you’ve made $20,000. You put it in your pocket. That’s what this is. That’s the goal. It’s never changed. I don’t care how much AI or whatever is called AI is involved, how many employees you have don’t have, that’s it. So what I did, and I didn’t realize this and I was thinking about this early this morning for some reason, I don’t know why. Well, I knew the topic was going to be this today. I know you did it too, long before we ever crossed paths, is bought stuff and resold it. I don’t care what it is. So if you’ve done that, if you bought a house, let’s say, cleaned it all up, and I don’t mean renovated it, I mean bought a house. Your life circumstances changed and you need to sell the house, how’d you sell it? Did you sell it for more? Did you lose money on it? Did you put your heart and soul into reselling that house? If you ever had a garage sale, you got 25, 30, 300 things out there, a couple of them you probably sold for more than you had into it. Maybe somebody actually gave whatever you sold and so you made money on it. That’s either in your soul or it’s not, buying something and reselling it for more. It certainly is in mine. Jill K DeWit: I was going to say too, the point I want to make sure it’s clear, because I think this is going to attract people who are new to us, and they don’t know who we are, and you’re probably maybe listening to this for the first time. We’re not saying, “I’m buying something off the MLS that’s a bad listing with bad photos and involving an agent,” or something like that. That’s not what we’re talking about. We create a deal where there was no deal and then so we’re taking something… It’s almost like I’m going back to your garage sale thing. It’s like I walked in my mom’s house and said, “You know that vase in the corner that’s collecting dust, that’s worth something. Can I buy it from you for 20 bucks?” And then all I’m going to do is give it a bath maybe. I wash it and put it on a table and sell it for 50 bucks. Kind of like that. That’s what we do with land. So I want to make sure that that was clear how we do that. Steven Jack Butala: There’s 10 basic steps to buying and selling land successfully. Number one, you have to identify a market where you think this is going to work. This works in all markets. I’ll say that again. Buying land and selling it for more works in every single market. The variable is time. So I can buy a piece of property in the most rural market in North Dakota that there ever was for a reasonable price, and clean it all up and resell it and it will sell. It might take 20 years. We don’t want that. We want to choose intelligently-used data to choose markets where we can do it a lot faster than that, hopefully inside of a month. So you need to really understand how to use data to find a target market to buy and sell land. We are experts at that. There’s no other way for me to say it. That’s how I spend most of day. Jill K DeWit: That’s one of the unique things about us. Steven Jack Butala: Number two, you need to test that market and then get the data of all the people that own real estate in that market. The universe of property owners, we are experts at that. We are licensed providers of the best source of data, and when you look at all the costs associated with it, there’s no place cheaper to get data than it is from us in the long term. Jill K DeWit: And training. Steven Jack Butala: Let’s keep this real simple. Jill K DeWit: Okay. Steven Jack Butala: Let’s just go right through the 10 steps. Jill K DeWit: I won’t talk. Steven Jack Butala: You can talk. Now you’ve got the data. What we do is we send every single one of those logical sellers an actual offer. “Sally Smith, I would like to buy a property for $3,122 and 13 cents.” That we have found gets the best response. Jill and I own property all over this country. Every week we get offers that we crack up, like, “This is never going to work. The seller’s never going to respond to it.” What was the most recent one we got? Jill K DeWit: Oh, in the mail? Steven Jack Butala: Yeah. Jill K DeWit: Oh, my gosh. It was like a fake handwritten envelope with a fake yellow pad, and there wasn’t even a number in there. It was just, “I want to buy your property in this county.” They didn’t even tell me which property. They didn’t have my name inside there. It was really weird, and they only use their first names. They didn’t even really give their company name or their last name, and they gave me a Yahoo email account. I’m like, “This is not, this is,” I feel bad. I want to help this person. Steven Jack Butala: So these are examples often. Jill K DeWit: That’s not going to send the right message. Steven Jack Butala: I’m only on step two, and we’re already identify… The name of the show here is, How to Flip Land Successfully? Jill K DeWit: True. Steven Jack Butala: And so if you’re not identifying a target market based on data and results, that’s number one. You’re not going to do it successfully. Number two, if you’re not sending out pricing, creating a mailer and sending it out, based on very intelligent data-driven pricing and sending out an offer, not just a letter of interest, what Jill just described as a letter of interest, you’re probably not going to do it successfully. In fact, I’ve done all these things. Jill K DeWit: That’s going to slow you down. Steven Jack Butala: And I’ve done all incorrectly. Jill K DeWit: It’s time and money wasted, unfortunately. You want them to call you back with a number. Steven Jack Butala: And so I’m skipping ahead in steps, not necessarily, but steps between creating a mailer and pricing it, and then approving the mailer. Whoever you get to do your mailer, we have a company called Offers 2 Owners that does mailers for you. All you have to do is check our pricing. That’ll get you to step number five, which is managing the flow of inbound responses. So let me be super clear. Step one is to identify and test for logical places to send mail. Number two is to get the ball rolling down the mailer road, and so you’re creating a mailer. Number three is managing the mailer, whether you manage yourself or you manage it through our mailing company or anywhere else. And number four is you price it and you get it out in the mail. So number five now is managing the flow of inbound responses. This is where I stop working and Jill starts working. Jill K DeWit: Right. Steven Jack Butala: So she will utilize something, some phone-answering service. We use PATLive. There’s a ton of them out there. Or you can answer your phone yourself. Jill K DeWit: Back in the day, I did it myself. Steven Jack Butala: And manage all this inbound flow of people saying, “I do want to do this deal and thanks for letting me know, and what’s the next step?” All that to go pond sand, because you’re crazy. My properties were $13 million and you offered me 13 cents. Jill K DeWit: I personally love this part. This is my favorite part. Can I just want to pause for just a second? This is when the win happens for me. You know when you’re buying it, what you’re buying, how valuable it is and all that good stuff. So that’s for me, that’s so exciting. I love it. I love getting the calls and talking to the sellers and making these transactions happen. So that’s step five. Steven Jack Butala: Step five is what I call, because the name of the show is How to Flip Land Successfully, this is where I believe most people fail. Jill K DeWit: Really? Steven Jack Butala: Yep. I think that. There was a… I said this in Career Path. Jill and I teach a class called Career Path. It’s in a real advance for people who make this their career or it is their career and they want to get better at it. One of the things that I remembered from going to school to college is that in every business there’s a moment where the customer is receiving your product or your service. There’s this magical moment where they decide, “Wow, this is something I’m going to utilize and I believe in it,” or, “I don’t want any part of this.” It’s when you sit down in a new car in a dealership and you decide, “This is exactly what I’m looking for,” or, “Oh, my God. I never want to see this car again.” It’s the time. It’s what bedside manner is for healthcare workers. Every business has that moment, and it’s at this moment when they talk to Jill for the first 15 to 30 seconds, the seller does. They’re going to decide whether or not they want to talk to her and sell a piece of property or deal with her at all. This is imperative, and I used to think a perfectly priced mailer, “Oh, we don’t need to do this other stuff over here. It’s just not the case.” I used to think that before Jill and I joined forces about what, 15 years ago? Jill K DeWit: Mm-hmm. Steven Jack Butala: So it’s imperative to get somebody who knows how to do this. If you’re somebody like me or just if you’re in corporate sales for your entire life, then you already know all of this. Number six is now you’ve got a list of people that have called you back or a list of potential deals. You’ve created, congratulations, real estate deal flow. This has eluded the vast majority of people in all real estate of all time. Creating deal flow, what Jill referred to earlier, is you’re creating a real estate transaction. You’re not out on the MLS looking for one to sell for a higher rate. You’re not in Walmart trying to buy something to resell it for more somewhere. It’s very unlikely that that’s going to happen. In fact, I would say it’s probably not going to happen. So you’ve got these 10 real estate deals that you have created and just like 10 of anything, some of them are going to be great, some of them are going to suck and the rest of them are going to be in the middle. And so you take some time and decide which ones you want. Or if you’re Land Academy- Jill K DeWit: Well, the great ones. Steven Jack Butala: Yeah. Well, if you’re a Land Academy member and you’re new, then if you’ve been doing this for a long time, you’re going to jump up and down when you get off the phone. Jill K DeWit: You know. Steven Jack Butala: If you’re new, you’re going to utilize the resources that Jill and I put together in Land Academy to make you successful. Jill K DeWit: Or ask us. We’ll help you. Steven Jack Butala: We’ll tell you if it sucks or not. We’ll tell you if it’s great. If it is, we’ll fund it. If it sucks, then we’ll tell you that too. Jill K DeWit: We’ll save you. No, no. The whole point of that is we save you. That’s one of the big values I see every week on our member calls and say, “Hey, would you guys do this deal? I’m on the fence.” And we’re like, “Okay. You need to look at this, this and this,” and guide them. Or like, “Uh-uh. Because of this and this, I wouldn’t even do it.” They’re like, “Whew. Thank you. You just saved me all that work and energy and time and money potentially.” So absolutely. Steven Jack Butala: Hey, now’s a good time to ask you to Like this episode if you do or follow our channel. We’re here every week, every Wednesday. I think that these programs air at 3:00. Jill K DeWit: Yep. Steven Jack Butala: And then we also have just redeveloped a product called Concierge Data where our guys that work for us, they’re the same people that do our mailers, will do your mailer for you. So if you go to Offers 2 Owners, offers2owners.com. Just check it out. Give them a call, actually. Talk to Aaron. Tell him Jack and Jill sent you from the podcast. So step seven, you actually acquire the property. You looked at, let’s say 10, and a healthy number is two of them really meet after talking to the sellers and checking it all out and using the due diligence program that we have provided, let’s say eight A’s, which that’s for a different conversation. We try to make due diligence as simple as possible, and you decide you want to buy two, so you buy them, and if you are brand new at this, that can be intimidating, that process. But again, that’s why you have Land Academy and a bunch of people at your fingertips, literally. You can ask questions all day long and get the deal done correctly without any fear of missing steps. I’ve noticed that people, that was one of the things I was concerned about when I started was, “What steps am I missing in this actual transaction?” Or, “What should I be reading? There’s a big stack of papers in front of me on these two deals. I don’t know what a lot of this stuff means.” That’s why you have your peer group here, us. Number nine is just quite simply, you’ve made a decision. You bought the property, and so now you’re going to travel down the path of listing it with a local real estate agent. And so that can be a tricky little path too. Again, we’re all going through the same thing. Hundreds and hundreds of us here at Land Academy are going through the same thing. So picking a real estate agent, Jill, we could spend hours. Jill K DeWit: That’d be a whole nother show. That’d be fun to talk about. So I love that. Steven Jack Butala: So you listed it with a real estate agent and then you manage the real estate agent, geez, like you manage your children. Unfortunately, it’s a very- Jill K DeWit: I hope you manage your children. Steven Jack Butala: Yeah, yeah. Jill K DeWit: I’m sure some of you don’t. Steven Jack Butala: Bad example. Jill K DeWit: Yeah. Steven Jack Butala: The property eventually gets sold. It may get sold for the price you want. It may not, most of the time for us, almost all the time. Jill K DeWit: It’s pretty close. Steven Jack Butala: We sell for what we want, otherwise we wouldn’t buy it. Jill K DeWit: Yeah. Steven Jack Butala: I think that’s step eight or nine. And then step 10 is you collect the money. You approve the sale, close the deal and collect the money. It’s a 10 step process. The difference between doing it successfully, in my opinion, or not successfully, is all about who’s in your life. If you have people that are buying and selling land and doing real estate deals all the time who have had a ton of experience and they’re available to you, that’s the difference between all the people on the internet right now who believe that they can flip land and actually the people who do it successfully. Jill K DeWit: That’s a good point. Can I look at that for just a minute before you close it? Steven Jack Butala: Sure. Sure. Jill K DeWit: It’d be nice to just identify some of the trigger points here. What makes someone really wildly successful? I would like to add that. So of these steps, step number one, okay, taking the time to dig in and not have a dart board, not trust your friend, not trust somebody you’re watching, doing what you think you know. “Oh, San Antonio, I got to hit San Antonio. Let’s just mail that.” But really taking the time and testing these markets, that’s a huge thing right there, and that separates the successful from the unsuccessful right out of the gate. Number two, just taking action, going through the process, learning how to do a mailer or hiring someone to do it for you, but knowing. Don’t have an automated easy button and you know someone who really knows what they’re doing. They understand this whole process. They know how to scrape comps. It’s again, not an easy button in a machine that doesn’t really look at these numbers and knows what is real and what is not real so you can take them out and not mess up your numbers and have an overpriced mailer kind of thing. But taking action and getting through that is huge. These are places… Like someone coming in, I’ve seen them go through the step one, but actually getting the mail out, huge obstacle. For some reason, people get hung up right there. We’ve had people in Land Academy for months who haven’t sent out a mailer, and I know in their hearts they’re here for the right reason. They’re like, “Okay, next month I’m going to do it. Next month I’m going to do it.” But there’s something that holds them back. So you’ve got to just, who cares? Push through it. If it’s not the greatest work, that’s okay. Get it out there, but you have us, and we’ll show you and teach you and coach you and help you to make sure you did everything you possibly could. Do your best job here. Now hit it, get it out kind of thing. Looking through here where people get hung up and what’s successful. Okay, when we got to the part about the calls are coming back, that is huge. The successful folks answer the phone themselves, A., or have some other live body that they know, they’ve vetted, they’ve tested, even a service that we all use or other people have used and trusted, huge. You would have so many missed deals, if it goes to voicemail or you have some other… What if you only had an email? It’s just people aren’t going to use that. They’re going to pick up the phone and call you kind of thing. And you have to have someone there and have the right person there, by the way, who knows how to talk to these sellers and work with them. Let them know who you are. It’s a real person and talk money with them right away. That’s another just a light bulb, successful moment. Making the decisions, what’s a really good, successful person there? They know how to make quick decisions, and they’re very good with their time, and they are not afraid to cut a deal that they’re not comfortable with. I see people getting hung up here trying to make a bad deal work. A real successful person knows what we’re talking about. They study their eight A’s. They go, “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Got them all. Let’s go.” And they’re not afraid to just move forward and buy the property. What’s another point? Well, when we’re buying the property, what’s a real successful person doing? They’re not afraid of money. They’re not as afraid of spending money, and if they don’t have the money, they’re not afraid to ask for money. I know people that don’t utilize the deal funding resources that we have right here, even from us. Ask. If it’s a great deal, I will happily write that check. Steven Jack Butala: If it’s even a reasonable deal, there’s somebody in our group- Jill K DeWit: They’ll write the check. Steven Jack Butala: … may or may not be us, they’re here to fund deals. They’re not here to do what you do. Jill K DeWit: That happens and what’s great too, it’s confidence and experience and knowing what you’re good at. I am not too proud to say, and I’ve done this like, “Hey, I think this is a great deal, but you know what? I don’t know this area quite as well as this person, and I know they are loving to do deal funding. If I were you, I would reach out to this person and tell them I sent you, see what they say. And if it’s a real good deal, they’ll tell you. And if they want to fund it, oh, they will,” kind of thing. And there you go. I’m trying to find the… I’m thinking of successful light bulb moments is what I’m doing here. Signing paperwork, there’s no light bulb moment there, other than do it. Let’s see what else here? And make it easy. Just make it easy. Don’t overthink stuff. Steven Jack Butala: Can I jump in here? Jill K DeWit: Yeah. Why? You’re going… I can’t go through with this? Steven Jack Butala: Oh, are you… Just go ahead and finish it. Jill K DeWit: Oh, yeah. I want to finish my little light bulb moments through the list. Listing with an agent. Real successful people know how to pick up the phone and vet an agent and to not take the first person you call until you find someone that you connect with. And then the last thing, you already know how it’s going to end. Real successful people already have, when they bought it, already have in their head a targeted sales price. So it’s no surprise. Now you can take that. Steven Jack Butala: That’s a recap. Let’s recap. The first step in this process is to locate, based on data, locate a place to send mail. The second step is to identify all the people that own property there and get an offer in their hands. The third step is to manage the inbound flow of deals and make some decisions about which ones you like, which ones you don’t, and why. The next step is buy the ones you like. This next step after that is sell the ones you like or sell the ones that you own, and that’s it. And it’s those five basic steps. There’s a lot of stuff in between that happens, a lot of details, but that’s what groups like Land Academy are for. Jill K DeWit: We’ll help you. Steven Jack Butala: It’s a five step process. Yep. Jill K DeWit: Well, the whole thing is too, people don’t understand I think though. We go into great, almost too much detail sometimes, but you brainy folks love it. So if you’re questioning, “Hey, does Land Academy talk about fill in the blank?” 99.9% of the time, it’s yes. Steven Jack Butala: Yeah, we do. Jill K DeWit: The only thing I’m not going to do is to sit down with you and fill out your tax return kind of thing. But outside of that, every possible conversation you can imagine, because that’s who we are. I’m here to help. The whole thing is Land Academy is helping you start or grow or both your own successful company. That’s it. And then we’re all just doing deals together and it’s awesome. Steven Jack Butala: Here’s a profile after 10 years of teaching that we think really fits who’s successful at this and who’s not. First, who’s successful? If you’ve been successful at anything in your life in the past or let’s say most of the stuff that you’ve tried, you’ve been successful at it, you’re going to be successful at this. You probably don’t even know it. You don’t know that you have that go-getter type personality, and you’re not going to lose. You’re not going to even know when you’re defeated. You’re just going to keep barreling through. We have tons of people in our group who have sold their companies or own companies now, and they want an extra place, diversification, an extra revenue stream. And so those people do very, very well with us. The second type of really successful member for us is somebody who’s just really, really new and really, really energetic. Jill K DeWit: I was going to use the word hungry. Steven Jack Butala: Both. It’s the same thing. We’re talking about the same type of person. So those are real, and that comes down to a personality type. It doesn’t come down to whether or not they’re smart enough to understand the processes or whether they’re a Jack or a Jill. That personality type is going to overcome all of that anyway. That’s just how they do it. Jill K DeWit: And age doesn’t matter. Steven Jack Butala: Yeah. As you can imagine, on the flip side, the people who don’t do this successfully are the ones who quite simply just don’t follow through. They don’t follow through on the steps and that’s it. Jill K DeWit: Well, I just call it sometimes it’s like I say, “They let life get in the way.” That’s what happens. So I understand. So that’s part of it too, when you’re going to come at this… Oh, I could use it for that. All right. Steven Jack Butala: No, no. Jill K DeWit: I’ll save it. Oh, no, I can save it for my inspiration. Steven Jack Butala: I’m just saving it next. Jill has something inspirational to share. Jill K DeWit: Something [inaudible 00:35:15]. Okay, I can save it for that. So all right, so I’ll just say that. What my inspiration is, don’t let life… Well, life will get in the way if you’ll let it. Steven Jack Butala: With anything. Jill K DeWit: It really will. And I know I don’t need to minimize. Sometimes there are major life events, so I’m not referring to that. But there are a whole lot of life events that people could overcome, but they let them get in the way. And it’s interesting to me. I’ve had people even four times, it’s the sweetest thing. Steven Jack Butala: Really? Jill K DeWit: You know who you are and I love you guys. People have left. There’s been a life event. They left and then sometimes weeks, sometimes months, sometimes even a year, they’re like, “You know what? I did not give that my full attention and energy. I know what’s going on in Land Academy. I’m still hearing about my buddy that I started with and how much money he’s making right now. I need to go back and get back to this.” And they come right back, and I’m happy to have you back and I love that. So my inspiration is the first thing would be, get yourself mentally and physically ready to do this. I want you to have the budget so you can afford to get educated. Just like anything, I wouldn’t say go buy a 7-Eleven with no money and take out a loan. And I wouldn’t say… There’s no business I would say, “Oh, just take out a loan and see how it goes.” No way. No matter what business you’re going to do, save up, get some education, do everything you can before you jump in so you know what you’re getting into, and then prepare your whole family and your whole life, your vacation schedule, your kids, every little thing. This is the same thing. It shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you want to really be successful, get everything in a row. Prepare everybody. “We’re not going to take a vacation this summer. This is what we’re doing, because wait two years and wait until you see the vacations we can take,” kind of thing. That’s the goal. So just get everything ready and go at it 112%. Remember that 12 degrees thing. I think that was 12 degrees, whatever that book was, that was so long ago. That’s my inspiration. And if it’s not the right time, and I tell this to people all the time, I talk to people that call in, I say, “You know what? Wait six months. I’m not going anywhere. You need to be in the right place. You need to be ready to do this, and I don’t want you to do this half blank. I want you to come at this full speed, and we’ll get you there.” What do you want to share today? Steven Jack Butala: So I was having a conversation with one of the people that worked for us a couple of weeks ago, maybe a week ago, and we were talking about how this generation, it is an absolute. It’s expected of you and it’s a norm to have some type of side gig, to be working on something on the side that eventually, if it goes right, is going to be your entrepreneurial shot and mark in life. And I could not have grown up in a more different environment. I grew up where you were very rewarded for, this is a lot of years ago in Detroit, rewarded for either being in a company person and working there forever and getting a gold watch and you retire. Or going off and starting your own company, which is nearly impossible back then unless you had all kinds of backing and people that were involved in the businesses and the contacts and the money, because starting a metal stamping plant costs back then even millions and millions of dollars. So most or all of us chose number one. Fast-forward to now, it’s 180 degrees different. You are expected to have a side gig. But I don’t think that most people have any idea what that means from a personality standpoint and what Jill just referred to about sacrifice, personal sacrifice. The more stuff you pile on in your life like children and marriage and a mortgage and all of that, the further you’re going to get away from accomplishing whatever’s making that side gig that we’re all now expected to have a reality. And I think that makes me sad, because we’re in one of the greatest entrepreneurial times, if not the greatest entrepreneurial time, in the history of our country. It has never been cheaper and easier. You are literally a half hour away from starting your own company. Jill K DeWit: Isn’t it amazing? Can we unfold this onion a little bit here? I was raised differently, which really I saw both sides. I watched my dad hustle with different jobs back in… He had so many jobs it’s comical, from firefighter and selling insurance and radio DJ and mailman, Disneyland. Some of this was before I was born, but I know of these jobs, and to pilot to professional pilot to investor. He too, I always watched my dad have this job that paid very well and then a little side hustle, because he had time to do this stuff. I just think it’s really interesting. I’m trying to think with the kids now. I see when I say kids, I am referring to our kids. So this is the one. I’m not picking on anybody that doesn’t deserve it, but I watch our kids have- Steven Jack Butala: Jill’s caveats. That’s what I call it. Jill K DeWit: There we go. So I watch our kids have an opportunity, squander the opportunity, have to get a real job or just some other job to pay the bills, which you should, not sleeping on my couch, kind of thing. And then realize, “Oh, that’s an opportunity,” and I’m seeing a shift. I feel like there’s a generation where… There’s a generation in the middle of us and our kids where they’re afraid to take on their own company. Have you noticed this? Steven Jack Butala: Go ahead. Yes. Jill K DeWit: Okay. Steven Jack Butala: It’s the same fear that I had and that my parents had and their parents had. Nothing’s changed. I’m going to finish your point. Jill K DeWit: Yeah, go ahead. Steven Jack Butala: Nothing has changed from me staring into the abyss when I was 18 or 17 years old with this insurmountable task of trying to open a metal stamping plant or whatever. Jill K DeWit: That was your thing? Steven Jack Butala: Just hold on. Jill K DeWit: Oh, sorry. Steven Jack Butala: It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what I wanted. You are staring if you’re a young person right now into this seemingly black abyss, because everything’s relative of where do I start? What you have that we never had was education and the internet. Jill K DeWit: YouTube. Steven Jack Butala: And you have answers to every question that you’ve ever, ever… So this is not some old guy saying, “I had it harder than you.” That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying it’s the exact same thing. It’s just relative. The tools that we had were finite back then, and the tools that you have are finite now. You just have to work your way through it, and at some point you’re going to look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I’m set up for this or I’m not.” Or you’re going to motivate yourself. If you have a personality type like Jill, you’re going to motivate yourself and talk to yourself to the point where you’re going to make this successful and that’s it. And that is coming full circle to what this topic is about today is How to Flip Land Successfully, because you’re staring in the mirror saying, “This is it now, this is it, and I’m taking this down to the end. I might not know how to do a mailer. I’m going to find out somebody who does. I might not know how to build a website and that’s easy. It costs 300 bucks on Fiverr. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to do this, but what I do know is I’m going to succeed at it and I’m going to be the quarterback.” That’s all I am. In all of these businesses that Joe and I own is a quarterback. Jill K DeWit: What am I? Steven Jack Butala: You’re like a- Jill K DeWit: I like this. Steven Jack Butala: You’re the wide receiver. Jill K DeWit: I was going to say- Steven Jack Butala: You’re Tron. Jill K DeWit: I know. I was waiting for that one. I’m not the kicker. Steven Jack Butala: No one wants to be the kicker. Jill K DeWit: No one wants to be the kicker. Yeah, I’ll be the wide receiver. I was expecting that. Steven Jack Butala: Calling myself a quarterback is actually not that accurate. I think I do a lot less than what a quarterback does. What I probably- Jill K DeWit: Well, you call the plays. Steven Jack Butala: I’m a general manager more than anything. Jill K DeWit: That makes sense. Steven Jack Butala: Quarterbacks have talent. I’m the general manager that makes sure the lights are on in the stadium and then whoever didn’t turn the lights on in the stadium is going to hear from me. I am not the quarterback at all now that I’m thinking about it. Jill K DeWit: That’s hilarious. Are you the guy that makes sure the Gatorade’s out there and all filled up too? Steven Jack Butala: I am the guy who put the person in place of the Gatorade. Jill K DeWit: There we go. Okay. Well, in that case, now what? Am I still the wide receiver or what am I? Steven Jack Butala: No, no, I think I’m not sure. I don’t know. Jill K DeWit: I’m definitely not the person with the clipboard yelling at people. Steven Jack Butala: You’re the mascot. Jill K DeWit: Oh, I’m the mascot. That is actually accurate. Steven Jack Butala: Although if Jill was a mascot, she would be the mascot with the head on, the head of the mascot on for about eight minutes, and she’d take it off and, “No one can see me with his head on.” Jill K DeWit: No one knows it’s me. This is going to come back to bite us. I can already hear you folks who know us are going to bring this up again. I’m talking about the… What was your job? You’re the manager, the manager of the mascot. Steven Jack Butala: Not even the owner. I’m just the manager. Jill K DeWit: General manager of the mascot. That’s great. That’s like every years ago we had team red, team blue. That’s good. I love this. Hey, don’t forget, if you want to find out more, you have some questions, you can talk to our team, reach out. Send a note to support@landacademy.com. Steven Jack Butala: Join us next Wednesday for another interesting episode. You are not alone in your real estate ambition. Jill K DeWit: We are Jack and Jill. Steven Jack Butala: We are Jack and Jill. Information. Jill K DeWit: And inspiration. Steven Jack Butala: To buy undervalued property. https://youtu.be/MqVbdwkCAcc Thanks for listening, and finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts.
In this bonus episode you'll hear host Andrea Dunlop's full interview with Dr. Sally Smith's son, Patrick. They discuss the impact of the slanted and sensationalized media coverage of Dr. Sally Smith's work on him and his family. Patrick shares his pride in his mother's career as well as fears over the impact of the media coverage and the verdict in the Kowalski case. The full unbridged interview with Dr. Sally Smith will be available to subscribers. In the meantime, we are hard at work on season 4, stay tuned and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Munchausen Support accepts donations and volunteers at www.munchausensupport.com This show is sponsored by: BETTER HELP: Visit BetterHelp.com/BELIEVEME today to get 10% off your first month. FACTOR MEALS: Visit Factormeals.com/nobodypodcast50 and use code nobodypodcast50 to get 50% off. If you have a story about medical child abuse that you are ready to share you can tag @andreadunlop, email hello@nobodyshouldbelieveme.com or leave us a voicemail at (484) 768-0266 Produced by Larj Media Follow host Andrea Dunlop on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos: @andreadunlop Buy Andrea's books here. Note: This episode contains sensitive content related to child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Download the APSAC's practice guidelines here. *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the third and final installment of our exclusive interview with Dr. Sally Smith, she shares her side of what happened in the Maya Kowalski case, revealing how perilous Maya's situation truly was when she originally arrived at Johns Hopkins All Childrens in October of 2016. Dr. Sally Smith also reveals, for the first time, the details of the multi-million-dollar settlement with the Kowalski family and shares the impact that this case could have on medical providers and abused children going forward. And finally Dr. Sally Smith disclosess her concerns and her hopes for Maya and Kyle Kowalski—the two children thrust into the national spotlight by their father's lawsuit—and lastly, her reflections on the work she's devoted her life to. Munchausen Support accepts donations and volunteers at www.munchausensupport.com This show is sponsored by: BETTER HELP: Visit BetterHelp.com/BELIEVEME today to get 10% off your first month. FACTOR MEALS: Visit Factormeals.com/nobodypodcast50 and use code nobodypodcast50 to get 50% off. If you have a story about medical child abuse that you are ready to share you can tag @andreadunlop, email hello@nobodyshouldbelieveme.com or leave us a voicemail at (484) 768-0266 Produced by Larj Media Follow host Andrea Dunlop on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos: @andreadunlop Buy Andrea's books here. Note: This episode contains sensitive content related to child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Download the APSAC's practice guidelines here. *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the second part of our exclusive interview with Dr. Sally Smith, we discuss how the media coverage of her reached a fever pitch and turned her life and career upside down. We explore how not only the Netflix film but a high-profile piece in New York Magazine rewrote the narrative of the Kowalski case and Dr. Smith's involvement to cast her as a villain. We unpack the stories of the four other families in the Netflix film—featured as examples of “false allegations” made by Dr. Smith—and uncover the more complicated truth about what happened to the children involved. We hear from Dr. Smith about how the media has stoked outrage and real-life threats and harassment against her, her coworkers, and her family. We see the horrifying truth that what happened to Dr. Sally Smith could happen to any doctor in her position; looking at how the conspiracy theory of “medical kidnapping” is being constructed and affirmed by media on both sides of the political spectrum. Munchausen Support accepts donations and volunteers at www.munchausensupport.com This show is sponsored by: BETTER HELP: Visit BetterHelp.com/BELIEVEME today to get 10% off your first month. FACTOR MEALS: Visit Factormeals.com/nobodypodcast50 and use code nobodypodcast50 to get 50% off. If you have a story about medical child abuse that you are ready to share you can tag @andreadunlop, email hello@nobodyshouldbelieveme.com or leave us a voicemail at (484) 768-0266 Produced by Larj Media Follow host Andrea Dunlop on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos: @andreadunlop Buy Andrea's books here. Note: This episode contains sensitive content related to child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Download the APSAC's practice guidelines here. *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A juror in the closely-watched 'Take Care of Maya' trial, which recently awarded the Kowalski family $260 million against Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHACH), underwent questioning by Judge Hunter Carroll following allegations of misconduct by the hospital's defense team. After a thorough examination, the judge concluded that the juror did not violate any orders, and the $260 million verdict remains intact. The controversy surrounding the trial stemmed from claims made by JHACH's attorneys, who accused the juror of engaging in improper conduct, including sharing case details with his wife. She was present at the trial and frequently posted her thoughts about the proceedings on social media. The hospital's lawyers argued that the juror's questions in court mirrored the content his wife shared online, suggesting that the couple was exchanging information, a breach of court rules. However, during the questioning, the juror, identified as Paul Lengyel, refuted these allegations. When asked by Judge Carroll whether he had discussed the case with anyone, including his wife, Lengyel firmly responded, "No, I did not." Additionally, the juror explained that his limited eyesight due to diabetes neuropathy prevented him from identifying individuals in the courtroom, including his wife. The judge, after considering the responses, determined that there was no evidence of juror misconduct. The 'Take Care of Maya' trial revolved around allegations made by the Kowalski family against JHACH, claiming that the hospital's actions led to the suicide of family matriarch Beata Kowalski. The case arose from the court's order to shelter Maya Kowalski, the family's child, at JHACH while child abuse allegations were investigated. During this time, Maya was not allowed physical contact with her mother. Tragically, Beata Kowalski took her own life after 87 days without seeing her daughter. The jury's verdict found JHACH guilty of falsely imprisoning Maya, fraudulent billing, causing severe emotional distress, and involving social worker Catherine Bedy in battering Maya, along with medical neglect by Dr. Sally Smith. Attorneys for JHACH subsequently sought a new trial and filed multiple motions alleging juror misconduct and bias. Among the accusations were claims that the juror had lied on a jury questionnaire, had already formed an opinion before deliberations began, and used inappropriate symbols when taking notes about Dr. Sally Smith. Judge Carroll acknowledged that while the defense had raised multiple concerns about the juror's conduct, there was insufficient evidence to warrant a new trial. The $260 million verdict, a significant victory for the Kowalski family, remains unchanged. Attorneys for JHACH expressed their gratitude to the court for interviewing the jury foreman and reiterated their intention to pursue an appeal. They look forward to presenting their case to the Court of Appeals, indicating that this legal battle may continue. In response, the Kowalski family's attorney, Greg Anderson, acknowledged the ongoing legal challenges but emphasized the finality of the jury's decision. He stated, "If the defense was given the ability, they would never have stopped digging. They would never stop peeling the onion with the juror, and that's just not the way the system operates." The 'Take Care of Maya' trial, which garnered significant attention due to its high-stakes nature and emotional impact, has left a lasting legal and moral impact, with both sides continuing to advocate for their respective positions in the pursuit of justice. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
A juror in the closely-watched 'Take Care of Maya' trial, which recently awarded the Kowalski family $260 million against Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHACH), underwent questioning by Judge Hunter Carroll following allegations of misconduct by the hospital's defense team. After a thorough examination, the judge concluded that the juror did not violate any orders, and the $260 million verdict remains intact. The controversy surrounding the trial stemmed from claims made by JHACH's attorneys, who accused the juror of engaging in improper conduct, including sharing case details with his wife. She was present at the trial and frequently posted her thoughts about the proceedings on social media. The hospital's lawyers argued that the juror's questions in court mirrored the content his wife shared online, suggesting that the couple was exchanging information, a breach of court rules. However, during the questioning, the juror, identified as Paul Lengyel, refuted these allegations. When asked by Judge Carroll whether he had discussed the case with anyone, including his wife, Lengyel firmly responded, "No, I did not." Additionally, the juror explained that his limited eyesight due to diabetes neuropathy prevented him from identifying individuals in the courtroom, including his wife. The judge, after considering the responses, determined that there was no evidence of juror misconduct. The 'Take Care of Maya' trial revolved around allegations made by the Kowalski family against JHACH, claiming that the hospital's actions led to the suicide of family matriarch Beata Kowalski. The case arose from the court's order to shelter Maya Kowalski, the family's child, at JHACH while child abuse allegations were investigated. During this time, Maya was not allowed physical contact with her mother. Tragically, Beata Kowalski took her own life after 87 days without seeing her daughter. The jury's verdict found JHACH guilty of falsely imprisoning Maya, fraudulent billing, causing severe emotional distress, and involving social worker Catherine Bedy in battering Maya, along with medical neglect by Dr. Sally Smith. Attorneys for JHACH subsequently sought a new trial and filed multiple motions alleging juror misconduct and bias. Among the accusations were claims that the juror had lied on a jury questionnaire, had already formed an opinion before deliberations began, and used inappropriate symbols when taking notes about Dr. Sally Smith. Judge Carroll acknowledged that while the defense had raised multiple concerns about the juror's conduct, there was insufficient evidence to warrant a new trial. The $260 million verdict, a significant victory for the Kowalski family, remains unchanged. Attorneys for JHACH expressed their gratitude to the court for interviewing the jury foreman and reiterated their intention to pursue an appeal. They look forward to presenting their case to the Court of Appeals, indicating that this legal battle may continue. In response, the Kowalski family's attorney, Greg Anderson, acknowledged the ongoing legal challenges but emphasized the finality of the jury's decision. He stated, "If the defense was given the ability, they would never have stopped digging. They would never stop peeling the onion with the juror, and that's just not the way the system operates." The 'Take Care of Maya' trial, which garnered significant attention due to its high-stakes nature and emotional impact, has left a lasting legal and moral impact, with both sides continuing to advocate for their respective positions in the pursuit of justice. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
A juror in the closely-watched 'Take Care of Maya' trial, which recently awarded the Kowalski family $260 million against Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHACH), underwent questioning by Judge Hunter Carroll following allegations of misconduct by the hospital's defense team. After a thorough examination, the judge concluded that the juror did not violate any orders, and the $260 million verdict remains intact. The controversy surrounding the trial stemmed from claims made by JHACH's attorneys, who accused the juror of engaging in improper conduct, including sharing case details with his wife. She was present at the trial and frequently posted her thoughts about the proceedings on social media. The hospital's lawyers argued that the juror's questions in court mirrored the content his wife shared online, suggesting that the couple was exchanging information, a breach of court rules. However, during the questioning, the juror, identified as Paul Lengyel, refuted these allegations. When asked by Judge Carroll whether he had discussed the case with anyone, including his wife, Lengyel firmly responded, "No, I did not." Additionally, the juror explained that his limited eyesight due to diabetes neuropathy prevented him from identifying individuals in the courtroom, including his wife. The judge, after considering the responses, determined that there was no evidence of juror misconduct. The 'Take Care of Maya' trial revolved around allegations made by the Kowalski family against JHACH, claiming that the hospital's actions led to the suicide of family matriarch Beata Kowalski. The case arose from the court's order to shelter Maya Kowalski, the family's child, at JHACH while child abuse allegations were investigated. During this time, Maya was not allowed physical contact with her mother. Tragically, Beata Kowalski took her own life after 87 days without seeing her daughter. The jury's verdict found JHACH guilty of falsely imprisoning Maya, fraudulent billing, causing severe emotional distress, and involving social worker Catherine Bedy in battering Maya, along with medical neglect by Dr. Sally Smith. Attorneys for JHACH subsequently sought a new trial and filed multiple motions alleging juror misconduct and bias. Among the accusations were claims that the juror had lied on a jury questionnaire, had already formed an opinion before deliberations began, and used inappropriate symbols when taking notes about Dr. Sally Smith. Judge Carroll acknowledged that while the defense had raised multiple concerns about the juror's conduct, there was insufficient evidence to warrant a new trial. The $260 million verdict, a significant victory for the Kowalski family, remains unchanged. Attorneys for JHACH expressed their gratitude to the court for interviewing the jury foreman and reiterated their intention to pursue an appeal. They look forward to presenting their case to the Court of Appeals, indicating that this legal battle may continue. In response, the Kowalski family's attorney, Greg Anderson, acknowledged the ongoing legal challenges but emphasized the finality of the jury's decision. He stated, "If the defense was given the ability, they would never have stopped digging. They would never stop peeling the onion with the juror, and that's just not the way the system operates." The 'Take Care of Maya' trial, which garnered significant attention due to its high-stakes nature and emotional impact, has left a lasting legal and moral impact, with both sides continuing to advocate for their respective positions in the pursuit of justice. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
In an exclusive interview with Dr. Sally Smith, host Andrea Dunlop travels to Florida to speak to the embattled child abuse pediatrician about her life and work and the Maya Kowalski case that saw her cast as the villain of a Netflix film. We get an inside look into Dr. Smith's groundbreaking career as one of America's first board-certified child abuse pediatricians. We learn what it was like to face some of the most difficult cases imaginable all while raising two children of her own. And we see how the toughness necessary for her work led her to be ruthlessly judged in the public eye. This must-listen first installment of our season finale sets the stage for explosive revelations about the Kowalski case, the four other “falsely accused” families in the Netflix film, and much more. Munchausen Support accepts donations and volunteers at www.munchausensupport.com This show is sponsored by: BETTER HELP: Visit BetterHelp.com/BELIEVEME today to get 10% off your first month. FACTOR MEALS: Visit Factormeals.com/nobodypodcast50 and use code nobodypodcast50 to get 50% off. If you have a story about medical child abuse that you are ready to share you can tag @andreadunlop, email hello@nobodyshouldbelieveme.com or leave us a voicemail at (484) 768-0266 Produced by Larj Media Follow host Andrea Dunlop on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos: @andreadunlop Buy Andrea's books here. Note: This episode contains sensitive content related to child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Download the APSAC's practice guidelines here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHAC) has filed a motion for a new trial in the high-profile Maya Kowalski medical abuse case, citing alleged juror misconduct that could have influenced the previous verdict. The hospital is claiming that a juror's notes containing Nazi symbols indicate bias against one of the defendants, Dr. Sally Smith. This development follows a November verdict awarding Maya Kowalski's family over $260 million in damages due to alleged mistreatment at the hospital. The controversy revolves around Juror No. 1, who, according to JHAC's motion, wrote notes during the trial with Nazi symbols placed suggestively around Dr. Sally Smith's name. The hospital argues that this behavior demonstrates bias and prejudice against Dr. Smith, equating her with the Nazi Schutzstaffel, a paramilitary organization from World War II. In response, Maya's attorney, Greg Anderson, expressed strong opposition to the hospital's motion, deeming it "completely and utterly inappropriate." Anderson stated, "Even if there were some way to make a connection — which there's not in any way, shape or form. Going after a juror — and trying to make any connection at all to such a loathsome part of history is … inappropriate and contrary to everything that our rules of professional conduct stand for." The defense has also alleged other instances of juror misconduct, suggesting that Juror No. 1 may have held negative feelings toward the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The juror posted a statement about the trial on a public Facebook page associated with the "Take Care of Maya" documentary, expressing opposition to JHAC's motion for a new trial. Despite these allegations, Anderson maintains that the defense is "grasping at straws" and pursuing various arguments for a new trial. He believes the hospital's desire for a do-over does not align with the jury's verdict and public sentiment. "They just don't understand that the jury, in fact, the country, has rejected their conduct," Anderson added. The Maya Kowalski case gained significant attention when the jury awarded the Kowalski family substantial damages on November 9th. The family had alleged that JHAC falsely imprisoned Maya, fraudulently billed her family, and caused them severe emotional distress. The jury also determined that social worker Catherine Bedy had battered Maya, and Dr. Smith had medically neglected her. Maya's medical journey began when she was admitted to JHAC at the age of 10, suffering from a complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Subsequent concerns led to her removal from her parents' custody after staff accused Beata Kowalski, her mother, of medical abuse. The case inspired the popular documentary series "Take Care of Maya." With a hearing for the new trial set for Friday, the case continues to generate debate and public interest. JHAC's motion for a new trial raises questions about the impact of alleged juror misconduct on the previously awarded damages and the potential for a retrial in this highly contentious medical abuse case. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHAC) has filed a motion for a new trial in the high-profile Maya Kowalski medical abuse case, citing alleged juror misconduct that could have influenced the previous verdict. The hospital is claiming that a juror's notes containing Nazi symbols indicate bias against one of the defendants, Dr. Sally Smith. This development follows a November verdict awarding Maya Kowalski's family over $260 million in damages due to alleged mistreatment at the hospital. The controversy revolves around Juror No. 1, who, according to JHAC's motion, wrote notes during the trial with Nazi symbols placed suggestively around Dr. Sally Smith's name. The hospital argues that this behavior demonstrates bias and prejudice against Dr. Smith, equating her with the Nazi Schutzstaffel, a paramilitary organization from World War II. In response, Maya's attorney, Greg Anderson, expressed strong opposition to the hospital's motion, deeming it "completely and utterly inappropriate." Anderson stated, "Even if there were some way to make a connection — which there's not in any way, shape or form. Going after a juror — and trying to make any connection at all to such a loathsome part of history is … inappropriate and contrary to everything that our rules of professional conduct stand for." The defense has also alleged other instances of juror misconduct, suggesting that Juror No. 1 may have held negative feelings toward the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The juror posted a statement about the trial on a public Facebook page associated with the "Take Care of Maya" documentary, expressing opposition to JHAC's motion for a new trial. Despite these allegations, Anderson maintains that the defense is "grasping at straws" and pursuing various arguments for a new trial. He believes the hospital's desire for a do-over does not align with the jury's verdict and public sentiment. "They just don't understand that the jury, in fact, the country, has rejected their conduct," Anderson added. The Maya Kowalski case gained significant attention when the jury awarded the Kowalski family substantial damages on November 9th. The family had alleged that JHAC falsely imprisoned Maya, fraudulently billed her family, and caused them severe emotional distress. The jury also determined that social worker Catherine Bedy had battered Maya, and Dr. Smith had medically neglected her. Maya's medical journey began when she was admitted to JHAC at the age of 10, suffering from a complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Subsequent concerns led to her removal from her parents' custody after staff accused Beata Kowalski, her mother, of medical abuse. The case inspired the popular documentary series "Take Care of Maya." With a hearing for the new trial set for Friday, the case continues to generate debate and public interest. JHAC's motion for a new trial raises questions about the impact of alleged juror misconduct on the previously awarded damages and the potential for a retrial in this highly contentious medical abuse case.
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHAC) has filed a motion for a new trial in the high-profile Maya Kowalski medical abuse case, citing alleged juror misconduct that could have influenced the previous verdict. The hospital is claiming that a juror's notes containing Nazi symbols indicate bias against one of the defendants, Dr. Sally Smith. This development follows a November verdict awarding Maya Kowalski's family over $260 million in damages due to alleged mistreatment at the hospital. The controversy revolves around Juror No. 1, who, according to JHAC's motion, wrote notes during the trial with Nazi symbols placed suggestively around Dr. Sally Smith's name. The hospital argues that this behavior demonstrates bias and prejudice against Dr. Smith, equating her with the Nazi Schutzstaffel, a paramilitary organization from World War II. In response, Maya's attorney, Greg Anderson, expressed strong opposition to the hospital's motion, deeming it "completely and utterly inappropriate." Anderson stated, "Even if there were some way to make a connection — which there's not in any way, shape or form. Going after a juror — and trying to make any connection at all to such a loathsome part of history is … inappropriate and contrary to everything that our rules of professional conduct stand for." The defense has also alleged other instances of juror misconduct, suggesting that Juror No. 1 may have held negative feelings toward the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The juror posted a statement about the trial on a public Facebook page associated with the "Take Care of Maya" documentary, expressing opposition to JHAC's motion for a new trial. Despite these allegations, Anderson maintains that the defense is "grasping at straws" and pursuing various arguments for a new trial. He believes the hospital's desire for a do-over does not align with the jury's verdict and public sentiment. "They just don't understand that the jury, in fact, the country, has rejected their conduct," Anderson added. The Maya Kowalski case gained significant attention when the jury awarded the Kowalski family substantial damages on November 9th. The family had alleged that JHAC falsely imprisoned Maya, fraudulently billed her family, and caused them severe emotional distress. The jury also determined that social worker Catherine Bedy had battered Maya, and Dr. Smith had medically neglected her. Maya's medical journey began when she was admitted to JHAC at the age of 10, suffering from a complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Subsequent concerns led to her removal from her parents' custody after staff accused Beata Kowalski, her mother, of medical abuse. The case inspired the popular documentary series "Take Care of Maya." With a hearing for the new trial set for Friday, the case continues to generate debate and public interest. JHAC's motion for a new trial raises questions about the impact of alleged juror misconduct on the previously awarded damages and the potential for a retrial in this highly contentious medical abuse case.
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHAC) in St. Petersburg, Florida, found itself back in court on Friday, seeking a new trial following a groundbreaking civil case where they were found liable for mistreating a chronically ill young girl, Maya Kowalski, and her family, ultimately resulting in the tragic death of Beata Kowalski, Maya's mother. The hospital's ordeal, as depicted in the Netflix documentary "Take Care of Maya," gained critical acclaim for exposing the alleged mistreatment of the young girl and her family. In a civil trial earlier this year, a six-person jury in Sarasota County unanimously ruled in favor of the Kowalski family, awarding them a staggering $261 million in compensatory and punitive damages, far exceeding their initial request. However, JHAC is now compellingly arguing for a new trial, primarily based on allegations of juror bias and misconduct. The hospital's attorney raised several key points during the recent proceedings: 1. **Juror Misrepresentation:** JHAC's legal team alleged that Juror No. 1 misrepresented material information during jury selection. The juror failed to disclose that he had been a victim of a crime in the past, specifically a threat by his stepson. This omission, the hospital claims, would have led to further questions and potentially the juror's exclusion during jury selection. 2. **Past Injunction for Domestic Violence:** The hospital asserted that Juror No. 1 was served with an injunction for domestic violence in 2002. While the details are sealed, the hospital argued that this incident should have been disclosed and could have led to the juror's removal from the jury pool. 3. **Bias against a Hospital Employee:** The hospital pointed out that Juror No. 1 displayed bias against a hospital employee named Sally Smith. The juror's note during the trial, which resembled the letter "S" used in the Nazi Schutzstaffel symbol, raised concerns about his impartiality. 4. **Alleged Communications During the Trial:** JHAC also alleged that Juror No. 1's wife made social media postings during the trial, which suggested communication about the case between the juror and his wife. The hospital requested an inspection of their electronic devices to review their text messages if a juror interview is granted. In response, the plaintiff's attorney argued that the hospital's case relies heavily on assumptions and coincidences from a high-profile trial that was publicly broadcast. They emphasized that the alleged misrepresentations and biases were easily explainable and inconsequential, portraying them as a conspiracy. The plaintiff also addressed the 2016 affidavit filed against the juror's stepson, clarifying that it did not result in a conviction or any violent crime and occurred before the juror's marriage. Regarding the sharp-angled "S" letters in the juror's note, the plaintiff's attorney presented evidence showing that similar letters have been commonly used for a long time and should not be associated with Nazi symbols. The judge presiding over the case, Hon. Carroll, will decide in the coming week whether a juror interview will be conducted. The resolution of this issue and other matters, including JHAC's request for a new trial, will depend on this decision. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHAC) in St. Petersburg, Florida, found itself back in court on Friday, seeking a new trial following a groundbreaking civil case where they were found liable for mistreating a chronically ill young girl, Maya Kowalski, and her family, ultimately resulting in the tragic death of Beata Kowalski, Maya's mother. The hospital's ordeal, as depicted in the Netflix documentary "Take Care of Maya," gained critical acclaim for exposing the alleged mistreatment of the young girl and her family. In a civil trial earlier this year, a six-person jury in Sarasota County unanimously ruled in favor of the Kowalski family, awarding them a staggering $261 million in compensatory and punitive damages, far exceeding their initial request. However, JHAC is now compellingly arguing for a new trial, primarily based on allegations of juror bias and misconduct. The hospital's attorney raised several key points during the recent proceedings: 1. **Juror Misrepresentation:** JHAC's legal team alleged that Juror No. 1 misrepresented material information during jury selection. The juror failed to disclose that he had been a victim of a crime in the past, specifically a threat by his stepson. This omission, the hospital claims, would have led to further questions and potentially the juror's exclusion during jury selection. 2. **Past Injunction for Domestic Violence:** The hospital asserted that Juror No. 1 was served with an injunction for domestic violence in 2002. While the details are sealed, the hospital argued that this incident should have been disclosed and could have led to the juror's removal from the jury pool. 3. **Bias against a Hospital Employee:** The hospital pointed out that Juror No. 1 displayed bias against a hospital employee named Sally Smith. The juror's note during the trial, which resembled the letter "S" used in the Nazi Schutzstaffel symbol, raised concerns about his impartiality. 4. **Alleged Communications During the Trial:** JHAC also alleged that Juror No. 1's wife made social media postings during the trial, which suggested communication about the case between the juror and his wife. The hospital requested an inspection of their electronic devices to review their text messages if a juror interview is granted. In response, the plaintiff's attorney argued that the hospital's case relies heavily on assumptions and coincidences from a high-profile trial that was publicly broadcast. They emphasized that the alleged misrepresentations and biases were easily explainable and inconsequential, portraying them as a conspiracy. The plaintiff also addressed the 2016 affidavit filed against the juror's stepson, clarifying that it did not result in a conviction or any violent crime and occurred before the juror's marriage. Regarding the sharp-angled "S" letters in the juror's note, the plaintiff's attorney presented evidence showing that similar letters have been commonly used for a long time and should not be associated with Nazi symbols. The judge presiding over the case, Hon. Carroll, will decide in the coming week whether a juror interview will be conducted. The resolution of this issue and other matters, including JHAC's request for a new trial, will depend on this decision. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHAC) in St. Petersburg, Florida, found itself back in court on Friday, seeking a new trial following a groundbreaking civil case where they were found liable for mistreating a chronically ill young girl, Maya Kowalski, and her family, ultimately resulting in the tragic death of Beata Kowalski, Maya's mother. The hospital's ordeal, as depicted in the Netflix documentary "Take Care of Maya," gained critical acclaim for exposing the alleged mistreatment of the young girl and her family. In a civil trial earlier this year, a six-person jury in Sarasota County unanimously ruled in favor of the Kowalski family, awarding them a staggering $261 million in compensatory and punitive damages, far exceeding their initial request. However, JHAC is now compellingly arguing for a new trial, primarily based on allegations of juror bias and misconduct. The hospital's attorney raised several key points during the recent proceedings: 1. **Juror Misrepresentation:** JHAC's legal team alleged that Juror No. 1 misrepresented material information during jury selection. The juror failed to disclose that he had been a victim of a crime in the past, specifically a threat by his stepson. This omission, the hospital claims, would have led to further questions and potentially the juror's exclusion during jury selection. 2. **Past Injunction for Domestic Violence:** The hospital asserted that Juror No. 1 was served with an injunction for domestic violence in 2002. While the details are sealed, the hospital argued that this incident should have been disclosed and could have led to the juror's removal from the jury pool. 3. **Bias against a Hospital Employee:** The hospital pointed out that Juror No. 1 displayed bias against a hospital employee named Sally Smith. The juror's note during the trial, which resembled the letter "S" used in the Nazi Schutzstaffel symbol, raised concerns about his impartiality. 4. **Alleged Communications During the Trial:** JHAC also alleged that Juror No. 1's wife made social media postings during the trial, which suggested communication about the case between the juror and his wife. The hospital requested an inspection of their electronic devices to review their text messages if a juror interview is granted. In response, the plaintiff's attorney argued that the hospital's case relies heavily on assumptions and coincidences from a high-profile trial that was publicly broadcast. They emphasized that the alleged misrepresentations and biases were easily explainable and inconsequential, portraying them as a conspiracy. The plaintiff also addressed the 2016 affidavit filed against the juror's stepson, clarifying that it did not result in a conviction or any violent crime and occurred before the juror's marriage. Regarding the sharp-angled "S" letters in the juror's note, the plaintiff's attorney presented evidence showing that similar letters have been commonly used for a long time and should not be associated with Nazi symbols. The judge presiding over the case, Hon. Carroll, will decide in the coming week whether a juror interview will be conducted. The resolution of this issue and other matters, including JHAC's request for a new trial, will depend on this decision. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHAC) in St. Petersburg, Florida, found itself back in court on Friday, seeking a new trial following a groundbreaking civil case where they were found liable for mistreating a chronically ill young girl, Maya Kowalski, and her family, ultimately resulting in the tragic death of Beata Kowalski, Maya's mother. The hospital's ordeal, as depicted in the Netflix documentary "Take Care of Maya," gained critical acclaim for exposing the alleged mistreatment of the young girl and her family. In a civil trial earlier this year, a six-person jury in Sarasota County unanimously ruled in favor of the Kowalski family, awarding them a staggering $261 million in compensatory and punitive damages, far exceeding their initial request. However, JHAC is now compellingly arguing for a new trial, primarily based on allegations of juror bias and misconduct. The hospital's attorney raised several key points during the recent proceedings: 1. **Juror Misrepresentation:** JHAC's legal team alleged that Juror No. 1 misrepresented material information during jury selection. The juror failed to disclose that he had been a victim of a crime in the past, specifically a threat by his stepson. This omission, the hospital claims, would have led to further questions and potentially the juror's exclusion during jury selection. 2. **Past Injunction for Domestic Violence:** The hospital asserted that Juror No. 1 was served with an injunction for domestic violence in 2002. While the details are sealed, the hospital argued that this incident should have been disclosed and could have led to the juror's removal from the jury pool. 3. **Bias against a Hospital Employee:** The hospital pointed out that Juror No. 1 displayed bias against a hospital employee named Sally Smith. The juror's note during the trial, which resembled the letter "S" used in the Nazi Schutzstaffel symbol, raised concerns about his impartiality. 4. **Alleged Communications During the Trial:** JHAC also alleged that Juror No. 1's wife made social media postings during the trial, which suggested communication about the case between the juror and his wife. The hospital requested an inspection of their electronic devices to review their text messages if a juror interview is granted. In response, the plaintiff's attorney argued that the hospital's case relies heavily on assumptions and coincidences from a high-profile trial that was publicly broadcast. They emphasized that the alleged misrepresentations and biases were easily explainable and inconsequential, portraying them as a conspiracy. The plaintiff also addressed the 2016 affidavit filed against the juror's stepson, clarifying that it did not result in a conviction or any violent crime and occurred before the juror's marriage. Regarding the sharp-angled "S" letters in the juror's note, the plaintiff's attorney presented evidence showing that similar letters have been commonly used for a long time and should not be associated with Nazi symbols. The judge presiding over the case, Hon. Carroll, will decide in the coming week whether a juror interview will be conducted. The resolution of this issue and other matters, including JHAC's request for a new trial, will depend on this decision. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHAC) in St. Petersburg, Florida, found itself back in court on Friday, seeking a new trial following a groundbreaking civil case where they were found liable for mistreating a chronically ill young girl, Maya Kowalski, and her family, ultimately resulting in the tragic death of Beata Kowalski, Maya's mother. The hospital's ordeal, as depicted in the Netflix documentary "Take Care of Maya," gained critical acclaim for exposing the alleged mistreatment of the young girl and her family. In a civil trial earlier this year, a six-person jury in Sarasota County unanimously ruled in favor of the Kowalski family, awarding them a staggering $261 million in compensatory and punitive damages, far exceeding their initial request. However, JHAC is now compellingly arguing for a new trial, primarily based on allegations of juror bias and misconduct. The hospital's attorney raised several key points during the recent proceedings: 1. **Juror Misrepresentation:** JHAC's legal team alleged that Juror No. 1 misrepresented material information during jury selection. The juror failed to disclose that he had been a victim of a crime in the past, specifically a threat by his stepson. This omission, the hospital claims, would have led to further questions and potentially the juror's exclusion during jury selection. 2. **Past Injunction for Domestic Violence:** The hospital asserted that Juror No. 1 was served with an injunction for domestic violence in 2002. While the details are sealed, the hospital argued that this incident should have been disclosed and could have led to the juror's removal from the jury pool. 3. **Bias against a Hospital Employee:** The hospital pointed out that Juror No. 1 displayed bias against a hospital employee named Sally Smith. The juror's note during the trial, which resembled the letter "S" used in the Nazi Schutzstaffel symbol, raised concerns about his impartiality. 4. **Alleged Communications During the Trial:** JHAC also alleged that Juror No. 1's wife made social media postings during the trial, which suggested communication about the case between the juror and his wife. The hospital requested an inspection of their electronic devices to review their text messages if a juror interview is granted. In response, the plaintiff's attorney argued that the hospital's case relies heavily on assumptions and coincidences from a high-profile trial that was publicly broadcast. They emphasized that the alleged misrepresentations and biases were easily explainable and inconsequential, portraying them as a conspiracy. The plaintiff also addressed the 2016 affidavit filed against the juror's stepson, clarifying that it did not result in a conviction or any violent crime and occurred before the juror's marriage. Regarding the sharp-angled "S" letters in the juror's note, the plaintiff's attorney presented evidence showing that similar letters have been commonly used for a long time and should not be associated with Nazi symbols. The judge presiding over the case, Hon. Carroll, will decide in the coming week whether a juror interview will be conducted. The resolution of this issue and other matters, including JHAC's request for a new trial, will depend on this decision. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHAC) in St. Petersburg, Florida, found itself back in court on Friday, seeking a new trial following a groundbreaking civil case where they were found liable for mistreating a chronically ill young girl, Maya Kowalski, and her family, ultimately resulting in the tragic death of Beata Kowalski, Maya's mother. The hospital's ordeal, as depicted in the Netflix documentary "Take Care of Maya," gained critical acclaim for exposing the alleged mistreatment of the young girl and her family. In a civil trial earlier this year, a six-person jury in Sarasota County unanimously ruled in favor of the Kowalski family, awarding them a staggering $261 million in compensatory and punitive damages, far exceeding their initial request. However, JHAC is now compellingly arguing for a new trial, primarily based on allegations of juror bias and misconduct. The hospital's attorney raised several key points during the recent proceedings: 1. **Juror Misrepresentation:** JHAC's legal team alleged that Juror No. 1 misrepresented material information during jury selection. The juror failed to disclose that he had been a victim of a crime in the past, specifically a threat by his stepson. This omission, the hospital claims, would have led to further questions and potentially the juror's exclusion during jury selection. 2. **Past Injunction for Domestic Violence:** The hospital asserted that Juror No. 1 was served with an injunction for domestic violence in 2002. While the details are sealed, the hospital argued that this incident should have been disclosed and could have led to the juror's removal from the jury pool. 3. **Bias against a Hospital Employee:** The hospital pointed out that Juror No. 1 displayed bias against a hospital employee named Sally Smith. The juror's note during the trial, which resembled the letter "S" used in the Nazi Schutzstaffel symbol, raised concerns about his impartiality. 4. **Alleged Communications During the Trial:** JHAC also alleged that Juror No. 1's wife made social media postings during the trial, which suggested communication about the case between the juror and his wife. The hospital requested an inspection of their electronic devices to review their text messages if a juror interview is granted. In response, the plaintiff's attorney argued that the hospital's case relies heavily on assumptions and coincidences from a high-profile trial that was publicly broadcast. They emphasized that the alleged misrepresentations and biases were easily explainable and inconsequential, portraying them as a conspiracy. The plaintiff also addressed the 2016 affidavit filed against the juror's stepson, clarifying that it did not result in a conviction or any violent crime and occurred before the juror's marriage. Regarding the sharp-angled "S" letters in the juror's note, the plaintiff's attorney presented evidence showing that similar letters have been commonly used for a long time and should not be associated with Nazi symbols. The judge presiding over the case, Hon. Carroll, will decide in the coming week whether a juror interview will be conducted. The resolution of this issue and other matters, including JHAC's request for a new trial, will depend on this decision. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Sally is both captivating and intelligent, and both of these traits shine through as she regaled me with multiple stories of magic! Including: 1. How she learned that magic was a VERY REAL THING in the Amazon, 2. How Our Lady of Guadalupe is a very potent healing force, 3. And finally, that the Forest Trickster, Chullachaqui, is alive and well, and looking for those he can lead off into the jungle! I suspect Sally's superpower is her sense of humor, because one of her tales comes with a trigger warning...but still, she laughs and reflects on the lesson learned in that encounter~and I think that humor and awe might be what saves us in the end...but Sally is already there, out in front, showing that with both of these traits, even the most mysterious happenings can be faced with grace! (and then shared, so that others can learn as well!) Please consider rating and reviewing the pod, it means so very much to me! Attributions: Music: Love Trip (instrumental) by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/2968-love-trip-instrumental Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Imagefilm 044 (long) by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3242-imagefilm-044-long Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tenta Mallets by Arti The A.I. & Sascha Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12048-tenta-mallets Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Nothing Lasts Forever by Koala Vert Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11801-nothing-lasts-forever Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: A Nice Dream by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11513-a-nice-dream Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Mousey Mcmousekewitz by Tim Kulig Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12039-mousey-mcmousekewitz Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Suspenseful Cinematic Ambient by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6195-suspenseful-cinematic-ambient Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Urban Lullaby [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12037-urban-lullaby-full-version Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Havana Nocturne by Justin Allan Arnold Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11183-havana-nocturne Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Summer Party 2 by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9236-summer-party-2 Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Sally is both captivating and intelligent, and both of these traits shine through as she regaled me with multiple stories of magic! Including: 1. How she learned that magic was a VERY REAL THING in the Amazon, 2. How Our Lady of Guadalupe is a very potent healing force, 3. And finally, that the Forest Trickster, Chullachaqui, is alive and well, and looking for those he can lead off into the jungle! I suspect Sally's superpower is her sense of humor, because one of her tales comes with a trigger warning...but still, she laughs and reflects on the lesson learned in that encounter~and I think that humor and awe might be what saves us in the end...but Sally is already there, out in front, showing that with both of these traits, even the most mysterious happenings can be faced with grace! (and then shared, so that others can learn as well!) Please consider rating and reviewing the pod, it means so very much to me! Attributions: Music: Love Trip (instrumental) by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/2968-love-trip-instrumental Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Imagefilm 044 (long) by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3242-imagefilm-044-long Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tenta Mallets by Arti The A.I. & Sascha Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12048-tenta-mallets Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Nothing Lasts Forever by Koala Vert Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11801-nothing-lasts-forever Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: A Nice Dream by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11513-a-nice-dream Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Mousey Mcmousekewitz by Tim Kulig Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12039-mousey-mcmousekewitz Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Suspenseful Cinematic Ambient by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6195-suspenseful-cinematic-ambient Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Urban Lullaby [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12037-urban-lullaby-full-version Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Havana Nocturne by Justin Allan Arnold Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11183-havana-nocturne Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Summer Party 2 by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9236-summer-party-2 Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
In a verdict that has captured national attention, the Kowalski family was awarded over $250 million in their lawsuit against Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital. The case, laden with emotional turmoil and legal complexities, was recently dissected on the "Hidden Killers" podcast, hosted by Tony Brueski, featuring insights from trial consultant and body language expert Susan Constantine. The crux of the case revolved around the treatment of Maya Kowalski and the subsequent suicide of her mother, Beata. The family's painful journey, marked by medical negligence and questionable practices at the hospital, culminated in a staggering financial judgment. Constantine, renowned for her expertise in deciphering body language, offered a unique perspective on key testimonies during the trial. She was particularly struck by the demeanor of Sally Smith, whose body language she described as exhibiting a "bulldog" attitude. Constantine noted, "She had a lot of scowling that was around her mouth... and her arrogance... screamed loudly from that witness box." Another pivotal figure in the trial was Catherine Betty, a social worker with a checkered past. Constantine analyzed her deposition, observing, "She looked like Joan Cleaver next door... but her overall appearance seemed to be soft and likable, but then that's where you kind of tie in the evidence." This contrast between appearance and actions was a recurring theme in Constantine's analysis. The heart-wrenching testimony of Maya and her family was another focal point. Constantine, having met the family, conveyed the depth of their pain and the authenticity of their accounts. "The eyes are windows of their soul. So much sadness and brokenness... They were the most humble family," she reflected. Constantine further discussed the impact of Beata Kowalski's suicide on the verdict. She emphasized the emotional charge the incident brought to the trial, stating, "That's a wound that never heals and it affects people for their lives." The podcast also delved into the broader implications of such a substantial verdict on the medical community. Constantine speculated about the potential for class action lawsuits, highlighting the systemic issues the case has unearthed. "This is going to open up to be a massive class action lawsuit. You wait, it's coming," she predicted. The verdict in the Take Care of Maya case represents more than just a financial penalty; it's a clarion call for systemic changes in hospital practices and accountability. The substantial sum awarded to the Kowalski family signifies a societal acknowledgment of the profound damages wrought by medical negligence and the need for more stringent oversight in healthcare institutions. As the dust settles on this landmark case, one question lingers: Will the Take Care of Maya verdict be the catalyst for a new era of medical accountability and patient advocacy? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
In a verdict that has captured national attention, the Kowalski family was awarded over $250 million in their lawsuit against Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital. The case, laden with emotional turmoil and legal complexities, was recently dissected on the "Hidden Killers" podcast, hosted by Tony Brueski, featuring insights from trial consultant and body language expert Susan Constantine. The crux of the case revolved around the treatment of Maya Kowalski and the subsequent suicide of her mother, Beata. The family's painful journey, marked by medical negligence and questionable practices at the hospital, culminated in a staggering financial judgment. Constantine, renowned for her expertise in deciphering body language, offered a unique perspective on key testimonies during the trial. She was particularly struck by the demeanor of Sally Smith, whose body language she described as exhibiting a "bulldog" attitude. Constantine noted, "She had a lot of scowling that was around her mouth... and her arrogance... screamed loudly from that witness box." Another pivotal figure in the trial was Catherine Betty, a social worker with a checkered past. Constantine analyzed her deposition, observing, "She looked like Joan Cleaver next door... but her overall appearance seemed to be soft and likable, but then that's where you kind of tie in the evidence." This contrast between appearance and actions was a recurring theme in Constantine's analysis. The heart-wrenching testimony of Maya and her family was another focal point. Constantine, having met the family, conveyed the depth of their pain and the authenticity of their accounts. "The eyes are windows of their soul. So much sadness and brokenness... They were the most humble family," she reflected. Constantine further discussed the impact of Beata Kowalski's suicide on the verdict. She emphasized the emotional charge the incident brought to the trial, stating, "That's a wound that never heals and it affects people for their lives." The podcast also delved into the broader implications of such a substantial verdict on the medical community. Constantine speculated about the potential for class action lawsuits, highlighting the systemic issues the case has unearthed. "This is going to open up to be a massive class action lawsuit. You wait, it's coming," she predicted. The verdict in the Take Care of Maya case represents more than just a financial penalty; it's a clarion call for systemic changes in hospital practices and accountability. The substantial sum awarded to the Kowalski family signifies a societal acknowledgment of the profound damages wrought by medical negligence and the need for more stringent oversight in healthcare institutions. As the dust settles on this landmark case, one question lingers: Will the Take Care of Maya verdict be the catalyst for a new era of medical accountability and patient advocacy? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
It's every parent's nightmare: a medical institution diagnosing their child, and then a subsequent loss of custody based on questionable claims. But when the institutions you trust begin to make unverifiable assumptions about parents, what remains of justice? On a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast with Tony Brueski, a concerning pattern emerged during a conversation with Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert, Susan Constantine. Brueski broached a concerning topic regarding Dr. Smith, whose role at Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital appeared to be absent of the checks and balances we often associate with justice. This lack of oversight led Constantine to reveal a startling connection. "Okay. So there is a route to all of this," she began. In Orlando, a psychological firm wrote a book on Munchausen's by proxy disorder. Constantine noted that despite it being a rare condition, there's been a significant influx of women diagnosed in that area. Contrary to the conventional understanding of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, where a guardian may fake a child's illness, these mothers are accused of the opposite – trying to help their children recover from genuine health issues. Constantine goes on to claim, "Here is the person that wrote this book that literally removed the children from my dear friend of 40 years." Though she is able to read people well, being a body language expert, she has seen no signs of Munchausen's by proxy disorder in her friend. Instead, she describes an alarming pattern in which women, primarily mothers, are being wrongly diagnosed by a forensic psychologist, now colloquially termed as "Dr. XYZ moms". This chain of diagnosis and removal of children has extensive implications, particularly in child custody battles. "The courts say you have to go through counseling for co-parenting... and whoever it is that has the biggest, widest pockets," Constantine explains. Those with more financial means, typically fathers, can exploit this diagnosis to gain full custody of their children. With the false diagnosis of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, mothers are effectively removed from their children's lives, permanently. Complicating the matter further is the monetization of this system. This Orlando-based firm, according to Constantine, charges large sums for evaluations, leaving countless families grappling with not only the loss of their children but significant financial burdens as well. Brueski's probing question about the motive behind such actions illuminates a larger issue. "Is this something where overall there needs to be reform in the entire system?" he asks. Indeed, Constantine points to the formation of collaborative law groups that control a significant portion of these processes. These groups, comprised of forensic psychologists and arbitrators for custody battles, form a tightly-knit community. The implication is clear: expose one, and the whole system might collapse. It's a sobering realization when those tasked with justice seem entwined in questionable practices. Constantine's revelations, interwoven with personal experiences and ties to those affected, paint a disturbing picture. One where justice isn't just blind; it might also be compromised. At the heart of this narrative is the issue of training, or rather the lack of it. Constantine describes her experience with training workers in the department of children and families. Their lack of expertise and inadequate training leaves them ill-equipped to handle sensitive family matters, leading to decisions that often rip families apart. In concluding the interview, Brueski and Constantine shed light on an urgent need for reform and proper training. With families being torn apart based on unverified and often false diagnoses, the question becomes: How many more lives will be shattered before the system rights its wrongs?Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
It's every parent's nightmare: a medical institution diagnosing their child, and then a subsequent loss of custody based on questionable claims. But when the institutions you trust begin to make unverifiable assumptions about parents, what remains of justice? On a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast with Tony Brueski, a concerning pattern emerged during a conversation with Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert, Susan Constantine. Brueski broached a concerning topic regarding Dr. Smith, whose role at Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital appeared to be absent of the checks and balances we often associate with justice. This lack of oversight led Constantine to reveal a startling connection. "Okay. So there is a route to all of this," she began. In Orlando, a psychological firm wrote a book on Munchausen's by proxy disorder. Constantine noted that despite it being a rare condition, there's been a significant influx of women diagnosed in that area. Contrary to the conventional understanding of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, where a guardian may fake a child's illness, these mothers are accused of the opposite – trying to help their children recover from genuine health issues. Constantine goes on to claim, "Here is the person that wrote this book that literally removed the children from my dear friend of 40 years." Though she is able to read people well, being a body language expert, she has seen no signs of Munchausen's by proxy disorder in her friend. Instead, she describes an alarming pattern in which women, primarily mothers, are being wrongly diagnosed by a forensic psychologist, now colloquially termed as "Dr. XYZ moms". This chain of diagnosis and removal of children has extensive implications, particularly in child custody battles. "The courts say you have to go through counseling for co-parenting... and whoever it is that has the biggest, widest pockets," Constantine explains. Those with more financial means, typically fathers, can exploit this diagnosis to gain full custody of their children. With the false diagnosis of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, mothers are effectively removed from their children's lives, permanently. Complicating the matter further is the monetization of this system. This Orlando-based firm, according to Constantine, charges large sums for evaluations, leaving countless families grappling with not only the loss of their children but significant financial burdens as well. Brueski's probing question about the motive behind such actions illuminates a larger issue. "Is this something where overall there needs to be reform in the entire system?" he asks. Indeed, Constantine points to the formation of collaborative law groups that control a significant portion of these processes. These groups, comprised of forensic psychologists and arbitrators for custody battles, form a tightly-knit community. The implication is clear: expose one, and the whole system might collapse. It's a sobering realization when those tasked with justice seem entwined in questionable practices. Constantine's revelations, interwoven with personal experiences and ties to those affected, paint a disturbing picture. One where justice isn't just blind; it might also be compromised. At the heart of this narrative is the issue of training, or rather the lack of it. Constantine describes her experience with training workers in the department of children and families. Their lack of expertise and inadequate training leaves them ill-equipped to handle sensitive family matters, leading to decisions that often rip families apart. In concluding the interview, Brueski and Constantine shed light on an urgent need for reform and proper training. With families being torn apart based on unverified and often false diagnoses, the question becomes: How many more lives will be shattered before the system rights its wrongs?Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
In the flattened version of the Maya Kowalski story that has dominated the headlines, Beata Kowalski is a mother who fell prey to age-old biases against women. This story attaches itself to the well-documented reality that women are all too often not believed when it comes to their own pain, the stories of their own lives, and their professional opinions. Beata is cast as the martyr in Netflix's “Take Care of Maya” and two other women, Cathy Beady and Dr. Sally Smith, are cast as the villains. Today, we unpack the messy gender dynamics of this case. Cathy Beady is the social worker with a troubling past who's been accused of grooming and assaulting Maya Kowalski. What do we know about what happened during Maya's stay at Johns Hopkins All Childrens? Was Cathy Beady really hellbent on keeping Maya and Beata apart? Media coverage of the Maya Kowalski story has also done irreparable harm to the life and career of the respected doctor at the center of the controversy: child abuse pediatrician Sally Smith. She's been accused of violating HIPPA in a single-minded crusade to create a case against Beata Kowalski. But is there evidence that Dr. Smith did anything other than her job? Did she drive Beata to death as the film suggests or is it possible her interventions saved Maya Kowalski's life? As we break down the narratives and misinformation surrounding this case we get to the heart of the matter. The Kowalski legal team's claims that Munchausen by proxy is based on “junk science” and that Beata Kowalski wasn't guilty of medical child abuse because this form of abuse isn't even real. To support the show, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or go to Patreon.com/NobodyShouldBelieveMe where you can listen to exclusive bonus content and access all episodes early and ad-free, including weekly recaps of the Kowalski trial. Produced by Larj Media Follow host Andrea Dunlop on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos: @andreadunlop Buy Andrea's books here. For more information and resources on Munchausen by Proxy, please visit MunchausenSupport.com Download the APSAC's practice guidelines here. *** Sponsored by: *Hello Fresh, America's #1 meal kit Go to HelloFresh.com/50believe and use code 50believe for 50% off your first order plus 15% off the next 2 months! *Brilliant Earth Well-made and responsibly sourced. Find beautiful, unique styles at BrilliantEarth.com. *Who Killed Mia (Relatable) Get Who Killed Mia for your next game night, and get 20% off with promo code BELIEVE at Relatable.com/whokilledmia. Note: This episode contains sensitive content related to child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. *Better Help To be matched with a licensed therapist, visit Betterhelp.com/BelieveMe to get 10% off your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In a heart-wrenching episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, host Tony Brueski and guest, Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert, Susan Constantine, dove deep into a haunting tale of misdiagnosis, systemic failures, and profound loss. Their discussion prompts a disturbing question: Are some children being taken away from their loving homes based on misunderstandings and flawed assessments? Brueski paints a grim picture of the situation, noting, “We have so many issues, it seems with CPS. And things not being taken action on, and children being left in horrific situations. What is going on here where we have kids that literally have good homes...ripped out of their parents arms when they need the most?” Constantine's connection to this issue is deeply personal. She recounts the story of a close friend whose children were forcibly removed because of a misdiagnosis: Munchausen's by proxy disorder. The disorder, in its essence, is when a caregiver or parent fabricates, exaggerates, or induces illness in a person under their care for attention or other gains. However, as Constantine points out, it was “debunked almost five years ago” and is now referred to as a "fictitious disorder." This leads to the harrowing account of Maya Kowalski, a child experiencing excruciating pain that baffled medical professionals. As her mother sought answers and treatments both within the United States and beyond, she was met with skepticism and mistrust. Despite the mother's attempts to articulate her daughter's journey and the treatments she'd discovered, it was misconstrued as over-medicalization. Ultimately, it led to a tragic end with Maya's mother succumbing to despair and taking her own life. One of the most chilling aspects discussed is the potential for a financial incentive in removing children from their homes. Vinnie Politan, as mentioned by Constantine, explored this on Court TV. But beyond financial motives lies the broader issue of trust in so-called "expert" assessments. Constantine expressed her frustration, saying, “it's mind-blowing to me that we are getting to a place where these authorities that are so-called experts are trained...and diagnosing or to see the symptoms of abuse and how wrong they can be.” Dr. Chopra, a pain medical doctor who testified in a related trial, painted a picture of the severity of Maya's pain, emphasizing that it surpassed that of childbirth, cancer, or even amputation. How could a parent, desperate for relief for their child, be so grossly misunderstood? One figure repeatedly mentioned in the podcast is Dr. Sally Smith, who diagnosed several cases as Munchausen's by proxy, including Maya's and a runner-up from American Idol. This, as Constantine states, represents a "real problem" with officials "taking matters into their own hands, causing so much distress, anxiety, endangerment, mental and physical, to these children." Towards the end of the episode, listeners are reminded of the profound humanity at the heart of this issue. Constantine recounts a moving encounter outside a courtroom with Maya's grieving family. The group, united by shared pain, found solace in praying together, a moment that underscored the very real emotional toll of these systemic issues. In light of this conversation, we are left to grapple with the complex interplay of medical, societal, and bureaucratic factors that can have devastating impacts on families. Yet, as Brueski and Constantine demonstrate, there is also space for empathy, understanding, and a collective call to action. As we reflect on the issues discussed, we are left with a haunting question: How many more families must suffer before systemic changes are implemented? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
In a heart-wrenching episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, host Tony Brueski and guest, Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert, Susan Constantine, dove deep into a haunting tale of misdiagnosis, systemic failures, and profound loss. Their discussion prompts a disturbing question: Are some children being taken away from their loving homes based on misunderstandings and flawed assessments? Brueski paints a grim picture of the situation, noting, “We have so many issues, it seems with CPS. And things not being taken action on, and children being left in horrific situations. What is going on here where we have kids that literally have good homes...ripped out of their parents arms when they need the most?” Constantine's connection to this issue is deeply personal. She recounts the story of a close friend whose children were forcibly removed because of a misdiagnosis: Munchausen's by proxy disorder. The disorder, in its essence, is when a caregiver or parent fabricates, exaggerates, or induces illness in a person under their care for attention or other gains. However, as Constantine points out, it was “debunked almost five years ago” and is now referred to as a "fictitious disorder." This leads to the harrowing account of Maya Kowalski, a child experiencing excruciating pain that baffled medical professionals. As her mother sought answers and treatments both within the United States and beyond, she was met with skepticism and mistrust. Despite the mother's attempts to articulate her daughter's journey and the treatments she'd discovered, it was misconstrued as over-medicalization. Ultimately, it led to a tragic end with Maya's mother succumbing to despair and taking her own life. One of the most chilling aspects discussed is the potential for a financial incentive in removing children from their homes. Vinnie Politan, as mentioned by Constantine, explored this on Court TV. But beyond financial motives lies the broader issue of trust in so-called "expert" assessments. Constantine expressed her frustration, saying, “it's mind-blowing to me that we are getting to a place where these authorities that are so-called experts are trained...and diagnosing or to see the symptoms of abuse and how wrong they can be.” Dr. Chopra, a pain medical doctor who testified in a related trial, painted a picture of the severity of Maya's pain, emphasizing that it surpassed that of childbirth, cancer, or even amputation. How could a parent, desperate for relief for their child, be so grossly misunderstood? One figure repeatedly mentioned in the podcast is Dr. Sally Smith, who diagnosed several cases as Munchausen's by proxy, including Maya's and a runner-up from American Idol. This, as Constantine states, represents a "real problem" with officials "taking matters into their own hands, causing so much distress, anxiety, endangerment, mental and physical, to these children." Towards the end of the episode, listeners are reminded of the profound humanity at the heart of this issue. Constantine recounts a moving encounter outside a courtroom with Maya's grieving family. The group, united by shared pain, found solace in praying together, a moment that underscored the very real emotional toll of these systemic issues. In light of this conversation, we are left to grapple with the complex interplay of medical, societal, and bureaucratic factors that can have devastating impacts on families. Yet, as Brueski and Constantine demonstrate, there is also space for empathy, understanding, and a collective call to action. As we reflect on the issues discussed, we are left with a haunting question: How many more families must suffer before systemic changes are implemented? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
It's every parent's nightmare: a medical institution diagnosing their child, and then a subsequent loss of custody based on questionable claims. But when the institutions you trust begin to make unverifiable assumptions about parents, what remains of justice? On a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast with Tony Brueski, a concerning pattern emerged during a conversation with Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert, Susan Constantine. Brueski broached a concerning topic regarding Dr. Smith, whose role at Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital appeared to be absent of the checks and balances we often associate with justice. This lack of oversight led Constantine to reveal a startling connection. "Okay. So there is a route to all of this," she began. In Orlando, a psychological firm wrote a book on Munchausen's by proxy disorder. Constantine noted that despite it being a rare condition, there's been a significant influx of women diagnosed in that area. Contrary to the conventional understanding of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, where a guardian may fake a child's illness, these mothers are accused of the opposite – trying to help their children recover from genuine health issues. Constantine goes on to claim, "Here is the person that wrote this book that literally removed the children from my dear friend of 40 years." Though she is able to read people well, being a body language expert, she has seen no signs of Munchausen's by proxy disorder in her friend. Instead, she describes an alarming pattern in which women, primarily mothers, are being wrongly diagnosed by a forensic psychologist, now colloquially termed as "Dr. XYZ moms". This chain of diagnosis and removal of children has extensive implications, particularly in child custody battles. "The courts say you have to go through counseling for co-parenting... and whoever it is that has the biggest, widest pockets," Constantine explains. Those with more financial means, typically fathers, can exploit this diagnosis to gain full custody of their children. With the false diagnosis of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, mothers are effectively removed from their children's lives, permanently. Complicating the matter further is the monetization of this system. This Orlando-based firm, according to Constantine, charges large sums for evaluations, leaving countless families grappling with not only the loss of their children but significant financial burdens as well. Brueski's probing question about the motive behind such actions illuminates a larger issue. "Is this something where overall there needs to be reform in the entire system?" he asks. Indeed, Constantine points to the formation of collaborative law groups that control a significant portion of these processes. These groups, comprised of forensic psychologists and arbitrators for custody battles, form a tightly-knit community. The implication is clear: expose one, and the whole system might collapse. It's a sobering realization when those tasked with justice seem entwined in questionable practices. Constantine's revelations, interwoven with personal experiences and ties to those affected, paint a disturbing picture. One where justice isn't just blind; it might also be compromised. At the heart of this narrative is the issue of training, or rather the lack of it. Constantine describes her experience with training workers in the department of children and families. Their lack of expertise and inadequate training leaves them ill-equipped to handle sensitive family matters, leading to decisions that often rip families apart. In concluding the interview, Brueski and Constantine shed light on an urgent need for reform and proper training. With families being torn apart based on unverified and often false diagnoses, the question becomes: How many more lives will be shattered before the system rights its wrongs? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
It's every parent's nightmare: a medical institution diagnosing their child, and then a subsequent loss of custody based on questionable claims. But when the institutions you trust begin to make unverifiable assumptions about parents, what remains of justice? On a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast with Tony Brueski, a concerning pattern emerged during a conversation with Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert, Susan Constantine. Brueski broached a concerning topic regarding Dr. Smith, whose role at Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital appeared to be absent of the checks and balances we often associate with justice. This lack of oversight led Constantine to reveal a startling connection. "Okay. So there is a route to all of this," she began. In Orlando, a psychological firm wrote a book on Munchausen's by proxy disorder. Constantine noted that despite it being a rare condition, there's been a significant influx of women diagnosed in that area. Contrary to the conventional understanding of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, where a guardian may fake a child's illness, these mothers are accused of the opposite – trying to help their children recover from genuine health issues. Constantine goes on to claim, "Here is the person that wrote this book that literally removed the children from my dear friend of 40 years." Though she is able to read people well, being a body language expert, she has seen no signs of Munchausen's by proxy disorder in her friend. Instead, she describes an alarming pattern in which women, primarily mothers, are being wrongly diagnosed by a forensic psychologist, now colloquially termed as "Dr. XYZ moms". This chain of diagnosis and removal of children has extensive implications, particularly in child custody battles. "The courts say you have to go through counseling for co-parenting... and whoever it is that has the biggest, widest pockets," Constantine explains. Those with more financial means, typically fathers, can exploit this diagnosis to gain full custody of their children. With the false diagnosis of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, mothers are effectively removed from their children's lives, permanently. Complicating the matter further is the monetization of this system. This Orlando-based firm, according to Constantine, charges large sums for evaluations, leaving countless families grappling with not only the loss of their children but significant financial burdens as well. Brueski's probing question about the motive behind such actions illuminates a larger issue. "Is this something where overall there needs to be reform in the entire system?" he asks. Indeed, Constantine points to the formation of collaborative law groups that control a significant portion of these processes. These groups, comprised of forensic psychologists and arbitrators for custody battles, form a tightly-knit community. The implication is clear: expose one, and the whole system might collapse. It's a sobering realization when those tasked with justice seem entwined in questionable practices. Constantine's revelations, interwoven with personal experiences and ties to those affected, paint a disturbing picture. One where justice isn't just blind; it might also be compromised. At the heart of this narrative is the issue of training, or rather the lack of it. Constantine describes her experience with training workers in the department of children and families. Their lack of expertise and inadequate training leaves them ill-equipped to handle sensitive family matters, leading to decisions that often rip families apart. In concluding the interview, Brueski and Constantine shed light on an urgent need for reform and proper training. With families being torn apart based on unverified and often false diagnoses, the question becomes: How many more lives will be shattered before the system rights its wrongs? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Could a single social worker's snap judgment forever alter the course of a family's life? Recent revelations from the "Hidden Killers" podcast highlight a harrowing tale of a system gone awry, leaving listeners to question the checks and balances within Child Protective Services (CPS). The discussion between Tony Brueski, the show's host, and Bob Motta, Defense Attorney and host of "Defense Diaries," centered around the disturbing case of Maya Kowalski. A family already struggling with their daughter's medical challenges found themselves battling not only a daunting diagnosis but also a system that seemed hell-bent on wresting control away from them. "It's horrific to think...that you can have no judge, no jury. You can just have one social worker make these sort of broad judgments," Brueski commented, capturing the disbelief many parents may feel when confronting the reality of CPS's broad powers. The Kowalski family, already trying to manage Maya's medical needs, found themselves embroiled in a battle where their intentions, actions, and even love for their child were suddenly under scrutiny. Highlighting the depth of the issue, Motta recounted Maya's treatment at Nemours Children's Hospital, a reputable institution that initially diagnosed her condition and recommended specific treatments. However, things took a grim turn when a CPS social worker stepped in. Motta lamented, "Instead of seeing a caring mother, [the social worker] finds her shady, leaning on the Munchausen by proxy narrative," referring to a controversial disorder where caregivers purportedly feign or induce illnesses in those they care for, craving attention or sympathy. This diagnosis – made without extensive medical training and, arguably, outside the purview of the social worker's professional capabilities – became a pivotal point in the family's ongoing saga. "I have a sociology degree. I was a social worker...I wasn't diagnosing anything," Motta clarified, emphasizing the gross overreach and highlighting the potential dangers of a system that sometimes places undue power in the hands of individuals ill-equipped to wield it responsibly. The tale takes an even darker turn with the mention of Dr. Sally Smith, a figure previously involved in several questionable CPS-related investigations. Brueski elaborated on Dr. Smith's track record, indicating a pattern of questionable interventions under her watch. "This was not the only family that had these sort of things happening to them," Brueski stated, referencing a somewhat dismissive apology letter Smith had penned to another family she had deeply affected. Brueski and Motta's conversation then delved into the systemic issues underpinning such tragedies. Brueski observed, "So often we hear...about the child protective services...of not doing the job adequately." However, the Kowalski case presented a different issue, where the system seemed overzealous rather than negligent. Both hosts agreed on the need for competency and accountability within the system. "You can't leave all that power in one person's hands," Motta emphasized, calling for legislative changes to ensure such cases do not recur. In conclusion, the chilling tale of Maya Kowalski serves as a stark reminder of the need for checks, balances, and a focus on genuine child welfare within the Child Protective Services system. As we reflect on this case, a pivotal question lingers: In our quest to protect the vulnerable, have we inadvertently created a system that can shatter innocent lives? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Is the medical community misusing the Munchausen by proxy diagnosis and causing more harm than good? In a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, Tony Brueski delves into the controversial and distressing topic of the misuse of the Munchausen by proxy diagnosis with guest Susan Constantine, a Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert. Munchausen by proxy is a mental health disorder where a caregiver, often a parent, either makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms to make it look like the child is sick. The diagnosis, while legitimate in some cases, can be used improperly, leading to devastating consequences for families. Central to the discussion was the disturbing case surrounding a doctor named Sally Smith. Although Dr. Smith recently retired and settled with the family involved, the ramifications of her actions linger. "Look at the damage this person did," Brueski points out, emphasizing the need for systemic changes in the medical community to prevent such misuse in the future. The alarming revelation from the podcast was the advice given to Brueski and Constantine from an expert in the field: "You need to go after the hospitals, you need to go after the doctors, you need to go after the departments." This insight suggests that the broader medical community may be inadvertently complicit in these tragic cases. Constantine emphasized the upcoming MAYA trial, which she believes will set a precedent. If Maya's case results in a win, it could pave the way for more lawsuits against medical professionals and institutions. "These guys are going to start hiding, and they're going to start stopping," predicts Constantine. "You got to hit them where it hurts, and that's right in the pocketbook." The complexities of the Munchausen by proxy diagnosis also came under scrutiny. How does one conclusively diagnose someone with such a disorder? While Constantine acknowledges she isn't a medical professional, she raises valid concerns. She notes signs such as a child repeatedly reported as sick every time they're under their mother's care or excessive protectiveness of the child. However, she suggests a more rigorous approach to diagnosis involving external, unassociated doctors for a balanced opinion. Drawing parallels to other distressing cases like the Didi Blanchard case in Springfield, Missouri, Constantine highlights the challenges in diagnosing psychological disorders. The reliance on "opinion" rather than fact, coupled with a lack of objective analysis, creates a slippery slope that can lead to incorrect and potentially damaging diagnoses. The conversation also touched on the possible motivations behind misdiagnoses, pointing to potential ulterior motives like research opportunities. In one anecdote, Constantine speaks of how a child was subjected to manipulative "games" to determine if she was "faking it." Such practices raise significant ethical concerns. Perhaps most heart-wrenching is the real-world consequences of these misdiagnoses. Constantine recounts how a mother, misdiagnosed with Munchausen by proxy, faced societal judgment and ostracization, despite multiple other doctors asserting she didn't have the disorder. In another case, a misdiagnosis had tragic consequences, with the mother, overwhelmed by the accusations, taking her own life. Given the gravity of the implications of such diagnoses, both Brueski and Constantine conclude that there needs to be a shift in how these cases are approached. Constantine states, "We're relying on people's opinion. There is no fact to it." This lack of objective evidence combined with potential biases, whether from personal egos or institutional pressures, is a recipe for disaster. While the conversation raises more questions than it answers, it is evident that there is a need for reform in how the medical community approaches such sensitive cases. Trust in the medical profession is paramount, and when that trust is undermined, it has profound consequences on society. As the article concludes, it's worth pondering: How many more families need to be torn apart before there is a systemic change in diagnosing Munchausen by proxy? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
In a recent episode of the podcast "Hidden Killers," Tony Brueski, in conversation with retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke, delved into the gripping story of Maya Kowalski and the distressing series of events that unfolded at the renowned John Hopkins Children's Hospital. The situation raises crucial questions: how much power do medical authorities wield, and what happens when that power is misused? The case centers on Maya's family's visit to the hospital. Alarmingly, her parents were accused of abuse and were separated from their daughter for over 90 days, with only highly regulated contact. Amidst this emotionally charged atmosphere, Maya's mother tragically took her own life. Brueski expressed his astonishment, "They were completely ripped away from their daughter... her mother ends up killing herself over the stress." The gravity of this comment underscores the severe emotional impact the ordeal had on the Kowalski family. The decision to take such drastic action against the family is what remains perplexing. Drawing parallels between the incident and other professions, Dreeke points out, "Say you have a traffic stop and you have a patrol officer that has done thousands of car stops. They have a sense of what looks normal, what feels normal." He insinuates the importance of experience in judgment calls, "So the first question I have is for the people at the hospital that made this call, how many reps did they have when they made the call?" A central figure in this controversial case is Dr. Sally Smith, who recently retired and was revealed to have played a role in other problematic cases where children were wrongly removed from families. One such incident led to a father being imprisoned for nearly a year. "Dr. Sally has had more than 3,000 cases that she's worked on over the course of 30 years. So this is not like it's new to her, but these are pretty detrimental screw-ups that she's making with people's lives," says Brueski. The troubling pattern of erroneous decisions by Dr. Smith further adds to the complexity of the issue. What's even more confounding is that the system often bases its decisions largely on one person's judgment, as Dreeke pointed out, "It's just basically the judgment or the opinion of one person. That seems to have extreme effects far more than our legal system is supposed to allow for." However, there's no dismissing the somber reality that Maya's mother, overwhelmed by the sequence of events, took her own life. Dreeke suggests the existence of deeper issues: "The little girl and her being taken from the family for 90 days might have been a straw that broke the camel's back, but there's mental health issues if you're committing suicide." On a closing note, while analyzing the broader implications of the case, the conversation underscores the importance of due diligence when availing medical services. As Dreeke rightly points out, "When you are dealing with the medical community, you're buying a service... we can start making other choices." However, for the Kowalski family, those choices came with profound consequences. In a world that entrusts medical authorities with power and responsibility, the Maya Kowalski case serves as a grave reminder of the potential pitfalls when that trust is misplaced. The pertinent question remains: how do we strike the right balance between safeguarding the welfare of patients and preventing potential abuse of authority? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Is the medical community misusing the Munchausen by proxy diagnosis and causing more harm than good? In a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, Tony Brueski delves into the controversial and distressing topic of the misuse of the Munchausen by proxy diagnosis with guest Susan Constantine, a Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert. Munchausen by proxy is a mental health disorder where a caregiver, often a parent, either makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms to make it look like the child is sick. The diagnosis, while legitimate in some cases, can be used improperly, leading to devastating consequences for families. Central to the discussion was the disturbing case surrounding a doctor named Sally Smith. Although Dr. Smith recently retired and settled with the family involved, the ramifications of her actions linger. "Look at the damage this person did," Brueski points out, emphasizing the need for systemic changes in the medical community to prevent such misuse in the future. The alarming revelation from the podcast was the advice given to Brueski and Constantine from an expert in the field: "You need to go after the hospitals, you need to go after the doctors, you need to go after the departments." This insight suggests that the broader medical community may be inadvertently complicit in these tragic cases. Constantine emphasized the upcoming MAYA trial, which she believes will set a precedent. If Maya's case results in a win, it could pave the way for more lawsuits against medical professionals and institutions. "These guys are going to start hiding, and they're going to start stopping," predicts Constantine. "You got to hit them where it hurts, and that's right in the pocketbook." The complexities of the Munchausen by proxy diagnosis also came under scrutiny. How does one conclusively diagnose someone with such a disorder? While Constantine acknowledges she isn't a medical professional, she raises valid concerns. She notes signs such as a child repeatedly reported as sick every time they're under their mother's care or excessive protectiveness of the child. However, she suggests a more rigorous approach to diagnosis involving external, unassociated doctors for a balanced opinion. Drawing parallels to other distressing cases like the Didi Blanchard case in Springfield, Missouri, Constantine highlights the challenges in diagnosing psychological disorders. The reliance on "opinion" rather than fact, coupled with a lack of objective analysis, creates a slippery slope that can lead to incorrect and potentially damaging diagnoses. The conversation also touched on the possible motivations behind misdiagnoses, pointing to potential ulterior motives like research opportunities. In one anecdote, Constantine speaks of how a child was subjected to manipulative "games" to determine if she was "faking it." Such practices raise significant ethical concerns. Perhaps most heart-wrenching is the real-world consequences of these misdiagnoses. Constantine recounts how a mother, misdiagnosed with Munchausen by proxy, faced societal judgment and ostracization, despite multiple other doctors asserting she didn't have the disorder. In another case, a misdiagnosis had tragic consequences, with the mother, overwhelmed by the accusations, taking her own life. Given the gravity of the implications of such diagnoses, both Brueski and Constantine conclude that there needs to be a shift in how these cases are approached. Constantine states, "We're relying on people's opinion. There is no fact to it." This lack of objective evidence combined with potential biases, whether from personal egos or institutional pressures, is a recipe for disaster. While the conversation raises more questions than it answers, it is evident that there is a need for reform in how the medical community approaches such sensitive cases. Trust in the medical profession is paramount, and when that trust is undermined, it has profound consequences on society. As the article concludes, it's worth pondering: How many more families need to be torn apart before there is a systemic change in diagnosing Munchausen by proxy? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Could a single social worker's snap judgment forever alter the course of a family's life? Recent revelations from the "Hidden Killers" podcast highlight a harrowing tale of a system gone awry, leaving listeners to question the checks and balances within Child Protective Services (CPS). The discussion between Tony Brueski, the show's host, and Bob Motta, Defense Attorney and host of "Defense Diaries," centered around the disturbing case of Maya Kowalski. A family already struggling with their daughter's medical challenges found themselves battling not only a daunting diagnosis but also a system that seemed hell-bent on wresting control away from them. "It's horrific to think...that you can have no judge, no jury. You can just have one social worker make these sort of broad judgments," Brueski commented, capturing the disbelief many parents may feel when confronting the reality of CPS's broad powers. The Kowalski family, already trying to manage Maya's medical needs, found themselves embroiled in a battle where their intentions, actions, and even love for their child were suddenly under scrutiny. Highlighting the depth of the issue, Motta recounted Maya's treatment at Nemours Children's Hospital, a reputable institution that initially diagnosed her condition and recommended specific treatments. However, things took a grim turn when a CPS social worker stepped in. Motta lamented, "Instead of seeing a caring mother, [the social worker] finds her shady, leaning on the Munchausen by proxy narrative," referring to a controversial disorder where caregivers purportedly feign or induce illnesses in those they care for, craving attention or sympathy. This diagnosis – made without extensive medical training and, arguably, outside the purview of the social worker's professional capabilities – became a pivotal point in the family's ongoing saga. "I have a sociology degree. I was a social worker...I wasn't diagnosing anything," Motta clarified, emphasizing the gross overreach and highlighting the potential dangers of a system that sometimes places undue power in the hands of individuals ill-equipped to wield it responsibly. The tale takes an even darker turn with the mention of Dr. Sally Smith, a figure previously involved in several questionable CPS-related investigations. Brueski elaborated on Dr. Smith's track record, indicating a pattern of questionable interventions under her watch. "This was not the only family that had these sort of things happening to them," Brueski stated, referencing a somewhat dismissive apology letter Smith had penned to another family she had deeply affected. Brueski and Motta's conversation then delved into the systemic issues underpinning such tragedies. Brueski observed, "So often we hear...about the child protective services...of not doing the job adequately." However, the Kowalski case presented a different issue, where the system seemed overzealous rather than negligent. Both hosts agreed on the need for competency and accountability within the system. "You can't leave all that power in one person's hands," Motta emphasized, calling for legislative changes to ensure such cases do not recur. In conclusion, the chilling tale of Maya Kowalski serves as a stark reminder of the need for checks, balances, and a focus on genuine child welfare within the Child Protective Services system. As we reflect on this case, a pivotal question lingers: In our quest to protect the vulnerable, have we inadvertently created a system that can shatter innocent lives? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
In a recent episode of the podcast "Hidden Killers," Tony Brueski, in conversation with retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke, delved into the gripping story of Maya Kowalski and the distressing series of events that unfolded at the renowned John Hopkins Children's Hospital. The situation raises crucial questions: how much power do medical authorities wield, and what happens when that power is misused? The case centers on Maya's family's visit to the hospital. Alarmingly, her parents were accused of abuse and were separated from their daughter for over 90 days, with only highly regulated contact. Amidst this emotionally charged atmosphere, Maya's mother tragically took her own life. Brueski expressed his astonishment, "They were completely ripped away from their daughter... her mother ends up killing herself over the stress." The gravity of this comment underscores the severe emotional impact the ordeal had on the Kowalski family. The decision to take such drastic action against the family is what remains perplexing. Drawing parallels between the incident and other professions, Dreeke points out, "Say you have a traffic stop and you have a patrol officer that has done thousands of car stops. They have a sense of what looks normal, what feels normal." He insinuates the importance of experience in judgment calls, "So the first question I have is for the people at the hospital that made this call, how many reps did they have when they made the call?" A central figure in this controversial case is Dr. Sally Smith, who recently retired and was revealed to have played a role in other problematic cases where children were wrongly removed from families. One such incident led to a father being imprisoned for nearly a year. "Dr. Sally has had more than 3,000 cases that she's worked on over the course of 30 years. So this is not like it's new to her, but these are pretty detrimental screw-ups that she's making with people's lives," says Brueski. The troubling pattern of erroneous decisions by Dr. Smith further adds to the complexity of the issue. What's even more confounding is that the system often bases its decisions largely on one person's judgment, as Dreeke pointed out, "It's just basically the judgment or the opinion of one person. That seems to have extreme effects far more than our legal system is supposed to allow for." However, there's no dismissing the somber reality that Maya's mother, overwhelmed by the sequence of events, took her own life. Dreeke suggests the existence of deeper issues: "The little girl and her being taken from the family for 90 days might have been a straw that broke the camel's back, but there's mental health issues if you're committing suicide." On a closing note, while analyzing the broader implications of the case, the conversation underscores the importance of due diligence when availing medical services. As Dreeke rightly points out, "When you are dealing with the medical community, you're buying a service... we can start making other choices." However, for the Kowalski family, those choices came with profound consequences. In a world that entrusts medical authorities with power and responsibility, the Maya Kowalski case serves as a grave reminder of the potential pitfalls when that trust is misplaced. The pertinent question remains: how do we strike the right balance between safeguarding the welfare of patients and preventing potential abuse of authority? Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
During the trial on Friday, Jack Kowalski's brother testified while a distressing 911 call was played. In January 2017, Kyle Kowalski, Maya Kowalski's brother, called first responders after discovering his mother's lifeless body in their garage. Robert Rynes, a family friend, rushed to the Kowalski's home to provide emotional support and remove Kyle from the situation. All of this could have been prevented had Dr. Sally Smith not dismissed the family or judged them as abusers. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
During the trial on Friday, Jack Kowalski's brother testified while a distressing 911 call was played. In January 2017, Kyle Kowalski, Maya Kowalski's brother, called first responders after discovering his mother's lifeless body in their garage. Robert Rynes, a family friend, rushed to the Kowalski's home to provide emotional support and remove Kyle from the situation. All of this could have been prevented had Dr. Sally Smith not dismissed the family or judged them as abusers. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
In the vibrant heart of Florida, the Kowalski family led a seemingly normal life. With strong Polish roots and deep familial bonds, the Kowalskis were pillars of their community. Yet, in 2016, they found themselves ensnared in a whirlwind of medical and legal battles that would challenge the very core of their unity and resilience. The Onset of a Mysterious Malady When Maya Kowalski, a spirited 9-year-old with a penchant for painting and playing the violin, began experiencing debilitating symptoms ranging from agonizing headaches to painful lesions on her limbs, alarm bells rang. No parent is prepared to see their child suffer, and Jack and Beata Kowalski were no exception. Desperate for answers, they navigated the complex web of the healthcare system, consulting numerous physicians and specialists. Self-advocacy and a Daunting Diagnosis It was Beata, a registered nurse with an astute sense of observation, who stumbled upon the possibility of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) while researching Maya's symptoms. This rare disorder, characterized by chronic pain and often triggered by an injury, was later confirmed by Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, a renowned specialist in the field. Seeking relief for Maya, the family even embarked on a perilous journey to Mexico to pursue an experimental treatment, the "ketamine coma," hoping it would offer their daughter some respite. Their endeavors seemed successful; Maya returned with a renewed zest for life. But this was just the calm before the storm. A Fateful Hospital Admission Less than a year after their return, a severe bout of stomach pain led Maya to be admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Armed with her medical history, her parents insisted on high doses of ketamine to manage Maya's pain, an approach supported by Dr. Kirkpatrick. However, this admission set off a cascade of events that none could have foreseen. The hospital staff, rather than viewing the Kowalskis as concerned parents, eyed them with suspicion. The narrative shifted dramatically: Beata was accused of Munchausen by proxy, a condition where caregivers feign or induce illness in those they care for, seeking attention or sympathy. The Legal Nightmare With accusations flying, Maya was placed in state custody, barred from seeing her family. The trauma was immeasurable. Beata, painted as a villain by the hospital, faced public scrutiny, and emotional and psychological torment. Stripped of her maternal rights and bearing the weight of false accusations, she faced a battle on all fronts: the fight to prove her innocence, the yearning to reunite with her child, and the trauma of public defamation. Tragically, the weight became too much for Beata, leading her to take her own life, believing that her sacrifice might expedite Maya's return to her family. The Road to Vindication The aftermath of this tragedy saw the Kowalski family's fight gaining momentum. With the formidable Gregory Anderson of AndersonGlenn LLP by their side, they embarked on a mission to clear their name and bring the hospital to account. The ensuing legal battle revealed unsettling patterns, with Dr. Sally Smith, a senior child services physician, often at the center of numerous controversial child removal cases. The documentary, shedding light on the Kowalskis' ordeal, further bolstered their cause, unveiling other similar cases, indicating systemic flaws. Conclusion The Kowalski saga serves as a cautionary tale of the intricate interplay between the medical and legal systems. It underscores the importance of understanding, compassion, and due diligence in professions that wield the power to shape or shatter lives. As the Kowalskis continue their journey toward healing, their story stands as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the enduring bonds of family. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Today's guest is Andy Crebar. Andy is the CEO and co-founder of GP Flow which is on a mission to unlock the potential of real estate. He's spent his career working in fintech and real estate and lives in New York with his young family. Show summary: In this podcast episode, Andy Crebar discusses his background in fintech and real estate, as well as the development of GP Flow as a platform to help real estate sponsors and LPs. He explains how GP Flow was created by understanding the pain points of sponsors and LPs and offers insights into their integration with existing CRM workflows. Andy also talks about HoneyBricks, a crowdfunding platform they built using GP Flow, and discusses the Equal Opportunity for Investors Act, a proposed legislation that aims to allow financially sophisticated individuals to become accredited investors. Sam and Andy both express their enthusiasm for the potential impact of this legislation on private real estate investment. -------------------------------------------------------------- Intro [00:00:00] Background and Experience [00:00:40] Development of GP Flow [00:04:11] The evolution of the real estate industry [00:08:31] Differentiating GP Flow from other investor portals [00:09:45] Honey Bricks as a crowdfunding platform [00:12:42] Equal Opportunity for Investors Act [00:17:10] Expanding the Market for Non-Accredited Investors [00:18:09] Challenges with Accredited Investor Requirements [00:19:03] -------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Andy: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycrebar/ Twitter: @andycrebar Web: https://www.gpflow.com/ Connect with Sam: I love helping others place money outside of traditional investments that both diversify a strategy and provide solid predictable returns. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HowtoscaleCRE/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwilsonhowtoscalecre/ Email me → sam@brickeninvestmentgroup.com SUBSCRIBE and LEAVE A RATING. Listen to How To Scale Commercial Real Estate Investing with Sam Wilson Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-scale-commercial-real-estate/id1539979234 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4m0NWYzSvznEIjRBFtCgEL?si=e10d8e039b99475f -------------------------------------------------------------- Want to read the full show notes of the episode? Check it out below: Andy Crebar (00:00:00) - For us, it's really just about understand the customers. We'd spend hundreds of hours with GPS watching them use existing tools and asking them, you know, what spreadsheets do you hate? Like, Oh, this spreadsheet always got to come back to this because this thing does that thing. But then you track it here and you're like, okay, there's an opportunity there. And when you hear enough of sponsors talk about the same spreadsheet that they're using to solve a specific problem, it's like, okay, there's something there's something that we can help them be more efficient on board, more capital and, you know, work with more investors. Sam Wilson (00:00:27) - Welcome to the How to Scale commercial real estate show. Whether you are an active or passive investor, we'll teach you how to scale your real estate investing business into something big. Sam Wilson (00:00:40) - Andy Graeber is the CEO and co-founder of GP Flow, which is on a mission to unlock the potential of real estate. He spent his career working in fintech and real estate. He lives in New York with his young family. Sam Wilson (00:00:50) - Andy, welcome to the show. Andy Crebar (00:00:52) - Thanks for having me, Sam. Excited to be here. Sam Wilson (00:00:54) - Absolutely. Andy The pleasure is mine. There are three questions I ask every guest who comes on the show in 90s or less. Can you tell me where did you start? Where are you now and how did you get there? Andy Crebar (00:01:03) - Sure. So I started my life in a place called Sydney, Australia, and then moved to the US in 2015 with my my girlfriend, now wife. Since then, I've been working in FinTech as a real estate, as you mentioned. What really changed for me? Probably due to the pandemic over the last ten years, my wife and I had acquired a few single family rentals and apartments, but we got crushed during Covid. Places went empty. We were doing concessions, a ton of management, and then we went really deep on multifamily. We found there's lots of great syndicators across the country, lots of great sponsors, great deals, aligned incentives. So we started a flow that focused on helping build better software for them and unlocking new capital pools and markets and getting more LPs invested in these deals. Andy Crebar (00:01:44) - Today, as you mentioned, live in New York, we're really excited to share what we do and how we can help both sponsors and LPs in private real estate. Sam Wilson (00:01:50) - There are a lot of moving pieces. I feel like in that short story you just told 2015, you moved to the States girlfriend, you're involved in fintech. I mean, were you involved in tech before you came to the States? There had to be a background in there somewhere. Andy Crebar (00:02:05) - I was actually involved in technology banking. I worked at a company called Macquarie Group, which is well known in Australia. They do some stuff around the world but very well known in Australia. Investment banking. I did that for five years, was fantastic. Got knee deep in models and presentations and financial calculus and that sort of stuff. But I knew my future was in technology and knew the best place to be in technology at the time was in San Francisco, so we moved there in 2015, packed up all our stuff, arrived with a couple couple of backpacks and a dream, and we just got underway doing it from there. Sam Wilson (00:02:38) - Wow. That's really that's that's inspiring. And then you said Covid came around. You owned some single family rentals, maybe some apartments along the way. This is not. But three years ago. And you kind of in my own summary, got your teeth kicked in in Covid. Does that sound about right? Andy Crebar (00:02:57) - Yeah, that's a good analogy. Let's run with that. Got my teeth kicked in. But my journey with real estate started from a young age. My dad's actually an architect, and he's always taken me around. You know, on weekends it would have been moving my brother or sister change house or helping someone renovate the kitchen or whatever it was. And he taught me two things that really stood out with me. One was how beautiful real estate is, but also how it's a platform for building financial wealth. And those two lessons really stuck with me. So then the first chance I got to buy property was in 2012. We bought a small one better, which we converted to two in a place called Bondi in Sydney, and that's really where I got my fix. Andy Crebar (00:03:33) - I was like, Wow, we can actually improve these things, generate wealth and also improve the quality of life of people living in these buildings. And that's where we we started aggressively, you know, buying and investing over the last ten years. And we've been lucky to now own property in in Australia, in the US and Canada, which is where my wife's from. Sam Wilson (00:03:48) - That's really, really awesome. So, so you made it through the but it sounded like in that in that period during Covid, you know, you said you started working with multifamily sponsors and people around the country. You said, okay, and how and in what? In what capacity were you working with them as an investor, As a co-sponsor? As what? What was that? Andy Crebar (00:04:11) - So it was actually the catalyst is really during Covid, we have a few places in Bondi and in Sydney and Bondi, a tourist town like I think 50% of the apartments get rented out to tourists and backpackers. And when Covid came in, laws came in. Andy Crebar (00:04:27) - Everyone, all the expats from around the world went home one day, pretty much went half vacant because everyone that you know, might be a Brit hanging out in Australia had to go home now. So all these places were vacant. So we had our places go empty for months. A couple other places in the US also had some challenges around concessions and supporting people to not move them out of their out of the place. And that's when it really switched me, which is like I know real estate to the path, but like managing a single family apartments and houses is really tough to scale, right? That's what led me to multifamily, which was like, Wow, people are doing this at bigger scale with more diversification, better returns and LPs can get 15% of their money investing passively in other people's deals. Wow. That's what we want to go with it. And that's what really let me down the multifamily path and getting started and working with GPS and LPs. Sam Wilson (00:05:16) - How did you discover the GP flow, your GP flow like it seems like that would have been let me just maybe I'm a slow learner, but the processes that you've developed inside of that would would have probably taken me a decade to figure out. Sam Wilson (00:05:33) - And it seems like you've somehow taken all of those lessons and compiled them, not just compiled those lessons, but then also made a platform for others to use very, very quickly. How did you do that? Andy Crebar (00:05:46) - Three two factors in that. So me and my co-founder and my CTO at our last company, we built B2B software in FinTech. It worked out well for us. We'd both be investing in real estate. We hadn't built software for real estate before. And then from going deeply into multifamily, we saw this opportunity around helping GPS raise more capital, do it faster, be more efficient, those sorts of things. There's also this big overarching wave of more and more LPs getting involved in real estate, and I'm sure there's many sponsors listening to this. It's chaos. To get a deal done, you need to finally I said lock it out, those sorts of things. But then chasing around. 5100 different LPs for 50. 100 grand checks using different tools within the CRM. It's in. Hello sign. Andy Crebar (00:06:31) - It's. Have we got the Y yet? There's just a lot of manual processes and workflows which ultimately prevent sponsors from working with broader audiences. Right Triangle, which is changing, which we can speak about in a moment. And we said, look, there's lots of opportunity here to help us do this better, which ultimately help more LPs get access to the the great returns that private real estate can provide. Sam Wilson (00:06:53) - Right? So so I and I wholly understand those those pains very, very well. And I think even correct me and this is why I want to hear this, because even. Even with the right systems in place, and I won't name any names, but there's we just launched our latest fund. And even with a fund administrator in place that is handling theoretically all of that investor onboarding and all those systems, it's like, okay, hey, we're going to pay you handsomely to take care of this. Even then, I'm still involved somewhere. Somehow there's a hey, what about and this and wait. Sam Wilson (00:07:28) - But there wasn't a signature from a and it's like, wow, Like this was supposed to be turnkey. So I feel like there's there's there's no magic pill. But yet you've solved some of the major point pain points, I would think, in the system that you develop. So talk to me about those pain points and what you've done to overcome some of those, such as the ones you just mentioned, where it's Hello signed. Oh, there's this the I mean. Talk me through some of that. Andy Crebar (00:07:58) - I'll give you the the founder lands and then the real estate lens. So in building software for anyone, like it's always building any business really to really understand your customer, like what are their pain points, how are they using it, those sorts of things. And when you find customers that are using five different tools, do the one thing you know, there's generally opportunity there, which is like, okay, how can we build a better holistic solution for these individuals? In talking about all those different points, solutions and management? There's definitely a lot to it, but that's obviously the beauty of technology because you can automate a lot of this stuff. Andy Crebar (00:08:31) - Real estate's an incredible industry, but it's often a slow moving industry and there's a lot of wealth with, you know, traditional generations that are used to doing deals in a certain way and those sorts of things. I think that's changing a lot. Now we're seeing more and more syndicators, you know, target, you know, accredited investors or target retail scale really quickly. So we think that industry is evolving and being more receptive to adopt technology and do this stuff in new ways. For us, it's really just about understand the customer. So we'd spent hundreds of hours with GPS watching them use existing tools and asking them, you know, what spreadsheets do you hate? Like, Oh, this spreadsheet always got to come back to this because this thing does that thing. But then you track it here and you're like, okay, there's an opportunity there. And when you hear enough of sponsors talk about the same spreadsheet that they're using to solve a specific problem, it's like, okay, there's something there's something that we can help them be more efficient on board, more capital and, you know, work with more investors. Sam Wilson (00:09:24) - That makes that makes a heck of a lot of sense. Yeah. I mean, I'm sitting here as you're talking, looking here at your website, and I think it's really, really cool. But this would you categorize this as more than an investor portal? Because there's lots of investor portals out there and it seems like there's more to this than just that. Andy Crebar (00:09:45) - But of course it's more than an investor portal. We we differentiate across a number of different ways. One thing that you talk about Miami thinking a lot about recently is just the use of a CRM. There's a lot of incredible systems out there, you know, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, MailChimp, even all these sorts of things. And they've all got really powerful workflows. And 90% of syndicators we work with are using one of those systems. It's really good for automated touch points, for sequences, for workflows, whatever it may be. But when we think about investor portals, a lot of these investor portals have actually built out their own CRM in it, and then it ends up having sponsors, having two databases of like, I've got Sam Smith over here, but actually Sally Smith here. Andy Crebar (00:10:26) - And is that the same one that signed the subscription docs? And then reconciling those things. So one thing we've focused a ton on is actually building into existing CRM workflows. So sponsors that are managing a pipeline in HubSpot or ActiveCampaign or those sorts of things, as soon as they're moved from stage to stage wide and automatically trigger this thing in flow to send out, you know, signature docs or those sorts of things and really just use one CRM as a source of truth best as having two. So things like that where we're not so much focus on being another investor portal, but really differentiating around how can we do stuff differently or better for how sponsors are using technology differently. Right. Sam Wilson (00:11:02) - No, you're spot on. Correct. Because that's I mean, even you know, I'm guilty of it. You just touched on a pain point. That's a very, very present reality for me where it's like, oh, hey, cool. I'm really glad that Andy signed up on our investor portal. But does that tie then back into and for us, it's active campaign. Sam Wilson (00:11:18) - Does that tie back into active campaign and are those two talking? The answer is probably not. And so and that's that's a loss. I mean, my gosh, if people sign up on the investor portal, but then there's never a follow up sequence. If there's never the, hey, by the way, email sent to me or investor relations or somebody else saying reach out to indie. Yeah. And we lost. Andy Crebar (00:11:41) - Yeah, We see a lot of sponsors try and duct tape these things together with Zapier or other tools, but at the end of the day, you know, it can work If you're managing 100 investors, we want to get to 1000 and do bigger and bigger deals and more and more deals ultimately need to move outside of your personal network of friends and family and attract new investors and nurture new investors. And for that, you need the best serums. And for that, you know, we want to be the investor portal that works with those best CRM seamlessly. Sam Wilson (00:12:04) - Right. No, I think that's really, really awesome. Sam Wilson (00:12:07) - Yeah, man. I'm excited to take a demo here of of your product here at VP Flow. That's pretty awesome. Let's talk about the other side of this business because it's one thing. It's one thing for the guy selling shovels to tell you how great the shovel is. It's another thing for the guy selling shovels to be using a shovel himself. Right. And so you've you have built another website and another capital raising platform online that is built off of your flow. Product. Is that right? Can you tell us about that? Andy Crebar (00:12:42) - Yeah, that's right. We are. We eat our own dogfood at honey bricks. We go. Sam Wilson (00:12:46) - Like that. Andy Crebar (00:12:48) - A crowdfunding platform built on Flo. And it's something that they teach a lot in, um, you know, the venture backed technology community, which is like the faster you can start dog feeding your own product and actually be your own customer, you know, the better product you can build. So we, we do that ourselves. A honey bricks, everything at honey bricks Honey Wix.com, which is a crowdfunding platform for for multifamily syndications across the country. Andy Crebar (00:13:12) - Everything there is running on Flo. So whether it's onboarding investors, accreditation distributions, sending out shares, whatever it may be, that's all using our software. And we've got a ton of learnings and things. We're always going to be improving with the product, but it's been great to actually use it ourselves. You know, we've done ten deals in the last 12 months. We've got a little over 3000 investors on the platform, you know, raising capital for great sponsors, but really just doing it ourselves and showing, you know, keep making the product better and showing that it does actually work. Sam Wilson (00:13:44) - Right. No, I think that's awesome. So tell me about Honey Bricks. I mean, so you guys are working with great sponsors around the country, but give me kind of the the and it is crowdfunding, but give me kind of more of a of a deeper dive into the product itself. Who's investing on it, how you guys manage that? I mean, that's that's still it seems like even with a great CRM, there's still a lot of moving parts into bringing a sponsor in, getting the deal vetted, getting it approved on the platform, getting investors in. Sam Wilson (00:14:13) - I mean, there's a lot of moving pieces there. How do you do all that? Andy Crebar (00:14:16) - Uh, it's quite simple once it's up and running and then using technology. But obviously there are a lot of moving pieces, especially on the regulatory front as you outlined. Uh, but the value prop we provide to, you know, investors that find us and invest in honey bricks is really around three things. The first one that pretty vetted deals. You know there's. Then it's 2 million apartments across the US and prime buildings. You know, there's thousands of syndications every month. We have a team that goes out and finds 100 of these every month and underwrites them ourselves, gets comfortable with the sponsor, the market, you know the deal. And then we'll we'll prove out these things and bring 1 to 2 to the marketplace that we truly believe in. And the second value prop is really around better terms. So these are a fund of funds where we're investing in another operators deal. So they're doing all the real work, you know, actually, you know, renovating the apartment building, finding it diligence and working with tenants, improving the asset, those sorts of things. Andy Crebar (00:15:10) - So operationally, it's quite an easy lift as far as managing these SPV entities. And the third one is we provide the options for secondary market liquidity after 12 months so investors can sell to other investors in the marketplace after 12 months separate from the deal. So the deal's life lifecycle might be five years after 12 months if Sally wants to sell to Mary. Know they can do that through the platform. Sam Wilson (00:15:33) - Wow. That's really. Yeah. Solving the liquidity issue is pretty cool. How did how does that work? What is there a loss to the initial investor? Is there like how does what's the liquidity options look like through honey bricks? Because that's there has to be an exchange of value somewhere. Andy Crebar (00:15:53) - Yeah, We we don't provide, you know, valuation benchmarks. What we do provide is, you know, the issue price here's what the preferred return value would be. Those sorts of things. But it's really up to Sally and Mary. You know, they can post advertisements within the platform and they can, you know, negotiate if they want an anonymous basis. Andy Crebar (00:16:11) - But we don't set the price. Sam Wilson (00:16:13) - Sure, sure. And so then they just swap out their position in that particular deal. Andy Crebar (00:16:19) - Yeah, the particular entity because remember to fund the funds which are separate from the deal. So it doesn't actually influence the the top deal. You know, it actually this influences the SPV with the investors money bricks in it. Sam Wilson (00:16:30) - Right, right, right. No, that's that's really really So each of your deals on honey bricks is a separate SPV goes live and then investors get in on that. Talking about crowdfunding we've had some new legislation guess come through this has been recorded. August 8th, 2023. So tell me about that. You talk you told me a little bit about this off air and it's some stuff that's new, new news to me. Maybe I'm just two heads down. I don't quite know. But give me give me some color on that and how that's affecting what it is that we are doing. Andy Crebar (00:17:02) - Yeah, it's it's interesting. It hasn't made more noise, I guess, in the community because we saw it and we said like, that's quite interesting. Andy Crebar (00:17:10) - We knew it's been coming for a while, but as far as how quickly it's moving through, it has representatives in the Senate. It could be here within the 12 months. And what I'm talking about is the Equal Opportunity for Investors Act. Now, there's a representative from Nebraska, Mike Flood, I think his name is, and he proposed something called the Equal Opportunity for Investor Act, which basically asks FINRa, the SEC, to approve a accreditation test. Right. So not not based off income or no net worth, but an actual test that people that are financially sophisticated can take and then become accredited investors. And why that's interesting is that the approval in the House of Representatives was overwhelmingly positive. It's like 300 to 20 or whatever, whatever it is. And it seems to be moving pretty quickly. It's getting to the Senate. And given that overwhelming response, it's likely it'll get approved quickly by the Senate. So as part of that legislation, they need a test within the next 12 months. So if you work backwards from that and say it takes a few months to get through Senate, it could be with us by the end of 2024. Andy Crebar (00:18:09) - And why that's important is. If you believe people do not invest in this stuff. And you know, at honey bricks, we only work with accredited investors and we probably get seven out of ten people that want to invest in honey bricks and not accredited, which we politely have to say, sorry, deregulation, we can't work with you just yet. But I think there's a huge market here in the US around non-accredited today. Investors that want to invest in private real estate, they're not sick of the stock market volatility. They want to invest in stuff they understand generate double digit returns. They can't do it. So I think that's a really key piece of legislation that's changing. It's going to be a big change in the amount of capital that's available in private real estate deals. Sam Wilson (00:18:48) - Oh, man. And the number of people that are highly intelligent, very capable of making these decisions, and yet they can't because they don't meet an income or net worth requirements. Like that's the people that need to be in these deals anyway. Sam Wilson (00:19:03) - Like mean think about friends of mine that are, you know, they're judges, they're lawyers maybe. I mean, it's like, you know, they're not making half $1 million a year, but they're very smart people. It's like, how? Okay, but you don't meet the accredited investor requirement. This is silly for sure. So yeah. Andy Crebar (00:19:21) - A lot of benefits with it, you know, think it's there for a reason. But think you're right, there's many very smart, financially savvy people that can want to invest in these deals and could invest in these deals but can't due to the legislation. So that's great to see. Sam Wilson (00:19:36) - Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. This is this is fun. I'm glad to see your state on the front end of these changes. I mean, getting honey bricks out there, taking advantage of the crowd, funding legislations and laws, then building flow and and making honey bricks run off of it. I mean, those are all very, very cool things. And you love what you're doing here in the real estate space and how you're really bringing new products to the market that are meaningful and making a difference. Sam Wilson (00:20:02) - So certainly appreciate that. If our listeners want to get in touch with you or learn more about you, what is the best way to do that? Andy Crebar (00:20:08) - We show up there or sponsor or fund a funds manager head to GP flow. Com. You can learn more about what we do and how we help GP's there. If you're an LP looking to invest in high quality multifamily deals across the US. Check out honey bricks.com. And either way you can always find me and andy@flo.com as well. Sam Wilson (00:20:27) - Fantastic Andy at flow honey bricks and flow. Make sure we include all of those there in the show notes. Andy thank you again for coming on today. I do. Sam Wilson (00:20:36) - Appreciate it. Andy Crebar (00:20:38) - Right on. Thanks for having me, Sam. Sam Wilson (00:20:39) - Hey, thanks for listening. Sam Wilson (00:20:40) - To the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate podcast. If you can do me a favor and subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, whatever platform it is you use to listen. If you can do that for us, that would be a fantastic help to the show. Sam Wilson (00:20:56) - It helps us both attract new listeners as well as rank higher on those directories. So appreciate you listening. Thanks so much and hope to catch you on the next episode.
Laura & Jim continue their discussion with Andrea Dunlop, host of “Nobody Should Believe Me” who has strong criticisms about the documentary “Take Care of Maya” based on her own background with medical child abuse. Andrea casts doubts about Beate Kowalski's behavior toward her daughter Maya, she has doubts about the doctors who treated Maya before her admittance to Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital…in addition to doubts on Jack Kowalski's motives for suing the hospital who separated his daughter from her family. Jim and Laura explain what they see as the deep flaws in the investigation into Beate, and the assumptions about the family's behavior. Laura and Jim examine the entire context and highlight the most important aspects of the case in their professional view.We will post on our FB page several sources for our listeners to make up their own minds: (1) the transcript of the interview that Laura mentions that Detective Stephanie Graham conducted with Jack Kowalski about his wife Beate's behavior and his daughter Maya's illness; (2) Detective Graham's deposition in which she admits her suspicion of the Kowalski's was totally based on what she learned from Dr. Sally Smith, the child abuse pediatrician; (3) the court ordered psychological evaluation of Beate Kowalski, which contains crucial written statements by another patient Jessica Stevens (and her mother Sarah Stevens) who was also treated by Dr. Kirkpatrick for CRPS , and who was also put into a medically induced Ketamine coma in the same clinic in Mexico overseen by Dr. Cantu. (He also treated Maya). The Stevens family knew Beate and Maya and have a lot of important observations.Finally, in this episode, Andrea mentions the case of her sister Megan Carter, who was investigated for medical child abuse. It is only fair that we supply the actual opinion of the court, where the judge found no factual basis for child abuse by her sister Megan. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6567384-Megan-Carter-Court-Order.htmlAndrea also mentions the NBC investigative report into her sister's case and about the doctors involved in Megan's case. Here is that article too. https://www.king5.com/amp/article/news/investigations/mary-bridge-elizabeth-woods-child-abuse-pediatrics/281-d4fc8654-1acb-4906-b900-2034190ef2a9This is a complicated set of cases definitely worth discussion. #RealCrimeProfile #ExpertAnalysis #BehavioralAnalysis #FBI #NewScotlandYard #Podcast #MayaKowalski #BeateKowalski #JackKowalski #KyleKowalski #FalseAccusations #MunchausenbyProxy #FactitiousDisorder #FabricatedIllness #InducedIllness #MedicalChildAbuse #ComplexRegionalPainSyndrome #CRPS #RareIllness #ThePainIsRealYou can find Andrea's "Nobody Should Believe Me" podcast her: https://pod.link/1615637188Andrea's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreadunlop/And Andrea's Munchausen Support group which is the 501 c 3 and has a ton of resources from the APSAC committee: https://www.munchausensupport.com/ Follow us and continue the conversationOn Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/realcrimeprofile/?hl=enOn Twitterhttps://twitter.com/realcrimeprofilOn Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/realcrimeprofile/>>>>>>>>> SUPPORT OUR OTHER SHOWS
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