Podcast appearances and mentions of susan randall

T.O. got out of prison in Rutland a couple weeks ago, after a six and a half year bid.  I met T.O. through my private investigator friend Susan Randall in May, 2017. He'd been a client of hers in a federal public defender case. T.O.'s been in and out of jail his whole adult life, and it's become a kind of tradition for us to get together and talk when he gets out of jail. We don't talk about his crimes. Mostly we talk about what it's like to start over…over and over. Now T.O. is in his mid forties, and this time he was released in the middle of a Vermont winter. 

In this episode, Justin discusses legal mitigation filmmaking with two of Reel Defense's founders, Doug Passon and Susan Randall. Reel Defense is a non-profit that creates empathetic documentaries about those going through sentencing which provides judges with crucial insight. These legal mitigation films are a powerful form of advocacy that brings personal stories to life for individuals navigating the justice system. By revealing context, character, and humanity, these films strive to show the complex realities of those facing sentencing, offering insight that can promote fairness, justice, and the possibility of second chances.

I can't think of a better topic for our 100th episode of Set For Sentencing – the topic that is so near and dear to my heart – MITIGATION FILMMAKING! Mitigation films are arguably the most powerful and persuasive weapon in our advocacy arsenal.  They offer an unparalleled way to humanize a client and show the truth of their journey, rather than simply telling it.  However, there's currently a significant gap in learning and leadership within the world of mitigation filmmaking. With no established standards and a lack of a supportive community, many well-intentioned individuals—whether new to the legal field or even the supervising lawyers—often lack the comprehensive skill set needed to produce these films effectively. This gap can be detrimental to both the client and the broader cause.  That's why a group of dedicated, highly experienced professionals is coming together to form REEL DEFENSE: A MITIGATION FILM COLLECTIVE! This non-profit entity is committed to educating, building community, and producing these essential films for those who might not have the resources to do so themselves.   Visit www.reeldefense.org and consider making a tax-deductible donation to support this worthy endeavor!   IN THIS EPISODE:   What is a mitigation film and why is it such a powerful persuasive tool of advocacy? Announcing a new, non-profit endeavor – the mitigation film collective! Examples of great results gained through use of video advocacy Why your judges will love these (even the ones that say they hate ‘em); Why the claim that these are just for “rich people” is a false narrative; How you can support the newly formed, non-profit mitigation film collective! Mitigation movies and the Simpsons!? Bad Actors in the Mitigation film arena Upcoming training opportunities with the collective   LINKS: To make a tax-deductible donation or learn more about the Collective, please visit:  www.reeldefense.org Sample sentencing videos:  If you've never seen one, here is a sample.  This was done for the first defendant to plead guilty and be sentenced in the plot to kidnap the Gov. of Michigan.  He received, by far,  the most favorable sentence of any of the individuals charged, and the video played a big part in that:  https://youtu.be/AOhOY3uuvRQ?si=7UO2LO1EPzDDF8SW New Book on Holistic Defense:  Early in the episode, I told you about Katie Carter's new book, Holistic Defense: a Practice.  It's a must read for anyone doing criminal defense work.  You can buy it here:  https://www.carterinvestigations.com/shop/product/   EXTRA:  The Saga of Lance Oppenheim:   One reason for the colletive is to guard against “bad actors” who either enter the space without the proper perspective to do the work, or who simply seek to exploit the medium for their own gain.  We talked specifically, in this context, about a filmmaker named Lance Oppenheim.  While we spared the audience much of the gory details, suffice it to say, Lance manipulated his way into the defense community and behaved badly in order to further his own ambition.  And, while we're here to uplift and inspire, sometimes people just need a reality check.  Back around 2014, Lance was a Harvard undergrad with big ambition.  He took advantage of legal professionals (myself included) that thought they were helping him with a school project, and then preyed on our vulnerable clients by using portions of their mitigation films without permission.   He neglected to mention that the little supposed “student film” he was making was actually going to be submitted to the New York Times for the world to see.  The story of Lance and his careless attitude about what we do and who we do it for, is a cautionary tale of why only those who are trustworthy and hold the mission of providing quality, holistic, representation sacred can be allowed into the inner circle of mitigation filmmakers.

This is a story about active drug addiction.  Last year I made a story about my private investigator friend Susan Randall, after her office was robbed in the middle of the day in downtown Burlington by a woman with a heroin addiction. She walked into Susan's office while people were working there and loaded a bag with electronics, and left.  I couldn't stop thinking about the woman. Where was she coming from that day and where was she going? The world of active addiction is a kind of world underneath the world, with its own rules and relentless demands. But to most people it's invisible.  All four of the people in this story are in recovery, but they spent years in the world of active drug addiction. They're aware of it in ways that most of us are not, and they agreed to describe it to me—what it feels like day to day, and its endless demands.Warning: This story contains explicit descriptions of active addiction. It might not be for everyone.

Today is the first episode of What Class Are You, a periodic series I make for VP. This series started as an experiment a few years ago. I wanted to have conversations with people about the terrible cultural divides that keep growing in our country, without ending up in boring conversations about politics…so I drove around asking strangers ‘what class are you', which is a kind of stupid and offensive question, but it turns out people have a lot to say…about money, education, opportunity…power. The very first shows I made about class I already ran on RS as a single show…you can find it on my website….but these next episodes in the series I'll run one at a time, every couple days, for a few weeks. We're going to start the series with my old friend Susan Randall, the private investigator I interview a lot for Rumble Strip. She talks about what it was like to grow up upper-middle class. 

Private investigator Susan Randall talks with reporter Erica Heilman about the privileges of growing up upper middle class in this episode of "What class are you?"

Susan's been a private investigator in Vermont for 24 years. She defends people who are accused of crimes, which often involve drugs in one way or another. This summer she was robbed by a person with a terrible heroin addiction, and it made her really angry, and really tired. This is that story. And if you haven't heard any of the Susan shows before, I recommend listening to some of the others first. There are at least four, and the very first one is called Vermont Private Eye.

NH COLD CASES, 1969: Are the cases of Susan Randall, Luella Blakeslee and Debra Lee Horn connected? This episode examines the cases of Luella Blakeslee of Hooksett and Debra Lee Horn of Allenstown. If you haven't listened to The Case of Susan Randall on Dark Downeast, start there. View episode source material at darkdowneast.com Follow along on Instagram @darkdowneast

NEW HAMPSHIRE MURDER, 1971: DNA evidence is one of the most critical developments in the history of criminal investigations ever. Cold cases from the pre-DNA era are reviewed with new testing and analysis in the hopes that the advanced science will reveal new information in a long-standing unsolved murder.  But that's not the only way DNA evidence is used in criminal cases. According to the Innocence Project, new DNA evidence and testing has exonerated 192 individuals wrongly convicted of crimes that DNA proved they didn't commit. Could this be the case of Susan Randall and the man convicted of her murder? Not so fast. I want you to hear the whole story -- Susan Randall's story. Episode sources at darkdowneast.com Follow along on Instagram @darkdowneast

In this episode National Menopause Foundation board member, Susan Randall, MSN, FNP-BC, talks with Claire Gill, CEO of the National Menopause Foundation about osteoporosis and bone health. Susan is former head of education for the National Osteoporosis Foundation.  All women begin to lose bone at a faster rate at menopause due to a decrease in estrogen. Our experts discuss what you need to know about how to stay bone strong. If you want more information about menopause and bone health please click HERE to view our webinar with Susan Randall. Support the show (https://www.nationalmenopausefoundation.kindful.com/?campaign=1034852)

Private investigator Susan Randall talks about preparing a life story for a sentencing...then moving on.

Private investigator Susan Randall talks about preparing a life story for a sentencing...then moving on.

In the nearly 20 years that Susan Randall's been working as a private investigator, she's seen Vermont's most disadvantaged people struggling to have life's most basic amenities. Sometimes her job is to interview people addicted to crack, to help determine whether they're suitable parents. Sometimes her job is to examine blood spatter at gruesome crime scenes. She recently helped defend a client who murdered a DCF worker in broad daylight.Content Note: Descriptions of violent crimesSusan has seen how humanity's worst instincts become possible where cyclical poverty, incarceration, and drug addiction wreak havoc on communities.There's a necessary split screen in Susan's mind. One screen shows a home life: dropping her kids off at lacrosse, helping them with school projects. And another screen shows a work life: prison visitation rooms, run-down trailer parks, the color-shifted skin of a corpse.Producer Erica Heilman interviewed Susan over the course of three years. Erica is a private investigator herself, and Susan was her mentor. The two talk about the mechanics of the legal system, poverty and how to survive a job that takes such an emotional toll.Producer: Erica Heilman of Rumble StripEditor: Jeff EmtmanMusic: The Black Spot

In the nearly 20 years that Susan Randall’s been working as a private investigator, she’s seen Vermont’s most disadvantaged people struggling to have life’s most basic amenities.  Sometimes her job is to interview people addicted to crack, to help determine whether they’re suitable parents. Sometimes her job is to examine blood spatter at gruesome crime scenes.  She recently helped defend a client who murdered a DCF worker in broad daylight.Content Note: Descriptions of violent crimesSusan has seen how humanity’s worst instincts become possible where cyclical poverty, incarceration, and drug addiction wreak havoc on communities.There’s a necessary split screen in Susan’s mind.  One screen shows a home life: dropping her kids off at lacrosse, helping them with school projects.  And another screen shows a work life: prison visitation rooms, run-down trailer parks, the color-shifted skin of a corpse.Producer Erica Heilman interviewed Susan over the course of three years.  Erica is a private investigator herself, and Susan was her mentor. The two talk about the mechanics of the legal system, poverty and how to survive a job that takes such an emotional toll.Producer: Erica Heilman of Rumble StripEditor: Jeff EmtmanMusic: The Black Spot

Susan Randall, the National Director for Science and Education at the National Osteoporosis Foundation in America, talks with me about bones, skeletons, calcium, exercise and diet.  How do our bones develop and what do we need to do when we are young to help them build up a bank we can draw from when we get older? Why do our bones get weaker as we get older? What role does diet and exercise play in keeping us healthy as women. How much calcium and Vitamin D do I need every day and how do I get it.  If I have osteoporosis what do I need to do and what are the treatments available to me?  A very meaty conversation with good easy to understand information about being a fit and healthy, and unbreakable, Fit N Fifty Plus woman.

Private investigator Susan Randall and I drive around and talk about criminal justice and single parenting.

Private investigator Susan Randall and I drive around and talk about criminal justice and single parenting.

Welcome Medicare Nation! I interviewed clinicians and global experts in the bone health field gathered during the Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis  held in Miami, Florida from May 12 to 15, 2016. May is the National Osteoporosis Awareness Month. Clinicians and Academicians Joined  the National Osteoporosis Foundation to Identify Solutions for Reducing the Two Million Broken Bones Caused by Osteoporosis Each Year. This conference was sponsored by the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis, promoting strong bones, and reducing human suffering through education, advocacy, and research.  NOF is committed to promoting bone health among the elderly through healthy diet and safe exercise.  Both can help stop the loss of bone mass and help prevent fractures.    Leading medical and scientific experts in the bone health field discussed  the latest information on preventing broken bones and lead in-depth educational sessions on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.   I met brilliant doctors, nurses, and therapists from all over the world and learned about:   Prevention and treatment of  osteoporosis  Education for prevention of people at risk There are 54 million Americans who suffer from osteoporosis  To address this significant care gap, the ISO 2016 included training on preventive care model that operates under the supervision of a bone health specialist and seeks to prevent repeat fractures.  The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) Model of Care Training Course is designed to help doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses and other healthcare professionals improve the care management of post-fracture patients and navigate the complicated coordination of care process across hospitals, medical offices and multiple medical specialties through the application of best practices. The FLS model of care is the key to sparing millions of American from breaking bones due to osteoporosis. This 2016 ISO includes updated FLS training, and the introduction of Bone Health ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), a strategy of telementoring FLS coordinators and healthcare professionals of all levels, with the aim of reducing the osteoporosis treatment gap  said E. Michael Lewiecki, MD, FACP, FACE, New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center, Co-Chair ISO Planning Committee 2016.  If you are over 50 and have hip or back fracture, then you have osteoporosis.  Secondary fractures can occur, too.  Every year, osteoporosis is responsible for two million broken bones, yet fewer than 25 percent of older women and men who suffer from a fracture are tested or treated for osteoporosis.  So many things can happen, secondary fracture, pneumonia,  You can find the best information about osteoporosis from  www.nof.org   National Osteoporosis Foundation.   Listen to the first part of a 2-part interview. Learn about food for the bones, calcium-enriched diet, safe exercises for the elderly.  We are on iTunes, and Google Play.  Please tell your friends about medicare nation, and the 3 other shows I have.  You shouldn’t be breaking your hip or back. If you get fractured, you have osteoporosis. Susan Randall     Osteoporosis  is the condition where the bone is weakened and impaired and more prone to rapture.   Causes of osteoporosis include: aging and decline in estrogen and testosterone Women and men both have the same hormones. Both lose these key  hormones as we age   These hormones influence other bodily functions.  As the hormones decline, bone strength and quality are affected  Treatment for breast cancer  put on a class of medications  that are aromataste  inhibitor  Primary and secondary causes of osteoporosis. It’s multifactorial    2.   Dr. Sanjeev Arora     Dr. Arora, MD,  is the Keynote speaker , head of Project ECHO and  Improving Health in Underserved Populations through Technology;   He is from the University of New Mexico;   Project ECHO,  Extension for  Community Health Outcome use the FLS model to improve efficiencies and democratize medical knowledge. Project ECHO uses video conferencing technology where conference participants  can talk  via skype about the best  treatment  in underserved nations.  It’s a new platform for medicine  Project ECHO is based on the  idea that a multidisciplinary team of providers  can attract outcome in the internet  The project targets meeting the medical needs of a billion people by 2020. It currently connects 13 countries and hundreds of universities and clinics. Additional ISO16 Highlights include: Sessions exploring the controversies in osteoporosis treatment and care; New tools for assessing fracture risk; Interactive sessions on safe exercises for people with osteoporosis; Evidence-based answers to the most common patient questions on osteoporosis and fracture prevention; Professional development workshops on patient education and new coding and reimbursement for osteoporosis;  3.  Karen Kemmis    Karen is a Physical Therapist specializing in safe exercises and movements. Silver sneakers – use  gyms medicare vantage plan  Some exercise and moves  could be dangerous for the elderly  Many fitness instructors are not well versed with  chronic  conditions we have to be careful  what is safe for their particular condition Anything in the upright position is safe  for the low-density bone mass Dangerous moves include forward bending  such as toe touches, twisting hard, full rotation, sit-ups   Safe exercise moves include  lying on the back;  lay grazing, isometric exercise,   To work safely with a fitness instructor  tell them about your bone concern, go to www. nof.org, search  positive exercises,  print those materials and bring to instructor  4.  Dr Maria Pesquera   Is a primary physician in Albany, New York  and has a lot of patients who have osteoporosis.  Her medical team is  having issues with medication used for treating osteoporosis She favors exercise alternatives such as yoga and pilates. She promotes a Holistic method of treatment that includes  healthy diet   Resources:    National Osteoporosis website:  www.nof.org  The best way to contact ECHO and Dr. Arora is via the website:  echo.unm.edu     I may answer one of your questions on the air! email me: support@themedicarenation.com Do you have questions or feedback? I’d love to hear it! I may answer one of your questions on the air! email me: support@themedicarenation.com Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review in iTunes! (Click here)     Find out more information about Medicare on Diane Daniel’s website! www.CallSamm.com      

 This Sunday we will chat with Cosmotologist Susan Randall about her product line of all natual hair and akincare products. Join us at 9pm EST/6pm PST, as we chat ingredients and why they are so important.  Also we will be chatting on Twitter....Join the conversartion by following the hashtag #BeautyLounge  .

Susan Randall talks about 15 years as a private investigator in Vermont.

Susan Randall talks about 15 years as a private investigator in Vermont.