Huh, I thought. Interesting. I then proceeded to devour the series like everyone else on the planet.

It’s funny how you remember certain things so specifically. I was living about an hour away from my parents at the time, and my dad had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Christmas was very important to him, but getting their tree up just kept getting knocked down their todo list.

So I volunteered to go and set it up for them. The first day, I joyfully listened to Christmas music and chatted with my family.

But then the tree proceeded to fall down no less than 5 times, requiring me to drive all the way back to my parents’ house and start from scratch each time.

So I have vivid memories of the juxtaposition of setting up a Christmas tree while listening to a murder mystery.

Anyway, since then, I’ve been obsessed. I specifically like true crime series that tell an entire story start to finish.

While I know this is such a popular genre, I don’t feel like there are a ton of podcast shows that do this well. But here are a few that are top of my recommendations list (and I’m picky…like really picky).

True Crime Podcasts that I couldn’t get enough of

Scamanda

A girl starts a blog to document her cancer journey and it becomes wildly popular, attracting an audience who is willing to open their wallets to support a young, charismatic Christian mom during her time of need. The thing is, though, Amanda isn’t sick. This podcast reveals the journey to uncovering her lies and holding her accountable.

Besides being totally interesting (I was part of the blogging community during Amanda’s time online), this podcast is so well done. They hired a voice actor to read Amanda’s (now removed) blog posts, and her performance was outstanding!

I wanted to savor the episodes because it’s rare that I find a podcast these days that captivates me in this way. But of course, I devoured it because I just couldn’t. stop.

Killing dad season 1

Imagine being behind bars for a gruesome crime that you aren’t denying. But no one knows the whole story. And what the public doesn’t know could change everything.

Two women tell the story of a young woman who is behind bars for killing her very own father. The young woman appears as herself throughout the show via prison phone calls like Adnan a’la Serial.

Each episode delivers a new blow with new secrets revealed.

Something was wrong – season 12

It’s just before Covid, and Kenzi is looking for another gig to bring in some extra cash after an unexpected medical bill.

Enter: this charming British father looking for a nanny for his darling little girl.

The interview goes well.

Very well.

So well, in fact, that they both agree to forgo the nannying opportunity to instead explore the chemistry that neither one of them can deny.

It’s a modern day romance filled with twists and turns, with guest appearances from Federal Agents and lies. Lots and lots of lies.

Kenzi, who is a captivating storyteller, bares all as she shares intimate details of the dream romance that turned out to be nothing but a horrible nightmare.

Culpable

A 21-year-old Mississippi man, briefly home from a the boat he worked on, was found dead in the bathroom of his apartment; a single gun-shot wound to his head.

Local police ruled his death a suicide after conducting a 45 minute investigation.

Substantial evidence would suggest otherwise. With a cast of characters one might expect to find on an episode of Breaking Bad, the narrative told reveals that there’s more to the story. So much more.

A mother desperate for the truth to come to light and an investigator, committed to seeking justice, investigate and share the details of Christian’s suspicious death.

To live & die in LA

Adea Shaboni is a young aspiring Hollywood actress and model. She’s also missing.

She vanished from her apartment complex near Hollywood’s walk of fame in February of 2018.

Her family, desperate for answers, seek the help of journalist Neil Strauss to find out what actually happened to Adea.

The full story, which came at great personal risk, is finally told.

Up & Vanished Season 1

In 2005, a beauty queen high school teacher doesn’t show up for work one morning, raising concern from all those who know her.

Tara Grinstead, chronically reliable, is no where to be found.

A documentarian takes on the challenge of finding the truth as he embarks on his first ever podcast project.

The captivating story, which is expertly told, suddenly takes a turn as the story turns into an in real time investigation.

The truth is revealed. And those responsible are held accountable.

And the podcast is to thank for solving a case that was previously described to be as cold as Alaska.

There are a few others that I enjoyed but aren’t quite as high up there on my recommendations list: Sh!t town and Down the hill just to name a couple.

If you happen to have a recommendation that isn’t on this list, please share it in the comments below. I would love to find new shows to listen to!

That’s it for me today! Until next time, friend! XOXO

Let’s talk about ReesaTeesa & Who TF did I marry?

I need to say this first because I think it’s vital. “Reesa” could be any of us. I appreciate her courage in sharing this story — and, in her words, sharing the truth even when it makes her look bad. Because in reality, so many of us have had the same thoughts. We have all experienced the same internal struggles, the same motivators, the same resistance to pay attention to our gut feelings because we want the thing so damn bad.

She said it herself; she wanted it to be her turn. And damn, what woman can’t relate to that on some level?

If you want the TLDL (listen) — the quick summary is (spoilers, obviously): ReesaTeesa met a man on FB dating (she also matched with him on Hinge but the name was slightly different so she didn’t make the connection right away until he pointed it out). On her way to their first date, her tire blew out and he won her over by coming to her rescue, changing her tire, replacing (and paying for) a new tire then spoiling her at the Cheesecake Factory. They fell hard and fast and when the world shut down two weeks later thanks to Covid, they decided to quarantine together despite their original stance not to ever live with a partner until marriage because they didn’t want to be alone during the quarantine.

 

From there, Reesa was taken on an absolute rollercoaster. Legion, as we’ll call him, claimed to be very well off from his arena football days and he also claimed to be a VP of a condiment company set in Atlanta, GA. He dangled $700,000.00 houses and BMWs, making promises he never, ever intended to keep just to watch her get excited then crushed. Shortly after they moved in together, Reesa found out she was pregnant. But the pregnancy would end in a painful miscarriage and a D&C where she waited in recovery for over 3 hours for Legion, who per his fake personal assistant had to get out of a meeting and come pick her up from all the way across town.

 

He faked jobs, backgrounds, family members, phone calls, deaths, the lies go on and on. Reesa, all along, had a strange feeling, so much so that she kept voice diaries on her phone where she could basically try to talk things through in order to reason with herself. In the end, she kicked him out after discovering his series of lies thanks to discovering a discrepancy in the SSN he used for a background check required for a new job.

 

This lead her down a path to discover that he did not attend the school he claimed, never lived in CA as he claimed, had been married more than once, had a criminal history that involved impersonating a police officer and that he was a forklift operator at the condiment company, not a VP, and didn’t resign — he was fired.

 

She kicked him out only then to discover he didn’t have any money and he became homeless. Members of his family contacted her to untangle the truth from the lies on their end when he showed up claiming that he found her cheating, which only helped her to further solidify how much he really lied to her. They divorced in August of 2021, and she went on to share her story in a 52 part series on TikTok that went insanely viral.

Key Takeaways

Forget your timeline

“Being married to the wrong person is a type of hell no one should have to go through.” Reesa ended the series with that statement. You guys, please, for the love of all that is holy SCREW YOUR TIMELINE. If you feel like you are forcing something — if you feel like you are dragging a mule, if you are blatantly ignoring bright red flags — get out of there.

Your commitment to this arbitrary timeline is going to get you into situations that will be painful, messy and hard to get out of. I can promise you, the world doesn’t suddenly become this magical place just because you get a shiny piece of jewelry and the license to change your name.

When it comes to marriage, you want it to be right…not right now.

Listen to your gut

I am the person people come to. It’s been this way my entire life. I’m the one people confide in, seek advice from, lean on. So I’ve heard it straight from their own mouths that they know something isn’t right. They can feel it in their bones, but for whatever reason, they ignore their instincts. They ignore the advice. They sweep it under the rug.

Those same friends have sought comfort and refuge from me when their relationships crumble. For some, it was just painful and unfortunate. For others, it was downright scary and dangerous.

Your gut knows what is right and what isn’t. You owe yourself enough respect to listen to it.

Speakerphone is underrated

I’m married to a football coach who is a master recruiter. The number of phone calls that man has taken in my house cannot be counted. Each and every one of them, much to my dismay, on speakerphone.

I never realized that was something I should be grateful for until I listened to/watched this series. So much of what Reesa went through could probably have been avoided if only she asked for certain calls to be on speakerphone. Homie straight up faked important phone calls with made up people.

Trust but verify

I am a person with deep rooted trust issues, much to my husband’s chagrin. I want proof. All. The. Proof. As women, we are often made out to seem crazy or ridiculous when we press too hard into things. Y’all. You are allowed to trust your instincts and request what you need to feel comfortable.

If someone thinks you’re crazy for trusting but verifying, they’re not a person you want around.

If you gripped by Who TF Did I Marry, you need to listen to this podcast

Not to diminish Reesa’s experience, but if you think her story is crazy — you need to listen to this season of Something Was Wrong. I think about this story at least once a week. Similar type set up except “Kenzi” meets “Joe” by applying for a job as a nanny for his kid. The interview turns into a date and the rest is absolutely f***ing insanely chaotic romance. I’ve listened to the season more than once because I’m like wait, hold up, did I hear that right? I did. It’s gripping and heartbreaking and absolutely terrifying to know just how far people will go.

If you engrossed in Who TF Did I Marry, you should read The Last Thing He Told me by Laura Dave

I confessed that I was in a reading slump on TikTok at the start of this year, and people came through with the recommendations. And one of my IRL friends recommended The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, and that’s the book I chose to read in an attempt to get out of my slump.

Y’all. It worked. I was hooked. Once again, you have this woman who knows one thing to be true only to discover that she was so, so wrong. When her husband disappears one day, leaving her only one message protect her, referring to his teenage daughter, the main character goes on a hunt to find out the truth and bring her husband home.

Again, if you were entertained by Who TF Did I Marry, you’ll like the book. I promise.

Okay, that’s it from me for today. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Have you listened/watched Who TF Did I Marry? What do you think women could do differently to avoid finding themselves in a similar situation?

Until next time! XOXO

Thank God for good reality TV. There’s just something about getting sucked into the alternate universe where the emotions are high and nothing seems like normal life.

I could take or leave season 5 of LIB. But this season? Yes please thank you very much. Talk about delivering on the drama, y’all.

I have opinions. I’d love to know where you stand on these topics, so be sure to sound off in the comments below.

I feel like this should go without saying but to (and your’s): SPOILERS AHEAD! At the time of writing this, I’ve watched all that’s been released: Episode 9: Secret Rendezvous.

First up, let’s talk about the Chelsea + Megan Fox + Jimmy situation.

I want to make something clear: Chelsea is gorgeous. Absolutely f***ing gorgeous. I don’t think anyone would be discussing how she looks if she didn’t bring up this comparison. That being said — the stare down Jimmy gave the camera during the reveal said a mouthful without a single word being uttered.

I had to go back and rewatch the scene because I couldn’t remember how the topic even came up and imagine my surprise when I realize…

Just before this exchange, Chelsea had asked Jimmy if he could really see himself being with someone at the end of this. His response? I don’t want to talk about other people, but yes. There’s some awkward silence and then he asks to change the subject.

I MEAN!!!!

The subject change? Chelsea asks Jimmy if anyone ever tells him he looks like a celebrity. Sneaky sneaky. I see what you did there, girl.

The first words out of Jimmy’s mouth when he make the Megan Fox connection? Can we get married?

Say what you want, but the strategy worked in the moment, I’d say. Did it work long-term? Well, only time will tell. The previews for what’s to come would suggest otherwise.

Do I think Jimmy chose Chelsea over Jessica because of the comparison? Yes. I think he really liked them both, but Chelsea’s goofy personality gave her a slight edge. A goofy gorgeous girl makes for a special kind of life. What man doesn’t want a woman who can make you snort laugh and turn you on?

I think Chelsea loved Trevor but liked Jimmy. But I think she chose Jimmy because he picked her. And she said herself: she felt unlovable. And it’s clear she’s dealt with insecurity issues in her life (not a dig — we all do). And despite logic, I can imagine it feels a certain kind of way when an insecure person is the one picked in that kind of situation.

Chelsea said it herself, she thought Jimmy was dumping her when he came out with the “I love you.” It clearly caught her off guard and took her by complete surprise. It made her feel special, I can’t blame her for that. Especially knowing who she was up against, as a girl with insecurity issues myself, hell, I’d feel some kind of way if chosen over Jessica for sure.

Honorable mention: The T-Rex run at the reveal. Now, I get it — it has to be so painfully awkward to close that distance at a normal pace. But maybe, just maaayyyybbbee we let the dude do the running next time.

Brittany & Kenneth & the world’s most bizarre breakup.

I actually said out loud what did I just watch as the scene was ending. There was Brittany, folded over at the kitchen counter, crying one of those deep, gutteral, soul escaping kind of cries and Kenneth just…what? Walks upstairs, packs a bag and calls his buddy?

I was so confused by the whole thing. I know editing does editing things, but there had to be something that happened behind the scenes. Because Brittany brings up one intense conversation and Kenneth just bails? And I actually really liked them in the pods. I thought they were the real deal. I know the conversation with AD rattled Kenneth. And I certainly think that altered things for Kenneth — but how was that not something he considered before proposing?

Whatever the case, I have to say it was one of the oddest breakups I’ve ever witnessed. What did you guys think?

Matthew defends himself

We all saw the awkwardness play out on screen. And we’ve all probably watched enough reality TV to assume that editing plays a massive role. But I was definitely left wondering what was real and what was the magic of producers and editing. But we don’t have to wonder any more because in the comment section of a video montage that Love is Blind posted to their Instagram account, Matthew sounded off in the comment section.

“Key element of my story that was never disclosed is that I live an alcohol free lifestyle and did the experiment sober,” Matthew said from his own personal account. “It was a key factor in why I had so much difficulty connecting with women in the beginning. There was also many misrepresentations and falsehoods created in my opinion to smear my character. I look forward to telling my side of the story with the full truth at the appropriate time.” He also went on to say that the truth was misrepresented and that he never walked out on a woman when she was talking.

Sarah Ann came to his defense during a recent Q&A on her Instagram.

I have to imagine doing the experiment sober would be tough. Probably not as tough as having to check yourself into an alcohol rehab post filming — which I feel like some contestants should probably do.

Jeramey, Lost & Found, Sarah Ann & Laura

WTF. That’s honestly the thought that ran on a loop in my mind while I watched that scene. What the actual eff? I was honestly just so confused initially because maybe I’m in the minority here but I got the vibe that Jeramey was a good, cool fun dude initially. I thought he was really in this thing. I only just recently saw the reports that he had been engaged just weeks before the show filmed — which he claims he didn’t keep a secret, but it’s all a little too convenient if you ask me. My mouth was hanging open the whole scene. And I have so many questions.

1. If you were out with other cast mates, why wasn’t Laura included?
2. Where did Laura think you were and what did she think you were out doing?
3. If there really wasn’t anything to hide, why not just tackle the situation head on? Laura was part of the same experiment. Why not just send a text, instead of sharing your location, with like “Hey, I know this looks really bad but Sarah Ann is here and we feel like we need to chat things through. I’ll be home late, but I am coming home. You’re still it for me.”

I don’t think the answers to those questions actually matter. And I definitely don’t think number 3 would go over all that well, but clearly this didn’t go over well, either.

I have to say, though. The fact that Laura knew the whole time that Jeramey wasn’t where he was claiming to be and came in with that mic drop moment? ::Chef’s Kiss:: Now that’s some good TV.

I think that’s all I’ve got for today. I do have one question though. In the preview scene where we see Chelsea yelling You f***ed her! I know you f***ed her! do you think she’s yelling at Jimmy? Because I most definitely assumed, initially, that she was confronting Jimmy about Jessica. But now, I’m not so sure. There’s a part of me that wonders if she’s actually yelling at Jeramey about the Sarah Ann situation. So tell me below — what do you think?

Alright friends! That’s it for me — until the next drop!