Bitter Academia

Latest Episodes:

MINI TRUE CRIME UPDATE: Robert Courtney released and the 'Unbranded' mission to help sex trafficking victims May 10, 2026

Show notes

Scott Vaughn, a former football official who now owns First Down Healthcare & Aesthetics in suburban New Orleans, is the co-founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping survivors of human and sex trafficking get rid of tattoos and other physical markings. We’ll hear from Vaughn about the project in this episode. We’ll also hear about the release of Robert Courtney, a former pharmacist who was found diluting cancer patient medications, as well as other cases from coast to coast. Featuring audio from the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans.

MINI TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: A Times Square stabbing, a Bay Area predator, Renee Good updates and more May 10, 2026

Show notes

Here, we have quick crime roundups from coast to coast, including an update on the Renne Good case out of Minneapolis, Minn. Featuring audio from 1010 WINS in New York, KCBS Radio in the Bay Area, KRLD 1080 in Dallas, KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia and Drivetime with DeRusha out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: Rogue pharmacist and sex traffickers leave scars on their victims May 09, 2026

Show notes

Scott Vaughn, a former football official who now owns First Down Healthcare & Aesthetics in suburban New Orleans, is the co-founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping survivors of human and sex trafficking get rid of tattoos and other physical markings. We’ll hear more from Vaughn about the project in this episode. We’ll also hear about the release of Robert Courtney, a former pharmacist who was found diluting cancer patient medications, as well as other cases from coast to coast. Featuring audio from 1010 WINS in New York, KCBS Radio in the Bay Area, KRLD 1080 in Dallas, KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia, Drivetime with DeRusha out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities, the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans.

MINI TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: Alleged cop killer runs off in the nude, coerced confessions and more May 03, 2026

Show notes

For this episode, we’re going to dive into some of what goes into bringing criminals to justice, and what happens when that process goes wrong. We’ll hear from reporter Steve Neavling as well as officials from around the country, like St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith and Pennsylvania lawmakers who want to put a stop t0 the death penalty. Featuring audio from WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia, The Dave Glover Show out of KMOX in St. Louis and WBBM Newsradio in Chicago.

MINI TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: Updates on cases, including Nick Reiner, D4vd, Tanner Horner and the White House correspondents' dinner May 03, 2026

Show notes

In this mini roundup, we're check in with some updates on developing true crime cases throughout the country. Featuring audio from KNX News, KRLD 1080, KWY Newsradio and WBEN.

TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: When darkness continues after cases close May 02, 2026

Show notes

On this episode, we’re going to dive into some of what goes into bringing criminals to justice, and what happens when that process goes wrong with an interview with reporter Steve Neavling about a scandal regarding coerced suspect statements in Michigan. We'll also get updates on the White House correspondent's dinner incident, the Nick Reiner trial, the D4vd trial, the Tanner Horner trial, and more. Featuring audio from: WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, KNX News in Los Angeles, KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia, KRLD 1080 in Dallas, The Dave Glover Show out of KMOX in St. Louis, A New Morning out of WBEN News Talk in Buffalo and WBBM Newsradio in Chicago.

MINI TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: Is there something sinister behind all these missing or dead scientists? Apr 26, 2026

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MINI TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: A timeline of the D4vd murder case Apr 26, 2026

Show notes

TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: A timeline of the D4vd murder case, plus the mysterious deaths and disappearances of scientists Apr 25, 2026

Show notes

Around a month ago, I wrote about the case of a missing scientist in New Mexico. This week that case, and other similar cases have been making headlines. At least scientists who two lawmakers say are connected to U.S. nuclear secrets or rocket technology have either died or disappeared. There are reasons why people believe these cases might be linked, and we’ll get into those. However, we’ll also hear from an expert about why we shouldn’t jump to conclusions or get lost in conspiracy theories. But we’re actually starting this episode in Los Angeles, where Audacy station KNX News has been covering one particular murder case for months. It began with the report of human remains found in a Tesla last September. This week the owner of that Tesla, Billboard-charting musician David Burke, whose stage name is stylized as D-4-V-D, was charged with the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. She was just 14 years old when she died. Featuring audio from KNX News in Los Angeles, the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WBEN News and Talk in Buffalo.

TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: Looking into the cases of Athena Strand, Lynette Hooker, Deborah Kennedy, Jacob Wetterling and more Apr 18, 2026

Show notes

A trial for the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand and a mystery centered on a couple who went on what many speculate was a deadly boat ride in the Bahamas for Lynette Hooker are some of the developing cases we’ll cover in this episode. We’ll also take listeners into a recent meeting where investigators explained how they finally solved a nearly 30-year-old cold case murder of Deborah Kennedy, tracking it down to a neighbor who hadn’t even been a suspect with new DNA analysis technology. A new documentary film, “Echoes in the Night: The Jacob Wetterling Story” that is premiering his month explores another case that went unsolved for decades. We’ll hear from murder victim Jacob Wetterling’s mother of how solving these crimes impacts the families of victims. Featuring audio from KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia, KRLD 1080 in Dallas, the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WBEN News Talk in Buffalo, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit and the Adam & Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

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