Making a Mania: The Steven Avery Saga and Why We're Obsessed

Latest Episodes:

Ken Kratz fires back at 'Making a Murderer Part 2' | Ep. 9 Dec 07, 2018

Show notes

Ken Kratz, the man who prosecuted the Steven Avery case and is portrayed as a villain in "Making a Murderer," sits down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about "Part 2" and Kathleen Zellner's attempts to blast holes in his case.

Jerry Buting reacts to 'Making a Murderer Part 2' | Ep. 8 Nov 02, 2018

Show notes

Among the surprises in "Making a Murderer Part 2" is the way Steven Avery's attorney Kathleen Zellner points fingers at the work of Dean Strang and Jerry Buting, who defended Avery at his 2007 murder trial. We catch up with Buting after his viewing of Part 2 to talk about the series, Zellner's claims of ineffective assistance of council and more.

Should you watch 'Making a Murderer Part 2'? | Ep. 7 Oct 26, 2018

Show notes

The long-awaited Part 2 of Netflix's "Making a Murderer" has arrived. USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporters Doug Schneider and Shane Nyman talk about their binge session, impressions from the new episodes and whether or not it's worth the 10-hour investment.

A conversation with Dean Strang | Ep. 6 Oct 09, 2018

Show notes

Dean Strang was part of Steven Avery's defense team and became a Midwestern folk hero after "Making a Murderer." We talked with him about changes he'd make in the criminal justice system, the politics of Avery supporters, how the Netflix series changed him and more.

Why would anyone ever confess to a crime they didn't commit? | Ep. 5 Oct 09, 2018

Show notes

Jim Trainum, retired homicide detective and author of "How the Police Generate False Confessions: An Inside Look at the Interrogation Room," explains how and why false confessions happen and how law enforcement can prevent it from happening. Trainum's book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y87cw7eb

Ken Kratz on the dishonesty of 'Making a Murderer' | Ep. 4 Oct 09, 2018

Show notes

There's no doubt that Ken Kratz, the Calumet County D.A. who prosecuted Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey more than 10 years ago, comes off as a villain in "Making a Murderer." We sit down with Kratz to break down what he says are the most misleading scenes in the series' Part 1. (Kratz's book, "Avery: The Case Against Steven Avery and What 'Making a Murderer' Gets Wrong," on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y7rlwjzv)