Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey

As the self-proclaimed Prophet of the FLDS, a fundamentalist offshoot of the Mormon church, Warren Jeffs used the lure of eternal salvation to manipulate his followers. He arranged polygamous marriages and coerced families to offer their girls as child brides within the secretive sect, while authorities did little to stop him.

The Netflix series “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey'' paints a disturbing picture of the modern subjugation of women and the effects of tyrannical control dressed up as religious obedience. It presents many women who fled their underaged marriages and the outsiders who worked to expose the FLDS’s illegal actions.  

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "KEEP SWEET: PRAY AND OBEY" BEGIN IN THE LAST 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: car accident. 

Stranger Things Season 4, Part 1

The gang of friends in Hawkins is slowly growing apart. Mike, Dustin, Max and Lucas are in different high school cliques. Having moved to California with Joyce's family, Eleven is finding it hard navigating a new school without her supernatural powers. Though wanted by the KGB, Joyce and Murray pursue a tip that Hopper is alive and in a Soviet prison camp. Steve, Nancy, and Robin join their friends to defeat a dark wizard who’s targeting troubled teens in Hawkins. Meanwhile a team of scientists push Eleven to confront her past to regain her powers needed for another fight in the Upside Down.

In season four, part one of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” our heroes attempt to rescue Hopper, recharge El, and repel Vecna. The show widens its universe, adds depth to its young characters, and provides its scariest plotlines yet.  

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STRANGER THINGS" BEGIN APPROXIMATELY IN THE 41:00 MINUTE.

HBO's The Staircase

Michael Peterson said he found his wife at the bottom of the staircase after a fatal fall. But authorities believed when Kathleen Peterson learned of her husband’s double life, he beat her skull with a blow poke in a fit of rage. With the support of his family, a top-notch defense attorney, and a French film crew documenting his every move, Peterson stood trial in a case filled with twists and revelations. Despite holes in the evidence, the jury convicted him of murder.

The MAX Original 8-part drama “The Staircase” starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette takes the story beyond where its namesake documentary left off. We see Peterson’s challenges in prison, his family’s personal struggles, clashes over bias in the film - and yes - evidence that an owl attack accounted for Kathleen’s wounds and disorientation.  

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF HBO'S "THE STAIRCASE" BEGIN APPROXIMATELY IN MINUTE 38:00

In crime of the week: all shook up.

Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's

On a routine traffic stop in Saskatchewan, a Mountie recognized the driver as the priest who abused him as a child. The officer beat him up, but the priest never reported the attack and the Mountie kept the incident to himself for decades.

That officer was the late father of reporter Connie Walker. She wanted to know more about her Cree family’s experiences with Canadian residential schools. St. Michael’s school not only tried to expunge the children’s indigenous culture, but also subjected them to physical and sexual abuse.

From Gimlet Media and exclusively on Spotify, “Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s” is Connie Walker’s most personal investigation yet. In a study on intergenerational trauma, Connie gives voice to many of the victims of the systemic abuse while she seeks out the priest who abused her father.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STOLEN: SURVIVING ST. MICHAEL'S" BEGIN APPROXIMATELY IN MINUTE 40:00

Very Scary People

Before it was known on the big screen as a house of horror, the Dutch Colonial at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, Long Island belonged to the family of Ron DeFeo. In November 1974, Ron Junior found his parents and four siblings shot to death in their beds. His trial captivated the community, but his grisly crimes would be overshadowed by the new homeowners' claims the house was possessed.

The new podcast “Very Scary People” from HLN revisits the crime which was the prologue to “The Amityville Horror.” Narrated by Donnie Wahlberg, the series explores the DeFeo family history, theories of the crime, and the supernatural legacy of the crime scene.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "VERY SCARY PEOPLE" START APPROXIMATELY IN MINUTE 33:00

In crime of the week: bear knuckle fight. 

Will Be Wild

The Capitol insurrection seemed to catch most of the country off guard. But many people believed January 6th would be a violent day in Washington. They included conspiracy theorists, as well as security analysts…even one Texas teenager who tipped off the FBI after hearing his father’s plans to overturn the election.

But who are these people who would take up arms against a nation they say they want to save? What’s been the fallout for the insurrectionists, their families, and officers wounded that day? And could the riot have been blunted or stopped all together?

The hit podcast “Will be Wild” is a production of Pineapple Street Studios, Wondery, and Amazon Music. Ilya Marritz and Andrea Bernstein from “Trump Inc” introduce us to some of the people who planned - or tried to stop - the insurrection. Part current affairs, part cautionary tale - the podcast warns that January 6th wasn’t the end of the story; it was just a practice run.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WILL BE WILD" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 39:00

Under the Banner of Heaven

After the 1984 murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby, Detective Jeb Pyre learns the woman married into a prominent and devout Mormon family. But her modern outlook soon clashed with her five brother-in-laws’ views on marriage, religion, and the government. As conflicts arose among their wives, their community, and their church - the Lafferty brothers explored Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints teachings about polygamy, taxation and atonement. Now Detective Pyre must question his own faith as he pursues men willing to spill blood in the name of God.

Andrew Garfield stars in the FX on Hulu series “Under the Banner of Heaven,” based on the book by John Krakauer. The story flashes between the murder investigation, the evolution of the Lafferty’s extremist views, and scenes from Mormon history that informed the religious overtones of the crime.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN" BEGIN AROUND THE 45th MINUTE.

In Crime of the Week: I love the sea life. I've got to boogie.  

Dead End: A NJ Political Murder Mystery

In 2014, authorities discovered the bodies of political consultant John Sheridan and his wife Joyce in the bedroom of their New Jersey home. A barricaded door, an intentionally set fire, and the discovery of two knives near the bodies led investigators to believe John killed Joyce in a murder/suicide. 

The couple’s family noticed detectives ignored odd things about the evidence, such as the blood patterns and type of knife that made the fatal blow. In a state known for its graft and shoddy police work, could there be something more to the case?  

In the podcast “Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery,” WNYC reporter Nancy Solomon explores the brutal deaths of the Sheridans, their sons' quest for the truth, and the political corruption that looms over the case.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DEAD END" BEGIN AROUND THE 33rd MINUTE.

Candy

Candy Montgomery seems to have it all: loving husband, adorable kids…and friends from church like Betty Gore. But to fight the mundanity of suburban life, Candy initiates an affair with Betty’s husband, Allen. After the affair runs its course Betty and Allen are closer than ever. But while away on a business trip, Allen becomes concerned when his wife won’t answer the home telephone.

The five-night Hulu event “Candy” stars Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Pablo Schreiber, and Raúl Esparza. Based on the 1980 crime, the series asks why would Candy kill Betty with 41 blows from a three-foot ax? Was it the affair…or did she just snap?  

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CANDY" BEGIN AROUND THE 39th MINUTE.

In crime of the week: rock-a-bye baby.

Liar Liar

Since financial advisor Melissa Caddick walked out of her house in 2020, authorities have been unable to determine whether she vanished with the millions from her Ponzi scheme, was snatched by a ripped-off investor, or threw herself into the sea from the high cliffs near her luxury home. The podcast “Liar, Liar: Melissa Caddick and the Missing Millions” is a joint investigation between the Sydney Morning Journal and 60 Minutes Australia. Journalists Kate McClymont and Tom Steinfort seek to finally answer what happened to Caddick and the con artist’s ill-gotten fortune.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "LIAR LIAR" BEGINS AROUND MINUTE 37:00

Ozark series finale

With drug lord Omar Navarro in prison and his hot-head nephew Javi in charge, Marty and Wendy Byrde’s plan to get out from under the drug cartel’s control is in freefall. Meanwhile, Ruth makes a play for the casino - key to the money laundering operation Marty needs to fulfill his debt and secure a deal with the FBI. Jason Bateman and Julia Garner return for the final season of Netflix’s award-winning “Ozark.”

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "OZARK" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 44:00

In Crime of the Week: why don't you grow a pair?

Captive Audience

In 1972, seven-year-old Steven Stayner was kidnapped and raised by his abductor under an assumed name. At age 14 he made his escape and returned home. Reporters couldn’t get enough of the miraculous story, and a TV miniseries captivated the nation. But there was no storybook ending for the Stayners. The following years brought conflict, tragedy, and an unthinkable crime.

The Hulu documentary “Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story” follows the ordeals of Steven and Cory Stayner. It supplements its historical footage with clips from the 1989 TV miniseries and with research interviews from its screenwriter. It shows how a story can be manipulated and how the media can treat you like heroes one day - and villains the next.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CAPTIVE AUDIENCE" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 38:00

Sent Away

Complaints about harsh punishments, sexual abuse, and a fatal field trip surfaced about a Utah teen treatment center. State regulators did little about it - even when its director was accused of rape and using residents as workers in his home. The new podcast “Sent Away” is a joint investigation among The Salt Lake Tribune, KUER, and APM Reports. It looks at the troubling history of Integrity House, as well as Utah’s lax oversight which has allowed the teen treatment industry in the state to explode.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SENT AWAY" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 42:00

In Crime of the Week: silly bear.

Run, Bambi, Run

In 1990 Laurie Bembenek escaped from a Wisconsin prison through an open window. When the former Playboy bunny went on the lam, she became a media sensation and a folk hero. But did the former cop and calendar girl known as Bambi actually commit the crime she was in prison for - the murder of her husband’s ex-wife? The new show “Run, Bambi, Run” from Apple Podcasts looks back at the sexy-and-sexist case against Bembenek.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RUN, BAMBI, RUN" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 38:00

Killing Eve season 4

After walking away from Villanelle at the end of last season, security analyst Eve Palastri is immersed in her new obsession. With the help of friends new-and-old, she’s closing in on the mysterious yet powerful cabal known as The Twelve. Elsewhere, Villanelle is having an identity crisis. Can she leave behind her life as an assassin and prove to herself - and to Eve - that she’s not a monster?

Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh and Emmy winner Jodie Comer star in the fourth-and-final season of “Killing Eve” from AMC and BBC America. Our heroes seek to complete very personal missions all while continuing their obsessive cat-and-mouse game with each other’s emotions.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF SEASON 4 OF "KILLING EVE" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 43:00

In Crime of the Week: whoever smelt it.

Motive season 4

Officials say prisons protect the public from lawlessness, but often they’re the most lawless places in the country. And the security used to keep detainees IN, also keeps OUT transparency and accountability. In season 4 of “Motive” from WBEZ-Chicago, host Shannon Heffernan explores the Illinois prison system. She finds their rural locations, protective culture, and hostility toward inmates creates opportunities for systemic misconduct.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS FOR SEASON 4 OF "MOTIVE" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 41:00

NBC's The Thing About Pam

When Betsy Faria was murdered in 2011, police aggressively pursued her husband, Russ. But the evidence pointed to her BFF Pam Hupp. And while bad things continued to befall people around her, TV news magazines homed in on Pam and her web of lies. Renée Zellweger stars in “The Thing About Pam,” the NBC dramatization based on the NBC podcast based on the NBC news magazine Dateline.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "THE THING ABOUT PAM" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 37:00

In Crime of the Week: tall tale.

Yuba County Five

In February 1978, the car of five men with either mental health or intellectual disabilities was discovered on a high mountain road, far away from their anticipated destination. By the summer it became clear where the group had gone, but what happened to them in those months remains a troubling mystery. 

The seven-episode podcast “Yuba County Five” from Mopac Audio recalls the missing persons case that still haunts Northern California. It asks the question of why the men took the detour and whether someone with bad intentions sent them into the wilderness to meet their fate.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "YUBA COUNTY FIVE" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 19:00

The Girl from Plainville

After his suicide shocks his family, Conrad Roy’s mother learns he’d been having a virtual relationship with a girl in another town. But investigators combing their text messages discover instead of stopping him, Michelle Carter may have instructed him to take his own life. 

Elle Fanning and Chloë Sevigny star in the Hulu docudrama “The Girl from Plainville.” The series captures the sadness of two teens who don’t fit in, their path to tragedy, and the agony of the adults piecing together why it happened.  

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE" BEGINS AROUND MINUTE 38:00

In Crime of the Week: dirty talk.

Phoenix Rising

Teenage actress Evan Rachel Wood turned heads with her unlikely relationship with much-older shock-rocker Marilyn Manson. Behind the scenes, the musician’s love bombing morphed into physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The two-part HBO documentary "Phoenix Rising" lets Wood tell her complete story for the first time. She recounts the evolution of a classically abusive relationship, elevated by a world of rock’n’roll excess and violence as an artform. It also shows in real-time her struggle with the legal system and threats from Marilyn Manson fans.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PHOENIX RISING " BEGINS AROUND MINUTE 40:00