From Being Robbed to Hosting a True Crime Podcast (Issue #70)

A little backstory and a big ask <3

Hi friends!

I’m coming to you today to ask for a huge favor. As I’ve shared before, I am the proud host of the podcast Truer Crime, which seeks to add more nuance, context, and questions to the way we tell true crime stories. 

First, a little backstory… (feel free to scroll down to where it says “This is where you come in” if you’re already up to speed!)

At the end of 2020, my financial advisor stole my entire life savings (yep, you read that right). Soon I found myself wrapped up in a court case with more than 20 other people who lost their retirements, life savings, and safety nets. In the wake of this jarring and deeply unsettling experience, I listened to a lot of true crime podcasts. I’d previously been a fan of the genre, but now these stories hit me differently. 

Armed with this newfound experience as a crime victim, I found myself routinely frustrated with how these stories were being told. I listened to episode after episode, and each time what stood out most was just how much was missing! Rarely did hosts engage with how race, gender, and sexuality shaped these stories. They never seemed interested in exploring the root causes of crime, and over countless episodes, I witnessed the glorification of cops and the minimization of victims. Real people were repeatedly reduced to the worst thing that ever happened to them. 

It all left me with so many questions – Does the story really end with a headline arrest or a guilty verdict? How can we *actually* support victims? What does justice *really* mean? And who is it *really* for? 

Finally, after weeks spent complaining, I decided to take action. I wanted to see if I could make something truly different. After a few months of development, extensive research, and a novel’s worth of writing, Truer Crime was first released into the world in the summer of 2021. But creating a podcast (especially one designed to go deeper) takes a lot of time and resources to make, and years have passed since that first season. But soon, all of that is about to change — because Truer Crime Season 2 is mere months from release. 

The new season has nine episodes, each telling a story that explores what crime, victimization, the criminal legal system, and “justice” really look like in our country. In many of these cases, I even had the opportunity to work with folks directly connected to these stories (family members, friends, and even victims themselves). It is my highest priority to do right by them — to get these stories out there so they can be heard and understood with the care, respect, and nuance they deserve. 

This is where you come in.

Right now, our goal is to foster new connections — to talk about this show everywhere and anywhere I can. My team and I want news about Truer Crime to spread far and wide— from podcasts, articles, news shows, and newsletters to book clubs, community gardens, and literally any other group you could think of! 

I need your help finding these places and people – folks who are aligned with Truer Crime’s philosophy and can help us get the word out.

I know this ask might feel sort of nebulous, so I pulled together a list of the types of connections we’re looking for:

• Do you know any “connectors” who might like Truer Crime? These people have some type of platform and influence, no matter the size. Examples include people with social media followings, journalists, bloggers, people with newsletters, people with big professional networks/active on LinkedIn, or even the person you know who’s always locked and loaded with the best recommendations for their friends. 

• Do you know of any TV shows/newsletters/podcasts/YouTube channels/etc that might really like Truer Crime? These might be publications that frequently do shoutouts or bring on guests. Sky’s the limit here, so this doesn’t need to be anyone you have a personal relationship with – it really can be anything you like/consume yourself.

• Do you know anyone doing related work in their communities with whom we could connect? This could be anyone making waves in the areas of social justice, true crime, or even media more broadly.

I’m open to any and all suggestions, so please don’t hold back! Even if you don’t have a specific idea of what a collaboration would look like, I’d still love to hear your thoughts! 

To give you an example of what’s possible, I recently heard from a reader of this newsletter (thank you, Elizabeth!!!) who kindly offered to connect me with a couple of friends of theirs solely because they felt our work and values were in alignment. It was really nice to connect with fellow Substackers, and ultimately we did collaborate on an issue takeover for Pride month! All that’s to say, any suggestions are deeply appreciated, and you never know where a connection might lead! 🙂

If you have any thoughts to share, you can reply directly to this email or reach me at celisia@celisiastanton.com.

Thank you so much for your consideration!! And now, onto our regularly scheduled programming :)

A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.

• Substack: why don't I feel aligned with leftists? in

  what I don't know.
  by
  Dionne Sims

  • Dionne’s words echo a lot of my own thinking on leftism over the last few years. She makes some compelling comparisons to evangelical Christianity that I found particularly interesting and her thoughts are well worth a read for anyone invested in building towards more loving, supportive, and collaborative communities. Dionne is also the owner of Black Garnet Books, an independent bookstore in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that offers a curated selection of books and art by authors and illustrators of color in an environment that encourages learning, joyful interaction, and communal care for everyone who visits. You can learn more and support the store by ordering a new book on their website here!

• Podcast: Drowning Creek

  • This podcast covers the true crime story of Justin Gaines, who disappeared in 2007 from a popular Atlanta nightclub. Soon after his disappearance, Justin’s case went cold until 2015, when a man confessed to his part in the murder. And still, no arrest has ever been made. The show does a great job of digging deep into this story and includes strong contributions from Justin’s family which I really appreciated. Definitely a heavier listen, but well worth your time!

• The Guardian: The new science of death: ‘There’s something happening in the brain that makes no sense’ by Alex Blasdel

  • What happens to our brains when we die? This article examines that and more in its exploration of new findings in the field of near-death studies. Blasdel highlights current research into whether consciousness can exist without the physical body, and what scientists are learning from near-death experiences. The personal stories highlighted are really shocking, and I loved how this was balanced with real expert perspectives. Highly recommend!

Action items to support and care for the world around us.

Whenever we’re engaging with true crime, it’s critical that we remember and honor the real people and experiences behind the stories we’re consuming. And to do that, we need to take action. 

Today, I encourage you to support the work of Season of Justice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing funding for investigative agencies and families to help solve cold cases and bring resolution to those impacted by unsolved violent crimes. SOJ has assisted in over 212 cold cases nationwide, resulting in 15 “SOJ Solves.”

But there is more work to do, and SOJ needs your help! This coming Wednesday (September 25th), Season of Justice is hosting their second annual Day of Giving - In honor of National Homicide Victim Remembrance Day. This year, their goal is to raise $10,000, which can fully fund two public awareness campaigns or support DNA testing in one cold case. Your gift will have double the impact thanks to the “dollar for dollar” match (up to $5,000) committed by SOJ’s generous partners!

Please consider donating on Wednesday. No matter the size, your gift helps drive cold cases closer to resolution! If you aren’t in a position to support with a gift, please consider sharing the campaign with your networks.

Together, we can solve cold cases!

Things to try + share in the group chat.

Note: Links preceded by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links that allow me to collect a small commission when you purchase something I’ve recommended. That said, I can promise I’ll only ever share items I love. Buying through these links is one way to support me and my small biz. ❤️

• I bought *this long-sleeve top a while ago, and it’s one of my favorite basic pieces. I got the pea green color, and love the athletic material. It’s definitely good for daily wear, but I also love it for working out and running in colder weather!

• I usually love astronaut @kelliegerardi’s account for her fun and inspiring content about science and space, but this post about a recent sextortion scam is one I’ve been thinking a lot about. In it, she bravely shares her experience of being on the receiving end of the scam. These sorts of schemes often target teens and other vulnerable individuals, so I appreciated Kellie’s courage in helping to start a conversation about how you can take action to protect yourself and those you love. Highly recommend you check it out!

I’ve lived most of my life in Minnesota, a place with a hardwired instinct to “keep the peace.” But this tendency, I think, is not limited to the Midwest. For many of us, conflict evokes fear. And if conflict is inherently scary, “bad,” or impolite, it must be avoided at all costs.

This past Friday, I explored why this fear might hold us back from something more profound. Check it out here.

Have a great weekend!

Want to stay connected between now and next Friday? Don’t be a stranger!! Make sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok. Know someone who you think would like Sincerely, Celisia? It would mean the world if you could help spread the word by sharing this newsletter through the button below!! <3