The Girlfriends - Seasons 1, 2 and 3 - podcast cover

The Girlfriends - Seasons 1, 2 and 3

iHeartPodcasts and Novelwww.iheart.com

What does it mean to be a victim, or a villain? What happens when the line between the two starts to blur? On 7th July 2010, Kelly Harnett says her abusive boyfriend murdered a man right in front of her. 

So how did she end up in prison for it?

Anna Sinfield - the journalist behind the global number 1 podcast, The Girlfriends, returns with her toughest story yet. 

This series isn’t a whodunnit. It’s not even really about what happened. It’s about how a woman who was a victim of domestic violence became a villain in the eyes of the law. 

Found guilty of murder and locked up for over a decade; Kelly Harnett taught herself the law. And as she battled to overturn her conviction, she became a beacon of hope, fighting for the freedom of the abused women locked up alongside her. 

If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to NO MORE at https://www.nomore.org a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. 

The Girlfriends: Jailhouse Lawyer is produced by Novel for iHeart Podcasts. 

Because The Girlfriends: Jailhouse Lawyer has been selected as one of Apple Podcasts’ Summer Listens, we’re offering a 30-Day Free Trial to iHeart True Crime + for a limited time. This includes early access to episodes, 100% ad-free listening, and exclusive bonus content. 

Open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “iHeart True Crime+, and subscribe today!

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In Season 1, it’s 1995 and Carole Fisher is a high-flying divorcee looking for love in Las Vegas. It’s slim pickings in the medical community she works in. But then Bob comes to town. Bob Bierenbaum is a plastic surgeon who flies planes and speaks several languages. Her mom loves that he’s Jewish - but there’s something off about him. He’s perfect on paper but he’s quick to anger and he never talks about his ex-wife. Who, it turns out, is missing and presumed dead. After Carole and Bob break up, she tells her friend Mindy all about Bob’s wife and his bizarre behavior. You see, Mindy dated Bob too, in fact a lot of women in Vegas dated Bob and they all have their own strange stories to tell. Before too long they form a club dedicated to bitching about Bob, eating noodles and figuring out what happened to his wife, Gail. In this riveting nine part series, Carole Fisher uncovers the truth of Gail Katz’s death, the systems that failed her and all the girlfriends that brought her justice.

In Season 2, The Girlfriends are back to investigate one part of the story that’s still a mystery. During the investigation into Gail’s case, a torso washed up on Staten Island and was misidentified as Gail. Nobody knows her name or what happened to her after she was ruled out from the case. The amateur lady's detective club have a new mission: to uncover the identity of this woman and finally find Our Lost Sister. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts. 

For more from Novel visit Novel.Audio

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Episodes

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E8: Nadya & Pussy Riot Punk the President

When Nadya Tolokonnikova saw her country Russia change under President Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime, she knew she had to do something. She started the iconic ski-mask-wearing art protest collective Pussy Riot. On February 21st, 2012, they performed their anti-Putin protest song, Punk Prayer, in a Moscow church, launching Nadya into overnight activist fame… and a prison labour camp. We want YOUR stories for our Girlfriends hotline! Did your bestie ever bail you out of an awful date with ...

May 26, 202542 minEp. 8

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E7: Eilís Runs the Ball Barn

As a trans woman, Eilís Ní Fhlannagáin didn’t have much faith in mainstream health care. So when she wanted gender affirming surgery to remove her testicles, she turned to her best friend and trainee doctor Willow, and asked her to perform the operation in her living room… From this humble beginning, Eilís and Willow built a whole clinic dedicated to trans women - in a tractor barn in the rural Pacific North West. Related Resources Sylvia Rivera Law Project Big Door Brigade - Mutual Aid Toolbox ...

May 19, 202542 minEp. 7

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E6: Madison and Christine Become Digital Detectives

Madison Conradis had her life turned upside down when someone began posting naked photos of her online. Soon, the abuse intensified with anonymous messages and calls to her family, friends and even her boss… The police didn’t seem to care, so Madison turned to her twin sister Christine for help. Together, they transformed into online sleuths, tracking the harasser across the country to get justice for Madison and other victims too. We want YOUR stories for our Girlfriends hotline! Did your besti...

May 05, 202546 minEp. 6

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E5: Rose Solves, At Least, 86 Cold Cases

Rose Brady’s job running Baltimore County’s SVU was a frustrating one. The sexual violence crimes she and her team were investigating were just the tip of the iceberg. Her department was sitting on thousands of unsolved rape cases, dating back decades - with little hope of ever finding the perpetrators. That was until Rose made an incredible discovery: At a local hospital, a diligent forensic pathologist had kept in storage all the biological evidence from every rape exam he had ever performed. ...

Apr 28, 202541 minEp. 5

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E4: June Rocks America

From the moment she heard a guitar being played in an empty classroom at her convent school in the Philippines in 1961, June Millington knew what she wanted to do with her life: rock and roll. So when a girl called up June and her sister and asked if they wanted to start a band, the answer was hell yeah . They went on to become Fanny, the first all-female rock band to release an album with a major record label. June and her bandmates moved into a house in LA, toured the world and won fans like D...

Apr 21, 202546 minEp. 4

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E3: Nelly Goes Undercover

Nellie Bly was a true trailblazer. In late 19th century America, women were expected to get married and become housewives, or go into a suitable career like teaching. But Nellie didn’t do any of that. Instead, she changed journalism forever, becoming one of the world’s first female investigative journalists, and paving the way for a generation of incredible ‘Girl Stunt Reporters’. And Nellie’s first investigation was probably her most dangerous: In 1887, she deliberately got herself committed to...

Apr 14, 202541 minEp. 3

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E1: Tracy Hits the Bullseye

In 2019 Tracy Otto was a college student in Tampa, and a fitness fanatic. Then a violent attack by an ex-boyfriend changed her life forever. She was left paralysed from the chest down, and lost her left eye. But that’s only the beginning of Tracy’s story. In the aftermath of the attack, she rebuilt her life through sheer force of will, and discovered a passion for archery. That passion would take her all the way to the very top of elite sport: the 2024 Paris Paralympics. We want YOUR stories for...

Apr 07, 202548 minEp. 1

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E2: Lu Ann Escapes the Order

When Lu Ann Cooper was just fifteen years old, she was told to drop out of school and marry her first cousin. She would be his fourth wife. Lu Ann grew up inside the so-called Kingston Clan, a religious sect where, Lu Ann claims, every man is expected to have many wives, and every woman is expected to have many children. All with the aim of building up the Kingdom of God. But one day, Lu Ann couldn't take it anymore. She decided she had to escape… The foundation Lu Ann runs to support other peop...

Apr 07, 202549 minEp. 2

The Girlfriends: Spotlight... Coming Soon

In Season 1, The Girlfriends told the story of how a group of incredible women came together to bring down one bad ex-boyfriend and seek justice for the murder of Gail Katz. In Season 2, we found the truth about a torso washed up on Staten Island, and gave Heidi Balch the memorial she deserved. Now, we want to introduce you to a global gang of girlfriends in our new show, Girlfriends: Spotlight. Each week, Anna Sinfield is bringing you stories of women winning. The Girlfriends: Spotlight is prod...

Mar 26, 20259 min

The Girlfriends S2/Bonus 1 - The Girlfriends’ Guide to: Identifying a Doe

The Girlfriends’ Guide, hosted by Producer Anna Sinfield, is a three part mini series where we lay out how you can solve crimes and keep your girlfriends safe. We dive back into our archive of never heard before interviews, break down real life case studies and give tangible tips on how you can do it yourself. In this episode we uncover how to identify an unidentified person. Together, Anna and The Girlfriends’ Assistant Producer, Madeleine Parr, reveal the methods they used to solve a 35 year o...

Aug 19, 202433 minSeason 2Ep. 6

The Girlfriends S2/Bonus 2 - The Girlfriends’ Guide to: Tackling Intimate Partner Violence

In the second episode of The Girlfriends’ Guide, we learn how to tackle domestic violence in our own lives from the people who fight it every single day. If you are affected by this episode please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends, a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. Other useful links: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/the-survivors-handbook/ The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel visit novel.audio See omnystud...

Aug 19, 202425 minSeason 2Ep. 7

The Girlfriends S2/Bonus 3 - The Girlfriends’ Guide to: Finding a Missing Person

In the third instalment of the Girlfriend’s Guide we turn our attention to the over 600 thousand people who go missing every year in the United States. With the help of a citizen sleuth and former Missing Persons Detective, Producer Anna Sinfield lays out what to do if someone you know goes missing. Relevant links: Raul’s Map https://dnadoeproject.org/ The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel visit novel.audio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Aug 19, 202421 minSeason 2Ep. 8

The Girlfriends S2/E5: Her Legacy

To find an end to the story, the Girlfriends go back to the beginning. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to DNA Doe Project , an organisation we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends: Our Lost Sister is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soundtrack and buy the album from Bandcamp . All proceeds go to our charity partner DNA Doe Project . You can also donate to DNA Doe Project here . Follow Carole on social me...

Jun 03, 202448 minSeason 2Ep. 5

The Girlfriends S2/E4: Desperately Seeking Susie

While Detective Mindy gets to talk to a (real life) cop about the case of our Lost Sister, the rest of the gang gets a breakthrough. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to DNA Doe Project , an organisation we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends: Our Lost Sister is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soundtrack and buy the album from Bandcamp . All proceeds go to our charity partner DNA Doe Project . You can al...

May 27, 202427 minSeason 2Ep. 4

The Girlfriends S2/E3: Lost and Found

Producer Anna is joined by Alayne Katz for a pilgrimage to New York City’s biggest public cemetery…could our girl be there? If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to DNA Doe Project , an organisation we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends: Our Lost Sister is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soundtrack and buy the album from Bandcamp . All proceeds go to our charity partner DNA Doe Project . You can also donate...

May 20, 202433 minSeason 2Ep. 3

The Girlfriends S2/E2: Mindy Goes Undercover

Looking for clues to our Lost Sister’s identity, our Chief Investigator Mindy Shapiro visits her old New York City stomping grounds. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to DNA Doe Project , an organisation we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends: Our Lost Sister is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soundtrack and buy the album from Bandcamp . All proceeds go to our charity partner DNA Doe Project . Follow Car...

May 13, 202430 minSeason 2Ep. 2

The Girlfriends S2/E1: A Double Mitzvah

The club returns! Carole, Mindy, Alayne and Anna are back together again to eat food, drink wine… and solve a 35 year old cold case. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to DNA Doe Project , an organisation we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends: Our Lost Sister is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soundtrack and buy the album from Bandcamp . All proceeds go to our charity partner DNA Doe Project . You can al...

May 06, 202430 minSeason 2Ep. 1

Introducing Season 2 of The Girlfriends: Our Lost Sister

In Season 1, The Girlfriends told the story of how a group of incredible women came together to bring down one bad ex-boyfriend and seek justice for the murder of Gail Katz. But there’s one part of that story that’s still a mystery. During the investigation into Gail’s case, a torso washed up on Staten Island and was misidentified as Gail. Nobody knows her name or what happened to her after she was ruled out from the case. Now, the amateur ladies detective club are back with a new mission: to un...

Apr 29, 20241 min

The Girlfriends: Our Lost Sister... Coming Soon

In Season 1, The Girlfriends told the story of how a group of incredible women came together to bring down one bad ex-boyfriend and seek justice for the murder of Gail Katz. But there’s one part of that story that’s still a mystery. During the investigation into Gail’s case, a torso washed up on Staten Island and was misidentified as Gail. Nobody knows her name or what happened to her after she was ruled out from the case. In Season 2, the amateur ladies detective club are back with a new missio...

Mar 07, 20249 min

The Girlfriends S1/E9: A Sisterhood

After 20 years behind bars Bob finally speaks about what he did. Carole, Mindy and Alayne discuss what it means to live in a world without Gail, and so many other women like her. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends , a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soundtrack on Spotify here or buy the album from Bandcamp . ...

Aug 28, 202343 minSeason 1Ep. 9

The Girlfriends S1/E8: The Girlfriends Vs Bierenbaum

15 years after Gail’s death, Bob is put on trial. The Girlfriends, Gail’s friends and Alayne all weave together the circumstantial evidence that the prosecution believe is enough to prove Bob murdered Gail. But the defense has a secret weapon, a star witness that says he saw Gail in a bagel shop in the hours that the prosecution believe she was already dead. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends , a domestic violence charity we’ve ...

Aug 21, 202336 minSeason 1Ep. 8

The Girlfriends S1/E7: Cowabunga

Bob learns that the DA are after him and when his arrest becomes a national news story, another Girlfriend surfaces. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends , a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soundtrack on Spotify here or buy the album from Bandcamp . All proceeds go to our charity partner NoMore. Follow Carole o...

Aug 14, 202338 minSeason 1Ep. 7

The Girlfriends S1/E6: Women Who Like to Gab

The prosecutors arrive in Las Vegas to interview The Girlfriends. Hearing the stories from Bob’s time in Vegas, they become convinced that he murdered Gail. But in an attempt to make their argument water tight, they uncover a catastrophic mistake that was made back in 1989, putting their investigation at risk. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends , a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends is produced by No...

Aug 07, 202329 minSeason 1Ep. 6

The Girlfriends S1/E5: The Best Job a Lawyer Could Have

Bob moves again, but this time to the sleepy midwestern town of Minot, North Dakota. For Carole and Mindy it seems like Bob might be getting away with it, until some prosecutors from the Manhattan DA’s cold case unit turn up in Vegas. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends , a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soun...

Jul 31, 202330 minSeason 1Ep. 5

The Girlfriends S1/E4: Phone Calls from Manhattan

The search for Gail begins. After a rocky start, Gail’s sister Alayne, takes over the investigation into her disappearance. After four years of searching, the police make a shocking discovery. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends , a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soundtrack on Spotify here or buy the album fr...

Jul 24, 202339 minSeason 1Ep. 4

The Girlfriends S1/E3: Bubbly, Bouncy and Very Alive

We head to New York City to learn about Gail. In conversation with her loved ones, Carole hears about Gail’s love stories, curly hair, teenage dreams and the last time her friends saw her. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends , a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Correction: Alayne Katz has brought to our attention that on the...

Jul 17, 202344 minSeason 1Ep. 3

The Girlfriends S1/E2: Lobsters for Dinner

Carole is wined, dined and shouted at by Bob until they split. After their break up, Carole tells her friend Mindy about the skeletons in Bob's closet and they start investigating. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends , a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our soundtrack on Spotify here or buy the album from Bandcamp ...

Jul 10, 202330 minSeason 1Ep. 2

The Girlfriends S1/E1: The Good Jewish Doctor

It’s the early 90s and a new eligible bachelor named Bob has arrived in Las Vegas. Every local single Jewish lady wants to date him, but something’s off. It turns out Bob has a secret that he hoped he could leave behind in New York City. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at https://nomore.org/girlfriends , a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel visit novel.audio Listen to our s...

Jul 10, 202331 minSeason 1Ep. 1

Introducing: The Girlfriends

Introducing the new podcast The Girlfriends. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 28, 20233 min
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