Who’s to blame for Penn State’s Jerry Sandusky Scandal? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with actor and friend Charlie Hewson about the systemic failures in place that allowed for the decades of abuse by Jerry Sandusky at Penn State. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Could Penn State’s legendary football culture explain the university's poor leadership? And how can one’s blind allegiance to their idols contribute to a culture of shame? U...
Sep 20, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 165
New Guest Expert! For this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Ariel Ramchandani about her extensive knowledge of the Ruby Red Slippers lore and their eventual theft from the Judy Garland Museum in August of 2005. Ariel is a freelance writer and host of the podcast No Place Like Home . Her work has appeared in Mother Jones, The Atlantic and The Guardian among other publications. Afterward, Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith stop by to discuss some of the exciting new theories ...
Sep 15, 2022•46 min
Who’s to blame for The Stolen Ruby Red Slippers? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes Comedian DarylJim to discuss the fascinating case of the Stolen Ruby Red Slippers famously worn by the legendary Judy Garland in the MGM juggernaut The Wizard of Oz . Will the Fashion Industry finally take the fall for this one? Or did some “Local Dirtbags” have something to do with it? Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early join the conversation. Grab some popcorn, your favorit...
Sep 13, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 164
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Robert Fatton Jr. about the many complexities of the Haitian Revolution and the difficulties the nation faced with their newly won independence. Professor Fatton works in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia. He’s published numerous books and articles on the subject and is the recipient of the 2011 Award for Excellence of the Haitian Studies Association. Afterward, Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chri...
Sep 08, 2022•35 min
Who’s to blame for The Haitian Revolution? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes writer Alicia Carroll to discuss the circumstances and injustices that led to The Haitian Revolution. This historic revolution allowed Haiti to emerge as the first black republic in the world and the first country to abolish slavery in the Western hemisphere. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Could a familiar culprit like Imperialism be to blame for this one or...
Sep 06, 2022•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 163
New Mailbag! This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) is kickin’ it Mailbag style and sharing some of your recent ponderings and suggestions with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith. Want to know what’s been alarming The Alarmist crew lately? Better yet, why don’t you write in and tell us what’s been alarming you! Write in, rate, review and you could be included in our future extra special Listener Mini-Alarms episode. Until then, be safe out there and stay alarmed! We hav...
Sep 01, 2022•32 min
Who’s to blame for the Sewol Ferry Disaster? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes podcaster and writer Ben Acker to discuss the tragic sinking of the Sewol Ferry in South Korea. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Is this horror the result of capitalism, corruption, or negligence? Or perhaps it’s a combination of all 3. Up on the board: Ilegal Ship Improvements, The Yoo Family, Blatant Safety Negligence. We have merch! Join our Discord! Tell...
Aug 30, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 162
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Professor Philip Dray about the The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the unique circumstances in American history which made it possible, at the time. Author of There is Power in a Union: The Epic Story of Labor in America , Professor Dray reminds us of the dreary state of American life leading up to the strikes and the complete lack of a social safety net for the urban poor. Afterward, Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton...
Aug 25, 2022•40 min
Who’s to blame for The Great Railroad Strike of 1877? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with actor and writer Ali Vingiano about the events leading up to The Great Railroad Strike of 1877. A Union rep for the WGA herself, Ali knows all about the importance of organizing. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Was this another byproduct of The Gilded Age or did the Financial Panic of 1873 have something to do with it? Up on the board: Pinkerton...
Aug 23, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 161
New Mailbag Episode! Hey Alarmy! You’ve sent us some mail and boy do we love hearing from you. Our mailbag runneth over! Tune in and listen as The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith), Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early sort through your insightful comments, suggestions and thoughts on our most recent episodes. Plus, you’ll get to hear what has The Alarmist crew alarmed these days. Haven’t written a review yet? Write in and tell us what’s been alarming YOU! We have merch! Join our D...
Aug 18, 2022•31 min
Who’s to blame for Grey Gardens? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes back Kristen Meinzer and her podcasting partner Jolenta Greenberg to discuss the tragic tale of the infamous Grey Gardens Estate and the colorful characters who once owned it. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Were Big Edie and Little Edie trapped in a codependent relationship? Could The Kennedy Curse have something to do with it? Or were they yet another victim of The A...
Aug 16, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 160
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Sarah Barringer Gordon about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Sally, as she’s more commonly known, is a Professor of Constitutional Law and History at the University of Pennsylvania. Having recently published an award winning article about the Mountain Meadows Massacre in the Journal of the Early Republic with co-author Jan Shipps, Sally explains the context and helps us understand the unique moment in American history leading up to t...
Aug 11, 2022•49 min
Who’s to blame for the Mountain Meadows Massacre? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) keeps it all in the family to discuss the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Could this tragedy be the result of religious persecution or religious radicalism? Or perhaps both? Associate Producer & Researcher Alex Paul stops by to lend her expertise on the subject as someone who was raised in the Mormon Church. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Up on the board: Mormo...
Aug 09, 2022•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 159
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Phyllis Chesler about the women's movement of the 60’s & 70’s and how the writings of Valerie Solanas and her attempted assassination of Andy Warhol fit into the legacy of the American feminist movement. Dr. Phyllis is a pioneer of Second Wave Feminism and a best-selling author of over 20 books, including the landmark feminist class Women and Madness . Afterward, Producer Clayton Early stops by to debrief and revisit the ver...
Aug 04, 2022•37 min
Who’s to blame for the attempted assassination of Andy Warhol? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with fellow podcaster Anna Stoecklein Lau about Valerie Solanas and her attempted assassination of Andy Warhol. Host of the podcast The Story of Woman , Anna is the perfect guest to help explore the broader context of this incident. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Valerie Solanas: villain or victim of the times? Up on the board: Mental Healt...
Aug 02, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 158
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Granby, CO resident Patrick Bower about the destructive bulldozer rampage by Marvin Heemeyer on June 4, 2004. Former editor and publisher of The Sky-Hi News and author of Killdozer: The True Story of the Colorado Bulldozer Rampage , Patrick knew Marvin from his early days in Granby and shares first hand information about the reality of this tragic moment in the town's history. Afterward, Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton...
Jul 28, 2022•52 min
Who’s to blame for Marvin Heemeyer’s Bulldozer Rampage? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with friend and special guest Jason Mayland about Marvin Heemeyer’s destructive rampage through the small mountain town of Granby, CO on June 4, 2004. They’re joined by Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Alex Paul. It might be a small town, but they still had some big problems. Was this a militant revenge fantasy or were people simply not being neighborly? Tune in and find out why ...
Jul 26, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 157
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with professor and historian Dr. Kealani Cook about the dense history of Hawaii and its monarchy before its eventual annexation in 1898. Author of Return to Kahiki: Native Hawaiians in Oceania, Dr. Cook lends some much needed context to the many moving parts around this unique moment in history. Afterward, Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith stop by to unpack it all with Rebecca and revisit the verdict. We have merch! Joi...
Jul 21, 2022•49 min
Who’s to blame for the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith about America’s 50th state, Hawaii. More specifically, they discuss the topics which are a little less popular in the history books, the events around its annexation in 1898 and the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. What’s The Committee of Safety and who are the members of The “Hawaiian League?” Will “Protecting America’s Inter...
Jul 19, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 156
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with the producer of the HBOMax docuseries The Way Down , Gina Scarlata. Gina details the somewhat elusive hierarchy of the Fellowships leadership, describes her experience working with former members of the church, and lends her insight into what might be the future of the Remnant Fellowship. Afterward, producer Clayton Early stops by to revisit the verdict with Rebecca. Did they get it right? Say a little prayer and find out! We have m...
Jul 14, 2022•26 min
When a car bomb kills Daphne Caruana Galizia on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta, the hunt for her killers exposes secrets with consequences that go far beyond its shores. In the aftermath of her death an international team of journalists comes together to continue her work. Along the way they start to uncover clues that might lead to her killers. From Wondery, comes a new story about power, corruption and one woman’s fight for the truth. Hosted by investigative reporter Stephen Grey....
Jul 12, 2022•6 min
Who’s to blame for the Gwen Shamblin Lara Diet Cult? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with the Emmy and Latin Grammy Award winning writer and performer Alisha Gaddis about the notorious Gwen Shamblin and who’s to blame for her diet turned cult. They’re joined by Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith. Who knew God and food were so intertwined? Why are we so devout about our fatphobia? And what’s the Remnant Fellowship and why was it formed? Tune in to hear all ...
Jul 12, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 155
New Guest Expert! For this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca digs a little deeper into the Aberfan Mine Disaster with Professor Iain McLean. Iain is Professor of Politics at Oxford University and co-author of the book Aberfan: Government and Disasters. He helps us understand the culture and dynamics playing out in these mining villages at the time and reiterates the blatant denial and negligence by those in positions of authority. Afterward, Producer Clayton Early stops by to see if the verdict holds up...
Jul 07, 2022•29 min
Who’s to blame for the Aberfan Mine Disaster? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with comedian, writer and podcaster Chris Mancini about the tragic Aberfan Mine disaster. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Could poor foresight be to blame? Or was it the fault of chummy regulators neglecting their duties? Find out what else is on the board. And if you’re left feeling a bit anxious after this one, Chris Mancini might be able to help! Check ou...
Jul 05, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 154
Firework Safety PSA! Hey Alarmy! This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) is bringing you a special safety reminder for the upcoming 4th of July holiday weekend. She’s joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Learn about the origin and history of fireworks. Listen to some important safety precautions you can take if you’re purchasing LEGAL fireworks. And most importantly, have a safe and happy holiday! We have merch! Join our Discord! Tell us who you think is to blam...
Jun 30, 2022•25 min
Who’s to blame for the South LA Firework Explosion? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith about the South LA Firework Explosion in June of 2021 and who’s to blame for this major miscalculation. What’s our obsession with fireworks and homemade bombs? Could the National Anthem have something to do with it? And was detonating the confiscated fireworks in the middle of a densely populated neighborhood really the only option? A...
Jun 28, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 153
New Guest Expert! For this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Eduardo Fabbro about who’s to blame for the War of the Bucket. Author of Warfare and the Making of Early Medieval Italy (568–652), Eduardo does an incredible job of helping us understand this ancient grudge with a modern point of view. This little bucket represents some big themes! After, Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early stop by to revisit the verdict. Will Tribalism remain in The Alarmist Jail? We have merch...
Jun 23, 2022•33 min
Who’s to blame for the War of the Bucket? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with good friend James Bladon about who’s to blame for the War of the Bucket. Not only is James well versed on this medieval nightmare, he’s actually been to Modena and seen The Bucket! They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Could poor neighborly etiquette be at fault for this one? Were the Papacy and The Church to blame? Or will a simple little Bucket actually take th...
Jun 21, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 152
On May 4, 2001, Bonny Lee Bakley was found fatally shot in a car on a dark North Hollywood street. The prime suspect was her husband, famed actor Robert Blake. But Bonny, a longtime con artist, had plenty of enemies. She left behind a trail of men she’d scammed, and she had a volatile relationship with Christian Brando, the troubled son of movie star Marlon Brando. Not since the O.J. Simpson case had the eyes of the nation been so fixated on a homicide. The search for Bonny’s killer took detecti...
Jun 20, 2022•6 min
New Mailbag! On this episode, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) catches up on some Alarmy mail with Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Hear about a guitarist on a sinking cruise liner who was forced to take responsibility for hundreds of passengers onboard. Click here to see what happened. And if you’ve ever wanted to see Rebecca in action on the silver screen, check out the premiere of Gordita Chronicles on HBO Max on June 23rd! Here’s the trailer ! We have merch! Join our ...
Jun 16, 2022•35 min
