Who’s to blame for the downfall of Al Capone? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes writer Seth Reiss to take on the downfall of one of history’s most infamous mobsters, Al Capone. And we nailed it! Or did we? If indeed Capone had a downfall, who was ultimately to blame? Did his violent leadership style lead to his eventual demise? Was it the familiar tale of tax evasion? Or is defeat just part of the lifestyle when you’re public enemy number one? Fact Checker Chris Smith and ...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 247
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Privacy AI researcher Jen Caltrider about the rising dominance of AI and the role it plays in the fictional thriller M3GAN. Full disclosure, Jen couldn't watch the movie because horror films are too scary for her. But, trust us when we say what she shares about her work and privacy concerns with developing AI is MUCH scarier. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post-interview breakdown with Fact Checker Chris Smith and Produ...
Apr 11, 2024•23 min
Who’s to blame for M3GAN (The Movie)? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with Actor Farah Merani about the artificial intelligence gone dreadfully awry in the 2023 box office blockbuster M3GAN. Are humans really prepared for the power of AI? Is the lure of convenience clouding our better judgment? Do we honestly think AI and childcare are a good mix? Needless to say, we’re thankful none of the events in this film have happened in real life…yet! Fact Checker Chris Smith and Pr...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 246
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the tragic murder/suicide of Chris Benoit with author Irv Muchnick. Having written numerous books about the dark side of the sports industry, Irv thoughtfully depicts the historical culture of pro wrestling and contemplates the idea of bigger risk equaling bigger reward, but at what cost? Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post-interview breakdown with Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Will the verdict stand...
Apr 04, 2024•36 min
Who’s to blame for the Chris Benoit Murder/Suicide? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes return guest, and host of the Hatch true crime audio series Pillow Talk, Deanna Ortiz to discuss the tragic circumstances around the murder/suicide of professional wrestler Chris Benoit in 2007. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. We know who did it, but could years of steroid abuse give us some insight as to why Chris Benoit took the life of his wife an...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 245
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Gabi Hegerl about her expertise in climate system science and how her research on the record breaking heat waves during the 1930’s in America’s great plains led her to one of their biggest contributing factors, what we now know as The Dust Bowl. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post-interview breakdown with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith and reflect with the crew on some of the simple and approach...
Mar 28, 2024•19 min
Who’s to blame for The Dust Bowl? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes fellow podcaster Mike Rugnetta, host of Never Post , to discuss a major bump in the road during America’s westward expansion. Well, more like a big bowl of dust which swept up the country's notion of manifest destiny. Was this wheat bubble also part of our destiny or was it created by poor planning and farming practices? Perhaps WWI had something to do with it? And let us never forget Mother Nature! Fact C...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 244
Guest Expert? Make it a double! As promised, we have the first ever Aftermath Doubleheader this week. First up, join Rebecca as she chats with historian Dr. Josiah Osgood about the assassination of one of Rome’s most famous citizens, Julius Caesar. Then, stay tuned as she revisits the Cancellation of Armie Hammer with Dr. Gloria Brame, a published author with a PHD in Human Sexuality. And if you’re still craving more, join us over on Patreon for the post-interview discussions. Join our Pat...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Who’s to blame for the cancellation of Armie Hammer? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes friends and hosts of the podcast Non Drinking Buddies Rebekka Johnson and Anne Gregory to discuss the highly disturbing circumstances around the cancelation of Hollywood celebrity Armie Hammer. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. How does kink shaming factor into the toxic power dynamics at play? Could an obsession with public image be to blame? Or perh...
Mar 19, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 243
New Mailbag! This week, we’re pushing back our Julius Caesar Aftermath just a tad for a much needed Mailbag catch up session. We’ve got new insights on past episodes, a few Alarmy members writing in to defend Fact Checker Chris and some intriguing new listener suggestions for future topics. Plus, there’s a new wing in The Alarmist Jail! Tune in to hear all about it. And don’t worry, we’re not done with Julius Caesar just yet. We'll have an Aftermath double header next week. Stay safe Alarmy. And...
Mar 14, 2024•35 min
Who’s to blame for the Assassination of Julius Caesar? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes comedian DeAnne Smith to discuss the alluring life of Julius Caesar and his dramatic ascension to prominence, adoration and ultimately assassination. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Were Caesar’s dictator tendencies the cause of his demise? Was Brutus destined to carry out this violent act to honor his family's legacy? Or was Caesar himself to bla...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 242
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca returns to the Mary Kay Letourneau case with Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic. Dr. Jeglic is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at John Jay College in New York. Together, they discuss the process of sexual grooming, the gender stereotypes and misconceptions at play at the time and the shift this case represented for American culture. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can join Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early for the post-in...
Mar 07, 2024•22 min
Who’s to blame for the Mary Kay Letourneau Case? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes award winning journalist and cohost of the podcast In Retrospect Jessica Bennett to revisit the long and complicated case of Mary Kay Letourneau and her 12 year old student Vili Fualaau. Why was Mary Kay given such a lenient initial sentencing? Were the 90’s media and entertainment industries exacerbating the gender double standards at play? Perhaps Mary Kay’s ultra conservative upbringing p...
Mar 05, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 241
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Arjune Rama about the untimely death of music legend Kurt Cobain. Arjune Rama, MD is a psychiatrist and a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. In his private practice he provides psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and medication management. He can be reached at www.arjuneramamd.com . In the interview, Dr. Rama discusses the ongoing struggles Kurt faced...
Feb 29, 2024•32 min
Who’s to blame for the Death of Kurt Cobain? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) keeps things in-house with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith to discuss the life, death and legacy of Kurt Cobain. The anti-pop star who forever transformed the music landscape, whose life was cut short at the young age of 27. What were the factors that contributed to his death by suicide. Did the pressure of fame result in a debilitating sense of shame and humiliation? Did chronic pain...
Feb 27, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 240
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the devastating 1931 Central China Floods with history professor Dr. Zhigou Ye. In her work, Dr. Ye touches on the transformation of China from an agricultural empire into a modernized society and the hazards that came along with that rush to industrialization. Especially when those efforts encounter a once in a lifetime environmental disaster. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can see if the initial verdict holds up in the post interview...
Feb 22, 2024•39 min
Who’s to blame for the 1931 Central China Floods? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes friend and Amaro maker David Bly to discuss the devastating 1931 floods along the Yangtze River in China and the catastrophic loss of life that followed. There’s only so much we can do when Mother Nature slaps us with a deluge of unprecedented weather events, but could better flood control measures have saved more lives? Perhaps the political turmoil at the time contributed to the poor reli...
Feb 20, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 239
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with relationship therapist and Love Talk Live podcast host Jaime Bronstein about the complicated relationship dynamics playing out in the popular rom-com My Best Friend’s Wedding. Jaime reflects on marriage pacts, dating culture shifts, effective communication and reminds us that it’s always a good idea to be in touch with your own feelings while navigating a meaningful relationship. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can get Fact Checker C...
Feb 15, 2024•24 min
Who’s to blame for My Best Friend’s Wedding? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes the host of That's A Gay Ass Podcast Eric Williams to discuss the highly chaotic sabotage and shenanigans in the 1997 rom-com My Best Friend’s Wedding starring America’s sweetheart herself, Julia Roberts. Is the societal pressure to marry young to blame? Perhaps Jules and Michael aren’t the “Best Friends” they thought they were. Or maybe they all just needed some good old fashioned therapy...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 238
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with author and NYTimes health journalist Gina Kolata about the devastating 1918 flu pandemic and its lasting legacy. Gina draws parallels from our recent experience with Covid-19 and reminds us that viruses truly never go away, people often just choose to forget about them. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can listen as Rebecca and Producer Clayton Early revisit the board and decide if anything Gina mentioned altered the verdict. Not on P...
Feb 07, 2024•21 min
Who’s to blame for the Spanish Flu? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes Actor Avital Ash to the show to discuss the catastrophically devastating flu pandemic which wreaked unprecedented havoc throughout the world from 1918-1920. What conditions were in place at the time that allowed for such a widespread outbreak? Could the war effort be to blame? Were poor living conditions a contributing factor? And why is it even called the Spanish Flu to begin with? Fact Checker Chris Sm...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 237
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Communications Strategist Robbie Vorhaus about the fallout from the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show featuring Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. Robbie highlights some important pop culture moments that happened shortly before this epic event, details the extreme precision and scrutiny that goes into a halftime show production and reminds us that the network executives knew exactly who they were hiring for the job. Afterwards, Pa...
Feb 01, 2024•28 min
Who’s to blame for the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show Controversy? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes comedian Blaire Postman to discuss the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” (aka Nipplegate) turned Super Bowl Halftime show scandal-extraordinaire between Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson…Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty. Did the rise of YouTube contribute to the massive fallout? Were the artists and producers taking the halftime show music too literally? Perhaps fear of the ni...
Jan 30, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 236
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with British historian and author Jerry White about the disastrous sinking of the SS Princess Alice. Jerry highlights important context to the meaning of The River Thames at this moment in history and shares harrowing first hand accounts and crucial new information which potentially calls the initial verdict into question. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can listen on with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith in the post in...
Jan 25, 2024•33 min
Who’s to blame for the sinking of SS Princess Alice? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes fellow podcaster Adrien Behn to discuss the gruesomely tragic sinking of the SS Princess Alice in the Thames River. Does the ability to swim even matter if you’re swimming in raw sewage? Could an overcrowded passenger ship be to blame? Or was this a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early join the conversation. Join ou...
Jan 23, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 234
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with historian and author Erich R. Ebel about the lasting legacy of the Donner Party expedition and its tragic fate. Having written a historical fiction account of the members of the Donner Party, Erich touches on the crucial choices made by the Donner-Reed party which ultimately led them down a notoriously doomed path. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can listen as Rebecca, Clayton and Chris finally get their Guest Expert input after all ...
Jan 18, 2024•35 min
Who’s to blame for the ill fated Donner Party Expedition? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) is revisiting another oldie but goodie to see if we still got it right. Revisit Clayton Early’s very first episode, back in the days before Fact Checkers, Guest Experts and Big Slaps and see who ended up in the Alarmist Jail. But that’s not all! This time around we have a Guest Expert to weigh in. So, refresh your memory and join the entire Alarmist crew next week to see if the verdict still...
Jan 16, 2024•54 min
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the Kendall Jenner Pepsi Commercial debacle with marketing expert Shailendra Jain. A professor of Marketing & International Business at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, Professor Jain masterfully walks us through the complexities of in-house generated brand content, the role of advertising agencies and a trend toward, “purpose based brand association.” Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post interv...
Jan 11, 2024•23 min
Who’s to blame for the Kendall Jenner Pepsi Commercial? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes podcaster Sequoia Holmes to discuss the infamously disastrous 2017 Pepsi commercial starring Kendall Jenner. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. With America in political turmoil and social injustice at the forefront of our minds, why did Pepsi feel the need to wade into the conversation? Was money the main goal? Could keeping the project in-house be...
Jan 09, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 233
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with pilot and aviation expert Captain Scott Miller about the ongoing recovery and investigation of Malaysia Airlines Flight #370. With years of experience as a flight instructor and pilot for a major US airline, Scott walks through flight protocol with masterful precision and lends new insight to the dynamics at play with this fateful flight. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post interview breakdown with Fact Checker Chris Sm...
Jan 04, 2024•39 min
