Best Mayhem Murder Radio Podcasts (2024)

1
Taco-Poet Eddie Vega talks inspirations, belonging, and new title as San Antonio Poet Laureate 23:23

7m ago23:23

23:23

Holy Cross of San Antonio educator Eddie Vega was selected to serve as the city's seventh poet laureate. He began his three-year term in April and will hold the position until 2027.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.23: The Double Diamond Heist 41:09

4d ago41:09

41:09

This week, Laura is visiting a diamond shop in Paris that was robbed not once but TWICE by a shady international jewel thief group. Learn how the group got its name – The Pink Panthers – and how it pulled off two such audacious heists in the space of just 15 months. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC …

1
New book series preserves indigenous foods and traditions of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico 27:19

6d ago27:19

27:19

"Indigenous Foodways of Texas and Northern Mexico" will highlight the food traditional, techniques, and histories that have been passed down by Mexican and Indeginous peoples from generation to generation.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.22: The Melissa Mystery 36:45

11d ago36:45

36:45

This week, Iain looks at a case that was blown wide open by an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. When a man named Elmer DeBoer is found dead in a field near Waterford, Michigan, police are pretty sure that a local couple – an ex-convict and his teenage runaway girlfriend – are responsible. But, for ten months, they struggle to find any leads. That is …

1
Fronteras: 'Our own government was working against them' — Declassifying FBI files on the Latino civil rights movement 24:59

13d ago24:59

24:59

The FBI and CIA surveilled the Latino civil rights movement and its leaders in the 1960s and '70s at the height of the communist panic. Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro and his mother, activist Rosie Castro, talk about the effort to establish a clear historical record of the movement.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.21: The Smuttynose Murders 30:36

18d ago30:36

30:36

This week, Laura is diving into a grisly murder case that took place on a remote island off the coast of New Hampshire. Smuttynose Island is a picture-perfect – albeit rugged – landscape. On the evening of March 6th, 1873, a small boat arrives on its shores. By the morning, the boat is gone. And two of the island’s resident are dead. Murder They Wr…

1
‘We were not communists’ — A dive into FBI surveillance of Cesar Chávez and the United Farm Workers movement 35:48

20d ago35:48

35:48

The United Farm Workers of America became a target of FBI surveillance during the communist scare of the 1960s and '70s. Arturo Rodriguez spent over 50 years with the UFW. He talks about working alongside civil rights leader Cesar Chávez and about government surveillance of their movement.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.20: The Mona Lisa Is Missing 38:51

25d ago38:51

38:51

The Mona Lisa might just be the most recognisable painting in the world. But did you know that, in 1911, Leonardo da Vinci’s priceless portrait was stolen from the Louvre? Find out how a humble house painter pulled off this incredible theft – and why police brought Picasso in for questioning – in Iain’s episode this week. Murder They Wrote with Lau…

1
‘Singing from a deeper place’ — Singer Lisa Morales talks life, inspirations ahead of TPR concert 21:36

27d ago21:36

21:36

Musician Lisa Morales has released six albums as part of the duo Sisters Morales and three as a solo artist. She discusses her introduction to music growing up in Tucson, Arizona, the death of her sister Roberta in 2021, and more about her influences ahead of her April 13th Creekside Sessions Concert at TPR.…

1
Easter Special: The Man Who (Almost) Stole Easter 20:29

1M ago20:29

20:29

In this bitesize Easter special, Iain covers the case of the Cadbury Creme Egg theft. Find out what happened when, in February 2023, a Leeds man broke into a warehouse and made off with 200,000 of the chocolatey treats. The picture discussed in this episode can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-66254085. Murder They Wr…

1
Fronteras: ‘Thirty Talks Weird Love’ fuses time travel with poetry in a love letter to Juárez, femicide victims, and the author’s younger self 29:32

1M ago29:32

29:32

Thirty Talks Weird Love confronts mental health issues, the growing pains of young adulthood, and the ongoing violence against women in Cuidad Juárez. Author Alessandra Narváez Varela discusses her inspiration behind the book and what she hopes readers take away.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.19: The Murder Assignment 42:46

1M ago42:46

42:46

How far would you go for your favourite teacher? This week, Laura is travelling to 1990s Wisconsin to find out how a group of teenagers got landed with a very deadly homework assignment. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc…

1
‘Agua es vida’ — Todos Agua festival celebrates the significance of water through poetry, art and music 30:03

1M ago30:03

30:03

Todos Agua is a three-day celebration at San Antonio's Esperanza Peace & Justice Center that honors the community's spiritual and cultural connections to water. Three of its featured artists include poet Carmen Tafolla, musician Azul Barrientos, and activist María Berriozábal.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.18: The Cursed Gold 41:12

2M ago41:12

41:12

The Brinks-MAT robbery is one of the most famous in British history. This week, Iain takes an in-depth look at the heist and asks: how did a group of gangsters manage to break into a high-security warehouse and walk away with solid gold worth £26 million? Plus, he digs into the complex police operation that took investigators from London to Bristol…

1
‘There aren’t simple answers’ — Examining the cause of ongoing violence in the Mexican border city of Juárez 21:37

2M ago21:37

21:37

Howard Campbell spent over three decades in Cuidad Juárez speaking to victims and perpetrators of ongoing violence in the city. He includes their stories and an analysis of the violence in the book, "Downtown Juárez: Underworlds of Violence & Abuse."By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.17: The Fairy & The Fire 45:34

2M ago45:34

45:34

This week, Laura is digging into a very famous case from Irish history: Bridget Cleary. In 1895, Bridget’s body was found buried in a shallow grave near the town of Ballyvadlea in County Tipperary. And as police begin to dig into Bridget’s backstory, they learn that she had recently been accused of being a “fairy changeling” – a dark, mythical crea…

1
Fronteras: ‘Downtown Juárez’ argues against one-dimensional view of violence, abuse and exploitation in the Mexican border city 23:13

2M ago23:13

23:13

Cuidad Juárez — a sister city to El Paso, Texas — had once been dubbed the "murder capital of the world." Anthropologist Howard Campbell breaks down the complex causes of the violence in the book "Downtown Juárez: Underworlds of Violence & Abuse."By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.16: The Lincoln Axe Murderer 34:00

2M ago34:00

34:00

This week, Iain digs into a 1992 murder case that took place in Lincoln. When two people are found dead having been attacked with an axe, police begin an unusual investigation to catch the killer. An investigation that involves paint fragments, an infrared light machine, and a 3,000-mile trip around Europe. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and…

1
Fronteras: Local activists, historians, and writers say San Antonio’s historic West Side goes far beyond its outlaw history 21:36

2M ago21:36

21:36

The Jan. 24 panel discussion used the reissue of the book "West of the Creek: Murder, Mayhem and Vice in Old San Antonio" as a launching point for a broader conversation about the importance — and misconceptions — of San Antonio's historic West Side.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.15 The Patty Hearst Kidnapping 40:38

2M ago40:38

40:38

Patty Hearst was the heiress to a multi-million-dollar media company. In 1974, when reports emerged saying she’d been captured by the Symbionese Liberation Army, the world held its breath. But no one could have expected what happened next. This week, Laura digs into the details of the case, analysing what exactly happened to Patty during her time w…

1
Fronteras: A different perspective to tales of murder, mayhem and vice on San Antonio’s historic West Side 21:30

2M ago21:30

21:30

Texas Public Radio and Trinity University Press hosted a book club discussion on the reissue of "West of the Creek: Murder, Mayhem and Vice in Old San Antonio." Local activists, historians, and writers used the book as a launching point to a broader conversation about the significance of San Antonio's West Side.…

1
Matthias Weckman 20:22

2M ago20:22

20:22

Lucie Skeaping looks at the life and music of German organist and composer Matthias Weckmann, who died 350 years ago this month.By BBC Radio 3

1
S1.14: The Poison Ivy Case 37:45

2M ago37:45

37:45

After a two-week break, Iain is back in the driving seat this week. His case takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, during the 1930s. When William Kappen is found dead on the day he is due to get married, police are immediately suspicious of his estranged sister Marie. Find out how a patch of poison ivy helps break open the case and lead investigators…

1
Fronteras: ‘Can We Know the Sound of Forgiveness’ blends art, music, and spoken word to explore the complexities of existence 23:46

3M ago23:46

23:46

The massive multidisciplinary project stemmed from a large-scale painting of the same name by New Mexico-based artist, James Drake. The performance features themes of conflict, suffering, and healing.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.13: The Rue Montaigne Murders 42:29

3M ago42:29

42:29

Laura is taking over again this week to tell the story of the Rue Montaigne murders. When a triple murder takes place in 19th-century Paris, police are led on an Agatha Christie-style chase to hunt down the killer. Expect LOTS of twists and turns! Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe n…

1
Fronteras: Migration Policy Institute says Biden’s presidency mired by border crisis narratives despite 535 immigration actions 28:37

3M ago28:37

28:37

A recent analysis from the MPI examines Biden's presidency at its three-year mark. Two of its co-writers discuss how despite accusations of inaction at the border, legal immigration numbers have gone back to Pre-Trump and pre-COVID normal.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.12: A Deadly Affair 45:17

3M ago45:17

45:17

This week, Laura’s case – set in 1950s Cincinnati – involves a complicated love triangle between ex navy man Bill Bergen, his wife Louise and his mistress Edythe Klumpp. When Louise’s body is found in a park, police must figure out whether Bill and Edythe had anything to do with her death. But the deeper they dig, the more confusing the story becom…

1
‘Segundo de Febrero’ exhibit embraces duality of Chicano culture and life 22:37

3M ago22:37

22:37

San Antonio's Centro Cultural Aztlan presents the 47th annual "Segundo de Febrero" exhibit to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This year's exhibition, "Seguimos" or "we go on," explores themes of migration, adaptation, and the duality of the Mexican American identity.…

1
S1.11: The Machine Gun Kelly Kidnapping 42:13

3M ago42:13

42:13

This week, Iain’s case has all the trappings of a true crime extravaganza: old-school gangsters, wealthy oil tycoons, elaborate money drops, and even a trip to Alcatraz. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.…

1
Local San Antonio students gain new perspective on U.S.-Mexico relations through Mexico City trip 21:36

3M ago21:36

21:36

Seventeen students and 10 teachers under the CAST Schools network in San Antonio visited Mexico City last month as part of a diplomacy program that aims to strengthen the cultural and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Mexico. Some of those students joined Fronteras to talk about their experiences.…

1
S1.10: The Brides In The Bath 33:05

3M ago33:05

33:05

It’s January 1915 when Detective Inspector Arthur Neil receives a strange letter in the post with a couple of newspaper clippings attached. The clippings describe two seemingly unconnected incidents of women drowning in their own bathtubs. The letter writer asks Detective Inspector Neil to dig a little deeper. And when he does, he unravels a case f…

1
Drug wars, militarization of Mexico and the border, and the future of the Mexican presidency 21:36

3M ago21:36

21:36

The drug war in Mexico has claimed thousands of lives in the country over the span of three presidents. Alexander Aviña — an expert on immigration and state violence in Mexico — discusses the drug war, the 2024 Mexican presidency, and the ongoing militarization of both Mexico and the Texas-Mexico border.…

1
S1.9: The Trunk Murderess 35:19

4M ago35:19

35:19

This week, Iain is looking at a famous case that took place in 1930 in Arizona. When Winnie Ruth Judd falls out with her two best friends, things turn from bad to worse… to deadly. And what happens next will send shockwaves around America. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so yo…

1
Chinoiserie 32:36

4M ago32:36

32:36

Mark Seow looks at 18thC Europe's fascination with the Orient, including music by Purcell and Couperin, and he explores the lives of certain musicians living in 18thC Beijing. Plus an edition of The Early Music News.By BBC Radio 3

1
‘It’s a binational issue’ — The myths and realities of drug smuggling on the U.S.-Mexico border 21:36

4M ago21:36

21:36

Alexander Aviña, associate professor of history at Arizona State University, discusses the historical precedent of drug violence in Mexico, the United State's role, and possible solutions moving forward.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.8: The Millennium Star 33:49

4M ago33:49

33:49

This week, Laura looks at the unbelievable case of the Millennium Dome diamond heist, a true story that has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. Expect speedboats, explosions, smoke bombs… and steak and kidney pies. Trust us – you won’t want to miss this. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Soun…

1
Fronteras: ‘This is U.S. History’ — Exhibit 'Life & Death on the Border' sheds light on state-sanctioned violence against Mexicans in Texas 25:00

4M ago25:00

25:00

Our Lady of the Lake University associate professors Christopher Carmona and Valerie Martínez take Fronteras on a tour of the panel exhibit "Life & Death on the Border: 1910-1920." The exhibit explores topics ranging from the militarization of the border, to Juan Crow laws, to artistic and literary contributions to the Latino civil rights movement.…

1
Fronteras: ‘Life and Death on the Border’ exhibit highlights the buried history of anti-Mexican violence in Texas 21:36

4M ago21:36

21:36

The exhibit is on display at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio through March 31 and was arranged by Refusing to Forget, a group of historians who work to bring awareness to the period of state-sanctioned violence against Mexicans in Texas.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
Early Music for Christmas Eve 36:26

4M ago36:26

36:26

From her home in North London, Hannah French presents a selection of medieval carols, plus Renaissance & Baroque music for Christmas Eve, including festive pieces by Corelli, Vivaldi, Charpentier, Manfredini, Byrd, Manchicourt & Handel. Join Hannah in the French kitchen as she also tucks in to some Yuletide treats fit for a cosy Christmas Eve.…

1
San Antonians mentored by journalist María Martin say her legacy will ‘live beyond’ 39:53

4M ago39:53

39:53

Pioneer María Martin helped train participants at San Antonio's Esperanza Peace & Justice Center before her death. Some of those students reflect on what they learned and how Martin's legacy in journalism will live on.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
Alessandro Stradella: Music, mayhem and murder 41:56

5M ago41:56

41:56

Alessandro Stradella's star burned brightly but briefly. His music was glorious; his lifestyle was dissolute: embezzlement, sexual imprudence and political intrigue - Stradella fell foul of his misdemeanours in 1682 when he was murdered by a hitman at the age of just 38. Hannah French is joined in the studio by the University of Birmingham's Profes…

1
S1.7: The Maple Syrup Heist 35:20

5M ago35:20

35:20

We’re in the countdown to Christmas – a time to overindulge on sweet treats and sugary goodness. With that in mind, Iain has a maple-syrup-themed story he’s diving into this week. Get ready to hear all about an outlandish, multi-million-dollar heist that comes to a particularly sticky end. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is …

1
Remembering María Martin — a pioneer in uplifting the voices of Latinos in journalism 21:37

5M ago21:37

21:37

Journalist María Martin died Dec. 2 at the age of 72. Fronteras takes a look back at past interviews with Martin that discuss her life and pioneering work to tell underrepresented stories in the U.S. and Central America.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.6: A Corpse In The Kitchen 34:49

5M ago34:49

34:49

This week, we’re in Victorian England as Laura dives into the case of Frederick and Maria Manning. This is a story of duplicitous desperation and deadly dinner invites. And it even has an appearance from a world-famous author. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss …

1
Carl Friedrich Abel 26:40

5M ago26:40

26:40

Lucie Skeaping delves into the life and music of the extraordinary 18th-century German viol player and composer Carl Friedrich Abel, who was born 300 years ago this year. Plus, your weekly edition of Early Music News from Mark Seow.By BBC Radio 3

1
Fronteras: ‘Recognizing the sacredness of the food’ — Taking a deep dive into the impact of indigenous food and ingredients 21:36

5M ago21:36

21:36

Four San Antonio chefs, advocates, and community members came together as part of the Great SA: Native American Influence on South Texas Cuisine panel, hosted by Texas Public Radio. In part two of the conversation, panelists take questions and discuss how Native foods continue to impact culture and traditions today.…

1
S1.5: A Killer Cuppa 35:24

5M ago35:24

35:24

This week Iain looks at the case of Caroline Grills, an elderly lady with a killer instinct when it comes to making tea. It’s 1947 in Sydney, Australia, when members of Caroline’s family begin to fall ill with a sudden and mysterious ailment. No one can understand what’s going on – until Caroline’s nephew reads a newspaper article that blows the ca…

1
Early Music in Derbyshire 45:48

5M ago45:48

45:48

The National Trust's Senior Curator John Chu takes Hannah French around two stunning properties in Derbyshire: Hardwick Hall & Kedleston Hall to explore the musical links in the buildings, furnishings and art works. Plus, your weekly edition of Early Music News from Mark Seow.By BBC Radio 3

1
Fronteras: ‘Indigenous food is not disconnected’ — A conversation about the Native American influence on South Texas cuisine 21:36

5M ago21:36

21:36

Texas Public Radio took a deep dive into the importance of traditional indigenous foods during a Great SA panel discussion moderated by TPR's Norma Martinez. The four-person panel discusses native ingredients and how they connect to our food today.By Norma Martinez, Marian Navarro

1
S1.4: Dr Hazzard's Sanatorium 31:12

5M ago31:12

31:12

This week, Laura is looking at the case of Dr Hazzard, a so-called wellness practitioner with some seriously suspicious methods. When two wealthy sisters fall prey to Dr Hazzard’s persuasive spiel, it’s up to their former nanny, Margaret Conway, to spring them out of the remote sanatorium. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is …

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