In June 2007 Canadian professional wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife and son and then took his own life. With allegations of domestic abuse in their marriage it could be that Chris finally killed his wife and son after years of abuse. However, some speculate that they many blows to his head he took during his wrestling career led to brain damag…

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with chef/restaurateur John Manion (El Che Steakhouse & Bar) about his newly opened restaurant Brasero in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. Manion talks about how Brasero came to be and what diners can expect when visiting. The restaurant has strong ties to Sou…

This week I was joined by David Limbrick MP, who sits as a member of the crossbench in the upper house of the Victorian Parliament and became known in recent years for his advocacy of human rights during the lockdown era. In this episode we go into his unexpectedly hard-left beginning in politics and how he developed into a Libertarian, what govern…

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with musician Shannon Larkin, drummer for the hard rock band Godsmack. Larkin discusses the band's upcoming Vibez Tour, which is making a stop at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary, IN (in addition to many other venues) and how this tour is different from the band's …

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with James Beard award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer of Chicago restaurant Kindling. Along with discussing Kindling, Chef Sawyer talks about his career cooking with such luminaries as Charlie Palmer and Michael Symon (even appearing along Iron Chef Symon on nume…

We're honored to share the microphone with Jess Phillips MP, a tireless fighter for the rights of women and girls, as she brings her unfiltered expertise to our latest episode. Jess doesn't just talk the talk—her work with Women's Aid and in Parliament gives her a unique vantage point to challenge the systemic barriers that perpetuate domestic and …

On 2 September 2021 Fawziyah Javed and her husband Kashif Anwar were on a break in Edinburgh. 17 weeks pregnant Fawziyah was planning to leave her husband. He took her on a walk up Arthur’s Seat and pushed her off a cliff up there. She and her unborn child died as he claimed she slipped. Controlling and abusive and determined not to let her leave A…

Polly is CEO of Shelter, the charity that defends the right to a safe home. She is a prominent media commentator and speaker on social justice, housing and homelessness, leadership, feminism and women’s issues, on platforms ranging from the Oxford Union to the first Women’s March London. She was previously CEO of Women’s Aid and, before that, Execu…

  Notes  In March 2020, when the world was going into COVID lockdown, Kelly Fitzgibbons and her two children Ava and Lexi were shot and killed by the person who should have loved and protected them the most – partner and father Robert Needham, who then killed the family dog and took his own life. Having lied on his application for a shotgun and wit…

This week's podcast guest is Leo Puglisi, the founder and chief newsreader of 6 News online. Over the past few years Leo has successfully taken a passion project started in his garage and developed it into a fledgling digital media empire - entirely run by teenagers. Having interviewed two Prime Ministers and a wide range of high profile guests in …

In December 2009 wife and mother Susan Powell disappeared, seemingly having vanished overnight. Her husband Josh came home from a camping trip with their two young sons the next day to a cacophony of concerned police, family and friends. Despite claiming he had no idea where his wife was Josh was the one and only suspect in her disappearance and pr…

In December 2009 wife and mother Susan Powell disappeared, seemingly having vanished overnight. Her husband Josh came home from a camping trip with their two young sons the next day to a cacophony of concerned police, family and friends. Despite claiming he had no idea where his wife was Josh was the one and only suspect in her disappearance and pr…

On 22 January 2006 in Hopkinton Massachusetts, 27 year old Rachel Entwistle and 9 month old Lillian were found dead in the house they shared with husband and father Neil. He was nowhere to be found however. Having fled back to his homeland of Nottinghamshire in the UK, Neil was arrested and brought back to the US to face trial for the murder of his…

The Pollie Bites podcast is back for 2024 with the first guest episode featuring Victoria's newest member of Parliament, Richard Welch. Selected by the Liberal Party to fill the upper house vacancy in the North Eastern Metro Region after Matt Bach resigned at the end of 2023, this was a rare 'golden ticket' opportunity to join Parliament mid-term w…

On Friday 19th January 2024 police forced entry into a house in Costessey which is just outside the centre of Norwich in Norfolk. They were responding to a call from a concerned member of the public. Inside the house they found two children and two adults dead and presumably murdered. They were two sisters, their father and their aunt and they had …

In December 2001 the bodies of two young children were found in the waters of Lint Slough in Oregan. Days later the bodies of a woman and another child were found less than a mile away. Mary Jane Longo and her children Zachary, Sadie and Madison had been found dead and their husband and father Christian Longo was nowhere to be found. Put on the FBI…

In April 2018 Steven Pladl suffocated and killed his seven-month-old son Bennet – who was also his grandson. The next day he shot and killed his estranged wife Katie – who was also his daughter - and her adoptive father Anthony. He then took his own life. A serial predator who took whatever and whoever he wanted Pladl’s murders spanned three states…

On 4 January 2023 Michael Haight killed seven members of his family – his wife, his mother in law, and his five children, before killing himself. Having been investigated for domestic abuse previously, his wife Tausha had initiated divorce proceedings just two weeks before the killing, Michael exerted his one final act of control over his whole fam…

Stepping into the dark corridors of the human psyche, we confront the daunting reality of family annihilations, where those meant to protect become the perpetrators of ultimate betrayal. As I weave through my master's studies, the weight of understanding coercive control and its link to intimate partner homicide bears heavily on this episode. We ho…

We're closing out 2023 with a catch up episode with Matt Wong from Discernable. It's been a while since we co-hosted an episode and so we had an informal catch up talking about politics, platforms and what the new year brings. If you're looking for more from Matt, you can find him at discernable.io. Support the show…

In this urgent special guest episode I am joined by Ken Philips from Self Employed Australia to talk about the major industrial relation law changes the federal government is currently trying to get through Parliament. An unexpected and sneaky deal in the last week of Parliament saw two crossbenchers, Pocock and Lambie, suddenly do a deal with the …

Ian Cook, best known for his business being at the center of the 'slug gate' saga joins the podcast for this special guest episode to talk about his ongoing court cases and his time running as an independent candidate for the seat of Mulgrave in both the 2022 state election and recent by-election. As mentioned in the episode, links to previous inte…

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with musician Stella Rose about her album, Eyes of Glass (out now on KRO Records), her music career and just a little bit about growing up the daughter of Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan. Links: Stella Rose --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.…

27-year-old Laci Peterson was 7 months pregnant with much wanted baby Conner when she disappeared on Christmas Eve 2002. Her and Conner’s bodies were found dead in San Francisco Bay in April 2003. Her husband, who was having an affair at the time of Laci’s death, was convicted of murder in 2004 and continues to maintain his innocence. This Part Two…

27 year old Laci Peterson was 7 months pregnant with much wanted baby Conner when she disappeared on Christmas Eve 2002. Her and Conner’s bodies were found dead in San Francisco Bay in April 2003. Her husband, who was having an affair at the time of Laci’s death, was convicted of murder in 2004 and continues to maintain his innocence. This is Part …

A little bonus episode of the pod chatting all things podcasting with special guest Sarah Pike @Wild_Earth_Yoga. Written and produced by me, Clare Laxton. Credits Hosted and created by Clare Laxton @ladylaxton Produced by: Clare Laxton https://killerinthefamilypodcast.buzzsprout.com Music by Tom Box and from Pixabay. Support the Show.…

On the 18 November 2003 Julia and Will Pemberton were in fear for their lives – from their estranged husband and father who had a history of domestic abuse and control. That day Alan Pemberton shot and killed Will in the driveway of the house he shared with his mum, he then killed Julia – she was on the phone to 999 at the time. Alan then took his …

Late night on 4 February this year Emma Pattison and her seven year old daughter Lettie were killed by the person who should have loved and protected them the most – husband and father George Pattison. He then took his own life. The media reaction to this story was one of the reasons I wanted to do this podcast and shine a light on the reality of f…

Notes In July 1970 a car was found hanging off a cliff in Loch Ard Gorge in Port Campbell Australia. Inside the car were the bodies of Teresa and her children Katherine, James and Karen Crawford. They had been killed by their husband and father Elmer Crawford. He has been on the run since and has not faced justice for his horrific crime. This is th…

In late December 2019 in Celebration Florida, Anthony Todt poisoned and stabbed his wife Megan, sons Alek and Tyler and daughter Zoe. He also killed the family dog Breezy. He stayed in his house with their bodies for weeks until he was found by police during a welfare check. His story of what happened has constantly changed but he was convicted of …

Information and support · Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans · National Domestic Violence Helpline UK 0808 2000 247 · Women’s Aid www.womensaid.org.uk · Mental health support USA I'm looking for mental health help for myself | Mental Health America (mhanational.org) · Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | Nationa…

On 9 November 1971 John List shot and killed his wife Helen and his mother Alma. When his children Patricia and Frederick arrived home from school he shot and killed both of them as well. He then picked his other son John up, took him home and shot and killed him as well. He cleaned up the house, slept through the night, left a religious radio stat…

On 9 November 1971 John List shot and killed his wife Helen and his mother Alma. When his children Patricia and Frederick arrived home from school he shot and killed both of them as well. He then picked his other son John up, took him home and shot and killed him as well. He cleaned up the house, left a religious radio station on, slept through the…

At 9am on 19 July 2016 Lance Hart took a shotgun to the car park of a Spalding leisure centre swimming pool where his estranged wife and daughter were going for a morning swim. He lay in wait for them under their car until they came out – he shot and killed them both with a single barrelled shotgun and then took his own life. His two sons were work…

In August 2001 Police Officer Karl Bluestone killed his wife Jill and two of the couple's children before taking his own life. Their two oldest children survived the attack. A police officer with a history of domestic abuse, these murders could have been prevented. This is the story of Jill Bluestone and her children Henry and Chandler, Jessica and…

The story of Catherine, Bethan, Luke, James and Sian is one that rocked their local community and shocked friends and family. On 11 July 2000 Catherine, Bethan, Luke, James and Sian were killed violently by the man who should be their protector, husband and father Robert. Information and support · Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans · National Do…

The murder of Hannah Clarke and her children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey on 19 February 2020 was one that shocked Australia and led to potential law changes and increased awareness of domestic abuse and coercive control. The perpetrator was the man who should have loved and cherished them the most, estranged husband and father Rowan Baxter. Hannah’s …

This is the story of Shanann, Bella, CeCe and Nico Watts and one of the most distressing stories of familicide there is. Information and support Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans National Domestic Violence Helpline UK 0808 2000 247 Women’s Aid www.womensaid.org.uk Mental health support USA I'm looking for mental health help for myself | Mental …

He was a devoted Dad He loved his family so much He was kind and gentle He just snapped These are all things that have been said in public about men who have killed their whole families. I don’t believe these statements show the true nature of familicide and I want to explore more. This is Killer in the Family podcast. The first episode of Killer i…

In this record-length podcast episode I am joined by Tosh Finnigan, the ex-Labor staffer, red shirts whistleblower and one of the founders of the 'Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews' Party from 2022. **Content warning - swearing & adult themes** In this episode we go through in detail, from start to finish, Tosh's journey in the Labor party and how…

This week on the podcast I am joined by a familiar face, Ken Phillips from Self Employed Australia. In this episode we discuss what happened with his highly publicised "Not Above The Law" case where an attempt was made by SEA to have Work Safe do their job and investigate the Hotel Quarantine failure in Victoria. We also go through what's next for …

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with filmmaker Mel Eslyn about her new film Biosphere starring Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass, which is available in theaters and on video now. Eslyn talks about working with Mark and Jay Duplass' production company, co-writing the film with Mark and workin…

In this weeks episode I'm joined by Dean Hurlston, Vice President of Council Watch, a not-for-profit organisation that made headlines recently for publishing a full list of Council CEO's outrageous salaries. Council Watch's website state that they are the 'peoples watchdog' for councils and act to research, investigate and publish information to en…

This week I'm joined by Nicole Werner, who will shortly represent the Liberal Party on the ballot at the upcoming Warrandyte by-election after an intense and competitive preselection process. In this episode we talk about why Nicole joined the Liberals, how she has found being a young, ethnically diverse candidate, her response to the claims she is…

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with musician Peyton Bighorse of rock band Skating Polly about the band’s new album, Chaos County Line, out today, June 23rd, via El Camino Records. Peyton talks about the new album, their tour (which stops in Chicago on June 24th at Beat Kitchen), the band’s m…

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with actor/filmmaker Jennifer Esposito about her role in Ray Romano’s Somewhere in Queens (now available to rent/buy on home video) and her feature film debut, Fresh Kills, which just debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival. Esposito also made a surprise return to…

Welcome back to the Rock 'n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with musician Louise Post (Veruca Salt) about her newly released debut solo album, Sleepwalker, available via El Camino Records. Post, who hails from Chicago and is one of the members of alt-rock icons Veruca Salt, discusses why now was the time to release her …

Welcome back to the Rock 'n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with musician Glen Phillips about his most recent solo album, There Is So Much Here, available via Compass Records, as well as coming back together with his bandmates in Toad the Wet Sprocket for a summer tour which is already underway (see dates below). Toad t…

Welcome back to the Rock 'n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with musician Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies (writer/guitarist) about the band’s latest release, Such Ferocious Beauty, which is available now via Cooking Vinyl. Michael discusses the band’s origins, his working relationship with the band (which includes his…

This week we are joined by special guest James Catlin, a previous journalist and political advisor turned barrister who has particular expertise and interest in protected disclosures (whistleblowing). In addition to working as a solicitor, he has worked as a finance journalist with Australia’s two leading news entities The Herald and Weekly Times a…