Best Dr Ruth Roberts Podcasts (2025)

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419: Serial Killer Pee Wee Gaskins w/ Dick Harpootlian 1:08:10

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1d ago1:08:10

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Among the many murder cases handled by South Carolina attorney Dick Harpootlian, one continues to stand apart: the prosecution of Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins. A serial killer and sexual predator, Gaskins claimed to have taken more than 100 lives and is known to have murdered over a dozen people, including a young child and his own teenage niece. He ki…

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418: The Black Dahlia & the Prairie Heiress Murders: One Killer? w/ Eli Frankel 1:30:19

14d ago1:30:19

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In January 1947, the bisected body of Elizabeth Short, completely drained of blood, was discovered in an undeveloped lot in Los Angeles. Its gruesome mutilations led to a firestorm of publicity, city-wide panic, and an unprecedented number of investigative paths led by the LAPD—all dead ends. The Black Dahlia murder remained an unsolved mystery for…

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MoNo Encore: The Murder of Frank Richardson w/ Kimberly Tilley 1:14:29

17d ago1:14:29

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Original Publication Date: 4/3/22 On Christmas Eve, 1900, 44-year-old dry goods store owner Frank Richardson was shot to death in his Savannah, Missouri home. Suspects included his wife Addie, his teenage lover Goldie Whitehead, and the man whom he suspected his wife of having an affair with, Stewart Fife. Kimberly Tilley makes her third visit to t…

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417: The Shipwreck of the Mignonette w/ Adam Cohen 58:06

20d ago58:06

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On May 19, 1884, the yacht Mignonette set sail from England on what should have been an uneventful voyage. When their vessel sank in the Atlantic, Captain Thomas Dudley and his crew found themselves adrift in a tiny lifeboat. As days turned to weeks, they faced an unthinkable choice: starve to death or resort to cannibalism. Their decision to sacri…

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End of an Era — Reflections on 11 Years of The Psychology Podcast w/ Annie Murphy Paul 46:52

27d ago46:52

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After 11 years, 478 episodes, and countless conversations exploring the depths of human potential, this episode marks the final chapter of The Psychology Podcast in its current form. In this deeply meaningful farewell episode for Scott, he sits down with acclaimed science writer Annie Murphy Paul — fittingly, the very first guest ever featured on t…

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416: Nazi Germany’s Bungled Operation Condor w/ Gavin Whitehead 57:52

28d ago57:52

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In 1942, two Abwehr German agents, including Johannes Eppler, slipped into Cairo to gather intelligence for Rommel’s desert campaign, getting help from local allies like the famous dancer Hekmet Fahmy and Anwar Sadat. Despite their efforts to infiltrate British circles, the whole operation eventually fell apart once Allied intelligence caught on. M…

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415: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald w/ John U. Bacon 55:04

1M ago55:04

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November 10, 2025, marked the fiftieth anniversary of the sinking of the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald during a vicious Lake Superior storm. All 29 crew members were lost, a tragedy later memorialized in Gordon Lightfoot’s iconic song. My guest is bestselling author John U. Bacon, who shares details from his new book, "The Gales of November: The U…

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414: The Martha Wise Murders w/ Rod Kackley 54:41

1M ago54:41

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In the winter of 1924-1925, quiet Medina County, Ohio, was shaken to its core. Martha Wise, an ordinary farm widow with an extraordinary obsession, slipped arsenic into her family’s food and water. Three of her relatives were dead, dozens more gravely ill, and a rural community was gripped by fear. What followed was a murder investigation and trial…

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Episode 20: Tristan und Isolde, with Anthony Negus, Carmen Jakobi and John Deathridge. Introduced by Polly Graham 1:02:06

1M ago1:02:06

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Unpack Wagner's Tristan und Isolde through words and music, ahead of the 2026 revival of our acclaimed 2015/2017 production. Join world experts on the works of Richard Wagner, John Deathridge, LFO's Music Director, Anthony Negus and stage director Carmen Jakobi to discuss this opera. Plus, enjoy musical illustrations from Anthony Negus and dramatic…

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How Mindsets Shape Reality w/ Dr. Alia Crum 1:00:24

1M ago1:00:24

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This week, Scott sits down with his longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Alia Crum—one of the world’s leading researchers on the science of mindsets. Dr. Crum’s groundbreaking work investigates how our subjective beliefs and interpretations can produce real, measurable changes in behavior, physiology, and psychological well-being. Drawing inspiration…

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MoNo Encore: The Murder of President James Garfield w/ Candice Millard 59:28

2M ago59:28

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Original Pub Date: 1/14/19 On July 2nd, 1881, a disappointed and mentally unstable office-seeker named Charles Guiteau shot President James A. Garfield in a Washington D.C. train station. Over the next weeks, Garfield would linger, bedridden, as infection set in, caused by poor medical treatment, and America would wait with bated breath over whethe…

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413: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday & Tombstone w/ Mark Lee Gardner 1:20:10

2M ago1:20:10

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Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were two complicated men whose steadfast friendship became one of the legendary relationships of the American West. Both were flawed, and often on uncertain moral ground, yet their bond carried them through the violent world of frontier justice, culminating in a deadly conflict with the Clanton-McLaury gang in Tombstone,…

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The Gentle Power of Sisu w/ Dr. Elisabet Lahti 48:45

2M ago48:45

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This week, Scott welcomes Dr. Elisabet Lahti—educator, applied psychology researcher, and founder of the Sisu Lab. Dr. Lahti is the world’s leading expert on sisu, a Finnish concept that embodies extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity. Together, they explore the meaning of sisu and how it can help us persevere…

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412: The Killing of William Woodward w/ Jerry Aylward 1:09:13

2M ago1:09:13

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In the early hours on a rainy autumn night in 1955, on a lavish country estate in Oyster Bay Cove, esteemed New York socialite Ann Woodward fired both barrels of her custom-made shotgun into the head of her husband, multimillionaire William J. “Billy” Woodward Jr., killing him. She mistook him for a notorious prowler who preyed on the privileged cl…

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From Grief to Gratitude: Honoring Pets Through Purpose 45:43

2M ago45:43

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Episode Summary In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Ruth Roberts sits down with Scott Colby to explore one of the most challenging aspects of pet parenthood - loss and grief. Scott shares his profound journey caring for his beloved cats Nomar and Mia through their senior years, navigating sudden loss, chronic illness, and the overwhelming grief that…

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411: The Murder of Zoya Fyodorova w/ Chris Pouy 1:26:12

2M ago1:26:12

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My guest is Chris Pouy, who shares an astonishing true story of love, betrayal, and murder on this latest episode of Most Notorious. His grandmother, Zoya Fyodorova, was a celebrated Russian actress who fell in love with an American naval officer, Jackson Tate, in 1945. It was a forbidden romance that led to the birth of Chris’s mother, Victoria. Z…

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The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis - Southern Gothic 36:31

2M ago36:31

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Just off the old Natchez Trace, in the quiet woods of Tennessee, stands a broken marble column marking the grave of Meriwether Lewis. The monument was meant to honor one of America’s greatest explorers, but its shattered form also reflects a life cut short under circumstances that remain unsolved more than two centuries later. In 1804, Lewis and Cl…

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From Coping to Capacity w/ RaQuel Hopkins 54:03

2M ago54:03

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This week, Scott speaks with RaQuel Hopkins, a certified coach with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. RaQuel shares her personal and professional journey—from mastering the art of coping to discovering the transformative power of growth. Together, they explore how adults can expand their mental and emotional capacity, why many…

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410: The 1856 Dublin Railway Murder w/ Thomas Morris 1:13:12

2M ago1:13:12

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In November 1856, Dublin was shaken by the murder of George Little, chief cashier at the Broadstone railway terminus. He was found in his office, beaten and with his throat cut, thousands of pounds worth of gold and silver left untouched and the door locked. The investigation gripped the public, filled with twists and unusual developments, includin…

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EP19. Orlando, with Dr Ruth Smith, Christopher Moulds, and Anna Devin. Introduced by Polly Graham and Alexandra Mackesy 59:52

3M ago59:52

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Ahead of Longborough Festival Opera's 2026 production of Orlando, directed by Sinéad O’Neill and conducted by Christopher Moulds, this episode unpacks the interconnecting love stories at the heart of Handel’s masterpiece. Dr Ruth Smith, author of Handel's Oratorios and Eighteenth-Century Thought leads a fascinating exploration of this much-loved ba…

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MoNo Encore: The Car Barn Murders w/ Karen Smith 1:12:08

3M ago1:12:08

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(Orig pub date 8/15/23) In the early morning of January 21st, 1935 two employees of the Capital Transit Company in Chevy Chase, Maryland were cold-bloodedly gunned down. One of the men murdered was my guest's great-great uncle Emory Smith. As the police investigated the list of compelling suspects grew, but a powerful cover-up appeared to be in pla…

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409: The Scientist & the Serial Killer w/ Lise Olsen 1:29:46

3M ago1:29:46

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In "The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston’s Lost Boys", investigative journalist Lise Olsen tells the gripping true-crime story behind the “Lost Boys” murders in 1970s Houston, when more than two dozen teenage boys were murdered at the hands of Dean Corll, nicknamed the “Candy Man”, and his young accomplices. Through years of …

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Why Brains Need Friends w/ Dr. Ben Rein 1:03:38

3M ago1:03:38

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This week, Scott sits down with Dr. Ben Rein, a Stanford neuroscientist and one of today’s most engaging science communicators. Dr. Rein has spent over a decade studying the neuroscience of social interaction, and his new book, Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection, explores how our relationships shape our minds and well-be…

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Detoxing One Bite at a Time 30:27

3M ago30:27

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In this episode of Healing Tails, I’m joined by clinical nutritionist and holistic health expert Leah Bookhamer. Leah’s journey from chronic illness to empowered healer is deeply inspiring—and she’s now on a mission to help both pets and people detox and thrive. Together, we dive into the root causes of poor pet health and discuss why detoxificatio…

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408: The Murder of Cecelia Gullivan w/ Jeffrey L. Amestoy 1:05:33

3M ago1:05:33

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In November 1926, Cecelia Gullivan, treasurer of the Cone Automatic Machine company of Windsor, Vermont, was brutally killed in her home. Local police quickly arrested Cone Automatic machinist John Winters on suspicion of the crime, and the trial that followed was sensational and swift. Convicted of murder, Winters’ appeal brought in an unexpected …

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Busting Viral Mental Health Myths w/Joe Nucci 1:08:42

3M ago1:08:42

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This week, Scott speaks with psychotherapist and writer Joe Nucci, whose work tackles the intersection of mental health, misinformation, and pop psychology. Joe has built a large following by debunking viral myths and bringing nuance to conversations that are too often oversimplified online. Together, they dive into his new book, Psychobabble: Vira…

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Sustainable Solutions: How Hemp Heroes is Changing the CBD Game 44:53

3M ago44:53

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In this episode of Healing Tails, Dr. Ruth Roberts talks with David Hartigan, an ex-consultant turned hemp and mushroom wellness pioneer. They unpack what makes cold-pressed CBD different (and better), why most pet products are just marketing fluff, and how David is setting a new bar for transparency and quality—backed by clinical studies and B Cor…

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407: The Thames Torso Murders w/ Sarah Bax Horton 1:02:24

3M ago1:02:24

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Victorian London is often remembered for the Ripper murders, yet at the same time another equally chilling series of slayings unfolded. Between 1887 and 1889, the dismembered bodies of four women appeared along the Thames. The river itself became the killer’s cover, its tides and hidden corners serving as a macabre dumping ground. Overshadowed by t…

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406: The Murder of Jujube Heiress Ruth Quinn w/ Taylor Kiland 57:10

3M ago57:10

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The small Southern California island of Coronado rarely makes news for violent crime. But in the spring of 1975, World War II widow and retired librarian Ruth Quinn was murdered, execution-style, in her cottage. Her death sent a shock wave through the community. The granddaughter of Jujubes and Jujyfruits creator Henry Heide, Ruth was found fully c…

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From Grooming to Greatness: Transforming Holistic Pet Care and Stealing the Spotlight on The Blox 41:27

3M ago41:27

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In this powerful episode, Dr. Ruth chats with Marketa Jefferson, founder of Paws Balance, holistic pet health coach, and recent contestant on The Blox business reality show. Marketa shares her inspiring path from grooming tables to the front lines of natural pet care advocacy. From rescuing shelter pets and questioning outdated vet protocols to sel…

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MoNo Encore: The Murder of Dr. W.D. Broadhurst w/ Patrick Gallagher 1:15:56

4M ago1:15:56

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(Orig pub date: 2/15/22) In October of 1946, a chiropractor and rancher named Willis "W.D." Broadhurst was beaten with a wrench and finished off with a shotgun on a lonely eastern Oregon road. Investigators would soon accuse his wife Gladys of plotting the doctor's murder with the help of his young cowhand and her lover, Alvin Williams. Stunning de…

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The Psychology of Athletic Excellence w/Dr. Alex Auerbach 55:00

4M ago55:00

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This week, Scott Barry Kaufman sits down with Dr. Alex Auerbach, a licensed counseling and sport performance psychologist who works with some of the world’s top performers—from Olympic champions to NBA, NFL, and MLB athletes, as well as elite military units, Fortune 500 companies, and high-growth startups. Together, they dive into insights from Dr.…

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405: A History of Eugenics in America w/ Mark A. Torres 1:07:20

4M ago1:07:20

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In the early twentieth century, eugenics captivated scientists and the public alike, giving researchers license to exploit the infirm, the mentally ill, prisoners, Native communities and many others considered "defective" or "feebleminded" under the guise of genetics. At its center stood the Eugenics Record Office in Cold Spring Harbor, directed by…

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The Healing Gap: Why Holistic Care Is Facing New Challenges and How We Can Adapt 43:21

4M ago43:21

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In this deeply insightful episode of Healing Tails, Dr. Ruth Roberts is joined by renowned holistic veterinarian Dr. Odette Suter to unpack the widening gap in holistic veterinary care. As chronic illness in pets becomes more complex, Dr. Suter shares why outdated approaches—even within holistic medicine—are failing, and what needs to shift for tru…

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404: Gunfighter Clay Allison w/ Donna Blake Birchell 1:04:47

4M ago1:04:47

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Clay Allison was both liked and loathed in his lifetime, embodying the contradictions of the American frontier. He could show moments of kindness for the downtrodden, but also carried deep hatred for Northerners and Black people. Dangerously unpredictable, he was capable of generosity one moment and chilling violence the next, a quality that made h…

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How a Career Change Became a Calling That Transforms Lives Through Holistic Pet Care 42:21

4M ago42:21

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In this episode of Healing Tails, I welcome the incredible Joni Kamlet, RVT, CCRA, ACN, a registered veterinary technician and holistic practitioner whose journey began with a life‑changing cancer diagnosis that transformed her approach to healing. We explore how raw feeding, homeopathy, herbs, and therapeutic mushrooms played pivotal roles in resc…