Best Truth Sleuth Podcasts (2025)

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Ep33: Online Sleuth Team 58:45

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8h ago58:45

58:45

Last week you heard us talk about the online world of puppy sales and what our team is doing to try and get a handle on it! This week Alexis and Kristen sit down with Ally and Sarah , two of our volunteers who helped jumpstart our online research. Join us as we chat with them about what it takes to find unlicensed breeders online, and what it takes…

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MYSTERIES OF THE DEEP returns with the tale of a writer who faked his identity...until an amateur sleuth discovered the truth! 15:16

15d ago15:16

15:16

By Automaton Studios

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Coco Newton, RD, MPH, CNS, discusses how she applies functional medical nutrition therapy for those diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). 28:09

18h ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that there is hope for patients diagnosed with ALS? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the debilitating neurodegenerative disease commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is influenced by genetics and environmental factors, including living near bodies of water frequently impacted by harmful algal blooms. Join Food Sleuth Radio host…

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#16 Abbey Martinez – From Powerlifting Glory to Battling Online Predators: The Untold Story of Grit 1:49:55

42m ago1:49:55

1:49:55

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of the podcast! We’re kicking things off with a powerhouse guest: Abbey Martinez — Colorado Powerlifting Champion, entrepreneur, and inspiring example of resilience and grit. In this episode, Abbey opens up about: 🏋️‍♀️ Her journey to becoming a Powerlifting Champion 💼 The challenges of building a business from the gr…

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The One With The Robert Redford Family Murder 35:05

12h ago35:05

35:05

Send us a text In this week’s episode of Sip, Spill & Solve, Kiki and Jeannie uncork a chilling Colorado case that has baffled investigators for decades — the murder of Sid Wells, the beloved fiancé of Robert Redford’s daughter. We delve into the tangled connections between Hollywood, Boulder’s darker side, and the long-time suspect whose trail has…

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NEW SERIES! The quest for the best (and worst) from streaming media begins! This episode: TERMINATOR rip-offs! 31:33

6d ago31:33

31:33

By Automaton Studios

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John Cardina, PhD, author of Lives of Weeds: Opportunism, Resistance, Folly, discusses man’s futile attempts to control “weeds.” 28:09

8d ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that Emily Dickinson wrote 4 tributes to the dandelion? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with John Cardina, PhD, Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science at the Ohio State University, former USDA research agronomist and author of Lives of Weeds: Opport…

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Ep34: Heart Work + Hard Work 39:15

1h ago39:15

39:15

In this lighthearted episode full of laughter and smiles, we sit down with two members of Bailing Out Benji’s admin who help drive our mission every day: Alexis, our research analyst, and Jalaine, our volunteer coordinator. They share how their roles intersect through the incredible work of our volunteers, what collaboration looks like behind the s…

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The One With The Mummy In The Cupboard/ Sarah Jane Harvey 21:30

6h ago21:30

21:30

Send us a text This week on Sip, Spill & Solve, Kiki is joined by a very special guest — her daughter Kelsey — for a brand-new format we’re calling Read & React. Kiki reads the entire case live on the mic, and Kelsey reacts in real time… which means chaos, confusion, mocktail commentary, and a LOT of unfiltered moments. Together they dive into the …

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Glenn Davis Stone, PhD, author of The Agricultural Dilemma: How Not to Feed the World, discusses the legend and unintended consequences of the Green Revolution. 28:09

15d ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that the “Green Revolution” is a cultural narrative that is rarely questioned? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Glenn Davis Stone, PhD, anthropologist, environmental scientist, and author of The Agricultural Dilemma: How Not to Feed the World. Stone discusses the legend …

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Daniel Costa, Director of Immigration Law and Policy Research at the Economic Policy institute, discusses immigration policy and our food system. 28:09

22d ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that immigrant labor is critical to our food system, and most of the food that gets to our plates was grown, harvested and processed by the hands of immigrants? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Daniel Costa, JD, attorney, and Director of Immigration Law and Policy Resear…

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The One With the Hollywood Hustle: The Bonny Lee Bakley & Robert Blake Murder Case 47:37

1d ago47:37

47:37

Send us a text Hollywood fame, fatal attraction, and a marriage built on lies — this week, Kiki and Jeannie unravel the shocking murder of Bonny Lee Bakley and the explosive trial of actor Robert Blake. 💋 From Bonny’s long trail of celebrity scams to the night she was found shot in Blake’s car outside a Studio City restaurant, this episode dives de…

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Ep32: Click, Click, Sold 53:04

9d ago53:04

53:04

On this week's episode, Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi dig deep into the world of online puppy mills. We talk about the history of regulation and go into the work we are doing to try and wrangle the wild-wild-west of puppy sales. Love this topic? Next week we sit down with a few of our volunteers to talk about what doing this work looks like! Want a Be…

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Leo Horrigan, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, and author of What if Soil Microbes Mattered? Our Health Depends on Them 28:09

29d ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that soil health is integral to life on earth? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Leo Horrigan, MS, Food System Correspondent for the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, and author of What if Soil Microbes Mattered? Our Health Depends on Them. Horrigan explains how …

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The One That Got a Little Boozy | Truth or Boo Halloween Episode 21:53

1M ago21:53

21:53

Send us a text keywords Halloween, spooky stories, True or Boo, wine, Kiki Fackler, Sip Spill and Spook, ghost stories, urban legends, Halloween traditions, haunted tales summary In this Halloween-themed episode of Sip, Spill, and Spook, Kiki Fackler and her friend engage in a fun game called 'True or Boo,' where they share spooky stories and try t…

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Ep 31: The One With The Questions 51:24

28d ago51:24

51:24

We didn't know what to expect when we opened ourselves up for questions, but we are here to answer all of them- even the tough ones! Join us this week as we wrap up with part two of our Q&A style episode and continue having nuanced conversations about our work and the puppy mill industry. Remember, we aren't here to force you to think like us! We a…

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Week 3 of HALLOWEEN HORROR MONTH is here! It's all about Creepypasta movies! Don't know what that means? Listen and find out! 22:57

1M ago22:57

22:57

By Automaton Studios

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Mariana Chilton, PhD, MPH, author of The Painful Truth About Hunger In America: Why We Must Unlearn Everything We Think We Know -- and Start Again. 28:09

1M ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that the solution to hunger is solidarity, not charity? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Mariana Chilton, PhD, MPH, Professor, U. of Mass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, and author of The Painful Truth About Hunger in America: Why We Must Unlearn Eve…

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Ep30: Thirty and Thriving! 46:11

1M ago46:11

46:11

Whoop whoop! Our team has released 30 episodes so far!! Thank you for sticking with us as we found our groove. We have had thousands of listeners tuning in on various podcast apps and several dozen watching each week through Youtube! We are hearing from advocates and volunteers who love the content each week, as well as from people in the pet indus…

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The One with the Axe and the Alibi: The Lizzie Borden Story 42:04

1M ago42:04

42:04

Send us a text Thanks to the Morbid podcast for all their interesting observations! keywords Lizzie Borden, true crime, cocktails, murder mystery, history, spooky stories, podcast, family dynamics, investigation, trial takeaways Lizzie Borden's family life was fraught with tension and resentment. The Witch's Brew Margarita is a fun Halloween cockta…

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Charlotte Vallaeys, MS, discusses the multiple benefits of organic, and confusion over “regenerative agriculture.” 28:09

1M ago28:09

28:09

Did you know organic agriculture has a legal definition, but “regenerative” agriculture does not? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Charlotte Vallaeys, MS, independent consultant, advocate, and champion of organic agriculture. Board member of Organic Voices and the Organic Farming Res…

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Ep29: Cracks in the System: The Daniel Gingerich Case 58:07

1M ago58:07

58:07

The Daniel Gingerich puppy mill case was one of the hardest cases we have ever worked on. In 2021 we helped shut down the worst USDA licensed dog breeder in history, but it didn’t come without learning some lessons and hard truths. As we come upon the 4 year anniversary of the seizure and rescue of all of the dogs on his property, Mindi and Kristen…

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The One With The Staircase To Hell: The Exorcist Steps In Georgetown 23:17

1M ago23:17

23:17

Send us a text This week on Sip, Spill & Solve, Kiki and Jeannie head to Georgetown, D.C. to climb one of the most famous—and haunted—staircases in movie history: The Exorcist Steps. Built in 1895 and made infamous by the 1973 horror classic The Exorcist, these steep, shadowy stairs have seen more than just cinematic screams. Locals whisper about e…

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Saddle up, Divers! This week on HALLOWEEN HORROR MONTH 2025, we mosey on over to the weirdest, wildest Western Horror movies! 26:12

1M ago26:12

26:12

By Automaton Studios

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Heather Norman-Burgdolf, PhD, University of Kentucky, author of “Food Allergens: Alpha Gal.” 28:09

2M ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that the sugar responsible for alpha-gal allergy is widespread in processed food products, drugs and dietary supplements? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Heather Norman-Burgdolf, PhD, Associate Extension Professor in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at th…

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Ep28: The Good, the Bad, and the Steve 1:05:29

2M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

Steve, Steve, Steve... We can't seem to keep his name out of our mouths! As TSwift might say, "it's actually romantic" how often we talk about Steve Kruse, owner of Stonehenge Kennels in Iowa- lol- okay maybe not. But in all reality he is just kind of everywhere and he seemingly evades all consequences! The tentacles that this person has within the…

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The One With Slag Pile Annie 19:45

2M ago19:45

19:45

Send us a text The One With Slag Pile Annie Sip, Spill & Solve – Episode 18 Grab your glass and your ghost stories — we’re heading to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home of steel, smoke, and one legendary spirit who never clocked out: Slag Pile Annie. According to mill lore, Annie was a tough-as-nails worker who met her end deep in the tunnels beneath t…

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It's Halloween Horror Month 2025! WEEK ONE: What far-off fright films inspired the classic sci-fi horror movie ALIEN? Listen...if you dare! 19:12

2M ago19:12

19:12

By Automaton Studios

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Sharon Forsyth, patient advocate for the Alpha-gal syndrome community. 28:09

1M ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that a tick bite could lead to a food allergy? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Sharon Forsyth, conservationist and patient advocate for the alpha-gal syndrome community. Forsyth created Alpha-gal Information.org, a comprehensive informational resource on AGS. She discus…

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The One With The Haunted House on Maple Avenue 33:39

2M ago33:39

33:39

Send us a text It’s The One With the Hanover Haunting! 👻🍷 This week we’re diving into the eerie tale of the Maple Street house in Hanover, Pennsylvania—one of the most talked-about hauntings in the state. Was it truly paranormal… or just small-town legend run wild? And because every ghost story deserves a spooky sip, we’re mixing up our new fall fa…

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Ep27: Puppies, People, and Purpose 43:35

2M ago43:35

43:35

This week, our admin team sits down and talks about the importance of gathering together with our supporters in person to share our work. Community is extremely important and having connections in our home state and across the country are what make Bailing Out Benji so successful in our mission. Thank you for tuning in this week! Shop for our Paw a…

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Stephan van Vliet, PhD, Director of the Center for Nutrition Studies at Utah State University explains how farming practices impact nutrition quality of food. 28:09

2M ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that agricultural practices influence the nutritional quality of our food? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Stephen van Vliet, PhD, Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for Nutrition Studies at Utah State University. Van Vliet explains his investigation into ho…

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The One With Who Killed Ivan Darling (Gettysburg Cold Case) 20:45

2M ago20:45

20:45

Send us a text Two girlfriends. One bottle. Zero qualifications. In this week’s episode of Sip, Spill & Solve, we’re shaking up a Bee’s Knees cocktail 🐝 and diving into two wild stories: 🍷 Dumb Criminals: The man who got so drunk he literally joined the search party looking for himself. (Yes, really.) 🕵️ Uncorked Mysteries: The unsolved murder of I…

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Ep26: The Case of the Disappearing Puppies 50:39

2M ago50:39

50:39

On this week's episode, Mindi and Kristen discuss our investigation into "California and the Case of the Disappearing Puppies". While this specific research project led to a story with the LA Times and subsequent bills being filed, it also caused some hard discussions with our colleagues about how to best tackle new issues as they come up. Our rese…

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On this PILOT ERROR, we dive into the black hole of 80's television pilots once again...the CBS Summer Playhouse! 17:35

2M ago17:35

17:35

By Automaton Studios

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Katherine Pryor, children’s book author, discusses her latest title: Attack of the Hangries 28:09

2M ago28:09

28:09

Did you know that being hungry can affect our mood and behaviors? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Katherine Pryor, award-winning children’s book author, and good food advocate, whose latest title: The Attack of the Hangries, helps parents, teachers and children understand what happe…

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Ep25: Sham, Retail, or Real? Let's Talk Rescue! 54:34

2M ago54:34

54:34

Today we dive head first into the world of rescue. We start off by talking about 'sham rescues', those that are shell companies for the puppy mill industry, and then get into the messy discussion of 'retail rescues'. Retail rescue is a newer term that has been used most frequently by the pet industry to highlight why rescues need more regulation. T…

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The One With The Garth Brooks Serial Killer Conspiracy (Allegedly) 35:41

2M ago35:41

35:41

Send us a text 🎙️ Two girlfriends. One bottle. Zero qualifications. In this week’s Wine, Whine & WTH episode of Sip, Spill & Solve, we dive into one of the internet’s wildest true crime conspiracies — the Garth Brooks serial killer theory (allegedly 😉). From Tom Segura’s viral jokes to TikTok speculation, fan podcasts, and even lawsuits, we’re unpa…

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On this HOLLYWOOD HYPE: Comedy Impostors! Will they fool you? Not a chance! 23:01

3M ago23:01

23:01

By Automaton Studios

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Todd Larsen, MA, Executive Co-Director for Green America discusses child labor in the industrialized livestock industry 28:14

3M ago28:14

28:14

Did you know that Tyson, Perdue, Cargill, and JBS have all been found to have children working in their meat processing facilities? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Todd Larsen, MA, Executive Co-Director for Green America, who will explain how and why U.S. children are working in agr…

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Ep24: Laws and Pitfalls Part 2 32:05

3M ago32:05

32:05

We had SO much to say about the most common puppy mill laws (and their pitfalls!) that we broke this episode into 2 parts! Make sure that you listen to part 1 before diving in. We finish up this two-part episode by discussing sourcing laws, state registries, and shutting down puppy mills with animal cruelty laws! Next week we continue the conversat…

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Joseph Llobrera, PhD, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, discusses cuts to food assistance programs in the GOP’s Budget Reconciliation Bill. 28:14

3M ago28:14

28:14

Did you know that one in five children in the U.S. receives food assistance? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Joseph Llobrera, PhD, Director of Research for the Food Assistance Team at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Llobrera discusses low-wage workers who depend on SNAP…

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The Watcher Letters & Toilet Paper Boyfriend | The One With Creepy Notes 29:40

3M ago29:40

29:40

Send us a text Episode 14 Description It’s Cocktail Confessions time, and this week we’re pouring the Royal Apple — crisp, cozy, and just dangerous enough to make you spill your secrets. 👑🍎 Then we dive into two stories that prove bad notes never end well: 🧻 Dumb Criminals: Meet the Toilet Paper Boyfriend — a North Carolina man who thought TP-ing h…

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Ep 23: Laws and Pitfalls 42:19

3M ago42:19

42:19

Sit with us this week as we dive into the most common types of puppy mill legislation that advocates work on! In this two-part episode, we discuss some of the biggest pieces of legislation that has been passed and what the research shows happened after the laws went into effect. We called this episode "laws and pitfalls" because no piece of legisla…

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SEASON 8 PREMIERE! A new beginning...about terrible endings! What films ended so badly that they are legendarily awful? Listen to this episode of MYSTERIES OF THE DEEP to find out! 21:33

3M ago21:33

21:33

By Automaton Studios

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Introducing Fifteen: Inside The Daniel Marsh Murders 4:52

3M ago4:52

4:52

Join 48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty for her riveting new podcast series "Fifteen: Inside the Daniel Marsh Murders". When beloved couple Claudia Maupin and Chip Northup are brutally murdered while sleeping in the peaceful college community of Davis, California, police are left with more questions than answers. With no evidence, weapon or motiv…

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Terrence Collingsworth, Founder and Executive Director of International Rights Advocates 27:53

2M ago27:53

27:53

Did you know that some of the most popular brands of chocolate rely on child labor/slavery on cocoa plantations? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Terrence Collingsworth, Founder and Executive Director of International Rights Advocates, which works globally to stop corporate human rig…

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Maura Murray Disappearance Updates & Muffler Burglar/ The One With The Fall Margarita 30:59

3M ago30:59

30:59

Send us a text In this episode of Sip, Spill & Solve, hosts Kiki and Jeannie bring you a fall-inspired Cocktail Confession with the Smoky Apple Cider Margarita — the perfect blend of wine, cocktails, and cozy mystery vibes. 🍎🍸 Next, they lighten things up with a hilarious dumb criminal story about the infamous “Muffler Burglar,” who actually left h…

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Ep 22: Skibidi Podcast Takeover 42:08

3M ago42:08

42:08

We also don't know what Skibidi means (besides everything and nothing?) but we are in it now. Carsten and Gus are here for this week's episode and they tell us all about Bailing Out Benji and the animal welfare world through the lens of (almost) teenagers. These two keep us laughing and have a surprising grasp on some pretty complex issues. Carsten…