S4 Episode 14: Murder On A Moonless Night

Explicit content warning

07/03/24 • 61 min

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On a seemingly ordinary night in October of 1943, the tranquility of a small Texas town was shattered by a brutal crime that left two survivors in its wake and a community in shock. Christena Stephens details the murder of Roy and Mae Hunt in her book, Bound in Silence: An Unsolved Murder in a Small Texas Town. Despite extensive investigations, the case remains unsolved to this day, shrouded in silence and unanswered questions.

Christena Stephens is a native Texan growing up amongst cotton fields and spending time exploring the nature of the Llano Estacado. After earning two Master of Science degrees, she started a project to preserve a historical Texas ranch, thus began her interest in history, research, and writing. She did not intend to be a historian but was mentored by the best Texas historians. Several of her writings have been published in anthologies, along with her photographs. In science and history, truths need to be accurately told. That is her mission-truth and authenticity. She still resides on the Llano Estacado enjoying sunsets and chance porcupine encounters. She is an ardent advocate of wildlife conservation and her heart belongs to her dogs.

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S4 Episode 13: Persons of Interest - Murder in Waltham

Investigative journalist Susan Zalkind unravels the chilling details behind the notorious triple homicide that occurred in September of 2011 in her hometown of Waltham, Massachusetts. This quiet town was overshadowed by an unthinkable crime, but captivates us is Susan Zalkind's uncanny ability to unveil the intricate threads weaving together the murder and its unsettling connections to the Boston Marathon bombing in April of 2013.

In this episode, we explore alongside Susan as she delves into the pages of her book, The Waltham Murders, recounting her relentless pursuit of truth amidst the shadows of a small community torn apart by violence. With gripping storytelling and meticulous research, Susan sheds light on the complexities of the case, offering insights that challenge assumptions and uncover dark secrets buried for years.

Susan Zalkind is a journalist, New Englander, author of The Waltham Murders and producer of The Murders Before The Marathon docuseries. Her work has also appeared in This American Life, the Guardian, CityLab, VICE, the Daily Beast, The Irish Times, and Boston magazine. She likes to swim in the ocean.

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S4 Episode 15: The Long Haul with Salena Lettera

In this episode we hit the open road with Salena Lettera, a trailblazing truck driver who’s been navigating the highways and byways of the trucking industry for years. Salena shares her unique journey, what inspired her to get behind the wheel, the evolving landscape of trucking, the importance of community and support within the industry, and her insights on what it takes to succeed in this demanding profession.

Salena is a long distance truck driver who travels across the United States as part of an owner-operator team with her husband, Ed. She is also the author of The Daily Rant, the longest running daily blog in the world written by a female truck driver. In addition to her daily blog, she has written articles for Highway Health Magazine, Long Haul Magazine, and the Guardian UK daily newspaper. She loves travel, photography, cooking, napping, ice cold air-conditioning, and occasional snorkeling.