Episode 563: Anders Breivik Part I - Portrait of an Asshole

Join Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart as they venture into the shadowy psyche of Edmund Kemper, the notorious "Coed Killer," in "Morbid: A True Crime Podcast." With chilling precision, the co-hosts recount his brutal crimes and early displays of malcontent, painting a portrait of a disturbed individual shaped by an abusive childhood and societal missteps. By starting the episode with Kemper's own unnerving words, they construct an atmosphere that is both captivating and cautionary, ensuring listeners are acutely aware of the explicit and haunting journey ahead.

As they weave through Kemper's life—from his contemptuous relationship with his overbearing mother to his cunning double life that fooled even law enforcement—Ash and Alaina offer profound insights into the criminal mind. They dissect institutional failures and naivete that allowed Kemper to exploit the system, examine his impact on forensic psychology, and end with reflections on the precarious balance between normalcy and the hidden darkness within. This gripping episode not only lays bare the extremes of human behavior but sets the stage for future explorations of mystery, beginning with a teaser of the perplexing Dyatlov Pass incident.

Immerse yourself into the chilling narrative of one of America's notorious serial killers, Joel Rifkin, in Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart's "Morbid: A True Crime Podcast". Our hosts expertly unravel the life of Rifkin, from his troubled upbringing marked by severe bullying to his disturbing transformation into a serial killer - shattering his comfortable home life and leading him on a dreadful path of crime.

In the latter part of the story, Kelley and Urquhart dig deeper into the grotesque methodologies of Rifkin's murders, taking us on a terrifying journey into the lives of his unfortunate victims while tracing the consequent legal proceedings that led to a hefty 203-year prison sentence. As you delve into this heart-wrenching episode, be prepared to witness a haunting portrait of evil incarnate, a bleak testament of the duality that resides in the human psyche.

In How Not to Be Wrong, one of the UK’s leading radio personalities—known for his ability to argue his guests into submission and prove his own rightness—changes course, compelled by a personal crisis to examine his “wrong” beliefs and misguided ways of relating to others.

James O’Brien argues in this part memoir, part self-help book that learning to change your mind when you’re wrong is a valuable tool for combating prejudice. Coming from a man who was taught never to show vulnerability, his method for changing his own mind is unexpected: starting therapy and exploring his childhood trauma. O’Brien claims that only by getting to the root of our pain can we learn to have empathy for others.

In this guide, we place O’Brien’s ideas in context by analyzing psychological and sociological research on childhood trauma, masculinity, and prejudice. We also compare O’Brien’s perspectives to those found in books such as What Happened to You? and The Body Keeps the Score, which take a more clinical approach to similar issues.

In 2013, whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the existence of STELLARWIND, the US government’s mass surveillance program. Until Snowden revealed the program, the US government was recording the phone and computer activities of nearly everyone in the world.

In Permanent Record, Snowden explains how he became involved with the government, how he learned about the mass surveillance program, and how he ultimately made the decision to speak up—a decision that would change his life, and the lives of everyone who uses the Internet, forever.

In The Madness of Crowds, Douglas Murray argues that Western society is consumed by an ideology that’s obsessed with social justice and identity politics. This ideology insists that certain groups (notably women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals) endure widespread prejudice and oppression, and that they should therefore receive sensitivity, accommodations, and apologetic behavior from the social majority. Murray believes this ideology is hard to challenge without suffering public ridicule and shaming.

Ultimately, Murray argues that we need to combat this ideology, restore constructive opportunities for civic disagreement, and depoliticize our personal identities. Otherwise, our society could become even more fragmented and chaotic, and conceivably violent.

In this guide, we’ll examine the development of this harmful ideology, its effects, and its internal contradictions. We’ll also explore ways to detoxify society and reduce the influence of this ideology. In our commentary, we’ll compare Murray’s ideas to those in other books that discuss wokeism, intersectionality, and identity politics, such as The Coddling of the American Mind and American Marxism.

Dive into a realm of sharp political analysis with Ben Shapiro on "The Ben Shapiro Show," where this episode sees Shapiro wielding his insightful acumen to dissect the complex web of anti-Western sentiments and the prevailing challenges within Western foreign policy. With fervent clarity, Shapiro examines the shift in the significance of remembrance days as they are used by radical groups for troubling expression, alongside the Western civilization's grappling with ideologies that threaten to uproot its core values. His critique extends to Western governments' placating stances on extremist views, pointing out key weaknesses in the handling of international conflicts, particularly in the Israel-Hamas context.

In the American political theatre, Shapiro navigates the turbulent waters of the 2024 Republican nomination race, discussing Trump’s strategies, Tim Scott's withdrawal, and the implications it holds for other potential candidates. Not shying away from the cultural implications, he touches upon global responses to anti-Semitism and concludes with a glimpse into upcoming exclusive stories. Amidst the heated commentary, Shapiro pauses to recommend health and financial products to his audience, integrating well-being into the conversation. Join Ben Shapiro, along with Donald Trump and other voices, as they pierce through the surface of socio-political narratives and unravel the fabric of contemporary issues on "The Ben Shapiro Show."

In the informative podcast 'Murder, Mystery & Makeup', Bailey Sarian delivers an engrossing study of Sylvester Matuska—a man whose unusual fetish for train disasters marked a notorious and dangerous path. Sarian unveils the obsessions and incidences which shrouded Matuska's life with great precision, from the discovery of his technical expertise and fascinations in childhood to his World War I experience, and consequent development of a sinister inclination towards train derailments and explosions.

Sarian takes listeners along an investigative journey as she probes Matuska's actions, painting a vivid picture of a man fascinated with devastation. Navigating through multiple complex turns in Matuska's life, the meticulously conducted episode also includes discussions about symphorophilia, legal perspectives, and the mystery surrounding his revenue. This intricate study presented with Sarian's unique touch of humor, offers a compelling insight into a perplexing psychological condition and a life marked by derailments - literal and metaphorical alike.

Dive into the intriguing parallels between history and current events with Rachel Maddow in the thought-provoking podcast "Rachel Maddow Presents: Déjà News." In the inaugural foray titled "Riot at the Gates (Again)," Maddow, alongside renowned guests like Yale professor Alice Kaplan and journalist Jonathan Katz, navigates a captivating analysis of the tumultuous 1934 fascist coup attempt in France and its chilling resemblance to the January 6 Capitol riot in the United States. Through their rich dialogues, they explore the perils that such political events pose to the very core of democratic institutions and the echoes of this threat reverberating through time.

This episode stands not only as a profound examination of the past but also serves as a stark reminder of democracy's ongoing battles. With articulate contributions from guests like Joe Scarborough and Isaac-Davy Aronson, the discussion delves into the importance of confronting and understanding historical events to fortify democratic principles in contemporary times. They highlight how movements like France's Popular Front and FDR's New Deal offer historical lessons in uniting against fascism—lessons that resonate powerfully in the predicaments facing leaders and citizens today. Join Maddow and her guests as they evoke the importance of historical insight in the quest to cultivate and maintain democratic resilience in an ever-changing political landscape.

In The Madness of Crowds, Douglas Murray argues that Western society is consumed by an ideology that’s obsessed with social justice and identity politics. This ideology insists that certain groups (notably women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals) endure widespread prejudice and oppression, and that they should therefore receive sensitivity, accommodations, and apologetic behavior from the social majority. Murray believes this ideology is hard to challenge without suffering public ridicule and shaming.

Ultimately, Murray argues that we need to combat this ideology, restore constructive opportunities for civic disagreement, and depoliticize our personal identities. Otherwise, our society could become even more fragmented and chaotic, and conceivably violent.

In this guide, we’ll examine the development of this harmful ideology, its effects, and its internal contradictions. We’ll also explore ways to detoxify society and reduce the influence of this ideology. In our commentary, we’ll compare Murray’s ideas to those in other books that discuss wokeism, intersectionality, and identity politics, such as The Coddling of the American Mind and American Marxism.