Meet the Frankes | 1

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a poignant story about a man named Eddie’s journey after death. In heaven, he meets five people who teach him about the meaning and value of his own life. Through their stories and lessons, Eddie learns about connection, forgiveness, sacrifice, and love.

Through this book, you’ll have the chance to imagine your own life’s purpose and the lives you’ve touched along the way. The author is Mitch Albom, best-selling author of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto.

Dive into "Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus," where this episode finds Julia chatting with the delightful Rhea Perlman. The iconic duo shares laugh-filled narratives tracing back to their acting beginnings—Julia in an impromptu neighborhood troupe and Rhea comically breaking norms in a school talent show. They also delve into the intertwining paths of motherhood and acting, discussing the changing tides of on-set accommodations for new parents and how they balanced the demands of an acting career with the joys of parenthood.

Embark on a journey through cherished milestones and the art of embracing life's transitions with these exceptional women. Listen as they tackle topics from fitness evolutions and self-image, to navigating grandparenthood and adjusting to life's farewells. Judith Bowles, Julia's mother, adds to the tapestry of wisdom with reflections on mindful living. Between heartfelt discussions, Julia sprinkles in fun endorsements and exciting film promotions, inviting audience interaction that makes "Wiser Than Me" an invaluable treasure of intergenerational dialogue and laughter.

The Glass Castle is the harrowing tale of Jeannette Wall’s life growing up in poverty with wayward parents. Jeannette and her siblings were often left to fend for themselves as their parents engaged in alcoholic binges or flights of fancy. The siblings ultimately resented their parents’ neglect and became independent, moving far away.

Following the Walls family through the desert to the coal-mining region of West Virginia to the fast-paced life of New York City, this memoir explores the nature of family, loyalty, and tragedy and what it takes to survive together and apart.

Media are rife with haunting stories of true crime, but some accounts are more chilling than others—particularly those that involve torture and murder. In If You Tell, Gregg Olsen recounts the story of notorious abuser and murderer Shelly Knotek, who, along with her husband Dave, abused and tortured their daughters, nephew, and two boarders—resulting in three deaths. Olsen is a best-selling true crime author and novelist who was asked to write this story by the Knotek daughters themselves.

In our guide, we'll discuss the ways in which Shelly abused her victims along with Dave’s help. We’ll also look specifically at how she lured two friends to become boarders at her home and then killed them, and we’ll look at the events leading up to Shelly and Dave’s arrests and convictions. Additionally, we’ll add information about the psychology of abuse and psychopathy, compare it to similar stories of child abuse, and add context about the legal system and its responsibilities in cases like these.

All the alarming statistics about child abuse and neglect—millions of cases reported each year, killing nearly five children each day—don’t begin to illustrate how victims experience abuse. In A Child Called 'It', author Dave Pelzer provides a rare and grisly glimpse into his experience of severe physical and psychological abuse at his mother’s hands.

In one of the worst child abuse cases reported in California’s history at the time, Pelzer was starved, burned on the stove, regularly locked in the bathroom with a noxious mixture of ammonia and Clorox, and forbidden from speaking to or looking at any of his family members. Through it all, Pelzer maintained an indomitable will to survive that’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit even under the bleakest circumstances.

In the latest episode of PBD Podcast, host Patrick Bet-David sits down with a panel of sharp minds, including conservative firebrand Candace Owens, to dissect a myriad of hot-button issues shaping the political and cultural fabric of America. Owens, alongside Adam Sosnick, Vincent Oshana, and Tom Ellsworth, brings a critical eye to the state of the nation, tackling topics from the decline of U.S. education to the controversial export of American cultural norms. The outspoken commentator delves into her transformation from political disengagement to becoming a powerful conservative voice, sparked by the direct appeals of Donald Trump's campaign and her consternation with the current educational pathways leading to exorbitant debt without real-world efficacy.

The conversation further explores the dynamics of cultural vs. political influence, delves into the changing conservative paradigms within the African American community, and candidly navigates the intersection of public personas and digital privacy. Owens doesn't shy away from contentious subjects, critiquing gender identity politics, questioning the validity of the mainstream feminist movement, and debating the role of media in glamorizing criminality while fostering anti-police sentiments. Meanwhile, the panel discusses the emerging prominence of independent media, especially in political discourse, ponders the effects of artificial intelligence on human interaction, and entertains the educational value of case studies over theoretical learnings. Emphasizing her advocacy work through documentary film and addressing various conspiracy theories, Owens rounds off with reflections on her upcoming journey into motherhood.

Dive into the heart of the juvenile justice system with The Daily's meticulous examination of a seemingly minor incident that escalates into a county-wide scandal in Rutherford County. Journalists Sabrina Tavernise, Meribah Knight, and their team eloquently unravel how a children's basketball game leads to arrests and a far-reaching investigation into the legal system's inadequacies. The podcast, a collaborative effort between Serial Productions, The New York Times, ProPublica, and Nashville Public Radio, probes at the questionable use of a law enforcing collective responsibility—a statute that is markedly absent from the legal books.

"The Kids of Rutherford County" not only scrutinizes law enforcement procedures and systemic biases but also humanizes the narrative by exploring the emotional turmoil of those caught in the fray. Through the perspectives of Principal Tammy Garrett, Officer Chris Williams, and the affected children, including the heart-wrenching ordeal of young Imariye, the podcast challenges listeners to confront the unsettling realities of juvenile detention and discrimination. With incisive reporting that sparks decisive community and media reactions, The Daily's episode stands as a catalyst for discussion and demands for reform in juvenile justice practices.

Delve into the shadows of power and secrecy on the Shawn Ryan Show, where Shawn Ryan and investigative journalist Nick Bryant unravel the sinister threads of Jeffrey Epstein's network and the egregious world of child trafficking. In this gripping exchange, the two truth-seekers embark on an unwavering quest to expose the uncomfortable realities that mainstream media often shuns, pointing to external pressures that may shape news coverage. With a focus that transcends individual scandals, Ryan and Bryant’s conversation serves as a beacon of integrity in investigative journalism.

Nick Bryant's relentless pursuit of hidden stories showcases the effort and challenges faced by journalists grappling with society's dark facets. By recounting the harrowing journey from the Finders cult to the Franklin scandal, Bryant's narrative exemplifies the systemic failures and governmental complicity that enable such heinous activities to persist. Offering insights into his personal trials and the broader implications of high-level corruption, this episode of the Shawn Ryan Show is a testament to the enduring struggle for justice and the unwavering power of persistent advocacy.