Review: Ransom Position of Trust
The thing about true crime is that it can be sensational very easily. As I've talked about before, there has been a lot of personal reflection on what podcasts I review that are true crime. I admit to having my own fascination with the genre for my own reasons, but I want to always make sure what I'm promoting here are podcasts that are doing more than just talking about crime.
I had bookmarked this podcast for listen, but pressing play on Ransom Position of Trust (Ransom) came to me via Tink Media's Podcast Marketing Magic, over on Substack. While the point of the post was the pitch, and admitting to not knowing, it got me to listen. So, take that as a "you never know" what will get someone to press play.
Ransom recounts the kidnapping and murder of 12 year old McKay Everett in Texas. Part of the mystery is a whodunnit, and the tone of the podcast is elevated newsroom. There are clever cliffhangers, a compelling mother, and deep storytelling that make this a run of the mill true crime podcast that harkens to Dateline. It's a podcast that is easy to listen as a familiar tone and format. Content wise, this podcast explores death, grief, and capital punishment. It's not comfortable to listen to, but it is compelling. The fact is, ransom kidnappings are somewhat statistically insignificant in the United States. As in, they happen so infrequently that they don't openly keep statistics on them, because they aren't
The depth of coverage is impressive in this podcast. Ransom is not just looking at the crime and its direct effects on the family of the victims. We're looking at the whole picture, for better and for worse. Most compelling about this nine part series is the attempt as much equal and balanced coverage as possible. It's uncomfortable to examine murders and murderers, and the line between sensationalizing and reporting is one that may not actually exist. However, talking to the family of the culprit, and who became friends looking to understand the "why's" for as long as they could, as well as examining the impact of capital punishment are aspects we usually don't see in crime reporting. The story never ends with a conviction, or even your last days on death row. The echoes of these tragedies are tendrils that deserve examination and thoughtful approach from every angle, from beginning to end. Even if it makes us uncomfortable.
While I usually don't listen to many bonus episodes* this podcast's bonus episodes on grief disorders, capital punishment, and more bring a depth of insight for those who want to explore more of the layers piecing together this picture, and what we learn from it.
Humans are awful, terrifying, wonderful, frightening, and fascinating. Listening to Ransom definitely confirmed all of these facts, and more. You can listen for yourself below.
*I have a lot of podcasts I try to listen to, all on 1.0x speed.
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