Episodes

  • 46: The Martyr Machine: Charlie Kirk and the Politics of Stochastic Terrorism

    46: The Martyr Machine: Charlie Kirk and the Politics of Stochastic Terrorism
    Sep 16 2025

    On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on stage at Utah Valley University. The media asked, “How did we get here?” But the truth is—we already know.

    In this special episode of The In Between, host Mel Barrett, breaks the mold of the series to trace the long road that led to Kirk’s assassination: Donald Trump’s decades of violent rhetoric, the rise of Nick Fuentes and the Groypers, Kirk’s own pivot into conspiratorial territory with the Epstein files, and the online ecosystems where memes become manifestos.

    We’ll look at the shooter, Tyler Robinson, his bullet casings engraved with anti-fascist slogans and internet jokes, and the instant wave of conspiracy theories—about security guards, hand signals, and martyrdom—that followed. We’ll also confront the political aftermath, where Republican lawmakers blamed Democrats instead of guns, and where stochastic terrorism—the unpredictable violence seeded by years of hateful rhetoric—became undeniable.

    This isn’t just the story of one man’s death. It’s the story of how rhetoric turns to blood, how violence is normalized, and how a democracy erodes when cruelty becomes identity.

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    32 mins
  • 45: Tying It All Together: The Ellen Greenberg Case Part Two

    45: Tying It All Together: The Ellen Greenberg Case Part Two
    Sep 9 2025
    This week on The In Between Podcast, host Mel Barrett, revisits the aftermath of the night Ellen Greenberg was found with twenty stab wounds in her Philadelphia apartment—and the instant clash between an autopsy that pointed to homicide and a police narrative that leaned suicide. Through the “locked room” lens, Mel unpacks what the door latch could (and couldn’t) prove, why the body’s injuries don’t match a self-inflicted story, and how a professionally cleaned scene and pre-warrant removal of electronics crippled the forensics.

    Along the way, she draws clear parallels to Sandra Birchmore, Karen Read...and ultimately Veronika Rodriguez where tidy explanations outpaced the evidence.

    The episode centers the politics of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's highest echelon of power and decision-making.

    As friends, family, and community activists ask why Governor Josh Shapiro isn't getting involved in the Veronika Rodriguez case, Ellen Greenberg's case might give us some insight.

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    15 mins
  • 44: Tying It All Together: The Ellen Greenberg Case

    44: Tying It All Together: The Ellen Greenberg Case
    Sep 3 2025
    This week on The In Between Podcast, host Mel Barrett, revisits the night Ellen Greenberg was found with twenty stab wounds in her Philadelphia apartment—and the instant clash between an autopsy that pointed to homicide and a police narrative that leaned suicide. Through the “locked room” lens, Mel unpacks what the door latch could (and couldn’t) prove, why the body’s injuries don’t match a self-inflicted story, and how a professionally cleaned scene and pre-warrant removal of electronics crippled the forensics.

    Along the way, she draws clear parallels to Sandra Birchmore, Karen Read...and ultimately Veronika Rodriguez where tidy explanations outpaced the evidence.

    The episode centers the Greenberg family’s relentless push to correct the record and foreshadows the seismic moment years later when the original pathologist reverses himself. It’s a primer on how certainty can harden too fast—and how families are forced to pry it loose.

    As friends, family, and community activists ask why Governor Josh Shapiro isn't getting involved in the Veronika Rodriguez case, Ellen Greenberg's case might give us some insight.


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    26 mins
  • 43: From Victim to Accused: The Veronika Rodriguez Story - The Sentence

    43: From Victim to Accused: The Veronika Rodriguez Story - The Sentence
    Aug 27 2025
    In the final (for now) installment of From Victim to Accused, host Mel Barrett travels to Lebanon County Pennsylvania for Veronika Rodriguez' sentencing hearing. This is an in-depth discussion of what happened then and what's to come with fellow podcaster, Ellyn Marsh of the I Think Not! Podcast.

    The family is raising money for an appeal. If you feel so inclined, donate here:     https://www.gofundme.com/f/veronikas-voice

    Back story: Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

    Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

    Join the club for AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content of The In Between Podcast: https://patreon.com/TheInBetweenPodcastwithMelBarrett?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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    Check out our friend, Ellyn Marsh's hit podcast, I THINK NOT! here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-think-not/id1513154358
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    55 mins
  • 42: From Victim to Accused: The Veronika Rodriguez Story part five - Pier Hess Graf

    42: From Victim to Accused: The Veronika Rodriguez Story part five - Pier Hess Graf
    Aug 19 2025
    In Episode five, host Mel Barrett, goes on a deep dive into the prosecutor in Veronika's case: Pier Hess Graf

    Pier Hess Graf didn’t just prosecute the alleged victim in this case, she went hard at Veronika Rodriguez, asking for up to 16 years in prison for reporting her own sexual assault. I wonder where that kind of resentment and unrelenting spite comes from. Did getting accused of sleeping her way into the DA’s office create internalized misogyny in Pier Hess Graf? Why has she never brought a sexual assault case before Veronika’s? Is her ambition to fit into the boy’s club so great that she hates women because of it?

    Pier Hess Graf will be remembered as a DA who inspired fierce loyalty and fierce opposition. You can respect her relentlessness in court and still demand she follow ethics. You can back law enforcement and still expect independence. You can acknowledge false accusations exist–though in my opinion, not in Veronika’s case–and you can still refuse to build a system that punishes reporting itself.

    Those aren’t contradictions. They’re the bare minimum for a justice system worthy of the word justice.

    Please share. Veronika's sentencing happens on August 20, 2025 so sharing this episode helps get the word out about what really happened in her case.

    Back story: Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

    Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

    Join the club for AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content of The In Between Podcast: https://patreon.com/TheInBetweenPodcastwithMelBarrett?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

    Follow The In Between Podcast at:
    IG: @TheInBetweenPodOfficial
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    Web: inbetweenpod.com
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    30 mins
  • 41: From Victim to Accused: The Veronika Rodriguez Story Part Four - Fahad Pervez

    41: From Victim to Accused: The Veronika Rodriguez Story Part Four - Fahad Pervez
    Aug 13 2025
    In this episode of The In Between Podcast, Mel spends an hour discussing the alleged assault of Veronika Rodriguez with the man she accused...Fahad Pervez

    Please share. Veronika's sentencing happens on August 20, 2025 so sharing this episode helps get the word out about what really happened in her case.

    Back story: Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

    Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

    Join the club for AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content of The In Between Podcast: https://patreon.com/TheInBetweenPodcastwithMelBarrett?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

    Follow The In Between Podcast at:
    IG: @TheInBetweenPodOfficial
    FB: @TheInBetweenPod
    Bluesky: @inbetweenpod

    Web: inbetweenpod.com
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • 40: From Victim to Accused: The Veronika Rodriguez Story Part Three - Investigating the Investigators

    40: From Victim to Accused: The Veronika Rodriguez Story Part Three - Investigating the Investigators
    Aug 5 2025
    In this episode of The In Between Podcast, Mel goes on a deep dive into the investigation and even manages to score an interview with an elusive guest.

    Please share. Veronika's sentencing happens on August 20, 2025 so sharing this episode helps get the word out about what really happened in her case.

    Back story: Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

    Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

    Join the club for AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content of The In Between Podcast: https://patreon.com/TheInBetweenPodcastwithMelBarrett?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

    Follow The In Between Podcast at:
    IG: @TheInBetweenPodOfficial
    FB: @TheInBetweenPod
    Bluesky: @inbetweenpod

    Web: inbetweenpod.com
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    43 mins
  • 39: DARK WEEK: Revisiting Live Free or Die: The Pamela Smart Story

    39: DARK WEEK: Revisiting Live Free or Die: The Pamela Smart Story
    Jul 30 2025
    This is a dark week for TIBP, as Mel is currently investigating the Veronika Rodriguez case which is very much a living, breathing story. A new episode about Veronika’s story will air next tuesday, August 5, 2025.

    Season One of TIBP, which re-investigates the Pamela Smart case, didn’t just revisit a high-profile trial—Mel's reporting uncovered new evidence, new witnesses, major discrepancies between the wiretaps and transcripts, and a constitutional violation during trial when Pamela’s own defense told the jury she was guilty—without her consent. A new habeas petition is in the works, her first real shot at a new trial in 35 years. Mel also found a juror who admitted to convicting based on a false media report—and a witness who can testify to that. This is no longer just a podcast—it’s become a story with legal traction, so for those of you who haven’t listened to season one, Mel wanted to drop the first episode–Live Free or Die–here while you await the concluding weeks of Veronika’s story.

    And if you’re looking for ad-free bonus content, don’t forget to subscribe to the TBIP club at the researcher level to gain more access to content, behind-the-scenes looks at cases, and lives with special guests.

    Your support keeps this train on the tracks and we couldn’t do it with out you. So please hit the subscribe button, rate, and review to keep us moving.

    And now…Season One, episode one of the In between podcast: Live Free or Die, the Pamela Smart story.

    Join the club for AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content of The In Between Podcast: https://patreon.com/TheInBetweenPodcastwithMelBarrett?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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    28 mins