Through her work as a writer and reporter, Jamiyla brings a fearless and compassionate voice to stories that sit at the intersection of lived experience, social history, and personal truth.

About the Episode

How do we tell the truth about the places and people who shape us?

Drawing on both investigative rigour and emotional honesty, Jamiyla reflects on writing about her own past, confronting difficult truths, and navigating the responsibility of telling stories rooted in real lives and intimate histories.

Memory, Identity, and Narrative

In this episode, Jamiyla Chisholm shares insight into the process of transforming her own and her mother's lived experience into narrative, and how this can become a powerful tool for reckoning, healing, and social reflection.

Our conversation is candid, searching, and deeply moving, challenging how we think about truth not only in writing, but in how we understand ourselves and the communities we come from. One not to be missed.

What We Cover

• The story behind The Community: A Memoir
• Writing memoir through interviews with her mother
• Memory, identity, and contested truths
• Ethical responsibility when telling personal and communal stories
• The intersection of reporting and lived experience
• How storytelling shapes understanding of place and self
• Identifying cult behaviour

Why This Episode Matters

This is more than a conversation about memoir. It is an exploration of how stories help us confront hidden histories, reclaim voice, and examine the narratives that define us.

N. Jamiyla Chisholm offers a profound perspective on truth telling, identity, and the courage it takes to write honestly about the worlds we inhabit.

Purchase books on Amazon

Please note - Footnotes on Crime is an Amazon Affiliate / Associate - Commission is earned on purchases made using these links.

Paperback (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/4bVhx7W

Hardcover (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/4e1ytL9

Audiobook (Amazon – with Audible Subscription) - https://amzn.to/4tmCzCa

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With a career shaped by extraordinary real life encounters, Mike brings a unique perspective on storytelling, truth, and the blurred lines between fact and narrative.

About the Episode

What is truth when it comes to telling real stories?

In this compelling and thought provoking conversation, Mike Finkel reflects on his journey through journalism and authorship, including the real events behind True Story, which was later adapted into a film starring Jonah Hill as Mike himself.

Drawing on his experiences, Mike explores the complexities of writing about real people and real events, and the responsibility that comes with shaping those stories for an audience.

Storytelling, Truth, and Perspective

Mike’s work often sits at the intersection of fact and interpretation. In this episode, he shares insight into how stories are constructed, what gets included or left out, and how perspective can influence what we understand as truth.

What We Cover

• The realities of narrative journalism
• The story behind True Story and its adaptation to film
• Writing about real people and ethical responsibility
• The psychology of storytelling and perception
• How truth can shift depending on perspective
• Lessons from a career shaped by extraordinary cases

Purchase books on Amazon

Please note - Footnotes on Crime is an Amazon Affiliate / Associate - Commission is earned on purchases made using these links.

The Art Thief

Paperback (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/4tp5SUv

Hardcover (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/4toKIpv

Audiobook (Amazon – with Audible Subscription) - https://amzn.to/3PQ67JW

True Story

Paperback (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/4c9lnZK

Hardcover (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/4c8S75k

Audiobook (Amazon – with Audible Subscription) - https://amzn.to/4skjAad

The Stranger in the Woods

Paperback (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/3QkmwX4

Hardcover (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/4sVyFjT

Audiobook (Amazon – with Audible Subscription) - https://amzn.to/3QkO1zO

Visit www.footnotesoncrime.com for more information about the podcast, or to sign up to our newsletter and become one of our Footprints.

Sign up to Audible* - Select 1 audiobook a month and enjoy unlimited podcasts with Audible Standard at £5.99 per month - https://amzn.to/3OewMzA

*Commission paid by Amazon

With a career spanning some of the most complex homicide and serial offender investigations, Jana offers a rare and deeply informed perspective on the realities of criminal profiling and the psychology behind violent crime.

About the Episode

What does it take to understand the mind of a violent offender?

In this compelling conversation, Jana Monroe takes us inside her work with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, where she played a key role in high-profile investigations and helped shape modern approaches to profiling. Drawing on decades of experience, she breaks down the methods, instincts, and psychological frameworks used to analyse some of the most dangerous individuals.

Jana also reflects on the emotional and ethical dimensions of the work, exploring the balance between professional detachment and the human impact of the cases she encountered.

From Real Life to Cultural Icon

Jana Monroe’s influence extends beyond real investigations. She is widely recognised as one of the inspirations behind Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs, and served as a consultant on the film itself.

In this episode, she shares her perspective on how criminal profiling is portrayed in popular culture, what gets misunderstood, and why the reality is often far more complex and nuanced.

What We Cover

• The fundamentals of FBI profiling and behavioural analysis
• Working on homicide and serial offender investigations
• The psychology behind violent crime
• How profiling has evolved over time
• The role of intuition versus evidence
• Media portrayals of crime and their real-world impact

Why This Episode Matters

This is more than a discussion about crime. It is an exploration of human behaviour at its most extreme, and the systems built to understand it.

Jana’s insights offer listeners a deeper appreciation of the complexities behind investigations, while also highlighting the importance of accuracy, responsibility, and empathy in how these stories are told.

Listen Now

🎧 Tune in to hear Jana Monroe’s extraordinary story and expert insights on Footnotes on Crime.

For more information on Jana or the podcast, please visit our website at www.footnotesoncrime.com.

Jana's book, Hearts of Darkness, Serial Killers, the Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI is available to purchase here (Links to Waterstones website*) - https://tidd.ly/4dNCfIf

*Footnotes on Crime are paid a small commission through purchases at Waterstones through the AWIN affiliate programme. Purchasing through these links supports the podcast and allows us to continue to bring amazing guests to you. Thank you!

Her work includes Abducted in Plain Sight, Girl in the Picture, Dead Asleep, and Unknown Caller, each exploring complex real-life criminal cases through interviews, archival material, and investigative storytelling. 

Borgman’s documentaries focus on the human stories behind crimes, examining psychology, media coverage, and the long-term effects on victims and families. 

In this conversation, Skye discusses her journey in true crime storytelling, emphasizing the importance of victim narratives and ethical considerations in filmmaking. 

She shares insights on building trust with participants, the editing process, and the impact of body camera footage.

Skye reflects on her personal growth through her work and the resilience of individuals she has encountered, ultimately highlighting the balance between hope and awareness in the world. 

Visit www.footnotesoncrime.com for more information about the podcast, or to sign up to our newsletter and become one of our Footprints.

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*Commission paid by Amazon

**Commission paid by Riverside FM / Impact

The story attracted international media attention and inspired documentaries and television adaptations. She later wrote a follow-up book exploring the aftermath of the deception and her journey rebuilding her life. 

Mary now speaks and writes about fraud, coercive control, resilience, and the psychological impact of relationship-based crime. 

In this episode, Mary shares her harrowing experience of being deceived by a bigamist and psychopath, exploring the complexities of online dating, the impact of ADHD on relationships, and the healing power of writing.   

Through her journey, she emphasizes the importance of community support, the evolution of language around trauma, and the need for survivors to move forward and celebrate their resilience.

Mary also discusses the publishing landscape, offering insights into self-publishing and the importance of sharing stories to help others. 

Visit www.footnotesoncrime.com for more information, or to sign up to our newsletter.

Mary's Books are available to purchase on Amazon and Waterstones, using the links below .

Purchase books on Amazon

Please note - Footnotes on Crime is an Amazon Affiliate / Associate - Commission is earned on purchases made using these links.

The Bigamist
Paperback - https://amzn.to/4kUryVL
Audiobook - https://amzn.to/4cOxnSq
Kindle edition - https://amzn.to/4aXa6ex

The Psychopath
Paperback - https://amzn.to/4aTMrvo
Hardcover - https://amzn.to/4rOxDW4
Audiobook - https://amzn.to/4tS9jUZ
Kindle Edition - https://amzn.to/4aDXJ8r
Audio CD - https://amzn.to/4aUrHDY

Purchase on Waterstones

(Please note - Footnotes on Crime are affiliates and earn commission on purchases)

The Bigamist - https://tidd.ly/4d5JVFe

The Psychopath - https://tidd.ly/4lNFj90

Sign up to Audible* - Select 1 audiobook a month and enjoy unlimited podcasts with Audible Standard at £5.99 per month - https://amzn.to/3OewMzA

Sign up to Riverside FM** - Riverside is the AI-powered platform that lets you record, edit, repurpose, and distribute studio-quality content as easily as if you had a crew behind you. Sign up today - https://riverside.sjv.io/9VVebW

*Commission paid by Amazon

**Commission paid by Riverside FM / Impact