Dreadful Agenda

There’s a fine line between staying safe and feeling like you’re living in fear. But what if we reframed safety not as paranoia—but as preparedness? Simple habits can empower you, help you feel more confident, and even save your life—all without making you feel like you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. Here are some smart, easy-to-adopt safety habits that won’t make you feel paranoid: 1. Share Your Plans Before you head out, let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to be back. It takes 10 seconds to send a quick text—but if something goes wrong, it can make all the difference. 2. Trust That Inner Twinge If a person, place, or situation makes you feel uneasy—even if you can’t explain why—listen to it. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for protecting your peace or leaving a situation that feels off. 3. Keep Your Phone Charged & Accessible It seems obvious, but having a working phone—especially with emergency contacts and location-sharing turned on—is...

This is another case I remember vividly as it unfolded in real time. It dominated the headlines in the early 2000s, and I can still recall the day the remains of Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner, were found. The heartbreak was overwhelming. Even now, it’s difficult to revisit this case without feeling the weight of that loss. Researching it only deepened that ache. The idea that a husband could be so cold, so calculated, is disturbing on its own. But when you add in the manipulation, the lies, and the betrayal of someone he claimed to love—it’s devastating. Sadly, stories like this are not as rare as we’d hope. Love should never be a mask for control, and trust shouldn’t be a weapon. And yet, even in a case that seems so clear-cut, there are questions that won’t go away. Scott Peterson looks guilty. The evidence seems to support that. But what about the neighbors who said they saw Laci walking the dog? What about the inconsistencies, the loose threads? There’s a feeling that s...

I was in sixth grade when this case unfolded, and I remember it vividly. It dominated the news cycle in a way I’d never seen before—wall-to-wall coverage, breaking updates, and endless speculation. I can still recall sitting in class as our teacher wheeled in the TV so we could watch the verdict being read live. He told us we were witnessing history. Looking back, I think he was right. Even now, decades later, I’m still torn when I revisit this case. The evidence seemed overwhelming. The timeline, the physical evidence, the behavior afterward—it all pointed in one direction. And yet... the verdict went the other way. I’ve always struggled to understand how the jury came to that conclusion. Maybe it’s because I was only twelve at the time, but this case shook something loose in me. It was probably the first time I realized justice doesn’t always win. That there can be more at play in a courtroom than just facts. The phrase “reasonable doubt” was etched into my brain forever—but even ...

Manipulative behavior doesn’t always look like a red flag waving in your face. More often, it’s subtle. It shows up in excuses, guilt trips, compliments with strings attached, or even fake helplessness. Spotting it early is one of the most important tools we have for protecting ourselves—and others—from those who don’t have our best interests at heart. Whether it’s in romantic relationships, friendships, workplaces, or even within families, manipulation is about control . And understanding how that control operates is the first step toward breaking free of it. Below are some common signs of manipulative behavior to watch for: 1. Guilt Trips and Emotional Blackmail Manipulators often use your sense of responsibility or kindness against you. Phrases like, "After all I’ve done for you," or "You’re the only one who can help me" can be ways to trap you into doing something that benefits them, not you. 2. Gaslighting This is when someone makes you doubt your memo...

I can’t say I was ever particularly drawn to this case—at least not in the way I’ve been fascinated by others. The truth is, when you work with true crime, the name Ted Bundy is inescapable. His story is everywhere. If you’re going to talk about notorious serial killers, this is one of the cases you have to know. But knowing it doesn't make it any easier to process. Out of all the crimes I’ve researched over the years, the details of this one are some of the most chilling. There’s a darkness to it that lingers. While I keep the gruesome specifics to a minimum in my content, I do want to issue a warning—if you decide to dig deeper into this case yourself, be prepared. It’s very disturbing. One of the things that struck me most is how often someone gets away with terrible crimes simply because they don’t look the part . Ted Bundy came across as the charming, helpful, all-American “good guy.” That image gave him access, and it gave him cover. Investigators were hesitant to point ...

I’ll never forget the first time I heard the story of H.H. Holmes. It was near Halloween, and my husband and I were off on one of our favorite adventures—exploring winding dirt roads in the mountains. To set the mood, I downloaded a handful of old-time radio shows, the kind once hailed as the most chilling and suspenseful stories of their era. One of them was called “The Murder Castle.” It was terrifying. A hotel designed with trapdoors, hidden hallways, gas chambers—something straight out of a horror movie. But what chilled me more than anything was discovering afterward that the story wasn’t fiction. It was based on the real-life crimes of H.H. Holmes. Since then, I’ve spent more hours than I can count researching the case—and it still haunts me. The deeper I dug, the more I realized just how much myth has become tangled with truth. Holmes’ story has taken on a life of its own over time, making it difficult to separate what really happened from what’s been exaggerated for headlines o...