The mics are hot and the pace is real: We sit down with our SGA president and senior class president to unpack a semester that never touched the brakes. From a raucous district championship turnout to a weekly video series that became appointment viewing, they share how school spirit turned into a campus movement—and why that energy matters when you’re trying to lead, learn, and lift others.
We get into the record-breaking Harvest Food Drive that pushed past 50,000 pounds for local food banks, the friendly rivalry that fueled it, and the teamwork that made it happen. The conversation moves from pep rallies to production as the guys detail how the morning announcement videos evolved from simple updates to a creative engine, culminating in a new student-led podcast and internships with our marketing team. It’s a candid look at student agency, media skills, and the power of inviting more voices to the table.
Then we pivot to formation. Senior service takes center stage with concrete plans at L’Arche Heartland and Operation Breakthrough, shaped by years of listening to returning classmates describe life-changing placements. We also talk finals without the fluff: how to study smarter, why the Student Success Center’s peer tutoring works, and where AI can help diagnose weak spots without replacing human guidance. The holidays are around the corner, and the gratitude is palpable—teachers who show up, classmates who buy in, and a community that says yes when it counts.
If you care about student leadership, Jesuit education, and real-world learning in Kansas City, you’ll find practical ideas and honest reflection here. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a finals boost, and leave a quick review to help more families discover Rock Talk.
Episode Transcript
Welcome to Rock Talk, the official podcast of
Rockers High School, KansasCity, Missouri, where we explore
the voices, values, and vibrantlife of our Jesuit college prep
community.
Hosted by the admissions andmarketing team, each episode
features conversations withstudents, faculty, alumni, and
special guests as we sharestories of academic excellence,
faith formation, brotherhood,and service.
(01:20):
Whether you're a prospectivefamily, a proud alumnus, or
simply curious about what makesRock Rush unique, this is your
inside look at life at the Rock.
Well, guys, we're excited to beback in the normal rhythm of
things after a brief break.
Both Steve and I are superexcited because over the next
couple of weeks, we are going tohave some very special episodes
(01:42):
with our current students askind of treats for the holiday
season.
And we figured to kick thingsoff, we had to bring back our
most listened to guests so faron this podcast, our brave
leaders of the SGA, our currentSGA president and our current
senior class president, back tokind of take us through this
first semester and kind of somethings they're excited about.
(02:05):
So, boys, why don't we start outby having you once again
introduce yourself to ourlisteners?
SPEAKER_02 (02:09):
Yeah, well, thank you for having me.
My name is Brendan Orpals.
I'm the SGA student bodypresident, among other things,
and I'm very excited to be backon the air.
SPEAKER_03 (02:18):
Yeah, Brendan, me too.
I'm Jack McShane.
I'm the president of the seniorclass and really excited to get
back here.
SPEAKER_01 (02:24):
Yeah.
Well, guys, we are thankful tohave you back, as Beth said.
And I know the listeners arebecause you guys were the
reigning undisputed heavyweightmost listened to episode that we
have so far at over 250downloads.
So glad to have you back.
(02:45):
And this is exciting because,you know, we were thinking, Beth
and I, we're sitting here andwe're going through a busy
admission season.
And so this is refreshing for usto take a break from processing
paperwork, but also just havinga thought about this is you
guys' first last semester.
(03:06):
Or last semester.
Is that a semester?
Yeah, there you go.
Yeah.
Time flies.
Wanted to check in with you boysand see how how you've been
doing, man.
How's the semester been?
SPEAKER_02 (03:16):
Yeah.
No, it's been, I will, I willsay the one way to describe the
semester is it it's been so funthat after we get over this
crazy fun thing, I'm like, okay,finally we'll get a break.
There is no break.
We just jump straight into thenext thing.
It's been really fun.
I think from pep rallies tofootball games to the morning
videos on Wednesdays to harvestfood drive, the record-breaking
(03:37):
harvest food drive.
I was crazy.
No, it's been it's been fun.
I bet Jack can even agree withme on that.
SPEAKER_03 (03:44):
Yeah, it's definitely been uh all gas, no
breaks.
You know, we've been havingthings pop up every week,
different problems we need tosolve.
So the break will be a nice uhbreath of fresh air, just kind
of decompressed from all that.
But yeah, I'm really proud andhappy with how everything's gone
this semester.
I feel like we've done a lot ofgreat things, and so we're
excited to get back nextsemester and continue doing
that.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (04:03):
So speaking of harvest food drive and your
record breaking, can you sharewith our listeners what how much
you guys raised for local foodbanks during pretty crucial time
for food banks in our area?
Can you let us know that big,big record-breaking number?
SPEAKER_02 (04:17):
Yes.
So I'll start off with lastyear.
This is I think the sixth yearHarvest Food Drive.
So it's a pretty relatively newthing, but we compete against
all the other uh 23 other Jesuitschools in the country to bring
in the most pounds of cans.
And last year was arecord-breaking year of 41,000
pounds, with the senior classgetting 21,000 pounds.
And so that was the record forthat, for a class total and a
(04:39):
school total.
And we just demolished that thisyear.
We had, I think, 23,000, 24,000as a senior class, and then as a
school, we hit 49,000, but canskept coming in, so we hit 50.
SPEAKER_03 (04:52):
We hit 50,000 pounds of cans, which is crazy.
Yeah, all of uh last year afterthe that record breaking number,
the senior class in the gradeabove us, they were talking a
lot of trash saying, you know,we were never gonna touch it.
And even in the summer, as wewere leading up into the fall,
uh, couple guys were saying,Yeah, you guys aren't touching
41.
And then after we uh broke therecord, of course, I had to let
them know that we chatted.
SPEAKER_00 (05:14):
I I did see a very grace, gracious message though,
from our former student bodypresident Luke Keithler on the
Instagram.
So he may have been sending youmessages behind the scenes, but
it seemed like he was a graciousloser and and super excited for
you guys breaking that record.
SPEAKER_03 (05:29):
It's all in good spirit.
Yeah, they they know what it'sall about.
Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (05:33):
That's cool, man.
And I uh well one, because youknow, going on the tours and
talking to different folks for awhile, I'm glad because you
know, for a while I would belike, yeah, they they just got
just under 50,000.
So it's I'll I'll adjust nowanytime that comes up that we're
we're over 50.
So what other highlights, guys?
I mean, you guys are both, I seeyou running around all the time
(05:54):
doing something.
You got your hand in a lot ofstuff, Brendan.
Jack, I know you're super busy.
What other highlights you knowhave you been, you know, excited
or do you have uh for this firstsemester?
SPEAKER_03 (06:06):
I think one of the biggest highlights that was one
of our goals coming into thisyear was school spirit.
SPEAKER_01 (06:11):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (06:11):
You know, I think we I think the Platte County game
district championship was agreat example of that.
We had a lot of guys show out,even though it's an hour away.
And I was really happy to seethat, being a Yellow leader,
yeah, seeing that I kind of drawpeople to come to games because
they know that it's gonna be agood, uh, good experience, good
environment.
That made me really happy.
And then also I think me andBrendan both agree, the morning
(06:33):
videos has been probably thebiggest highlight we've had this
year.
The Friday morning announcementvideos, that's been my favorite
thing that I've done at Rockersso far.
I used to always say withstudent government, but that's
taken the prize.
Me and uh Michael Lassolo havebeen hosting those, and as a
result of that, I know I'm happyto say that we were invited to
do an internship with themarketing team.
Yeah, for sure.
So uh we're excited about it.
(06:54):
We're gonna be getting the firstever student-led Rockers
podcast.
So that's probably been hearingthat news was probably the
highlight of my semester so far.
SPEAKER_00 (07:02):
We're super pumped too to just see what both you
and Michael bring to the table.
Your morning videos are classicfor sure.
And so that's for our ourcurrent listeners that will
launch in January, and we'resuper pumped about it.
And so you'll have to follow ourstudent-led podcast.
SPEAKER_02 (07:19):
For sure.
Just touching back on thosemorning videos.
When we first came up with theidea of those, we thought we
were just gonna have like twodifferent hosts every week, you
know, just telling the news.
What it turned into wassomething way more than what we
could have ever expected.
Because originally it was like,hey, we we start with two guests
or hosts, and then when we gotto Jack and Michael like a
quick, we can't just we can'tjust take two new guests.
(07:41):
We had to get two new, we justhad to keep going within the and
from there though, I mean, justthe chemistry and just the what
we came up with from that.
I mean, it's just I will say thehighlight of my week is
Wednesday after schools.
The funniest things aren't evenon camera.
We're releasing a blooper reelafter this final video for the
semester, and I'm just soexcited to just watch that.
SPEAKER_01 (08:02):
Are you guys doing them next semester?
Or is it okay?
Oh, yeah, we're back.
SPEAKER_03 (08:05):
We'll have uh we'll have a group of juniors take
over while we're gone on seniorservice, but then we're getting
right back into it.
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (08:11):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (08:11):
Cool.
SPEAKER_00 (08:12):
And I know, Brendan, I always joke with your parents
that the only place you can gofrom here is to being president
of the United States.
Because for those who don't knowBrendan, he is when Mr.
Redmond says he's involved ineverything, he's involved in
everything, whether that's SGAstudent like school spirit
related, but also producingvideos not just for SGA, but
(08:34):
also for the emissions andmarketing team.
So, Brendan, are you going tostart drinking Mountain Dew like
Mr.
Winkler?
Or how are you gonna continue torun at this speed next semester?
SPEAKER_02 (08:46):
You know, that's a great question because I'm
finishing filming my finalRockhurst film after school
today for my murder mystery filmwe're making.
And I I don't know.
I'm just at rest is important.
I'm gonna have to learn to sleepa little more.
I can't just stay up and dowork.
I will be drinking lots of Dr.
Pepper.
Let's just say that.
SPEAKER_00 (09:04):
That's that's that's my preferred caffeine as well.
SPEAKER_02 (09:06):
I agree.
Yeah, I am trying to yeah, Iknow.
I'm trying to stop it, but it'sit's just you know, it's so
good.
But no, I don't know.
I I've got a lot of good plans,but honestly, next semester is
the big semester for we come inhot with the Shawnee Mission
East game, which will be held atthe municipal auditorium.
SPEAKER_00 (09:23):
Oh, that's exciting.
I did not know that.
That's great.
SPEAKER_02 (09:25):
It's gonna be announced on our morning podcast
or morning news tomorrow morningofficially, but it will be at
municipal auditorium and thenthe chick flag contest, and then
mission week being the weekright after.
So once we kind of get throughthat big push, literally the
first two weeks the seniors areback from senior service, my job
is gonna be trying to pass thetorch on.
SPEAKER_00 (09:42):
So that's also a great note that you guys are
getting ready to head into whatI think is kind of the
quintessential capstone of theRockers experience, which is
senior service.
So why don't you guys tell us alittle bit about what you guys
are gonna be doing for seniorservice, what you're pumped
about, et cetera?
SPEAKER_03 (10:00):
Uh so I'm going to a place called Large Heartland,
and it is a place kind of acenter for adults with
disabilities.
Okay.
And so kind of myresponsibilities are gonna be
really just hanging out andbeing a friend.
We're gonna go in the morningshift and we kind of go to the
houses where the residents stay,and we kind of get them ready
for the day, and then we go andwe just kind of spend time with
(10:22):
them.
They explain it to whetherthat's playing Mario Kart or
just eating lunch with them,which I'm really excited about
because I think that's gonna bepretty fun.
I feel like I'm pretty drawn tothat, just being a hanging out,
being a friend to some people.
Yeah.
But yeah, I think, like yousaid, it being the kind of big
rockers capstone, that's reallywhat's got me excited about it
(10:44):
because I know so many guys thathave had amazing experiences
doing senior service.
Whether that be doing somethingbig like going on the Guatemala
trip or something small, likestaying here in Kansas City.
So I'm really excited to kind ofhave my own experience of that.
SPEAKER_02 (10:56):
Yeah.
I'm going to OperationBreakthrough downtown, and I'm
so excited.
I'll be in the mornings being inthe classroom with toddlers or
kids aged two to five.
SPEAKER_00 (11:05):
No fun at all.
SPEAKER_02 (11:06):
No fun.
Yeah, exactly.
It'll be really I'm I'm soexcited.
It'll be just an opportunity toget to, you know, just be in the
classroom and get to be withkids who just bring so much
energy and joy.
And then in the afternoon, I'llbe doing projects for Operation
Breakthrough themselves.
So that'll be a really funchance to get to be in a
community that's such a strongcommunity.
Like that's a community thatshows up for each other, funds
(11:27):
like so many differentopportunities for people, and
just brings a bunch of likeenergy to the youth in that
area.
So I'm excited to be a part ofthat.
SPEAKER_00 (11:34):
That's great.
So one of my favorite part ofsenior service projects, besides
going on the trips, which I'vegone to Guatemala, it's awesome,
is hearing the presentationsthat you guys do when you get
back.
So when you guys were sittingthe last, you know, three years
in those presentations, didlistening to those upper
classmen talking about their ownexperiences, did that kind of
inspire you and your choice uhof agency to work with?
SPEAKER_03 (11:59):
Yeah, a little bit.
I remember I've been inpresentations of I missed one
year, my freshman year, I wassick, I remember, but I went
heard a presentation of a boywho went to Holy Cross and then
one of someone that went on theGuatemala trip.
And I just think hearing themactually feel passionate about
helping people made me feellike, okay, I want to do
(12:20):
something where I get tointeract with people.
And so that kind of influencedmy decision to go to Larsh.
Because I was gonna be able tohave that face-to-face contact
with the people that I washelping.
SPEAKER_00 (12:28):
Awesome.
SPEAKER_01 (12:29):
Yeah, cool.
So guys, I hate to be DebbieDowner, but finals are coming
up.
I told these boys out here,folks, that I have very little
sympathy for folks who takefinals because for about ten
years maybe not ten, finals werealways on my birthday.
(12:50):
My birthday's next Tuesday, andeven when I I thought I was
gonna catch a break in collegeand it didn't happen.
But I'm not gonna I'm not gonnapoo-poo on your parade.
What are you guys excited?
You not excited?
How are you feeling about your?
SPEAKER_02 (13:10):
You can help us.
No, yeah, no, finals are I'veonly got three, three or four
finals this year because of myother classes are more
project-based.
So that is a big help this year.
But no, I'm I'm not too worried,which I say now, I'm not gonna
work.
But I'm I'm feeling good.
It's my last, hopefully, timeI'll have to take a final other
than an AP final at Rockers.
But no, I'm feeling pretty good.
(13:31):
I feel like the last few yearswe've been set up to the point
where it's like you'reconstantly in review with your
classes that I I'm feel prettyset up for what's coming next.
Cool.
SPEAKER_03 (13:39):
Okay, yeah, senior year definitely is probably the
lightest workload in terms offinals.
That being said, in terms ofnumber of finals, that being
said, the finals that you dotake are probably some of the
harder ones.
Yep, exactly.
That's so that's kind of anincreased study load, but not
for as many.
So it's kind of a bittersweetfeeling, like Brendan said.
You know, we probably won't,depending on our grades, have to
(14:02):
take many next semester.
Okay.
So that makes it, I'm a prettysentimental person, so I'm like,
oh, these could be my lastfinals.
So I'm thinking about it likethat.
I was too, yeah.
And I'm like, oh, this is likeone of the last like big things,
like a good high schoolexperience.
But it's also I'm also not gonnamiss them.
Like no, exactly.
I'm gonna be glad that they'regone.
SPEAKER_02 (14:20):
It's just like that.
I was thinking this aboutyesterday.
I'm like, oh, you know, lastthem over, take a winner final.
I'm like, well, I don't reallycare.
SPEAKER_00 (14:27):
One thing I will say that I've loved that we've done
this year at Rockers, which isnew with finals, is um for all
three of the freshman curecycles.
So whether they're in smallgroup, they're freshman
presentations with Mr.
Darby or in the Camino class,we're doing different kinds of
finals test taking tips.
So, and their small groups arereally working on setting up
(14:49):
study guides with theupperclassmen that are coming in
to visit and helping them dothat, which I think is great.
And seminar, sorry, it'sseminar, freshman seminar with
Coach Darby.
He's kind of talking throughfinals expectations, some just
general notes about finals ingeneral.
Because for many of these boys,this is the first time they're
ever taking a final exam.
And then Mr.
Baker and I are doing all aboutstudying, right?
(15:11):
So getting the rightenvironment, getting the right
ways and methods of studying fordifferent types of content, and
then having them kind ofpractice those.
So I I think we're setting upour freshmen for success here
with the with a team of ourcounselors, with our
upperclassmen that havevolunteered their time.
What advice do you have tofreshmen going into their first
(15:32):
final season season?
SPEAKER_02 (15:33):
Yeah, well, it's funny that you mentioned those
seminars because I'm the onewho's emceeing those with Ms.
Dorty and uh Mr.
Darby.
So I'll do my last one tomorrowmorning.
But the thing that we tell thefreshmen every uh freshmen every
year is that, you know, you aregonna go in thinking you have
time.
You're gonna go in thinking youknow everything, you don't.
The thing you don't want to dois go in unprepared.
(15:53):
And so the thing that we gottagive them advice for every
single year is okay, go throughyour notes.
Make sure you're giving yourselfthe proper time to study and not
cramming because people thinklike you can't, it's like in any
other test.
It's not any other test.
This is stuff that's not fromthe last month, it's stuff from
the last four.
So the big thing that we alwaystell freshmen is you gotta start
preparing early and you can'tjust try and memorize it all.
(16:14):
You gotta just find ways to giveyourself time to learn each
little concept up up until thefinal so then you can just
review the night before andyou'll be okay the next day.
unknown (16:25):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (16:25):
What about you, Jeff?
SPEAKER_03 (16:26):
I would say don't be afraid to ask questions, whether
that's a teacher or a classmateor someone who's taken the class
before.
That's honestly been the biggesthelp is guys who have already
taken the class.
I say, hey, like what helped youkind of study for it?
And they said, Oh, go throughthese notes, these notes, or he
posts these videos, watch thesevideos.
So that's always a help, justnot being afraid to reach out
for help.
(16:47):
And then also I would say ifyou're gonna try to cram, it's
probably not gonna work verywell.
Nope.
I think the biggest thing thenight before is just try to get
good rest, maybe review a littlebit, try to get as much as you
as much done as you can kind ofin the days leading up, days,
weeks leading up.
So exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (17:04):
So what I'm gonna do a plug for our student success
center because we have a greatresource, free resource on
Rocker's campus that I knowstudents use a lot during
finals, which is our studentsuccess center run by Mrs.
Dorty.
It's on Tuesdays, Wednesdays,and Thursdays right after
school.
No appointment needed, boys, soshow up.
SPEAKER_03 (17:21):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (17:21):
And there's peer tutors, there's faculty from
every department, so you can getthose questions answered.
The other thing that Mr.
Baker and I talked about,because you know we're both tech
tech folk, and we were sayingone of the the great positive
uses of AI that we wish we hadhad when we were in school is
the ability to upload your testsand quizzes from the previous
(17:46):
year.
And AI will identify whereyou're struggling and give you
directions on what you're doingwrong.
And so utilizing that as a studytechnique to kind of narrow down
what you have to study asopposed to trying to study
everything when you don't reallyneed to, and then having some
guidance there.
I still think the human beingsin our student success center
(18:06):
are way better, but it is agreat positive use of technology
to kind of prep for finals.
So that that's my big takeaway.
So for that stats final, you maywant to throw that through AI
and see what it tells you.
SPEAKER_02 (18:17):
Yes, definitely.
It helps me with A Bush.
Help me study for A Bush, yes.
SPEAKER_01 (18:22):
So, gang, here's the cool part about this time of
year.
Uh it's holiday season.
And when we get through ourfinals, whether we are sprinting
through gracefully or strugglingthrough, we get to go into
holida holiday season.
So is there anything that you'relooking forward to?
(18:43):
I know we've already hadThanksgiving.
Thanksgiving's my favoriteholiday, but it's Christmas
season and looking forward,anything you guys are looking,
you know, excited about?
SPEAKER_02 (18:53):
Yeah, I for me, I I love Christmas because it's a
time when there's no otherdistractions going on and you
can just focus about beingtogether as a family.
Because for me, Thanksgivingthis year was just finishing
college applications.
So I wasn't really enjoying myThanksgiving break very much.
But for me in general, Christmasis always that time where you
know you can just be togetherwith your family.
All of my family comes in forChristmas, so I get to have that
(19:16):
time with them and then youknow, going and or ice skating,
which I did the first time lastyear, just doing fun things with
them every year, tryingsomething new is just it's
really that time to just realizewhat's important, and that's
just what's so awesome to meabout Christmas.
SPEAKER_03 (19:33):
Yeah, the biggest thing I'm looking forward to
being the youngest is having mysiblings back in the house
coming back from college.
It's been pretty quiet withoutthem.
SPEAKER_01 (19:40):
So I mean it's just you then.
SPEAKER_03 (19:43):
Yeah, so I'm still pretty loud, but uh but no,
it'll be nice having them back.
My sister's uh way out in NewYork, so I really haven't seen
her.
Yeah, I really haven't seen hersince the uh summer.
So it'll be nice to have herback and then just kind of the
stress-free break of everything.
You know, like we've beensaying, it's been all gas, no
(20:03):
breaks, so finally rest a littlebit, kind of just kind of enjoy
sleep, enjoy not having to do amillion different things every
week.
SPEAKER_01 (20:13):
So cash it in, man.
Yep, enjoy every bit about it.
SPEAKER_00 (20:15):
So I just heard the bell.
So I think a great wrap-upquestion would be with that
mindfulness, and we're in a verythankful season.
Uh, what are you most thankfulfor from Rock Arts this year?
SPEAKER_02 (20:29):
I'm most thankful for all the people that have
come together to help me.
Because being a senior, you'regonna ask for rec letters,
you're gonna ask for people tohelp you out in pep rallies and
all that other kind of stuff.
And the community, and also myfriends and the guys around me,
the people that have cometogether to help me through
anything.
Hey, I need a guy for this peprally video, I need a guy for
this thing, or hey, can youplease write this rec letter for
(20:51):
me?
Or hey, I'm worried about mycollege application, can you
take a look at this?
The amount of people who've cometogether.
For me is just you can't findthat anywhere else.
And I'm so thankful becauseevery time I'm like, I have such
a supportive community around methat would drop what they're
doing on a Sunday night, emailsomething for me, or help me
out, or hey, I'll take care ofthis.
You don't have to worry.
So I'm most grateful for allthose people who have made my
(21:12):
life so much better this yearand have just given me so much
because of it.
So I'm very thankful for all ofthem.
SPEAKER_03 (21:19):
Yeah, I'm just thankful for everybody from
administration, faculty,teachers, students, I would say
especially our senior class forjust buying into everything
we've done this year.
It's been a really, really funyear, and I think a lot of
that's because people areactively, you know, trying to
make it a great year, you know,kind of buying into things.
The morning announcements, we'vegotten so many different guys to
help out with that, and that'sbeen a great success.
Like Brendan said, pep rallyvideos, I think, are the best
(21:42):
they've ever been.
And that's really in strong partto guys who weren't really
getting involved in years past,kind of realizing, you know
what, this is something that Iwant to be a part of, this
community.
So they've really kind of takenthat next step up and kind of
being involved in Rockers.
SPEAKER_01 (21:58):
Cool, cool, cool.
Well, guys, we are thankful foryou being here.
And you know, this is a goodthing.
This is always cool highlight ofour week, of our day, anytime we
get to shoot these.
And it means something specialthis time because of just the
season we've been in pressing tothe break as well.
(22:18):
So we wish you the best, man.
You you guys are a joy to bearound.
You uh bring so much energy andlife to the school.
Um, it's definitely felt forsure.
So wish you the best on yourfinals, wish you a blessed
holiday, a Christmas holiday.
And guys, this is Beth and Stevesigning off.
Another episode of Rock Talk,and we'll talk soon.
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The Burden
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.