This Podcast Could Free Her Mother: Maggie Robinson Katz | Hands Tied Podcast is Up+Adam

What happens when true crime gets personal? When the mystery isn’t something you binge in your earbuds, but something you’re suddenly living inside? On this True Crime Tuesday, Adam sits down with award-winning journalist Maggie Robinson Katz, the host of the gripping new podcast Hands Tied, an original series from BBC Studios and iHeartPodcasts.

The show follows Lizz Melgar Rose, whose mother was found bound in a closet and whose father, Jim Melgar, was murdered. The tragedy shocked their Houston community. But it’s what happened after the crime that makes this story unforgettable. With her mother now serving time, Lizz believes the wrong person was convicted. Maggie, known for her deeply human approach to storytelling, takes listeners inside a case where the pursuit of justice is anything but straightforward.

In this conversation, Adam and Maggie dive into the emotional weight of telling someone else’s story, the unique challenge of reporting on an ongoing case, and why Hands Tied goes beyond true crime to become something much more powerful.

• Listen to Hands Tied

• Apple Podcasts

• iHeart Podcasts

• Follow Maggie Robinson Katz

• Instagram: @maggierobinsonkatz

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• Adam will be leading a live workshop on The Art of the Interview at this year’s Central Coast Writers Conference, happening September 26–27, 2025 at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. For details and registration, visit cuesta.edu/writers-conference

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• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
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CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

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ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

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