This is Reality - The Reality Winner Podcast

This is Reality - The Reality Winner Podcast

How and why did a 25-year-old with a Pikachu bedspread become the #1 terrorist in the United States? In 2017, REALITY WINNER, a highly decorated former Air Force linguist was charged with leaking proof of Russian interference in the 2016 election to the media. Her goal – to help protect Democracy. Reality received the longest sentence ever imposed for unauthorized release of government information - five-years, three-months – for her patriotic efforts. THIS IS REALITY captures the unfolding events of the interrogation, the trial, the imprisonment and the current efforts to pursue clemency with those that were 'in the room' where it all happened. Produced by Dori Berinstein, Sally Horchow, and Rebecca Aparicio. Part of the Broadway Podcast Network. Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info and tickets to the current production.

Episodes

This is Reality- Podcast Teaser

October 18, 2021 • 3 mins
How and why did a 25-year-old with a Pikachu bedspread become the #1 terrorist in the United States? In 2017, REALITY WINNER, a highly decorated former Air Force linguist was charged with leaking proof of Russian interference in the 2016 election to the media. Her goal – to help protect Democracy. Reality received the longest sentence ever imposed for unauthorized release of government information - five-years, three-months – for h...
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#1 - The Interrogation

October 18, 2021 • 29 mins
On June 3, 2017, 11 FBI interrogators surprised Air Force crypto-linguist Reality Leigh Winner at her home in Augusta, Georgia, accusing her of leaking classified information proving Russian Interference in the 2016 election. THIS IS REALITY speaks with Reality Winner's mother Billie Winner-Davis, sister Brittany Winner, lawyer Alison Grinter Allen and Broadway's IS THIS A ROOM Director Tina Satter, to try and make sense of that ha...
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#2 - Who Is Reality?

October 25, 2021 • 20 mins
Who is Reality Winner? This episode introduces us to the young woman with a fondness for CrossFit, rescuing animals and Pikachu collectables who was convicted under the Espionage Act of 1917 for leaking proof of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Reality’s mother, Billie Winner-Davis and sister, Brittany Winner, share their personal stories and explain how Reality’s personality traits and interests were twisted and used aga...
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#3 - See Something, Say Something?

November 3, 2021 • 24 mins
We explore how the effects of a post 9/11 national security state, the Espionage Act of 1917, and the current events of 2017 have all created the perfect storm for Reality Winner to become the most prosecuted leaker of all time.  Reality Winner, was a 25 year old NSA contractor when she was arrested for leaking classified documents detailing Russian interference in the 2016 election. The critically acclaimed Broadway play IS THIS A...
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#4 - What You Don't Know Will Hurt You

November 17, 2021 • 24 mins
Learn how the government was able to use the Espionage Act of 1917 to prosecute Reality. How the U.S. government was able to use Facebook messages, private diary entries and phone conversations against Reality Winner in her bail hearing, ultimately denying her bond.  Featured in this episode are: Billie Winner-Davis and interview footage from Reality’s stepfather Gary Davis (Reality’s stepfather) and Reality’s defense lawyer Titus ...
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#5 - The Government Always Wins

December 2, 2021 • 25 mins
In this episode, we go in depth into the legal challenges that Reality faced while being charged under the Espionage Act with her defense lawyer, Titus Nichols. We go through her bond hearings, appeals, and how the law is structured to always favor the federal government. By speaking through the legal challenges, we see how the cards were stacked against Reality Winner. We will look at how the government can use and bend the laws t...
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#6 - The Hell Hole

January 11, 2022 • 29 mins
Reality’s mother Billie Winner-Davis, her sister Brittany Davis, and activist Wendy Collins discuss experience in prison. While in prison, Reality was held in solitary confinement in an ICE Facility, denied basic human necessities, had to battle COVID twice, and was physically and sexually assaulted. This episode covers how the government’s denial of bail and the horrible conditions of being held at the Lincolnton County jail for ...
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#7 - REALITY'S REALITY (Part 1): Protecting Democracy

February 1, 2022 • 19 mins
In 2017, Reality Winner, a highly decorated former Air Force linguist was arrested by the FBI for leaking proof of Russian interference in the 2016 election to the media. Her goal – to help protect Democracy. Reality received the longest sentence ever imposed for unauthorized release of government information – five-years, three-months.   In the initial six episodes, Hosts Dori Berinstein and Sally Horchow, capture the unfolding ev...
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#8 - REALITY'S REALITY (Part 2): Surviving the System

February 9, 2022 • 29 mins
Reality Winner details her traumatic experiences as a prisoner in Lincolnton, Georgia County Jail…while awaiting her trial for espionage. The inhumane treatment has inspired Reality to fight for Prison Reform.  TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussion of self harming behavior, including suicide and disordered eating.  TO LEARN MORE Press Release from the Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-gover...
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#9 - REALITY'S REALITY (Part 3): Prison Life

February 23, 2022 • 33 mins
Reality Winner details her traumatic experiences as prisoner in Carswell Federal Prison. Reality struggled with bulimia, drug use, and anxiety following months of lockdown and surviving sexual assault. This inhumane treatment has inspired Reality to fight for Prison Reform.  TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussion of self harming behavior, disordered eating, sexual assault, and addiction.  TO LEARN MORE Press Release fr...
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#10 - REALITY'S REALITY (Part 4): Life After Prison

March 18, 2022 • 31 mins
Reality Winner details her experience post-Carswell. Her release to a halfway house, home confinement, and probation. Reality and her mother Billie detail how inhumane experiences in the prison system have affected their lives and how they plan to continue to advocate for prison reform.  TO LEARN MORE Press Release from the Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-government-contractor-georgia-charged-removin...
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#11 - The Fight for Clemency

April 3, 2022 • 29 mins
In this episode, we speak to Reality, her lawyer Alison Grinter, and her mother Billie about Reality’s fight for clemency and pardon. Without a pardon, she will be unable to vote, secure housing, and will continue to face challenges seeking employment.  Sign the petition at https://standwithreality.org/. TO LEARN MORE Press Release from the Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-government-contractor-georgi...
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#12 - Freedom for the Press (Part 1)

May 20, 2022 • 28 mins
Journalists Trevor Timm and Kevin Gosztola explore why Reality’s case highlights a larger conversation about why freedom of the press is essential to democracy. Reality’s lawyer Alison Grinter Allen adds a legal perspective. Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info, to sign Reality's petition for clemency, and to get tickets to any productions of Is This A Room. Trevor Timm is a co-founder and the executive director of Freedom of ...
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#13 - Freedom for the Press (Part 2)

August 6, 2022 • 25 mins
Journalists Trevor Timm and Kevin Gosztola explore why Reality’s case highlights a larger conversation about why freedom of the press is essential to democracy, connecting the dots with Russia’s war on Ukraine. Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info, to sign Reality's petition for clemency, and to get tickets to any productions of Is This A Room. Trevor Timm is a co-founder and the executive director of Freedom of the Press Fou...
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#14 - Mar-a-Lago Mess: Trump's Threat to National Security

November 4, 2022 • 33 mins
Journalists Marcy Wheeler and Joe Conason share their thoughts on the documents seized by the FBI at Mar A Lago and how Trump could potentially face charges under the Espionage Act, the same charge Reality was brought under.  GUEST BIOS  Joe Conason is editor-at-large of Type Investigations. He is also founder and editor-in-chief of The National Memo, a daily newsletter and news site. For 18 years he wrote a weekly political colu...
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#15 - Double Standards: Trump and the Espionage Act

December 22, 2022 • 20 mins
Micah Lee, a computer security engineer who develops technology to protect whistleblowers, gives his unique thoughts in this episode. He shares why he believes whistleblowers are important to our democracy and how the Espionage Act of 1917 reveals the imbalance in the American justice system. MICAH LEE - BIO Micah Lee is First Look Media’s Director of Information Security. He is a computer security engineer and an open-source soft...
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#16 - The Winner Family Reacts to the FBI Raid on Mar-a-Lago

January 12, 2023 • 25 mins
Reality Winner and Billie Winner-Davis, Reality’s mother, react to the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, discuss Reality’s recent petition for clemency and how current events have impacted the family.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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