Run, Bambi, Run
Laurie Bembenek was a Milwaukee police officer and Playboy Club bunny before being arrested for the murder of her husband’s ex-wife, a crime she insisted she did not commit. Nicknamed “Bambi Bembenek,” she became a tabloid fixation, a feminist cause célèbre and, after she escaped from prison, an American folk hero, though she was never exonerated. Journalist and Campside Media co-founder Vanessa Grigoriadis takes a fresh look at the case Diane Sawyer called the "most glamorous murder case of the 1980s.” New episodes out every Monday. Run Bambi Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts. https://apple.co/RunBambiRun
Episodes
It’s 1979 and a 21-year-old named Laurie Bembenek has signed up for the Milwaukee police academy, joining the first wave of female patrol officers in America. She’s able to quickly adjust to the job and the sexist treatment by her superiors, but her troubles are just beginning.
Run Bambi Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
Convicted of the murder of her husband’s ex-wife, Laurie Bembenek escaped Wisconsin’s only womens’ prison in 1990. A nationwide manhunt ensued, but the truth about whether Laurie was guilty of the crime has never been revealed.
Run Bambi Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
Laurie proudly graduates from the police academy and becomes one of Milwaukee’s first female officers. But her career as a cop is short-lived. While navigating what she believes to be discrimination due to her gender, she becomes a target of her superiors.
Run Bambi Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
After being unceremoniously fired from the police department, Laurie fights to get her job back. But tackling the sexism embedded within the department has far-reaching consequences.
Run Bambi Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media.
Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
The shocking murder of Christine Schultz, a mother of two, leads police to focus on a small circle of suspects. Laurie’s refusal to take a polygraph test turns out to be a critical misstep.
Run Bambi Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
Laurie is tried for murder in the first gavel-to-gavel televised trial in the state of Wisconsin. As Laurie’s physical appearance and wardrobe choices are held against her, a surprise witness steps forward with potentially damning testimony.
Run Bambi Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
Sentenced to life for a murder she maintains she did not commit, Laurie begins digging into the police investigation. She also has her eye on a handsome man she meets in prison.
Run Bambi Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
Desperate for even one night of freedom, Laurie and the man she loves make a daring escape across the border to Canada under stolen names. As authorities hunt for her, the American public roots for her to stay free.
Run Bambi Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
In this episode, we examine Laurie’s fraught relationship with the media, her tragic fall, and the struggle to build a life with a felony on her record. What might justice look like for Laurie?
Run, Bambi, Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
We speak to Penny Harrington, the first female police chief of a major American city, about fighting her way through the ranks.
Run, Bambi, Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
What does the fight for gender equality within the American police force look like today? We talk to two experts about current strategies for police reform.
Run, Bambi, Run is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Campside Media. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.
https://apple.co/RunBambiRun
Popular Podcasts
How do the smartest marketers and business entrepreneurs cut through the noise? And how do they manage to do it again and again? It's a combination of math—the strategy and analytics—and magic, the creative spark. Join iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman as he analyzes the Math and Magic of marketing—sitting down with today's most gifted disruptors and compelling storytellers.
CBS Sports’ official college basketball podcast is the most entertaining and informative of its kind. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander bring the sport into your ears at least three times per week with commentary, reporting, insider information and statistical analysis throughout college basketball all year long.
The Questlove Show builds on the award-winning Questlove Supreme podcast, bringing listeners into intimate, one-on-one conversations with peers, influences, and friends. Hosted by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, each episode uncovers the unexpected — from morning rituals and hidden talents to the art and experiences that shaped a guest’s journey. Sometimes playful, sometimes profound, always curious, QLS offers rare insight into leaders in music, film, television, comedy, literature, mental health, and beyond. It’s a fresh, unpredictable spin from a trusted source — a place where randomness is encouraged, tangents are welcomed, and conversations are anything but ordinary.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Dan Bongino Show delivers no-nonsense analysis of the day’s most important political and cultural stories. Hosted by the former Deputy Director of the FBI, former Secret Service agent, NYPD officer, and bestselling author Dan Bongino, the show cuts through media spin with facts, accountability, and unapologetic conviction. Whether it’s exposing government overreach, defending constitutional freedoms, or connecting the dots the mainstream media ignores, The Dan Bongino Show provides in-depth analysis of the issues shaping America today. Each episode features sharp commentary, deep dives into breaking news, and behind-the-scenes insight you won’t hear anywhere else. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dan-bongino-show/id965293227?mt=2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sftHO603JaFqpuQBEZReL?si=PBlx46DyS5KxCuCXMOrQvw Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/bongino?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v4_sa_o