The Murder Media Podcast

This episode, Stella is joined again by Dr Shellie McMurdo for a chat about how we remember the Columbine High School Massacre, and its representation in Zero Day and American Horror Story. We also turn to Cloverfield and 9/11 and the use of found footage to show collective trauma right back to us. 
 
Shellie's book Blood on the Lens is available through Edinburgh University Press, and her article on Tate Langdon, Columbine, and American Horror Story is cited below: 
 
McMurdo, S. (2019). ‘It’s a filthy goddamn helpless world’: Reimagining Columbine, Tate Langdon and the spectre of school shooters. European Journal of American Culture, pp. 57-69
 
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.
 
 

This week, join Stella as she chats with the legendary Prof Jean Murley, author of the foundational book 'The Rise of True Crime.' 
Regular listeners will know Stella always turns to Murley's book for quotes, definitions, explanations, so it was an absolute pleasure to talk to Jean about where true crime is now, what it says about us, and the potential cultural work that the genre can do. 
 
Book details: 
Murley, J. (2008). The Rise of True Crime: 20th Century Murder and American Popular Culture. Praegar Press. 
 
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.
 
 

Join Stella for a wander through Waco, Texas: a horrific shootout, a 51 day standoff, and a terrible fire, as seen in a Netflix documentary and a genre mash-up from from Kevin Smith. 
We'll explore what happened at Mount Carmel, how to organise chaos on screen, and how to replicate the shootout without placing blame on who shot first. 
Waco: American Apocalypse is available on Netflix. 
Red State you might have to find on DVD. 
 
This weeks must read is :
Guinn, J. (2023). Waco: David Koresh, The Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage. Simon & Shuster Press. 
 
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.
 
 

Join Stella this week for a chat about a troubling topic - the representation of school shooters in entertainment media. With a focus on Columbine and two films which retell the story of this case, this episode examines news framing of such events and Van Sant's Elephant, and Coccio's Zero Hour. 
 
Suggested reading is:
Langman, P.F. (2015) Why KIds Kill: Inside the Mind of School Shooters. Palgrave MacMillan. 
Zero Hour is available for free on YouTube.
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.
 
 

Welcome back to season three of the Murder Media Podcast! 
This week Stella starts to cover true crime media texts that got taken out of the final book plan, with a look at Monster: the Jeffrey Dahmer Story. 
Examining the portrayal of a now mythical Dahmer, the performance of Neicy Nash, why is Dahmer made to be hot, and really, whats the deal with those episode titles? 
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is available on Netflix. 
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.
 

Join Stella and Shellie for this extra bonus episode where we review the recent addition to the Monster series on Netflix: The Ed Gein Story.
Did we love it? Yes!
And no, this is not another piece of content that tells you everything the series gets wrong... Stella and Shellie review the show as a peice of drama, entertainment, horror, true crime content. 
And yes, Bundy creeps in there as well. 
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for the series, so, if you've not watched it yet, probably do so first. 
 
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.
 

This week Stella examines a new Silly Shitbag Sutcliffe media text, Hunting the Yorkshire Ripper, from Prime Video. This two parter focusses more on the hoax tapes, the impact the actions of this idiot had on the investigation, and the later hunt to find this wally. This episode also marks the end of season two as Stella gets ready for teaching. Stella also reveals some exciting book news.......
Hunting the Yorkshire Ripper (available on Prime Video, 2025). 
 
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.
 

Bloody Hell! This week Stella adapts her paper from the Blood, Myth and Media Symposium, for a chat about the use of blood as narrative device in Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (Netflix), and The Staircase (HBO). 
 
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.
 

This episode would not have made it out were it not for the incredible help from Phil Minns: an absolute legend who reached out and offered tech skills. For all things podcast tech help, do follow and contact Phil via Instagram @nonfunctionalharmony. 
 
This is the episode I recorded with Laura weeks and weeks ago, but the audio had a terrible hum. It has been cleaned up, but you might find that speakers or headphones make for better listening. 
 
Join Stella and Laura as they yap about cults: documentaries, why Laura doesn't like dramatisations, why we don't like the term 'brainwash,' and what you would exactly need to entice Laura into your cult. 
 
Follow The Murder Media Project on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or email directly at murdermedia81@gmail.com, or visit the website https://murdermedia81.wordpress.com/
 
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.
 

This week, join Stella as she dips more toes into the overlap between true crime and horror, with a look at ghosthunting on the trail of serial killers. Stella takes a close look at her new obsession, The Paranormal Files, a YouTube channel which explores all kinds of phenomena. In the episode under discussion, The Paranormal Files hunts the ghost of Ted Bundy, and looks to hear from those that are lost. 
What do they find on the spirit box this time? HINT: It's NOT John!
Which words can we add to the list of Words Stella Cannot Say? 
Find The Paranormal Files on YouTube, and do also have a look at their podcast, Murder in America.
https://www.youtube.com/@theparanormalfiles 
https://open.spotify.com/show/7didcuJyAUG4B3a5RbdDEI 
 
Sources: 
Basaraba, N. (2023). 'The rise of paranormal investigations as virtual dark tourism on YouTube,' in Journal of Heritage Tourism, Vol 19(2), pp. 287-309
Boyd Smith, M. (2024). 'Fully authenticated by respected scientists:' fact, fiction, and the roots of paranormal reality shows in American television history,' in New Review of Film and Television Studies, Vol 22(3), pp. 669 - 690
Eaton, M. A. (2019). 'Manifesting spirits: Paranormal investigation and the narrative development of a haunting,' in Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Vol 48(2), pp. 155-182
Lauro, S. J., & Paul, C, (2013). 'Make me believe: Ghost hunting technology and the postmodern fantastic,' in Horror Studies, Vol 4(2), pp. 221-239 
Moon, H., Jongsik, Y., Chua, B., & Han, H. (2022). 'Armchair tourism; Exploring individuals' innovative travel experience in the with-corona era,' In Tourism Management, Vol 93.
Follow The Murder Media Project on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or email directly at murdermedia81@gmail.com, or visit the website https://murdermedia81.wordpress.com/
 
Music:
 
Cybertruck by Mood Maze
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/cybertruck
License code: 2F2G6DAKEWYFVVC9
 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/neon-desert
License code: VYEEJAZCIFRKWWPK
All music and trailer clips are used in the spirit of Fair Dealing (UK) and Fair Use (US Law). No copyright infringement intended.