We sat down with Sergeant (Ret.) Bert "Maverick" Gonzalez to discuss his compelling new book, The Real Greatest Show on Earth. After dedicating 37 years to the Miami-Dade Police Department, serving in roles from narcotics to crime scene investigations and training over 25,000 officers, Gonzalez offers an unprecedented look behind the badge. Gonzalez pulls no punches, describing his book as the "nitty-gritty reality" of police work, far removed from TV sensationalism or murder mysteries. The Real Greatest Show on Earth explores the full spectrum of a cop's career: The Terror and Tragedy: He reveals the nightmares and haunting experiences officers face daily, seeing things "no one should ever see." The Humor and Humanity: Gonzalez also shares the rare, humorous, and deeply human moments on the street—those times when officers are genuinely thanked or encounter situations "no genius of a comedic mind could ever imagine." Discover the world through the eyes of a Bronze Medal of Valor recipient and highly respected national police instructor, who shows the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of life under the "circus tent" of law enforcement. Interested in hearing more about Sgt. Gonzalez's remarkable career and his perspective on policing, politics, and life? You can buy his book now, or find him on his podcast, Sgt. Maverick – The Podcast. Website: https://www.sgtmaverick.comBook: https://www.amazon.com/Real-Greatest-Show-Earth/dp/B0CMFYRD4B

A 13-year-old girl's suicide led to a major lawsuit against Roblox and Discord, alleging the platforms contributed to her death by failing to control exploitative and self-harm content. The suit claims the platforms, including "depression rooms" on Roblox, created a dangerous online environment for vulnerable minors, forcing a confrontation over tech company accountability versus child safety.

In John and Jamie's hometown, candy has been tainted by needles found after trick or treating last week. Was this the act of an evil monster, some families desperate for attention, or just a major misunderstanding?

Explore the perplexing death of successful 33-year-old tech CEO Erin Valenti. In October 2019, after a business retreat, Valenti began speaking erratically about "the Matrix," missed her flight, and was found deceased days later in her rental car near the San Jose Airport. With no signs of foul play or substance abuse, the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as "sudden death in the setting of an acute manic episode."

America certainly has no shortage of conspiracies. The moon landing, JFK and MLK makes us question what we really know. Today, another conspiracy will be the topic of discussion. Did John Wilkes Booth manage to escape justice and live out his life in peace? Did his body travel the country as a sideshow exhibit? Did you know Jamie shares the same initials as this traitor? To hear the rest of this episode, and many other exclusive episodes, visit patreon.com to sign up!

Franklin Township Police Sergeant Kevin Bollaro was charged with second-degree official misconduct for allegedly ignoring multiple August 2025 911 calls reporting an active double murder. Instead of responding, investigators proved through GPS data that Bollaro was conducting personal errands (ATM, dinner) and sleeping in a cemetery while on duty. Seriously...what the heck?

A 14-year-old boy in Greater Manchester, England, known as "John," became the first person in British legal history to be convicted of inciting his own murder. Feeling isolated, John created six fake online personas to manipulate an older friend, "Mark," into stabbing him, convincing Mark it was a "mission" for the British Secret Service. The episode details the intricate digital deception that led to the 2003 stabbing and John's subsequent conviction, highlighting the disturbing legal and psychological consequences of self-destructive behavior in the digital age.

The 1986 murder of San Diego college student Cara Knott exposed a shocking abuse of power by a law enforcement officer. After Cara's body was found near an I-15 off-ramp, the investigation focused on an officer with the California Highway Patrol, whose patrol route covered the area. Dozens of women testified that this officer had previously sexually harassed them after pulling them over at the same location. Would the evidence lead to a conviction in Cara's case?

Houston is facing a disturbing pattern of deaths after at least 16 bodies were pulled from the city's bayous this year, including that of Kenneth Cutting Jr., 22. The episode covers the victims found with no obvious trauma or drugs, leading to "undetermined" causes of death. We explore the family's disbelief that Kenneth drowned, their claims of being "gaslit," and Mayor John Whitmire's insistence that there is no serial killer and the deaths are linked to homelessness and drug use.

In a bold daylight raid on Sunday, October 19, 2025, thieves breached the Louvre Museum in Paris, stealing priceless French crown jewels from the Galerie d’Apollon. This episode details the audacious heist where intruders, disguised with construction gear, used a basket lift platform to break a window on the Seine-facing façade. The entire operation—smashing display cases and loading up necklaces, crowns, and tiaras—took only four to seven minutes before the thieves fled on motorbikes.

This is the heartbreaking case of Benjamin Elliott, a 17-year-old in Katy, Texas, convicted of murdering his twin sister Meghan Elliott. The episode details the loving sibling bond shattered when Benjamin fatally stabbed Meghan in her sleep. His defense claimed the act was due to a sleepwalking (parasomnia) episode, citing a family history of sleep disorders. Prosecutors countered with phone data and a chilling 911 confession to argue premeditation.

The release of Ronald Exantus, a man convicted in the brutal 2015 fatal stabbing of 6-year-old Logan Tipton, has sparked national outrage. Exantus, a former dialysis nurse, was released 13 years early from his 20-year sentence, despite the Parole Board denying him parole. We cover the furious reaction from Logan's family, who are pushing for "Logan's Law" to close the loophole, and the federal scrutiny the case is now under, with the White House confirming it is "looking into" the release of the convicted killer.

A Halloween yard display in Stanton, Kentucky, led to the arrest of a local man on charges of intimidating a witness and third-degree terroristic threatening. This episode details the unsettling scene where five effigies, wrapped in black trash bags, were labeled with titles like "district judge," "mayor," and "C.A." One figure was found hanging by a rope. We explore how the highly specific nature of the labels and the grotesque imagery caused local officials to view the display not as protected free speech or holiday decor, but as a deliberate attempt to terrorize and influence public officials involved in the legal process.

The life and unsolved murder of Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace remains one of hip-hop's greatest tragedies. This episode charts his rise from a Brooklyn drug dealer to the savior of East Coast hip-hop, detailing his early career with Sean "Puffy" (Diddy) Combs and the meteoric success of his albums Ready to Die and the posthumously released Life After Death. The story pivots on his infamous rivalry with Tupac Shakur, which began after Tupac was shot in 1994. It culminates with Biggie's own unsolved murder in a 1997 Los Angeles drive-by shooting.

On today's bonus episode, John spoke with retired officer, Gary Linnemeyer about traffic stops. Numerous videos online depict citizens refusing to give police their identification cards, refusing to cooperate until the officer explains the reason for the stop, or simply refusing to do anything the officer says until their supervisor shows up. What is the law in these situations? Today's episode will answer those questions and more!

When Vallejo, California resident Renia Lewis, 28, went missing, the search led police to a home where her remains were hidden in a secretly accessed attic. The episode details the investigation, the multiple visits to the home, and the swift arrest of Douglas Irwin Shaw, 41, who later confessed to the murder. The case focuses on the shocking method of concealment and the ongoing mystery surrounding the motive.

Serving a life sentence for murder in Iowa, prisoner Benjamin Schreiber claimed his term was fulfilled after his heart briefly stopped during a 2015 medical crisis. This episode details Schreiber's bizarre legal argument that his momentary clinical "death" counted as serving the rest of his natural life. We explore the court's rejection of this claim, affirming that since he was revived and is legally alive, his life sentence remains in effect.

This episode exposes the shocking downfall of Jared Fogle, the former face of Subway. Known for his dramatic weight loss, Fogle was arrested in 2015 on federal charges related to child pornography and illicit sexual conduct with minors. The story details the years-long FBI investigation, the use of an undercover informant, and the role of his friend and charity director. It concludes with Fogle's conviction and his sentence of 15 years and 8 months, detailing the betrayal that shattered his public persona.

Anna Sonoda, LCSW is a graduate of Emory University, where she double-majored in Anthropology and French Studies, and earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Georgia in 2006. She became a licensed clinical social worker in 2009. With a career spanning counseling convicted sexual offenders, working in residential mental health, leading anger management and domestic violence programs, and supporting individuals with dual diagnoses, Anna brings rare, front-line expertise into the realities of predatory behavior. As both a clinician and a mother, she recognized a profound gap: society reacts to child sexual abuse after the fact but rarely teaches families how to stop it before it begins. This realization inspired her groundbreaking work, Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target (2022), a first-of-its-kind resource equipping parents and professionals to detect grooming before abuse occurs. Buy Duck Duck Groom here! https://www.amazon.com/Duck-Groom-Understanding-Becomes-Target/dp/B0CLZ169HZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9OCTWR0QU1YW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zCpHUXZmXzk4Wfn7mEiFarqBGlh78pDzrdISSRJOAeQt0uVC6hsoGqhEWOUEtU8F8VU2lChJDO51o7iZoORM5tXGG-zpGI2ZZXKqRnBZaNg.2lJGp1u9gfh0wH4AiKET8xqTC8-gGJT43sdy8Wjp_n0&dib_tag=se&keywords=duck+duck+groom&qid=1758383406&s=books&sprefix=duck+duck+groom%2Cstripbooks%2C99&sr=1-1

This episode explores the bizarre case of William Tager, the man who fatally shot a stagehand outside the NBC studios in 1994. The true crime story is infamous for Tager's confession to also being the attacker who assaulted CBS anchor Dan Rather in 1986, repeatedly asking: "Kenneth, what is the frequency?" We detail Tager's mental delusions—including his claims of being a time traveler—and his subsequent conviction, examining how his violent acts connected two major media incidents and became a lasting cultural phenomenon.