Mount Hood

Podcasts: true crime for killing time

A collection of podcasts for true crime junkies

Rylie Horrall | Managing Editor

According to forbes.com, podcasts are beginning to become a mainstream form of entertainment. With the medium’s diverse options for listeners, it’s easy for anyone to find something they would enjoy. For those interested in true crime thrillers and mysteries of the like, check out these podcasts.

  • “Ear Hustle” ⏤  This podcast tells the daily realities of inmates in California’s San Quentin State Prison and their lives post-incarceration, and is the first to be created and produced in an actual prison. Told by current and former inmates themselves, the episodes feature difficult, humorous and honest stories for listeners on Stitcher, Spotify and RadioPublic. More information and episodes can be found on their website, earhustlesq.com.
  • “S-Town” ⏤  A branch from the creators of “This American Life” ⏤ a popular podcast series about life stories ⏤ host Brian Reed explores the story of John, a man from Alabama that hates his town and wants to dig up information about a wealthy family. Supposedly, the son of this family has gotten away with murder, and more mysteries and death are unearthed during this search for the truth. Listen to it now on Stitcher, RadioPublic and stownpodcast.org.
  • “True Crime All The Time” — An anthology of true crime stories by Wondery, “True Crime All The Time” focuses on lesser known cases, sparing no details. The hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson claim they “don’t take themselves too seriously, but take true crime very seriously,” providing relief amongst serious discussions. Those who like this podcast can also listen to Wondery’s various other true crime podcasts. Listen on Stitcher, Spotify and their website wondery.com.
  • “True Crime Garage” ⏤  A new case is covered every week on this podcast. Whether it’s local horror stories or headline news, cold or open cases, serial killers or unsolved mysteries, hosts Nic and the Captain provide ample entertainment for their listeners. All episodes ⏤ past and present ⏤ are available on Stitcher, Soundcloud and their website truecrimegarage.com.
  • “And That’s Why We Drink” ⏤  Hosts Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz take their listeners on both paranormal and true crime journeys every Sunday. Covering terrifying cases of ghosts and killers, their motto is “The world’s a scary place. And that’s why we drink!” Episodes and more can be found on their website ⏤ andthatswhywedrink.com ⏤ Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.
  • “Down the Hill” ⏤  Each episode uncovers more information about the murder of two girls, Abby and Libby, from Delphi, Indiana ⏤ a case that is still open today. A recording of the killer’s voice from a phone call still remains the biggest clue in this three-year-old mystery, and investigators have yet to apprehend the culprit. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and their website downthehillpodcast.com.
  • “Ear Hustle” ⏤  This podcast tells the daily realities of inmates in California’s San Quentin State Prison and their lives post-incarceration, and is the first to be created and produced in an actual prison. Told by current and former inmates themselves, the episodes feature difficult, humorous and honest stories for listeners on Stitcher, Spotify and RadioPublic. More information and episodes can be found on their website, earhustlesq.com.
  • “Mommy Doomsday” ⏤  A podcast from Dateline NBC, it focuses on the children of Lori Vallow from Rexburg, Idaho, who disappeared in September three years ago ⏤ a bizarre and haunting story of death, deception and Doomsday that’s available for listeners on Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.
  • “S-Town” ⏤  A branch from the creators of “This American Life” ⏤ a popular podcast series about life stories ⏤ host Brian Reed explores the story of John, a man from Alabama that hates his town and wants to dig up information about a wealthy family. Supposedly, the son of this family has gotten away with murder, and more mysteries and death are unearthed during this search for the truth. Listen to it now on Stitcher, RadioPublic and stownpodcast.org.
  • “Serial” ⏤  Made once again by the creators of “This American Life,” one story is uncovered over the course of a full season. Full of twists and turns amongst the plot and characters, even the narrators don’t know what happens at the end. Current and past episodes can be found on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and serialpodcast.org.
  • “True Crime All The Time” — An anthology of true crime stories by Wondery, “True Crime All The Time” focuses on lesser known cases, sparing no details. The hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson claim they “don’t take themselves too seriously, but take true crime very seriously,” providing relief amongst serious discussions. Those who like this podcast can also listen to Wondery’s various other true crime podcasts. Listen on Stitcher, Spotify and their website wondery.com.
  • “True Crime Garage” ⏤  A new case is covered every week on this podcast. Whether it’s local horror stories or headline news, cold or open cases, serial killers or unsolved mysteries, hosts Nic and the Captain provide ample entertainment for their listeners. All episodes ⏤ past and present ⏤ are available on Stitcher, Soundcloud and their website truecrimegarage.com.

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

AppleTV+ presents Billie Eilish’s latest artistic creation

Billie Eilish’s debut documentary is an instant hit with fans

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

It’s no doubt that Billie Eilish continues to dominate the music industry with her creative and haunting music, but this time she took a new approach in highlighting her journey to fame with her debut documentary, “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry.” Released in select theaters and on AppleTV+ as of Feb. 26, the two-and-a-half-hour-long documentary covers everything that fans could want to know about the latest year in Eilish’s life. 

Director R.J. Cutler provides an exclusive look at key moments from the crafting of her latest album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” to her subsequent winning of the Big Four awards at the Grammys. 

In the documentary’s trailer, which is available on YouTube, the audience can hear Eilish steadily saying, “I look into the crowd, and I see that every single person in there is going through something, and I have the same problems. I was like, ‘Why don’t I turn this into art, instead of just living with it?’”

The film covers Eilish in a way the public hasn’t seen before, showcasing her personal relationships and creative process, along with the quick-paced world of the music industry and the pressure of staying authentic while in a position of superstardom. Viewers can gain a better understanding of her personal life, with the documentary containing vulnerable scenes and conversations with her family, and the toll that fame took on young Eilish’s mental and physical health. The film takes time to address her mental health struggles and battle with self-harm, and how she turns to her music and creative process to combat her depression and suicidal thoughts. 

Diving further into her private life, Eilish speaks more on her relationship and breakup with rapper Brandon Adams, also known as 7:AMP, who is nicknamed “Q” through the film. There’s also plenty of footage from her concerts, tours and behind-the-scenes clips in her childhood bedroom turned music studio. At one point in the film, Eilish delves into her creative process with her brother Finneas O’Connell when forming the album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” 

By the end of “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry,” fans can fully appreciate the way director Cutler showcases Eilish’s journey of being an authentic and grounded person, while also being one of the most talked about and heavily awarded music artists in the industry. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, reach out to friends, family or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

27 animes to procrastinate with

As midterms roll around, ignore responsibilities and immerse in fantasy

Stephanie Moschella |‌ ‌Digital Media Manager

In the midst of studying and being jam packed with homework, it’s nice to take a break, sit back and start a new show. Popular streaming services such as Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime, Hulu and even Netflix have adapted themselves to be more diverse in genre. With the availability of all different genres, the anime industry has prospered rapidly internationally. 

Originating as animated works from Japan, anime is a visual medium that garners a great deal of attention. Though originally voiced in Japanese, many of these shows have both subtitles in multiple different languages as well as English dubs, depending on the watcher’s preferences. 

Being stuck at home in this pandemic leaves a lot of people craving something fresh in order to distract themselves from daily stresses. 

In the list below, there are shows that have come out within the last two decades, a wide variety of classic and modern. No matter if the viewer enjoys old school or recent media, anime has historically never been bigger with the various affordable options. 

In no particular order, have some fun watching or rewatching these anime shows to ignore the anxiety of the piling assignments and impending due dates. 

“Black Clover” (2017) (Crunchyroll)

“Blue Exorcist” (2011) (Crunchyroll)

“Bungo Stray Dogs” (2016) (Crunchyroll) 

“Death Note” (2006) (Crunchyroll)

“Death Parade” (2015) (Crunchyroll) 

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” (2019) (Netflix) 

“Durarara!!” (2016) (Netflix) 

“Erased” (2016) (Netflix) 

“Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma” (2015) (Crunchyroll)

“Fruits Basket” (2019) (Crunchyroll) 

“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” (2009) (Crunchyroll) 

“Great Pretender” (2020) (Netflix) 

“Haikyuu!!” (2014) (Crunchyroll)

“Horimiya” (2021) (Hulu)

“Hunter x Hunter” (2013) (Netflix)

“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” (2012) (Netflix) 

“Jujutsu Kaisen” (2020) (Crunchyroll) 

“Little Witch Academia” (2017) (Netflix) 

“Mob Psycho 100” (2016) (Crunchyroll) 

“My Hero Academia” (2016) (Crunchyroll) 

“Psycho Pass” (2012) (Hulu) 

“Seven Deadly Sins” (2014) (Netflix) 

“SK8 the Infinity” (2021) (Funimation) 

“The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.” (2018) (Netflix) 

“The Promised Neverland” (2019) (Netflix) 

“Tokyo Ghoul” (2014) (Crunchyroll) 

“Your Name” (2016) (Amazon Prime) 

Contact the author at howldigitalmediamanager@mail.wou.edu

How to write a winning story

Five tips to help aspiring authors refine their writing

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Writing is a learned and actively practiced skill, just like playing an instrument or sport. For writers who have dreams of being published in the future, completing a working manuscript is the imperative first step. Here are some tips for aspiring writers to kick their stories up a notch. 

  • Find an original voice. Gathering inspiration from other authors and stories is great; they are professionals, so there is much to be gained from reading lots of material. But in the end, nobody else can write the exact story that is in one’s own mind. Tell a brand new story in a unique way, and let the passion and enthusiasm shine through in every page. 
  • Put aside anything distracting when sitting down to write. Do a favor for the story: give it full attention until it reaches an ending. If writing a novel, try to finish a full chapter or scene all at once. Conversely, try timed writing: write anything that comes to mind without stopping for, say, twenty minutes. It will be much less intimidating to continue working on it in the future if the pages aren’t blank.
  • Learn the rules, but don’t follow the rules. What this means is that the rules of writing can’t be broken, twisted or meddled with if the rules aren’t known to begin with. Take the time to master formatting, grammar and a standard plot structure, then play around with them to make the story unique. 
  • The best advice I ever received was from my high school English teacher: “Kill your darlings.” It is all too easy to get attached to one’s own characters, scenes, settings or piece as a whole — I know from experience. However, readers and editors will have a different perspective than the author. Keep this in mind when editors suggest revisions: they are trying to help the story come across better to the audience, which sometimes means changing or completely deleting the author’s favorite parts. 
  • Keep writing and don’t give up hope. Building and completing a manuscript is just the first step to getting work published, and it can be a very difficult process trying to get a story accepted at a publishing house. Let passion and commitment to the story drive the journey, and always keep working to present the best possible piece. 

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

‌Bringing back the classics, one game at a time

Be on the lookout for these retro and affordable gaming systems

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌

Gaming systems have come a long way from their original clunky shapes, and have increasingly become more advanced in their programming and sophisticated designs. New games and systems are constantly being released, but the prices aren’t always the most accessible. To still have fun gaming the rainy days away, folks can look to some of the more affordable options. Older models, like the Game Boy and Nintendo DS, can usually be found at a cheaper price at electronic stores or online sellers. Not only that, revisiting these old school systems can provide a distinctly nostalgic feeling of easier days. 

  • Nintendo Game Boy 

The model I have is from 1989, and using this one comes with pros and cons. One con is that it requires four AA batteries, and the games that fit inside have to be specific to this model to work properly. Thankfully, batteries aren’t super expensive, and the system itself isn’t in high demand anymore, so the device and its games can be found fairly easily. One pro tip for finding these older models is to ask around to friends or family, as sometimes items like these end up forgotten about in the attic or donation pile. 

  • Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP

This is personally my favorite system, just because the satisfying startup noise and colorful screen bring me right back to my childhood. Not only that, but the games and accessories for these can be commonly found in thrift stores or for cheap at electronic stores. This makes it easy to build a large collection of games with a smaller budget, but it also means it’s easier to splurge.

  • Nintendo DS Lite

Finally, the DS brings in the best of both worlds with the ability to take both Game Boy games and smaller, updated DS games with clearer graphics. Don’t forget about the chat option, which is way more entertaining than Zoom meetings. One con for this is the stylus; it can be easy to lose through the years, but they’re cheap and easy to hunt down at a store. It’s convenient to have a device that has two slots for different games, but some DS games can be upward of $15 or so at certain stores. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

The latest talked-about documentary on Hulu

Hulu’s hottest documentary: “Framing Britney Spears” available now

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Released on Feb 5., “Framing Britney Spears” is a highly anticipated documentary episode of “The New York Times Presents.” The hour and 14 minute long documentary begins with the story of Britney Spears before her stardom — her life in Kentwood, Louisiana. Through compelling narratives laid out in interviews, the audience can gain an understanding of her humble beginnings, and how she went from performing in small town malls to gaining instant stardom. 

The documentary shows behind the scenes clips of Spears performing for music videos and in interviews and commercials, but also touches on topics like the struggles in her family. Not only does it showcase unseen details from Spears’ life, but the documentary also highlights how scrutinized she was from early in her career. 

The audience can see the ways in which the paparazzi’s involvement ended up fueling the drama surrounding her decisions, relationships and her parenting. Not only that, it goes into detail about the conservatorship her father has held for the last 12 years — which includes control over her person (for medications, medical records, etc.), finances and for her estate. The battle of her conservatorship has reignited people’s concern for Spears, and the show explores the #FreeBritney movement. Viewers can gain a better understanding of the pressure Spears faces from being under the spotlight, and how all of these issues have taken a toll on her mental health, also leading to why she should be freed from her current conservatorship. Find the full documentary on Hulu to learn more about Britney Spears’ conservatorship and details on the #FreeBritney movement. 

Overall review: 9/10 because I’m a Britney stan, but also because they went very in-depth and provided useful information toward her situation.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Trip out over Brent Faiyaz’s latest single, “Gravity”

Trippy visuals and bass guitars come together 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Music artist Brent Faiyaz has gained traction for his talents and recognition in the music industry following the huge response from his album, “F–k the World,” which was released in February 2020. Fans have been long anticipating another album or single, and when the time finally came, Faiyaz didn’t disappoint. Released on Jan. 27, Faiyaz’s latest hit, “Gravity,” comes stacked with vocals and lines from DJ Dali and Tyler, the Creator, and has Steve Lacey on the guitar and bass. 

Through the song, both Faiyaz and Tyler describe their lifestyle on the road and the way it impacted their relationships. Both artists experience a type of “gravity” from their partners, who try to pull them back home from the rush of a luxe lifestyle, and the amount of energy it takes to maintain that balance. 

Faiyaz boasts a bit about his fame in the chorus with, “I’m on (Don’t act like I’m average)/ But you want me home (Home)/ I’d get you what you want (Superstar status)/ But you want me alone (I’m gone, baby, I’m active).” And Tyler, the Creator echos the message of finding a balance between here and there in the third verse, “Now when I’m gone, and I roam ’round the globe for three months/ That’s too long without somethin’ that’s sweet/ So I phone, little treats, that’s a snack, not a feast/ They don’t mean much to me/ ‘Cause I know that I have a bakery back at home.” 

There are effortless transitions between verses paired with strong vocals and unique melodies, which all together form a trippy auditory time-warping experience. Following this theme, the album cover includes fluorescent colors that look like a psychedelic oil spill, resulting in a warbling and eye-catching artwork. 

The melodies, layers of instruments and laid back vocals create a pop song that will hit the top of the music charts and stay there. As of right now, fans wait to hear if an official music video will be released within the coming months. While they wait,  a video of the audio alongside engaging visuals is currently on YouTube. 

Find Brent Faiyaz’s ⏤ and other accompanying artists’ ⏤ latest music on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Western Oregon University

Facebook   Instagram   Twitter  YouTube

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
345 Monmouth Ave. N.
Monmouth OR 97361

503-838-8000 | 1-877-877-1593

Tools

Campus Maps
Canvas
Find People
Portal
Virtual Tour
WOU Email
Technical Support

Resources

A-Z Index
Accessibility
Academic Calendar
Class Schedule
Jobs at WOU
Partnerships
Student Services

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

Accessibility    Public Records    Privacy    Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.