In this powerful season finale of True Crime & Hollywood: A Personal Tale, Celene Beth sits down with director, producer, and award-winning journalist Nicole Noren for the very first time to talk about LISTEN, the ESPN documentary that told the story of Lauren McCluskey’s life, advocacy, and tragic case. Together, they reflect on their intersecting journeys involving Lauren’s story, the personal and emotional responsibility that comes with telling true crime narratives, and the importance of honoring the beautiful soul Lauren was.

Content Note: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault and other themes of violence against women. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs support, resources are listed below in the episode summary.

True crime producer Rachel Giberman returns for her second personal tale on the podcast, continuing a conversation shaped by her years of experience both in the field and behind the scenes. As one of our previous guests, Rachel reflects on some of the more difficult moments in her career and the ongoing need to advocate for herself and others in an industry that often asks creatives to carry heavy emotional burdens without proper support.

In this episode, Rachel shares more stories from her time working in environments ranging from jails to prisons and opens an important conversation about the challenges true crime producers and crew members face while working in the industry. Together, Rachel and Celene Beth discuss the difficulties of producing sensitive, traumatic content without creative control and the emotional toll of being regularly exposed to crime scene photos, explicit case details, and deeply distressing material — often without safeguards, protocols, or resources in place to protect those behind the scenes.

This is a conversation about resilience, responsibility, and what it truly means to keep showing up as a storyteller in this space.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Celene Beth is joined by Anne Marie Hauben, a survivor of sexual assault, to discuss the lasting impact of experiencing such trauma at just 18 years old. Anne shares her story of being assaulted during a high school trip to Bermuda, an experience made even more painful by the fact that her assailant later became a local politician. Together, Celene and Anne explore the emotional aftermath of assault and how it changes the course of a survivor’s life.

In this episode, Celene Beth welcomes back another member of the In Pursuit with John Walsh family—Kyle Joyce. A seasoned cameraman and former aspiring comic, Kyle brings a unique blend of emotional insight and unexpected humor to the conversation. His work behind the lens has helped tell some of the most powerful stories on television, from the intense kitchens of Chopped to the justice-driven investigations of In Pursuit.

Kyle spent seasons four and five on the road with the In Pursuit team, working alongside the Walsh family in their pursuit of justice. While his experience differs from other family members who have joined the podcast, his perspective is deeply rooted in the shared mission, and his voice adds another layer to the story of what it means to be part of this work.

Kyle also reflects on fatherhood, the emotional toll of filming true crime, and the pressure of working in high-stakes environments. And thanks to his roots in comedy, there are plenty of laughs along the way, making this episode as heartfelt as it is entertaining!

Trigger Warning:
Please note, this episode contains discussions of sexual violence, suicide, conversion therapy, self-harm, and other mature and potentially distressing themes. Listener discretion is heavily advised.

In this deeply impactful episode, Celene Beth sits down with Zachary Mallory, a survivor, speaker, and change maker who’s turning pain into purpose. Zachary (he/they) is a survivor of domestic gun violence, sexual violence, and conversion therapy. Today, they’re using their story as a powerful tool for advocacy, influencing national policy and creating safe spaces for others to rise above trauma.

As the Founder of the Rise Above Justice Movement, Zachary leads a growing grassroots network amplifying survivor voices and pushing for meaningful reform. With over 80,000 followers on Instagram and over 15 years of experience in activism, they’ve earned national recognition, including the Spirit of Matthew Award, the HALO Effect, and the mPower Award.

This episode dives into resilience, justice, and how lived experience can drive real, lasting change. Don’t miss this raw and inspiring conversation with Zachary & Celene Beth!

Rise Above Justice Movement: https://www.instagram.com/riseabovejusticemovement/

Support Resources:

• RAINN (Sexual Assault): 1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 | 988lifeline.org

• The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386 | Text “START” to 678-678 | thetrevorproject.org

• Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 | translifeline.org

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | Text “START” to 88788 | thehotline.org

• Born Perfect (Conversion Therapy Resources): nclrights.org/bornperfect

• Self-Injury Outreach & Support: sioutreach.org

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of sexual assault, suicide ideation, and murder. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, memoirist and essayist Laura Donovan joins Celene Beth to talk about her path from digital journalism to true crime and personal storytelling. Laura, who once served as the social media manager for Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen, shares what it was like working in the fast-paced world of true crime TV—including her experience collaborating with Billy Jensen, a former fixture in the genre whose influence has faded following sexual assault allegations and the removal of his podcast from the Exactly Right Network.

Now a writer focused on neurodivergence, identity, and motherhood, Laura opens up about being diagnosed with autism after both of her young sons received the same diagnosis. She discusses how that revelation reframed her understanding of herself, her relationships, and her past—including her time in the true crime world. A lifelong observer and self-described grown-up Harriet the Spy (if Harriet got a little softer with age), Laura brings a unique lens to storytelling—one sharpened by her neurodivergence, deep curiosity, and passion for justice.

She also sheds light on the cold case of Ashley Brown, a Nashville nurse who went missing in December 2016 and was later found murdered. Ashley’s story remains unsolved and largely overlooked, and Laura discusses why these kinds of stories matter, and what still needs to be done.

If you have any information related to Ashley Brown’s case, please contact the Metro Nashville Police Department’s Cold Case Unit at (615) 862-7329.