Did Amy Griffin invent a story that could change how real victims are believed?

Did Amy Griffin invent a story that could change how real victims are believed?

July 23, 2026 · 49 min · Season 2

About this episode

Billy Bush interviews journalist Maureen Callahan about the controversies surrounding Amy Griffin's memoir and the implications for real victims of abuse.

Journalist  Maureen Callahan (The Nerve)   joins Billy Bush for an in-depth conversation about ‘ The Tell ,’  Amy Griffin's bestselling memoir, the growing legal battle with Joleene Altum, the recovered memory controversy, and the unanswered questions surrounding one of the year's most talked-about stories. In this episode: Maureen explains why she questioned Amy Griffin's story long before the New York Times investigation. The latest developments in the Amy Griffin vs. Jolene Altum lawsuits. The controversy surrounding MDMA-assisted memory recovery. The mystery of "Claudia" and Billy's reporting identifying the woman Amy says inspired the character. What happens if the allegations in  The Tell  don't withstand scrutiny—and why it matters to real survivors of sexual abuse. If you've been following our investigation into  The Tell , this is one of the most important conversations we've had. Topics: Amy Griffin, The Tell, Maureen Callahan, Billy Bush, Hot Mics, Jolene Altum, recovered memories, MDMA therapy, Amarillo, New York Times investigation, memoir controversy, true crime, investigative journalism, childhood sexual abuse…

People in this episode

Host: Billy Bush

Guest: Maureen Callahan

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Times

Books & works: The Tell

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