REAL LIVES

Todd's life was going well, he had just joined the police, he'd met a woman he loved and he doted on her young son. But just after they saw in the new millennium - Todd's world changed in an instant. And the tragic event from that day, led him to becoming an undercover cop... who didn't care if he lived or died. Todd's story is raw, real and inspiring and now he is turning his pain into purpose and has now put his story into a book that he hopes will encourage people to talk about their mental health, and save lives. This is REAL LIVES. To buy Todd's book 'Donny - An Undercover Cop with a Death Wish' , see the links below:https://toddmaguire.com.au/ - Australia https://www.amazon.co.uk/Donny-undercover-deathwish-Todd-Maguire/dp/1764384407 - UKhttps://www.amazon.in/Donny-undercover-deathwish-Todd-Maguire-ebook/dp/B0GTX5WMFT - eBookIf you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you:https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcastIf you need support with mental health and suicidal thoughts, please see the links below to organisations that can help:https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity supporthttps://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UKhttps://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritanshttps://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USAhttps://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australiahttps://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former murder detective Colin Sutton has achieved something only few can say they have done in their lives. He caught one of the UK's most violent serial killers ans well as one of the country's most depraved predators.In this episode, we hear directly from Colin about the highs and lows of his career and the moments that stuck with him. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you:https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcastTo buy Colin's books, see here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Colin-Sutton/author/B07MQ8ML63?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueColin's upcoming tour dates are here:https://www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/colin-sutton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Suzanne was growing up, she was close to her big sister. But when she was 17, Suzanne's parent's told her her sister had accused Suzanne of the ultimate betrayal and 30 years on, the sisters continue to be estranged. Suzanne's here today to tell her story and how one vicious rumour almost ruined her reputation and meant that she never spoke to her again. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show, you can join Patreon for early ad-free access and extra content for £2 a month:https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkIf you need support with family estrangement please see here:https://www.standalone.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 2024, six-year-old Ruby Rose Trussler became ill. Her family thought she had a sickness bug, but the reality was far worse. Ruby died after contracting sepsis following an operation she had 7 months prior.Their lives have been forever changed and now they have launched an independent charity called The Ruby Rose Foundation - a charity committed to education around sepsis, bereavement support and a mission to save lives. This episode is heartbreaking and inspiring in equal measure.This is REAL LIVES.The Ruby Rose Foundation Website:https://therubyrosefoundation.co.uk/To Donate to their charity, you can do so here:https://www.justgiving.com/charity/therubyrosefoundationFor more information on Sepsis and it's symptoms, see here:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here:https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Mandy met her ex-partner, she thought he was the one. But after six months, she started to see a completely different side to him and soon she found herself in a controlling and extremely violent relationship. Mandy was subjected to severe violence and she was terrified to leave, she even moved her son out of the home to keep him safe. But after a brutal assault by the man who claimed to love her, she managed to leave. Her abuser is now in prison and she is here today to share her story in the hope that it could save a life. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here via my Patreon, thank you:https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcastIf you need help or support with domestic abuse please get in touch with the following organisations:https://havendas.org.uk/ - UK https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ - UKhttps://mankind.org.uk/ - Support for male victims https://safelives.org.uk/ - UKhttps://www.victimsupportni.com/help-for-victims/domestic-violence/ - Northern Irelandhttps://mapni.co.uk/ - Northern Ireland for men https://sdvs.ie/ - Irelandhttps://www.mensaid.ie/ - Ireland for men https://www.lifewire.org/ - USAhttps://www.thehotline.org/resources/men-can-be-victims-of-abuse-too/ - USA for men https://www.rizeup.com.au/ - Australiahttps://mensline.org.au/family-violence/ - Australia  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When journalist Anke Richter moved to New Zealand, she wanted to explore more of life. So she joined an organisation that promised to help her explore sexuality. But it was a chance encounter with a cult survivor that she was writing a journalistic piece on that she realised that she was also in a cult.Anke is now one of the worlds most respected 'cult journalists' and advocates and she's here today to tell her story.This is REAL LIVES.If you'd like to join me over on Patreon, you can here, thank you so much:https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcastAnke's website with links to her book 'Cult Trip' is here, where you can find the best place to buy it in your country:https://ankerichter.net/To connect with Anke, please see here:https://www.facebook.com/ankerichterwriterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anke-richter-748a3243/https://www.instagram.com/ankerichterwriter/For information on Decult - see here:https://decult.netIf you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, please see the organisations below who can help and support you:https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health supporthttps://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UKhttps://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritanshttps://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/ - For people who have been the victim of sexual abuse (UK)https://www.rainn.org/ - Sexual Abuse Support USAhttps://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USAhttps://www.nasasv.org.au/support-directory - Sexual Abuse Support Australiahttps://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australiahttps://www.rcni.ie/useful-links/ - Sexual Abuse Support Irelandhttps://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Irelandhttps://www.thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/ - Support for cult survivors (UK)https://www.peopleleavecults.com/services/support-groups - Support for cult survivors & Intervention (global) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tad Nelson is one of Texas' most successful criminal defence attorneys. With Texas being a death penalty state, Tad has saved lives but also defended some of America's most dangerous criminals. He's worked on over 500 jury trials and has a plethora of qualifications under his belt, including certificates in forensic science.In this episode, Tad tells us what being a criminal defence attorney is really like, how he defends people who have committed the most depraved acts imaginable and why he has spent over 30 years working in the criminal justice system.This is REAL LIVES.If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here:https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcastTo find out more about the work Tad does, please see here:https://tadlaw.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Ellen De Meyer delivered her baby girl, she was over the moon to give her son a baby sister. But when her daughter Pia was just 3 months old, Ellen noticed that something was wrong with Pia's movement and strength.Pia was diagnosed with SMA Type 1, which can be life-limiting. There was a medicine that could save her, but it cost over £1.5m.And what happened next, is enough to restore anyone's faith in humanity.This is REAL LIVES.To join the show's Patreon, please see here:https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcastTo follow Pia's journey, here Instagram page is here:www.instagram.com/@teampia2018or to connect with Ellen please see here:https://www.instagram.com/ellendm1986Ellen wrote a book on her experiences, it is currently only available in Dutch:https://share.google/Vw1sPTuyHt6ffjUoHTo find out more about the signs and symptoms of SMA Type 1, please see here:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/spinal-muscular-atrophy-sma/'Welcome to Holland' is written by Emily Perl Kingsley and you can find out more about her work here:https://www.emilyperlkingsley.com/welcome-to-holland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many of us have different points of view from our spouse, but what happens when your partner becomes a full time conspiracy theorist?This is exactly what happened to Louise Williamson. And she's here to tell us about her experience.This is REAL LIVES.To find out more about Louise's experience and how she started to heal, you can find her wonderful book 'My Husband, The Rabbit Hole and Me - When Marriage Becomes a Cult', here:https://amzn.eu/d/fGJmc0FAnd Louise's website is here:https://www.louisewilliamsonwriter.com/And her Substack 'SEEDS' is here:https://louisewilliamson2.substack.com/ If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you:https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Tinsley is the lawyer who stepped into one of the most notorious — and deeply troubling — criminal investigations of recent years: The Murdaugh Family Murders. Mark meticulously followed the facts and relentlessly pursued justice in one of America's most infamous trials. In today’s episode of Real Lives, Mark opens up about his fight against Alex Murdaugh, getting justice for Mallory Beach, and how he became a household name for true crime consumers everywhere. If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you:https://www.patreon.com/c/REALtruecrimepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Comerford was raised in a home where he felt happy, safe and loved. But when he went to high school, his teacher took those feelings from him. He was physically and sexually abused by his teacher and it changed his life forever. After he left school, he was left with the emotional scars and deep routed trauma that made him want to take the life of the man who had caused him so much pain. So he loaded a shotgun and made his way school...In this episode, John tells us his story and how, after his journey of healing, he has helped many other victims of child abuse. This is REAL LIVES. To find John's books, see here: https://jjcomerford.com/booksThe organisation that helped John is here: www.samsn.org.auIf you need help or support please see these organisations that can help: https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/ - For people who have been the victim of sexual abuse (UK)https://www.rainn.org/ - Sexual Abuse Support USAhttps://www.nasasv.org.au/support-directory or www.samsn.org.au - Sexual Abuse Support Australia https://www.rcni.ie/useful-links/ - Sexual Abuse Support Ireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kayley Stead thought she had it all.... a job she loved, a man she adored and now... he'd put a ring on it and she was getting married.But as she was getting ready on the morning of her wedding, her bridesmaid dropped a bombshell - nobody could find the groom. And what happened next is something most of us would never have predicted. This is REAL LIVES. To support the show and become part of a lovely community, you can join my Patreon here, thank you:https://www.patreon.com/c/REALtruecrimepodcastTo follow Kayley on social media, you can find her here:https://www.tiktok.com/@kayleystead?lang=enhttps://www.instagram.com/kayleystead2206/?hl=en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 1980s, a British mother of 2 became the UK's first commercial surrogate. But what started out as an act of kindness, made headlines around the world. In her first podcast interview, Kim Cotton talks about her life as a once controversial figure, who has helped 1147 couples have babies via surrogacy. This is REAL LIVES. To support the show, you can join my Patreon here, thank you:https://www.patreon.com/c/REALtruecrimepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.