SKS Season 7: Abortion Wars

Someone Knows Something (SKS) is an ongoing investigative original CBC podcast series, written and hosted by award-winning filmmaker David Ridgen, that explores cases of the missing or murdered and unravels the visceral ripple effects on families and small communities across Canada. Each week, SKS brings audiences up close with the family that is looking for answers, the investigators who can’t quit and potential suspects – investigating theories, debunking rumours and finding new information – all through head-on pov storytelling.

Season Seven: The Abortion Shootings 

In 1998, OB-GYN Dr. Barnett Slepian was shot and killed in his home — the latest in a series of violent crimes against doctors who preformed abortions in North America. Who was behind these murders? And were they all connected?

In Season 7 of Someone Knows Something: The Abortion Wars, host David Ridgen and investigative journalist Amanda Robb dig into the murder of Dr. Slepian — Robb’s uncle — and uncover a network of anti-abortion movements linked to violence in North America and Europe. Twenty years later, with debates about reproductive rights still raging in the U.S., could more violence be on the horizon?

Episodes so far…

TRANSCRIPTS

1.  Aiding, Abetting, Abortion

Access to abortion has taken on urgency as the laws protecting it come under attack in the U.S. Working with family member Amanda Robb, David examines the murder of her uncle, an abortion provider in the U.S.. and the resulting conviction of a fanatical sniper. Both discover that this murder may be the endgame of a series of doctor shootings that actually began in Canada.

2. Remembrance

In the 1990s, three Canadian abortion providers are shot and gravely injured – all about a year apart, all around Remembrance Day. David begins his examination of these attacks by speaking to Canadian family members. In so doing, David discovers connections between the Canadian shootings and the murder of Amanda Robb’s uncle, Dr. Barnett Slepian. An eyewitness account reveals new information publicly for the first time.

3. The Informant

David interviews key members of the Canadian/U.S. police task force formed to find the person who shot Canadian abortion providers and killed Dr. Barnett Slepian. Do they think the shooter acted alone? What will the man behind the FBI code name Jack Steele, a key confidential informant, reveal?

4. What’s Left Behind

Canadian detectives investigating the 1995 shooting of Dr. Hugh Short in Ontario reveal evidence that places an anti-abortion fanatic at the scene of the crime. David speaks to Buffalo News reporters who investigated the U.S. and Canadian shootings and all feel there is much more to the story.

5. Nemesis

David and Amanda examine the relationship between religious beliefs and justification for violence. The investigation takes them to Washington D.C., where they meet with an American evangelical minister who was involved in the anti-abortion movement – leading protests against Dr. Barnett Slepian and blockading the clinic where he worked. New information is revealed, but has the minister’s position changed?

6. Mississippi

David heads to Mississippi, a key state that is currently attempting to restrict access to abortion through legislation. David visits the only abortion clinic in the state, known as “Pink House, and speaks to the workers and activists on the frontlines of the fight for and against reproductive rights.

7. Darkworld

David heads to Mississippi, a key state that is currently attempting to restrict access to abortion through legislation. David visits the only abortion clinic in the state, known as “Pink House, and speaks to the workers and activists on the frontlines of the fight for and against reproductive rights.

SELECTED PRESS ABOUT ‘SOMEONE KNOWS SOMETHING’

2022-07-03 Rolling Stone : The 25 Best True-Crime Podcasts of All Time
2021-11-23 New York Times : 6 podcasts about unsolved mysteries
2020-04-26 Mashable : The best true crime podcasts of all time
2020 Vulture : 52 great true crime podcasts
2020-05-12 CBC News : New Someone Knows Something investigation follows mother’s search for answers in son’s disappearance
2019-03-08 Thompson Citizen : New Someone knows Something episode looks at possible suspects in Kerrie Ann Brown’s 1986 murder
2018-11-13 Thompson Citizen : Someone Knows Something podcast seeks the killer of Thompson’s Kerrie Ann Brown, murdered in 1986
2018-11-19 CBC News : Killer Caller (interactive)
2018-10-16 CBC News : Mysterious killing of Manitoba teen Kerrie Brown explored in CBC podcast
2018-08-17 The Daily Edge : 8 true crime podcasts you should sink your teeth into that aren’t Serial
2017-11-12 Clarion Ledger : Podcast traces path to justice in 1964 civil rights-era cold case by Jerry Mitchell
2017-11-17 PodNews : CBC’s Someone Knows Something breaks records
2017-11-19 Mamamia : In 1964 Henry and Charles were murdered by the KKK. 40 years later they got justice
2017-11-24 Crimefeed : 5 Best True Crime Podcasts
2017-11-16 Really Into This : Someone Knows Something
2017-11-26 Radio New Zealand : Bringing cold cases to life
2017-12-05 Nieman Labs : Apple has acquired Pop Up Archive, an interesting startup that makes podcasts more searchable
2017-8-09 Globe and Mail : What comedic actress Naomi Snieckus is watching, listening to and just saw
2017-11-06 Toronto Life : Chris Rock’s stand-up set, a dazzling ballet and eight other things to see, do, hear and read this week
2017-11-10 Clarion Ledger : New podcast features story behind prosecution of KKK killings
2017-11-06 The National Post : Podcast Focuses on Two Klan Killings in 1964 Mississippi
2017-12-23 Audible Feast’s : Best Podcasts of 2017
2016-12-24  The Guardian UK : Catch-up and download: From Refugee Diaries to Someone Knows Something
2017-01-09  Buzzfeed : 24 horrifying but fascinating true-crime podcasts you must listen to
2017-01-11  Mikaela Larsson : Podcast list – fourth edition
2017-01-12  The Audit #62 : Echoes
2017-01-13  Fox And Gypsy : Now listening, favourite iTunes podcasts
2017-01-15  Tales from a caffeinated Weka
2017-01-16  Hub Pages : Best Crime Podcasts
2017-01-18  Dear Crissy : Best True Crime Podcasts
2017-01-20  Audible Feast : Delicious Ingredients: best podcasts for Jan 14-20
2017-01-27  Audible Feast : Delicious Ingredients: best podcasts for Jan 21-27
2017-02-17  Ahmedabad Mirror : Someone Knows Something
2017-03-16  Geeks Media : Top 5 true crime podcasts for fans of Serial 
2017-03-17  The Crime Review : Top true crime podcasts
2017-03-21  Masthead Online : CBC Radio Drama “Someone Knows Something” reaches 18.3 million downloads
2017-03-31  Irish Independent : Love Serial and S-Town? Here are 10 addictive true-crime podcasts to get hooked on
2017-05-04  Make Use of (MUO) : 8 mystery podcasts guaranteed to tingle your spine
2017-05-10  Esquire : How true crime went from trashy TV to prestige entertainment

SELECTED PRESS ABOUT ‘THE NEXT CALL’

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