"What is it about the culture that has conditioned us to favor the wants and needs and desires, however horrible, of a serial murderer, as opposed to--most often--the women and girls that they harmed and killed?" This week, Sarah Weinman takes us on a backpacking trip through true crime history and American pop culture, and tells us about the myths and realities of criminal profiling—and why they're sometimes so hard to pull apart. And finally, we ask the ultimate taboo question: are serial killers boring?You can find Sarah's newsletter here.Articles discussed:The Case of the Fake SherlockWhat lies beneath: the secrets of France’s top serial killer expertSupport You're Wrong About:Bonus Episodes on PatreonBuy cute merchWhere else to find us:Sarah's other show, You Are Good[YWA co-founder] Mike's other show, Maintenance PhaseLinks:https://thecrimelady.substack.com/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/richard-walter-criminal-profiler-fraud.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/nov/09/secrets-of-top-serial-killer-expert-france-stephane-bourgoinhttps://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPodhttps://www.teepublic.com/stores/youre-wrong-abouthttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/yourewrongaboutpodhttps://www.podpage.com/you-are-goodhttp://maintenancephase.comSupport the show

True crime expert and author Sarah Weinman discusses the genre's societal impact, ethical concerns, and mental health effects. They explore the evolution of true crime writing, online communities' positive impact, and the allure of true crime fascination. The conversation also delves into gripping crime fiction books and highlights a nonfiction case involving investigative genetic genealogy.

In this engaging discussion, Sarah Weinman, a crime writer and editor of 'Unspeakable Acts,' dives into the ethics of true crime storytelling. She examines the emotional toll on victims' families and the responsibilities of creators to handle narratives with care. Exploring the evolution of the genre, she highlights the influence of 'Serial' and critiques media representations, including a controversial Netflix series. Weinman emphasizes empathy in journalism, urging a critical approach to true crime that balances storytelling with compassion.