Mind Motive Media
Mind Motive Media is a forensic psychology podcast about the space between what the evidence supports and what the public is told. Hosted by Melissa Deadrich — a forensic psychology graduate — the show examines real cases through the lens of psychology, law, and media influence. Each episode explores what true crime coverage often leaves out: cognitive bias, interrogation pressure, flawed narratives, and the people whose stories deserved a more honest telling. This is not about retelling familiar cases the same way. It is about slowing down, looking closer, and asking what got lost between the evidence and the narrative.
Recent Episodes
2
June 25, 2026
Episode 02 - Perugia: When Four Systems Fail Together
What happens when a media narrative, cognitive bias, a legal structure, and a single prosecutor all fail in the same direction at the same time? In this episode, forensic psychologist Melissa Deadrich breaks down the Meredith Kercher case — not as a celebrity true crime story, but as a case study in how systems collapse together and real people absorb the damage. Topics covered: How a nickname became one of the most powerful framing devices in modern true crime Attribution error and confirmation
1
June 25, 2026
Episode 01: Why Are We So Drawn to True Crime?
Before diving into specific criminal cases, host Melissa Deadrich sets the stage by turning the lens on the true crime genre itself — examining why we're so drawn to these stories, how media framing shapes what we believe, and what biases we bring to every case we consume. In this episode: Why true crime has become a cultural phenomenon — not just something we watch, but something we actively participate in The psychological roots of our fascination: threat detection, morbid curiosity, and the n
June 9, 2026
TRAILER - Mind. Motive. Media.
Welcome to Mind. Motive. Media. What shapes the story of a criminal case? The evidence? The courtroom? Or the media? In this trailer, host Melissa Deadrich — a forensic psychology graduate — introduces the show's core premise: that every criminal case generates two stories, and the gap between them is where the most important questions live. Mind. Motive. Media. examines the psychology behind true crime coverage, the legal distinctions that get lost in the narrative, and the cases that deserve a