Advertise on podcast: Love and Radio: Blood Memory

In February 2024, celebrated children’s book author and illustrator Petra Mathers and her husband, photographer Michael Mathers, mailed letters to dozens of friends and family members to let them know they had died by suicide. Petra and Michael were by all accounts healthy, happy, and in love. Why did they choose to die together? And what did that decision do to the people left to mourn them?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Truth--the intimate, clever, and pioneering fiction podcast from Jonathan Mitchell--made a recent return to the podwaves. Enjoy this recent episode: The Completetist, written by Hunter Nelson. Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com or search for it wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From our friends at Dead Signals (Archive 81, The Deep Vault, Generation Crossing): Conversations with Ghosts follows mausoleum attendant Mal Fleming as he tries to convince the spirits of Grey Briar Cemetery to pass on. In each episode, Mal sits down with a new ghost to build a portrait of their life, their death, and their afterlife... all to help them release whatever still ties their soul to this reality. Listen to more episodes: https://pod.link/1843137773 Website: conversationswithghosts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Evil is so understandable, but goodness is such a mystery.”Michael faces a conviction that could put him in prison for the rest of his life. PLAYLIST! https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/progreso https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/second https://entranas.bandcamp.com/track/nublado https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/00-glacial?in=tambi3n/sets/zoroxxe-nefelomancia https://nataliabeylis.bandcamp.com/track/good-birds-goodnight https://nataliabeylis.bandcamp.com/track/the-sloes-made-sweet Star of the Sea - Winter People (Unreleased) https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/bruma https://eezzmmeerraallddaa.bandcamp.com/track/piedra-infinita https://nataliabeylis.bandcamp.com/track/black-sea-1967 https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/acqua https://perleemusic.bandcamp.com/album/speaking-from-other-rooms CREDITS! Additional Voice: Nicki Stein Series Producer: Meera Kumar Managing Editor: Robin Amer Additional Reporting: Brian Krans and Anya Schultz Fact Checking: Nicole Pasulka Contributing Editor: Allison Herrera Visuals: Orla Mc Hardy Huge gratitude to the music labels: También AudioBulb Records RVNG Int'l Special thanks: Avishay Artsy, Terra Friedman, Davy Gardner, Alexander Jerri, Allyson Morgan, Jonathan Mitchell, Nigel Poor, Marc Sollinger, Rebecca Kanthor and Ashley Shi at NYU Shanghai, Stephen Match and Meagan Shrinker at the law offices of Loevy and Loevy, Jacqueline Swett and Lisa Califf at law offices of Donaldson Califf Perez, and Cowhouse Studios in County Wexford, Ireland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“If you marry a prisoner, you only know this person when they’re sitting next to you on a chair in the prison visiting room.“ After 45 years behind bars, Michael adjusts to life on the outside, makes new friends, and starts a business. But things quickly unravel. PLAYLIST!https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/the-melt https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/fau https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/lampyridae https://andrewfrankel.bandcamp.com/album/romaslend https://inter-bellum.bandcamp.com/track/disintegration-falls  https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/corporal https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/chiron https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/s-and-s https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/sets/zoroxxe https://inter-bellum.bandcamp.com/track/interlude-04 https://eileanrec.bandcamp.com/track/red-grey-orange LSC - Star of the Sea (Unreleased) https://ab-strangebird-sounds.bandcamp.com/track/old-map Guts and Erasures - Sereptie (Unreleased) https://banabila.bandcamp.com/track/not-in-our-name https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/a-real-person-in-the-window https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/descomposicion-2-stillness-2 https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/00-glacial https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/02-esperame-un-segundo-mstr-2448-etv2?in=tambi3n%2Fsets%2Fzoroxxe-nefelomancia https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/asonata https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/the-devoted-fifth https://tamben.bandcamp.com/track/kon https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/descomposicion-iv-triple-n https://dj-masuno.bandcamp.com/track/hortela https://microhm.bandcamp.com/track/emerging-from-the-depths https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/07-tahuando https://andrewheath.bandcamp.com/track/the-absentee https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/aurora https://daisyrickman.bandcamp.com/track/blue-morning https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/lisergium-tremens CREDITS! Additional Voice: Tina Antolini Series Producer: Meera Kumar Managing Editor: Robin Amer Additional Reporting: Brian Krans and Anya Schultz Fact Checking: Nicole Pasulka Contributing Editor: Allison Herrera Visuals: Orla Mc Hardy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“The issue's not the truth. The issue is the reality of the truth." Nick and his reporting team try to piece apart how much of Michael’s story is true. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://mood.com Promo code: LOVERADIO SUPPORT THE SHOW! https://loveandradio.org/member PLAYLIST! https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/half-self https://tambien.bandcamp.com/album/memory-amb https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/san-gregorio-remastered-2 https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/c-mulo-estelar https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/acqua https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/tigre-de-papel-feat-king-klav https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/destrancadera-remastered https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/exit-man https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/only-us https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/asonata https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/corporal Overlook by Sereptie (unreleased) https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/se-ales https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/nonorganics https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/his-broom https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/two-skins https://ab-odnu.bandcamp.com/track/meaning https://ab-henrik-meierkord.bandcamp.com/track/erinnerungen-requiem-tomo-nakaguchi-remix https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/falso-paraiso-feat-biomigrant https://samarecordings.bandcamp.com/track/quixosis-descomposicion-1-kuna-feat-soios https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/ant-tesis-2 https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/buenas-noches-imposible-2 https://ab-strangebird-sounds.bandcamp.com/track/flowing https://distantfiresburning-ab.bandcamp.com/track/book-of-hope https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/cet-cea https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/the-goodbye-clouds https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/descomposicion-2-stillness-2 https://inter-bellum.bandcamp.com/track/every-word-in-the-english-language-interbellum https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/hole-time https://wilbolton.bandcamp.com/track/going-nowhere https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/vac-o https://run-ireland.bandcamp.com/track/paidir-poball-pupil https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/tierra-madera-y-fuego-2 CREDITS! Additional Voices: Bill Rohlfing, Roman Mars, Alice Lyons, Valinda Lee, Ellen Horne, Avery Trufelman, Brian Reed. Series Producer: Meera Kumar Managing Editor: Robin Amer Additional Reporting: Brian Krans and Anya Schultz Fact Checking: Nicole Pasulka Contributing Editor: Allison Herrera Visuals: Orla Mc Hardy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“ I believe there's order and beauty and meaning in the universe. I believe in goodness and not evil. And if I found out that was all not true, it would be devastating to me.” As the years tick by, Michael and Ariel start to lose hope he’ll ever be free – while Heather fears the people in charge may finally fall for Michael’s charisma. SUPPORT THE PODCAST! https://loveandradio.org/member PLAYLIST! https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/weight https://banabila.bandcamp.com/track/closing-time-the-party-is-over https://banabila.bandcamp.com/track/waiting-in-moonlight https://inter-bellum.bandcamp.com/track/every-word-in-the-english-language-interbellum https://tambien.bandcamp.com/album/memory-amb https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/inmutable https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/tunnbaq https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/hidroslidaridad https://entranas.bandcamp.com/track/g-lido https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/afuera https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/17-minutos https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/a-bao-a-qu https://ab-henrik-meierkord.bandcamp.com/track/erinnerungen-drawing-from-memory-odnu-remix https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/c https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/2-paisaje-oblicuo https://entranas.bandcamp.com/track/tierra-templada https://eileanrec.bandcamp.com/track/red-grey-orange https://orietachrem.bandcamp.com/track/punta-uva https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/covina https://eileanrec.bandcamp.com/track/blue-light-marcus-fischer-version https://eileanrec.bandcamp.com/track/red-grey-orange https://eileanrec.bandcamp.com/track/blue-christopher-hipgrave-remix https://glitchbird.bandcamp.com/track/calima https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/descomposicion-iv-triple-n https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/only-us https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/sagitarii https://glitchbird.bandcamp.com/track/aube https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/kon https://jennifercastle.bandcamp.com/track/justice https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/ant-tesis-2 CREDITS! Additional Voices: Katie Mingle, Betsy Corcoran, James Spring, Lu Olkowski, Nigel Poor, and Samantha Harvey. Series Producer: Meera Kumar Managing Editor: Robin Amer Additional Reporting: Brian Krans and Anya Schultz Fact Checking: Nicole Pasulka Contributing Editor: Allison Herrera Visuals: Orla Mc Hardy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Bushido, the code of conduct for a samurai: When you render it down, it's about honor.” When a former AB member testifies against the gang and goes into hiding, its leadership debates whether to murder his family as retribution. SUPPORT THE SHOW! https://loveandradio.org/member SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://mood.com USE PROMO CODE "LOVERADIO" for 20% your order. PLAYLIST! https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/frente-a-espejos Looped Bowed Gong - Star of the Sea  (Unreleased) https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/2-paisaje-oblicuo https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/the-ash-around-us https://nonturn.bandcamp.com/track/opportunity https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/against-futures https://ab-marcneys.bandcamp.com/track/tides https://ab-memoryscale.bandcamp.com/track/pluto-l-o https://ab-odnu.bandcamp.com/track/dividing https://lashermanas.bandcamp.com/track/dormir-un-a-o-entero https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/an-impossible-hello https://andrewfrankel.bandcamp.com/track/anibol-station https://dj-masuno.bandcamp.com/track/romero https://ab-strangebird-sounds.bandcamp.com/track/warm-soil https://ab-strangebird-sounds.bandcamp.com/track/lavender-river Lay Your Puny Bones Beside the Water by Boduf Songs (Coming 2027!) https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/candela-y-tron-2025-edit CREDITS! Additional Voices: Bill Rohlfing and Dan Conroy Contributing Research: Bethany Jones Series Producer: Meera Kumar Managing Editor: Robin Amer Additional Reporting: Brian Krans, Anya Schultz Fact Checking: Nicole Pasulka Visuals: Orla Mc Hardy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“It's interesting how people think when they're attempting to justify or rationalize the damage to another human being.” Michael considers a proposal from the Aryan Brotherhood that could alter his future – and the gang’s. SUPPORT THE SHOW! https://loveandradio.org/member PLAYLIST! https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/despegar https://banabila.bandcamp.com/track/early-morning-light Sax Synth Loop - Star of the Sea (unreleased) https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/chiron https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/reversa-2 https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/tigre-de-papel-feat-king-klav https://rosarito1-2.bandcamp.com/track/tiempo-libre https://inter-bellum.bandcamp.com/track/remnants-of-structures-built-to-break https://wilbolton.bandcamp.com/track/swept https://entranas.bandcamp.com/track/resbala https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/covina https://entranas.bandcamp.com/track/nublado https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/hesperia https://eezzmmeerraallddaa.bandcamp.com/track/l-grimas-de-sangre-ii https://ab-strangebird-sounds.bandcamp.com/track/lavender-river https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/deriva-qoa https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/17-minutos https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/nonorganics https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/a-crushing-down https://landless.bandcamp.com/track/the-newry-highwayman https://rosarito1-2.bandcamp.com/track/karmario CREDITS! Additional voice: Tina Antolini Series Producer: Meera Kumar Managing Editor: Robin Amer Additional Reporting: Brian Krans and Anya Schultz Fact Checking: Nicole Pasulka Visuals: Orla Mc Hardy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Somehow it always turns out that trouble finds me.” Michael is sent to prison, where the teachings of Walks On Top are put to the test. PLAYLIST! https://eileanrec.bandcamp.com/track/solsticehttps://banabila.bandcamp.com/track/le-syst-me-d-railleStar of the Sea - Winter People (unreleased)https://zoroxxe.bandcamp.com/track/tahuandohttps://joaquincornejomusic.bandcamp.com/track/quixosis-lisergium-tremens-joaqu-n-cornejos-broken-mixhttps://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/undoinghttps://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/fuegohttps://entranas.bandcamp.com/track/resbalahttps://entranas.bandcamp.com/track/chimborazohttps://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/el-viento-lo-sabehttps://landless.bandcamp.com/track/the-fishermans-wife SUPPORT THE SHOW! https://loveandradio.org/member CREDITS! Additional voice: Katie Mingle, Dave ShawSeries Producer: Meera KumarManaging Editor: Robin AmerAdditional Reporting: Brian Krans and Anya SchultzFact Checking: Nicole Pasulka Visuals: Orla Mc Hardy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Stop what you’re doing. There’s two bodies buried there.” Police discover two dead bodies buried under a shed in Michael’s back yard. When he runs off with one of the murder victims’ wives, his involvement is called into question. SUPPORT THE SHOW! loveandradio.org/member PLAYLIST!https://canvas-index.bandcamp.com/track/i-wed-my-shadow https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/la-desolaci-n-del-gran-ahorrar https://dj-masuno.bandcamp.com/track/filamentos https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/tundra https://rosarito1-2.bandcamp.com/track/tiempo-libre https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/pululahua https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/onitsura https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/la-ni-a-al-gato-le-ense-a-danza https://dialogdiscos.bandcamp.com/track/las-olas-oxygen-studio-version https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/alas https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/oxygen https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/acqua https://orietachrem.bandcamp.com/track/punta-uva https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/vespere https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/kon https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/devuelvan-las-entradas https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/panterabyte https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/a-bao-a-qu https://ab-strangebird-sounds.bandcamp.com/track/lavender-river https://ab-strangebird-sounds.bandcamp.com/track/lavender-river https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/florecer https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/apoapside https://oracogan.bandcamp.com/track/ground-and-grave https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/kon CREDITS!Additional voices: Katie Mingle, Bill Rohlfing, Peter Lang-Stanton, Adam ConoverSeries Producer: Meera KumarManaging Editor: Robin AmerAdditional Reporting: Brian Krans, Anya SchultzFact Checking: Nicole PasulkaVisuals: Orla Mc Hardy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While cutting firebreak as a teen, Michael is approached by a rancher who offers to look after him, become his spiritual mentor, and teach him how to handle himself in a fight. PLAYLIST! Momenta Neo 1 by Quixosis https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/el-ascenso-de-la-luz https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/shown-in-the-corner https://olivercoates.bandcamp.com/track/living-branches-feat-chrysanthemum-bear https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/inmutable https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/vertigo https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/3-autopolesis?in=tambi3n/sets/zoroxxe https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/cet-cea https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/ausente https://inter-bellum.bandcamp.com/track/winter-tungsten https://andrewheath.bandcamp.com/track/spaghetti-western https://ab-odnu.bandcamp.com/track/under-the-igloo https://bodufsongs.bandcamp.com/track/sword-weather https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/track/false-drain SUPPORT L+R! https://loveandradio.org/member CREDITS! Additional voices: Katie Mingle, Lorrie Goldensohn, Bill Rohlfing Series Producer: Meera Kumar Managing Editor: Robin Amer Additional Reporting Brian Krans, Anya Schultz Fact Checking: Nicole Pasulka Visuals: Orla Mc Hardy Editorial Consultant: Allison Herrera Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Sometimes, if you want something great, you have to make a lot of sacrifices.”  Two women meet the same man in prison and walk away with decidedly different impressions of him. PLAYLIST! PLAYLIST! https://nataliabeylis.bandcamp.com/track/the-lighthouse-trembles https://banabila.bandcamp.com/track/mind-shifts https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/acqua https://banabila.bandcamp.com/track/not-in-our-name https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/vertigo https://nataliabeylis.bandcamp.com/album/mermaids https://ab-memoryscale.bandcamp.com/track/apr-s-la-pluie http://soundcloud.com/zoroxxe/07-zoroxxe-revoluciones-micro No More Underground by Sereptie, from the forthcoming Bone Pile EP https://glitchbird.bandcamp.com/track/intemperie https://russyoung.bandcamp.com/track/a-listening-voice https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/la-inmanencia-del-ser https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/tigre-de-papel-feat-king-klav https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/chanclas-de-mercurio-2 https://dialect-trax.bandcamp.com/track/sentimental-sedimentary https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/vertigo https://eezzmmeerraallddaa.bandcamp.com/track/l-grimas-de-sangre-ii https://banabila.bandcamp.com/track/the-process-from-birth https://soundcloud.com/tambi3n/2-paisaje-oblicuo https://timbertimbrefth.bandcamp.com/track/well-find-out https://quixosis.bandcamp.com/track/chahuarmishqui-remastered-2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The motto of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang is “blood in, blood out." During his 45 years in prison, Michael Thompson became one of the few people to leave the white supremacist gang alive — and to testify against it. But is Thompson a gentle soul trapped by a broken system, or, as his critics claim, a master manipulator who can’t be trusted? Blood Memory, a new series from Love + Radio, grapples with that question. Winner of the Best Independent Nonfiction Audio Award at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. The new season unfolds February 2. Subscribers can listen to the entire series a week early though, just sayin'. SUPPORT LOVE AND RADIO! http://loveandradio.org/member MUSIC ON THIS TRAILER! H2O - The Inner Cave https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/the-inner-cave vhvl - tree https://rvng.bandcamp.com/track/treee Timber Timbre - We’ll Find Out https://timbertimbrefth.bandcamp.com/track/well-find-out Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I've been pretty obsessed with the idea of forgiveness the last few years, trying to tease apart when it empowers and when it becomes something that appeases the worst kind of behavior. So when my friend Katy told me about Wilma Derksen, a woman who chose forgiveness in the face of unimaginable tragedy, I had to figure out how she was able to do it. PLAYLIST (in order of appearance): https://blackdecelerant.bandcamp.com/track/three https://isikkural.bandcamp.com/track/grown-one-iota https://florelaurentienne.bandcamp.com/track/kamouraska https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/drop https://isikkural.bandcamp.com/track/interlude-2 https://tambien.bandcamp.com/track/vespere https://mlesprg.bandcamp.com/track/dock https://rvng.bandcamp.com/track/father-of-light https://mlesprg.bandcamp.com/track/synth-2-2 https://dialect-trax.bandcamp.com/track/half-moon https://msage.bandcamp.com/track/crick-foam https://florelaurentienne.bandcamp.com/track/fleuve-v https://florelaurentienne.bandcamp.com/track/1991 https://paulineannastrom.bandcamp.com/track/morning-splendor More information about Candace Derksen can be found here: https://www.candacederksen.com/