A preview of Carol and Emily's full interview with Richard Beasley's public defender, Rhonda Kotnik.
She shares her previous interactions with Beasley, who served as a jailhouse minister and a constant courthouse presence, and shares her perspective on his complex personality, particularly his manipulation of religion to build rapport and exert influence.
To hear the full episode, please subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Supporting Cast.
EPISODE CREDITS
Host - Carol Costello
Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey
Producer - Chris Aiola
Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte
Mixing Supervisor - Sean Rule-Hoffman
Production Director - Brigid Coyne
Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando
Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder
GUEST
Rhonda Kotnik - Summit County Public Defender
Additional info at (www.carolcostellopresents.com).
Do you have questions about this series? Submit them for future Q&A episodes.
Subscribe to The God Hook’s YouTube channel for videos, photos, and additional conversations.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/
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13:08
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13:08
BONUS | The Cost of Innocence
Carol introduces a segment produced by her former student, Luke, titled "The Cost of Innocence." The episode explores the death penalty from a perspective that challenges its justification, featuring a story about a man whose brother was on death row, and highlighting a botched execution attempt.
EPISODE CREDITS
Host - Carol Costello
Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey
Producer - Chris Aiola
Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte
Mixing Supervisor - Sean Rule-Hoffman
Production Director - Brigid Coyne
Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando
Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder
GUEST
Luke Antaky - Former President of Associated Students of Loyola Marymount University
Gallup Death Penalty Polling (2025)
ACLU reports on execution methods
Additional info at (www.carolcostellopresents.com).
Do you have questions about this series? Submit them for future Q&A episodes.
Subscribe to The God Hook’s YouTube channel for videos, photos, and additional conversations.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/
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20:44
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20:44
BONUS | The Death Penalty
Carol and Emily examine the complexities of America's death penalty system, exploring legal, moral, and practical challenges, and discuss whether convicted killer Richard Beasley will ever be put to death.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/
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20:51
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20:51
INSIDER SESSION | Maternal Manipulation: The Craigslist Killer’s Calls to Mom
Criminologist Dr. Volkan Topalli joins Carol and Emily to analyze Richard Beasley’s jailhouse phone calls to his mother, revealing the disturbing psychological dynamics that underscore a manipulative relationship.
EPISODE CREDITS
Host - Carol Costello
Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey
Producer - Chris Aiola
Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte
Mixing Supervisor - Sean Rule-Hoffman
Production Director - Brigid Coyne
Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando
Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder
GUESTS
Volkan Topalli - Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Additional info at (www.carolcostellopresents.com).
Do you have questions about this series? Submit them for future Q&A episodes.
Subscribe to The God Hook’s YouTube channel for videos, photos, and additional conversations.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/
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47:28
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47:28
FEED DROP | "Hijacked" from The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
The Knife: A True Crime Podcast is a weekly true crime podcast from journalist/producers Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton (formerly of The Opportunist). The Knife is a show about people who’ve been dropped into a story they didn't start, but are left to finish. Through empathetic, in-depth interviews, Hannah and Patia find the untold stories of people who’ve been touched by crime.
On November 23, 1985, Jackie Pflug took her seat aboard EgyptAir Flight 648. When the plane reached flying altitude, several men forcefully took control of the plane. Jackie’s flight was being hijacked. Jackie miraculously survived, but many others did not. Decades later, she tells a story of bravery, profound loss and hope.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/
In Season Two of her true crime series, The God Hook, journalist Carol Costello investigates the complex case of the Ohio Craigslist Killings—and in doing so, unearths the untold story of the crimes that preceded the murders—and the victims who’ve never received justice. Richard Beasley was convicted of murdering three men and attempting to kill a fourth in the fall of 2011, but before that heinous spree, authorities were building a human trafficking case against him. Now, working with the case's prosecutor, a county sheriff, and many closely involved sources, Carol examines previously unknown details of Beasley’s alleged crimes, and how he used the God Hook to lure his victims and bend them to his will.
In Season One of this podcast, Blind Rage, journalist Carol Costello revisits the first big assignment she covered as a 22-year-old, novice reporter: Phyllis Cottles’ brutal attack. Psychologists call them “Triumphant Survivors,” but Phyllis Cottle was more than a survivor, she used this crime to better herself and the world around her.
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/
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