Ongoing Podcasts vs One-and-Done
As much as I love my ongoing podcasts, there is a lot to be said for a podcast that tells one story and when it is over that is the end. Sometimes it is intimidating to add a new podcast, but if you know it will only be six episodes then it is a smaller risk.
Dateline NBC
Speaking of risk, plenty of podcasts are made by amateurs in basements with subpar equipment, so you never know what you are getting into. Mommy Doomsday is made by Dateline NBC, so you know from the start what to expect. Professionalism, quality, and a narrator that is right on the fringe of being too dramatic. Mommy Doomsday is well researched, and because it owned by a news studio there is actual audio from reporters speaking to the suspects before they were arrested.
True Crime
True crime is one of the most popular genres in podcasting. Most crime podcasts fall into the following categories:
- Infamous Criminals or Victims
- Unusual or Sadistic Crimes
- Unsolved Cases
Mommy Doomsday falls somewhere between the unsolved and the horrific, but the best part about the entire thing is their trial is set for later this year (2021) so you can listen to the podcast and then tune in for the verdict.
The Juicy Details
The podcast follows the story of Lori Vallow, a Mormon (Latter-Day Saint) woman with a string of dead ex-husbands. She eventually meets an author named Chad Daybell whose books revolve around tying Mormonism to end of the world scenarios. He is fairly popular in the niche doomsday community in Utah and Idaho and has published dozens of books. Shortly after Lori and Chad meet, both of their spouses mysteriously die, and Chad and Lori quickly get married.
Chad and Lori start what some refer to as a cult, and others describe as an extremist form of millennial Mormonism. Chad tells many people that he remembers them from a past life, and even convinces a few women that they were married to him in former lives. Lori’s brother Alex and a handful of others seem to believe Chad’s beliefs, and the group starts to take shape.
Not long after Lori and Chad get married, Lori’s daughter Tylee and adopted son JJ are reported missing by JJ’s grandparents because they haven’t been seen since Lori moved from Arizona to Idaho. Lori convinces police that the children are back in Idaho with a friend, and suddenly her and Chad skip off to Hawaii while the police start searching for her kids.
The Aftermath
The story is mesmerizing as you hear the couple spout their beliefs and see how they attempt to justify their crimes. Cult stories are always the most interesting because to a rational spectator, the details sound insane, but to those caught up in the mania of doomsday beliefs it makes some sense.
The interviews with Lori’s son and one of her ex-followers are some of the most compelling parts of the series. Murder indictments have been handed out since the podcast was released, and the world may soon see the verdict play out in the court system.