ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

Did Lizzie Borden really kill her parents? The truth may be more complicated than the infamous so-called "nursery rhyme" suggests. On this episode of ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones, author and legal scholar Cara Robertson joins Randall to revisit one of America's most infamous unsolved murder cases: the 1892 killings of Andrew and Abby Borden and the sensational trial of Lizzie Borden. Drawing on her meticulously researched book, "The Trial of Lizzie Borden," Robertson examines the courtroom evidence, the testimony that never reached the jury, the controversial allegations surrounding a possible poison purchase, and the legal strategies that helped secure Lizzie's acquittal. Why did Victorian-era attitudes toward women shape the case? How did newspaper reporters turn a murder trial into a national spectacle? And what can the trial teach us about the difference between historical evidence and the stories we want to believe? With Randy's trademark curiosity, personal knowledge of the case, humor, and fascination with true crime, this conversation explores the mysteries, personalities, and cultural forces that have kept the Lizzie Borden case alive for more than 130 years. Was Lizzie guilty, innocent, or involved in ways we may never fully understand? Despite what the various fictionalized retellings have told you, you can now listen and decide for yourself. Cara Robertson began researching the Borden case as a Harvard undergraduate in 1990. She holds a PhD from Oxford University and a JD from Stanford Law School. She clerked at the Supreme Court of the United States, served as a legal adviser to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at The Hague, and has written for various publications. Her scholarship has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Humanities Center, of which she is a Trustee.  Keywords: Lizzie Borden, Cara Robertson, The Trial of Lizzie Borden, Lizzie Borden trial, Lizzie Borden murders, true crime history, unsolved murder mysteries, Victorian crime, American criminal justice, historical true crime, ON THE KNOWS, Randall Kenneth Jones. #LizzieBorden #TrueCrime #CaraRobertson #TheTrialOfLizzieBorden #TrueCrimeHistory   Cara Robertson: www.CaraWRobertson.com Randall Kenneth Jones: www.RandallKennethJones.com Susan Bennett: www.SusanCBennett.com Kevin Randall Jones: www.KevinRandallJones.com

What does it take to become the guy audiences love to hate? Actor Fedor Steer joins Randall Kenneth Jones on ON THE KNOWS for a smart, funny, and surprisingly inspiring conversation about acting, horror, perseverance, and the strange path that can lead to a career playing some of film and television's most memorable villains. Known for his work in "American Horror Story," "The Haunting of Hill House," "Evil," "Bloodline," "Haunted Mansion," and "Scary Movie 6," Fedor talks about becoming "American Horror Story's" evildoer du jour, Mr. Nas, his frighteningly elaborate makeup, spending hours in the makeup chair, filming a nude bathtub scene, and what it was really like working alongside film legends Jessica Lange and John Waters. Fedor also shares the remarkable story of how teenage Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his family inspired his acting career while he worked as a cruise-ship officer. He discusses his years as an elementary-school teacher, the realities of having a day job as an actor, learning 14 pages of dialogue, and discovering that even the smallest role can become an opportunity. Most importantly, Fedor explains what he KNOWS about succeeding in Hollywood: persevere, listen, be prepared, put your phone away, know your lines—and, above all, don't complain. It's a conversation about acting, creativity, career reinvention, professionalism, kindness, and the power of simply paying attention. #FedorSteer #AmericanHorrorStory #AHS #AmericanHorrorStory13 #MrNas Fedor Steer: www.FedorSteer.com Randall Kenneth Jones: www.RandallKennethJones.com Susan Bennett: www.SusanCBennett.com Kevin Randall Jones: www.KevinRandallJones.com

What do you do when your biggest dreams seem impractical, your values are tested, and you're nowhere near finished building what you started? Peter Finn has some answers. On this episode of ON THE KNOWS, Randall Kenneth Jones talks with Peter Finn, founder of Finn Partners, one of the largest independent PR and marketing firms worldwide, and the driving force behind the Catskill Mountain Foundation, about the values that have shaped his life and work. Peter is the author of “Driven to Build: Guided by Values, Leading for Long-Term Success in the For-Profit and Nonprofit Worlds.” Peter shares why “work hard and play nice” is more than a slogan, how collaboration helps turn ambitious ideas into reality, and why he believes doing the right thing sometimes means walking away from more than a million dollars in business. He also discusses the importance of creating a workplace where people feel valued, making a difference in the community, and continually striving to amaze. From building a global communications firm to developing a destination for the arts in upstate New York, Peter’s story is about persistence, purpose and the people who make big things possible. His parting wisdom? Life is precious. Use it well. Listen for an engaging conversation about values-driven leadership, entrepreneurship, collaboration, the arts, community impact and building a legacy that lasts. #PeterFinn #OnTheKnows #RandallKennethJones #DrivenToBuild #ValuesDrivenLeadership  Peter Finn: www.FinnPartners.com  Peter Finn: www.catskillmtn.org  Randall Kenneth Jones: www.RandallKennethJones.com  Susan Bennett: www.SusanCBennett.com  Kevin Randall Jones: www.KevinRandallJones.com

What if thinking like a dog could actually help you live a better life? On this episode of ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones, Randall welcomes back Dr. Jen Golbeck, PhD, author of Think Like a Dog: How Positive Psychology Can Help Your Dog Thrive, for a smart, funny, heartfelt—and occasionally surprisingly emotional—conversation about dogs, psychology, happiness, and the extraordinary bond between humans and their canine companions. Dr. Golbeck explains positive psychology and how its focus on strengths, purpose, connection, curiosity, kindness, vitality, humor, and fulfillment can help dogs—and the people who love them—thrive. Along the way, Randy and Jen explore what dogs really understand about our emotions, why dogs can recognize our tone of voice and facial expressions, what their famous “puppy dog eyes” may tell us about the human-dog relationship, and why letting your dog stop and sniff on a walk may be more important than getting those extra steps. They also challenge some of our most familiar assumptions about canine behavior. Do dogs actually feel guilt? What does a wagging tail really communicate? Can dogs smell our moods? Why do dogs sometimes mediate conflict? And what happens when we stop trying to make dogs behave like perfect humans and instead learn to appreciate them as the creatures they are? The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Randy reflects on his beloved Airedale, Alexander, and the fears that come with loving an aging dog. Jen shares moving stories from her experience rescuing special-needs dogs and discusses canine pain, loss, grief, end-of-life care, resilience, and the profound lessons dogs can teach us about living in the present. At its heart, this is a conversation about dogs, love, empathy, relationships, resilience, and human connection—and why “Think Like a Dog” may be about much more than understanding your dog. Because sometimes the best way to understand our dogs is to pay closer attention to what they're teaching us about ourselves. #ThinkLikeADog #JenGolbeck #ONTheKNOWS #DogBehavior #PositivePsychology Jen Goldbeck: www.JenGolbeck.com Randall Kenneth Jones: www.RandallKennethJones.com Susan Bennett: www.SusanCBennett.com Kevin Randall Jones: www.KevinRandallJones.com

Award-winning journalist and author Carol Lin joins Randall Kenneth Jones for a deeply personal and revealing conversation about journalism, identity, ambition, love, motherhood, loss, curiosity, and the moments in life when everything changes.   Lin, a veteran television journalist who worked at ABC, CNN and Good Morning America, is the author of “When News Breaks: A Memoir of Love and War—a memoir” that goes far beyond the breaking-news stories that defined her career. It is a story about searching for identity, trying to prove yourself, learning when to let go, and discovering what really matters when life interrupts even the best-laid plans. Lin takes Randy inside the experience of anchoring live CNN coverage on September 11, 2001, describing what it was like to be at the center of breaking news as the unimaginable unfolded. But 9/11 is only one part of a much larger story. As Lin explains, the historic news events of her career serve as a backdrop to a more intimate journey: a Chinese American daughter trying to understand where she belongs, a journalist determined to establish her own identity, a woman balancing an all-consuming career with marriage and motherhood, and a mother writing a memoir as a gift to her daughter.   The conversation explores the complicated relationship between journalism and personal identity, including Lin's experience of repeatedly being mistaken for fellow journalist Connie Chung and what that revealed about race, gender and representation in American television news.   Lin also reflects on growing up as the daughter of Chinese immigrants and the lessons her father gave her about reading, knowledge and possibility. Her father's belief that reading could help her “know everything” became an important part of the person she would become.   Randy and Lin talk about the power of curiosity over assumption—and why asking someone about their experience can be more meaningful than pretending you already understand it. Lin explains why she doesn't want people simply to reach conclusions about the Asian-American experience; she wants them to be curious enough to ask questions and engage in genuine conversation.   They also discuss the deeply personal heart of When News Breaks: Lin's complicated love story with her late husband, fellow journalist Will Robinson, the choices they faced about marriage and starting a family, his devastating diagnosis while Lin was six months pregnant, and the difficult process of writing honestly about a relationship that was neither perfect nor simple.   For Lin, the book became an act of love—and ultimately an act of liberation.   The two also explore Lin's fascination with time, particularly the “before and after” moments that divide our lives into what existed before and what existed afterward.    Whether it's 9/11, a devastating diagnosis, falling in love, becoming a parent or confronting a life-changing decision, these moments become permanently embedded in our memories.   And because this is ON THE KNOWS, Randy ends with the question he asks every guest:   Carol Lin, what do you know?   Her answer is powerful: We are not defined by our worst mistake. Our lived experience carries us through difficult moments—and we can give ourselves grace.   This is a conversation about journalism, storytelling, identity, Asian-American heritage,women in television news, 9/11, marriage, motherhood, grief, resilience, curiosity, memoir, human connection and the power of words.   It is also a reminder that sometimes the stories that make the biggest impact aren't the stories we thought we were going to tell. This episode features: Carol Lin’s journey from daughter of Chinese immigrants to network television journalist. The search for identity — and what it means to be seen through the eyes of others. Breaking news and 9/11: Lin reflects on covering some of the most consequential stories of her career. The pressure to prove yourself in a competitive world of television journalism. Being mistaken for Connie Chung — and the challenge of establishing her own identity and credentials. The power of curiosity and why asking questions is more important than making assumptions. The complicated relationship between journalism and personal life, including career, marriage and motherhood. Love and loss: the deeply personal story of Lin’s relationship with her late husband, Will Robinson. Writing “When News Breaks” and the courage required to tell an honest story about an imperfect relationship. Motherhood and legacy: why Lin wrote the memoir in part as a gift to her daughter. The importance of time — and the life-changing moments that divide our lives into “before” and “after.” The surprising power of memoir to help readers see their own lives in someone else’s story. Giving ourselves grace and refusing to let our worst mistakes define us. The power of words, storytelling and human connection. And finally, Randy asks the question he asks every guest: “Carol Lin, what do you know?” #CarolLin #WhenNewsBreaks #OnTheKnows #Journalism #Memoir #911 #CNN #WomenInJournalism #Storytelling #HumanConnection Carol Lin: www.CarolLinNow.com Randall Kenneth Jones: www.RandallKennethJones.com  Susan Bennett: www.SusanCBennett.com  Kevin Randall Jones: www.KevinRandallJones.com