Winnie Schrader, host of YouTube’s Mysteries, Mayhem and Merlot, was destined to become a true crime podcaster, even if she didn’t know it.
Her show, which dives into all things true crime, is the product of a radio background, a love of journalism, a family podcasting mentorship, and a personal experience within the genre. She credits her early interest in crime stories to watching TV news at the dinner table, and she became one of those kids who preferred watching unsolved murder documentaries over cartoons. This interest turned into a lifelong passion that really blossomed when she met her current husband, Dave Schrader, host of several shows on the Paranormal 60 Podcast Network.
That was over a decade ago, and now she’s been bitten by the podcasting bug, launching MMM in March 2024. And because Winnie knows a thing or two about female victimhood β having experienced an abusive boyfriend in high school β she has unique insight into some of the victims of the crimes she showcases. I learned all this and more after talking with Winnie about Chained Birds on her show.
“I love to dig deep, beyond what the clickbait headlines tell you or just a snip on TikTok that doesn’t show the whole story,” she said. “Each point of view is important and relevant to properly solving each and every crime.”
Unsurprisingly, in our interview, Winnie focused on the experimental prison program at Lewisburg, PA, that I chronicled in Chained Birds, including the fallout for inmates who experienced its horrific conditions. I discussed the research I did into Lewisburg’s Special Management Unit (SMU) and how I learned about many of the same prisoner torture stories that were later revealed in a 2016 joint investigation by NPR and The Marshall Project. That exposΓ©, plus continued civil lawsuits filed by abused inmates, eventually led to the shutdown of Lewisburg’s SMU program.
Where does she find the time!
Winnie launched Mysteries, Mayhem, and Merlot less than a year ago, somehow carving out time from her other duties as manager of the website, marketing, and social media for her husband’s podcasts. And not to mention that her blended family with Dave includes 11 children and eight grandchildren! I don’t know how she does it!
You can catch Winnie’s show Sunday nights by subscribing to her YouTube channel. Episodes also appear on the Paranormal 60 Podcast Network. Thanks, Winnie, for your invitation and a terrific chat about Chained Birds π
Carla Conti is a true crime journalist, storyteller, and prison reform advocate. Her debut book, Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir, will be published by WildBlue Press on November 12, 2024.
