Freud & Felons

Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes.Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses?Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean?Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons.

Freud & Felons is a true crime podcast hosted by Yalda Safai MD, with 19 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Yalda Safai MD hosts Freud & Felons, a true crime show with 19 episodes published.

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  Episode #19

  The Disturbing Case of Gypsy Rose: How Munchausen by Proxy Abuses Escape Detection

  Aug 7, 202617 min

  Explore the disturbing world of Munchausen by Proxy with Dr. Yalda Safai in this episode of Freud and Felons, as she examines how caregivers fabricate or induce illness in vulnerable children for attention and sympathy. Using the tragic Gypsy Rose Blanchard case as a starting point, this episode delves into the clinical specifics of Factitious Disorder Imposed by Another, detailing the psychological drives and common backgrounds of those who commit this hidden form of abuse. Dr. Safai highlights how modern social media platforms have given perpetrators a broader audience and more tools to conceal their actions, escalating the risks for victims. Learn about the critical red flags that both medical professionals and the public should watch for, helping to detect and prevent this deadly, often invisible, cycle of child abuse. 00:00 Gypsy Rose and Munchausen by Proxy 03:09 Understanding Munchausen by Proxy 07:01 Exploring Falsified Illness Cases 12:26 Detecting Munchausen by Proxy 16:21 Understanding mental illness in caregivers For inquiries: ysafai@gmail.com Check out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/ @YaldaSafaimd on Instagram @YaldaSafaimd on TikTok @FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62... Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes. Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses? Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean? Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines. Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

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  Episode #18

  Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Criminal Responsibility and Mental Illness

  Jul 24, 202617 min

  Is the insanity defense just a loophole in the criminal justice system, or is it one of its most misunderstood safeguards? In this episode of Freud and Felons, Dr. Yalda Safai explores the origins of the insanity defense, the extremely strict standards defendants must meet, and why public outrage often doesn’t match reality. Using landmark cases like John Hinckley Jr., Andrea Yates, and James Holmes, Dr. Safai reveals how the defense actually operates, who can truly use it, and the life-altering consequences that follow, debunking myths about it being an “easy way out"". Highlighting the sobering gap in mental health care that often goes ignored until tragedy strikes, Dr. Safai argues that the real loophole is a system that only acts after a crime has occurred. 00:00 The McNaughton rule origin 04:23 Andrea Yates insanity defense case 06:18 Trial, conviction, and mental illness 11:55 Insanity defense burden and process 15:12 Understanding the insanity defense 16:02 Critique of the insanity defense For inquiries: ysafai@gmail.com Check out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/ @YaldaSafaimd on Instagram @YaldaSafaimd on TikTok @FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62... Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes. Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses? Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean? Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines. Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

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  Episode #17

  The Dangers of Unsupervised Ketamine: The Disturbing Reality of Matthew Perry’s Death

  Jul 10, 202620 min

  In this episode of Freud and Felons, Dr. Yalda Safai examines the story of Matthew Perry’s fatal overdose and unpacks how ketamine evolved from a wartime anesthetic to an unregulated, billion-dollar telehealth commodity. This episode explores how Perry’s case is not just about celebrity or addiction, but about the rise of companies mailing ketamine directly to consumers with minimal oversight or medical evaluation. Dr. Safai explains the legal loopholes that fueled this market, the differences between approved and off-label ketamine use, and the critical risks of at-home unsupervised treatments. She also details the official warnings issued by the FDA and major medical associations, key warning signs to look out for when considering ketamine therapy, and who should never receive ketamine due to potentially life-threatening complications. 00:00 Illegal ketamine supply to Matthew Perry 04:47 Ketamine's journey from street to clinic 07:40 Off-label use of ketamine 10:53 FDA warning on home ketamine use 13:49 Risks of unsupervised ketamine use 18:15 Contraindications for ketamine therapy For inquiries: ysafai@gmail.com Check out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/ @YaldaSafaimd on Instagram @YaldaSafaimd on TikTok @FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62... Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes. Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses? Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean? Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines. Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #16

  How Cults and Conspiracy Theories Spread: The Psychology of Shared Delusions

  Jun 26, 202620 min

  Ever wondered how cults are formed, or why conspiracy theories and misinformation can spread so powerfully, even among smart, logical people? In this episode of Freud and Felons, Dr. Yalda Safai dives deep into the concept of shared delusions to explain how rigid group beliefs take hold and rapidly multiply, turning fiction into a reality that entire communities buy into. Learn about cults like Jonestown and Heaven's Gate, who used group psychology to convince large numbers of people to follow extreme, even deadly, beliefs, why no one is completely immune to groupthink, and how our modern environment—especially online algorithms and social media echo chambers—makes us even more vulnerable to these collective delusions. Find out how political and anti-science movements also use similar tactics to manipulate group perception, reshaping not just minds but identities. For inquiries: ysafai@gmail.com Check out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/ @YaldaSafaimd on Instagram @YaldaSafaimd on TikTok @FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62... Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes. Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses? Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean? Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines. Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #15

  Homeless, Addicted, and Arrested: How Sarah Overcame Trauma and Found Healing

  Jun 12, 202627 minS0

  <p>Join Dr. Yalda Safai in this episode of Freud and Felons as she speaks with Sarah, who opens up about her difficult journey through addiction, untreated mental health issues, and repeated interactions with the criminal justice system.</p><p><br></p><p>Sarah recounts how childhood trauma and unaddressed pain led her to dependency on prescription pain pills, which eventually spiraled into homelessness and alcohol addiction. Learn all about the lack of effective support systems, the many barriers to accessing mental health and addiction treatment, and how these failures often result in cycles of incarceration and relapse. Sarah also...

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