Kim Knows Nothing
A Weekly Podcast
Hosted by Stacy Snowden & Kim Moffat
www.kimknowsnothing.com

It’s a wonder it’s taken me so long to review a proper podcast, given that most of the time I “watch” Forensic Files now I just put it on to listen while I do the dishes or laundry.

The transition to a “proper” podcast is an easy one, and I am grateful to the team behind “Kim Knows Nothing” for giving me the push. The selfsame Kim Moffat of the title reached out to me and suggested I review the podcast she co-anchors with Stacy Snowden.

It’s hard not to smile at this woman-led weekly production. As their rather elegantly laid-out homepage proclaims “Stacy knows most things” and “Kim knows nothing.” (The bloody purple kitchen knife is also a nice touch, given the topic and tone). Only begun in October of last year (2017), the podcast has in a few short months found its stride.

True-crime enthusiast Stacy does the research on “serious crimes”, which she then relates to Kim, a pop-culture maven who provides “ridiculous commentary.”
I skipped around the then-available eleven episodes (an additional one launched just before I began writing this) to get a feel for the development of “Kim Knows Nothing.” The series covers both more famous crimes (serial killer Rodney Alcala and the police misconduct surrounding the Martha Puebla murder, covered in Netflix’s “Long Shot”) as well as less well-known cases, such as “Deaths at Disneyland” and the crimes of serial sexual predator Dr. Schneeburger.

As can be expected, in the first episode, on Alcala, Kim and Stacy are just figuring out the format and the terms of their banter. I was rather off-put by a joke about which children are most “desirable” for kidnapping, but because the hosts admitted it went too far, I decided to continue listening. That is where editing would have come in handy, but I understand that part of the podcast’s appeal is its genuine conversation.

I asked Kim if there was a particular episode she and Stacy were most proud of. Like any good creator/mother, she said they were proud of all of them, but if forced to choose, would choose Episode 8, on Schneeburger.

By the Schneeburger episode, Kim and Stacy are a much more coordinated team. The banter is fun and expansive, without being too digressive. The “Supplemental Materials” section of the website also traces this increasing professionalism and comfort with the format, as the pictures become more plentiful and better documented. I listened to Episodes 8-11 in a single go.

The two-part “Deaths in Disneyland” was a guilty pleasure. Anyone who risks the ire of that media giant by airing its dirty laundry (and criticizing its labor practices!) earns points in my book. The deaths are handled by the hosts sensitively. Most of the laughter comes from mocking the park’s poor response to emergencies and lawsuits.

To be fair to Disney, most of the deaths were the result of (usually young) people disobeying security warnings or otherwise ignoring commonsense. These does not make the deaths any less regrettable, but they are not the result of corporate malfeasance.

A PSA:

For heaven’s sake, people, trains, or anything that looks like a train, is not something you want to **** around with.

That is all.

The episode also reminded me of that time I wanted to die at Disney World in Florida, due to sunstroke. But that’s a story for another day.

So, good on you, Kim and Stacy. I look forward to listening to you both in the future.

3/5 stars: a strong start to a series and partnership with a lot of potential
1/5 ‘fraidy cats: simple, straight delivery, not meant to scare
3/5 ick-factor: no images provides some distance, but train accidents, people, train accidents.

PS: Do you have a blog, a book, or a podcast you’re really proud of? Do you want someone to review it? Reach out to Allison at the True Crime Librarian contact page, Facebook page, or @truecrimecat on Twitter.