Help
Help

Suggested Topics
- What is Podknife?
  
  Podknife is a curated podcast information and review site designed to be accessible in your browser from any device. We’re working to build the most useful podcast information source available by providing you with as much publicly available information about each podcast in our database as we can find and keeping it as up to date as possible.
- Can I listen to podcasts on Podknife?
  
  Yeah! There's a player at the bottom of the page.
- How can I get my podcast on Podknife?
  
  We’d love to hear about your podcast and consider it for addition. You can suggest your own by logging in and selecting the “Suggest a Podcast” link from the menu. Fill out the form and we’ll take it from there.
- How can I submit a review of a podcast?
  
  To submit a review of a podcast, go to the page of the podcast you want to review and click the "Submit Review" button below the image associated with the podcast. Clicking that button brings you to a new page where you can select a rating between 1 and 5 stars and write a brief review.
- How can I submit a review of a podcast episode?
  
  To submit a review of a podcast episode, go to the page of the podcast whose episode you want to review and find the specific episode you're looking for. Clicking on any episode reveals a "View Episode" button and clicking on that brings you to an episode-specific page where you can find more information displayed about the episode along with a "Submit Review" button. Clicking that brings you to a new page where you can select a rating between 1 and 5 stars and write a brief review of the episode.
- Is there a Podknife app?
  
  Not yet - we're keeping it in the browser at least for now. No app download required to access anything on the site.
- How can I change my display name?
  
  To change your display name, log in to Podknife and select "Account Settings" in the dropdown menu. From the Account Settings page, enter your desired new display name and press the "Save" button to confirm the change.
- How can I change my password?
  
  To change your password, log in to Podknife and select "Account Settings" in the dropdown menu. From the Account Settings page, enter your desired new password in the two fields below "Update Password" and press the "Save" button to confirm the change.
- How can I keep track of all my reviews?
  
  Within the menu, click on "My Profile", you will then be able to check all your reviews for both podcast & episode. You can also check all your favorite podcasts.
- How can I keep track of all my favorited podcasts?
  
  You can find podcasts you’ve favorited displayed on the My Profile page associated with your account (https://podknife.com/profile).
  You can share your My Profile page displaying your favorite podcasts as well as any reviews you’ve written publicly with a link in the form https://podknife.com/users/[displayname] where [displayname] is replaced by your Display Name.
- How can I favorite a podcast?
  
  On each podcast page you’ll find the outline of a star above the podcast title. Clicking this star fills it in and designates the podcast as a favorite (for logged in users) or invites the user to log in or register for an account (for users who are not logged in). You can find favorited podcasts displayed on the My Profile page associated with your account (https://podknife.com/profile).
- How can I register for a Podknife account?
  
  To register, click on the “Register” button in the top right of your browser window (or visit https://podknife.com/users/sign_up). Enter a Display Name to be associated with your account on the site (alongside any reviews you contribute, for example), an Email address to associate with the account and your password (twice for confirmation). Press the “Confirm” button and you should be all set, logged in and ready to review and favorite podcasts as you wish.
- How can I get in touch?
  
  We’d love to hear from you. You can reach us using the Feedback form (https://podknife.com/feedbacks/new) which can be found either in the footer on each page (for users who are not logged in) or in the dropdown menu (for logged in users).
  
  You can also reach us on Twitter by tweeting us @podknife (https://twitter.com/podknife) or on Facebook by messaging us from our page (https://www.facebook.com/podknife/).
- Log In
- Register
- Feedback
- Help
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
© Podknife 2024

Please login or sign up to post and edit reviews.

This podcast currently has no reviews.

Submit Review

Favorite Report Add all episodes to Queue

Direct Appealinactive

Publisher |: Dr. Meghan Sacks and Dr. Amy Shlosberg

Media Type |: audio

Podknife tags |: Society & Culture,; True Crime

Categories Via RSS |: Personal Journals,; Science,; Social Sciences,; Society & Culture

In August 2008, Sarah Widmer, a healthy 24 year-old woman is found dead in her bathtub, just four months after marrying Ryan Widmer… the only person at home with Sarah that night.
Suspicion quickly fell on Ryan, leading to his arrest and conviction for Sarah’s murder. But could this have been a tragic accident?
Ryan has adamantly maintained his innocence for the last 16 years, but now, two seasoned criminologists examine the very controversial conviction of Ryan Widmer, for the murder of his wife Sarah.
Is Ryan a murder or did something else happen in that bathroom? Join us to find out.

People |: Dr. Meghan Sacks,; Dr. Amy Shlosberg
Premiere Date |: 2019-05-03
Related Hashtags |: #murder,; #serialkiller,; #truecrime,; #TrueCrime
Frequency |: Weekly
Explicit |: Yes

This podcast currently has no reviews.

Submit Review

22 Available Episodes (22 Total) / Average duration: 00:48:25

Date Duration Most Reviewed Highest Rated

22 Available Episodes (22 Total)Average duration: 00:48:25

Apr 22, 2023

00:01:00

In August 2008, Sarah Widmer, a healthy 24 year-old is found dead in her bathtub, just four months after marrying her husband Ryan… the only person at home with Sarah that night.

Suspicion quickly fell on Ryan, leading to his arrest and conviction for Sarah’s murder. But could this have been a tragic accident?

Ryan has adamantly maintained his innocence for the last 16 years, but now, two seasoned criminologists examine the very controversial conviction of Ryan Widmer, for the murder of his wife Sarah.

Is Ryan a murder or did something else happen in that bathroom? Join us for the season 2 premiere, May 1st, to find out.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 03, 2020

00:27:38

After more than one year since the last episode of Direct Appeal, we are back to discuss the recent media attention, to answer audience questions, and address potential tips sent in.

We'll update you on what's next in Melanie's legal battle, and what supporters of Melanie say they are doing to help.

We might even sneak in a word about season 2...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 27, 2019

00:39:25

From the creators of Direct Appeal comes our new project, Women & Crime. Each episode we cover a new female focused true crime case. Enjoy this full length sample episode, and if you like it – Subscribe Now.

**************

Ep 32: During the 1980s, Cindy James was purportedly the victim of over 100 attacks of physical and mental abuse by an unknown assailant. After a heavy police presence and no assailant ever identified, police grew skeptical. Was this a hoax or the diabolical plan of someone who wanted to torture and eventually murder her?

Credits:

• Written and Hosted by Amy Shlosberg and Meghan Sacks

• Produced and Edited by James Varga

• Music by Dessert Media

Help is Available:

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic or other violence, there are many organizations that can offer support or help you in your specific situation.

For details please visit one of the websites below.

National Domestic Violence Hotline https://www.thehotline.org/help/
RAINN https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline
Women’s Law https://hotline.womenslaw.org/
Victim Connect List of resources https://victimconnect.org/resources/national-hotlines/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 14, 2019

Unknown

As criminologists, we study females who have been victims of crime, those who have committed crimes, and those involved in the criminal justice system through their work. In this podcast, we tell the stories of these women, but we also look at the causes of female crime, and victimization. We will cover cases in which women have been wrongfully convicted and exonerated, and we will use a criminologist lens to look at how women are treated in the criminal justice system. Some of these women you may have heard of but we promise to also bring you cases of women whose names will be new to you. Regardless of the type of case, we will cover a new story involving women and crime each episode. Women & Crime is coming this November! Subscribe Now, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Nov 08, 2019

01:04:02

17: This season's final episode of Direct Appeal brings you audience tips and alternate theories. Also, Amy and Meghan will reveal their conclusions.

To help and participate in our research project, please take our short survey which can be found at: http://directappealpodcast.com/survey

If you would like to hear more from Amy and Meghan, check out our new podcast, "Women & Crime". Every two weeks we'll feature a new story which could be about female victims, offenders, or members of the criminal justice system.

For now its time to sign-off, however if there are major developments in Melanie's case we will be sure to update our audience.

Many thanks to our fans, friends and family!

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga
Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 2019

01:24:13

16: Direct Appeal is back after a brief hiatus to follow up on listener tips. We return with three interviews from those who knew Melanie best: a friend from her past, a friend from her present and a surprise interview with a key witness for the prosecution.

If you have any information regarding this case, you can still submit it by emailing us at tips@directappealpodcast.com or leaving a voicemail at (732) 510-0996.

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga
Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 2019

00:38:19

15: We ask Melanie the your Questions in the second round of Q&A.

Thank you for staying tuned during our mid-season break! We are busy following up on your leads and theories and will be sharing them soon.

If you have a tip, please contact us at tips@directappealpodcast.com

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga
Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 07, 2019

01:08:53

14: Melanie is sentenced and transferred to prison. She begins the long process of appeals and holds out hope that her conviction will be overturned. Will the courts grant an appeal or will her life sentence stand?

For images related to this episode: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep14

Credits

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga
Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 26, 2019

00:43:41

13: Listen to Melanie’s answers to your questions in part 1 of our question & answer episodes.

If you have a question to ask and didn’t hear it in this episode, you have one more chance! Be sure to submit it to us by 7/31/19 by emailing us at tips@directappealpodcast.com or leaving a voicemail at (732) 510-0996

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga
Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 17, 2019

00:38:28

12: Both sides make their closing arguments, but an act of God gives one side an advantage. Afterwards, Melanie agonizes while the jury deliberates. The verdict is read and Melanie is sentenced, will she be shown any mercy? Also, we discover that Joe may have had personal reasons to rush things along…

If you have any information regarding this case, you can submit it by emailing us at tips@directappealpodcast.com or leaving a voicemail at (732) 510-0996. If you have a question to ask Melanie, be sure to submit it to us by 7/31/19 and we may select it for a future episode.

For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep12

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga* Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22 | 00:01:00

Season 2 Trailer: Ryan Widmer

Dec 03 | 00:27:38

One Year Update

Nov 27 | 00:39:25

Introducing Women & Crime: (Cindy James - episode #32)

Nov 14 | Unknown

Introducing Women And Crime

Nov 08 | 01:04:02

Deliberation

Oct 24 | 01:24:13

The Best Friends

Sep 19 | 00:38:19

Melanie Q&A (part 2)

Aug 07 | 01:08:53

Direct Appeal

Jul 26 | 00:43:41

Melanie Q&A (part 1)

Jul 17 | 00:38:28

The Verdict

This podcast could use a review!

This podcast could use a review! Have anything to say about it? Share your thoughts using the button below.

Submit Review