Explained in Plain Sight

J.C.

 Explained in Plain Sight is a true crime podcast that takes a second look at stories everyone thinks they already understand. We slow things down, add context, and break down the people, systems, and media narratives behind well-known cases. Some moments are serious, some are frustrating, and some deserve a little side-eye — because understanding what happened matters more than dramatic retellings. 

Episodes

  1. 8 JAN

    Episode 3: The McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case — The Joke That Hid the Truth

    Most people think they already know the McDonald’s hot coffee case. It’s been repeated for decades as the ultimate example of a “frivolous lawsuit.” That version is almost entirely wrong. In this episode of Explained in Plain Sight, JC slows the story all the way down. From a McDonald’s parking lot in Albuquerque to a courtroom in Bernalillo County, we break down what actually happened, who Stella Liebeck was, what McDonald’s already knew, and why the jury made the decisions it did. We also dig into how the media turned a serious injury into a cultural joke, how that narrative stuck, and why this case is still taught very differently in law schools than it’s remembered in pop culture. This isn’t a story about coffee.  It’s a story about accountability, narrative control, and how easily the truth gets buried when a punchline is more convenient.

    19 min

  2. 1 JAN

    Episode 2: The Stanford Prison Experiment – Power, Permission, and the System That Wouldn’t Stop

    The Stanford Prison Experiment is usually taught as a simple lesson: give people power, and they’ll abuse it. But that version leaves out a lot. In this episode of Explained in Plain Sight, we slow the story all the way down. We look at why Philip Zimbardo wanted this experiment so badly, how it was approved, who the participants really were, and how a “simulation” became psychologically real in less than a week. We break down the day-by-day escalation, the punishments guards created, the breakdown of Prisoner 8612, the performance of authority by the infamous “John Wayne” guard, and the moment Christina Maslach walked in and refused to accept what everyone else had normalized. We also examine the immediate aftermath, the decades-long defense of the experiment, and why Zimbardo later compared Stanford to Abu Ghraib — plus what that comparison gets right and very wrong. This isn’t a story about people suddenly snapping.  It’s a story about permission, systems protecting themselves, and how harm continues when authority isn’t challenged.

    51 min

  3. 24/12/2025

    Episode 1: The Kitty Genovese Case — What Everyone Gets Wrong

    The murder of Kitty Genovese is one of the most referenced cases in true crime history, often summarized as “thirty-eight people watched and did nothing.” But that version leaves out context, nuance, and critical details. In this episode, we slow the story down. We look at who Kitty Genovese actually was, what happened the night she was killed, and how a single headline helped turn a complicated event into a cultural myth. By examining witness accounts, media framing, and what gets lost in repetition, this episode challenges the version of the story most people think they know.

    27 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

 Explained in Plain Sight is a true crime podcast that takes a second look at stories everyone thinks they already understand. We slow things down, add context, and break down the people, systems, and media narratives behind well-known cases. Some moments are serious, some are frustrating, and some deserve a little side-eye — because understanding what happened matters more than dramatic retellings. 

Information

  • Creator
    J.C.
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Explained in Plain Sight
  • Provider