Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

James Wolner | Investigative Journalist & Creator of Dakota Spotlight

Dakota Spotlight is a true crime series investigating unsolved murders, cold cases, and missing persons in North Dakota and the Midwest. Hosted by investigative journalist James Wolner, each season takes a deep dive into one case, from rural crime and small town murders to decades-old disappearances. Through meticulous research, exclusive interviews, and on-the-ground reporting, Dakota Spotlight brings forgotten crimes back into the public eye and gives voice to victims and their families. Alongside full investigative seasons, the show also features shorter standalone episodes that explore individual mysteries in a single sitting. If you are drawn to investigative journalism, small town true crime, and real crime stories based on actual events, Dakota Spotlight offers gripping and respectful storytelling you will not forget.

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  1. 1d ago

    Call Me Shelly (2): In Shelly’s Shadows

    As investigators continue looking for Shelly, they interview friends and co-workers, follow reports of harassment, search for her Ford Thunderbird, and begin tracing the people who may have seen her before she disappeared. Inspired by Dakota Spotlight Season 7, Call Me Shelly is now a documentary film. Watch the official trailer, see upcoming screenings, and purchase tickets at https://callmeshellyfilm.com Call Me Shelly is written and produced by James Wolner. Archival audio courtesy of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo. Explore the full Dakota Spotlight catalog: https://DakotaSpotlight.com Listen early and ad-free with Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/DakotaSpotlight Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter Have information about a case or want to get in touch? Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Join the Dakota Spotlight community on Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Watch Dakota Spotlight on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 To advertise on Dakota Spotlight, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Dakota Spotlight is produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and sound design, is the property of Six Horse Media. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. For permissions, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Call Me Shelly (2): In Shelly’s Shadows

  2. 1d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie

    Introducing ‘The Bucket List Family’ Dad on Living Life Like an Adventure from No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie. Follow the show: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie From the outside, Garrett Gee’s life may seem like a dream. He spends his time travelling the world with his wife and children, documenting their adventures on social media as The Bucket List Family. But behind the polished exterior is a family who works hard to live their values each day. Blake sits down with Garrett to discuss the diverging paths they took after selling their companies for life-changing amounts of money. Plus, they dissect the dark side of social media, including the times Garrett and his family have gone viral for the wrong reasons.  In this conversation you’ll learn: – Garrett’s shocking take on social media – The incredible story of how Garrett sold his company – How to define your family’s values, and live them each day – How adventure and play can be part of your family’s life at any budget You can learn more about Garrett Gee and The Bucket List Family at https://www.youtube.com/c/thebucketlistfamily.  Enough Foundation's mission is to spread reminders in every form — bracelets, messages, actions, community — until feeling ENOUGH becomes the cultural default. To learn more, visit weareenough.co.  Produced, Directed, and Cinematography by Wubetu Shimelash / IG: Wubetu Shimelash Disclaimer: No purchase necessary. While supplies last. Visit http://www.weareenough.co/rules for full terms. More information on Blake’s other projects here:  Morning Water  Morning Water is a daily hydration formula that restores energy, balance, and performance with essential electrolytes, minerals, and nutrients in one simple routine.  To learn more, visit morningwater.co and use code NOMAGICPILL for 25% off your first order. SONIA  Sonia is a conversational AI companion designed for emotional support. Through voice and text, it offers guided wellbeing sessions, including meditations, journaling, personalized recommendations, and practical exercises. To learn more, visit www.soniahealth.com and download it on the App Store. MOOVLAB At MOOVLAB, we bring health and wellness to your workday.  MOOVLAB - the answer to sitting is moving.  To learn more, visit www.moovlab.com Follow Blake on Instagram and stay up to date with Lemonada on Facebook and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at lemonadapremium.com. Subscribe to Spotify Premium to watch ad-free video. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or concerns you may have. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Garrett Gee Life’s Adventure 01:38 The Surf Trip: Garrett & Blake’s Blind Meeting 4:41 Pushing Yourself To Try Hard Things 5:39 Garrett’s Revolutionary Deal With Snapchat 15:07 Benefits in Living For Yourself 17:41 The Start of The Bucket List Family 18:04 Sonia 20:03 Rich in Life, Not Money 22:54 Garrett Shares His 7 Life Values 23:29 The Universal Bell Curve 24:34 How To Work Hard & Play Hard 26:37 Social Media vs Being Present 31:00 Coming To The Final Realization: Garrett’s New Beginning 33:12 Blake’s Advice On Making Hard Decisions 34:59 Moovlab 35:56 Morning Water 36:52 Kids Relationship With Social Media 42:34 Garrett Tells His Kids Cliff-Jumping Dilemma 47:24 How Far To Push Your Kids Potential 50:25 Why You Need To Define Your Values 52:31 Garrett’s Origin Story: Villain or Hero? 59:19 Revisiting His Past: Garrett’s Life Lessons 1:02:05 How To Find Your People 1:06:17 Garrett’s Pro-Soccer Dream Turns Into A Reality 1:09:33 Find The Intention In Every Action 1:11:31 Ending Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. Jul 9

    Call Me Shelly (1): Fly on the Wall

    In August 1994, 26-year-old Michele "Shelly" Julson drops off her three-year-old son with his grandfather, planning to return a few hours later. She never does. As family, friends, and police begin searching, troubling details emerge about the days leading up to her disappearance, including reports that Shelly believed she was being harassed. Inspired by Dakota Spotlight Season 7, Call Me Shelly is now a documentary film. Inspired by Dakota Spotlight Season 7, Call Me Shelly is now a documentary film. Watch the official trailer, see upcoming screenings, and purchase tickets at https://callmeshellyfilm.com Call Me Shelly is written and produced by James Wolner. Archival audio courtesy of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo. Explore the full Dakota Spotlight catalog: https://DakotaSpotlight.com Listen early and ad-free with Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/DakotaSpotlight Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter Have information about a case or want to get in touch? Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Join the Dakota Spotlight community on Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Watch Dakota Spotlight on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 To advertise on Dakota Spotlight, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Dakota Spotlight is produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and sound design, is the property of Six Horse Media. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. For permissions, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Call Me Shelly (1): Fly on the Wall

  4. Jun 25

    400 Feet From Home - Leah Sottile on Hush Season 2

    Leah Sottile joins Dakota Spotlight for a conversation about investigative journalism, the ethics of true crime storytelling, and the challenges of reporting on unresolved cases in overlooked rural communities. Leah discusses the making of Hush Season 2, the line between mystery and journalism, and the emotional weight of reporting on the 2019 death of Sarah Zuber in rural Oregon. Following the interview, hear the first episode of Hush Season 2. In March 2019, 18-year-old Sarah Zuber was found dead just 400 feet from her family’s home in the wooded hills above Rainier, Oregon. Six years later, her family still has no clear answers. What begins as a tragic and confusing death soon spirals into a story filled with unanswered questions, community rumors, disputed forensic conclusions, and a family’s relentless search for the truth. Listen to Hush: https://www.opb.org/show/hush/ More from Leah Sottile and Ryan Haas at The Western Edge on Substack: https://substack.com/@thewesternedge1 Explore the full Dakota Spotlight catalog: https://DakotaSpotlight.com Listen early and ad-free with Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/DakotaSpotlight Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter Have information about a case or want to get in touch? Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Join the Dakota Spotlight community on Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Watch Dakota Spotlight on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 To advertise on Dakota Spotlight, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Dakota Spotlight is produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and sound design, is the property of Six Horse Media. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. For permissions, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    400 Feet From Home - Leah Sottile on Hush Season 2

  5. Jun 18 ·  Bonus

    The Bagpiper and His Brother (6) Update: Who Was Harold Pieper?

    After the release of The Bagpiper and His Brother, listeners who knew Harold Pieper began reaching out. In this update episode, Harold's stepdaughters and granddaughter share memories that reveal a devoted husband, caretaker, and grandfather. Their stories offer a fuller picture of the man whose life was forever changed by the 1971 bombing. Binge the full season of The Bagpiper and His Brother ad-free with Spotlight PLUS. Sign up on the Dakota Spotlight show page in Apple Podcasts or Spotify, on Patreon, or at https://DakotaSpotlight.com/spotlight-plus Explore the full catalog: https://DakotaSpotlight.com Listen early and ad-free with Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/DakotaSpotlight Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter Have information about a case or want to get in touch? Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Join the Dakota Spotlight community on Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Watch Dakota Spotlight on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 To advertise on Dakota Spotlight, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Dakota Spotlight is produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and sound design, is the property of Six Horse Media. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. For permissions, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Bagpiper and His Brother (6) Update: Who Was Harold Pieper?

  6. Jun 11

    Hidden in Plain Sight - Josh Dean of Chameleon Weekly

    Journalist and podcast creator Josh Dean joins Dakota Spotlight to discuss scams, deception, and the craft of narrative podcasting. Josh talks about the rise of fraud stories, producing investigative audio on a weekly schedule, and his upcoming book on the legendary Lockheed Skunk Works. Following the interview, hear an episode of Chameleon Weekly titled “The de Kooning Job: Teachers Turned Thieves,” the strange true story of a retired couple linked to the theft of a priceless Willem de Kooning painting that vanished from an Arizona museum in 1985, only to resurface decades later hanging behind a bedroom door in rural New Mexico. Listen to Chameleon Weekly: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chameleon/id1532225667 Crimeless is another stellar podcast by Josh: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crimeless/id1844700671 Josh’s new book “The Impossible Factory” is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0bJ7XR8a Explore the full Dakota Spotlight catalog: https://DakotaSpotlight.com Listen early and ad-free with Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/DakotaSpotlight Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter Have information about a case or want to get in touch? Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Join the Dakota Spotlight community on Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Watch Dakota Spotlight on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 To advertise on Dakota Spotlight, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Dakota Spotlight is produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and sound design, is the property of Six Horse Media. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. For permissions, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Hidden in Plain Sight - Josh Dean of Chameleon Weekly

  7. Jun 4

    The Bagpiper and His Brother (5) Finale: The Fall of the Bagpiper

    In September 1972, in Edina, Lloyd Brenna appears to have put the bombing behind him, until federal agents return with a new case. This time, it’s tax fraud, built around a fabricated identity and a scheme that begins to unravel in court. Faced with the evidence, Lloyd doesn’t back down. Instead, he offers explanations so strange, so confident, that they seem to defy common sense. As Lloyd faces sentencing, Wallace Brenna serves time for his role in the bombing, and Harold Pieper, still recovering from his injuries, turns to the civil courts in search of accountability.  A special thanks to Mike Wald and Derrik Dyka for their contributions to this episode. Looking for hockey pickup games, leagues, tournaments, and clinics? https://HockeyFinder.com The Bagpiper and His Brother is written and produced by James Wolner, with additional research assistance by Mari Zoerb Hanson. Archival audio sourced from the Library of Congress, identified as public domain. Binge the full season of The Bagpiper and His Brother ad-free with Spotlight PLUS. Sign up on the Dakota Spotlight show page in Apple Podcasts or Spotify, on Patreon, or at https://DakotaSpotlight.com/spotlight-plus Explore the full catalog: https://DakotaSpotlight.com Listen early and ad-free with Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/DakotaSpotlight Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter Have information about a case or want to get in touch? Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Join the Dakota Spotlight community on Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Watch Dakota Spotlight on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 To advertise on Dakota Spotlight, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Dakota Spotlight is produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and sound design, is the property of Six Horse Media. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. For permissions, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Bagpiper and His Brother (5) Finale: The Fall of the Bagpiper

  8. May 28

    The Bagpiper and His Brother (4): The Delivery

    On a quiet night in 1971, in Huron, South Dakota Harold Pieper is asked to pick up a small case at the airport. Minutes later, it explodes. The investigation turns to Genevieve Johnson and her connection to Wallace Brenna, setting off a chain of events driven by jealousy and obsession. With Lloyd Brenna pulled in, the brothers become the focus of a bombing case that leads to a nationwide search, an arrest, and a trial that seems all but certain. But when the verdict comes down, it leaves more questions than answers, and the consequences are far from over. The Bagpiper and His Brother is written and produced by James Wolner, with additional research assistance by Mari Zoerb Hanson. Archival audio sourced from the Library of Congress, identified as public domain. Binge the full season of The Bagpiper and His Brother ad-free with Spotlight PLUS. Sign up on the Dakota Spotlight show page in Apple Podcasts or Spotify, on Patreon, or at https://DakotaSpotlight.com/spotlight-plus Explore the full catalog: https://DakotaSpotlight.com Listen early and ad-free with Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/DakotaSpotlight Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter Have information about a case or want to get in touch? Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Join the Dakota Spotlight community on Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Watch Dakota Spotlight on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 To advertise on Dakota Spotlight, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Dakota Spotlight is produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and sound design, is the property of Six Horse Media. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. For permissions, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Bagpiper and His Brother (4): The Delivery
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About

Dakota Spotlight is a true crime series investigating unsolved murders, cold cases, and missing persons in North Dakota and the Midwest. Hosted by investigative journalist James Wolner, each season takes a deep dive into one case, from rural crime and small town murders to decades-old disappearances. Through meticulous research, exclusive interviews, and on-the-ground reporting, Dakota Spotlight brings forgotten crimes back into the public eye and gives voice to victims and their families. Alongside full investigative seasons, the show also features shorter standalone episodes that explore individual mysteries in a single sitting. If you are drawn to investigative journalism, small town true crime, and real crime stories based on actual events, Dakota Spotlight offers gripping and respectful storytelling you will not forget.

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