Dr Fiona M Girkin - Shenanigans Podcast

Dr Fiona M. Girkin

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True Crime
Updated Biweekly

Join Dr Fiona M. Girkin, PhD from Tasmania (Australia) and learn all about the dark side of female behaviour, including psychopathy, narcissism and other dark traits. Dr Girkin is also on YouTube, X (Twitter) and Instagram. Contribute to her work through Buy me a Coffee

3d ago

Bad Mumma - Episode 4: Megan Huntsman

Neonaticide is the deliberate killing of a newborn within the first 24 hours of life. Almost exclusively committed by the mother, it is often linked to pregnancy denial. Megan Huntsman, a Utah mother who, over a decade, secretly gave birth to seven babies, taking the lives of six of them within minutes of their first breath. She then stored their tiny bodies in cardboard boxes in the garage like unimportant keepsakes. This is a story of hidden pregnancies, addiction, and a profound failure of maternal instinct that defies understanding. This episode covers the murder of 6 babies and will not be for everyone. Watch on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast app. Support this podcast: Buy Me a coffee - buymeacoffee.com/drfionagirkin Website – www.drfionagirkin.com Email – info@drfionagirkin.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drfionagirkin/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrFionaGirkin X - https://x.com/drfionagirkin #FemalePsychopath #DarkTetrad #TrueCrime #FemaleManipulators #Womenwho kill #CoerciveControl #BadMumma #ToxicWomen #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfEvil

7 min
May 31

Bad Mumma - Episode 3: Kristel Candelario

In this episode, we examine the heartbreaking case of Kristel Candelario. A 32-year-old mother from Cleveland, Ohio, who chose a beach vacation in Puerto Rico over the life of her 16-month-old daughter, Jailyn. She left the toddler alone in a playpen for more than ten days with only a few bottles of milk. What followed was a slow, agonising death from starvation and dehydration. This is a story of profound neglect, selfishness, and the ultimate maternal betrayal. Watch on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast app. Support this podcast: Buy Me a coffee - buymeacoffee.com/drfionagirkin Website – www.drfionagirkin.com Email – info@drfionagirkin.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drfionagirkin/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrFionaGirkin X - https://x.com/drfionagirkin #FemalePsychopath #DarkTetrad #TrueCrime #FemaleManipulators #Womenwho kill #CoerciveControl #BadMumma #ToxicWomen #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfEvil

7 min
May 24

Bad Mumma - Episode 2: Lori Vallow-Daybell

In this episode, we confront one of the most disturbing cases in recent true crime history: Lori Vallow Daybell, the so-called "Doomsday Mom." A former beauty queen and mother of three who spiralled into apocalyptic delusions, ultimately sacrificing two of her children to satisfy twisted beliefs that they were evil zombies. This was in part fuelled by her desire to marry and start and have an untethered life with Chad Daybell, a self-appointed prophet who wrote religious doomsday books. This episode covers the murder of two children and will not be for everyone. Filicide is the murder of a child by their mother, regardless of the circumstances. It can be difficult to understand, but it is important to talk about in the context of dark mothers. Watch on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast app. Support this podcast: Buy Me a coffee - buymeacoffee.com/drfionagirkin Website – www.drfionagirkin.com Email – info@drfionagirkin.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drfionagirkin/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrFionaGirkin X - https://x.com/drfionagirkin #FemalePsychopath #DarkTetrad #TrueCrime #FemaleManipulators #Womenwho kill #CoerciveControl #BadMumma #ToxicWomen #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfEvil

9 min
May 18

Bad Mumma - Episode 1: Ruby Frankie

From YouTube momfluencer to convicted child abuser — the shocking downfall of Ruby Franke. In this Podcast episode, we dive deep into the disturbing case of Ruby Franke, the Utah mother of six who built a massive following on her channel "8 Passengers" by promoting strict parenting and "tough love." What viewers saw as wholesome family content slowly revealed itself as something far darker, with escalating punishments that raised serious red flags. I break down how Ruby’s behaviour aligns with the Dark Tetrad — narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism — and how her partnership with disgraced life coach Jodi Hildebrandt turned into a dangerous cult-like dynamic. This is not just a story of bad parenting; it’s a chilling example of how power, delusion, and influence can destroy innocent lives. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out to family, friends, or a professional. Watch on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast app. Support this podcast: Buy Me a coffee - buymeacoffee.com/drfionagirkin Website – www.drfionagirkin.com Email – info@drfionagirkin.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drfionagirkin/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrFionaGirkin X - https://x.com/drfionagirkin #FemalePsychopath #DarkTetrad #TrueCrime #FemaleManipulators #Womenwho kill #CoerciveControl #BadMumma #ToxicWomen #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfEvil

8 min
Season 3 Trailer

Bad Mumma - Trailer (Mini Series)

Welcome to the latest podcast series from Shenanigans, Bad Mumma. This podcast series dives into the chilling true stories of maternal monsters who harm their children. From stories of newborns thrown away like trash, to mothers who don’t want parenting to get in the way of a career or a holiday. To stories of women who hold their children captive to discipline them. I am Dr Fiona Girkin, a specialist in female psychopathy and other dark traits, and in this series, we will cover brief case descriptions followed by a dive into the dark traits that drive women to harm their children. Each episode will be a new case of a mother who harmed her child and an opportunity to take a deeper look at what drives mothers to do bad things. Watch on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast app. Support this podcast: Buy Me a coffee - buymeacoffee.com/drfionagirkin Website – www.drfionagirkin.com Email – info@drfionagirkin.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drfionagirkin/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrFionaGirkin X - https://x.com/drfionagirkin #FemalePsychopath #DarkTetrad #TrueCrime #FemaleManipulators #Womenwho kill #CoerciveControl #BadMumma #ToxicWomen #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfEvil

2 min
Feb 2

Dark Beauty - Episode 10: When Women Harm

The Dark Beauty Series ends here – and it’s the most important episode yet. In this feature-length finale, clinical psychologist Dr Fiona M. Girkin connects the dots across nine real cases of women who deceived, manipulated, abused, and even killed. From Elizabeth Holmes and Anna Delvey to Erin Patterson, Melissa Caddick, Belle Gibson, Sherri Papini, Istarlin Hassan, Jordan Worth, and Sarah Rigby – we uncover the psychological patterns that tie them together through the lens of the Dark Tetrad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism). You’ll learn: Why narcissism was the one trait present in EVERY single case (“I am special – therefore exempt”) How Machiavellianism turned people into tools and victims into pawns When psychopathy removes all empathy and remorse Where sadism emerges – especially when victims are intimate and powerless The chilling rule: The closer the victim, the darker the traits become (fraud vs. family abuse vs. child harm) Why society often excuses or minimises female perpetrators – and why that must change for real justice This isn’t about hating women. It’s about facing reality: women can be just as calculating, remorseless, and dangerous as men. Denying it only protects perpetrators and fails victims – especially men and children. Watch the Video on YouTube - https://youtu.be/H76NCksFF1Y?si=gdROKyRng15so4Xj Website – www.drfionagirkin.com Email – info@drfionagirkin.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drfionagirkin/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrFionaGirkin X - https://x.com/drfionagirkin #FemalePsychopath #DarkTetrad #TrueCrime #FemaleManipulators #ErinPatterson #ElizabethHolmes #AnnaDelvey #DarkBeautySeries #PsychopathyInWomen #CoerciveControl #BadMumma #ToxicWomen #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfEvil

14 min
Jan 9

Dark Beauty - Episode 9: Jordan

In this powerful episode, we highlight the landmark UK case of Alex Skeel, a 21-year-old father from Bedfordshire who endured nine months of horrific abuse from his girlfriend Jordan Worth—the first woman convicted of coercive control. Meeting as teenagers in 2012, their relationship produced two daughters but descended into isolation, starvation, and brutal violence: Worth stabbed Alex with knives (severing tendons), hammered his skull, scalded him with boiling water (causing severe burns), and withheld food until he lost 56 kilograms, leaving him ten days from death. Rescued by police in June 2017 after neighbours heard screams, Alex's emaciated, scarred body shocked the medics. Worth pleaded guilty in 2018 to GBH and coercive control, receiving a 7.5-year sentence (released in 2022). We delve into her manipulative tactics of isolation, including fake death hoaxes and social media hijacking, and examine the ongoing trauma: permanent scars, therapy, and Alex's fight against male victim stigma as a ManKind Initiative ambassador. Discover how Worth's cruelty exemplifies the Dark Tetrad—Machiavellian manipulation, narcissistic control, psychopathic indifference, and sadistic pleasure—in a story that reshaped the understanding of abuse. Website – www.drfionagirkin.com Email – info@drfionagirkin.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drfionagirkin/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrFionaGirkin X - https://x.com/drfionagirkin Reference List Daily Mail Online. (2019, February 18). Abused by my girlfriend: Alex Skeel reveals injuries from Jordan Worth. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6716559/Abused-girlfriend-Alex-Skeel-reveals-injuries-Jordan-Worth.html BBC News. (2018, April 17). Alex Skeel: Domestic abuse survivor was 'days from death'. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-43799850 Daily Mail Online. (2023, April 20). Evil girlfriend who starved and stabbed partner is engaged to new man after serving prison sentence. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11996031/Evil-girlfriend-starved-stabbed-partner-engaged-new-man-serving-prison-sentence.html BBC Three. (2019, February 19). Abused By My Girlfriend: Alex Skeel feared his partner Jordan Worth would kill him. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/81a8f303-5849-45b8-85a0-e8532b5d948b ITV Good Morning Britain. (n.d.). 'My abusive girlfriend threatened to kill me'. Retrieved from https://www.itv.com/goodmorningbritain/articles/alex-skeel-i-was-abused-by-my-girlfriend IMDb. (2019, February 17). Abused by My Girlfriend (TV Movie 2019). Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9812676/ University of Salford News. (2018, April). Domestic violence doesn't just happen to women. Retrieved from https://news-archive.salford.ac.uk/news/articles/2018/domestic-violence-doesnt-just-happen-to-women.html The Independent. (2018, April 18). '10 days from death': Male domestic abuse survivor describes horrific ordeal as former girlfriend is jailed. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jordan-worth-domestic-abuse-alex-skeel-days-from-death-luton-crown-court-bedfordshire-a8309921.html Stephensons Solicitors LLP. (n.d.). First UK Conviction For Coercive Behaviour For A Female Offender. Retrieved from https://www.stephensons.co.uk/site/blog/family-law-blog/first-uk-conviction-for-coercive-behaviour-for-female-offender 1 in 3 Podcast. (2023, April 5). 6-Domestic Violence SURVIVOR: Alex Skeel. Retrieved from https://www.1in3podcast.com/6-domestic-violence-survivor-alex-skeel/ BBC Media Centre. (2019, August). Abused By My Girlfriend. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/08/abused-by-my-girlfriend The Mirror. (2019, February 22). How abusive Jordan Worth still had 'control' over Alex Skeel even AFTER arrest. Retrieved from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-abusive-jordan-worth-still-14037324 Reddit r/TrueCrimeDiscussion. (2024, January 29). *In 2016, 21-year-old Alex Skeel was brutally tortured, controlled, stabbed and abused by his girlfriend*. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/1ae3388/in_2016_21yearold_alex_skeel_was_brutally/ Vocal Media Journal. (n.d.). The Alex Skeel Domestic Abuse Case. Retrieved from https://vocal.media/journal/the-alex-skeel-domestic-abuse-case

7 min
12/29/2025

Dark Beauty - Episode 8: Erin

In this chilling episode, we examine the notorious "mushroom murders" case of Erin Patterson, the 50-year-old Victorian mother convicted of poisoning her estranged husband's elderly relatives with death cap mushrooms hidden in beef Wellington. On July 29, 2023, Patterson lured Don and Gail Patterson (75 and 70), along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson (66) and her husband Ian (66), to her Leongatha home under the false pretence of discussing her fabricated terminal cancer diagnosis. What followed was a calculated act of betrayal: three guests died in agony from organ failure, while Ian survived after 46 traumatic days in ICU, including a liver transplant. Patterson's careful plan involved sourcing toxic fungi via a citizen science app, dehydrating them months beforehand, and disposing of evidence as her victims suffered, unravelling through phone data, fingerprints, and lies exposed in an 11-week trial. Convicted on July 7, 2025, of three murders and one attempted murder, she was sentenced on September 8 to life imprisonment with a 33-year non-parole period, making her eligible for release at age 82. We explore the calculated deception, from faked illnesses to digital cover-ups, and the devastating physical and emotional toll on survivors like Ian, who confronted her in court, and on Simon Patterson, left to grapple with family tragedy amid marital conflict. Finally, we analyse how Patterson embodies the Dark Tetrad- Machiavellian scheming, narcissistic entitlement, psychopathic detachment, and sadistic cruelty- in turning hospitality into homicide. This case highlights the hidden dangers of family malice and the importance of vigilance. If true crime stirs unease, support begins with awareness—Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14. Website – www.drfionagirkin.com Email – info@drfionagirkin.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drfionagirkin/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrFionaGirkin X - https://x.com/drfionagirkin Reference List CNN. (2025, September 5). Australian woman to be sentenced after being found guilty of killing lunch guests with poisoned Beef Wellington*. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/07/australia/australia-erin-patterson-mushroom-trial-verdict-intl-hnk CNN. (2025, September 7). Erin Patterson: ‘Mushroom murderer’ given three life sentences for killing lunch guests. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/07/australia/australia-erin-patterson-murder-sentencing-intl-hnk The New York Times. (2025, September 7). Australian Woman, Erin Patterson, Gets Life in Mushroom Murder Case. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/world/australia/australia-mushroom-murder-erin-patterson.html ABC News. (2025, September 7). *Erin Patterson sentenced to life with 33 years non-parole for mushroom murders — as it happened. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/live-updates-erin-patterson-sentence-mushroom-murders/105734146 NPR. (2025, July 6). Mushroom murder verdict: Erin Patterson found guilty. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/07/07/nx-s1-5451735/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-verdict NPR. (2025, September 7). Australian woman is sentenced to life in mushroom murder case. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/09/08/nx-s1-5533902/australia-erin-patterson-life-sentence-mushroom-murder The Guardian. (2025, September 8). Australia mushroom murderer Erin Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/08/erin-patterson-sentence-australia-mushroom-murder-ntwnfb The Guardian. (2025, July 8). Erin Patterson mushroom murder verdict – what happens next?. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/08/erin-patterson-mushroom-trial-murder-verdict-what-happens-next-ntwnfb ABC News. (2025, September 8). Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson sentenced to life in prison with 33 years non-parole. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/mushroom-murderer-erin-patterson-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/105735360 NPR. (2025, July 6). Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson's life sentence appealed. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/07/07/nx-s1-5451735/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-sentence The Guardian. (2025, September 8). ‘Only you know why’: how mushroom murderer Erin Patterson faced her sentencing. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/08/how-mushroom-murderer-erin-patterson-faced-her-sentencing Reuters. (2025, September 8). Australia mushroom murderer Erin Patterson jailed for minimum of 33 years. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/australia-mushroom-murderer-erin-patterson-jailed-minimum-33-years-2025-09-08/

9 min

Join Dr Fiona M. Girkin, PhD from Tasmania (Australia) and learn all about the dark side of female behaviour, including psychopathy, narcissism and other dark traits. Dr Girkin is also on YouTube, X (Twitter) and Instagram. Contribute to her work through Buy me a Coffee

Creator

Dr Fiona M. Girkin
Years Active

2019 - 2026
Episodes

26
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
Show Website

Dr Fiona M Girkin - Shenanigans Podcast