17 episodes
This is Reality - The Reality Winner Podcast Broadway Podcast Network
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- True Crime
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3.8 • 132 Ratings
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How and why did a 25-year-old with a Pikachu bedspread become the #1 terrorist in the United States? In 2017, REALITY WINNER, a highly decorated former Air Force linguist was charged with leaking proof of Russian interference in the 2016 election to the media. Her goal – to help protect Democracy. Reality received the longest sentence ever imposed for unauthorized release of government information - five-years, three-months – for her patriotic efforts. THIS IS REALITY captures the unfolding events of the interrogation, the trial, the imprisonment and the current efforts to pursue clemency with those that were 'in the room' where it all happened.
Produced by Dori Berinstein, Sally Horchow, and Rebecca Aparicio.
Part of the Broadway Podcast Network. Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info and tickets to the current production.
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The Interrogation
On June 3, 2017, 11 FBI interrogators surprised Air Force crypto-linguist Reality Leigh Winner at her home in Augusta, Georgia, accusing her of leaking classified information proving Russian Interference in the 2016 election. THIS IS REALITY speaks with Reality Winner's mother Billie Winner-Davis, sister Brittany Winner, lawyer Alison Grinter Allen and Broadway's IS THIS A ROOM Director Tina Satter, to try and make sense of that harrowing day.
Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info, to sign Reality's petition for clemency, and to get tickets to any productions of Is This A Room.
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Who Is Reality?
Who is Reality Winner? This episode introduces us to the young woman with a fondness for CrossFit, rescuing animals and Pikachu collectables who was convicted under the Espionage Act of 1917 for leaking proof of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Reality’s mother, Billie Winner-Davis and sister, Brittany Winner, share their personal stories and explain how Reality’s personality traits and interests were twisted and used against her during her trail.
Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info, to sign Reality's petition for clemency, and to get tickets to any productions of Is This A Room.
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See Something, Say Something?
We explore how the effects of a post 9/11 national security state, the Espionage Act of 1917, and the current events of 2017 have all created the perfect storm for Reality Winner to become the most prosecuted leaker of all time.
Reality Winner, was a 25 year old NSA contractor when she was arrested for leaking classified documents detailing Russian interference in the 2016 election. The critically acclaimed Broadway play IS THIS A ROOM, play reenacts the verbatim transcript of the FBI interrogation at Reality’s home on June 3, 2017.
Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info, to sign Reality's petition for clemency, and to get tickets to any productions of Is This A Room.
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What You Don't Know Will Hurt You
Learn how the government was able to use the Espionage Act of 1917 to prosecute Reality. How the U.S. government was able to use Facebook messages, private diary entries and phone conversations against Reality Winner in her bail hearing, ultimately denying her bond.
Featured in this episode are: Billie Winner-Davis and interview footage from Reality’s stepfather Gary Davis (Reality’s stepfather) and Reality’s defense lawyer Titus Nichols.
Reality Winner, was a 25 year old NSA contractor when she was arrested for leaking classified documents detailing Russian interference in the 2016 election. The critically acclaimed Broadway play IS THIS A ROOM, play reenacts the verbatim transcript of the FBI interrogation at Reality’s home on June 3, 2017.
IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT:
How the Obama administration began using the Espionage Act of 1917 to crackdown on whistleblowers like Reality.
How Reality was denied bail even though she had no prior record.
How Reality was denied her Miranda Rights when she was arrested.
How the U.S. government was able to use Facebook messages, private diary entries and phone conversations against Reality Winner
TO LEARN MORE
100 YEARS LATER THE ESPIONAGE ACT
Reality Winner's attorney makes statement on NSA leak VOSOT
FULL INTERVIEW WITH TITUS NICHOLS
YOUNG LEAKER ARRESTED
Reality Winner's mom reacts to denied bail
Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info, to sign Reality's petition for clemency, and to get tickets to any productions of Is This A Room.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Government Always Wins
In this episode, we go in depth into the legal challenges that Reality faced while being charged under the Espionage Act with her defense lawyer, Titus Nichols. We go through her bond hearings, appeals, and how the law is structured to always favor the federal government. By speaking through the legal challenges, we see how the cards were stacked against Reality Winner. We will look at how the government can use and bend the laws to suit their own needs.
TO LEARN MORE
Press Release from the Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-government-contractor-georgia-charged-removing-and-mailing-classified-materials-news
Affidavit for Arrest Warrant- Reality Winner: https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/971331/download
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT- Reality Winner: https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/971336/download
Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info, to sign Reality's petition for clemency, and to get tickets to any productions of Is This A Room.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Hell Hole
Reality’s mother Billie Winner-Davis, her sister Brittany Davis, and activist Wendy Collins discuss experience in prison. While in prison, Reality was held in solitary confinement in an ICE Facility, denied basic human necessities, had to battle COVID twice, and was physically and sexually assaulted.
This episode covers how the government’s denial of bail and the horrible conditions of being held at the Lincolnton County jail for over a year, forced Reality to accept a plea deal.
TO LEARN MORE
Press Release from the Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-government-contractor-georgia-charged-removing-and-mailing-classified-materials-news
Affidavit for Arrest Warrant- Reality Winner: https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/971331/download
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT- Reality Winner: https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/971336/download
Visit bpn.fm/ThisIsReality for more info, to sign Reality's petition for clemency, and to get tickets to any productions of Is This A Room.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Important Story, Bad Editing
For all the hard work that went into this podcast, the poor editing really takes away from fully getting into it. Please please I beg you — remove the stock “uplifting” and “spirited” music loops that play and play in the background of important interviews. Overdramatic and cheesy and distracting.
It’s insufferable and distracts me completely from the interview — and it’s way too loud. The music loops are literally taken from the YouTube creator stock music library, making it even more recognizable to listeners, which uses tacky short loops designated by “emotion.” Overall, there’s way too much background music for a true crime podcast. The music doesn’t add to the narrative, isn’t selected to match the mood, is overdramatic, changes mid-clip, is too loud, and suddenly cuts-out. I don’t understand why they felt the need to add this music to begin with. Is it to cover up poor audio quality? Who cares. It’s understandable interviews have lower audio quality in this genre — so it’s not needed. The only other qualms I have are the plugs of the play at the beginning of every episode, requiring me to skip a straight 2 minutes when you include the ads and the actual intro… that’s not including the recap of the last episode AND the ad placement mid-sentence or even mid-word. Please be considerate with your ad breaks.
Hero
A true patriotic American. May we all follow the example of Reality when we have the opportunity to speak truth to corruption . The real terrorist in this story is that colluding scum trump.
Incredible Story - Podcast Needs Work
This story is absolutely mind-blowing! Reality Winner is one brave woman and a patriotic hero. I was disappointed when she said that regretted leaking the documents, but I am not in a prison cell facing a vitriolic smear campaign and watching my life collapse. More people need to hear this story.
The production could be better. The episodes are very short yet there are far too many ads and an unnecessarily long intro, the actual content feels very rushed, the background music is too obnoxious and does not fit the content, and many parts are repeated over and over. Those things really take away from the story itself which deserves better reporting. I still gave it 5 stars because I want this story to be heard, but the production itself is disappointing.