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Stop the Killing

Stop the Killing

By: Evergreen Podcasts & Sarah Ferris Media
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Summary

 Exploring the Darkest Corners of Violence Prevention and Survival: Join Katherine Schweit, former head of the FBI's Active Shooter Program, and award-winning true-crime producer Sarah Ferris in Stop the Killing, the true-crime podcast that doesn’t just document tragedy but empowers listeners with the tools to prevent it. This series masterfully blends deep dives into infamous mass shootings, high-stakes FBI cases, and real-world survivor stories with expert analysis and practical safety strategies. Schweit—who led the first government study on mass shootings after Sandy Hook—delivers powerful insights, while Ferris transforms each episode into a gripping, unforgettable journey. Together, they equip listeners to recognize warning signs, understand preventative strategies, and become "upstanders" in the face of violence. In Season 5, meet heroes, advocates, and experts whose stories demand action—from Parkland parents who turned grief into advocacy, to Chris Hansen of To Catch a Predator - each story a call to action in America's ongoing fight against gun violence. Stop the Killing isn’t just a podcast; it’s an indispensable guide to saving lives.509981 Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • S6E11 Surviving a Mass Shooting: Whitney Austin’s Story of Strength — Part 1

    S6E11 Surviving a Mass Shooting: Whitney Austin’s Story of Strength — Part 1
    May 14 2026
    In this powerful first part of a two-part conversation, Katherine Schweit speaks with Whitney Austin, survivor of the 2018 Cincinnati mass shooting and founder of Whitney Strong. Whitney shares the ordinary morning that became life-changing: driving from Kentucky to Cincinnati for work, walking into her office building while on a conference call, and suddenly finding herself caught in an active shooter situation. Shot 12 times, Whitney recalls the terrifying moments inside the revolving door, the clarity that helped her survive, the first responders who reached her, and the phone call to her husband that no family should ever receive. This episode explores survival, situational awareness, trauma, and the ripple effects of violence — not only on those physically injured, but on families, workplaces, first responders, and entire communities. In Part Two, Katherine and Whitney discuss recovery, Whitney Strong, and how Whitney turned unimaginable trauma into action. Learn more about Whitney’s work:Whitney Strong In this episode: Whitney Austin’s experience during the 2018 Cincinnati shooting Why situational awareness matters The role of first responders in active shooter events The impact of gun violence beyond the immediate victims What it means to survive — and begin again Part Two is out next week. For early access, ad-free episodes, and to support the work we do, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or visit:patreon.com/stopthekilling WANT THE VIDEOS HEAD TO YOUTUBE @sarahferrismedia And if you are wanting AD FREE | EARLY ACCESS | BONUS CONTENT HIT THE BANNER ON APPLE PODCASTS TO SUBSCRIBE OR SUPPORT US: Patreon.com/stopthekilling Message us on instagram : @conmunitypodcast @stopthekillingstories And for all things Katherine Schweit including where you can purchase her book STOP THE KILLING: How to end the mass shooting crisis head to: www.katherineschweit.com RESOURCES Stop the Bleed training FBI RUN, HIDE, FIGHT This is a CONmunity Podcast Production on the Killer Podcasts Network Check out more: CONNING THE CON KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON GUILTY GREENIE THE BRAVERY ACADEMY Klooghless: The Long Con Watching Two Detectives Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • S6E10 Why ‘Being on the Radar’ Doesn’t Stop a Shooter (Part 2) | Katherine Schweit

    S6E10 Why ‘Being on the Radar’ Doesn’t Stop a Shooter (Part 2) | Katherine Schweit
    May 7 2026
    In Part 2 of this conversation, former FBI agent Katherine Schweit continues her deep dive with experts from Integras Intelligence — unpacking one of the most misunderstood and frustrating questions in the aftermath of targeted violence. Joining Katherine are: Michael Ginch, Manager, Investigations Forhad Razzaque, President Why many perpetrators have no obvious warning signs — and why that’s increasing The uncomfortable truth: people close to offenders are often shocked by what happens Why “being on the radar” can mean almost anything — from minor past incidents to vague concerns The legal reality: why law enforcement can’t act without threshold evidence How free speech and civil liberties limit intervention — even when something feels wrong Why monitoring the internet is not as simple as it sounds (and why it’s impossible to catch everything) The problem of false positives — and why context matters more than keywords One of the most striking takeaways from this episode: 👉 Many organisations don’t even have a basic system for reporting concerns. Which means: Warning signs may never reach decision-makers Employees don’t know who to tell And even when they do… there’s no clear process for action As the Integras team explains, prevention isn’t about catching everything —it’s about what you do when something is flagged. You can’t prevent every act of violence. But you can build systems that make it harder to miss the signals that matter. Because when something goes wrong, the real question isn’t just: “Were they on the radar?” It’s: “What did we do when they were?” In Part 1, Katherine breaks down: What background checks actually reveal Why investigations are limited by law And how risk is assessed before an incident Learn more about the team behind this episode:👉 ⁠https://integrasintel.com/about/team/⁠ WANT THE VIDEOS HEAD TO YOUTUBE ⁠@sarahferrismedia⁠ And if you are wanting AD FREE | EARLY ACCESS | BONUS CONTENT HIT THE BANNER ON ⁠APPLE PODCASTS TO SUBSCRIBE⁠ OR SUPPORT US:⁠ ⁠⁠Patreon.com/stopthekilling⁠ Message us on instagram :⁠ ⁠ ⁠@conmunitypodcast⁠ ⁠@stopthekillingstories⁠ And for all things Katherine Schweit including where you can purchase her book STOP THE KILLING: How to end the mass shooting crisis head to: ⁠www.katherineschweit.com⁠ RESOURCES ⁠Stop the Bleed training⁠ ⁠FBI ⁠ ⁠RUN, HIDE, FIGHT⁠ This is a ⁠CONmunity Podcast Production⁠ on the Killer Podcasts Network Check out more: ⁠CONNING THE CON⁠ ⁠KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON⁠ ⁠GUILTY GREENIE⁠ ⁠THE BRAVERY ACADEMY⁠ ⁠Klooghless: The Long Con⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • S6E9 He Was on the Radar’ — What That Actually Means (Part 1) | Katherine Schweit

    S6E9 He Was on the Radar’ — What That Actually Means (Part 1) | Katherine Schweit
    Apr 30 2026
    In the aftermath of a shooting, we hear the same haunting phrase: “He was on the radar.” But what does that actually mean? In this episode of Stop the Killing, former FBI agent Katherine Schweit sits down with experts from Integras Intelligence to unpack the reality behind background checks, threat assessment, and the limits of what can — and can’t — be known before tragedy strikes. Joining Katherine are: Michael Ginch, Manager, Investigations Forhad Razzaque, President Together, they take you inside the world most people never see — the one behind the headlines. What a background check actually is — and why it’s not just a simple report The difference between public perception and real investigative capability Why not all information can legally be collected, shared, or acted upon The concept of “permissible purpose” — and how it limits investigations Why companies often run only basic checks (and what gets missed as a result) The tension between speed, cost, and depth when hiring or assessing risk How investigators assess potential threats using context — not just data As Katherine and her guests explain, background checks are not a crystal ball — they’re a snapshot in time, shaped by legal boundaries, resources, and human judgement. Just because someone was “on the radar”…doesn’t mean there was enough evidence — or legal authority — to act. And that’s where the real complexity begins. In Part 2, Katherine digs deeper into the question everyone asks after an attack: 👉 If they were on the radar… why weren’t they stopped? You’ll hear: The legal thresholds that prevent intervention Why law enforcement can’t act on instinct alone The myth that “everything online is being monitored” And what responsibility falls on organisations — and individuals — to report concerns Part 2 is available now for subscribers on Apple Podcasts and Patreon. Learn more about the team behind this episode:👉 https://integrasintel.com/about/team/ WANT THE VIDEOS HEAD TO YOUTUBE @sarahferrismedia And if you are wanting AD FREE | EARLY ACCESS | BONUS CONTENT HIT THE BANNER ON APPLE PODCASTS TO SUBSCRIBE OR SUPPORT US: Patreon.com/stopthekilling Message us on instagram : @conmunitypodcast @stopthekillingstories And for all things Katherine Schweit including where you can purchase her book STOP THE KILLING: How to end the mass shooting crisis head to: www.katherineschweit.com RESOURCES Stop the Bleed training FBI RUN, HIDE, FIGHT This is a CONmunity Podcast Production on the Killer Podcasts Network Check out more: CONNING THE CON KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON GUILTY GREENIE THE BRAVERY ACADEMY Klooghless: The Long Con Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
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