Talking Cold is honest and frank conversations about issues brought forward in the Cold podcast. Join hosts Amy Donaldson, Ann Dent and Sheryl Worsley as they follow the episodes in Season 2: Justice For Joyce. They’ll talk about weighty topics like sexual assault, the death penalty and failures of the criminal justice system. The goal is more conversation and more understanding. They’ll also point out and discuss big moments for them in the episode.
Spoiler alert! You will want to listen to the main story on Amazon Music before listening to our conversation because we will talk about what happens on the show.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 1
This week’s guest is Cold podcast host/researcher/creator Dave Cawley, who explains why he chose to tell Joyce Yost’s story for Cold’s second season.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 2
Joyce Yost was followed home, threatened and raped by someone she didn’t know, the rarest type of sexual assault. Despite being terrified, Joyce reluctantly reported to police. Hosts Amy Donaldson and Sheryl Worsley speak with Sonya Martinez-Ortiz, Executive Director of the Rape Recovery Center about how trauma manifests differently for different people, victim blaming and how society can do better.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episodes 3 & 4
Joyce Yost went to police. She pressed charges, but it wasn’t an easy process. The criminal justice system aspires to ensure justice is served while protecting the rights of the accused. But for victims, it sometimes feels as though they are not being believed. It repeats the horror of the crime over and over. Hosts Amy Donaldson and Ann Dent are joined by Kim Cordova, a former prosecutor and defense attorney for a look at the system from both sides.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 5
Elizabeth Smart captured the attention of the nation when she was kidnapped at knife-point from her Salt Lake City home in June of 2002. She was 14 years old. Investigators found her nine months later and arrested her kidnappers, Brian David Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee. Mitchell repeatedly raped Elizabeth while she was captive. In the years since, Elizabeth has become an advocate for survivors and has established a foundation to help through education, prevention and recovery, elizabethsmartfoundation.org. Hosts Amy Donaldson and Sheryl Worsley ask Elizabeth about the hardest parts in her healing, her struggles with the justice system and her advice to other survivors.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 6
An immunity deal becomes a major development in the disappearance of Joyce Yost. Hosts Amy Donaldson and Sheryl Worsley talk with Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings about when it is and when it isn’t a good idea for a prosecutor to promise immunity. Doug Lovell got out of prison early thanks to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole. The ladies also speak with former Utah Board of Pardons and Parole chair Mike Sibbits about the decision to let inmates out early.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 7
A prison snitch can sometimes provide vital leads about a case, but is it always reliable information? Amy Donaldson and Ann Dent talk with former Salt Lake Police chief Chris Burbank about the pros and cons of information coming from a suspected criminal. Chris currently serves on a national level as the Vice President of law enforcement strategy for the Center for Policing Equity.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 8
What is it like to work as a detective investigating Cold cases? Amy Donaldson and Sheryl Worsley sat down with Special Agent Brian Davis of the Utah State Bureau of Investigation and member of the state’s new Cold Case Unit. He discusses what it’s like to investigate a murder when there is no body and the biggest, most rewarding case of his career.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 9
When a criminal defendant gets the death penalty it can feel like a life sentence to the families of the victims. Amy and Sheryl speak with Matt Hunsaker, whose mother, Maurine Hunsaker, was murdered when he was 10 years old in 1986. The ladies also speak with former capital case defense attorney Mark Moffat about the state of the death penalty in Utah. Lastly, Amy and Sheryl talk about what it’s like to witness a firing squad execution, which they’ve each done.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 10
Investigators conducted five official searches for Joyce Yost’s body, but came up empty. Cadaver dogs were used multiple times. Hosts Amy Donaldson and Sheryl Worsley talk with cadaver dog trainer Jayson Harames with Utah Search Dogs about the abilities and limitations of dogs in finding human remains.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 11
A man who defended Doug Lovell in court has a few things to say about what went down. Hosts Ann Dent and Sheryl Worsley spoke with defense attorney Mike Bouwhuis. Cold Host Dave Cawley joins the show for big moments.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 12
Life on death row is something we don’t hear much about. Our guest is former Utah State prison warden Ken Shulsen. He worked almost every job at the prison including overseeing several high-profile executions. He was once taken hostage in a prison riot. Amy and Sheryl also talk big moments from Episode 12 and Cold host Dave Cawley responds to a voicemail question.
Talking Cold: Discussion of Episode 13
Doug Lovell sent a letter to a journalist, sparking her curiosity. KSL’s Candice Madsen started looking into the murder of Joyce Yost as a result of Doug’s letter, which ultimately led to Cold season 2. Candice joins Amy, Sheryl and Dave Cawley to talk about the lessons they’ve each taken from the case.