When Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown first started digging into the story behind Jeffrey Epstein’s sweetheart plea deal back in 2018, she did not envision the firestorm that would build around her reporting: breaking open decades of abuse of young girls and young women, and eventually leading to Epstein's arrest on charges of sex trafficking of minors. Brown initially tracked down close to 100 women who were allegedly victimized by Epstein and as they began to share their stories with each other and the world, they became a force that Congress could not ignore. The fierce advocacy of these and other survivors led to passage of the 2025 Epstein Files Transparency Act. Which brings us to our current moment: the Justice Department has now published nearly 3.5 million pages, so citizens can see for themselves the extensive web of Epstein's connections to the prominent and the powerful. Julie joins Nicolle in this episode to reflect on her incredible legacy of investigative reporting, what threads she continues to pull, and the importance of believing these women: “It's real, people. It's real that this happened."

A note to listeners: This episode contains discussions around sexual assault. Please listen with care.

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“ We anticipate your unit taking about fifty percent casualties.” This is what Retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling heard in an intelligence briefing at division headquarters before deploying to Iraq in 1991. This would be the first of three combat deployments in a 38-year career in the United States Army, retiring after leading over 40,000 men and women as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Europe. It was this deployment that led Lt. Gen. Hertling to begin keeping a war-time journal, which became the basis for his latest book. ”If I Don’t Return" is a collection of raw and revealing missives written for his sons in the event he didn’t make it home. Drawing from his personal experiences and military expertise, Lt. Gen. Hertling joins Nicolle to explain what drives the less than one percent of our citizens to become service members. He also lays out his vision of leadership and notes that while active-duty generals  serve at the behest of the President that voters choose, the current leadership in the White House and at the Pentagon do not always seem to understand the mission.

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Tig Notaro is spectacularly funny. She’s also a fiercely dedicated friend. The Emmy and Grammy nominated comedian now adds “Oscar Nominee" to her impressive list of accomplishments for her work producing the deeply personal documentary, “Come See Me in the Good Light.” The film explores the life and death of her dear friend, the late poet and activist Andrea Gibson, who passed after a hard-fought battle with ovarian cancer in July of 2025. Notaro joins Nicolle in this episode to honor Gibson and share stories of the venerated poet's profoundly impactful life and legacy, encapsulated in the film in Gibson's own words: “My story is one about happiness being easier to find once we realize we do not have forever to find it.” They also talk about the healing nature of comedy, Notaro’s experiences acting in "The Morning Show" and "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," and her latest venture into podcasting hilarity, “Handsome.”

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