HeyJaredDark Matters: True Crime
Dark Matters explores the realities of violent and predatory behavior through stories and conversations, not classroom theory. Episodes focus on homicide and serial murder, sex crimes, stalking, criminal paraphilias, and cold cases.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 9
- Latest publication
- Aug 31, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 6, 2026
Latest episodes
Decoding the Criminal Brain: Inside Neurocriminology w/ Dr. Jerrod Brown (opens the original)
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Dark Matters Episode 16 Interview with Dr. Jerrod Brown What truly drives a person to commit extreme acts of violence? In this episode of Dark Matters, Dr. Eric Hickey sits down with professor and forensic trainer Dr. Jerrod Brown to explore neurocriminology—a multidisciplinary field bridging neuroscience, psychology, and criminal justice. From prenatal development and adverse childhood experiences to head injuries, glucose metabolism, and nutrition, Dr. Brown breaks down the biological and envi
Crossing Dangerous Boundaries (opens the original)
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Dark Matters Episode 15 Dr. Eric Hickey reflects on his decades as a professor and program dean, examining cautionary cases where doctoral students crossed critical professional lines with incarcerated offenders. From unexpected personal attachments to career-ending violations, Dr. Hickey breaks down how intelligent, highly educated individuals fall victim to inmate manipulation and why academic success alone cannot protect against psychological exploitation. Links Mentioned https://www.historic
Public Paraphilias: Predators in Plain Sight (opens the original)
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Dark Matters Episode 14 Public spaces are designed for convenience, but predators view them through a very different lens. Host Dr. Eric Hickey breaks down how offenders exploit everyday environments, targeting distracted individuals in places like greeting card sections, parking lots, and store aisles. From viral exposures to non-consensual acts of frottage and public assault, this episode examines the psychology of public paraphilias, the permanent digital trail of these crimes, and practical
Tales from the Passenger Seat: Hitchhikers, Convicts, and Killers (opens the original)
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Dark Matters Episode 13What leads a criminal psychologist to pull over for a high-risk stranger on a dark, stormy night? Dr. Eric Hickey dives into his personal history on the road, detailing how he turned passenger-seat conversations into rare psychological studies of recently released offenders. This episode explores the dynamics of threat assessment, the psychology of compartmentalizing violent crime, and the painful process required for genuine behavioral change.
Mind Games Behind Bars: The Ed Kemper Interview (opens the original)
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Dark Matters Episode 12 Serial killers often seek total control, even behind bars. In this episode, Dr. Eric Hickey breaks down the infamous locked-room encounter between serial murderer Ed Kemper and pioneering FBI profiler Bob Ressler. Through the lens of criminal psychology, Dr. Hickey explores how intelligent predators manipulate interviewers, test physical boundaries, and play dangerous psychological mind games with those attempting to study them.
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