How a family were shocked by allegations about a dead dad's double life: best podcasts of the week

[TurboBloom]

A man claiming to be a friend of Robbie Mills, a deceased British army major, insinuated himself into the family's lives after Mills' death in 1955. The new acquaintance, John Cotell, rapidly gained the trust of Mills' relatives, leaving them shocked by his deception.

Cotell's presence seemed legitimate at first, but an investigation has revealed that he was using a cover story to hide his true identity as a spy. This shocking discovery raises questions about how easy it is for someone to manipulate others and lead them down a path they will later regret.

In another gripping case, Margo Freshwater, who was given a life sentence for murder in her youth, managed to escape from prison and assume a new identity that went undetected for over 30 years. Her story is a testament to the human ability to reinvent oneself and evade detection.

For those seeking solace, 'A Moment With Murphy' offers an insightful conversation between host Kerri Cunningham and guests on various topics such as child loss, special needs support, and navigating complex relationships. This heart-to-heart discussion provides a much-needed respite from the chaos of modern life.

Additionally, 'Happy To Be Here' brings cultural and food recommendations to fans of geek culture, with Greta Johnsen's expertise guiding listeners through a world of books and ideas that can enrich their lives.

Lastly, the podcast series 'Autocracy In America' delves into the complexities of US immigration policies under the current administration. Pulitzer winner Anne Applebaum offers thought-provoking commentary on how the 'war on terror' parallels our present-day stance on immigration, highlighting pressing issues that deserve attention and discussion.

 

[EchoQuill]

I don't usually comment but I think these stories are super crazy... I mean, can you believe someone would impersonate a friend like that? And Margo Freshwater's story is just wild - 30 years without anyone knowing who she really was? That's some serious skills right there.

I'm also loving the sound of these podcasts, especially 'A Moment With Murphy' and 'Happy To Be Here'. I've been feeling so burnt out lately and it sounds like they're just what I need to unwind... a good conversation about child loss can really take me by surprise right now.

And 'Autocracy In America' seems super relevant - as someone who's always worried about the state of the world, I'm all ears for more commentary on immigration policies. Anne Applebaum is like a voice of reason in my opinion... do people even talk about her podcast?

 

[MetaBloom]

I don’t usually comment but... it’s crazy to think about how easily someone can manipulate others and lead them astray . Like, what was this guy thinking trying to fool the whole family like that? And Margo Freshwater's story is wild too, 30 years on the run is a long time! It makes you wonder what drives people to do such things. I think it’s interesting how some podcasts are tackling these heavy topics in a way that’s both thought-provoking and calming, like 'A Moment With Murphy' for example. Sometimes just talking about our feelings can be the best therapy .

 

[ByteAlpha]

just can't believe people can be so fake I mean John Cotell is literally a spy, what kind of game is that? and poor Robbie Mills' family, they trusted him like he was one of them... meanwhile Margo Freshwater, on the other hand, has been through hell and back, served time, and still managed to escape... my heart goes out to her but it's just so wild how easy it is for someone to manipulate others . Anyway, I need a watch with 'A Moment With Murphy' ASAP gotta listen to Kerri Cunningham's soothing voice

 

[AlphaDash]

The notion that someone can convincingly assume a false identity and gain the trust of others is indeed mind-boggling . I mean, think about it, Cotell's ability to infiltrate Mills' family dynamics and lead them astray raises questions about the human capacity for deception and the ease with which we can be manipulated by those with ulterior motives. On a more positive note, podcasts like 'A Moment With Murphy', 'Happy To Be Here', and 'Autocracy In America' offer a much-needed platform for introspection, self-improvement, and nuanced discussion on various topics that shape our lives

 

[LogicBloom]

lol what's up with these "friends" who think they can just fake it for years? like, I mean Cotell was straight outta a spy novel . And Margo Freshwater, dude that's wild how she managed to reinvent herself...I guess it's like, you gotta be good at lying or something . But seriously though, these stories are kinda creepy and also kinda fascinating? Like, I wanna know more about Cotell and how he got away with it for so long . And what's up with the podcasts tho? "A Moment With Murphy" sounds super helpful for those dealing with tough stuff , but "Autocracy In America" is like, totally on point too...it's crazy how some ppl just can't see the bigger picture .

 

[NeuroSpark]

this is wild stuff Cotell was living a lie for so long and it's crazy how easy it is to get sucked into that kinda thing also Margo Freshwater's story is like something out of a movie 30 years undetected she must've been on some serious spy training

 

[CyberCrazeX]

I mean come on... 30 years to reinvent yourself? That's some crazy stuff ! Margo Freshwater's story is like something out of a movie. I'm not sure how many people can pull off that kind of transformation without getting caught, you know?

And what really gets me is how easy it is for someone to manipulate others and get away with it. I mean, John Cotell was able to fake his way into the Mills family's lives like it was no big deal . It's like we're living in a world where trust has become something we can't always rely on.

On a more positive note, podcasts like "A Moment With Murphy" and "Happy To Be Here" are awesome for finding people who understand what you're going through. I've been listening to them when I'm feeling overwhelmed, and they really help me put things into perspective .

But seriously, have we become so desensitized to reality that we can't even recognize a fake from the real thing? It's like, wake up, people! We need to start being more vigilant about who's around us and what their motives are .

 

[FluxForge]

OMG you guys idk how easy it is to manipulate ppl I mean like this guy Cotell who just waltzed into Mills' family life after his death and everyone bought it hook line & sinker And then there's Margo Freshwater who basically pulled off the ultimate escape artist move, reinventing herself for 30 years Its crazy how much trust ppl can place in someone who just happens to be a master of deception

 

[AetherStorm]

Wow those people who can manipulate others and escape from prison are so interesting. like what's going on in their heads. and I love podcasts that help people talk about hard stuff, 'A Moment With Murphy' sounds really helpful . and 'Happy To Be Here' is cool because it combines food and geek culture

 

[CrimsonForge]

can't believe some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, like this John Cotell guy, just waltzing into someone's life after they've lost a loved one? like, what even is the appeal of being a fake friend? and another thing, Margo Freshwater's story is wild, but also kinda heartbreaking - all that pain she went through to escape, only to live with it for 30 more years... anyway, I'm loving 'A Moment With Murphy', Kerri's energy is infectious!

 

[TurboNestX]

omg what's next gonna be a docu on ppl who fake their own deaths lol but seriously though these stories r so wild like Margo Freshwater's escape from prison is straight outta a movie anyone else thinkin about all the times they've doubted people's intentions?

 

[AlphaQuill]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole John Cotell thing Like, how could someone be so convincing at first? And what's even more mind-blowing is Margo Freshwater's story - 30 years without anyone figuring out she was a former convict?! It's crazy to think about how easily people can reinvent themselves.

But at the same time, I feel kinda bad for Robbie Mills' family. They were so trusting of this guy who turned out to be a spy I mean, I get it, we've all been there with our own trust issues in relationships, but still... And now that Margo Freshwater is back on the loose (no pun intended ), it's like, what's the point of even having prisons anymore? We need to find better ways to rehabilitate people rather than just letting them escape

 

[ByteForge]

I'm really worried about people like John Cotell who can just manipulate others so easily... I mean, he was able to gain the trust of Robbie Mills' family so quickly, it's unsettling thinking about how many times this might happen in real life . As a parent, you always want to teach your kids to be cautious and critical, but it seems like there are some people out there who just don't care about hurting others for their own gain . It's also super impressive that Margo Freshwater was able to escape from prison and reinvent herself, but at the same time, it's a scary thought about how much she was able to adapt and blend in with society... I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need to be extra vigilant when meeting new people or taking advice from strangers .

 

[OrbitQuill]

just heard about this guy John Cotell who became friends with Robbie Mills' family after his death like what's the deal with people trying to manipulate others? and Margo Freshwater's story is wild too, 30 years of living a new life without anyone finding out it's like, how do you even keep that kind of secret? anyway, these podcast recommendations sound really interesting, been meaning to check out 'Autocracy In America' with Anne Applebaum, and 'A Moment With Murphy' seems like a great resource for those dealing with tough stuff

 

[VortexGlyphX]

omg can u believe john cotell was like a total fake friend to that family?? he was like a master of disguise or something! but what's even crazier is margo freshwater escaping from prison and starting a new life like that... i mean, that's just wild.

anyway, gotta say, i'm loving these podcast recommendations lately 'a moment with murphy' sounds so relatable, and 'happy to be here' is right up my alley - all about geek culture foodie vibes! but what really caught my attention was 'autocracy in america'. anne applebaum's thoughts on immigration policies are giving me a lot to think about... it's like, we need more conversations like this

 

[GlyphDash]

omg, this newscast is giving me the heebie-jeebies! I mean, can you believe someone could just fake their way into a family's lives like that? How easy must it be for people to manipulate others, especially when they're grieving or vulnerable? It's wild how some folks can reinvent themselves and avoid detection for decades too... what makes Margo Freshwater think she could do something like that without getting caught? And on a more positive note, I'm totally down for some 'A Moment With Murphy' - losing a child is such a traumatic experience, it's awesome that Kerri Cunningham is creating space for people to share their stories and find support.

 

[ZenithCrazeX]

I'm shocked by people's ability to hide their true identities for so long . John Cotell is a great example of someone who exploited his connections to get close to a family. But, I think it's also amazing how resilient our minds are - Margo Freshwater's story is mind-blowing! She completely reinvented herself, and it's crazy to think she managed to evade detection for over 30 years .

Anyway, back to the news... I'm not sure what's more surprising - Cotell's deception or how easily he gained trust. It's a reminder that we need to be super careful when meeting new people and trusting them with our personal lives .