Carol Costello Presents: Blind Rage

About Carol Costello Presents: Blind Rage

In Season Two of her true crime series, The God Hook, journalist Carol Costello investigates the complex case of the Ohio Craigslist Killings—and in doing so, unearths the untold story of the crimes that preceded the murders—and the victims who’ve never received justice. Richard Beasley was convicted of murdering three men and attempting to kill a fourth in the fall of 2011, but before that heinous spree, authorities were building a human trafficking case against him. Now, working with the case's prosecutor, a county sheriff, and many closely involved sources, Carol examines previously unknown details of Beasley’s alleged crimes, and how he used the God Hook to lure his victims and bend them to his will. In Season One of this podcast, Blind Rage, journalist Carol Costello revisits the first big assignment she covered as a 22-year-old, novice reporter: Phyllis Cottles’ brutal attack. Psychologists call them “Triumphant Survivors,” but Phyllis Cottle was more than a survivor, she used this crime to better herself and the world around her. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

Publisher

Evergreen Podcasts

Category

true crime

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

29 Apr 2022

Latest episode

18 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

19 of 56 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   18 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT

   PREVIEW | Defending Richard Beasley

   A preview of Carol and Emily's full interview with Richard Beasley's public defender, Rhonda Kotnik. She shares her previous interactions with Beasley, who served as a jailhouse minister and a constant courthouse presence, and shares her perspective on his complex personality, particularly his manipulation of religion to build rapport and exert influence. To hear the full episode, please subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Supporting Cast. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Aiola Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte Mixing Supervisor - Sean Rule-Hoffman Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder GUEST Rhonda Kotnik - Summit County Public Defender Additional info at ⁠(www.carolcostellopresents.com⁠). Do you have questions about this series? ⁠Submit them for future Q&A episodes. Subscribe to ⁠The God Hook’s YouTube channel ⁠for videos, photos, and additional conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

2. 

   9 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT

   BONUS | The Cost of Innocence

   Carol introduces a segment produced by her former student, Luke, titled "The Cost of Innocence." The episode explores the death penalty from a perspective that challenges its justification, featuring a story about a man whose brother was on death row, and highlighting a botched execution attempt. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Aiola Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte Mixing Supervisor - Sean Rule-Hoffman Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder GUEST Luke Antaky - Former President of Associated Students of Loyola Marymount University Gallup Death Penalty Polling (2025) ACLU reports on execution methods Additional info at ⁠(www.carolcostellopresents.com⁠). Do you have questions about this series? ⁠Submit them for future Q&A episodes. Subscribe to ⁠The God Hook’s YouTube channel ⁠for videos, photos, and additional conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

3. 

   7 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT

   BONUS | The Death Penalty

   Carol and Emily examine the complexities of America's death penalty system, exploring legal, moral, and practical challenges, and discuss whether convicted killer Richard Beasley will ever be put to death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

Inside a recent episode

PREVIEW | Defending Richard Beasley

Published 18 Nov 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And they did more charging of the women with the prostitution that they did the men. So that was the big push with the human trafficking. And when they came to find Ohio is a huge human trafficking state. There was a push with the Ohio Prosecuting Attorney's Association to put a standalone human trafficking provision in because prosecutors weren't enditing cases that really were human trafficking. If that case was to come today, it would have been charged as a human trafficking. There would have been press releases. It would have been a huge deal. No plea kind of thing. But back then, just I don't know that prosecutors really know how to build that case out from what otherwise would have been just a number of misdemeanor prostitution charges most likely against the women. […]

Who has been a guest on Carol Costello Presents: Blind Rage

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Debra Bruce
• Amy
• Paul Scarsella
• Terry Pasko
• Jason Mackie

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

9,214

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.4 / 5

224 ratings

Spotify

4.5 / 5

118 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 67 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

48

Social presence

94

YouTube

68

Engagement

98

Contact Carol Costello Presents: Blind Rage

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Carol Costello Presents: Blind Rage