Following Leads is a weekly video podcast hosted by Laura Hettiger that follows the stories everyone is talking about—and the people living through them. From missing-person cases and major investigations to high-profile trials and national tragedies, each episode goes beyond the headlines to explore the questions, consequences, and human experiences at the center of the story.
Through interviews, analysis, and powerful storytelling, Following Leads uncovers the connections between crime, justice, family, and community. Because the most important lead is often the one that reveals how real lives are changed forever.
A production of The Following Leads Podcast Network & Gray Media
Executive Producer/Creator: Wade Smith
Host/Co-Creator: Laura Hettiger
Danger Zone: Planes are crashing near airports, millions may not know the risk
Millions of Americans live, work, and commute within feet of airport flight paths without a second thought. But what happens when an approaching aircraft falls short of the runway?
In this episode of Following Leads: The Podcast, host Laura Hettiger sits down with Joce Sterman from Gray Media’s InvestigateTV (https://www.investigatetv.com/) to unpack her multi-part investigation, Danger Zone. (https://www.investigatetv.com/2026/07/20/planes-keep-crashing-near-airports-millions-americans-may-not-know-risk/)
6 Oct 2026
Billion Dollar Blitz: Business of College Sports bankrolled by taxpayers and students
Are non-athlete students unknowingly bankrolling massive college athletics programs?
In this episode of Following Leads: The Podcast, InvestigateTV national reporter Chris Nakamoto (https://www.investigatetv.com/2026/08/24/billion-dollar-blitz-college-sports-big-business-is-bankrolled-by-taxpayers-students/) breaks down a nationwide investigation into the explosive financial reality of college sports.
Out of 109 public FBS universities analyzed, only 10 generate enough revenue to cover their own athletic costs. The rest pulled in over $2.1 billion in mandatory student fees and university general funds—meaning regular students taking out loans may end up paying off sports department deficits for decades.
From seven-figure NIL deals in high school and massive buyouts like Brian Kelly’s $54M payout to legislation pending in Congress, we discuss where the money goes, who actually pays for it, and what happens next.
23 Sept 2026
Why Is It So Hard to “Just Leave”? The Hidden Realities of Domestic Violence
In this episode of Following Leads, we sit down with Jessica Woolbright, LCSW, Executive Director of Saint Martha’s, a St. Louis organization supporting women and children impacted by domestic violence. Together, we explore what abuse looks like behind closed doors, why leaving is statistically the most dangerous time, how abusers use isolation and children to exert control, and how friends, family, and communities can safely intervene and offer support.
18 Sept 2026
The Anesthesiologist’s Wife: What Cameras Caught Months Before Her Death
Allie Hummel was a 36-year-old nurse who went to sleep on June 23, 2026, and never woke up.
Her husband, Dr. Andrew Hummel, is a board-certified anesthesiologist, a physician professionally trained in sedation and putting patients to sleep.
In the hours following her death, he is heard on tape saying she aspirated in her sleep after taking medication.
In this episode of Following Leads, we look at home surveillance video and police body camera footage that capture multiple moments in the months leading up to her death.
Allie’s family speaks about their attempts to help her escape, and we examine the unanswered questions that remain as authorities continue to investigate her death.
10 Sept 2026
'This is a crime story': Putting polarizing politics aside to cover the killing of Charlie Kirk
One year after conservative figure and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated on a Utah college campus, Following Leads goes behind the headlines to examine the tragedy through a different lens: true crime reporting.
Arizona’s Family Chief Investigative Reporter Morgan Loew joins host Laura Hettiger to discuss why journalists had to put polarizing politics aside to cover the murder of a local father and neighbor, how the Phoenix community reacted, Erika Kirk’s public forgiveness, and whether Turning Point USA can survive without its charismatic leader.
1 Sept 2026
How the Lindsay Clancy Trial Could Redefine Postpartum Mental Health
Host Laura Hettiger sits down with Western Mass News Anchor Chris Pisano to discuss the chilling 2023 Duxbury tragedy, exploring the reality of postpartum psychosis, the impact on Massachusetts communities, and the vital importance of remembering the young lives of Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy.
25 Aug 2026
Six Months Later: Inside the Nancy Guthrie Investigation with Raya Torres
Months after the shocking abduction of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, from her quiet Tucson home, Following Leads: The Podcast sits down with journalist Raya Torres. Having covered the case from day one, Torres shares her unique perspective on reporting on a massive story that instantly captured international attention while unfolding in her own neighborhood.
In this episode, we dive into the stark contrast between a local reporting team's deeply felt responsibility to their community and the overwhelming influx of national media and true crime enthusiasts. Torres reflects on the mounting fear within the Catalina Foothills neighborhood, the frustrations of local residents under a sudden media microscope, and the ethical tightrope of balancing public interest with human sensitivity.
Torres also takes us behind the scenes of the newsroom as they navigated the chilling receipt of two credible ransom notes sent directly to their station's anonymous pitch form. She describes how the team handled these highly sensitive leads in cooperation with the FBI, as well as the collective shock that rippled through the station when the haunting Nest doorbell camera images of the suspect were first released.
As this active investigation continues six months later without an arrest, the Tucson community and the nation remain hopeful for answers and closure for the Guthrie family. Tune in to hear a compelling discussion on the ethics of true crime reporting, the fight against digital misinformation, and the enduring rallying cry to finally bring Nancy home.
16 Aug 2026
How the Idaho Murders Shattered a Safe College Town
Our country loves a mystery. Millions of us are captivated by true crime. We hang on to every headline, every breaking news update, every tidbit we can get our hands on. But eventually the news cycle moves on — and so do we, oftentimes forgetting the very real human impact of true crime.
But there are some stories that we just can't move on from. And one of those stories happened one Awful Night in Idaho — that awful night when four college students, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Maddie Mogen, went to sleep at a home just steps from their university campus, and were brutally murdered in the early morning hours.
That one awful night led to weeks of fear and a nationwide manhunt, and the eventual arrest of Bryan Kohberger. That one awful night forever changed four families, countless friends, and rocked an entire community.
A full year after Bryan Kohberger stood in that courtroom and entered a plea deal in the murders of these four college students, there are still so many questions left unanswered. Most importantly — why?
Our guest has followed this story from that one awful night in Idaho through the manhunt, the arrest, and the plea deal. She's helping us understand not only what happened, but what questions may never be answered. Reporter Amanda Roley joins Laura on this episode of Following Leads: The Podcast.
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