Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

In our final bonus episode, Mike Cosper and Rebekah Sebastian talk with exoneree, producer, author, podcaster, and advocate Amanda Knox. Amanda was a 20-year-old American student in Perugia in 2007 when her roommate, Meredith Kercher, was murdered in the apartment they shared. Italian prosecutors quickly zeroed in on Amanda, casting her as the instigator of a lurid, senseless crime and claiming she pulled her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, into it. She and Raffaele were convicted in 2009, and she spent nearly four years in prison before a 2011 appeals court overturned the verdict. In 2015, Italy’s highest court fully exonerated them both. By then, another man , Rudy Guede, whose DNA and fingerprints were all over the scene, had been prosecuted and convicted. In this conversation, Amanda reflects on how elements of the satanic panic and conspiratorial thinking shaped her case and how she understands that period of her life now. She offers candid insight into the themes we’ve explored throughout the series and the complicated dynamics in real stories often framed as “good vs. evil.” She also discusses the challenges of portraying victims in The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, the new Hulu scripted series she executive produced. Learn more about Amanda’s work on her website: https://www.amandaknox.com/  We’re grateful for her time, insight, and generosity. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help more people find the show. Thanks for listening. Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a production of Christianity Today. Hosted and written by Mike Cosper  Produced by Rebekah Sebastian, with production assistance by Dawn Adams  Sound Design and Mix Engineer: TJ Hester Sound Design,  Animation, and Video: Steve Scheidler  Graphic Design: Nim Ben Reuven  Music by Dirt Poor Robins  Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper are the executive producers of CT Media Podcasts Matt Stevens is our senior producer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus episode, Mike Cosper sits down with attorney and advocate Rachel Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nassar of sexual abuse. Together, they discuss what it really costs to tell the truth, the devastating realities survivors face, and how the church can either protect the vulnerable, or fail them completely. Denhollander offers a powerful perspective on justice, accountability, and the Christian community’s responsibility to confront both false narratives and the real evil within its walls. We are grateful for Rachel Denhollander’s time, expertise, and contribution to this episode.  Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a production of Christianity Today. Hosted and written by Mike Cosper  Produced by Rebekah Sebastian, with production assistance by Dawn Adams  Sound Design and Mix Engineer: TJ Hester Sound Design,  Animation, and Video: Steve Scheidler  Graphic Design: Nim Ben Reuven  Music by Dirt Poor Robins  Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper are the executive producers of CT Media Podcasts Matt Stevens is our senior producer.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help more people find the show. Thanks for listening.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Cosper and Rebekah Sebastian sit down with Chris Lane, District Attorney of Floyd County, Indiana, and Matt Martens, a Washington, D.C. defense attorney and author of Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal. Together, they unpack the tensions between prosecution and defense, the challenges created by systemic limitations, and the unique factors in the West Memphis 3 case that frustrated and bewildered so many of us.  We’re grateful to Chris Lane and Matt Martens for joining us for this illuminating and generous conversation. Please consider liking the DDBS Facebook  page to keep up on all show news, livestreams and for conversations with other listeners. Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a production of Christianity Today Hosted and written by Mike Cosper Produced by Rebekah Sebastian, with production assistance by Dawn Adams Sound Design and Mix Engineer: TJ Hester Sound Design, Animation, and Video: Steve Scheidler Graphic Design: Nim Ben Reuven Music by Dirt Poor Robins Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper are the executive producers of CT Media Podcasts, and Matt Stevens is our senior producer.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help more people find the show. Thanks for listening.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus episode of The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Mike Cosper sits down with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger for an intimate and wide-ranging conversation about January 6th, conspiracy thinking in the church and in congress, and the price he paid for speaking truth to power. Kinzinger shares what it was like to be inside the Capitol as the insurrection unfolded, and the spiritual deconstruction and political reckoning that followed. This conversation is a powerful reminder of how easily truth can be distorted when we mistake political victory for divine mandate. We close with an excerpt from Kinzinger’s 2022 farewell address on the House floor. The full speech is linked below and well worth your time. Mike’s substack is also linked below. Congressman Adam Kinzinger’s Farewell Speech to Congress https://www.c-span.org/program/us-house-of-representatives/representative-adam-kinzinger-farewell-speech/621823 Amor Dei, Amor Mundo, Mike Cosper’s Substack https://substack.com/@mikecosper Please consider liking the DDBS Facebook  page to keep up on all show news, livestreams and for conversations with other listeners. Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a production of Christianity Today Hosted and written by Mike Cosper Produced by Rebekah Sebastian, with production assistance by Dawn Adams Sound Design and Mix Engineer: TJ Hester Sound Design, Animation, and Video: Steve Scheidler Graphic Design: Nim Ben Reuven Music by Dirt Poor Robins Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper are the executive producers of CT Media Podcasts, and Matt Stevens is our senior producer.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help more people find the show. Thanks for listening.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, we explore one of the most difficult and essential topics raised in season 1: abuse. Joined by guests Colleen Ramser and Mary DeMuth, we discuss the complexities of trauma, memory, and belief, especially when it comes to hearing and honoring the stories of survivors. From systemic failures in churches to the personal weight of silence and shame, this conversation is both heavy and hopeful. You’ll also find links below to the important work and resources offered by our guests. Mary DeMuth https://www.marydemuth.com/  wetoo.org  Colleen Ramser https://colleenramser.com/ Please consider liking the DDBS Facebook page to keep up on all show news, livestreams, and conversations with other listeners. Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a production of Christianity Today  Hosted and written by Mike Cosper  Produced by Rebekah Sebastian, with production assistance by Dawn Adams  Sound Design and Mix Engineer: TJ Hester  Sound Design, Animation, and Video: Steve Scheidler  Graphic Design: Nim Ben Reuven  Music by Dirt Poor Robins  Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper are the executive producers of CT Media Podcasts, and Matt Stevens is our senior producer.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help more people find the show. Thanks for listening.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices