BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Breaking Idol, a CBC documentary

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Breaking Idol, a CBC documentary

Author: Kristi Lee | Canadian True Crime November 24, 2025 Duration: 4:15

For years, J.B.’s identity was hidden behind publication ban.

Now, she steps forward in her own name to share her story of survival and resilience.


We're thrilled to announce the release of Breaking Idol, a powerful new documentary from CBC about "J.B.” — a survivor at the centre of the first sexual assault trial of Jacob Hoggard.


J.B.’s case against the former Canadian Idol finalist and frontman of the multi-platinum band Hedley, captivated the country and divided fans of all ages. 


Based on part on Canadian True Crime's series about that 2022 trial, Breaking Idol explores the collision of fandom, power, and truth, and follows J.B. as she confronts the aftermath of the trial and the culture that protected the man who assaulted her. 

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Stream Breaking Idol now on CBC Gem and YouTube

Currently available only in Canada, sorry.

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Media clips to come on Canadian True Crime Facebook and Instagram


Director Tiffany Hsiung

Supervising Producer Sally Karam

Produced by Frantic Films for CBC’s The Passionate Eye


Consulting Producer Kristi Lee

Special thanks to J.B. and Kelly Favro, Beyond The Verdict


Breaking Idol is based in part on Canadian True Crime’s podcast series The Trial of Hedley’s Jacob Hoggard 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Canadian True Crime is a podcast that explores the nation's most compelling criminal cases, hosted by Kristi Lee. This isn't just a recounting of facts; it's an immersive deep dive that moves from the snowy streets of small towns to the darker corners of major cities. With meticulous research and a trauma-informed perspective, Kristi goes beyond the sensational headlines. Each episode weaves together the intricate details of a case with the broader social and historical forces at play, aiming to unravel not only what happened but why it happened and the profound impact on those affected. Listeners will hear a thoughtful, detailed examination of true crime that respects the gravity of the subject matter while seeking a deeper understanding of the stories that have shaped communities across the country. The podcast provides a narrative journey that is both specific in its focus on Canadian cases and universal in its exploration of human nature and societal structures. By focusing on thorough research and contextual storytelling, Canadian True Crime offers a listening experience that is engaging, respectful, and consistently compelling for anyone interested in the complexities of real-life mysteries and the Canadian context from which they emerge.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Canadian True Crime
Podcast Episodes
Bruce Lorenz [2] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:13
[Part 2 of 2 ] Lawyer Bruce Lorenz had been shot dead at Warden Subway Station in the east of Toronto, and the police believed they knew exactly who did it. The first degree murder trial revealed many new truths… and dro…
Bruce Lorenz [1] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:38
A two-part series — On a dark icy evening at a suburban Toronto subway station, a parking lot attendant came across an odd sight: protruding out of the driver’s side window of a tan Mustang, was a pair of legs. They belo…
Introducing: Someone Knows Something [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:32
Christine Harron, a book-loving teenager from Hanover, Ontario, leaves for school in the spring of 1993 and is never seen again. A suspect emerges, confessing to her murder, but the case falls apart and Christine's famil…
Irene Carter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:34
An elderly woman is found dead in her own home, the victim of a brutally violent attack in a typically sleepy community. At first it appears to be a robbery gone wrong, but further investigation reveals a complex web of…
Amber Tuccaro: In Her Defence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:46
Amber Tuccaro was 20 years old when she left her infant son with a friend at a motel on the outskirts of Edmonton, and got into a vehicle with an unknown man. She was never seen alive again. But Amber left an important c…
The Good Doctor [2] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:33
[Part 2 of 2] The surprising conclusion to the story of Dr. John Schneeberger, the crimes he committed, the lengths he went to get away with them — and the aftermath.* Additional content warning: this series includes som…
The Good Doctor [1] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:56
A two-part series — A 23-year old woman shows up at a hospital in Regina saying something “very bad” happened to her at another hospital the night before. The bizarre story that unravelled over the following decade would…
Matthew Charles Lamb: The Oak Ridge Experiment [2] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:49
[Part 2 of 2] The shocking conclusion to the story of 18-year-old Matthew Charles Lamb, the infamous Oak Ridge Experiment at Penetanguishene and one heartbroken author’s quest for truth.The intention of this episode is t…
Matthew Charles Lamb: Canada's First Spree Killer [1] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:06
A two-part series — The unbelievable story of 18-year-old Matthew Charles Lamb, who grabbed his uncle’s shotgun and took to the streets of Windsor, Ontario in 1966. What happened next involves the infamous Oak Ridge Expe…
Collision Course: The Darcy Allan Sheppard Case [4] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:12
[Part 4 of 4] The Truth. Hidden documents and files are released through a Freedom of Information request, strongly suggesting that what actually happened on August 31, 2009 was different to the narrative presented by th…