159: True Crime Writing and Reporting with Pepper Anne

159: True Crime Writing and Reporting with Pepper Anne

Author: Joey Held June 21, 2023 Duration: 31:02

When you were in school, you probably did some kind of project or report on a family member. Chances are you didn't uncover something like my guest.

Pepper Anne is a true crime writer, and the author of The Notorious Texas Swindler about Bob Leach, a cattle rustler turned con man and the mastermind behind the Grayson County Five, a group of fugitives who escaped from the Grayson County Jail in Sherman, Texas. Concurrently, Bob was also rustling cattle from unsuspecting ranchers and hosting a party ranch with his then-wife.

Bob is Pepper Anne’s cousin. She’s spent over a decade working on this story, piecing together interviews and insights from family members, victims, law enforcement officials, private investigators, and more. And she’s dealt with some unique threats along the way.

We’re talking all about how she discovered her cousin’s history, what it’s been like writing this story, and how she kept track of all the madness—because there is a LOT of chaos to unpack here.

This episode is presented by Firebreathing Kittens. Check 'em out here!


Each week, Joey Held sits down for a genuine chat with someone quietly building, creating, or exploring something fascinating. Good People, Cool Things moves beyond the usual headlines to find the entrepreneurs sketching ideas in coffee shops, the musicians crafting albums in home studios, and the writers piecing together stories that haven't yet found a mainstream audience. These conversations live in the rich space where society, business, and culture overlap, revealing the personal journeys behind interesting projects. You'll hear the unpolished stories of how things actually get made-the late-night doubts, the unexpected breakthroughs, and the simple joys of doing work that matters. It’s less about generic advice and more about the specific, often quirky, paths people take. This podcast has a simple premise: good people are out there doing cool things, and their experiences are worth sharing. Tuning in feels like pulling up a chair with friends who remind you that passion projects and side hustles can grow into meaningful lives. The tone is consistently warm and curious, making every episode an engaging dive into the human side of entrepreneurship and creativity. Discover a new story each week, and you might just find the spark for your own next endeavor.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Good People, Cool Things
Podcast Episodes
190: Listen to This While Searching on Google [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:16
Many of us dream of making money by doing creative things that we love to do. And the most successful creatives are making income in several different ways, consistently opening up doors to new opportunities. This episod…
189: Listen to This While Channeling Your Inner Child [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:32
Media may not fundamentally change our behavior, but it can shape what we believe. That's why sharing messages of togetherness, unity, and genuine interactions is so important.Modello Brown is the founder of Hip Hop Litt…
188: Listen to This While You Hiss Your Sibilants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:03
Rachel Hanson is Editor-in-Chief of the digital magazine Sound Sorceresses, highlighting women who are doing incredible work in audio storytelling. There aren’t a ton of spaces out there in this realm, which needs to cha…
187: Listen to This When You're Feeling Like an Underdog [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:59
Welcome back to Good People, Cool Things! Bananas to think we're kicking off the SEVENTH season of this show. We're starting this season off in style with a true underdog story — or, more accurately, many underdog storie…
Season 7 of Good People, Cool Things Launches on February 7! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19
The new season of Good People, Cool Things is nearly upon us! This trailer is a sneak peek at what you can expect — and don't you worry, the corny jokes aren't going anywhere.Be sure to follow or subscribe to the show (d…
186: Listen to This While Doing Something That Brings You Joy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:31
Welcome to the last episode of the year! There’s a lot more to come in 2024, and I’ll be back with the new season on February 7. For now, let’s wrap this season up in style!Jennifer Chen is a writer and the author of Art…
185: Listen to This While Sipping On Your Morning Coffee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:22
For much of their lives, Alejandro Martignon and Fred Taylor were never big coffee drinkers. Alejandro helped out in his grandma's cafe in Colombia, and Fred watched as his NFL teammates downed several Venti Starbucks cu…
184: Listen to This While You Take On the AI Revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:42
If you’ve been keeping an eye on things this year, you’ve probably heard about the rise of AI. Artificial intelligence can have some scary implications, such as stealing jobs or impersonating voices to extort money from…
183: Listen to This While You Start a Band [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:51
Social media can be a powerful tool for musicians. And Josh Simons has seen the power it can have. He co-founded Vampr, the world’s largest and most active social media network specifically for musicians.Josh knows what…
182: Listen to This While You Monkey Around [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:33
Leif Cocks is the founder of The Orangutan Project. He’s developed conservation plans for orangutans and influenced positive change for orangutan protection and survival, including the first successful reintroduction of…