It starts with a scream. Ends with silence.

Somewhere between a Hollywood afterparty and a rundown motel room, a woman watches the world mourn her—while someone else wears her face, bleeds in her dress, and dies in her place.

But fame’s a tricky thing. It lets you disappear in plain sight.And murder? That’s just business with better lighting.

This episode isn’t about who died. It’s about who was supposed to.And why ghosts sometimes show up before the body’s cold.

Trust no one.

Not the man cashing the checks.

Not the girl who knew too much.

And definitely not the reflection in the mirror.

—

📢 NOTE: This one breaks format. It’s longer. It’s riskier. It’s an experiment.If you love it—or hate it—I want to hear from you. Operators are standing by at jlstroudjr.com.

Your feedback decides what comes next.

So speak now… or the next body might be yours.

You ever had one of those dreams where everyone’s laughing at you—but it’s not funny? Now imagine you can’t wake up. What happens when the world’s laughter turns into something sharper, darker, and far more sinister? This is a story where the joke’s on you—or is it? ||| Story, art, and music produced by J.L. Stroud, Jr. with AI assistance. For more information visit www.jlstroudjr.com

In the shadowed corners between obsession and devotion lies "Phantom Hearts," a psychological exploration of love's darkest manifestations. This haunting narrative podcast follows Vincent, a man whose perception of romance has twisted into something unrecognizable as he orbits around Delores—a woman who exists at the center of his fractured universe. ||| Story, art, and music produced by J.L. Stroud, Jr. with AI assistance. For more information visit www.jlstroudjr.com

The alimony’s bleeding him dry. His pride's already gone. When Nate Ellison hears about a washed-up sex offender with a fat bank account and no security, he doesn’t hesitate. Just a quick score—get in, get out. But old rage burns hot, and by the time it’s over, Nate's not just broke... he’s bloodstained. ||| Story, art, and music produced by J.L. Stroud, Jr. with AI assistance. For more information visit www.jlstroudjr.com

Joe Darby, a lonely tech worker with a bruised ego, flies to the Dominican Republic hoping to escape rejection and maybe find connection. But when two beautiful strangers invite him into a dream that feels too good to be true… it is. ||| Story, art, and music produced by J.L. Stroud, Jr. with AI assistance. For more information visit www.jlstroudjr.com

Latosha Blake was just trying to survive another day behind the desk at her dead-end government job when chaos walked through the door. In a moment of madness—or clarity—she did something no one expected, least of all herself. What followed flipped her world upside down, earning her the kind of attention that sticks like blood on concrete. ||| Story, art, and music produced by J.L. Stroud, Jr. with AI assistance. For more information visit www.jlstroudjr.com

A brutal man is found dead in a quiet town, and everyone has the same alibi—the rain. No one saw a thing. No one heard a thing. And yet, the silence says everything. As the puddles dry and tongues wag, the town of Ashford is left with a mystery soaked in justice... or something far darker. Did the town get even, or did it get dirty? ||| Story, art, and music produced by J.L. Stroud, Jr. with AI assistance. For more information visit www.jlstroudjr.com

In this episode: Trixie is the kind of woman you pray to meet and regret surviving. A con artist in red heels who drains wallets and egos for sport—until she crosses paths with a man too smooth, too rich, and too perfect to be real. Turns out, she’s not the only one playing the long game." ||| Story, art, and music produced by J.L. Stroud, Jr. with AI assistance. For more information visit www.jlstroudjr.com