Post Mortem | Facing a Monster

Summary

Post Mortem | Facing a Monster: A Detailed Summary of "48 Hours" Episode

Release Date: May 13, 2025

Introduction

In the "Post Mortem | Facing a Monster" episode of CBS News' "48 Hours," correspondents delve deep into the harrowing case of Sean Doyle, a man with a disturbing history of violence that culminated in the tragic murder of Lori Leonard in 2005. Hosted by Natalie Morales, the episode features an in-depth conversation with "48 Hours" correspondent Ann Marie Green, exploring the complexities of Doyle's actions, the failures of the justice system, and the enduring impact on the victims and their families.

Cece Oponowski's Survival Story

The episode opens with the powerful testimony of Cece Oponowski, a survivor of Sean Doyle's assault in 1996. At the age of 18, Cece was subjected to a terrifying attack by Doyle, which left her scarred both physically and emotionally. Cece's willingness to break her decades-long silence marks a pivotal moment in the narrative, as she shares her experiences for the first time.

"It's interesting to be on this other side of the microphone right now," remarks Ann Marie Green at [00:31], highlighting the significance of Cece stepping forward to tell her story.

Cece's account begins with her relationship with Doyle, who was her high school boyfriend. Over the years, Doyle's pattern of domestic violence escalated, ultimately leading to the attack that nearly cost Cece her life. Her courage to speak out serves as the foundation for understanding the severity of Doyle's actions and the systemic failures that allowed his behavior to persist.

Shannon's Heroic Intervention

A critical moment in Cece's survival was the intervention of her friend Shannon. During the 1996 attack, Shannon repeatedly called Cece, sensing something was amiss when Cece did not answer. Upon finally connecting, Shannon's intuition and familiarity with Cece's situation enabled her to recognize the signs of abuse.

"She was so intuitive, because when she tells the story of that phone call, the cues are so subtle," Green explains at [04:32], emphasizing Shannon's ability to detect the distress signals that others might have missed. Shannon's awareness and quick action were instrumental in saving Cece's life, showcasing the importance of vigilance and support among friends in abusive situations.

Police Response and System Failures

When Cece contacted the police during the 1996 attack, she expected protection from Doyle. However, her experience was anything but reassuring. Cece was placed in the back seat of Doyle's squad car, and both were questioned in the same room, leaving her feeling unsafe and unsupported.

"It seemed stunning that, you know, law enforcement would do that from this vantage point," Green notes at [05:53], reflecting on the inadequate response by the authorities at the time. The episode features insights from the current chief of the Hudson Falls Police Department, who expresses sympathy for Cece's ordeal and acknowledges how policing methods have evolved since then.

Cece's frustration with the police treating her assault as a "lover's quarrel" underscores the lack of serious attention given to domestic violence cases in the 1990s. This dismissive attitude contributed to Doyle's ability to evade significant repercussions for his actions.

Sean Doyle's History of Abuse

Despite a clear pattern of escalating violence, Sean Doyle received minimal punishment for his actions. After assaulting Cece in 1996, Doyle struck a deal that resulted in three years of probation. This lenient sentence was a stark contrast to the severity of his behavior and set a precedent for his future crimes.

"He was on his way because he used some of the same techniques that that he used with Lori," Green explains at [08:01], indicating that Doyle's methods of abuse remained consistent over time. This pattern raised concerns about the possibility of additional, undisclosed victims, although no further evidence or testimonies have emerged to confirm more assaults.

Lori Leonard's Case

Lori Leonard's disappearance in May 2005 marked a tragic escalation in Doyle's campaign of violence. Lori was last seen after mentioning plans to purchase Yankees tickets in Albany, but she never arrived. Three months later, her body was discovered in a toolbox floating in an upstate New York canal. Investigators linked Doyle to the murder through a key found in his car that matched the toolbox lock, as well as duct tape and bandanas used in the assault.

Jennifer Leonard, Lori's sister, immediately suspected Sean Doyle due to his history with Lori. Despite endorsements of his innocence from Doyle's friend Dorothy, evidence overwhelmingly pointed to him as the perpetrator.

"Look, I don't have a psychology degree or anything like that, but I think that it gives you a little hint as to sort of the charm that Sean Doyle could have," Green reflects at [12:01], discussing why Dorothy initially believed in Doyle's innocence despite mounting evidence against him.

Impact on Lori's Family

Lori's murder had a profound and lasting effect on her family, particularly her two young sons, Austin and Zachary, who were nine and five years old at the time. The loss of their mother at such a tender age created deep psychological scars, leading to strained relationships and long-term emotional challenges.

"These two young men, they are little kids when Laurie is taken away from them," Green notes at [14:33], illustrating the devastating impact on the boys who had to navigate their grief and confusion amidst family tensions.

As adults, Austin and Zachary have worked to rebuild their relationship, finding solace in understanding and supporting each other. Their journey towards healing highlights the enduring pain caused by Lori's untimely death and the resilience required to overcome such trauma.

The Trial and Conviction

The trial of Sean Doyle in January 2006 was a pivotal moment in bringing justice for Lori Leonard and other victims. The prosecution successfully presented a case that highlighted Doyle's repetitive violence and the similarities between his past assaults and Lori's murder.

Cece Oponowski's testimony was especially impactful. By sharing her experience and establishing a pattern of abuse, Cece provided the jury with crucial evidence of Doyle's malicious intent.

"She really wanted to look at him," Green recounts at [19:52], describing Cece's demeanor in the courtroom as she faced Doyle fearlessly. Despite Doyle's attempts to undermine her credibility by attacking her character and prior relationships, Cece stood her ground, reinforcing the prosecution's narrative.

On January 26, 2006, the jury found Doyle guilty of second-degree murder, sentencing him to 25 years to life with the possibility of parole. The decision not to convict him of first-degree murder was a point of contention for Lori's family, who felt that Doyle's premeditated pattern of abuse warranted a harsher penalty.

"First degree murder typically considers premeditation... It didn't quite fit the first degree murder charge," Green explains at [20:40], providing context for the jury's decision based on New York State's legal definitions and aggravating factors.

Cece's Testimony and Its Importance

Cece Oponowski's decision to speak out years after her assault was driven by her desire to prevent others from experiencing similar trauma. Her testimony not only solidified the prosecution's case against Doyle but also served as a beacon of hope and resilience for other survivors.

"Be vigilant. Look at what's happening in front of you and make sure someone knows," CeCe urges at [22:07], emphasizing the importance of awareness and speaking out against abuse.

Ann Marie Green reflects on the personal growth and success Cece has achieved since the attacks, despite the lasting effects of her trauma. Cece's journey from victim to empowered individual underscores the transformative power of sharing one's story and seeking justice.

Reflections and Conclusions

The episode concludes with a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of violence on victims and their families. Ann Marie Green shares her emotional experience reporting on the case, noting that it was the only story where everyone involved, including herself, was moved to tears.

"This is the only story that I've ever worked on where everyone cried," Green shares at [15:32], highlighting the profound human cost of Sean Doyle's actions.

Natalie Morales emphasizes the importance of supporting victims of domestic violence and encourages listeners to reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline if they or someone they know is in need.

"Thank you for telling your story and telling it to us," Morales concludes at [23:04], acknowledging Cece's bravery and the lasting significance of her testimony.

Conclusion

"Post Mortem | Facing a Monster" offers a comprehensive and emotionally charged exploration of Sean Doyle's reign of terror, the systemic failures that allowed his violence to continue, and the resilience of his victims. Through candid interviews and meticulous reporting, "48 Hours" sheds light on the critical need for better support systems and justice mechanisms to protect and empower those affected by domestic violence.

Notable Quotes

• "It's interesting to be on this other side of the microphone right now." — Ann Marie Green [00:31]

• "She was so intuitive, because when she tells the story of that phone call, the cues are so subtle." — Ann Marie Green [04:32]

• "It seemed stunning that, you know, law enforcement would do that from this vantage point." — Ann Marie Green [05:53]

• "How did you know something was going wrong?" — Natalie Morales [After 05:29]

• "This is the only story that I've ever worked on where everyone cried." — Ann Marie Green [15:32]

• "Be vigilant. Look at what's happening in front of you and make sure someone knows." — CeCe Oponowski [22:07]

Resources and Support

Listeners are encouraged to support those affected by domestic violence by reaching out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Transcript

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[Natalie Morales]

Welcome back to Postmortem. I'm CBS News correspondent Natalie Morales, stepping in as host today to speak to 48 Hours correspondent Ann Marie Green about her report on Sean Doyle, who we know assaulted at least two known victims before murdering Lori Leonard back in 2005. One of the survivors, Cece Oponowski, has broken her decades long silence and she is telling her story publicly for the first time to 48 hours. Anne Marie, thanks so much for talking with us today.

[Ann Marie Green]

It's interesting to be on this other side of the microphone right now.

[Natalie Morales]

You're in the hot seat today.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yes.

[Natalie Morales]

I just want to remind you to all of our listeners, if you haven't listened to the 48 Hours episode yet, you can find the full audio just below this episode in your podcast feed. Go take a listen, then come back and join us for our conversation. So, Anne Marie, this story is a little bit unusual in that we start with a survivor story instead of a murder. Can you tell us a little bit about that decision of starting with CeCe Oponowski's story and how she survived that frightening attack by DOYLE Back in 1996 when she was just 18 years old?

[Ann Marie Green]

Natalie, I don't know about you, but one of the questions that I always have when I watch True crime is, you know, I always want to know, well, how did we get here? How did this person end up like this? So here we had an opportunity to start from the very beginning. And a huge part of this story has to do with Sean Doyle's history of domestic violence. And we were lucky enough to have cece be willing to talk to us. She was his high school girlfriend and we're able to paint this picture of how his past pattern of violence got worse and worse and worse over the years. The challenge, I think, a little bit is that normally we have, you know, one victim and the people who are impacted by them. In this case, we had three different victims with two victims who survive with different approaches to the trauma. And for cece, it took decades for her to feel strong enough to talk publicly about what happened to her. And having her come forward, I think, was part of the reason why we thought we need to start with her. It seemed like the best way to tell this story was from the very beginning, which was with cece, speaking of.

[Natalie Morales]

You know, how that attack took place. Let's talk about her friend Shannon, who was so instrumental, I mean, truly perhaps saved her life. So Shannon was calling cece over and over again, and when. When cece wasn't picking up, the alarm bells were going off with her, something wasn't right. And so then she finally gets through. CeCe answers the phone, and she hears CeCe, you know, putting away the dishes in the dishwasher. But they're having this somewhat stilted conversation, it sounds like. And then. And she got to the point where she said, you know, is Sean there with you now? And cece, you know, was able to tell her, yes, he is here now. I just wanted to know about their relationship now. I mean, are cece and Shannon still friends? Are they in touch?

[Ann Marie Green]

They are in touch again. Now, you've probably seen this before with some of the hours that you've worked on, that sometimes actually getting involved with the 48 hour story brings people back together, but they hadn't been talking for a while. I found Shannon so fascinating, and I could not understand how a teenager was so intuitive, because when she tells the story of that phone call, I mean, the cues are so subtle. I couldn't understand if she could pick this up. But I asked her over and over again, but how did you know? How did you know? How did you know something was going wrong? And then finally she said, well, I. I've seen this sort of thing within a. In a family member. And I was like this. There you go. That's why it makes sense. If anyone else had been hanging out with cece that day, they might not have picked up on it. She was clued in on it because she knew the signs to look for.

[Natalie Morales]

So in the hour, CeCe talked about when the police did arrive at her house, she thought that she would then be protected from Doyle. Instead, she said she didn't feel safe because she said they put her in the back seat of that same squad car with Doyle. And then later she said they questioned them together in the same room. I mean, how unusual was that back in 1996?

[Ann Marie Green]

I mean, I don't know how unusual it was back then. It seemed stunning that, you know, law enforcement would do that from this vantage point. And certainly our producer spoke to the current police chief of the Hudson Falls Police Department, and he said, look, it sounds terrible. We would never do anything like that. It now are, you know, we are trained, we know how to handle victims. And he was really, you know, sympathetic to what CeCe went through. And she just sort of felt like, you know, the officers then they kind of treated it like a lover's quarrel. They weren't taking it seriously. And she couldn't understand because she said, you know, she had bruises, her hair was cut. It was obvious that this wasn't a little sort of teenage spat. It was something much more serious. You know, decades ago, the way domestic violence was viewed was at times very different. Things have changed, thankfully, and everybody has.

[Natalie Morales]

Learned to treat domestic violence very seriously because we know how much these things can escalate, as it did in this case with Sean Doyle. Now, cece didn't want to relive the trauma by testifying against Doyle, but he struck a deal and he received a sentence of three years probation. But then in 2000, Doyle violently attacked then 23 year old Sarah Vollmer, and.

[Ann Marie Green]

It was, it was bad. Natalie. Like, you know, we have this archival footage. We can see the interview that she did with the local news station in Albany, and she's kind of relaying these facts, her experience, in a really matter of fact way. It sounded terrifying. She's in the bedroom, he ties her up, he uses duct tape. It is stunning that she survived and this happens. And her mother walks in the room and that's what, what ends this horrible violent assault.

[Natalie Morales]

Thank goodness her mom walked in at that time.

[Ann Marie Green]

Absolutely, absolutely saved her life.

[Natalie Morales]

I'm curious then why Doyle was able to get yet another three years probation for that second attack instead of facing a more serious sentence.

[Ann Marie Green]

So in terms of Doyle's charge, he was only charged with two misdemeanor assault and imprisonment charges. And basically, and I'm going to just kind of refer to my notes because I don't want to get it wr, the punishment guidelines are much, much less for these two charges. So in 2005, a local reporter by the name of Don Lehman, you saw him in the Hour, he asked the district attorney at the time his name's Robert Wynn. You know, why these charges? He said that the allegations did not fit the criteria for more serious charges like felony assault or felony unlawful imprisonment. And without a felony charge, there wasn't much of a possibility for a lengthy prison term. I can see you shaking your head, Natalie, because I, I know, I know.

[Natalie Morales]

To me, it's like, you know, if the pattern of behavior is there, he's done this before. It's escalated. And had her mom not walked in when she did, Sarah Vollmer might not be here today. Thankfully, that's not the case.

[Ann Marie Green]

Absolutely. And when you see what he did with Sarah, you see that he was well on his way because he used some of the same techniques that that he used with Lori.

[Natalie Morales]

Do authorities suspect, though, I mean, given that pattern, that Doyle perhaps had more victims than Laurie, Cece and Sarah?

[Ann Marie Green]

Do authorities suspect they do. Do they have anyone who's willing to come forward? They don't.

[Natalie Morales]

As we learn in the hour, Sean Doyle's assaults tragically would lead to murder. And when we get back, we're going to dig into Lori Leonard's case and the lasting impact her death has had on both her family and Cece. Stay tuned.

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[Natalie Morales]

Welcome back to post mortem. So let's talk about Lori Leonard's case. On May 5, 2005, Lori's sister Jennifer reported to police that Lori was missing after she failed to answer her phone all day. And she never returned home after saying that she was going to pick up Yankees tickets in Albany. Now, Lori never ended up making it to Albany to pick up those tickets. Her body was discovered three months later in that toolbox floating in an upstate New York canal. Police were able to link Doyle to the crime from a key that was found in his car and that matched that toolbox lock, as well as materials that were found in his home, including duct tape and the bandanas, like the ones that were used to bind and gag Laurie. Just horrific. Jennifer immediately suspected that Sean Doyle was involved, and that was Laurie's ex boyfriend at the time. But Doyle's friend Dorothy was absolutely convinced of his innocence. Why do you think she believed him?

[Ann Marie Green]

Look, I don't have a psychology degree or anything like that, but I think that it gives you a little hint as to sort of the charm that Sean Doyle could have when he needed to turn it on. There's obviously another side to Sean Doyle, Dorothy. And I really should pronounce her name Dorothy with a sort of a sound. Cause that's how she pronounced it.

[Natalie Morales]

It's the upstate New York.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah, 100%. Her husband, her ex husband now was friends with Sean Doyle. And so he would come around, they would, you know, hang out together. And then she took him under her wing, like sort of kind of a maternal figure. You know, he would come in and ask her for advice on his love life, his home life, his family. She liked him. So, you know, she believed Sean Doyle until she didn't. And then when police reached out to her after Lori's body was found, I mean, this is a woman that just pays attention to detail. So she just gave them all the information, information she could remember. She feels absolutely terrible about the things that she yelled at Laurie's family when they were in kind of the middle of town trying to get answers, trying to find her. She absolutely believed that Sean Doyle had nothing to do with it. And they were kind of besmirching his name. And she has lived with that guilt ever since. The defense did not have a lot to work with in this trial, but they did go after Dorothy. She says that she's got, you know, some intuition. She's got a gift. I don't know if we'd call her psychic, but there's something there. And they went after her about that. You know, the, the defense attorney said, so you're, you know, a self proclaimed psychic. And she said, well, I don't know if I would proclaim. And they said, well, what about these books about witchcraft that you have in your house? She said, I have a lot of books. But they tried to kind, you know, characterize her as this wacky woman who just loves the spotlight and that's why you're a part of this. But man, she stood firm, key witness for the prosecution.

[Natalie Morales]

Let's talk about, you know, some of the most poignant interviews that you did with Laurie's family, including her two sons, just broke my heart watching those. They're now grown up, but of course, they still feel her loss very deeply. And, Annemarie, it's clear. I mean, it's almost 20 years later, but everyone you talked with in the Hour, everybody still feels the pain of losing Laurie.

[Ann Marie Green]

So these two young men, they are little kids. When Laurie is taken away from them. Austin's nine, Zachary's five. You can imagine the psychological burden that these kids are under. And, you know, they start to fight with each other. They're little kids. You know, Zachary will say, um, you know, I remember when mom did this. And Austin would be like, how can you remember? You were only five. You don't know Mom. You don't know what she's like. And they have now, as adults, worked their way back to each other, and they're very grateful that they've rebuilt and continue to rebuild their relationship.

[Natalie Morales]

This is a single mom. So the loss of the central figure to those boys in their life at that young age and to grow up with those memories is just. Just horrific to think about. I know how hard it is, and I know it was hard for you to report on this as well. It was emotional for you, right?

[Ann Marie Green]

When we talk about how emotional this was, this is the only story that I've ever worked on where everyone cried. Not just the victims. I mean, the police officers, the former district attorney. I mean, everyone teared up, and myself, too. And it was unexpected. Because, you know, all of these stories are heartbreaking. Right. But I think that. I was just thinking, exactly as you kind of just mentioned about these boys and how they miss their mom at this, like, tender age. And we're both parents, so, you know, like, you go, you think about your own kid, and then it's just. It's waterworks.

[Natalie Morales]

Oh, I know. And I have two boys, so seeing those two, it just crushed me.

[Ann Marie Green]

You know, when they came to do the interview, of course they brought tons of pictures, and then they brought something that their grandmother had made for them. She took all of Lori's clothes and made two quilts for them.

[Natalie Morales]

Oh, beautiful.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yes. Including the, you know, the Yankees shirt, or. I don't know if it's a shirt or a jersey, but, you know, she was going to get those Yankees tickets. She was a huge Yankees fan. So including that and. And gave each of the kids a quilt for them to kind of, like, cuddle up and remember their mother by, which I thought was such a great Gift.

[Natalie Morales]

So sweet.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yes. And then the other thing I wanted to tell you about was Bruce Hamilton, who was the original detective on this case. He died in 2014, so we could not talk to him. But he was so committed to solving this, and he was so committed to those boys. He had pictures of the boys in his office. He would call the family on a regular basis, and his commitment was almost infectious.

[Natalie Morales]

So let's talk about Lori's nephew. Dustin was the one who helped her move into that house to start her life over again. I want to share a clip of Dustin, who really talks about how Laurie's murder impacted his life.

[Ann Marie Green]

How do you think the murder of your aunt impacted you? Did it change you?

[Dustin]

I'm sure it did. You hear stories, you know, that things like that are possible, but now you have to. Now you have to know it's real, and you have to look it in the eye. And, you know, just. It made it harder to. To kind of put trust into anybody. It made it hard to. To really love anybody. Cause, you know that they. They be. They could be gone.

[Ann Marie Green]

So, you know, Natalie, I think that we're. We're both parents, and you kind of hope that there'll be an adult in your kid's life that is, like, parent adjacent. Right. So that's the kind of relationship that he had with his aunt. Like, Laurie was his kind of other parent. You know, he adored her. And so, you know, losing her was devastating.

[Natalie Morales]

He heard him say it made him hard to trust once again in his own life. And I think cece was deeply affected by that as well. Right. That level of trust disappeared for her. Let's talk about how important it was to hear her at the trial, because the prosecution fought to have both cece and Sarah Ballmer testify at Doyle's trial to show that he had a history of abusing women. Now, the judge allowed for that in this case.

[Ann Marie Green]

There were so many similarities in the attacks that it was really kind of showing this is a pattern. So I think that was a big win for the prosecution to certainly have that opportunity. And, yeah, the prosecutor, you know, you heard him in the story, he said, we saved the best for last. And cece was kind of the final witness. The first witness was Lori's mom, who has since passed away. But CeCe brought it home. I mean, if you're a jury and they show you, you know, your early girlfriend, and that was your behavior back then when she broke up with you, that's kind of the lingering message that the prosecutor wanted the jury to sit.

[Natalie Morales]

With and did CeCe tell you what it was like to be in that courtroom, to look at Doyle back, You know, seeing him sit across from her, look at him in the eye?

[Ann Marie Green]

You know, she had been scared before, and she was not scared. Cece said she really wanted to look at him.

[Natalie Morales]

He.

[Ann Marie Green]

He looked completely different. You know, no, more like tough guy, bald head, bandana.

[Natalie Morales]

I think it was. Laurie's sister described him as choir boy. Right. I thought that was. So that was such a perfect description because he had the collared shirt and the. The blue sweater.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah, totally. And so, yeah, it was very empowering to. To sit in front of him and. And sit in front of him fearlessly.

[Natalie Morales]

On January 26, 2006, the jury found Doyle guilty of second degree murder. He received the maximum sentence of 25 years to life with the possibility of parole. So I'm curious, why wasn't he found guilty of first degree murder? I mean, you know, they go for second degree instead of first degree.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah, it's very interesting. So here's what I have learned about the state of New York when it comes to first degree murder, and you're right. First degree murder typically considers premeditation. The prosecution must prove that the defendant committed the murder with at least one of these factors. Yes, I'm reading this and a few examples of what an aggravating factor might be. The victim was a police officer. The murder was committed while the defendant was serving a life sentence, already imprisoned. The murder was committed for hire. The murder is committed in the course of another felony, like maybe robbing a bank. So it didn't quite fit the first degree murder charge, which, of course, was upsetting to Lori's family. You know, they said they wanted to see a harsher penalty.

[Pronamel]

They.

[Ann Marie Green]

They didn't want the possibility of parole. You know, the parole process begins in 2030, which is, like, really not that far away.

[Natalie Morales]

Not that far away. I know these. These are the stories. They're so hard to tell, but they're so important because, you know, if telling Cece's story can save one life from potentially a domestic violence attack, I'm sure she will feel good that she was able to come forward and tell her story. I want to play a clip from the show where CeCe talks about why she's speaking out now and what she hopes our audience will take away from hearing her story.

[CeCe Oponowski]

Be vigilant. Look at what's happening in front of you and make sure someone knows. Don't keep it quiet. Pay attention. And when you have that feeling, that one that doesn't go away. You know, the one that you try to push down, that's the one you should listen to the most.

[Ann Marie Green]

And she's spot on. It pains me so much that she felt guilty for so long because she was just a kid. Yeah, how could she know? It totally changed the trajectory of her life. She left the college she was going to. She moved as far away as possible from New York. She eventually ended up in California. You know, she went to law school because somebody suggested maybe she might like law. And then she just went. And she was good at it. And she's a successful entrepreneur now. But you can see the impact of this trauma today.

[Natalie Morales]

And I know it took so much courage for her to come forward. So we have to thank her for telling her story and telling it to us. And we should remind our listeners and our viewers if you or if someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline. That number is 1-800-799-7233. AnneMarie, wonderful reporting. Great to connect with you on this story. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

[Ann Marie Green]

Thank you.

[Natalie Morales]

And if you like this series postmortem, please rate and review 48 hours on Apple Podcasts and follow 48 hours wherever you get your podcast. And you can also listen ad free with a 48 hours plus subscription on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening.

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