Adam Carolla Show: Chris Hansen on Epstein, Predators & Woke Culture + Mamdani Appoints Transgender Rabbi
Date: December 2, 2025
Guests: Chris Hansen (True Blue), Alicia Krause (Washington Examiner)
Episode Overview
Adam Carolla welcomes renowned crime investigator Chris Hansen for a wide-ranging conversation touching on the enduring allure of true crime, the psychology of predators, the Jeffrey Epstein saga, high-profile criminal justice failures, and the dangers lurking in kid-centric platforms like Roblox. Later, news anchor Alicia Krause joins for a satirical and critical rundown of "woke" developments in current events, including the appointment of a transgender rabbi to NYC’s transition team and the culture wars around public celebrations. As always, the conversation is candid, irreverent, and punctuated by Adam’s signature humor and rants.
True Crime’s Popularity and the Psychology of Fear
[02:16–07:29]
- Adam introduces Chris Hansen and dives right into the odd popularity of true crime, especially among suburban, comfortable, predominantly white women.
- Adam: "Who are the consumers? ... I'm picturing white, middle-aged women."
- Chris: "This is true... I’m not sure why."
- Adam’s Theory: As modern comforts removed everyday danger, people seek “artificial” peril via crime dramas and horror.
- “[People] have an appetite for that [jeopardy].” (Adam Carolla, 04:39)
- Chris expands: “These stories... are as old as the Bible. There’s always a fascination… good vs. evil... ultimate mystery to solve.”
- Discussion about why some demographics obsess over threats they likely won’t face—paralleling crime-obsessed women with high-powered men who visit dominatrixes.
The Mindset of Predators and the Unthinkable
[07:29–10:28]
- Adam and Chris analyze why laypeople often can’t fathom the behaviors of evil-doers.
- Adam: “It’s so unthinkable to normally-wired people... it almost gets swept under the rug.” (08:11)
- Chris describes recent stings—including a kidney specialist showing up to meet an underage decoy, despite knowing about Chris Hansen’s stings.
- “He’s wearing his fleece that has the medical center where he practices medicine as a kidney specialist...” (Chris Hansen, 09:23)
Epstein, Abuse, and the Power Structure in Elite Circles
[10:28–21:29]
- Barely Legal:
- Adam and Chris discuss how societal standards have shifted—magazines like “Barely Legal” were once on shelves, now unthinkable.
- “People of age posing as children… to me, that’s like AI child porn.” (Chris Hansen, 11:14)
- Epstein’s Modus Operandi:
- Chris: “Jeffrey Epstein... had a propensity for young girls... would find them in vulnerable situations... [then] incrementally kept going younger.”
- Details about Ghislaine Maxwell’s role, and the power dynamics silencing victims.
- Adam: “He was connected as well.”
- Chris: “Look at all the Prince Andrew stuff... he thought he was gonna get away with it... talk about the height of arrogance.” (14:00–14:06)
- Flight Logs & Guilt by Association:
- Both warn against assuming every passenger was complicit:
- "Nobody says no to a free private flight..." (Adam Carolla, 15:34)
- Both warn against assuming every passenger was complicit:
- Sting Attempts:
- Chris attempted but couldn’t set up undercover stings targeting Epstein, instead praising journalism that chipped away at the case.
- Politicization:
- Names have largely been revealed already, but both parties use the case for political leverage.
- “Both sides are politicizing it.” (Chris Hansen, 17:58)
- Is it a compulsion?
- "You don’t dabble in this. It’s kind of a thing, right?" (Adam Carolla, 18:06)
- Chris: Details about individuals’ “types,” comparing predator behavior to other personal preferences.
High-Profile Criminals, Prisons, and Justice
[25:11–34:54]
- Why Risk it All?
- Adam: “People risk everything for their compulsion… the sexual compulsion part of life transcends all that.”
- Collateral Damage:
- Chris: "What really rocks me and disturbs me the most... [is] the collateral damage. The wife. The girlfriend. The children."
- Prison Realities:
- Adam asks if inmates ever manage to hide their crime from others.
- Chris: “First thing these guys do is, 'where’s your papers? What are you in for?'” He recounts a story of a rabbi from his stings recognized in prison via TV airing his bust.
- Cell Phones in Prison:
- The ease of smuggling contraband like phones discussed.
- Conjugal Visits as a Behavior Management Tool:
- Adam: “It keeps them [inmates] from boiling over. You get to use it as leverage.”
Child Predator Stings – Security and Realities
[32:06–34:54]
- Chris tells a harrowing vignette of catching a young man with a loaded gun in his backpack—showcasing the real-life dangers in these operations.
- “The point... there was a gun in that backpack. The police have a right to look if there’s potential danger.” (Chris Hansen, 32:50)
- Security measures for the stings are discussed, albeit vaguely for obvious reasons.
Roblox: Child Exploitation on Kids’ Gaming Platforms
[43:12–47:44]
- Roblox's explosive popularity is flagged as a hunting ground for predators.
- “Roblox... marketed to children as young as five... what we’ve uncovered is shocking.” (Chris Hansen, 43:22)
- Predators exploit children by offering the in-game currency “Robux” to create or coerce child pornography.
- Corporate Response:
- Roblox is accused of stonewalling scrutiny and banning whistleblowers/content creators trying to help clean things up.
- Chris: “The company claimed they’re making security advances... I’m trying to get them to talk to me, but they’ve refused.”
CrimeCon, Fan Culture, and the Power of Community
[50:17–53:50]
- Adam and Chris discuss CrimeCon, its growth, and the devoted, supportive fans in the true crime world.
- Chris: “The connection you make with the people who consume your content is so organic... it got me in a way that almost makes me tear up.”
- “Without those people... how do you have the number one podcast?” (Chris Hansen, 52:50)
Solvability of Crime in the Age of Tech & The JonBenet Ramsey Case
[53:57–59:17]
- Adam: “It seems almost impossible to pull off a crime these days with science, DNA... just Ring doorbell everywhere.”
- Chris is hopeful the JonBenet case will be solved:
- "That case was so poorly investigated in the beginning... there are two or three suspects, but I’m convinced it was an outsider.” (Chris Hansen, 56:13 & 57:58)
Classic True Crime Cases: Chandra Levy, Duke Lacrosse, and Media Fiascos
[59:17–63:42]
- Chandra Levy:
- DA’s tunnel vision on a high-profile congressman, ignoring a known predator whose MO fit—“The criminal math seems to add up. And in fact, ultimately, that was the guy.” (Chris Hansen, 61:41)
- Duke Lacrosse:
- Media and prosecutorial overreach—Ed Bradley covered the truth: “It was an exceptional piece of journalism... they didn’t commit a crime.” (Chris Hansen, 40:12)
News & Culture Segment with Alicia Krause
[74:13–109:44]
1. NYC Appoints Transgender Rabbi to Transition Team
[79:10–81:49]
- News that incoming NYC mayor Mamdani appointed transgender Rabbi Abby Stein to the health committee.
- Adam: “400 people... doesn’t that seem like a lot?”
- Satirical takedown of government bloat and “woke” appointments:
- “Government just begats government... it’s one big money laundering operation.”
- “Turns out everyone is corruptible. As long as you’re throwing money at it.”
2. Portland’s “Woke” Christmas Tree Lighting
[86:50–93:43]
- A holiday tree lighting ceremony replaced its “Christmas” language and led with land acknowledgments, anti-Israel, and pro-Palestine activist speeches.
- Adam: “Can we have one fucking day that we can enjoy without you and your shit all the time?” (88:26)
- The segment lampoons these virtue-signaling rituals and compares them to the infamous bummer Christmas story from Gremlins (Phoebe Cates' speech).
3. True Crime Fan Culture Run Amok
[96:40–98:28]
- Alleged murderer Luigi Mangione attracts groupies online; people buy merch featuring his image.
- Adam: “Maybe we’ve hit our bottom... in the department of not being able to think in a sane manner.”
- “You’re not supposed to be worshiping at the altar of his executioner.”
4. Paramore Singer Bans ‘Racists’ and 'Anti-Trans' Fans from Concerts
[100:31–103:22]
- Frontwoman Hayley Williams declares Trump supporters and “anti-trans” fans are unwelcome, despite living in Tennessee.
- Adam: “Go do whatever you want to do, but please shut the fuck up about it. I don’t want it invading every tree lighting.”
- “They need to victimize themselves because it’s all part of this weird narcissistic spiral.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the True Crime Allure:
- “I think for women, that demographic... who don’t really have predators in the wild, that seems so enthusiastic about it.” (Adam Carolla, 06:27)
-
On the Epstein Case:
- “This is a guy... who had a propensity for youngish girls who would find them in vulnerable situations... incrementally, he kept going younger, younger, younger.” (Chris Hansen, 12:29)
-
On Institutional Corruption:
- “Turns out women are just as corruptible. Turns out blacks are just as corruptible... as long as you’re throwing money at it, everyone’s taking it.” (Adam Carolla, 82:46)
-
On Woke Rituals at Public Events:
- “Can we have one fucking day that we can enjoy without you and your shit all the time?” (Adam Carolla, 88:26)
-
On Generational Comedy:
- “Your daughter will think Christmas Vacation is the funniest movie ever written because she's gonna watch it at 12, and then she's gonna annoy some guy when she's 27 and they're dating and she's making him watch Ladybugs...” (Adam Carolla, 78:32)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- True crime & pop psychology: 02:16–07:29
- Predator mindset & recent stings: 07:29–10:28
- Epstein case deep dive: 10:28–21:29
- Prison, predator compulsion & justice: 25:11–34:54
- Roblox and child exploitation: 43:12–47:44
- CrimeCon, fan engagement: 50:17–53:50
- JonBenet Ramsey, DNA & crime solvability: 53:57–59:17
- Chandra Levy & media failures: 59:17–63:42
- NYC transgender rabbi appointment: 79:10–81:49
- Portland ‘woke’ holiday celebration: 86:50–93:43
- True crime groupies (Luigi Mangione): 96:40–98:28
- Paramore’s concert ban policy: 100:31–103:22
Tone & Style
The episode is marked by Adam Carolla’s unfiltered, sarcastic observations, Chris Hansen’s seasoned insights into the dark realities of crime and criminal psychology, and Alicia Krause’s dry wit and conservative skew. Discussions are equal parts candid, irreverent, and humorous despite the gravity of many topics.
Summary
- Chris Hansen brings a behind-the-scenes perspective on crime obsession and predator psychology.
- Epstein’s saga, ongoing coverups, and societal denial receive a careful, insider's dissection.
- Real stories from predator stings, the danger faced by law enforcement and crews, and dark “collateral” consequences for families of criminals provide a chilling window into modern policing and prosecution.
- Large-scale platforms (Roblox) exploit a lack of oversight; kids are at serious risk despite corporate PR claims.
- Satirical news breaks ridicule the growing absurdity of “woke” governance, public ceremonies, and the collapse of traditional standards.
- The underlying message: society is both obsessed with and blind to real peril, while virtue signaling and bureaucracy obscure accountability and dilute merit.
For listeners who missed the episode:
You'll come away with sharp, sometimes uncomfortable insights into crime, the fragile psychology behind public crises, and the farce often underlying virtue-driven culture wars—all delivered with biting humor and real (if off-color) wisdom.