Podcast Summary: Betrayal Weekly: BONUS EP 7 — The Girlfriends Spotlight

Podcast: Betrayal
Hosts: Andrea Gunning (Betrayal) & Anna Sinfield (The Girlfriends)
Date: July 7, 2025
Episode Description:
This bonus episode features a crossover conversation between Andrea Gunning, host of Betrayal, and Anna Sinfield, host of the Girlfriends Spotlight. The two explore the philosophy behind telling stories of "women winning," their shows’ approaches to true crime and victimhood, and tease upcoming content for both series.

Main Theme Overview

The episode brings together the hosts of two prominent true crime podcasts—Betrayal and The Girlfriends—to discuss their shared missions of centering women’s experiences, their approaches to storytelling beyond victimization, and the challenges and nuances of telling stories about betrayal, resilience, and justice. Anna and Andrea reflect on the evolution of their shows, the importance of multi-dimensional female narratives, and preview upcoming seasons.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins and Evolution of The Girlfriends Spotlight

[03:42–05:10]

• Anna Sinfield explains how The Girlfriends began as a narrative series about women uncovering the dark truth about a romantic partner and then evolved into the Spotlight series.
• Quote:
  “We were kind of left with this huge community of listeners and a feeling that the show wasn’t done. So Spotlight is a series of one-on-one conversations with women who also triumph together or over adversity in some way”
  — Anna Sinfield [04:32]

2. The Philosophy of "Women Winning"

[05:10–07:26]

• Anna describes moving away from stories where women are only portrayed as victims:
  “At the end, you need to feel like, actually I can go through something really shit. And at the end of it, I could still survive. I could still come out on top. … I think we’re telling really important stories that don’t get heard enough.”
  — Anna Sinfield [05:44]
• Emphasis is placed on showcasing resilience, diversity, and global perspectives.

3. Storytelling Approaches: Conversation, Empathy, and Impact

[07:26–07:54]

• Andrea Gunning praises Anna’s interview style and the conversational approach, highlighting the importance of empathy and shared experience in the podcast’s tone.
• Quote:
  “You have this wonderful tone of voice, which is really disarming and soft and welcoming … it’s a really beautiful balance of living in someone’s story as they’re telling it.”
  — Andrea Gunning [07:26]

4. Example Spotlight: Madison and Christine’s Story

[08:04–09:29]

• Discussion of a standout episode about twin sisters fighting back after one is a victim of nonconsensual image sharing.
• Quote:
  “They came together, you know, twins, injustice, and managed to not only take those photos down, but figure out who it was and put them behind bars. … They really care about people understanding what non-consensual pornography is and how pervasive it is in our sort of modern Internet world.”
  — Anna Sinfield [08:51]

5. True Crime Story Diversity and Relatability

[10:10–12:06]

• Andrea explains Betrayal Weekly’s deliberate approach to story selection, focusing on a variety of betrayals and the necessity of relatable love stories at their core.
• Quote:
  “The foundation, the core of these stories is the love story and the aftermath because of the deception and betrayal. … If the audience can’t really relate or acknowledge what that is for someone, then they don’t necessarily care about the deception or the betrayal.”
  — Andrea Gunning [11:27]

6. On Centering Victims as Complex Humans

[12:06–12:46]

• Anna discusses the importance of giving depth and dimensionality to victims, rather than reducing them to one aspect of their story.
• Quote:
  “We invest so much in the friendships of the women and how funny and quirky they are. … In order to really understand what it is to lose someone … you need to understand how much of a whole human being they are.”
  — Anna Sinfield [12:11]

7. The Emotional Demands of Consuming True Crime

[12:57–13:41]

• Both hosts share their challenges with listening to intense content for prolonged periods, questioning the necessity of constant sensationalism.

8. The Power of Community and Support

[18:34–19:52]

• Andrea shares the story of “Stephanie,” a Betrayal subject who moved from anonymity to claiming her voice through connection with other survivors.
• Quote:
  “Just the power of being able to stand alongside somebody else and reclaim your voice is unbelievable to watch and witness. It’s really beautiful.”
  — Andrea Gunning [19:46]

9. Preview: Upcoming Seasons & Complex Narratives

The Girlfriends Season 3 Preview [19:54–21:54]

• Anna teases “The Girlfriend’s Jailhouse Lawyer,” about Kelly Harnett, a woman convicted of murder who became a jailhouse lawyer, freed herself and others, and blurs lines between victim and villain.
• Quote:
  “Really it’s an exploration on what it means to be a victim or a villain in America today. … When you start to explore her story, you can really understand why it’s a really complicated thing to label someone as a bad guy.”
  — Anna Sinfield [21:22]

Betrayal Season 4 Preview [23:29–24:53]

• Andrea outlines the upcoming Betrayal season, centering on a woman married to a police officer whose double life betrays both his family and community.
• Quote:
  “He not only betrays her, but also his community. And it really unpacks a lifetime of lies. … We got access to this incredible tape, his entire IA files that were all recorded … of just hearing him basically just lie to his colleagues and his bosses.”
  — Andrea Gunning [24:03]

10. On the Complexity of Victims & Changing Attitudes

[22:54–23:29]

• Both hosts discuss the need to recognize that “there are no perfect victims” and the ongoing shift in public attitudes, allowing for nuanced portrayals.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the essence of women’s true crime stories:
  “At the end, you need to feel like, actually I can go through something really shit. And at the end of it, I could still survive.” — Anna Sinfield [05:44]

• On the importance of relatable love stories in Betrayal:
  “If the audience can’t really relate or acknowledge what that is for someone, then they don’t necessarily care about the deception or the betrayal.” — Andrea Gunning [11:27]

• On complexity in crime narratives:
  “Life is not black and white. Crimes aren’t black and white. What happens in the aftermath isn’t black and white.” — Andrea Gunning [21:54]

• On survivors reclaiming their stories:
  “Just the power of being able to stand alongside somebody else and reclaim your voice is unbelievable to watch and witness. It’s really beautiful.” — Andrea Gunning [19:46]

• On the changing tide around who gets to be a victim:
  “There are no perfect victims. … I think people are having more open mindedness to different types of victims. And I do think we’re seeing a change, don’t you?” — Andrea Gunning [22:54]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:42] Introduction to The Girlfriends Spotlight
• [05:10] Defining "Women Winning" as a framework
• [07:26] The role of conversation and tone in storytelling
• [08:04] Madison and Christine’s story—nonconsensual image abuse
• [10:10] Diversity and relatability in Betrayal’s stories
• [12:06] Giving depth and humanity to victims
• [18:34] Survivor community and empowerment in Betrayal
• [19:54] Preview: The Girlfriend’s Jailhouse Lawyer
• [23:29] Preview: Betrayal Season 4 and beyond

Takeaway

This episode offers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at how two of true crime’s standout podcast teams approach difficult subjects with empathy and nuance. Both Anna and Andrea share a commitment to moving beyond sensational victimization stories, instead lifting up tales of triumph, complexity, and community among women. Listeners leave with a sense of hope and motivation, as well as excitement for the innovative and challenging stories both podcasts will continue to tell.