Podcast Summary: Books With Your Besties — Repost from Reconsidered: Unsolved, Season 1: Rachel Hansen

Release Date: March 6, 2026
Hosts: Emily & Ashley
Special Guest: Kim Hansen (Rachel’s mother)
Episode Description:
Emily and Ashley introduce the first season of their new podcast, Reconsidered: Unsolved, by delving into the tragic and unsolved case of Rachel Hansen. This episode sets the groundwork for an in-depth series focused on unsolved cases and the pursuit of justice. With their signature warmth, candor, and depth, the hosts explore their motivations, backgrounds, and objectives—as well as Rachel’s life and the circumstances surrounding her death.

Episode Theme Overview

The episode centers on the unsolved murder of Rachel Hansen, a vibrant 19-year-old, and the hosts' mission to foster awareness and seek justice for her and others like her. Emily and Ashley leverage their expertise—Emily as a psychology professor specializing in law, and Ashley as a resourceful investigator—and long-standing friendship to navigate the complexities of true crime storytelling with integrity and empathy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origin of the Podcast and Ethical Approach

• Background: The hosts started podcasting through their book club business and psychological thriller discussions with “Books With Your Besties.” Requests from listeners led them to true crime.
• First True Crime Attempt: Their initial crime coverage was for Patreon (Kyron Horman case), but they chose to make it public for ethical reasons, uncomfortable keeping unsolved cases behind a paywall.
  Notable Quote:
  “We are not journalists, you don’t have to stick to the same standards that we do. But you did.” — Feedback from Oregonian interviewer ([04:18])
• Ethics & Purpose: They emphasize their goal is justice and awareness, not sensationalism or exploitation.
  “We want to bring integrity to this and… bring awareness and, and a pursuit of justice.” – Emily ([04:38])

2. Why True Crime? The Human Drive & Responsibility

• Reflections on True Crime: Emily notes people are drawn to the extremes of human experience, including the darkest corners of criminal behavior.
  Notable Quote:
  “I think it’s really natural to enjoy listening to true crime and I shouldn’t use the word enjoy, but to be driven toward it. And we want to do this with purpose.” – Emily ([05:37])
• Focus on Unsolved Cases: The hosts resolve only to cover unsolved cases, seeking to contribute meaningfully. Their distaste for injustice drives their efforts. “It just has made us hungry to share with more people.” – Ashley ([06:59])

3. Hosts’ Unique Skills and Expertise

• Emily: PhD in psychology with an emphasis on law; areas of expertise include eyewitness testimony, trauma and memory, crime perpetrators, psychopathy, and jury decision processes.
• Ashley: Background in criminal defense law; exceptional investigative skills and aptitude for uncovering connections and information others have missed.
  Memorable Moment:
  “I truly am that person that can go down these rabbit holes and find these very odd connections in very weird places to locate people…” – Ashley ([08:22])
• Approach to Sensitive Information: Consultation with a private investigator to determine what to share publicly to protect safety and the investigation integrity ([10:12]-[10:38]).

4. Case Background: Rachel Hansen

a. The Crime

• Incident Recap:
  • June 3, 2022: 19-year-old Rachel Hansen spends the evening with boyfriend Jomet Bailey at her San Tan Village apartment.
  • At 2:07am, Rachel calls 911: “Hi, I’ve been shot. Someone broke in and shot me.” She confirms being alone and the intruder gone. ([01:49])
  • First police arrive within five minutes; Rachel is given life-saving care but succumbs to her injuries at 5:12am.
  • Case remains unsolved.

b. Rachel’s Life Story

• Adoptive family:

  • Kim and Todd Hansen, parents with a legacy of fostering over 100 children before adopting Rachel. “When they heard about Rachel and Rachel’s story, they knew that that was going to be the right fit…” ([12:32])
  • Rachel’s early years involved multiple abandonments and traumatic loss, including being left by her mother and finding her first caretaker dead.

• Therapeutic Bond with Horses:

  • Rachel found solace and healing through working with horses.
    Notable Quote (Kim):
    “She learned how to pull, lead a horse over to the fencing so she could climb up the fence and throw her leg over… I would often wake up and come downstairs to look out and see her just laying on the back of a horse.” ([14:59])

• Athletic & Academic Drive:

  • Excelled at sports (soccer, cheerleading, the only girl on the football team, manager/wrestler on wrestling team).
  • Graduated high school at almost 17, received a full college scholarship.
  • Started her own horse training business “DTR” and became a real estate agent focused on equestrian properties.
  • Loved animals deeply, with very few photos not featuring a pet ([15:28]–[18:07]).

• Mental Health & Insight:

  • End-of-2020 Instagram post reveals Rachel’s self-awareness, growth, and struggle with anxiety and depression.
    Quote (Rachel’s IG):
    “I don’t. In fact, I’m at a loss for words… The next year is going to be about health for me. Healthy eating, healthy habits, healthy relationships, healthy everything. I want to thrive and help others do the same.” ([19:26])

c. Relationships at the Time of Death

• Relationship with Jomet Bailey—intense love but marked by ups and downs; engagement in January 2022, but called off by June, working to reconnect ([21:27]–[22:13]).

d. Rachel as Remembered

• The hosts and Kim describe utterly falling in love with Rachel through their research and emphasize the tragedy of her loss. Notable Quote:
  “It’s devastating that such a bright light was snuffed out early before she was able to reach her potential.” – Ashley ([22:13])

• Emotional closure from Kim:
  “We will not give up.” – Kim ([22:53])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We have cried, we have had sleepless nights, our anxiety at an all time high. But… we feel like this is something we are needing to insert ourselves in because it feels like we can help.” – Ashley ([05:37])
• “Justice is unlikely to be served if people do not know what they should be coming forward about. So our hope is for this case to be able to do that.” – Emily ([09:17])
• “We have some sources that are anonymous, some that we can't verify… We will always be sure to tell you what is conjecture, what we're uncertain about, what we think to be true and what we know…” – Emily ([10:38])
• “Rachel was completely obsessed with animals and it seemed like she had a very special relationship with her own horse, Dash.” – Ashley ([17:34])
• Kim’s testimony of love and commitment:
  “We would. We will not give up.” ([22:53])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:01] Season intro and focus on the Rachel Hansen case
• [01:49] Timeline of Rachel’s final hours and the emergency response
• [02:39–04:18] The hosts' journey to crime podcasting and their ethical convictions
• [04:50] Purpose, emotional investment, and the sense of calling
• [07:35] Emily & Ashley’s unique skills and research backgrounds
• [10:12–10:38] Transparency about investigative methodology and ethical boundaries
• [12:32] Introduction of Rachel—her adoption, trauma, and childhood
• [14:59] Kim’s stories about Rachel’s therapeutic horse experiences
• [15:28–18:07] Rachel’s athletic, academic, and entrepreneurial accomplishments
• [19:26] Rachel’s mental health struggles and reflective IG post
• [21:27–22:13] Relationship with Jomet; falling in love with Rachel as a person
• [22:53] Kim’s emotional closure; commitment to justice and remembrance

Tone and Final Thoughts

Emily and Ashley set a tone that balances gravity, empathy, and the intimacy of long-term friendship. They emphasize their desire to make a difference and engage responsibly with true crime storytelling. The episode invites listeners to join a season-long exploration into Rachel Hansen’s life and death, promising both shocking revelations and a dedicated, compassionate approach to the pursuit of justice.

Listeners come away with a clear sense of Rachel’s spirit, the injustices faced, and the earnestness of the hosts’ commitment—making it a compelling start to the Reconsidered: Unsolved series.