Burden of Guilt the Docuseries | S1 — BONUS

Summary

Burden of Guilt - S1: Bonus EP 2: The Docuseries

Release Date: January 15, 2025
Hosted By: iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts
Available On: Paramount+

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Overview

In this bonus episode, host Nancy Glass sits down with award-winning filmmaker and executive producer John Hirsch to delve deeper into the creation of the "Burden of Guilt" docuseries. Premiering on February 4th on Paramount+, the docuseries explores the tumultuous journey of Tracyraquel Berns, a woman entangled in one of America's most perplexing and disturbing cases—the alleged accidental death of her four-month-old brother, Matthew. Over four decades, Tracyraquel has sought the truth behind Matthew's death, challenging her family's silence and the initial determination by law enforcement that the incident was a tragic accident.

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Behind the Scenes: Creating the Docuseries

[02:00] Nancy Glass introduces John Hirsch, highlighting his impressive portfolio, including documentaries aired on CNN and Hulu. Together, they embarked on bringing Tracyraquel's harrowing story to life through both audio and video formats.

John Hirsch shares his initial reaction:
"When you started hitting me with one thing after the next, I was like, this can't be true. No true crime story sounds this cinematic."
[02:24]

He emphasizes the uniqueness of the case, noting the rarity of a cold case being reopened and solved after more than two decades. The perseverance required by Tracyraquel to reignite interest in the case is unprecedented, making it a compelling narrative for both the podcast and the docuseries.

Nancy Glass expresses her admiration for Tracyraquel:
"She grows up and becomes a hero. She solves her problem, her baby brother's murder. She gets the murderer convicted."
[04:06]

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Tracyraquel Berns: From Survivor to Crusader

John Hirsch reflects on meeting Tracyraquel:
"She's incredibly warm and genuine, despite the incredible hardships she's been through."
[05:27]

Tracyraquel's unwavering strength is evident as she navigates the complexities of her past trauma and the daunting task of seeking justice. Nancy admires her resilience, highlighting her role not just as a survivor but as a proactive crusader against the injustice that marred her childhood.

Nancy Glass adds:
"She didn't even think of herself as a victim. She's a crusader."
[05:45]

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Exclusive Insights into the Docuseries

John Hirsch reveals a pivotal element of the docuseries:
"The biggest thing is an interview with the murderer himself. Hearing his version of what happened is something you don’t often get to see."
[07:03]

This exclusive interview offers a rare glimpse into the mind of the accused, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The authenticity of the portrayal is further enhanced by the transformation of the murderer over the years, challenging viewers' perceptions.

Nancy Glass comments on the visual impact:
"Seeing them makes a difference. We all imagine what these people look like, but seeing Tracyraquel and the prosecutors is very moving."
[08:41]

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Navigating the Justice System

The docuseries doesn't just chronicle Tracyraquel's personal journey but also highlights the intricate dance between emotion and law within the justice system. Over 25 years, the legal landscape has evolved, presenting new challenges and opportunities for Tracyraquel as she strives to clear her name and uncover the truth.

John Hirsch elaborates:
"Tracyraquel doesn't just fight to clear her name; she's up against a justice system that makes it really difficult to navigate."
[08:18]

The narrative showcases her relentless pursuit, fraught with legal hurdles, emotional turmoil, and societal pressures. Her imperfect navigation of the system adds a layer of realism and relatability to her character, making her triumphs all the more satisfying.

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Impact and Anticipation

Both hosts express immense pride and confidence in the docuseries, anticipating that viewers will find the story as gripping and inspiring as they do. The culmination of decades-long efforts, personal sacrifices, and relentless determination promises a deeply moving and thought-provoking experience.

Nancy Glass concludes with hope:
"I hope people will watch 'Burden of Guilt' and walk away feeling like there is justice in this world."
[10:00]

John Hirsch echoes this sentiment:
"I really hope the audience feels that way as well, and I'm confident they will."
[10:00]

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Conclusion

"Burden of Guilt: The Docuseries" stands as a testament to one woman's indefatigable quest for truth and justice against all odds. Through intimate interviews, exclusive content, and a meticulously crafted narrative, the series promises to engage, inspire, and provoke meaningful conversations about guilt, redemption, and the human spirit's capacity to seek justice.

Don't miss the premiere on February 4th on Paramount+. Make sure to binge all episodes of the podcast that inspired the show before watching the docuseries to fully appreciate Tracyraquel Berns' incredible journey.

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Notable Quotes

• John Hirsch:
  "This case was dead in the water. Tracy's the reason this case got looked into again."
  [06:26]

• Nancy Glass:
  "She is one of the strongest people I've ever known."
  [04:56]

• John Hirsch:
  "It's so incredibly satisfying when you get to the end because you're rooting so hard for Tracy."
  [09:30]

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About the Hosts

Nancy Glass is an award-winning filmmaker and executive producer known for her compelling storytelling and dedication to uncovering hidden truths. John Hirsch brings his extensive experience in documentary filmmaking, having worked on numerous high-profile projects that delve into complex and challenging subjects.

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Stay Connected

• Watch the Docuseries: Burden of Guilt on Paramount+
• Follow Us: Stay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content by following iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts on your favorite streaming platforms.

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Join Nancy and John as they unravel the layers of an extraordinary story, exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of justice in "Burden of Guilt."

Transcript

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[Nancy Glass]

Hi, it's Nancy Glass. I want to introduce you to an award winning filmmaker and executive producer, John Hirsch. He has created documentaries that have aired on cnn. He did Pope, he did Lincoln, he did Jefferson on History, he did Betrayal on Hulu, and he is executive producer with me of Burden of Guilt. And that's why you're here.

[John Hirsch]

Yes, it is. It is. So thank you for having me.

[Nancy Glass]

You and I, we put together the documentary for Burden of Guilt on Paramount. What did you think when I first told you that we were going to do an audio documentary and a video documentary on a woman who was accused of murdering her baby brother?

[John Hirsch]

Well, I will never forget when you called me to tell me about this story and it was. You sent me a text, actually, and you said, you got a minute? I got an incredible story to share. And so I called you a couple minutes later and he said, johnny, sitting down, I found a story that I think is one of the best I've ever come across. And you know, you and I worked together long enough and you know how much I trust your instincts when it comes to story. And I said, all Right. Lay it on me. What do you got? And, you know, at this point, we've worked on it on serial killer documentaries and cold cases, and, you know, we've seen a lot, we've heard a lot. It's hard to be shocked anymore. And, Nancy, you started telling me about the story and telling me about Tracy Raquel's journey from what she knew growing up, about her baby brother passing away and sort of the questions that existed. And then you started hitting me with one thing after the next, after the next, after the next. And I was like, this can't be true. Cause no true crime story reads or sounds the way this one does, which sounded almost like a scripted movie, like you couldn't make up these twists and turns. And I was really taken aback. I almost didn't believe the story at first. And I think the part of it that I couldn't get over was having worked on so many cases that had gone cold that, you know, had a little spark that got an investigation restarted. Never had I seen one where it was over two decades had passed since law enforcement had made a determination about what happened. And then that case actually getting not only reopened, but solved. I mean, that just doesn't happen. It's such an incredible amount of time to pass, and so many things can happen. And the way in which this case gets reopened and then solved is just remarkable.

[Nancy Glass]

It is remarkable. And I have to tell you, my only, I guess, hesitation was the way I personally feel about Tracy Raquel, because I don't get involved that way. But I care so much for her as a person. I admire her so much. I mean, here's somebody who grows up and as is horrible, I mean, some of the stories we weren't even allowed to use about this horrible, horrible childhood. And she grows up and really becomes a hero. You know, she solves her problem, baby brother's murder. She gets the murderer convicted. She becomes an incredible mother. She cares so much about people. She is one of the strongest people I've ever known.

[John Hirsch]

When I first met her, when you and I went out to Colorado that first time to meet her in person, I was taken aback right away by her warmth. She's incredibly warm and genuine to everybody that she meets, whether it was, you know, us coming to meet her to talk about potentially telling her story, or just the waiter who was telling us the specials that night when we all went out to dinner. She just has a kindness about her that it's endearing. But it's also a little surprising when you start to know about some of the incredible hardships that she's been through. It is amazing. And it's.

[Nancy Glass]

He doesn't see it that way, though.

[John Hirsch]

Nope.

[Nancy Glass]

That's the whole thing. You know, she talked about being at an opening of a center for abused women or children, and they were calling her a victim, and she thought, oh, my God, I'm not a victim. She didn't even think of it that way. Never thought of herself.

[John Hirsch]

Not a victim. A crusader is what she is. Absolutely. This case was dead in the water. I mean, law enforcement had made a determination the day that Matthew tragically passed away that unfortunately, could have buried this crime forever. And Tracy's the reason this case got looked into again. It's the reason the case got reopened. And I don't want to share too many spoilers, but the efforts that she put in that triggered the reopening of this case are unprecedented. I've never seen it from a private citizen. To do what they did 25 years after a crime took place, to spark this kind of, you know, reinterest, and then actually getting the case reopened is unbelievable.

[Nancy Glass]

And she also risked her life. She was threatened. I really admire her for it. I am, you know, so proud to call her my friend.

[John Hirsch]

Absolutely. That's as important to me as, you know, a lot of people tuning in. I mean, this relationship is one that, you know, means a lot to us right now, and it's gonna mean a lot to us ten years from now.

[Nancy Glass]

So, John, as the executive producer of Burden of Guilt, which you can see On Paramount starting February 4th, what is it that people will see on the documentary that they didn't hear in the podcast?

[John Hirsch]

Well, the biggest thing is an interview with the murderer himself. You're gonna hear it from him, his version of what happened that day and the aftermath. And it is pretty wild. And not often that you. When the dust settles on a story that's just as extreme as this one is and a documentary that is as heartfelt as this one is, you don't often get to hear that side from the murderer's mouth himself. And that is something I think viewers are really going to be interested in and surprised by.

[Nancy Glass]

We actually had to put up a warning on the screen saying, this man looks very different from the way he looked in his youth. And I didn't even want to do that because I think he looks like the person he is.

[John Hirsch]

Yeah, I don't disagree with you. I thought that was a tricky situation. And I look at it this way. You know, having worked in prisons on prison shows and being around People who are living their life. Prison is a really, really tough right, and it'll age you quickly, but it's an even tougher place. When you murdered a kid and it shows on his face and in his body what the toll of decades behind bars for doing what he did.

[Nancy Glass]

I agree. I also think that we've heard from all these people, but seeing them makes a difference. We all imagine what these people look like. But I think you'll be impressed when you see what Tracey Raquel looks like, when you see the prosecutors, you hear how they've reacted to things, and it's very moving.

[John Hirsch]

Look, it is a three part documentary that I know you and I are both incredibly proud of. I think we've done the story justice. But it is a story that is hard to believe at times with the twists and turns and the things that happen, you know, after the truth comes out and you get into the legal process of the trial and the trials in this case, you see the ways in which, you know, our legal system kind of can converge with facts of a case and feelings towards a case and the little nuances of the rules of law and how those end up influence this case. Tracy Raquel doesn't just fight to clear her name and find out who actually committed the murder, but she's also up against a justice system that 25 plus years later, you know, is set up in a way that makes it really, really difficult to navigate. And she navigates it, I don't want to say flawlessly, because she doesn't. And it makes it even more dramatic on the back end to finally get to that conclusion after all the twists and turns and this saga that we're on. It's so incredibly satisfying when you get to the end because you're rooting so hard for Tracy Raquel that when you finally get to the end, it's like, oh, she did it. We did it. And I really hope the audience feels that way as well, and I'm confident they will.

[Nancy Glass]

So I hope that people will watch Burden of Guilt, and I hope they walk away from it feeling like there is justice in this world.

[John Hirsch]

I hope so, too.

[Nancy Glass]

Burden of Guilt premieres February 4th on Paramount. I hope you'll tune in and watch.

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