Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz

Episode: Sip, Spill, Solve: with Madison McGhee
Date: February 25, 2026
Podcast Network: PodcastOne

Episode Overview

This episode of Detox Retox centers around finding harmony and mindfulness in everyday indulgences, featuring a rich conversation between host Tom Schwartz and guest Madison McGhee. Madison is a writer, director, producer, and podcaster best known for her shows Ice Cold Case and Frozen Files, which tackle true crime stories, including personal tragedies. The episode unfolds over drinks at a kava bar in Santa Monica, as Tom and Madison explore the effects of kava, the complexities of true crime fascination, dealing with online criticism, behind-the-scenes of reality TV, and Madison’s advocacy in unsolved cases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Kava 101—Mindful Detox Begins

Timestamps: 00:59–06:12

• Setting: Tom and Madison meet at Cavana, a kava bar in Santa Monica, and both try kava for the first time.
  • Kava explained: A traditional South Pacific root beverage with calming, mild euphoria-inducing effects (00:59–01:54).
  • Reverse tolerance: You need more kava your first time for noticeable effects; over time, less works (04:48–05:05).
  • First taste: "Oh, that's good." —Madison (06:01)
  • First impressions: Both quickly become fans and joke about becoming regulars.

Meet Madison McGhee—True Crime is Personal

Timestamps: 06:40–08:48

• Background: Madison, acclaimed for her podcasts Ice Cold Case and Frozen Files, started investigating her own father’s 2002 unsolved murder.
  • "It was just sitting in a case file, and then I started looking into it, so now it's, you know, getting some traction and movement. But it is still currently unsolved." —Madison (07:47)
• Tom highlights Madison’s role as both a creator and personal advocate for victims' families.

Why Are We Obsessed With True Crime?

Timestamps: 08:49–13:44

• Psychology of fascination: Tom and Madison dissect why true crime is both entertainment and education.
  • Simulation & escapism: "Some women will argue, 'Oh, I want to be prepared if something happens.'...But I really think...you've disassociated from the true part of true crime enough that it almost feels like a drama." —Madison (08:52–09:23)
  • Validation & comfort: "It's also comforting because...I've been there too, I don't feel so alone after...a divorce or...God forbid, a miscarriage...other people have gone through this too." —Tom (10:39)
• Discuss morbid curiosity and parallels with scary movies and reality TV.

Reality TV, Vanderpump Rules, and the "New Cast"

Timestamps: 14:06–21:24

• Madison and Tom swap favorite reality TV shows, observations on new cast members, and the emotional effect of seeing relationships unravel on screen.
  • Madison: “[Natalie’s] a great main character, and I like her because I can't tell if she's the Stassi or the Sheena...she's kind of both.” (15:14)
• Behind-the-scenes: Madison shares her entry into the Vanderpump sphere via chance meetings, making the show personally compelling.
  • "So I started watching from season one, and I made it through, like, seven seasons in, like, three weeks. I was like, this show is crazy. These people are insane." —Madison (19:57)

Parasocial Relationships & the Loss of Escapism

Timestamps: 20:38–21:31

• The fun of voyeurism fades when you befriend reality stars; watching becomes complicated and less escapist.
  • "It ruins the lore." —Madison (20:50)
  • "There's no escapism. I feel like a peeping Tom." —Tom (20:53)

Sheena Shea, Online Persona vs Reality, and Handling Criticism

Timestamps: 21:32–26:06

• Tom and Madison praise Sheena Shea’s real-life likability versus her polarizing online reputation.
• Online critics and trolling:
  • "It's so easy to see 100 amazing comments and then get that one and go, oh, I'm gonna think about this all day long." —Madison (22:57)
  • Madison shares how a harsh message inspired her to make a T-shirt and song, turning hate into creativity (24:18).
  • "This is a great metaphor and a reminder to never let the trolls win." —Tom (24:10)
• The "We not I" rhetoric in comment threads: "I'm always confused as to how, when, and why they anointed themselves to speak for the people." —Tom (25:07)

Frozen Files, True Crime Advocacy, and the Ethics of Storytelling

Timestamps: 26:48–37:32

• Madison explains the transition from Ice Cold Case to Frozen Files, amplifying lesser-known cases without sensationalism.
  • "There are so many other cases that deserve and need that kind of attention, and they're not getting it." —Madison (28:20)
• Collaboration with victims’ families:
  • "All of them have been in collaboration with the family...they read the script before I record. Like, they are fully involved." —Madison (29:41)
• Memorable quote from the show, read by Tom:
  • "One thing that stands out to me about this night is how unremarkable it was. No conflict, no tension, no warning signs. In investigations that kind of normality isn't inconsequential. It's evidence." —Madison (31:12)

The Randomness and Frustration of Unsolved Crimes

Timestamps: 31:41–36:29

• Random violence is especially terrifying; no preparation can thwart it.
• The emotional toll of police indifference:
  • "You can tell that this person's just like, clocking in for work...You can't even really describe how frustrating that can feel." —Madison (34:41)
  • Media attention as a modern tool to solve cases.

Madison’s Process and the Cold Case Backlog

Timestamps: 37:47–39:19

• Madison works with advocate Haley Gray, using pre-existing research and family submissions for choosing cases.
  • "My list...right now...is around 150." —Madison (39:05)
  • Over 250,000 cold cases in America; a daunting but critical mission.

Favorite True Crime Shows and Paranormal TV

Timestamps: 39:41–42:23

• Madison credits America's Most Wanted (childhood staple), loves Dateline, and the social experiment show What Would You Do?
• Tom shouts out Unsolved Mysteries and their shared curiosity about the supernatural.
• Alien banter: Both confidently believe extraterrestrials exist.

Life Update, Joshua Tree Retreat, and Plant Parenting

Timestamps: 43:08–46:38

• Madison plugs her newly renovated Joshua Tree Airbnb: two-bedroom, one-bath on five acres, full of amenities (43:26).
• Discussion of the eerie, isolating, and potentially haunted desert vibe.
  • "Probably [someone's been murdered there]...Joshua Tree is so scary...you don’t know what’s happened here...it's kind of fun." —Madison (43:55)
• Tom and Madison compare notes on plant parenting and pets.

Schwartz & Sandy’s, Friendships, and Community

Timestamps: 46:39–48:11

• Reminiscence and memorializing Schwartz & Sandy’s as more than just a bar.
  • "How beautiful it is to try something...risk everything...just go for it." —Tom (48:12)
  • The highs and lows of entrepreneurial life in LA’s volatile hospitality scene.

The Rise of Sober Socializing and LA Nightlife

Timestamps: 48:12–49:48

• Madison and Tom discuss how the rise in sobriety (Madison: “I haven't had alcohol in over a year.”) is impacting nightlife and business.
• The challenge of running restaurants and bars post-pandemic as social behavior changes.

Final Reflections: Kava Effects, Mindfulness, and Floating

Timestamps: 50:02–51:38

• The hosts share their physical and emotional response to kava:
  • “I feel a little similar to that [microdosing ketamine] now...I feel floaty.” —Madison (51:24–51:28)
  • “I feel like I could drive home. Totally. Yeah.” —Tom (51:36–51:38)
• Both endorse kava as a pleasant, mild, mindful alternative.

Madison’s Plugs and Where to Find Her

Timestamps: 51:45–52:29

• “Oh, I’m Madison McGhee on everything. Ice Cold Case, Frozen Files, wherever you get your podcasts.” —Madison (51:45)
• Spelling her name for listeners: “M C G H E E.” (52:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re keeping it together so we can fall apart responsibly, mindfully, not toxically.” —Tom Schwartz (00:59)
• “That’s such a good [lesson]...if someone says something to you that ruins 10 seconds of your day, are you going to throw away the rest of your day? I will never do that again.” —Madison (23:36)
• “All of them [Frozen Files cases] have been in collaboration with the family...I don’t want to sensationalize the murder or disappearance of your loved one.” —Madison (29:41)
• “One thing that stands out to me about this night is how unremarkable it was. No conflict, no tension, no warning signs. In investigations that kind of normality isn't inconsequential. It's evidence.” —Madison (31:12)

Important Timestamps

• 00:59–06:12: Kava 101 and first sips
• 06:40–08:48: Madison’s true crime background; her father’s case
• 08:49–13:44: Why we love true crime and the psychology behind it
• 14:06–21:24: Reality TV deep dive
• 26:48–37:32: Ethics of true crime storytelling, advocacy, and Frozen Files
• 39:41–42:23: Favorite crime shows and supernatural banter
• 43:26: Madison’s Joshua Tree Airbnb plug
• 50:02–51:38: Kava aftereffects and self-assessment
• 51:45–52:29: Madison’s socials and projects

Closing Note

This rich, free-flowing conversation blends self-care, pop culture, digital life, and advocacy. Tom and Madison’s camaraderie delivers entertainment and depth, perfect for fans of mindfulness, true crime, and reality TV. They leave listeners with a mellow vibe, a thirst for kava, and a sense that mindful indulgence is, after all, part of the balance.

Find Madison:

• Instagram: @madison_mcgee
• Podcasts: Ice Cold Case and Frozen Files (available on all platforms)