Murder Sheet – "Lani" (January 6, 2026)

Overview

This special episode of Murder Sheet shifts focus from true crime reporting to a heartfelt tribute to the podcast's beloved executive producer: their dog, Lani (formally Lanolin Q. Smith). Hosts Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee share memories, stories, and reflections on Lani’s life and her central role in their personal lives and the podcast’s journey. They candidly discuss the joy Lani brought, the grief of her recent passing, and the deep lessons learned about love, loss, and companionship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Lani’s Origin and Entry into Kevin’s Life

• Rescue Story & Early Years
  • Kevin adopted Lani in 2014 from a no-kill shelter in downtown Indianapolis. She was found wandering in a Lafayette, Indiana field, near Delphi (02:10).
  • Lani’s adoption coincidentally led to Kevin and Anya meeting: Kevin’s shoulder injury, caused by Lani pulling him on ice, forced him to take time off work, during which his renewed research led him to Áine (03:41–05:12).

Lani’s Name and Unique Personality

• Naming Conventions
  • Lani is a rare dog name; originally inspired by a dream (“Lanyon”), humorously associated with lanolin (“sheep’s fat”) and formally dubbed Lanolin Q. Smith (05:19–05:39).
  • “If a dog frustrates you, you need a lot of syllables to let them know to remonstrate with them.” — Kevin Greenlee (05:43)
• Personality Traits
  • Described as sweet, sociable, and “The Mayor” of every place she went (07:27).
  • While she loved people and kids, she was not fond of other animals and preferred being the only dog (07:28–08:36).

Memorable and Funny Lani Stories

• Adventures and Escapades
  • Lani was known for “elopement”—running off when she could, once requiring help from a teenage neighbor to be corralled (11:07–11:39).
  • “Before I was on...she destroyed your house and ended up on a table with the bone.” — Recalls Lani’s mission to securely hide a dog bone, leaving the house in disarray (12:18–13:32).
• Gentle with People, Defended Family
  • Despite being non-aggressive, Lani once defended a vulnerable family member from another dog, though the hosts joke she would not have fought off a human burglar (13:49–14:49).

Lani’s Role as “Executive Producer”

• Active Participant in Podcast Life
  • Sat in on recordings, acted as a calming presence, and even interrupted news calls for attention (09:02–09:04, 27:06).
  • “Have you checked...have you fact checked that? Have you requested comments?” — Personifying Lani’s presence during their research (09:04).
• Emotional Intelligence
  • Lani comforted both hosts through difficult moments and seemed sensitive to their emotions (09:19–09:32, 21:49).

Reflections on Loss and Grief

• The Hardest Goodbye
  • During December, Lani was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. The hosts rearranged their schedules to spend her last days together (23:06–24:01).
  • Lani passed quietly in her sleep on New Year’s Eve, which the hosts reflected on with grief and gratitude for her peaceful end (24:47–25:32).
  • “All we can—any of us can—hope for is a peaceful death in our sleep.” — Unidentified Speaker (25:08)
  • Both struggled with the practical aftermath and lingering habits like expecting to see or walk Lani (25:45–25:53).

Lani’s Lasting Impact

• Catalyst for the Podcast and Relationship
  • Lani’s accident ultimately brought Kevin and Áine together and inspired much of their existing work. “There would literally not be a Murder Sheet without her.” (00:36, 26:24)
• Tribute to All Beloved Pets
  • Reflections on “dead dog wall,” honoring previous dogs and the hope and intention to adopt in the future (28:51–29:27).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why loving a dog is worth the pain:

  “If you go through life trying to avoid anything that might cause you pain, you’re not going to have much joy in your life.”
  — Kevin Greenlee (09:32)

• On grieving Lani:

  “I hope she knew how much we loved her, because we loved her a lot. And I’m gonna miss my friend very much.”
  — Unidentified Speaker (25:29)

• On Lani’s individuality:

  “She was such a sweet girl... She was the mayor of every place she ever was. She was going to greet everybody.”
  — Unidentified Male Speaker (07:27)

• On how Lani started it all:

  “She gave us a lot of gifts just from her wonderful personality, but also just, you know, getting Kevin brutally injured so he could meet me. Thanks, lady. She’s a wonderful wing woman.”
  — Unidentified Speaker (26:24)

• On the mourning process:

  “I just spent the day just looking at comments and crying... A lot of people have gone through that, losing a beloved pet. That was kind of weirdly healing for me.”
  — Unidentified Male Speaker (32:25)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Adoption and Meeting Story: 02:00–05:12
• Naming and Personality: 05:19–07:27
• Lani’s Dog Park Behavior: 07:28–09:04
• Role as Executive Producer: 09:02–09:19; 27:06–27:39
• Running Away/Escapades: 11:07–13:32
• Anecdotes Defending Family: 13:49–14:49
• Reflections on Loss/Grief: 23:06–26:50
• Plans for the Future & Tribute: 28:12–29:41
• Final Thoughts and Community Thanks: 30:50–32:54

Tone and Takeaways

• Heartfelt, warm, candid—the hosts are sincere, and there’s both humor and vulnerability throughout.
• Occasional light teasing and affectionate humor balance the heaviness of grief.
• Extends gratitude to listeners for their understanding and support during a difficult time.

Conclusion

While “Lani” departs from Murder Sheet’s typical true crime format, it offers a moving, honest tribute to the dog who was integral to not only the hosts’ lives but the very creation of the podcast. The episode is both a celebration of Lani’s unique spirit and an exploration of the deep bond between pets and their humans. Listeners are left with a message about embracing life’s joys, even when they come with inevitable pain, and the enduring impact of a good dog.

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