Real Life Real Crime — True Crime Time For September 15, 2025

Episode Title: Divided We Fall: The Shooting of Charles Kirk
Hosts: Woody Overton & Cindy Overton
Release Date: September 15, 2025

Overview of the Episode

In this emotionally raw episode, Woody and Cindy Overton address the recent and highly publicized assassination of Charles Kirk, a political activist and founder of a major social movement. The hosts delve into the circumstances of Kirk's murder at a rally, the subsequent media firestorm, and the dangerous growth of political hatred and division in modern America. Throughout, Woody and Cindy emphasize the importance of free speech, mutual respect, and the urgent need for unity amidst escalating national tensions. This episode departs from their typical case deep-dives to offer heartfelt commentary on current events, violence, and the corrosive effects of division.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Reactions to Charles Kirk’s Shooting

• Discovery of the Event
  • Woody recounts hearing about the shooting first through his investigative producer, Leah Murray. Initially unfamiliar with Charles Kirk, Woody was shocked by the online reaction and growing celebration over Kirk's death.

    “I had no idea who Charles Kirk was. None. Not an inkling. Never heard the name before. ... But when people start espousing or having celebrations because somebody got executed… what the fuck?" — Woody (04:28)

• Kirk's Background
  • Woody summarizes Kirk as a young (31-year-old) activist who founded a movement, standing up for his beliefs—emphasizing that, regardless of his views, he was exercising his American rights.

2. Free Speech and the Dangers of Political Violence

• Comparison to Extremes
  • Woody emphasizes that Kirk wasn’t inciting violence or advocating harm—his killing was for his speech, not criminal acts.
  • The hosts distinguish the right to protest or disagree from the act of celebrating political murder—no matter who the target is.

    “We’re not talking about fucking H. Hitler… We’re talking about a dude that simply founded a movement because people started following what he was saying." — Woody (07:11)

• Hypocrisy and Political Hatred
  • Woody and Cindy discuss how people of differing ideologies—some of whom espouse hateful rhetoric—do not deserve violence or death. He shares his own distaste for certain politicians, but never, at any point, does he condone violence:

    “I never thought about killing her.” — Woody, about a politician he personally dislikes (08:39)

3. Social and Media Aftermath

• Celebration of Violence Online
  • Woody expresses deep concern over widespread online celebrations and how both everyday people and public figures are participating, stoking division.
    • Example: He shares the case of a Southern University law professor who wished death upon Kirk. This led to her suspension and ongoing calls for her firing.

    “Our attorney, Tommy… Southern University law professor Kelly Carmina was suspended Friday over comments she made on social media in the wake of Charlie Kirk's death.” — Woody (11:37)

• Legal and Institutional Response
  • Legal experts cited in local news argue that free speech does not mean freedom from consequences, especially when public figures incite or celebrate violence (12:38).

4. Personal Impact and Fear for the Future

• Increasing Divisiveness
  • Woody shares his deepest worry: that the cycle of violence, celebration, and retaliation could escalate into broader conflict.

    “My biggest fear is… I’ve never seen the hatred from both sides like I’m seeing it now.” — Woody (10:19)

  • He’s dismayed by the monetization of tragedy and the persistence of conspiracy theories that perpetuate tension and hate.
• On Being a Public Figure
  • Woody relates the assassination to his own public life—receiving death threats and fearing for copycat crimes. The discussion is deeply personal, exposing anxiety about the safety of all public voices (16:00–17:00).

5. Reflection on Humanity and Social Values

• Respecting Differences
  • The Overtons stress the value of mutual respect, even among those with profoundly different beliefs. Woody references his own friendships and collaborations with people of different political and religious views, advocating for civil discourse over hatred.

    “Tommy’s got totally different political views than we have… And you know what? I don’t care. And he doesn’t care. Absolute mutual respect. Why shouldn’t it be.” — Woody (14:16)

• Lessons From Family
  • Woody shares memories of his late father, who treated everyone equally regardless of their background or beliefs—an example he encourages listeners to follow (28:16–29:35).
• Cindy’s Perspective
  • Cindy describes being open to hearing people with opposing views, referencing how a conversation with their attorney Tommy shifted her thinking. She recounts a story of a Kirk critic who, after genuinely listening to him, found meaningful change in her life (27:26, 37:52).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Right to Free Speech vs. Violence:

  “If you speak out, if you put yourself... Look, we're in the public spotlight... I don't talk about the politics and religion just because of this kind of shit... Not because I'm afraid of it. Because we're here to talk about true crime. This is not a new show or... jumping on the bandwagon like everybody in the world is doing now.” — Woody (14:34)

• On Social Media Hatred:

  “You got both sides of the extreme and... it's bullshit. I mean, it's just bullshit and it should not happen.” — Woody (09:23)

• On Empathy and Learning From Others:

  “But just having that, learning his perspective, I was like, oh, that's a really cool… perspective.” — Cindy (27:48)

• Call for Unity:

  “All we're doing is killing each other… This is a whole lot more divisive than a color. Leave it alone. It doesn't work. Killing people doesn't work.” — Woody (33:40)

• On Grief and Worry:

  “I was waiting on whatever the next big story was going to be… this isn’t about baby oil and... prostitutes. It’s about Christianity and evil... if you believe that someone deserves to be murdered, gunned down publicly—” — Woody (37:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:06] — Initial discussion of the shooting and Woody’s unfamiliarity with Kirk
• [06:59] — The importance of free speech, and why violence isn’t justified for political beliefs
• [11:37] — Social fallout: Law school professor’s suspension for wishing death on Kirk
• [14:16] — On respecting people with opposing views and friendship despite political/religious differences
• [16:00] — Relating Kirk’s assassination to the threats faced by public figures
• [18:58] — Concerns over incitement, copycat crimes, and further division
• [26:00] — Cindy recounts an atheist whose views were changed by listening to Kirk
• [28:16] — Woody shares lessons from his father about treating everyone equally
• [33:40] — Draws parallels to historic gang violence (Bloods and Crips) and the cycle of retaliation
• [35:42] — Woody’s vow not to further cover the “bandwagon” unless more violence occurs
• [36:05] — Discussion on the impossibility of stopping the cycle, and the risk to future generations
• [37:52] — Cindy shares a TikTok anecdote about a critic-turned-supporter of Kirk
• [41:09] — Woody’s final message: killing for beliefs is always wrong—stop the hatred

Closing Reflections

Embodying the raw, unscripted spirit of Real Life Real Crime, Woody and Cindy Overton deliver a passionate, deeply personal plea for unity in the wake of Charles Kirk’s assassination. Eschewing sensationalism and partisan rhetoric, they underscore the American values of free speech and mutual respect, offering stark warnings about the dangers of unchecked hatred.

Final thought:

“When you kill someone just because they believe different than you, then you really are the one that's fucked up… Just stop it. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Both sides.” — Woody (41:40)

For Listeners Seeking More

This episode serves as both a true crime commentary and a call to national reflection. For those invested in the intersection of crime, media, and American identity, it is a powerful, necessary listen—one that resonates beyond the case at hand.