Small Town Dicks — "Thanksgiving Bonus!"

Podcast: Small Town Dicks
Host: Audio 99 (Yeardley Smith, Detectives Dan and Dave, Paul Holes)
Date: November 28, 2025
Episode Theme:
Special Thanksgiving bonus featuring two Patreon "Superfam" episodes released from behind the paywall:

1. "Fight Like Hell" – A candid discussion on random attacks, situational awareness, and survival strategies from the perspectives of detectives and forensic experts.
2. "AI Strikes Again" – A timely debate on the legal and ethical implications of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery and how the law is (or isn’t) keeping up.

I. Episode Overview

• This bonus episode opens with host Yeardley Smith explaining that the Small Town Dicks team takes Thanksgiving week off to enjoy time with family, but is sharing two exclusive Superfam episodes as a holiday treat.
• The conversations are unscripted, honest, and delve into the complex realities of modern crime and law enforcement’s evolving response.

II. "Fight Like Hell" (Approx. 00:58–20:20)

Main Theme

Exploring the reality of random violent attacks: what “random” means in crime, the rarity and impact of such attacks, the importance of situational awareness, and how to maximize survival chances.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

• Definition of Random Attacks

  • Paul Holes points out that "random" is from the victim's perspective; often, the offender is a stranger and may have planned the attack extensively.
    • (Paul Holes, 03:00) “When you use the term random, that's from the victim's perspective... the offender is often planning that attack well in advance.”

• Different Forms of Randomness

  • While some offenders (e.g., serial predators like Joseph DeAngelo, Golden State Killer) plan meticulously, others act from a truly random, opportunistic mindset—especially those driven by psychosis or thrill-seeking.
  • Dan highlights the modern phenomenon of random street assaults filmed for social media content.
    • (Dan, 04:47) “Now you see, especially with the advent of social media... incidents are on the Internet within minutes, or sometimes even live.”

• Case Example

  • Recollection of an early case (“Monster,” Season 2), involving a young girl attacked while riding her bike in broad daylight—an example of a completely random victim.
    • (Dan, 06:48) “She was riding her bike... ended up in front of [the offender] in his eyesight, and he decided he was going to act on it. That's every parent's nightmare.”

• Situational Awareness & Survival

  • Dave and Dan emphasize the limits and value of situational awareness—being alert, giving yourself space, and sizing up those around you. Emphasis on not being paranoid, but realistic.
    • (Dave, 07:34) “You can't get into the mind of somebody walking your direction... I got really good at it as a cop. I continue to do it today because it's survival.”
  • Universal advice: do everything possible to avoid being moved to a second location or bound.
    • (Yeardley, 08:29) “Fight like hell to make sure you don't get into the car... fight your fucking ass off.”
    • (Dave, 09:10) “Unless I've got a gun to me and it's my last option, you're not cuffing me. You're not putting me in zip ties. I'm not going somewhere with you. I'll die on my terms right here.”

• Parental Guidance

  • Paul Holes shares the advice he gives his children: make noise, fight, go limp, but never let an assailant take you to a second location or bind you.
    • (Paul, 10:05) “Make as much noise as possible. You fight, you use your body weight, you go limp. You do not let them get you to the car.”

• Understanding Criminal Intent

  • Discussion of offenders who want to bind and control: that's when the worst violence often begins.
    • (Paul, 11:29) “When they have a victim completely in control by being bound, that's when the knife comes out. That's when the sexual assault occurs.”
  • Reference to the Zodiac Lake Berryessa stabbing as a textbook example.
    • (Dave & Paul, 12:16–13:40): Detailed breakdown of how victims were overpowered after being tied up.

• Nuance and No Victim Blaming

  • Hosts repeatedly stress they are not blaming victims—every survival response is valid.
    • (Yeardley, 19:24) “We are not here to say that you should have handled your situation differently. Not at all. Whatever you needed to do to survive that horrific scenario was the right thing to do.”

• Psychological Reality Check

  • Dave emphasizes confronting the real existence of evil and the importance of not being naïve about others’ motives.
    • (Dave, 16:20) “It's hard to convince people that evil exists... Some people are naive... you put yourself at risk for greater trauma.”

• Expert Perspective on Resisting Attackers

  • Paul explains that with some offender "typologies," resistance or a sudden change in behavior can be effective—e.g., “going limp” with a sexual sadist.
    • (Paul, 17:58) “If you can tell that the guy just seems to be getting more and more excited, try going limp for a moment... then re-engage and you fight for your life.”

Memorable Quotes

• (Yeardley, 08:29) “Fight like hell... fight your fucking ass off.”
• (Dave, 09:10) “I'll die on my terms right here, not on your terms, somewhere else.”
• (Paul, 10:05) "You do not let them get you to the car."
• (Paul, 11:29) "Once they have a victim completely in control... that's when the knife comes out."

Notable Timestamps

• 03:00 – Paul explains the "random" distinction
• 04:47 – Dan addresses random social media attacks in cities
• 06:48 – Recollection of “Monster” case (random child attack)
• 08:29 – Advice on resisting being taken to a second location
• 10:05 – Parental advice for kids on resisting abduction
• 12:16 – Zodiac Lake Berryessa illustration
• 17:58 – Paul discusses sexual sadist typology and resistance

III. "AI Strikes Again" (Approx. 20:20–33:55)

Main Theme

A complex discussion about AI-generated child sexual abuse materials—legal gray areas, ethics, and law enforcement’s struggle to adapt.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

• Premise / Legal Dilemma

  • Law enforcement faces a new challenge: a man is arrested for creating AI-based child pornography with no real-world victims. Does this carry the same culpability as traditional offenses?
    • (Yeardley, 21:02) “If you don't actually harm any individuals in the making of this content... are you as culpable as somebody who is actually in the presence of children?”

• Legal Perspective: It's Complicated

  • Dave explains that, as of several years ago, the law didn't consider it a crime if no real children were involved: “It all has to involve real things, real people, real victims.” (22:00)
  • Law is reactive. Technology outpaces legislation. Earlier, hard copy photos were the norm, then digital files, now AI images that can look utterly real.

• First Amendment Concerns

  • Freedom of expression protects some forms of simulation (like violent movies); creating AI child porn falls into a legal gray area until legislatures decide otherwise.
    • (Dave, 22:04) “You have a right to be sexually attracted to kids. You do. You don't have a right to commit crimes against children.”

• Practical Enforcement Issues

  • Determining what is AI and what is real is highly technical and may be impossible for local law enforcement agencies.
    • (Dave, 23:50) “Do I have an AI trained person who can determine whether or not a clip is real or fake?... that's going to be years from now, it's not months.”

• Analogy with Other Mediums

  • Parallels drawn between AI child porn and violent murder in fictional films: in both cases, no one is physically hurt, but is it the same ethically or legally?
    • (Yeardley, 25:28) “...creating child pornography with AI... is actually not unlike in a movie... a horrible violent murder taking place, but nobody was actually harmed.”

• Slippery Slope and Art vs. Harm

  • Courts (not police) will have to parse out where simulation becomes criminal, but Dave is unequivocal on the harm and the dangers of normalization.
    • (Dave, 27:50) “If I had my way, it [AI child abuse material] would be criminal, totally... I just don't subscribe to that ideology. I see it as pure harm.”

• Moral Concerns about "Minor Attracted Person" Terminology

  • Pushback against attempts to normalize or “brand” pedophilia as “minor attracted person.”
    • (Dave, 28:52) “That's gentle language to describe someone who wants to have sex with kids. Like, don't make that a term that's remotely normalized.”

• Technological Duality

  • AI (and cell phones, and the internet) are tools that can do immense good or “turns out to be mostly a terrible neighborhood because there are always bad actors.” (Yeardley, 30:08)

• Public Advice and Real-World Response

  • If any adult/guardian comes across such material, report it. Police and child protective services will act to protect children even if they can't arrest based on the AI content itself.
    • (Dave, 32:03) “If you can't tell the difference, report it to the police. At least it gets the person who's producing this or the person who gave it to you.”
    • (Dave, 32:47) “Anybody creating something like that is, to me, potentially very dangerous. I just don't understand why you would ever do it.”

Memorable Quotes

• (Dave, 22:04) “You have a right to be sexually attracted to kids. You do. You don't have a right to commit crimes against children.”
• (Dave, 27:50) “If I had my way, it would be criminal, totally. But I also recognize the argument...”
• (Dave, 28:52) “That's gentle language to describe someone who wants to have sex with kids. Like, don't make that a term that's remotely normalized.”
• (Yeardley, 30:08) “The Internet could be a great place. It turns out to be mostly a terrible neighborhood because there are always bad actors...”

Notable Timestamps

• 22:00 – Legal definition and enforcement limits
• 22:04 – First Amendment defense, what is—or isn’t—a crime
• 23:50 – Challenges for law enforcement with AI detection
• 25:28 – Analogy with film violence
• 27:50 – Dave’s unequivocal perspective on AI child porn
• 28:52 – Pushback on “minor attracted person” language
• 32:03 – Actionable advice for the public: reporting

IV. Notable Quotes & Closing Tone

• “[Random attacks] are so shocking... there's no way to prepare... you can't get into the mind of somebody walking your direction.” (Dave, 07:34)
• “Whatever you needed to do to survive that horrific scenario was the right thing to do.” (Yeardley, 19:24)
• “Do good in the world... use your power, whatever that is, for good, and don't be a fucking deviant asshole. God damn it.” (Yeardley, 31:39)

V. Episode Takeaways

• Random attacks often feel unpredictable and terrifying, but situational awareness and decisive resistance—especially to being bound or moved—maximize survival. The conversation is frank but never victim-blaming; every survival is valid.
• The rise of AI-generated criminal content is exposing massive legal, ethical, and enforcement gaps. The team is clear-eyed about the limits of current laws and technology.
• Throughout both episodes, the tone is gritty, informed, and practical—rooted in real cases and a commitment to public education and survivor compassion.

For full catalog access or to join the Superfam, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam with promo code for a free month.