Classic Replay with Def Leppard's Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe

Summary

Takin' a Walk Podcast Summary

Episode: Classic Replay with Def Leppard's Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe
Host: Buzz Knight
Release Date: July 4, 2025

---

Introduction to Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe

In this heartfelt episode of "Takin' a Walk," host Buzz Knight welcomes music icons Rick Allen, the legendary drummer of Def Leppard, and his wife, Lauren Monroe, a talented singer-songwriter. The couple shares their deep passion for music and their collaborative efforts in both the music industry and philanthropic endeavors.

Personal Journeys and Musical Beginnings

Rick and Lauren delve into their early musical experiences, highlighting how their backgrounds shaped their careers. Rick reminisces about joining Def Leppard at the young age of 15, describing the excitement and challenges of auditioning and eventually securing his spot in the band.

Rick Allen ([09:14]): "I joined Def Leppard around 1978, and being part of something really great started right from the beginning."

Lauren shares her first concert experience, which was a defining moment that inspired her to pursue music passionately.

Lauren Monroe ([14:57]): "My first concert was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Seeing him perform made me realize I wanted to write songs and create music."

Influences and Musical Inspirations

Both musicians discuss the diverse range of artists that influenced their styles. Lauren cites Jim Morrison of The Doors and Tom Petty as significant influences, appreciating their poetic articulation and rock and roll essence.

Lauren Monroe ([08:04]): "Jim Morrison's poetry and Tom Petty's songwriting have profoundly influenced my music."

Rick adds that growing up surrounded by legendary British bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who provided a rich musical backdrop that fueled his passion for rock.

Rick Allen ([11:41]): "There was always the greats at home—the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who. They were the soundtrack of my life."

The Raven Drum Foundation: A Mission of Healing

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the Raven Drum Foundation, a philanthropic initiative founded by Rick and Lauren over two decades ago. The foundation aims to support veterans, first responders, and others grappling with trauma through innovative programs that blend music, art, and energy medicine.

Lauren Monroe ([19:14]): "We created the Raven Drum Foundation as a natural synergy of our passions—Rick's drumming and my background in energy medicine and mental health."

They recount their transformative experience at Walter Reed Medical Center, which solidified their commitment to focusing on veterans' mental health.

Rick Allen ([22:27]): "Seeing the effects of trauma firsthand, especially with my own family history, made me understand the ripple effects it has on everyone involved."

Musical Collaborations and Creative Process

Rick and Lauren discuss their unique collaborative process, particularly their joint drumming sessions that create a rich, dynamic sound reminiscent of multiple drummers.

Lauren Monroe ([17:03]): "When we play drums together, it sounds like three or four drummers. It's an incredible synergy that I’m excited to bring into live performances."

Rick emphasizes the organic nature of their collaboration, highlighting how their shared love for music seamlessly blends their individual talents.

Rick Allen ([18:18]): "Playing together is so fun. It's something we both love, and it strengthens our bond as a couple."

Work-Life Balance and Family

The couple shares insights into maintaining a healthy work-life balance while managing demanding careers and family responsibilities. They prioritize family time by setting boundaries, such as keeping weekends free and minimizing distractions during family meals.

Rick Allen ([15:43]): "We automatically shift our focus to family when we're home, ensuring that our weekends are dedicated to loved ones without the interference of work."

Upcoming Events and Community Engagement

Rick and Lauren promote their upcoming events aimed at supporting first responders and veterans. These events include concerts and benefit shows designed to raise awareness and funds for their foundation's programs.

Rick Allen ([24:40]): "On March 13th in Boston, we'll be supporting first responders with an amazing concert at the Boston City Winery. March 14th, we have a special benefit show at the Cutting Room in New York."

They encourage listeners to visit their website, ravendrumfoundation.org, and follow them on Instagram for more information and updates.

Impact and Gratitude

Concluding the episode, Rick and Lauren express their gratitude for the support from their audience and the community. They emphasize the mutual benefits of their work, stating that helping others also aids in their own healing and personal growth.

Lauren Monroe ([26:08]): "Seeing transformation in others is incredibly gratifying. It’s a two-way street that benefits everyone involved."

Rick adds that building a community around shared values and healing feels like growing a family committed to making the world a better place.

Rick Allen ([25:35]): "It feels like we're growing a family of people who believe in the same things and want the world to be better."

---

Conclusion

This episode of "Takin' a Walk" offers an intimate look into the lives of Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe, showcasing their musical talents and unwavering commitment to supporting those affected by trauma. Through their foundation, Raven Drum, they leverage the healing power of music and community to make a meaningful impact on the lives of veterans and first responders. Their story is a testament to how passion and purpose can intertwine to foster both personal and collective healing.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Rick Allen ([09:14]): "I joined Def Leppard around 1978, and being part of something really great started right from the beginning."
• Lauren Monroe ([14:57]): "My first concert was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Seeing him perform made me realize I wanted to write songs and create music."
• Rick Allen ([22:27]): "Seeing the effects of trauma firsthand, especially with my own family history, made me understand the ripple effects it has on everyone involved."
• Lauren Monroe ([26:08]): "Seeing transformation in others is incredibly gratifying. It’s a two-way street that benefits everyone involved."

---

For more insights and inspiring stories from the world of music, be sure to listen to "Takin' a Walk" on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.

Transcript

[Buzz Knight]

This is an Iheart podcast. Please welcome aboard the Johnson family.

[Rick Allen]

The whole fam's here for the Disney cruise. So you know we came to play and listen. The adults are gonna have a ball. First we're chilling in the infinity pool, onto massages at Sense's spa, then gliding into Star Wars Hyperspace lounge for a toast. We're even gonna kick back with Mickey on Disney's private island. That's how we get down. Cause Disney Cru is where we came to play. Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care. In 2012, 16 year old Brian Herrera was gunned down in broad daylight on his way to do homework. No suspects, no witnesses, no justice.

[Buzz Knight]

I would ask my husband, do you want me to stop? He was like, no, keep fighting.

[Rick Allen]

After nearly a decade, a breakthrough changed everything. This is Cold Case Files Miami. Stories of families who never stopped fighting. Listen to Cold Case Files Miami on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Buzz Knight]

So what happened at Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.

[Rick Allen]

There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.

[Buzz Knight]

Left a woman behind to drown.

[Lauren Monroe]

Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic.

[Rick Allen]

Death and how the Kennedy machine took control.

[Unknown Host]

Every week we go behind the headlines.

[Rick Allen]

And beyond the drama of America's royal family.

[Buzz Knight]

Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Rick Allen]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Buzz Knight]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree? Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Rick Allen]

And I find the answers. I'm so glad you asked me this question.

[Buzz Knight]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Unknown Host]

You can listen to American History Hotline.

[Rick Allen]

On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Taking a walk.

[Lauren Monroe]

The special thing about playing that particular show, it was. It was, yeah, my 16th birthday. And I remember Bon Scott coming up to me and wishing me a Happy birthday. Which doesn't happen to too many people. And then Brian May with the Queen was there. And then another really special surprise was after soundcheck when the auditorium was really quiet. I went down just to check on my drum kit, and there was this guy on his hands and knees checking out the drums. And I didn't want to startle him, so I just walked up and I said, is everything okay? And he turned round and it was Mitch Mitchell. I was. I was so. I was just completely blown away. So What a special 16th birthday.

[Rick Allen]

Welcome to the Taking a Walk podcast hosted by Buzz Knight. This is the podcast that talks to musicians about their passionate love of music. Today, the husband and wife team of Lauren Monroe and Rick Allen. You know Rick from his legendary Def Leppard work, and Lauren is a singer, songwriter who shares her energy and love of the medium as a healing force. For two decades, they've led their foundation called the Raven Drum foundation, which does amazing work for veterans, first responders, and so many others. Here's Buzz with Lauren and Rick on Taking a Walk.

[Unknown Host]

Well, it's delightful to have Rick and Lauren with us on the Taking a Walk podcast. Thank you so much. I wish we were in person rather than virtual, but I'm very happy to meet you.

[Lauren Monroe]

That's great. Thank you very much. Nice to meet you, too.

[Buzz Knight]

Great to meet you.

[Unknown Host]

Now, do you guys take walks out in beautiful California whenever you can?

[Buzz Knight]

Of course. Yeah, absolutely.

[Lauren Monroe]

Yeah. The nature is so beautiful here, especially Central Coast. We really love it, the two of us.

[Unknown Host]

And do you find it to be therapeutic when you're out taking a walk?

[Lauren Monroe]

I think one of the most therapeutic things there are, you know, is being in among something that is bigger than. Than. Than I am. You know, being out in nature or looking at the ocean or looking up at the sky, I think any of those things really get me out of my own way. So. So being out in nature is really important to me, and I'm sure it's really important to. To Lauren as well.

[Buzz Knight]

Yeah, I think it's very therapeutic. And I. And some of the things that we teach in our foundation, Raven Drum foundation, is we. We focus on nature. I understand it through energy medicine and how, you know, energy is a transference. And when you're in something greater than yourself, something happens called bio entrainment. So the dominant frequency affects you. And so when you're standing by a tree or by the ocean, they're the dominant frequency. And we start to. Like a tuning fork, we start to vibrate. And we can get further into our own calmness. And it really helps our nervous system, so it helps everyone being in nature.

[Unknown Host]

Well, take us back to that magical moment when you two lovebirds exchanged your vows and you had the red tail hawk circling above at that moment. Talk about that special time.

[Buzz Knight]

I'll let Rick talk first.

[Lauren Monroe]

Oh, man. I mean, it couldn't have been more perfect. You know, we had all our family and, you know, all our friends and, you know, just, just at this, this magical moment, which was made even more magical by the fact that I think there were a pair of red tail hawks way, way above us. And it just felt like, it just felt like the blessing got even more powerful. So I, I don't know what you experienced, Lauren, but I, I, I mean, that, that was, that was one of those moments I'll never, I'll never forget.

[Buzz Knight]

Yeah, and I think it was beautiful. Everybody saw it and there were two, two red tails circling around right above us. And it was, it was a blessing. Like, I felt like it was a blessing too.

[Unknown Host]

What do red tail hawks signify, do you think?

[Buzz Knight]

Well, my understanding the hawk represents the presence of spirit. I don't know that much detail about the red tail, although we've been giving a lot of gifts of red tail feathers, and Rick got a gift of a red tail claw from a lot of our indigenous friends and colleagues. And I'm sure there's deeper meaning, but we, we, we, we pay attention. We live in a very secluded area and we have a lot of wildlife, and we, we pay attention to their behavior and what they do and how close they come. And we're able to sit very close to a lot of them if we're still enough. And we've been here for a number of years, so they trust us now. It's great.

[Unknown Host]

So, Lauren, how did you ultimately find your, your musical voice, and who are some of the musicians that influenced you in that time?

[Buzz Knight]

Well, I found my musical voice when I was really young. I started writing songs and I got a guitar when I was five. And it just, it's like I knew, I knew how to express myself in that way very easily at a young age. And I think the 70s music scene really influenced me a lot. I had a lot of that around me. And the Doors, I remember Jim Morrison, the way he articulated through poetry. And he got into some of the very mystical realms when he sang and he created his poetry. He influenced me quite a bit. Of course, Tom Petty was my greatest influence, I think, in rock and roll. Once I discovered him in the late 70s and early 80s. I connected with his songwriting and his expression. So I. But I draw from a lot of influences. I think mostly spiritual ones. And then I just make songs that are me. That are just me, really.

[Unknown Host]

And Rick, Mr. Thunder God. May I call you that?

[Lauren Monroe]

You can.

[Unknown Host]

You started pretty darn young as a musician. If I'm not mistaken, you joined Def Leppard at 15 years old, is that. Is that right?

[Lauren Monroe]

I did, yeah, around about 1978. And I'd been playing with local bands and, you know, they always wanted to play cover songs. And, yeah, we saw a. A newspaper article, Leopard Loses Skins. And we got in touch with the newspaper, found the journalist, and he put. He put me in touch with Joe Elliot and Steve Clark. And I met with them a few days later and we set up an audition. And when I went for the audition, I was. I was really pleasantly surprised I got the job. Lots of big smiling faces around the room and. And that was the beginning of something really, really great.

[Unknown Host]

And take me back to being 16 years old at the Hammersmith Odeon and having Def Leppard open for ACDC there. What was that like?

[Lauren Monroe]

It was incredible, really. I mean, it was all I ever really knew because I was so young. But the special thing about playing that particular show, it was. It was my 16th birthday, and I remember Bon Scott coming up to me and wishing me a happy birthday, which doesn't happen to too many people. And then Brian May with the Queen was there. And then another really special surprise was after soundcheck when the auditorium was really quiet. I went down just to check on my drum kit, and there was this guy on his hands and knees checking out the drums. And I didn't want to startle him, so I just walked up and I said, is everything okay? And he turned around and it was Mitch Mitchell. I was so. I was just completely blown away. So. What a special 16th birthday.

[Unknown Host]

That's fantastic. And talk about the influences musically that you experienced growing up, Rick.

[Lauren Monroe]

Well, there was always lots and lots of music playing at home. One of. One of the. One of the artists I remember was Glenn Miller. That was. That was a big part of growing up. And then, of course, listening to the radio, getting ready for school. You know, there was always the greats. There was always, you know, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the who. I mean, you name it. There were all these. All the, you know, all this fantastic music, and I couldn't help but be influenced by that. That was really, you know, part of the soundtrack of my life.

[Unknown Host]

What is it, Rick, about the diverse influences that British musicians seem to all have, they have influences that span, you know, all genres. Why do you think that is?

[Lauren Monroe]

I've kind of experienced that with all musicians. I mean, Lauren, for instance, you know, she, she listens to so many different types of music. You know, you know, she grew up listening to. Frank Sinatra was always on. And I mean, that carries through to now. I mean, we, we play Frank Sinatra all the time. Sometimes we'll throw Frank Sinatra Christmas music on just because, you know, so it's kind of, it's, it's, it's almost a tradition. But I think most musicians don't necessarily see genres. They just hear music and, you know, they're all the same chords. We just, we just play them in a slightly different way or more or less distorted. So for me, it's all music and, and it all goes into, you know, what influenced me. So, you know, it's interesting, I sat in with a Latin jazz band the other night, which was, which was really interesting. That was a first.

[Unknown Host]

But.

[Lauren Monroe]

It was just an incredible experience. And to me it was rhythm and music and I was just sort of, just sort of playing along with it. And I could quite easily have been playing, you know, with Lauren or with Def Leppard or any other band.

[Unknown Host]

Lauren, had you seen Def Leppard before you and Rick met?

[Buzz Knight]

No, I've never seen them. And I know I, I really wasn't a fan. I didn't, you know, I didn't dislike the music. I just wasn't engaged in that, you know, genre very much so. But then I remember I went to a show and I realized, oh, I know that song and I know that song and I know just from the, you know, consciousness of the 80s, I, it, I remembered things from the radio or so it was a, it was wonderful to, you know, to meet him the first time I met him and, and see the culture and.

[Unknown Host]

Laura, what was your first concert experience?

[Buzz Knight]

Tom Petty and Heartbreakers. It was my first concert. I remember when I saw him, I said, I think I can do that. You know, I want to try that. I want to try writing some songs and, you know, and, and really, you know, working on it. So it was fun to see him. I still, he's still my all time favorite artist.

[Unknown Host]

Is there somebody you haven't seen that you'd, you'd like to see that is in your, your musical wheelhouse, as it were.

[Buzz Knight]

We were just talking about that because I, I have never seen Bruce Springsteen or the Rolling Stones, so those are the two I would love to see Bucket List note to self.

[Unknown Host]

Lauren, question for you first. And then same question for you, Rick. How do you two find a work life balance?

[Buzz Knight]

It's interesting. We never really had to think about it. We just kind of automatically do it. We love work, we love working, and we often work away. And then when we're home, we're working. But we definitely have things shut off at a certain time. We have to pick our daughter up from school and then we have her life and being parents. And I think there's an automatic shift down. And we try to keep our weekends free so we can have family time and no cell phones at the dinner table. And we have a lot of things that we automatically just don't do because they take away from the moments that we have together. Rick is on the road a lot, and now since the past few years, I've been traveling, doing shows, and things can get hectic. And we have art that we do. I'm in the art room right now, and we do a lot of art and music. And we're lucky we don't have to work on it that much because we automatically fall into the pattern of being together and we want the same things when we're home.

[Unknown Host]

Have you cracked the code, Rick? On balance.

[Lauren Monroe]

It just seems to go really organically. One of the things that we've started doing, we've always played drums together, but one of the things we do on a more regular basis is play drums together. I have two drum kits set up in the rehearsal space, and then Lauren has her own percussion set up. Now. Lauren's played percussion for many, many years. Now she's pushing into playing a regular drum kit. And the sounds that we make together are really, really good. I naturally gravitate to a more masculine way of playing, for obvious reasons. And Lauren, she naturally sort of dances around whatever it is that I play. So, you know, the two of us, we sound like. We sound like three or four drummers when we play together. And I'm really excited to present, you know, the two of us playing drums together, you know, more often. I'd love to bring that into a live setting because I think, I think Lauren is super talented.

[Buzz Knight]

I never thought I'd play drum kit. It was never. I was never real, though. But he had the two kids and he's like, you should sit down on this. I'm like, okay, let's try that. But it was very organic. It's so fun. And I think as a couple, it's fun to have something that we both love to do together.

[Unknown Host]

So you know, we have this other podcast which you're going to be on. I'm so grateful for that, that we produce, hosted by Lynn Hoffman, called Music Save Me. And we want to talk about the special work on this podcast as well that you both are involved with with the Raven Drum foundation, which you've been at that for 20 years plus, please talk about the beginnings of it and how it was created, why it was created, and the amazing work that you and the organization does.

[Buzz Knight]

Well, we started the foundation in 2001, and it was just a natural synergy of who Rick was and who I was and myself bringing the energy medicine piece to it and the mental health and somatic work. And I was a percussionist as well and a dancer, so I had a natural inclination to blend these two elements. But then when I met Rick and we isolated his trauma and the things that made him feel better was the drumming, he had a lot to share with, sharing his own experience of moving through recovery of post traumatic stress. So we created a curriculum around that, and we created a specific kind of circle to help people. And we saw that it didn't matter where you were in your healing stage or who you were, whether you were 80 years old or 5 years old, whether you were a specific religious affiliation or had a specific trauma, addiction, whether it was abuse, whether it was, you know, cancer you're going through. Every crisis responded to this way of healing, and it brought community together. So we started working with various different populations, sharing what we knew worked and. And then sharing more modalities. So we serve, we educate, and we empower through rhythm, but also introducing people to other modalities besides allopathic medicine, like yoga and. And meditation and mindfulness, so they can have more tools in their healing to complement whatever they're working on with their doctor or whichever they've been struggling to figure out on their own. And we've been doing this for many years. I think the thing that made us pivot is Rick's first visit to Walter Reed Medical center to help some of the military, right after there was a wave of them coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. And I'll segue into Rick sharing that because it's very powerful how we brought our ideas into helping them.

[Lauren Monroe]

Yeah, before I visited Walter Reed, we hadn't really focused so much on veterans, and Walter Reed was life changing for me. I really saw so much suffering, but I also saw a lot of potential. And I remember I. I did great while I was there at the hospital. And then when I got back to my hotel. I called Lauren and I. I broke down. I was really, I guess it really, really affected me, you know, being. Being around all these incredible people. And it was right then I suggested to Lauren that we focus more on veterans. And I think that's how we really segued into that. Is that kind of how you remember it, Lauren? Yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

And I also remembered my family. My cousin was killed in Vietnam and I was very young and I know how it changed my whole family. So I really understood the effects of having someone in the military who has had an injury, a life changing injury, or if you've lost someone, how there's a ripple effect and it's a family experience, not just an individual one. So I was really on board with experience. So we both went to Walter Reed within the following months and then we brought a drum circle there and then we started working with the Wounded Warrior Project and it started expanding from there and, and Rick found an immediate connection to a lot of the warriors who lost limbs and does a wonderful camaraderie that they've opened up to him very easily. It's beautiful to see that. And you know, when, when you're in a family that has trauma, you can talk to one another in a way that's different from, you know, someone who hasn't experienced it. So it's great. We continue reaching out to first responders now because they also have the same kind of, you know, injuries that are invisible wounds that people can't see. Our firefighters specifically have the least amount of treatment for this. They don't talk about it, still very, you know, close to them. They don't express their what's. What goes on. Police department, EMTs, journalists who have to cover horrific, you know, events like Yuval Day or like the war in Ukraine. They have to come back and be normal. And what's that, you know, so we're really wrapping our arms around a lot of different people. And, you know, trauma is very common these days, so we all can look at that.

[Unknown Host]

And you have some events coming up that I'd like you to promote to the listeners of the podcast. Do you want to talk about what's happening in a short amount of time?

[Buzz Knight]

Sure. March 13th, we're in Boston and we have an event, a concert there that we're supporting our first responders there. March 14th, we have a very special benefit show at the Cutting Room to promote the healing and programs with friends of firefighters based out of New York. And that's going to be an amazing show. We have a lot of celebrity drummers Coming in Boston, we're at the Boston City Winery. So just go to ravendrumfoundation.org and you'll see everything. You can find out more information for our from our websites. Reach us at our Instagram or on there a lot. Rick Allen live on Instagram and Laura Monroe live. And we can keep in touch with everybody that way.

[Unknown Host]

How does it make you feel when audience members connect not only with your music but with your good work that you're doing?

[Buzz Knight]

I'll speak and then Rick, but I think it's just like growing a family. It just feels like we're growing a family of people who believe in the same things and want the world to be better. And, you know, it starts by healing ourselves so we're all doing the work and then you, you know, you circle up, give people an experience of what that feels like. It feels great. It feels really special to share that with people and we're very blessed to be able to do that. Yeah.

[Lauren Monroe]

What I found over the years is when I start to feel my own, my own trauma or my own depression, the easy fix is always to be of service. And then when we put ourselves out there into the community and we do the right thing, it comes back to us in ways that you can't even imagine. It's just so gratifying, such a fantastic experience to be able to see transformation in other people because of what we facilitate. And it helps us. It's a two way street. It really helps us and it helps them, it helps everybody involved. So we're just really blessed to be able to have found this and continue to do this to this day.

[Unknown Host]

I have to tell you, watching YouTube perform in one of the videos that I. So I observed this tremendous calmness and serenity that you both have while you're on stage and you're performing and you're with each other and you're with your audience and it truly is very contagious. And I just wanted to thank you for that and to thank you. Thank you for your good work and your great music, but also your great hearts.

[Lauren Monroe]

Thank you, thank you.

[Unknown Host]

Thanks for being on.

[Rick Allen]

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 247 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets, you can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care. In 2012, 16 year old Brian Herrera was gunned down in broad daylight on his way to do homework. No suspects, no witnesses, no justice.

[Buzz Knight]

I would ask my husband, do you want me to stop? He was like, no, keep fighting.

[Rick Allen]

After nearly a decade, a breakthrough changed everything. This is Cold Case Files Miami. Stories of families who never stopped fighting. Listen to Cold Case Files Miami on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Buzz Knight]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree? Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Rick Allen]

And I find the answers. I'm so glad you asked me this question.

[Buzz Knight]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Unknown Host]

You can listen to American History Hotline.

[Rick Allen]

On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Buzz Knight]

So what happened to Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.

[Rick Allen]

There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.

[Buzz Knight]

Left a woman behind to drown.

[Lauren Monroe]

Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic.

[Rick Allen]

Death and how the Kennedy machine took control. Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.

[Buzz Knight]

Listen to United States of Kennedy on.

[Unknown Host]

The iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever.

[Buzz Knight]

You get your podcasts.

[Unknown Host]

I'm Robert Evans and on my show, behind the Bastards this week we have.

[Buzz Knight]

One of our worst subjects ever.

[Unknown Host]

David Berg, founder of the Children of God cult, who we'll be talking about with special guest Ed Helms. He's not just like a weird religious cult leader. He was like fusing a bunch of hippie ideology in with this kind of like evangelical Christianity, Pentecostal preaching in the mid century. He's a very weird guy. But yeah, I'll just get into it here.

[Rick Allen]

Like nothing you just said makes sense.

[Lauren Monroe]

That doesn't.

[Buzz Knight]

Right?

[Rick Allen]

But that's the beauty of cults.

[Unknown Host]

Listen to behind the bastards on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Buzz Knight]

This is an iHeart podcast.