Skip to content
Artwork for Navigating Advocacy
True CrimeSociety & CultureDocumentaryExplicit

Navigating Advocacy

Navigating Advocacy Podcast

Navigating Advocacy is a true crime podcast that seeks to use the power of storytelling to raise awareness about unsolved crimes and bring justice to victims and their families through action-oriented advocacy. Hosted by Melissa and Whitney, who themselves started as true crime enthusiasts and have since become passionate advocates, their podcast aims to inspire action and promote positive change in the criminal justice system.

Our mission is to provide a platform for victims and their families to share their stories and be heard while offering practical guidance on how listeners can make a difference in their communities. In each episode, we will explore a different unsolved case in depth, highlighting key details and potential leads in an effort to spark new interest and help advance the investigation.Through our work, we hope to create a community of like-minded individuals who are committed to making a real difference in the fight for justice.

Whether you are a seasoned true crime fan or a newcomer to the genre, we invite you to join us on this journey of discovery and advocacy.
Play
  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 40 min
  • English
  • S6 · E24
    Tuesday · 1 hr 31 min

    UPDATE : Megan Trussell

    Melissa and Whitney revisit the death of CU Boulder student Megan Trussell, a 19-year-old film major found in Boulder Canyon after leaving her dorm on February 9, 2025. Officials ruled her death a suicide, but her family and many others have...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E23
    October 10 · 50 min

    New Jersey: Margaret Haddican-McEnroe

    In October 2006, 29-year-old mom, volunteer firefighter, and Army veteran Margaret Haddican McEnroe vanished from her Warren Township, New Jersey home after a tense period in her marriage; her baby was left alone, and her car, wallet, and most...

    • Transcript
  • April 20 · 1 hr 28 min

    Brandon Lawson: Still Waiting

    Brandon Lawson disappeared off of the side of Highway 277 just outside of Bronte, Texas. After running out of gas, calling his brother, Kyle, and a chilling 911 call, Brandon remained missing for over 8 years.  January 15, 2022, Melissa and Whitney...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E101
    March 23 · 1 hr 13 min

    Navigating Advocacy with Crawlspace Media

    In this episode of Navigating Advocacy, we’re joined by two well-known voices in true crime podcasting—Tim Pilleri and Lance Reenstierna of Crawlspace Media. Tim and Lance have spent years helping shape the true crime podcasting landscape, and in...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E22
    February 11 · 39 min

    Indiana : Alex VanDalsen

    Alex VanDalsen was a free-spirited 21-year-old who disappeared on February 3, 2021, after leaving his home in Lafayette, Indiana. Days later, his body was found in suspicious circumstances, leading to questions about the initial investigation, which...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E21
    Nov 17, 2025 · 35 min

    Texas : Deanna Merryfield

    In this episode of Navigating Advocacy, hosts Melissa and Whitney explore the heartbreaking story of Deanna Merryfield, who vanished at age 13 from Killeen, Texas, in 1990. Deanna's troubled family background, including her mother's alcoholism and her...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E20
    Oct 27, 2025 · 24 min

    Oklahoma : April Kelly Reed

    April Kelly Reed disappeared from Del City, Oklahoma in 2001 under mysterious circumstances. Raised amidst familial instability and trauma, April endured significant hardships, including being traded for a vehicle as a child and navigating life with...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E19
    Sep 17, 2025 · 36 min

    New York : Stephen Spina

    On September 17, 2007, 36-year-old Stephen Spina, a beloved father, postal worker, and longtime Little League umpire, was found stabbed to death in his Mamaroneck, NY apartment. With no signs of forced entry and nothing stolen, investigators believe...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E18
    Aug 13, 2025 · 41 min

    Colorado : Megan Trussell

    In this episode of the Navigating Advocacy podcast, the story of Megan Piper Trussell, a bright and artistic 17-year-old from Boulder, Colorado, whose mysterious disappearance and death in February 2025 left her family and community searching for...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E17
    Jul 21, 2025 · 24 min

    Nevada : Camille Dardanes Dodson

    Camille Dains Dodson, born in 1964 in Los Angeles, was a talented and driven woman who faced unexpected life challenges. She married Gary Dodson, the first person exonerated of rape by DNA evidence in the USA, but their relationship turned abusive....

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E16
    Jul 1, 2025 · 37 min

    Michigan : Amber Arnett

    On this episode of Navigating Advocacy, we speak with Marty, mother of 39-year-old Amber Arnette, who vanished in Lansing, Michigan, in June 2023. Amber was a loyal, nurturing caregiver known for her generosity and devotion to family—especially her...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E15
    Jun 16, 2025 · 23 min

    Arizona : Stephanie Wasilishin

    In this episode of Navigating Advocacy, hosts Melissa and Whitney delve into the tragic story of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin, tragically found shot to death in her Sedona, Arizona home on July 9, 1993. Despite compelling evidence suggesting homicide,...

    • Transcript
  • Jun 10, 2025 · 1 min

    Introducing: Papi Killed Mommy

    Introducing:  Papi Killed Mommy “Papi Killed Mommy” is a true crime podcast told from the inside—by the daughter of the woman who was murdered. In 1993, 10-year-old Nikki was woken by police pulling her from bed. Her mother had been murdered just...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E14
    May 19, 2025 · 29 min

    Iowa : Wilma Nissen

    After a much-needed post-conference break, we’re back with a story that deeply moved us—and reminded us why we do this work. In this episode of Navigating Advocacy, we share the tragic and largely untold story of Wilma June Nissen, a woman who...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E13
    Mar 10, 2025 · 32 min

    Florida : Danielle Bell

    Danielle Bell was a bright and ambitious 14-year-old who dreamed of becoming a lawyer before she vanished in September 2001. More than two decades later, her sister, Bonnie—continues the relentless fight for answers. Danielle was full of life, but...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E12
    Feb 17, 2025 · 28 min

    Texas : Cristian Rangel

    Monday, April 8, 2024, between 1:27 pm and 1:30 pm, Cristian Rangel was seen on surveillance cameras at Walmart at 5017 Hwy 290 in Austin, Texas. Footage shows a white GMC Terrain entering the parking lot, a short time after a blue Mustang (or...

    • Transcript
  • Feb 3, 2025 · 23 min

    National Missing Persons Day

    Over 600,000 people are reported missing annually in the United States.  Melissa and Whitney are joined by fellow co-founder of AdvocacyCon, Eric Carter-Landin, to talk about the upcoming conference and why its inception was needed.  AdvocacyCon is...

    • Transcript
  • Jan 27, 2025 · 30 min

    Louisiana : Brandy Dyson

    Brandy Renee Dyson's story is one of resilience, heartbreak, and the fight for justice. Born on November 1, 1973, Brandy faced immense challenges but remained a loving mother and a kindhearted soul. Tragically, her life was cut short on November 5,...

    • Transcript
  • S6 · E10
    Jan 20, 2025 · 36 min

    Rhode Island : Jason Fallon

    Jason Fallon, a sensitive and creative young man from Providence, Rhode Island, was tragically killed in an alleged hit-and-run on October 30, 2022. Despite the incident occurring in a well-lit area, Jason's case is mired with inconsistencies and...

    • Transcript
  • Jan 13, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min

    Revisit: Jason Landry

    In the late hours of December 13, 2020, Jason was driving home to the Houston area to spend the holidays with family. Jason would never be seen or heard from again. Only hours after Jason was known to be leaving his apartment, a volunteer...

    • Transcript
Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes