Beyond the Ferns

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Safety Tricks & Tips 101: Protecting Yourself at Home, Out in the World, and Online (not an exhaustive list*) In this special safety-focused episode of Beyond the Ferns, I break down practical, real-world tools for staying safe—because if this podcast has taught us anything, it’s that dangerous people and situations exist and unfortunately, they live alongside us in this world! Whether you’re settling in at home, heading out for errands, or navigating the digital world, there are simple steps you can take to stay aware, prepared, and protected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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In this week's episode, we are headed to Minnesota covering the controversial case of Byron Smith and the murders of Nick and Hailie. Byron Smith was a retired security engineer living a quiet, isolated life in Little Falls, Minnesota—a man who kept to himself and had grown increasingly uneasy after a string of break-ins at his home. On Thanksgiving Day 2012, that unease collided with the actions of two teenagers. Nick and Haile were known in their community as typical teens—inseparable, always driving around town together, and bonded in a way that felt more like siblings than cousins. Around noon on Thanksgiving, the pair entered Smith’s home through a window, unaware that Byron was inside the house when they stepped in. What happened next inside that quiet basement staircase would become one of the most controversial and widely debated self-defense cases in Minnesota’s history. From Byron's detailed home audio recordings to the community’s shock at the teenagers’ deaths, the case sparked intense questions about fear, boundaries, premeditation, and the limits of “defending your home.” The story that unfolded in the aftermath—through interviews, recovered security footage, and hours of audio—left the public deeply divided on what truly happened in that dark, silent house on Thanksgiving Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices