Dana Taylor

Gina, as a reporter, did you take any special steps when you were dealing with the victims because of the sensitivity of this topic?

Gina, as a reporter, did you take any special steps when you were dealing with the victims because of the sensitivity of this topic?

What did your team learn about the problem of untested rape kits?

What did your team learn about the problem of untested rape kits?

What do you hope that listeners will walk away with after listening to your podcast series?

What do you hope that listeners will walk away with after listening to your podcast series?

Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify to get the full season of Untested, a Witness-exclusive podcast ad-free. For much more true crime content, subscribe at witness.usatoday.com. Thanks to our senior producers, Shannon Marie Green and Kaylee Monahan, for their production assistance. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty.

Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify to get the full season of Untested, a Witness-exclusive podcast ad-free. For much more true crime content, subscribe at witness.usatoday.com. Thanks to our senior producers, Shannon Marie Green and Kaylee Monahan, for their production assistance. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts at usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow morning with another episode of The Excerpt.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts at usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow morning with another episode of The Excerpt.

Hello, and welcome to The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Thursday, April 24th, 2025, and this is a special episode of The Excerpt. Most of us can say that we're fans of something, music, sports, art, books. But what does it mean to be part of a fandom?

Hello, and welcome to The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Thursday, April 24th, 2025, and this is a special episode of The Excerpt. Most of us can say that we're fans of something, music, sports, art, books. But what does it mean to be part of a fandom?

You've probably seen devoted superfans participating in cosplay at Comic-Con, painted in their team's color at a football game, or dressed up as their favorite characters at a midnight screening of a film series. But is there something deeper than just fun at play here? Something that aligns more with religion or even sacredness?

You've probably seen devoted superfans participating in cosplay at Comic-Con, painted in their team's color at a football game, or dressed up as their favorite characters at a midnight screening of a film series. But is there something deeper than just fun at play here? Something that aligns more with religion or even sacredness?

That's the argument of sociologist Michael Elliott, a professor at Towson University who studied the culture of Comic-Con for seven years. Michael, thank you for being on the excerpt.

That's the argument of sociologist Michael Elliott, a professor at Towson University who studied the culture of Comic-Con for seven years. Michael, thank you for being on the excerpt.

Can you explain what Comic-Con is for those who don't know?

Can you explain what Comic-Con is for those who don't know?

How did Comic-Con culture first spark your interest? What compelled you to study it?

How did Comic-Con culture first spark your interest? What compelled you to study it?