A Gentle Thief

When it comes to the countries with the biggest gaps between rich and poor, the United States is in the top ten. We are #9. As we read about the economy humming along, Amanda Dickson talks about how  she knows that is not true for everyone. She asks her guests for their insight: Jean Miller - executive director of the Women and Newborns Clinical Program at Intermountain Healthcare, Liz Sollis, marketing and communications manager of the Salt Lake County Library, and Pamela Atkinson, community advocate and advisor to Governor Herbert.

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Missouri is set to become the first state in the United States where there is not a single clinic offering abortion since the decision in Roe v. Wade. (Note this recording is made before the final decision is made on Friday.) Amanda Dickson asks her guests what they think of the situation. She is joined by Jean Miller - executive director of the Women and Newborns Clinical Program at Intermountain Healthcare, Liz Sollis, marketing and communications manager of the Salt Lake County Library, and Pamela Atkinson, community advocate and advisor to Governor Herbert.

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Need a good read? Here are three recommendations from Amanda Dickson's guests on A Woman's View: "Two Old Women" is an Alaskan legend about two old women who were abandoned by their tribe. "The Tree at the Center" is a book of poetry by an up and comer that sounds wonderful. "A Passage to India" is a wonderful classic from the 60's that speaks to many modern issues when three people from England come to India and are shocked when they cannot befriend the Indian people because of race.

Amanda's guests this week are: Pamela Atkinson, a community advocate and advisor to Governor Gary Herbert; Liz Sollis, the marketing and communications manager of the Salt Lake County Library; and Jean Millar, the executive director of the Women and Newborns Clinical Program at Intermountain Healthcare.

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What is your advice for the class of 2019? Amanda asks her three wonderful guests that, and also what they wish they had known when they graduated that they know now. They also talk about the research that shows how much cosmetic surgery Utah women are having. Parents are even giving boob jobs to graduating Utah girls!

What a powerful lineup this week on A Woman's View - Natalie Gochnour is the Associate Dean of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Dr. Susan Madsen is a professor of leadership and ethics at Utah Valley University and the director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, and Lisa Walker is a certified athletic trainer and teacher at Springville High School.

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Is free college a good idea? Should we borrow money from China to pay for college? Would students work as hard if they don't have skin in the game? Amanda Dickson asks her guests why K-12 education is free in this country but college is not.

What a powerful lineup this week on A Woman's View - Natalie Gochnour is the Associate Dean of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Dr. Susan Madsen is a professor of leadership and ethics at Utah Valley University and the director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, and Lisa Walker is a certified athletic trainer and teacher at Springville High School.

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Many Utah students are taking RISE tests right now. How do you feel about standardized tests? What is their value or purpose? Do you think they serve us as a community? Do they serve the students? Is it possible they hurt the students? So many questions for Amanda Dickson's guests, all of whom have education experience, on A Woman's View.

What a powerful lineup this week on A Woman's View - Natalie Gochnour is the Associate Dean of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Dr. Susan Madsen is a professor of leadership and ethics at Utah Valley University and the director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, and Lisa Walker is a certified athletic trainer and teacher at Springville High School.

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Why should we care about the Inland Port? Think about it this way - we are smack dab in the middle of the United States in terms of shipping. We have a brand new airport and wonderful rail line. We live in an age where we're moving from retail to fulfillment, and if we have an inland port we become a key part of the supply chain. The reason there have been so many problems is we've done it in the wrong order. We did the politics first instead of the research, but it can be fixed. Amanda Dickson's guests explain.

What a powerful lineup this week on A Woman's View - Natalie Gochnour is the Associate Dean of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Dr. Susan Madsen is a professor of leadership and ethics at Utah Valley University and the director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, and Lisa Walker is a certified athletic trainer and teacher at Springville High School.

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In Episode 25, Sophie returns to the office after her trip to Utah. She has come to a realization that she wants to leave the practice of law. It is hard for her to give up all that she has worked so hard for, but Maddie's life - and death - have taught her what is important in her own life.

She types her letter of resignation and goes home to Sean to start her new life.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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In Episode 24, Sophie Brownlie wakes in Cedar City. She calls Dr. Horowitz and learns about why he believes Maddie's death was a suicide. Sophie talks to Sean and tells him all she's learned, including that the woman Maddie killed in her car accident was her step-mother.

Sophie drives to see the property Maddie owned and bumps into Junior Kemler.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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In Episode 23, Ike and Cookie Johnson meet in Cedar City, Utah for the funeral of their daughter. Ike goes to Maddie's house, the one he bought her, and goes through his daughter's things and finds her journals.

He reads how obsessed she was with Con. He finds her will and learns she left both the houses to her neighbor, Junior Kemler.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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In Episode 22, Maddie meets Con Sullier.  She explains herself after he finds her trespassing. They talk about Maddie Johnson for hours. After their meeting, Maddie finds out the other two ME reports both came back suicide.

That night she goes to the Shakespeare Festival and sees "Hamlet."

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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In Episode 21, Con drives back from Vegas, completely broke after draining his accounts the night before. When he pulls up to his house, Gina is hysterical. She tells him the news that Maddie is dead and the police want to talk to him.

He goes to Maddie's house and talks to the police. They ask him if Maddie ever talked about hurting herself.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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In Episode 20, Sophie goes to SUU to find Robert Able. While he is no longer there, she does find Dr. Mina Theron, the counselor who saw Con and Maddie 20 years prior.

She is willing to talk to Maddie only because Con made everything that happened in counseling public in an article he had written. Following that meeting, Maddie goes to talk to Con.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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In Episode 19, New Year's Eve finds Maddie alone, but feeling strong, until she has a painful conversation with her mother. Junior's mother calls on New Year's to find out her son is back together with that girl (Beth) she doesn't like.

Robert Able rings in the new year alone, but finally begins the dream of his life - starting his own novel. Con celebrates the New Year in Vegas, penniless after a night with a woman he hoped he'd soon forget.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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Episode 18 begins with Maddie. Her ex-husband calls to ask if can bring dinner over and Maddie agrees. Robert still has feelings for Maddie that it's not clear she returns.

Episode 18 then shifts to Sophie as she finally hears from the first medical examiner. He agrees with the original determination - suicide. Sophie is so disappointed she runs out the door and heads straight to Cedar City.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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In Episode 17, Maddie spends a night with Con and feels like they have a real connection, but when she catches him on the phone with a girl the next morning and she spends another day alone, she is blessed with the realization that he is not for her. She is free.

But Con still shows up again and doesn't take her realization well. Maddie's neighbor, Junior, stops by to talk about how sick of his girlfriend he is, and later breaks up with Beth.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

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In Episode 16, Sophie Brownlie is waiting impatiently for any response from the three medical examiners. It's been nearly a month. The case feels stagnant, and she is reluctant to return Ike Johnson's call with nothing to tell him. She keeps thinking about what the psychic told her - that she would take a trip - and she wondered if she is supposed to go to Cedar City and attempt to interview Con Sullier herself.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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In Episode 15, Con and Maddie go back to see the counselor. Con talks about his dreams of death involving him and Maddie, one where they were going to commit a double suicide.

Maddie begins to shake and tells them something she's never told everyone - she killed a woman in a car accident.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

See our website for privacy information.

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In Episode 14, Sophie Brownlie is working on sending letters of engagement to other medical examiners to ask them to review the file on Madeline Johnson, just as Dr. Verdad suggested she do. The phone rings, and it's an old college friend of Sophie's who recommends Sophie go see a psychic about the case. Reluctantly, she does.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. ​​

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In Episode 13, it's Christmas night 1983, and Maddie finally answers the phone that's been ringing all day. She speaks first with her mother and then father. Both had been calling for hours. Maddie was toying with her gun as she listens to them talk.

Later Con stops by to apologize for not showing, sees her gun and is freaked out when Maddie gets the courage to tell him to leave.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

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(FICTION)

In Episode 12, Maddie attends the wedding of her father to Samantha. This is not a happy day for her. It's not that she doesn't like Samantha, exactly, it's just that it makes her mother even more angry and her father more far away.

Samantha inherits money and buys Maddie a sports car, which she loves, but which leads to tragedy.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

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Episode 11 of A Gentle Thief begins with Sophie and Rick on Valentine's Day when they have a negotiation with the US Attorney. The negotiation does not go well as the US Attorney sends an assistant in his place and Rick Day is not pleased.

The day leaves Sophie discouraged and heading home early to her husband. Part two of Episode 11 takes us back to Christmas Eve, 1983, and Maddie is preparing dinner for her and Con, but when there is someone at the door, it isn't Con.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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(FICTION)

In Episode 10 of A Gentle Thief, Maddie is about to head out the door to school when the phone rings. Con calls to to tell her he has an appointment for them that night with a counselor.

Maddie isn't sure it's even worth the time, but after a day with her young student,  Eduardo, she meets Con at the counselor's office where Con talks about how ever since he met Maddie, he can't stop thinking about death.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

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(FICTION) 

In Episode 9, Sophie Brownlie and Rick Day get their meeting with the Utah Medical Examiner to try to convince him to change Madeline Johnson's death certificate from suicide to homicide. Before they leave for Salt Lake, Rick tells Sophie she'd better know why the ME wouldn't change the manner of death determination every other time the Johnson family asked him to do so.

She studies the files again, but can't understand why the powder test wasn't compelling enough, even if it wasn't 100% accurate. When they get to Dr. Verdad's office, Sophie makes the most famous of lawyer mistakes - she asks a question she doesn't know the answer to.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

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(FICTION)

In Episode 8 of A Gentle Thief, Maddie confirms her fears about Con, but it does little good in protecting her. Her neighbor, Junior, helps her one night to catch him in a lie.

After the drama, Junior and Maddie talk late into the night, but Maddie wakes to find Con in her driveway with a plan to keep them together.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

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When Maddie asked her husband for a divorce, he didn't seem surprised. He left without argument. She went straight to Con and left a note on his car, "He's gone."

In this episode we watch Con and Maddie's relationship develop, and we feel the excruciating pain Maddie is in as she realizes what kind of a person Con is. She learns that he has a child he never sees and seems to care not at all about. We see Maddie at her lowest and begin to wonder - could she have killed herself?

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

See our website for privacy information.

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In Episode 6 of A Gentle Thief, we are back with Sophie at the law firm on the day her client, Ike Johnson, calls. They go over where they are on the case, what the strong arguments are, and how they are going to approach the Utah Medical Examiner.

After the hang-up, Rick asks Sophie to review the details of the case with him. Why was there a second autopsy? Tell me about the interviews in the file that private investigators did with the ex-husband and the boyfriend guy. Can you picture them as murderers? Rick shakes his head. He thinks there is something wrong with his client. Why would a Dad keep this up for 20 years after his daughter's death?

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

See our website for privacy information.

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In Episode 5 of A Gentle Thief, a fictional podcast based on real events, we meet the man who would become Maddie's undoing - Con Sullier. He is a disc jockey at the local rock station, aloof, trolling the green show at the Shakespeare Festival when they meet. Maddie is there to see the show, something she often enjoys. Her husband stayed home, as he usually does.

Con flirts with her and then disappears. She goes back the next night to look for him. Then she goes back the night after that, having no idea she will never be able to close the door she is opening in her life. 

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

See our website for privacy information.

(FICTION)

In Episode 4 of A Gentle Thief, a fictional podcast based on true events, we see Maddie Johnson as a young woman living in Cedar City in the house given to her by her father. She felt too young to be a homeowner, but was that AND a landlord to her neighbor, a nice guy named Junior Kemler.

We learn how she came to Cedar City to be a student at Southern Utah University, and how she met her husband. He is a professor of Shakespeare. She was his star student. Their relationship was doomed to be a tragedy.

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

See our website for privacy information.

(FICTION)

In Episode 3 of A Gentle Thief, a fictional podcast inspired by true events, attorney Sophie Brownlie studies the case of the dead girl with her husband, an experienced crime reporter with The Las Vegas Sun. Together they learn that the client is named Ike Johnson. He is trying to get the Utah coroner to change the manner of death determination on the death certificate of his daughter from suicide to homicide. That's it. 

The problem is when his daughter was found, everyone treated her death like a suicide, except the coroner. There were brown markings on her hands that looked like powder burns. 

A Gentle Thief is a fictional podcast written and performed by Amanda Dickson. Dickson is heard weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

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(FICTION) A Gentle Thief is inspired by true events...

Madeline Ruth Johnson (Maddie) lives with her parents Ike and Cookie in a small Pennsylvania town. Maddie and her father Ike struggle to live with the angry and vindictive Cookie. They avoid her as much as they can until that's no longer possible.

A Gentle Thief is written and performed by Amanda Dickson.  Dickson hosts Utah's Morning News, one of America's highest-rated regional news broadcasts.  Hear her weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio.

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(FICTION) A Gentle Thief is inspired by true events...

Sophie Brownlie is a brand new lawyer. She's eager to work, but is unsure of herself and her place in her Las Vegas law firm. Senior Partner Rick Day assigns Sophie a case thinking it will be a good learning experience for her. But as Sophie opens the file, she is immediately shocked by what she sees.

A Gentle Thief is written and performed by Amanda Dickson.  Dickson hosts Utah's Morning News, one of America's highest-rated regional news broadcasts.  Hear her weekday mornings from 5:00-9:00 on Salt Lake City's KSL Newsradio. 

See our website for privacy information.