Nurtural Disasters

Murders of Mean Girl Mackenzie

In 2022, Mackinzie Shirilla drove full speed into a brick wall, killing two passengers including her boyfriend, Dominic Russo. What was originally reported as an accident ended up being much more sinister when Mackenzie’s perverse and callous behavior became the topic of two separate crime documentaries: The Crash and Mean Girl Murders. Did permissive parenting lead to the breeding of a murderer? Classmates painted a picture of a mean girl who was entitled and self-centered. Even after being imprisoned, Mackenzie showed little remorse and prioritized clout-chasing demeanor. Lisa recalls her relationship with an entitled friend who exploited her behavior. Red flags were abundant as the hosts navigate their past relationships with their own personal Regina Georges. Gentle parenting, where parents are permissive and enabling, lays the groundwork for a cavalcade of escalating behaviors. Where will it end up? We are all dying to know! ---------------------------------------- Credits/Thanks: Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa Cover Art: Ken Follow us on: Instagram: @nurturaldisasters Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com [https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com] Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters [https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters]

Just Beat It! Michael Jackson Tells Joe to Beat It!

(This is the second part of the episode, "Smooth Criminal: The Dad of Michael Jackson". Please listen to Part 1!) When we look at successful celebrities, who were victims of child abuse, do the ends justify the means? Does survivorship bias alter public perception of the actual rarity of people who transcend being abused by their parents? On this episode, Ken and Lisa continue discussing the blockbuster film, Michael, diving deeper into Michael Jackson’s psychological damage after weathering years of abuse from his vicious father, Joe. Underneath the success, Michael suffered myriads of issues such as body dysmorphia and eating disorders. At the climax of the film, Joe Jackson conjures his final act of villainy to guilt Michael into a final Jackson5 tour. Despite its commercial success, the critics panned the film, referencing its omission of scandals that plagued the King of Pop’s later career. Yet, fans saw it as a love letter to Michael’s genius that blossomed in spite of constant abuse from Joe Jackson. Cry, laugh, and enjoy the episode! ---------------------------------------- Credits/Thanks: Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa Cover Art: Ken Follow us on: Instagram: @nurturaldisasters Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com [https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com] Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters [https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters]

Love or Limerence: Songwriter's Guide to the Universe

(This is the second part of the episode, "Musically Enmeshed". Please listen to Part 1!) Welcome back to the second part of our interview with Megan Morrow, where she expands upon her motivations for songwriting and performing for live audiences, using creative process to turn trauma into art. She discusses how her inspirations for one of her future releases dealt with limerence that was birthed from her relationship with her parents. As a special treat, there is a clip of “The Ted Song”, a song dedicated to her late uncle. For levity purposes, there are talks about inappropriate songs, Ken’s problem with his birthdays, and Lisa’s insecurity of her voice. Yes, even this can be silly. Then, the hosts spend the rest of the episode trying to decompress from the heavy topics by talking about recreational drinking and prescription drug use. Apparently, putting yourself out there to create art and content does cause significant disappointment and burnout, but that won’t stop this trio from world domination! *Please contact 988 for if you are in crisis or need of emotional support. ---------------------------------------- Credits/Thanks: Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa Cover Art: Ken Follow us on: Instagram: @nurturaldisasters Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com [https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com] Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters [https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters]

Smooth Criminal: The Dad of Michael Jackson

The Man. The Myth. The King of Pop. On this episode, Ken and Lisa go to the movies to discuss the new hit film, Michael, a biopic that chronicles the ascent of Michael Jackson as a world-class performer and pop cultural icon. All the while, his abusive father, Joe Jackson, controlled and manipulated his children to fulfill his own narcissistic and self-serving vision. How was Michael able to escape the cycle of abuse created from cultural and historical means and propel himself into superstardom? A major accident while filming a cola commercial could have ended in tragedy, but Michael uses this opportunity to forgive his mother, fulfill his obligation to his siblings, and finally severing his tumultuous relationship with his brutal father. He transcends generations of violence and escapes the clutches of his dad, but the emotional and traumatic toll might be even too much for Michael to overcome. Trigger warning: Discussions about child abuse. ---------------------------------------- Credits/Thanks: Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa Cover Art: Ken Follow us on: Instagram: @nurturaldisasters Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com [https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com] Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters [https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters]

Musically Enmeshed

"[Mom], you're not my friend." Megan Morrow, the singer of the show’s theme, joins the dynamic duo, Ken and Lisa, in the studio to discuss how her life experiences and familial relationships contributed to the creative process of songwriting. It might not have been the most ideal childhood, as she recalls having arguments with her mother only to have a literal door slammed in her face. Forming friendships during her formative years was a difficult proposition as her father did his best to assist young Megan, while enmeshment with her mother continued to be a lifelong concern. No longer attached at the hip, how will Megan navigate her future without the presence of mom? Tune in for loads of tears, both happy and sad! "Clouded" is available for purchase on Bandcamp. https://meganmorrow.bandcamp.com/ [https://meganmorrow.bandcamp.com/] ---------------------------------------- Credits/Thanks: Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa Cover Art: Ken Follow us on: Instagram: @nurturaldisasters Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com [https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com] Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters [https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters]