Cup Of Justice
Cup of Justice is a podcast that explores the legal system through stories from the newsroom and courtroom. Co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell, and attorney Eric Bland provide insights and tools to hold public agencies and officials accountable. Originally bonus episodes of the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, it launched as its own show in January 2023 and debuted at #1 on Apple. The show combines investigative journalism with legal expertise to empower listeners.
Episodes
Attorney Noah Pines Discusses Alex Murdaugh’s Big Waste of Time and Greg Parker’s Big Waste of Money (COJ192)
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sit down with bad-ass attorney Noah Pines for some much-needed grounding. Because things have been rough in these South Carolina legal streets lately, y’all!!!
Noah — who is a longtime friend of LUNASHARK®— is a criminal defense attorney and partner at Ross and Pines LLC in Atlanta. He is perhaps best known for his work on the Joey Wat
Grassroots Tyranny & Policing for Profit: Bill Maurer from the Institute for Justice on Fines, Fees & Government Overreach (COJ191)
Mandy and Liz sit down with attorney Bill Maurer of the Institute for Justice to talk about what happens when public officials forget that their job is to abide by the constitution. Is there anything people can do to reclaim their rights (and the rights of everyone else)? And is the fight worth it?
Yes and Yes.
Still reeling from the uprecedented $176,500 sanction for contempt of court
COJ #190 - The Corruption That Cost Lamonte McIntyre 23 Years: How A Detective, A Prosecutor and A Judge Built A Trial By Lies…
In 1994, 17-year-old Lamonte McIntyre was arrested hours after a double homicide in Kansas City, Kansas — a crime he had nothing to do with. There was no physical evidence and no real investigation. What there was: a detective with a grudge against Lamonte's mother, a prosecutor who apparently knew her witnesses were lying, and a judge allegedly "involved" with that prosecutor. Undoing all those w
COJ #189 - How Did Spartanburg Police Describe the AC Hotel Incident Deborah Barbier Reported?
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and producer of journalism David Moses are recording near Washington, D.C. for a special episode on an explosive FOIA returned from Spartanburg PD.
First, David opens with gratitude for the listeners who requested a GoFundMe and refused to let Mandy stand alone. Then we’re examining the very relevant Spartanburg Police Report that Debo
COJ 188 - A Farewell to Eric Bland, But Cup’s Up To A New Era...
After five amazing years in the fray together and 188 episodes, Eric Bland is stepping back from his role as Cup of Justice co-host — but don't call it goodbye.
In this heartfelt and candid farewell, Eric explains his decision to refocus on his law practice, his public speaking career, and — most critically — his role as a legal advocate for Mandy as she navigates ongoing harassment and a
COJ #187 - Journalist Mandy Matney Ordered to Pay $176,500 from Contempt Ruling Tied to Greg Parker’s Legal Defense
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland discuss the extraordinary $171,500 in attorneys' fees and costs assessed against Mandy for contempt of court.
Judge R. Keith Kelly has ordered journalist Mandy Matney to pay $171,500 in attorney's fees and a $5,000 fine — for missing a deposition she sat for just days later.
Ahem… Where Is GREGG
COJ #186 - Contempt, Proposed Orders, So Many Motions, and the Fight That Appears to Never End
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland break down where the four-month contempt saga stands now that proposed orders are submitted and the decision rests with the judge.
They unpack the bright spots: the deposition happened, it didn't delay the case, and how Greg Parker's team somehow claimed they needed two days for a deposition that was mos
COJ #185 - Contempt & Contraband: What's New & Old In Murdaugh 2.0
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland analyze everything that went down when Mandy (and Eric) took the stand last week during the absurd contempt proceedings.
Why did Parker's team show up with four partner-level attorneys, two binders, and zero affidavit? And why was Debbie Barbier demanding Luna Shark's private financials in open court — before a
COJ #184 - Did Dick Harpootlian Lose His Political Power? Unpacking The Primary + Egg Lady Plays Victim In Netflix ‘Instadoc’
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland unpack a stunning South Carolina primary: Jermaine Johnson's grassroots gubernatorial win, Nancy Mace's fifth-place collapse, Lindsey Graham's surprising vulnerability, and the AG race that exposed how trial lawyers really profit. Is Dick Harpootlian's reign as ‘kingmaker’ finally over?
Then the team turns to th
COJ #183 - No 'Reasonable Woman': When Surviving Is the Crime With Author Justine van der Leun
What happens when a woman survives the violence done to her — and the state punishes her for it?
This week, Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sit down with award-winning investigative journalist Justine van der Leun to talk about her new book, Unreasonable Women: Three Stories of Violence, Imprisonment, and Extraordinary Survival.
Over seven years, Justine maile
COJ #182 - Troll Theories & ‘Tinkering’: Behind The Murdaugh Conspiracy In The New Yorker
We’re starting today with Mandy’s first-ever ODC complaint against a Horry County attorney named Bert von Herrmann who chose to post about her courtroom testimony with a misogynistic, body-shaming Facebook post — then shared a non-apology blaming bots, copying devices, and the "misuse of podcasts."
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland unpack why
COJ #181 - Dr. Jermaine Johnson on Cowards, Courage & Two Systems of Justice
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell were honored to sit down with Dr. Jermaine Johnson — basketball player turned state representative for parts of Kershaw & Richland Counties, now a candidate for governor of South Carolina.
But this conversation isn’t really about a campaign or politics. It’s about our justice system, and the uncomfortable truth that South Carolina run
COJ #180 - A Tale of Two Subpoenas: Inside Mandy’s Civil Contempt Hearing + A Look At Alex Murdaugh’s Plan For New Trial
On Friday, Mandy took the stand in York for a civil contempt hearing that, by any measure, never should have happened — while the co-defendants actually trying to depose Gregg Roman (the nucleus of the Parker conspiracy case) had to beg the judge to even hear their motion. The contrast is staggering.
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland unpack what
COJ #179 - Fight For Our Legacy: Mandy Matney Braces For Contempt Hearing While Eric Bland Defends Law License
Eric Bland just had what he calls the worst day of his career outside of his father's cancer diagnosis — a brutal session before a commission of the South Carolina's Office of Disciplinary Counsel where one of the state's most decorated legal malpractice attorneys was made to feel like "a menace to the bar."
This week, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney
COJ #178 - Every Accusation Is an Admission: Inside Parker's Pound-of-Flesh Playbook + Expose The Truth in York, SC on May 15
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and Attorney Eric Bland pull no punches as a brutal week looms. With Mandy's May 15 contempt hearing approaching and Eric facing his own all-day ODC deposition Wednesday, the trio breaks down what they call a coordinated campaign of harassment dressed up as litigation.
Mandy responds — emotionally and on the record — to a paltry exc
COJ #177 - How To Get Mica’s Law Passed (Eventually) With Former SC Lawmaker and DV Prosecutor Mandy Powers Norrell + Lobbyists & The Movies That Don’t Hold Up
Two years ago — on April 27, 2024 — Mica Francis was found dead in a North Carolina swamp after diverting from her normal routine to purchase a pawnshop firearm. Her ex-husband JP Miller is charged with federal counts of cyberstalking and lying to investigators which may head to trial this June.
On this episode, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell are joined by attorne
COJ #176 - Mandy Matney Ambushed in Court: How Parker's Lawyers Put Journalism on Trial To Get Revenge
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and Attorney Eric Bland reunite after Mandy's harrowing "ambush hearing" in Gaffney, SC as a non-party witness in Beach v. Greg Parker civil conspiracy case.
Eric, who sat in the courtroom, describes how Mandy was badgered and belittled, a bailiff-escorted her to the bathroom like a criminal, and, in her words, treated "with less respe
FEED DROP: Soundbites On RJ May & Gosnell Cases: Convicted and Alleged Predators With Power
We're taking a break from COJ this week journeying through Peru for an upcoming episode of Wherever It Leads... To keep y'all informed and entertained, please enjoy this LUNASHARK® Premium Soundbites Episode. True Sunlight returns this week on the public feed!
Beth Braden's Soundbites episode from March 29 covers two of the most disturbing federal cases to come out of South Carolina in recent m
COJ #175 - Between Safety and Silence… We Choose Sunlight + Greg Parker Bets It All On ‘Depose, Deny, Defend’
LUNASHARK® Producer David Moses walks Journalist Liz Farrell and Attorney Eric Bland through the events leading up to Mandy's attempted deposition in Beach v. Parker — a civil conspiracy lawsuit alleging Greg Parker intentionally inflicted emotional distress on the Beach family to avoid accountability in a wrongful death case ultimately settled for over $15 million in July 2023. If awarded, tre
COJ #174 - Who’s Afraid of Little Old Mandy? The Deposition That Didn’t Happen
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and Attorney Eric Bland discuss Mandy’s deposition that wasn’t on Friday.
Mark Moore screamed. The Wi-Fi cut out. Greg Parker Zoomed in from some oddly decorated office with Debbie Barbier. And Mandy Matney sat 2,000 feet away from Moore at a secure location — armed guard protecting everyone, lemon pound cake on the table — waiting
COJ #173 - Weaponized Discovery, the ODC Fails Again, and The Afroman Effect Is The Wind Beneath Wings Of Justice
Attorney Eric Bland tells investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell why he is fired up — and for good reason. Eric discusses twelve ODC complaints from a convicted felon and a looming all-day interview about his conduct from Murdaugh-related complaints filed by Parkers attorneys and Dick Harpootlian… from as early as 2021! The team also takes a hard look at what the ODC actual
COJ #172 - The Becky Files Fallout: Crime Scene Photos, Cover-Ups, and Zero Apologies + The Case Of The Invisible Inmate
The SLED investigation into Becky Hill has finally pulled back the curtain — and the name appearing over 90 times in that file belongs to fitsnews founder Will Folks… Liz and Mandy’s former employer.
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland break down exactly how sealed crime scene photos of Paul Murdaugh's body ended up in the hands of Jen Wood, a
COJ #171 - Bone Valley's Gilbert King on Justice, Forgiveness & Fighting For A Better System
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sit down with Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist and Bone Valley podcast creator Gilbert King for a conversation that connects wrongful conviction, racial injustice, and the raw power of storytelling across decades of American history.
King shares how his research into Thurgood Marshall's landmark civil rights battles in the Jim Crow
COJ #170 - Beach v. Parker: Journalists Caught In Crossfire Expose Legal Circus + Where Is Alex Murdaugh’s Bestie?
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland pull no punches as they break down the relentless legal harassment campaign being waged against Luna Shark's journalists (and Premium Members) in the Beach v. Parker civil conspiracy to intentionally inflict emotional distress case.
The team exposes how Greg Parker's attorneys are using “scorched-earth” litigat
COJ #169 - "Foolish Behavior": Judge Denies Weldon Boyd Stand Your Ground Immunity and What It Means for Justice
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland break down the four-day hearing and the stunning moment when Judge Eugene “Bubba” Griffith ruled from the bench that Weldon Boyd does not receive “Stand Your Ground” immunity.
The team analyzes Weldon Boyd's day-long testimony, which the judge found not credible. Central to the ruling was the failure to prove
COJ #168 - The Questions about Becky, Egg Lady and Supreme Court in the Murdaugh Case No One Is Asking...
Today's Spivey v. Boyd/Williams hearing is available to all on our YouTube channel. Or Join LUNASHARK Premium to Join Our Hosts for all the context and community.
But first... Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland break down the stunning oral arguments in Alex Murdaugh's murder conviction appeal before the South Carolina Supreme Court — and they
COJ #167 - Journalist Matt Shaer On The Truths Found Between Entertainment & Justice
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sit down with Matth Shaer, the journalist and co-founder of Campside Media behind some of the most compelling true crime podcasts of the past decade - Over My Dead Body, Suspect, and Origin Stories.
Matt opens up about the evolution of true crime podcasting, from his early days working with Wondery to building Campside Media, and th
COJ #166 - Stand Your Ground (But Only If We Like You): When the Attorney General Picks and Chooses
Today we need to address alarming developments in press freedom as independent journalists, including Don Lemon, face federal charges for violating the FACE Act of 1994.
Then Liz reintroduces a case we covered on True Sunlight #134 involving Anijah Yarnell, who claimed self-defense after shooting Michael Pennington in 2020. However, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson unusually appeal
COJ #165 - Due Process on Trial: Weaponized Complaints From The State Bar to Feds Executing Curbside ‘Justice’
In this episode, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland confront a troubling throughline connecting professional discipline, prosecutorial discretion, and the rapid erosion of constitutional norms.
Eric recounts a chilling professional reality: an SC Bar disciplinary investigation triggered by harsh—but truthful—excise of free speech, while far m
COJ #164 - Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist Maggie Freleng on The Objectivity Lie and Criminal Justice Reform
Maggie Freleng, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, joins Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell to discuss her career trajectory, starting from her early days in journalism to her work on the pivotal "Suave" podcast. She shares insights on the Maura Murray case, which she investigated, and the impact of true crime podcasts on public perception and law enforcement.
In this compelling episode, Fr
COJ #163 - JP Miller Pleads Not Guilty In Federal Court While Federal Authority Terrifies In Minneapolis
In this gripping episode, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland, confront a week that forces an uncomfortable but urgent question: what happens when power escalates faster than accountability?
First, Liz Farrell reports firsthand from the federal arraignment of JP Miller—an appearance marked not just by legal gravity, but by a visible public dem
COJ #162 - JP Miller’s Federal Arraignment And How He Could Be Paying For His Defense + Looking Ahead In 2026
Cups Up to Season Four in 2026!
Between stretches of absolutely nothing in West Texas and questionable taquito choices, Mandy Matney celebrates LUNASHARK’s new travel podcast "Wherever It Leads…"—because apparently investigating corruption wasn't enough of an adventure. Stay tuned for details on the premiere.
Then Mandy, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland dive into serious updates: Russell
COJ #161 - When Justice Speaks To Persistence, Truth and Accountability... Our 2025 COJ Recap
As 2025 draws to a close, the LUNASHARK team takes a moment to look back at the year's most powerful conversations from Cup of Justice. Join digital librarian Kate Thomas as she revisits twelve unforgettable clips, one from each month, featuring the voices that moved us, challenged us, and reminded us why this work matters.
From detectives connecting the dots to families walking dark roads seeking
COJ #160 - A Purple Christmas Gift To Mica Francis + Confronting Power, The Cost Of Truth, and Other Discovery Abuses
In this holiday edition, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell talk with attorney Eric Bland about their Festivus grievances and the ongoing legal harassment they face in the Beach v. Parker civil conspiracy case. Eric explains how unlimited budgets enable clients to weaponize discovery processes, while Mandy and Liz discuss their decision to speak publicly about Greg Park
COJ #159 - Inside South Carolina's Supreme Court Power Grab and AG Alan Wilson's THC Witch Hunt
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell talk with attorney Eric Bland about South Carolina's deeply flawed judicial selection process as former House Speaker Jay Lucas—at 69 years old with no judicial experience—positions himself for John Kittredge's Supreme Court chief justice seat against experienced appellate judge John Few. The team exposes how the legislature's selecti
COJ #158 - When Lawyers Face Zero Consequences And Journalists Fight For Our Right To Publish
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell talk with attorney Eric Bland about the coordinated harassment they're facing in the the Beach v. Parker litigation—and why it represents everything broken about South Carolina's legal accountability system.
Briefly touching on former Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill pleading guilty without prison time, the conversation shifts to a
COJ #157 - Greg Parker, Parker’s Kitchen and The Abuse of Legal Processes to Harass Journalists, Critics and Everyone in Between
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell open up to attorney Eric Bland about being targeted in the ongoing Beach v. Parker civil conspiracy litigation, where Greg Parker's legal team has made them collateral damage through aggressive subpoenas and invasive depositions.
Liz describes enduring eight hours of what she calls "harassment disguised as a deposition," where Parker
COJ #156 - From Victim to Justice Warrior: Jonny McCoy on Surviving Police Misconduct and His Fight Against Corruption
In 2009, attorney Jonny McCoy asked a simple question: "Why are you arresting him?" That question led to his own arrest, fabricated charges, a suicide witnessed in jail, four years of malicious prosecution, and a complete mental breakdown that nearly cost him his life.
Now, after years of intensive trauma treatment and a move to Denver to rebuild his mind, Jonny is back practicing law in South
COJ #155 - First Amendment Under Fire + Subpoenas, Scandals, and Sexual Harassment + When Power Corrupts the Process
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland dive into three major developments shaking the South Carolina legal landscape…
First, we're breaking down renewed public scrutiny of attorney Dick Harpootlian, reacting to his recent media comments, his portrayal in Murdaugh: Death in the Family, and long-standing grievances about his courtroom behavior and trea
COJ #154 - Weldon Boyd (Stupidly) Sues Mark Tinsley, Liz Gets Deposed by Mark “Yo-Money” Moore + Dick Harpootlian Calls Girl ‘Skank’ on CourtTV
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland talk about how Liz’s deposition went in the Mallory Beach civil conspiracy case where she faced down attorney Mark “Yo-Money” Moore. Moore is gas station owner Greg Parker’s attorney and also the criminal defense attorney for Alex Murdaugh’s co-conspirator bankster friend Russell Laffitte.
Also, Alex Murdaugh’s att
COJ #153 - Huluween in the Lowcountry, Squires Gets The Gentlemen’s Treatments, And Moore Hideous Threats To Justice
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland dress up for Huluween on this jam-packed episode - and you can see the video version of COJ Cinema on your LUNASHARK Premium dashboard later this week.
We unpack a wild week of contradictions in South Carolina’s justice system — from the Murdaugh: Death in the Family series’ chilling portrayal of Alex Murdaugh’s unr
COJ #152 - Attorney General Candidate David Pascoe On Saving South Carolina’s Justice System From Secrets, Corruption, and the Politics of Protectionism
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell have a long list of questions for South Carolina’s 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe and they aren’t afraid to ask them.
Pascoe, who is running to replace state attorney general Alan Wilson in next year’s election has a well-known history of being the only top law enforcement officer in the state who is calling out corruption and seeking ac
COJ #151 - ‘Murdaugh Fatigue’ Blamed For Bankster's Soft Sentence + Why Is Dick So Bothered By The Hulu’s #1 Hit Series?
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland tackle one of the most absurd phrases creeping into South Carolina’s justice system — ‘Murdaugh fatigue.’
After years of uncovering corruption, financial crimes, and systemic failures, many in power and some running for office want to move on… leaving victims behind… AGAIN.
Mandy, Liz, and Eric break down the latest
COJ #150 - Justice in the Spotlight: Attorney Mark Tinsley on the Murdaugh Cases, Hulu’s Adaptation, and the Pursuit of Truth
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell are joined by the distinguished attorney Mark Tinsley, a central figure in the pursuit of justice for the Beach family and a pivotal voice in the Murdaugh saga.
Join us as we dive deep with Mark into his journey taking on one of the South’s most powerful families, his reflections on seeking truth amid chaos, and the personal motivations tha
COJ #149 - Pressure Breaks Politicians: Sheriff Fires Off-Duty Deputy Who Held Kids at Gunpoint + A Mysterious SC Fire Draws Arson Investigation
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland now have a fuller picture of the #SquiresGate case in Hilton Head Island after it went viral last week.
On today’s episode, the gang talks about what it took to get the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office to fire off-duty deputy Master Sgt. Billy Squires after video emerged of him pointing his service weapon at four teen
COJ #148 - UNHINGED Off-Duty Cop Points Gun at Teens + RJ May Pleads GUILTY To Sharing Child Sex Abuse Videos
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland break down what happened Sunday night on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, when an off-duty Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputy named Billy Squires held at least three teenagers at gunpoint. In a chilling video, the teen boys, who were reportedly walking in the deputy’s neighborhood, begged for their lives and cr
COJ #147 - SC Judge Bragged About Raping Babies, Feds Say. Why wasn’t he caught earlier?
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland thought they would never read anything quite as horrible as the descriptions of Child Sexual Assault Material contained in former South Carolina Rep. RJ May’s court records. But they were wrong.
On Monday, the United States Government filed a brief arguing that Charleston County Judge — and South Carolina’s latest ele
COJ #146 - Alex Murdaugh Trapped by His Own Guilt in Latest Filing + Alicia Kelley As Liz Farrell in Hulu’s ‘Murdaugh: Death In the Family’
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell are joined by Luna Shark Producer (and Mandy’s husband) the extraordinary David Moses — who is filling in for Eric Bland this week.
First up on the show, Mandy, Liz and David talk about what it was like for them watching the trailer for “Murdaugh: Death In the Family” for the first time and the profound emotional impact it had on them.
M
COJ #145 - 'Everything They Missed' With True Crime Podcaster Stephanie Tinsley: Retracing a Case Buried by Silence
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sit down with Stephanie Tinsley to turn up the mic—and the spotlight—on Stephanie’s ‘Everything They Missed’, a new, true-crime podcast series that reopens a murder case that should’ve never been closed.
Everything They Missed is a new series retracing the cold case of Danny Harris—a father, veteran, and Tennessean whose murder became a cas
COJ #144 - Cardi B, Crooked Bankers & Courtroom Clowns: How Truth, Delay, and Denial Betrays Victims
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland are examining how Cardi B. has been schooling the courtroom on authenticity, Russell Laffitte stalls his way through justice. Cardi B’s testimony in California shows how authenticity and honesty can make a witness credible, even when the stakes are high. Contrast that with South Carolina’s Russell Laffitte, whose plea
COJ #143 - Collateral Damage: When Lawyers Are Losers, Guns Are Umbrellas & Politicians Are Liars
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland are back again … and the filters (as usual) are OFF.
Mandy shares the tea about what went on last week in a Columbia, South Carolina, courtroom where her attorney Meredith Bannon argued against Mandy sitting for a deposition in a case she isn’t a part of (David Voros and Alexandra Stasko v. Allison Dunnavant). The cas
COJ #142 - Cookies Confidential: JAMS CEO Kimberly Taylor Chats Contracts & Compromise From The World of Mediation and Arbitration
If you find yourself involved in the civil justice system, you don’t have to go to trial. Alternatives like mediation or arbitration can offer faster, less adversarial paths to resolution without airing out all your business to the public. But, they’re not the best option for every case — like everything with our justice system, there’s a lot of nuance.
Kimberly Taylor, CEO of JAMS, sat down wit
COJ #141 - State Files Savage Clapback To Murderer Alex Murdaugh’s Appeal + Nancy Mace Enters The Chat
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland have read the 182-page response filed Friday evening by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office in Alex Murdaugh’s appellate case and it is BEYOND fiery. Prosecutors pulled no punches when deconstructing every single one of Team Murdaugh’s intellectually dishonest and time-wasting arguments in pursuit of getting hi
COJ #140 - A Cup of Resilience With Author Kate Moore: Unearthing The Unstoppable Voice & Inspiring Life of Elizabeth Packard
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell welcome author Kate Moore to discuss her book "The Woman They Could Not Silence," which chronicles Elizabeth Packard's journey being held captive within an insane asylum in the 1860’s.
Inspired by the #MeToo movement, Moore aimed to explore the historical silencing of women labeled as "mad." She found Packard's story in a University of Wi
COJ #139 - The Impact of Victims’ Voices in Bryan Kohberger Case + SC Cops Threaten Journalist In Quest for Information on Miscarriage Arrest
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell — and attorney Eric Bland — discuss the power of victim impact statements in the Bryan Kohberger case.
Kohberger was charged in 2022 shortly after the horrific killings of four Idaho college students, whom he stabbed to death while they slept. His victims’ loved ones used the power of their voices to let the court — and the publ
COJ #138 - Claims of Citizen’s Arrest And Other Absurd Developments… + Who Is Fishing for a New Murdaugh Trial?
Investigative journalists and True Sunlight Podcast co-hosts Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell — and attorney Eric Bland — (reluctantly) discuss the latest (and perhaps most pathetic and reaching) strategy from Dick Harpootlian in his quest to get Alex Murdaugh’s murder charge overturned. Cousin Eddie’s text messages to Alex! Messages that literally don’t help Alex’s case one bit.
Also on the show
COJ #137 - Celebrating Stephen Smith’s Legacy + Stand Your Ground, Citizens’ Arrest and Should Weldon Boyd Be Worried?
Investigative journalists and True Sunlight Podcast co-hosts Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell — and attorney Eric Bland — are back at it, discussing the latest in crime, corruption and the courts.
In today’s episode Mandy and Eric share an update in the Stephen Smith case, plus their stories from the very successful walk held over the weekend in Hampton, South Carolina, after the 10th anniversary
Who Killed Stephen Smith? Ten Years With Hope But Without Answers...
We’re taking a break from Cup of Justice to bring you a special Premium episode of Soundbites, typically reserved for LUNASHARK Premium Members. Today’s episode is dedicated to the tragic and perplexing case of Stephen Smith.
This episode, from journalist Beth Braden, librarian Kate Thomas, and producer Sam Berlin, aims to review "what we knew and when we knew it" about Stephen's unsolved homic
COJ #136 - Sarah Turney of ‘Voices for Justice’ on the Disappearance of Her Sister and the Power of True Crime Media
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell of True Sunlight Podcast sit down with Sarah Turney, the creator of “Voices for Justice” podcast, to talk about the latest in her sister’s case and Sarah’s fight for answers.
In 2001, Alissa Turney was just 17 years old when she disappeared on her last day of junior year in Phoenix, Arizona. Sarah and Alissa’s father, Michael, told police th
COJ #135 - Attention Attorney General Alan Wilson: Daughter of Sara-Lynn Moore Colucci Ready to Fight After Judge Frees Her Mother’s Alleged Killer
A week after the shocking dismissal of Michael Colucci’s 10-year-old murder charge because of prosecutorial misconduct on the behalf of SLED and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Bishop Venters — the daughter of Sara-Lynn Moore Colucci, whom Michael is accused of strangling to death in May 2015 — says she’s ready to fight for a new trial.
Bishop, whose biological father died under tr
COJ #134 - Horrific Details of SC Legislator’s Arrest in Pedophilia Case Should Be Turning Point + Michael Colucci Retrial
Investigative journalists and co-hosts of True Sunlight Podcast Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland discuss the heinous details contained in court documents about what suspended South Carolina Representative RJ May has been accused of doing and why it was important for the U.S. Attorney’s Office to get so graphic.
Over the course of five days in 2024, RJ May is accused of sharin
COJ #133 - How Old Men Attorneys Hurt the System, the Colucci Murder Retrial + JP Miller’s Wedding
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland —talk about the retrial of murder suspect Michael Colucci, who is accused of strangling his wife Sara-Lynn Moore Colucci 10 years ago in Summerville, South Carolina, and how the age and health of his high-profile (and high-cost) attorney contributed to the constant trial delays.
Is this yet another trick of the defe
COJ #132 - The Price of Protection: When Insurance Fails, Bonds Break & Justice Is a Joke
This week we're diving into some of the most frustrating systems many Americans face, starting with healthcare. Liz joins us from Rhode Island and shares a harrowing family emergency and the implications of her uncle’s hospital stay...
The conversation pivots to the striking similarities between the healthcare system and the South Carolina bond system, highlighting the lack of uniformity and how
COJ #131 - Righteous Gemstones x COJ: The Churchy Business Crossover with Actor Valyn Hall
Join us for a very special episode of "Cup of Justice" as investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell chat with the incredibly talented actor, Valyn Hall, best known for her unforgettable role as Aunt Tiffany in HBO's The Righteous Gemstones.
In this insightful and hilarious conversation, we dive deep into Valyn's experiences both on and off the screen. Learn how the show accurately,
COJ #130 - Felonious Clerks (...allegedly), Birthday Parties, and Justice on Display (or Not...)
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland unpack the continued fallout from the Alex Murdaugh trial, and the four new felony charges for former Clerk of Court, Becky Hill.
They dissect the charges against Hill, clarifying that she faces misconduct, obstruction and perjury allegations... but not for jury tampering, despite Team Murdaugh's narrative. The hosts r
COJ #129 - Police Can’t Stop Lying in Coverup of Scott Spivey Investigation + Is South Carolina the Wild, Wild West?
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland pull back the curtain on disturbing issues in Horry County, South Carolina.
Our team narrows focus to Weldon Boyd's troubling narrative, detailing how Boyd admittedly followed Scott Spivey before the fatal shooting. The hosts dissect the circumstances, questioning the application of "Stand Your Ground" given Weldon's
COJ #128 - ‘My Heart Was Broken’: Scott Spivey’s Mom, Sister Fight for Justice Amid Epic Law Enforcement Betrayal
In September 2023, highly connected North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, businessman Weldon Boyd and his friend Bradley Williams shot 33-year-old Scott Spivey to death on a rural road. From the very start, Horry County Police Department seemed to go to great lengths to paint Spivey as the aggressor and Boyd and Williams as merely victims who had no choice but to defend themselves. Months later — af
Bonus Episode: LUNASHARK Premium Preview - Behind the Scenes, Getting In Front Of Legal Literacy, and All The Tea...
As we are focused on hearings in Houston, TX and Franklin, TN plus tracking developments in Horry County, SC and supporting the scripted series in ATL this week... we're tabling COJ and bringing you a special LUNASHARK Premium Preview Bonus Episode!
From David’s Corruption Watchlist, Beth’s Soundbites, Girl Talk with Liz and Mandy, and all the great Premium Dives with Beth, Kate, Sam and others..
COJ #127 - No Repercussions for Judge Carmen Mullen, Judicial Committee Rules + The Shocking Phone Calls Sending Horry County Spiraling
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland cover a lot of ground in this latest episode, starting with the death of Pope Francis, a religious leader who routinely called for justice and spoke out against hypocrisy. What will the future of the church look like now?
Also on the show, Alex Murdaugh’s co-conspirator Russell Laffitte appeared in court last week to
COJ #126 - Russell Laffitte FINALLY Admits Defeat With Guilty Plea + What’s Behind Angie Solomon’s ‘Murder for Hire’ Arrest?
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland get a dose of breaking news mid-episode when the warrant for Angie Solomon’s “murder for hire” arrest comes in, raising all-new questions. In 2020, Angie’s 18-year-old son Grant was killed in a strange set of circumstances while outside a gym while his father, Aaron Solomon, was present. Since then, Angie sought justice
COJ #125 - What Happened To Alex Murdaugh’s Roadside Shooting Case? + Why Buster Murdaugh’s Latest Move Hurts His Case + Latest On Hulu Murdaugh Show
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland — (3:21) talk about the big reveal this past week of A-List Hollywood actor Jason Clarke in full costume as Alex Murdaugh. Clarke, who stars in the upcoming Hulu production based on the Murdaugh Murders Podcast — now True Sunlight Podcast — was seen filming in Atlanta and … let’s just say he has more than just the LUNSH
COJ #124 - Is ‘White Lotus’ Plot Inspired By Alex Murdaugh? + Something Is Happening In Stephen Smith Case…
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland — think they know where the finale for the third season of “White Lotus” is headed … (01:42) let’s just say things are seeming mighty familiar there.
(22:09) Speaking of the Murdaugh family … on today’s episode Mandy, Liz and Eric also dive into Buster Murdaugh’s latest filing in his federal defamation case — specific
COJ #123 - Betrayed by the Two Systems of Justice: Jailhouse Snitches, Hidden Evidence, and Darryl Burton's Wrongful Conviction
In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Cup of Justice, journalist Mandy Matney and attorney Eric Bland sit down with Darryl Burton, a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent almost a lifetime – – in prison before finally being exonerated. Darryl shares his harrowing journey from a young man in inner-city St. Louis to facing a capital murder charge despite having a strong alibi –
COJ #122 - Slaying Dragons and The Price of Truth: Julie K Brown on Exposing Epstein and Inspiring a Generation of Journalists
In this powerful episode, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sit down with the legendary investigative journalist Julie K. Brown, the reporter whose groundbreaking work exposed the horrific crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.
Listen as Mandy and Liz recount their early inspiration from Julie's tenacious reporting on Epstein at a time before the Murdoch investigation. The trio delve int
COJ #121 - Unaccredited and Unaccountable: Inside the JP Miller Case & The System That Protects Predators
In this gripping episode of Cup of Justice... investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell, and attorney Eric Bland — dive deep into the second Jane Doe lawsuit against JP Miller, revealing shocking details of alleged sexual abuse in an unaccredited religious school.
The lawsuit details how Miller's father, Wayne Miller, mishandled the initial report, placing the victim with the allege
COJ #120 - Pastor Disaster: JP Miller Makes Mockery of Court System + What to Expect in Rape Case Against Him
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell, and attorney Eric Bland — talk about Mandy and David’s visit to the Hulu set of the Murdaugh TV show in Atlanta right as filming starts. Also on the show Myrtle Beach Pastor John-Paul Miller makes a mockery of the court system. Why isn’t anyone stopping him?
Plus, Mandy and Liz talk about what went into their reporting of the Jane Doe No. 1
COJ #119 - Another Rich SC Lawyer Tries to Beg His Way Out of a Prison Sentence + JP Miller Brings More Drama to the Courtroom
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell, and attorney Eric Bland — talk about Mandy and David’s trip to Charleston for yet another federal sentencing hearing of a rich South Carolina attorney. This time it was for Hilton Head attorney Peter Strauss, whose license to practice is on interim suspension... as of Monday, February 24, 2025.... Strauss pleaded guilty in fall 2023 to a sing
COJ #118 - Thrice Accused Rapist Bowen Turner Arrested For 3rd Time In 3 Years + What Does It Mean to Believe Nancy Mace?
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell, and attorney Eric Bland — talk about Bowen Turner’s return to jail after allegedly day-drinking at a public golf course last week. South Carolina’s thrice-accused rapist — and the crowned prince of trying to buy his way out of accountability — is once again being accused of violating the terms of parole … and breaking yet another promise to a
COJ #117 - The Power of Pettiness, Diss Tracks and Why Russell Laffitte Is Now a Double-’Doofus’
Get ready for a jam-packed episode where we dive deep into the ridiculous, the infuriating, and the downright fascinating! This week, we're covering it all, from the bizarre energy of the Super Bowl to the petty world of legal filings and everything in between.
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell, and attorney Eric Bland — talk about the latest filing from Alex Murdaugh’s twice
COJ #116 - Attorney Regina Ward On Restraining Orders, Mica Francis & Coercive Control + Church Member’s Legal Clapback at JP Miller
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sat down with Mica Francis’ divorce attorney Regina Ward of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to talk about Mica’s case and the dozens of lawsuits JP Miller has now filed against protesters and content creators.
In the interview, Regina talked about Mica’s request for a restraining order against JP and why it was dismissed — PLUS she revealed tha
Recommended
Bible Tea
TED Talks Daily
Pod Save America
Dateline NBC
صداستان: ساعتی با موسیقی
Becoming: HER with Nikki Spoelstra
Exposing Workplace Bullying
Everyday AI Made Simple - AI For Everyday Tasks
FemTech Focus
Not Too Sensitive - Empowering Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) To Own Their Sensitivity
Mother Daughter Relationship Show
Skin Deep MDs with Dr. Mamina Turegano, Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky and Dr. Jenny Liu
