Obsession

"Foretold" is the newest podcast from the L.A. Times, and we're sharing a preview of the first episode with you here today. In the fall of 2019, reporter Faith E. Pinho received a tip from a woman named Paulina Stevens. Paulina claimed she had grown up in an insular Romani community in California, where she was raised to be a wife, mother and fortuneteller — until she decided to break away. That first call unraveled a story spanning multiple continents, hundreds of years, and complex metaphysical realities.  Follow "Foretold" to hear new episodes every Tuesday. 

From Focus Features and L.A. Times Studios brand team comes the new podcast series, CONVICTED: ACROSS BORDERS. Hosted by famed lawyer and bestselling author, Marcia Clark, we'll hear straight from the mouths of the men and women who lived through these trials. Through these stories, we'll explore how seemingly benign actions can lead to incarceration in foreign lands, how to navigate different legal systems when you don't even speak the language, and who one turns to when the closest help is thousands of miles away. Enjoy this sneak peek of the podcast, and be sure to listen and follow wherever you listen to podcasts. This is a paid podcast funded by Focus Features. The Los Angeles Times newsroom was not involved in the production of this podcast.

Episode 5. Modern technology and the accessibility of personal information online has given rise to cyberstalking and revenge porn. In this episode, we look at how this can invade our privacy and even ruin lives. Director Neil Jordan, of Focus Features film Greta, breaks down the chilling effect of social media and the vulnerability of private information in the digital age. Victims of cyberstalkers detail their frightening accounts, and experts explain both the need for digital “wellness” and what steps can be taken to safeguard privacy online.

Episode 4. Stalking is often a precursor to violent behaviors and serious crimes, even murder. In this episode, we look at some of the headline-grabbing stalking cases in Hollywood. Former L.A. County Prosecutor Marcia Clark details two cases she worked on: O.J. Simpson’s murder trial and the death of actress Rebecca Schaeffer. We also explore stalking and obsession with the help of fiction writer Caroline Kepnes, author of YOU, who uses these themes heavily in her work. Director Neil Jordan discusses what is equally titillating and horrifying about stalker characters in his, including in Focus Features film Greta.

Episode 3. What happens in our brains when obsessions take over our minds and bodies? In this episode, we look into the chemical and physiological reactions that render our thoughts involuntary. Through the lens of former couple, Will and Abby, and mental health and addiction experts, we break down how and why our thoughts can spiral out of control and push us to behave irrationally.

Episode 2. There are many reasons why we get involved in unhealthy relationships. What are the red flags? In this episode, the story of a young woman’s high school obsession with a boy reveals some signs we should be wary of, as does the ongoing saga of Will and Abby’s broken relationship. Sex and love addiction expert Dr. Alexandra Katehakis helps us better understand how “attachment” styles developed early in life can lead to the behavior. Director Neil Jordan, of Focus Features film Greta, discusses the unlikely and inappropriate relationships he explores in his films.

Episode 1. What is unrequited love, a.k.a. limerence, and where is the tipping point when it becomes obsessive or pathological? In this first episode of the series, the concept is defined and its effects are explored. We hear personal stories, like that of Will and Abby, a couple whose budding love story falls apart and turns toxic. We also hear from author Lisa Phillips, who shares her own tale, and Professor Albert Wakin, who studies this behavior.

"Obsession" premieres Monday February 25th