Hi! I'm Jess, the creator and host of Pretty Evil.

I've always been fascinated by human behavior—especially the moments when ordinary people, extraordinary circumstances, and deeply human needs collide in ways that lead to devastating outcomes.

With a degree in and passion for psychology, I approach true crime as more than a collection of shocking events. Every episode is an opportunity to ask bigger questions about why people think, behave, and make decisions the way they do. Sometimes that means examining the psychology of a charismatic predator. Other times it means exploring a moral panic, a failed institution, a controversial psychological experiment, or a moment in history that exposed something uncomfortable about all of us.

Rather than focusing on sensationalism, Pretty Evil explores true crime through the lens of psychological, emotional, social, and cultural forces that shape destructive human behavior. Together we'll look at topics like manipulation, identity, belonging, fear, social influence, power, loneliness, institutional failure, and the countless ways human psychology can both protect us and leave us vulnerable.

If there's one idea at the heart of this show, it's that these stories are rarely just about the people at the center of them. They're about all of us. The same emotions and psychological mechanisms that drive history's most infamous cases are often the ones quietly shaping our own lives, relationships, and decisions every day.

My hope is that you'll leave each episode not only with a fascinating story, but with a deeper understanding of yourself, the people around you, and the hidden forces that influence human behavior.

Welcome to Pretty Evil. I'm glad you're here.