Station Nightclub Fire | Pyrotechnics | 1

In February 2003, a small nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island called the Station gets set to host a performance by ‘80s rock band Great White. But unbeknownst to the club’s patrons, owners Michael and Jeffrey Derderian and their staff have cut corners on safety. And when Great White’s tour manager sets off some dangerous pyrotechnics, the Station becomes a death trap. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-scandal/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Lindsay Graham?

  Audible subscribers can binge new seasons of American Scandal early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

• 0:26Lindsay Graham?

  It's May 2003 in a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Gina Russo lies in a bed staring vacantly up at the ceiling. She can hear the machines next to her beeping away as they measure her vital signs. And she knows her sister Stephanie is in the room because she can hear her voice, but she can't make out the words. And what she can't understand doesn't make any sense. When Russo first woke up in the hospital, Stephanie mentioned that Russo's son Alex had a baseball game and Russo was confused. There's no baseball in February. But Stephanie explained that it was May, that Russo had been in a coma. Now, as Stephanie keeps talking, Russo tries to focus, but it's like her sister is talking through cotton.

• 1:10Lindsay Graham?

  She catches Stephanie say Nicholas, that's the name of Russo's other son. She desperately wants to pay attention, to engage, to hear how her kids are doing. They're only nine and six, but she's been away from them for so long and she feels so foggy. Her doctors say it's all because of the pain medication she's on. So Russo takes a breath and tries to concentrate. She reminds herself what she knows. She knows that three months ago she went to a concert at a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. She knows that there was a fire and that she was severely burned. She also knows that her doctors put her in a coma and that when she woke up one week ago, it was suddenly May.

• 1:51Lindsay Graham?

  She knows these facts, but they feel hazy and unreal, like all of this happened to someone else. And then suddenly, an urgent question rushes to her mind. She needs to know where her fiance, Fred Chrysostomy, is. She remembers going to the club with him. Fred was the one who insisted they needed to leave when the fire broke out, but she hasn't seen him since she woke up. No one is talking about him.

• 2:18Lindsay Graham?

  Russo licks her lips and prepares to talk. Because while she was in a coma, she had a tube down her throat. The doctors have removed it, but it's still difficult to speak. Where's Fred? Gina? What was that? Gina? You say something? Where's Fred? I'm so sorry. You're hard to understand. Where is Fred? Russo can see that her sister has heard her and understood her, but she's not answering. Stephanie, it's okay. You can tell me. Is he in a coma? No, he's not in a coma. And where is he? Gina, you know, there's nowhere Fred would rather be than by your s— Where is he? Oh, Gina. Fred didn't make it. What do you mean?

• 3:02Lindsay Graham?

  He didn't make it out of the building. He died in the fire. How could that happen? He was right behind me. We don't know how any of it happened. We're just lucky you got out. A lot of families weren't so fortunate. How many? Nearly 100 people died that night.

• 3:22Lindsay Graham?

  Russo stares straight ahead in shock, trying to absorb what her sister has said. But it doesn't make sense. She can't believe that her fiance is dead. He was the love of her life, and now he's gone. All because they went to a concert.

• 3:41Speaker 01

  Alice, have you ever wondered why the Mini is so small?

• 3:44Speaker 02

  The Skir or the Magnum?

• 3:46Speaker 01

  Well, I meant the iconic British car. Because in 1956, Britain's oil supply was suddenly cut off. Petrol rationing was brought in, and the car industry was scrambling around for a vehicle that hardly used any fuel. Enter the Mini.

• 4:01Speaker 02

  Interesting, but actually not technically British Scandal series material.

• 4:05Speaker 01

  Well, the reason they had to save petrol is because the Prime Minister started a war and lied about why.

• 4:11Speaker 02

  Okay, scandal siren going off.

• 4:13Speaker 01

  I'm Matt Ford.

• 4:14Speaker 02

  And I'm Alice Levine.

• 4:15Speaker 01

  And our latest British Scandal series involves a secret meeting in a French villa, a Prime Minister running on amphetamines.

• 4:21Speaker 02

  An Egyptian president that everyone fancied, the end of the British Empire, and at the heart of it, a canal.

• 4:28Speaker 01

  This is the story of the Sewers Plot.

• 4:31Speaker 02

  Follow British Scandal wherever you get your podcasts, or listen early and ad-free on Audible.

• 4:40Lindsay Graham?

  Hi, I'm Lindsay Graham, the host of American History Tellers. In our latest series, U.S. Army Lieutenant Adolphus Greeley and 24 other men embark on a scientific expedition to the Arctic in 1881. But despite achieving several triumphs of discovery, the men will soon face tragedy. Listen to American History Tellers on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts.

• 5:09Lindsay Graham?

  From Wondery, I'm Lindsay Graham, and this is American Scandal.

• 5:33Lindsay Graham?

  On the evening of February 20, 2003, a dispatcher received an urgent call about a fire that had broken out at the Station nightclub in West Woolridge, Rhode Island. Firefighters rushed to the scene, but when the first truck arrived, only five minutes later, the club was already almost completely engulfed in flames. The firefighters were shocked. Modern-era building codes are supposed to prevent fires from spreading that rapidly, but there was no time for questions. The firefighters worked through the night trying to control the blaze and save the people inside, but there was little they could do. The building was reduced to a smoldering pile of ash, and 100 people died.

• 6:13Lindsay Graham?

  More than 200 were severely injured, and a close-knit community was left devastated. As investigators searched for answers about what had made the fire so destructive, they discovered there was no single cause. Instead, a series of errors and poor decisions had turned that night's rock concert into a death trap. And soon it became clear that the criminal justice system wasn't equipped to deal with a fallout from this deadly accident, leaving many of the victims and their family members feeling like justice was never served. This is Episode 1, Pyrotechnics.

• 6:50Lindsay Graham?

  It's spring 2000 in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Three years before the station nightclub fire. Fifty-two-year-old Barry Warner is on his screened-in back porch with one of his two sons, enjoying one of the warmest days they've had all year. As they chat, something catches Warner's attention, though. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees two men poking their heads around the corner of his house. Warner turns to face them. They're clean-cut and dressed respectably, so he suspects they're door-to-door salesmen. Warner is in sales himself, so while he's always wary of people trying to sell him things he doesn't want, he also understands it's how people make their living. So Warner speaks up and asks the two men if he can help them with anything. The older of the two men introduces himself as Michael Derderian, and the man next to

• 7:35Lindsay Graham?

  him is his younger brother Jeffrey. They recently purchased the nightclub next door to Warner's house, and they've come by to chat about the noise situation. For Warner, this is a welcome first. Over the past 10 years or so, he and his wife have lodged dozens of noise complaints against the club, but the previous owners always ignored them. So night after night, year after year, Warner and his family have been kept awake by thumping bass and screaming guitars. So the fact that these new owners are at least making an effort feels like progress. Warner invites the two brothers onto the porch and offers them a seat. "Well, I appreciate you come over to talk about this. Your predecessors never even bothered."

• 8:19Lindsay Graham?

  Michael, the older brother, nods sympathetically. "Yeah, we understand that the noise from the club has been a problem for the whole neighborhood, and we really want to come up with a solution that works for everyone." "What do you have in mind?" "Well, to start, we'd be happy to pay for an air-conditioning unit for your bedroom. That way, in the summer, you can keep your windows shut, at least keep some of the noise out that way." "Well, respectfully, I already have an air-conditioning unit in my bedroom, and closing the window doesn't really help. The problem is about how much sound gets out of the club, not how much gets into my house." "Uh, yeah, well, at the very least, we'd like to give you our own personal phone number. So if you do ever have a complaint, you can reach out directly to us. You know, we don't have to get the police involved." Michael and his brother hand over their business cards and Warner glances down at them.

• 9:04Lindsay Graham?

  I mean, this is fine, thank you, but we need some other solutions. Back in the day, I used to play saxophone, you know, even played in clubs from time to time. And at some of the venues we'd go to, they'd drape these thick curtains behind the stage. That cut the sound quite a bit. Yeah, we can definitely look into that. Another thing that might work is foam. Foam, huh? Yeah, I work for the American Foam Company, I'm a salesman there. Some of the foam we sell is for soundproofing. Oh, like in recording studios? Yeah, exactly. Michael exchanges a look with his brother and then turns back to Warner. It's not a bad idea, I mean, I guess we should call you then. Oh, you know, just to be clear, I'm not trying to pitch anything here, it's just an option. There are a lot of other companies out there, I've even heard of places building, uh, false walls to cut the sound.

• 9:49Lindsay Graham?

  Another great idea, you've given us a lot to think about. Well, I've spent a lot of nights imagining ways to deaden the sound coming out of that club. Oh, man, not bad. Our commitment to you, though, is that hopefully those days are behind you. I appreciate it.

• 10:05Lindsay Graham?

  The two men nod, and as they turn to leave, Warner looks over the business cards once again. He's feeling optimistic that these new owners are serious about making changes to the club, changes that might actually have an impact. The Dardarrians seem like genuine neighbors, or at least a real improvement over the previous owner. And that gives him hope that someday soon, he might be able to rest a little easier.

• 10:31Lindsay Graham?

  Despite appearances, the Derderian brothers were not visiting Warner to be good neighbors. They were visiting because they had to. After they purchased the club, the West Warwick Chief of Police told the Dardarrians that he would block them from holding live events unless they figured out a way to stop the noise complaints. Barry Warner alone had lodged more than 100 of them. So there was no way around it, the brothers would have to do something to soundproof their club. But after their conversation with Warner, the brothers see an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. If they buy foam from Warner's company, they can earn some goodwill with the club's most vocal neighbor and solve the neighborhood noise issue in the process.

• 11:12Lindsay Graham?

  So in June 2000, Michael Durdarian faxes an order for sound foam to Barry Warner's attention at the American Foam Corporation. The Durdarians are proud of their solution to the sound problem, especially because neither of them has any experience running a nightclub. They're not even quitting their day jobs to do this. The club is part side hustle, part contingency plan for the brothers. They grew up in a modest neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island. Michael started his career at Merrill Lynch and is now an independent financial advisor, while Jeffrey worked his way up the ranks as a TV news reporter and is now working for a local station after a stint in Boston. But after covering the shooting at Columbine High School the previous year, Jeffrey was starting to feel burned out.

• 11:56Lindsay Graham?

  So he convinced his brother that they should start a business together, something that would serve as a soft landing if he decides he can't handle the stress of reporting anymore. And to Michael, buying a nightclub seems like a good idea. Jeffrey could use his media experience to help promote the club, and Michael could handle the finances. So they both agreed to put in a bid on a venue in West Warwick called The Station. And in March 2000, they purchased the club. Then, over the next several months, they take steps to revamp their new business. They commission a mural for the outside of the building depicting portraits of classic rock musicians including Elvis Presley, Ozzy Osbourne, and Jimi Hendrix. And to appease the chief of police and prevent future noise complaints, they cover the walls around the stage with foam to muffle the sound.

• 12:40Lindsay Graham?

  And every night, one of the Durdarians is almost always on site to keep an eye on things. But during the day, manager Kevin Bees is in charge of running the club. He oversees the cleanup crews and alcohol shipments, as well as the club's annual fire inspections. So when West Warwick fire inspector Dennis LaRocque knocks on the club's door one afternoon in December 2002, Bees is the one there to greet him. He welcomes LaRocque inside and then guides the inspector towards the stage at the back of the club, keeping up an easy banter as they walk. This is not the first time La Rock has visited the station. Following a request from Michael Giordarion two years earlier, he increased the building's maximum capacity from 358 people to 404.

• 13:23Lindsay Graham?

  But last time La Rock visited the club, about a month ago, he cited them for a fire code violation. And today, he's here to see if it's been addressed. The issue stemmed from an exit door off to the right of the stage. According to La Rock, because the door swung inward, it posed a fire hazard. If club patrons had to evacuate during an emergency, an inward-swinging door could easily get blocked by people trying to escape. So in preparation for this inspection, Beast had two of his employees remove the door entirely. So today, Beast watches as La Rock examines the now-empty portal where the door used to be. Just beyond it, there's an exterior door that swings outward, so Beast feels fairly confident he's done what's needed to pass inspection.

• 14:06Lindsay Graham?

  But sometimes the fire inspectors like to nitpick, so he's taking nothing for granted. La Rock looks at the door, then scribbles some notes on his clipboard, flips to another piece of paper, then flips back, looks Beast in the eyes, and then tells him that the station has passed inspection. Beast thanks La Rock for his time and then escorts him out of the club. Then Beast watches the inspector walk back to his car and drive away. As soon as he's sure that La Rock has left, Beast turns back into the club, flags down his employees, and tells them to put the door back up. The employees look confused, but Beast explains that this door is lined with soundproofing foam, so they have to keep it in place. Otherwise, they're sure to draw noise complaints. And the Giordarians have told him that their number-one priority is keeping the neighbors happy.

• 14:52Lindsay Graham?

  One more noise complaint, and the police could shut down the club. The employees nod and then head off to retrieve the door from the storage room where they stashed it. And as Beast heads behind the bar to set up for the evening customers, he feels good about clearing the first major hurdle of the day. But there's always another problem lurking around the corner. As much as Beast loves the station, sometimes it feels like it's held together by chewing gum and wishful thinking, always on the brink of collapse.

• 15:22Lindsay Graham?

  The station has a solid set of regulars who treat the club like an extension of their family. They even help out selling merchandise, taking tickets, and running the soundboard in exchange for a free ticket or beer. But despite the Dardarians' initial optimism, the club is barely breaking even. The usual bookings of local cover bands don't draw large crowds, and the place has only had two sold-out shows since the Dardarians took over, and there have been many occasions where the brothers have had to dip into their own pockets to make payroll. But in February 2003, a much bigger band than usual is scheduled to play. Unlike most of the acts that come through the station, this upcoming booking is Jack Russell's Great White, featuring some of the original members of veteran

• 16:04Lindsay Graham?

  hard-rock act Great White, who had top hits in the 80s like "Once Bitten," "Twice Shy," "Rock Me," and "Save Your Love." And when 42-year-old Gina Galvin hears about the show, she's elated. Great White has always been one of her favorite bands alongside other groups like Motley Crue and Guns N' Roses. And though Great White have not had a hit in years, Galvin never lost her love for the wild style and twisted musicians of her youth. So nothing in the world would make her happier than to see this show, but she's not sure she can make it. A lot in her life has changed since Great White's heyday. A string of failed relationships have left her a single mom to three kids. She's able to make a living breeding pet reptiles, but money is tight. Between the

• 16:48Lindsay Graham?

  cost of the ticket and the time away from her kids, Galvin wonders if she can really afford to go. But then a feeling of resolve comes over her. She may be a middle-aged mom now, but she still deserves a night out, so as long as she can get some help with the kids, she'll figure out a way to make this work. Galvin picks up the phone, dials her parents, and when her mother says the kids are welcome to stay over that night, Galvin pumps her fists in triumph. She's going to see Great White, and it will be a night to remember.

• 17:21Speaker 03

  There are books that change how you see the world, and there are books that change how you see yourself. In a new podcast series, A Great Book with Barack Obama, President Obama sits down with a series of surprising and sharp guests to explore six books that have shaped his life and perspective on the world. From Song of Solomon and The Fire Next Time, to All the Pretty Horses and Gilead, the president is joined by guests like Tom Hanks and Ta-Nehisi Coates to reflect on how these timeless stories shaped his thinking on everything from fatherhood to leadership, and discover together what they tell us about the world we live in and the world we want to create.

• 18:04Speaker 03

  Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of A Great Book with Barack Obama ad-free right now, plus access each audiobook discussed in the series. Download the Audible app today.

• 18:20Speaker 04

  You stepped out for your morning jog, except it's not your usual morning jog. You started listening to an epic sci-fi book on Audible. Thirty chapters later, you've accidentally run a half marathon. You've lost track of how far you've run, somewhere just past the city limits. You can't stop. You have to find out what happens next. Then it's over. The universe seems bigger. You feel different. You feel like you have no idea where you are. Audible, stories that speak to you.

• 19:02Lindsay Graham?

  When Great White's tour bus rolls into West Warwick on February 19, 2003, it causes a stir. This small city isn't the type of place that draws a lot of rock stars or celebrities, or even that many tourists. It was once the industrial center of Rhode Island, but the local textile mills started closing down in the 1950s, moving to locations with cheaper labor and taking jobs with them. By 2003, the unemployment rate in West Warwick is high. Many residents who do work live paycheck to paycheck. So on the morning of Thursday, February 20, when local construction worker Rick Sinetti spots a group of men with long hair and black leather jackets walking into his local Denny's, he's intrigued. The men don't look like the rest of the restaurant's clientele.

• 19:47Lindsay Graham?

  We're mostly dressed in their heavy-duty work jackets. And there's something about the guy in the middle of the group, wearing a bandana over his dirty blonde hair that looks familiar, but Sennetti can't place him. He watches the men settle into a booth nearby, then asks his friends if they recognize any of them, but no one knows for sure. They know they're not from around town, and based on the look of them, everyone suspects they're a rock and roll band. Sennetti decides he's going to find out for sure. And if they're big time, maybe he'll ask for an autograph.

• 20:20Lindsay Graham?

  So Sennetti takes one last bite of his hash browns, washes it down with a swig of coffee, and then approaches the long-haired men just as the waiter finishes taking their order. Hey, excuse me, sorry to bother you, but I gotta ask, are you guys in a rock band? The blonde guy with the bandana looks up at Sennetti and grins. What gave it away? The leather? I knew it. What's the band? Have I heard of you? You ever heard of Great White? Sennetti's eyes go wide. No way. Once bitten, twice shy? That's you guys? That's us. I knew I recognized you from somewhere. You're Jack Russell. Yeah, that's me. This is amazing. I was a huge fan back in the day. You know, I even stole a few lines from your song "Save Your Love" for a note to my girlfriend. Did she like it? Well, she's my wife now, so you know.

• 21:05Lindsay Graham?

  Well, congratulations, man. That's great. We're playing a show tonight at the station. You know about it? Yeah, on Coeset Avenue. Well, you and your wife should come. We'll dedicate "Save Your Love" to you guys. Oh, seriously? My wife will be so excited. No, absolutely. You should come. Russell points to a young man with long blonde hair at the other end of the booth. Tell Dan here your name, and he'll make sure you're on the guest list. Oh, this is incredible. I can't thank you enough. But there's one more thing. My niece recently moved in with us. She's 25, working her butt off in school, and thinks she could use a night out. Would it be okay if we brought her with us? Yeah, man, of course. Tell her to bring a friend, the more the merrier. Oh, this is so nice. You're amazing. Thank you so much. It's no problem, man.

• 21:50Lindsay Graham?

  And we'll see you tonight. It's gonna be a killer show.

• 21:54Lindsay Graham?

  Sinetti turns away from the booth and thinks, "It's only 9 a.m., but he's already having a great day. Can't wait to get home to tell his wife that he just met the guys from Great White and they put them on the guest list for their show." But Sinetti decides he's not gonna tell her about the dedication during Savior Love. He wants that to be a total surprise when singer Jack Russell says her name. Sinetti knows she's gonna love it.

• 22:21Lindsay Graham?

  Rick Sinetti and his family aren't the only people in town to benefit from the generosity of Great White's lead singer, Jack Russell. As Russell goes about his day, he adds several more people to the guest list, including some of the housekeepers at his hotel, a couple of students who interview him for the college radio station, and a tattoo artist who does some ink for Russell a few hours before the show. Meanwhile, the staff at the station is busy getting ready for the big night. They're expecting strong attendance and not only because they have a band with a national reputation playing. About two weeks earlier, a blizzard hit West Warwick, so everyone in town's been cooped up. The Derderian brothers and their staff are hoping that people will be eager to leave their houses and cut loose a bit. So the anticipation builds as the day progresses. Budweiser runs a promotion and announces

• 23:06Lindsay Graham?

  it'll give away some free beer at the club. And a local radio station runs several ads promoting a fun night out with prizes while Great White performs. The radio station is also sending popular DJ Dr. Metal to emcee the events, along with interns to hand out free merchandise to the audience. But when Jeffrey Derderian arrives at the station that night, the place is still pretty empty. Great White isn't slated to take the stage until 11 p.m., so the club owner's relieved to have some time to collect himself before things really get going. He's already put in a full day of work at the news station, and tonight he'll be working at the club until closing time, which is usually around 2 a.m. These long workdays have been taxing on Jeffrey and his family.

• 23:48Lindsay Graham?

  He often feels depleted and guilty for missing so much time with his wife and four-year-old twin sons. Jeffrey knows he won't have to pull double duty much longer. Only last week, the Derderian brothers signed paperwork to sell the station. They're still waiting for the town to approve the transfer, but already Jeffrey feels like a giant weight has been lifted. Once the sale goes through, he'll be able to spend more time with his kids and be the fully-present parent they deserve. But he also can't help but feel sad about the sale. Looking around the club, at all the regulars he's come to know by name, he's struck by how much they've come to mean to him in just a few short years. Jeffrey and his brother put one regular, Andrea Mancini, in charge of collecting tickets at the door, while her husband Steve is onstage, playing with one of the opening bands.

• 24:33Lindsay Graham?

  Then there's David Scooter Stone, who used to operate the stage lights as a hobby, until Jeffrey and Michael insisted on paying him fifty dollars a show. There's also the other regulars, who they haven't drafted into working but still show up almost every night, simply because they love listening to live music at the station. Jeffrey knows he'll miss them, and feels that in some ways, he's leaving a second family behind. But there's no time to dwell on those emotions, especially tonight, when he's not only overseeing the club, but also producing a news segment. Jeffrey looks around for his colleague, Channel 12 News videographer Brian Butler, and waves him over to the bar. With a tripod slung over his shoulder, Butler heads over, and Jeffrey calls out to one of the club's bouncers Tracy King, and asks him to come join them.

• 25:17Lindsay Graham?

  King lumbers over with a big smile, and Jeffrey's struck by the realization that he's never seen King without a smile on his face. It's another one of those things he's gonna miss after the station changes hands. Jeffrey introduces Butler to King and explains that Butler is here to shoot footage of the club for a story Jeffrey's producing, about crowd control at music venues in Rhode Island. King's smile slips just a bit as he asks Jeffrey if it's because of what happened in Chicago. Jeffrey confirms it is. "Two nights ago, a fight broke out there in a crowded club. A security guard tried to break up the fight with pepper spray, but the spray caused clubgoers to panic. In the ensuing stampede, 21 people died." So Jeffrey's doing a segment on what precautions are in place in Rhode Island to prevent such a tragedy from happening here.

• 26:02Lindsay Graham?

  He's already shot footage at the Dunkin' Donuts Arena in Providence and the Rhode Island Convention Center, but he needs footage from a small music club. Getting permission to shoot at music venues is often difficult and time-consuming, so despite the conflict of interest, Jeffrey decided to film his own club. He knows he can't be seen as promoting the station, so he reminds Butler to focus on generic-looking footage. They want shots of people dancing and drinking, laughing and talking, but they need to avoid any signage or any other identifying features at the club. Butler nods, and Jeffrey asks King to help him find a place to set up his camera. King gives a thumbs up and then leads Butler toward the dance floor, clearing a path through the growing crowd. As they walk away, one of the club's managers approaches Jeffrey, says it's gutsy to shoot

• 26:47Lindsay Graham?

  footage for a story about public safety inside the station. Jeffrey asks why, and the manager just laughs and says he hopes Jeffrey isn't jinxing them. Jeffrey smiles at the manager's joke. He's not really worried about a repeat of what happened in Chicago. Practically everyone at the station knows each other, so fights are rare, and the club's bouncers like Tracy King are good at de-escalating anytime things get out of hand. So as soon as Butler has finished getting his shots, Jeffrey plans to relax and enjoy the show. Now that the sale of the station is almost complete, this might be one of his last chances to experience his nightclub at full capacity.

• 27:27Speaker 05

  Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat and Fish are back for a whole lot of wonderfully whimsical fun. What happens when you switch bodies with your best friend? Discover a caveman frozen in ice? Or make an alien so angry he threatens to destroy the planet? Find out in Season 2 of The Cat in the Hat. Hat Podcast. The Cat and Fish are traveling the world in the great catastrophic cacophony cruiser, meeting genies, clown professors, cave trolls, and extraordinary characters along the way. With clever wordplay, imaginative rhymes, original songs, and stories celebrating curiosity, empathy, and creative problem solving, every adventure brings something

• 28:08Speaker 05

  new to discover. It's a world of wonderful words, big imaginations, and plenty of heart for the whole family. Listen to the Cat in the Hat Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all 20 episodes early and ad-free right now.

• 28:27Lindsay Graham?

  By 1779, Benedict Arnold had sacrificed more for the revolution than almost any other man in America. One of George Washington's most effective commanders, he had nearly lost a leg in the Second Battle of Saratoga. But in return, Arnold believed he had been humiliated by Congress and cheated of his glory by lesser men, so he decided to make them pay. Hi, I'm Lindsay Graham, the host of the podcast American Scandal. We bring to life some of the biggest controversies in US history: presidential lies, environmental disasters, corporate fraud. In our latest series, Benedict Arnold turns his back on his comrades in the Continental Army and secretly defects to the British. With the help of his wife, he plots to hand over the most important colonial fortress to the

• 29:11Lindsay Graham?

  enemy and doom the revolution he once served. Follow American Scandal wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of American Scandal early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

• 29:39Lindsay Graham?

  Even though Great White is playing smaller venues these days, rather than the arenas of their heyday, they still want to put on a great show. So they've begun to add pyrotechnics to their performances. Nothing fancy, just gerbs, which are basically oversized sparklers that shoot 15 feet in the air. But the sparks themselves are not hot, so the band can keep performing as they go off. It's a small step to help make Great White's shows more exciting and amp up the crowd. Tour manager Daniel Beakley isn't certified to operate pyrotechnics, but he's set up and ignited gerbs on several tour stops so far with no issue. According to Rhode Island law, Beakley is supposed to have a licensed pyrotechnician coordinate with the fire marshal to use gerbs.

• 30:22Lindsay Graham?

  But the band is trying to keep costs down on this tour, so Beakley is doing it all himself. Beakley unloads the gerbs from the band's tour bus and carries them inside the club in a cardboard box labeled "Danger Explosives." And just before "Great White" goes on, he'll place them on either side of the stage, some angle to shoot straight up and some at 45 degrees. He's talked to the station's light board operator to make sure all the lights are down when "Great White" takes the stage. And then, as soon as guitarist Mark Kendall hits the opening chord of the first song, Beakley will ignite the gerbs. If he sets them up right, the effect should be amazing, like the band is emerging from a 30-foot-wide fan of white sparks. And while Beakley is getting ready for the show,

• 31:05Lindsay Graham?

  a few miles away, house painter Fred Chrysostomy is feeling restless. He's at the home of his fiancee Gina Russo, flipping through channels on the TV. The couple was supposed to go to a movie tonight, but they got the time wrong and missed the beginning, so they decided to come back to Russo's house. But now that they're back, Chrysostomy realizes he's not in the mood for a night on the couch.

• 31:30Lindsay Graham?

  So he clicks off the TV and turns to Russo. We need to get out of here. And do what? I don't know, we gotta do something. There's nothing on. Oh, just look harder. There's a million channels. You know what there is, and I know we talked about it earlier, but I'll throw it out again. "Great White" is playing at the station. We could still make it. It's probably sold out. I don't want to get dressed up and drive over there in the cold for nothing. Well, just give me a second. Chrysostomy gets up and flips through a phone book until he finds the station's number and gives them a call. Hey, yeah, I was wondering if there were still tickets available for tonight? There are. Amazing. Thanks so much. He hangs up and turns back to Russo with a grin. They got tickets. What do you say, baby? "Great White"? I don't know. It'll be a late night. I have work tomorrow.

• 32:14Lindsay Graham?

  I mean, who knows when we'll get the chance to see them again? You really want to tell your grandkids someday that you could have seen "Great White" and you chose instead to watch some Law & Order rerun? Okay, all right. You're right. Of course we should go. Yes. But if we're going, we need to go now. I don't want to be late again tonight.

• 32:33Lindsay Graham?

  Chrysostomy quickly changes and they both head out the door. He feels relieved that they're finally getting out the house. This kind of spontaneous outing is what living is all about, especially with a person you love.

• 32:48Lindsay Graham?

  Russo and Chrysostomy arrive at the station at 10:45 PM, 15 minutes before Great White is scheduled to go on. They line up in the narrow corridor at the entry and purchase their tickets. Then they head into the main area of the club and it's packed. Neither of them have ever seen the station this crowded before. They grab drinks at the bar at the back of the club where Jeffrey Derderian is busy helping with orders. It's not something he usually does, but this place is so busy it's all hands on deck. And while Jeffrey is pouring another drink, cameraman Brian Butler comes by. He tells Jeffrey he's got the footage they need for the story about public safety, but he's thinking of sticking around to shoot a couple of songs for the guys at the news station to see. Jeffrey tells him he's welcome to stay as long as he wants, and Butler thanks him and

• 33:31Lindsay Graham?

  sets up his camera again to capture the stage. Construction worker Rick Sinetti and his wife are also hanging out by the bar with their niece Bridget and their friend Katie O'Donnell. They're all still blown away that Sinetti actually spoke to Jack Russell that morning and that Russell put them all on the guest list. None of them want to miss even a minute of the show, so before it starts, Bridget and Katie head down the hallway to the ladies room, while Chrysostomy and Russo head toward the stage with drinks in hand. Chrysostomy leads Russo through the crowd, weaving between bodies. Even though it's packed, there's still space at the front, and Chrysostomy wants to get as close to the band as possible. They keep maneuvering until they're only a few feet from the stage, so close that the

• 34:14Lindsay Graham?

  DJ Dr. Metal reaches down and hands Chrysostomy a hat with his radio station's logo on it. He turns to Russo and laughs that this is way better than sitting at home. A few minutes later, reptile breeder Gina Galvin arrives. She's gotten her kids settled at her parents' house and is ready for her lone night out.

• 34:33Lindsay Graham?

  Long red hair saches against her back as she grabs a drink at the bar and then makes her way to the stage. She grins when she sees her old friend Dr. Metal. The two of them grew up in Providence together and bonded over their love of music. She hopes he'll stick around for the show and she'll get to catch up with them after. Then the radio station interns hop off the stage. They're all out of merch to hand out. Dr. Metal announces that it's time for what they've all been waiting for: Great White. Just after 11:00 PM, the lights go out, the crowd roars, an electric guitar chord rings out, and Galvin recognizes it instantly. It's the song "Desert Moon." She lets out a whoop, and suddenly sparks flare up from both sides of the stage, shooting up so high they brush the ceiling.

• 35:18Lindsay Graham?

  The stage lights come up, fully illuminating the band, and the crowd lets out another roar. Galvin is grinning ear to ear, banging her head as guitarist Mark Kendall continues the song's riffs. The drums pick up, and when Jack Russell belts out the opening lyrics, Galvin can't help but throw her fist up in the air. Then suddenly, though, Jack Russell stops singing. He blurts out over the microphone, "That's not good." And when Galvin follows his eye line, she sees that flames are crawling up the back wall behind the drummer. Galvin quickly realizes that those flames are not part of the planned pyrotechnics display, it's a real fire. Meanwhile, Russell uncaps his water bottle and tries to douse the flames, but it doesn't do anything.

• 36:02Lindsay Graham?

  Galvin's mouth goes dry as the fire is moving fast. She decides she needs to get out of here as quickly as possible, but when she turns toward the exit, she finds herself boxed in by the crowd. Glancing back at the stage, she sees the flames spreading faster and faster, and a terrifying thought occurs to her: She might not make it out of here alive. From Wonder Eat, this is episode one of Station Nightclub Fire for Americans Game. In our next episode, patrons and staff race to get out of the station before the entire building is engulfed in flames, and emergency crews arrive to find a scene unlike anything they've ever experienced.

• 36:50Lindsay Graham?

  American Scandal is only possible because of listeners like you, so thank you. And don't miss an episode. Be sure to follow American Scandal on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. And Audible subscribers can binge new seasons of American Scandal early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. And to find out more about me, including my other podcasts, my live show, the history tours I'm arranging, and all sorts of other things, go to historyishuman.com. That's historyishuman.com. If you'd like to learn more about the Station nightclub fire, we recommend the books Trial by Fire by Scott James, Killer Show by John Bererlick, and From the Ashes by Gina Russo

• 37:34Lindsay Graham?

  with Paul Leonardo. This episode contains reenactments and dramatized details. And while in most cases we can't know exactly what was said, all our dramatizations are based on historical research. American Scandal is hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsay Graham, for Airship. Audio editing by Krishan Parag. Sound design by Gabriel Ghul. Music by Lindsay Graham. This episode is written by Austin Rattless, edited by Emma Courtland, fact checking by Alyssa Jung Perry, produced by John Reed, managing producer Joe Florentino. Senior producers are Andy Beckerman and Andy Herman. Development by Stephanie Jens. Executive producers are Jenny Lauer Beckman, Marshall Louis, and Aaron O'Flaherty for Wondery.

• 38:22Speaker 06

  In January 1995, 18-year-old Krista Pike and two friends lured a classmate, 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, to an abandoned steam plant and killed her. At just 20 years old, Pike was sentenced to death. 30 years later, on September 30th, 2026, the state of Tennessee tried to execute her and failed. I'm Candace DeLong, former FBI profiler and host of the podcast Killer Psyche, where we go inside the minds behind the most shocking crimes. In our latest episode... We take you inside the case of Krista Pike. The brutal crime, the childhood of abuse, three decades of appeals,

• 39:04Speaker 06

  and the night an execution went terribly wrong. Follow Killer Psyche wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche one week early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.