Hi all, welcome to On The Couch with Nellie, Wanda and Maya! I'm Nellie, and we’re delighted to be the brand ambassadors for Flat Out Footwear. Each week we get together and share our musings on life, the universe and shoes of course! One of us will style an outfit with a pair of shoes from the Flat Out Footwear range. So much fun! 

Hey peeps - Maya here, thanks for having me again :)

Hello everyone, it's Wanda and it's lovely to be here. So what do you have in store for us this week Nel?

Well, actually, I've been scaring myself silly of late, and was hoping to talk about that!

Oh dear, what have you been up to? 

I've got myself hooked on true crime podcasts!

 Uh-oh, I'm not sure how much I'll have to contribute - I've never listened to a podcast - I only listen to music really. I'm a bit of chicken and don't like scary movies or anything like that. True crime sounds terrifying!

I love a good thriller, but can't say I've watched or listened to a lot of true crime. What's the appeal Nel? 

 Well, I've been intrigued and interested in true crime for a long time. I've read many books and watched lots of documentaries, and love shows such as Million Dollar Cold Case, Sensing Murder etc. But podcasts are a new discovery for me, and what I love about them is how convenient they are. I simply pop in my earphones, put my phone in my pocket and listen to them when I'm doing the shopping, out walking, cooking dinner - almost anywhere, anytime. I can keep one earplug out so I can still hear what's going on around me and not zone out completely lol! 

Why true crime though? I can't picture you enjoying something so morbid Nellie ha ha :)

 I can appreciate your bewilderment Maya! I've even asked myself that same question - why do I find this stuff so fascinating - and I think it's the psychology of it. What type of person becomes a perpetrator and how does the crime affect everyone else.

That's an interesting point, and as each crime and perpetrator can be so unique there's bound to be many different reasons and ways that people end up committing crimes. Though, having said that I imagine there'd be quite a lot of common ground, and some predetermining factors, or at least predetermining susceptibilities.  

Yes, that's absolutely right Wan. There are so many different situations, and some of the perpetrators may have been victims themselves. Conversely, the perpetrators may have had everything handed to them and had an idyllic life, but ended up narcissistic and do whatever they want to get whatever they want. There's a very wide spectrum. I've virtually concluded that everyone has they're breaking point.

Is that what has scared you Nel?

No, not so much Wan - though perhaps it should lol! I think I've just been listening to too many of them, and I've started to jump at shadows. But I can't stop listening - I keep going back for more!

Any that you'd recommend?

Most definitely! I'm currently listening to The Teacher's Pet, which is about missing woman Lyn Dawson from Sydney's northern beaches. She was most likely murdered by her husband back in 1982, but he has never been charged despite two coronial inquest findings that she was murdered by him. The podcast uncovers and revelas all sorts of things such as the husband was a high school a teacher and had an affair with one of his students who he moved in as his defacto two days after his wife went missing. Also, a terrible culture of abuse has been uncovered at the school he worked at - of teachers grooming and sexually abusing students.

That sounds horrible.

Indeed! It is horrible, but it's real. It happened in our backyard, and our culture has more or less let him get away with it to date. Hopefully, this podcast will help bring justice to Lyn and her family. She was the mother of two little girls, just 4 and 2. It's heartbreaking, yet compelling. Many people have listened to it and subsequently contributed to it, providing further information and evidence. So whilst it is a cold case it is also unfolding in real time.

You sound very passionate about it Nel. 

I've listened to a few different cases now, with something in common - and that is people getting away with murder, and in another case it was about someone wrongfully convicted of murder. Both scenarios are so sad and frustrating. I get quite invested in their stories. I almost feel like I've come to know Lyn Dawson and I really want justice for her. 

Based on your passion, I'm going to give it a go. It's something I can listen to when I'm walking the dog.   

That sounds like a scary way to do it - won't you get worried if someone comes up behind you? 

Good point Maya - I'll try it and see how it goes! 

I'll be very interested to see what you think Wan! Now on to something a bit more upbeat, please tell us about those gorgeous shoes you've chosen this week Wan!

Thanks Nel - these are the Scalloped Brogues in red, and as you can see, in addition to the more traditional 'borrowed from the boy's brogue detailing, they've also got scalloped edging, which provides a pretty feminine touch, and the red is a slightly muted earthy tone. I'm wearing them with a long woolen black and white dress, perfect for the weather we've been having, and accessorised with black, white and red to give a crisp and classy look.

Hot! I love it :) Those shoes are a delicious shade of red aren't they :)

Very classy Wan - that's an outfit that will warm up a cold day.  Well my lovelies, it's time to say goodbye already! Take care everyone and be kind to one another.

(Author’s note: the characters of Nellie, Wanda and Maya portrayed in this blog are fictitious - and have been created for the purpose of providing entertainment, and Flat Out Footwear product related information).