The Ballad of Dena & Andrea

By: Becky Poole
  • Summary

  • “The Ballad of Dena & Andrea” is a podcast featuring original murder ballads and conversations in reaction to the story of Andrea Yates and Dena Schlosser, two women who murdered their children in the early 2000s.

    Host Becky Poole was originally drawn to this story when she learned that Dena and Andrea ended up as roommates, briefly, in a North Texas mental institution. She soon discovered that their lives had been heading in the same tragic and preventable direction for years. Poole wrote an album in the style of Appalachian murder ballads and Americana to create empathetic myths about these mothers.

    With this podcast, she invites artists, colleagues, and friends to have conversations in reaction to the story - covering topics like religion, mental health, women's health, misogyny, our failing justice and healthcare systems, motherhood, creating work about tragedy, and more. Each episode includes a bit of Dena and Andrea's story, an interview chat, and an original song. Not a classic true crime doc but myth-making by ballad with honest conversations. Please join us to discover what might come up for you.

    © 2024 The Ballad of Dena & Andrea
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Episodes
  • Get A Job - Episode 7 - With Comedian & Ceramicist Eliza Skinner
    Jan 7 2025

    Comedian, Showrunner, Ceramicist and very good friend Eliza Skinner and I talk about how rom coms effed us all, Bad Women, cultural fables, what do our "butts and guts want" and how she should’ve been a Unitarian Minister.

    The song for this episode is Get a Job. Inspired by the fact that Dena was fired from Walmart within hrs of the local news making public a picture of her at work. She was doing nothing wrong, had served her time, and was following all the rules given to her.

    Links

    Eliza's Socials:
    https://www.tiktok.com/@realelizaskinner
    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1982901/

    Faster Pussycat Kill Kill Trailer

    Masterpiece Bakery / ACLU (Colorado)

    Kim Davis - Kentucky Clerk who denied licenses

    Web Designer Supreme Court Decision

    Down Came the Rain - Brooke Shields book on postpartum depression
    Postpartum Book Club Chat about it…

    A Way With Words

    Ballad of Dena & Andrea Links

    Postpartum Support International
    https://www.postpartum.net/

    PSI Yates Children Memorial Fund Legal Justice Program
    https://www.postpartum.net/about-psi/legal-justice/

    A bit about the Yates Children Memorial Fund
    https://www.postpartum.net/twenty-years-later/

    I Need An Abortion
    https://www.ineedana.com/

    National Suicide Hotline: You can call 998 or find help online at
    https://988lifeline.org/

    Domestic Abuse Hotline
    https://www.thehotline.org/

    Trevor Project
    https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

    Support the Podcast Links

    Venmo

    Album

    Hosted and created by Becky Poole
    Songs written and sung by Becky Poole
    Musical Saw by Becky Poole
    Song and Theme Instrumentation, Production, and Mix by Abby Posner
    Mastered by Dave Locke

    Podcast Audio Editing & Mixing by Evan Mosher

    Graphic Design by Stefan Lawrence
    Photo by Logan Futej



    Thank you for listening. For more about postpartum psychosis, go to Postpartum Support International. For the full album click here . Join the conversation on Instagram.

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    55 mins
  • Murder in the Bible - Episode 06 - With actor and medical interpreter Marta Portillo
    Dec 24 2024

    Female rage. I'm feeling it and that's what this week's song is about. And to balance complaint with community - the guest is my good friend Marta Portillo. An actor, teaching artist, and certified very good person. We discuss her work as an interpreter, the importance of independent health clinics and education, dramatic catholic rituals, PERIODS!, grieving what you thought life would be and what it turns out being.

    Show Links

    MEND Clinic

    Homicide Leading Cause of Death for Pregnant Women Article

    HPV Vaccine
    https://www.gardasil9.com/patient-a/

    British Mother & Baby Units Article

    SA in LA Juvenile Detention Centers

    Indigenous Language Interpretation
    Cielo.org

    Ballad of Dena & Andrea Links

    Postpartum Support International
    https://www.postpartum.net/

    PSI Yates Children Memorial Fund Legal Justice Program
    https://www.postpartum.net/about-psi/legal-justice/

    A bit about the Yates Children Memorial Fund
    https://www.postpartum.net/twenty-years-later/

    I Need An Abortion
    https://www.ineedana.com/

    Shout Your Abortion
    https://shoutyourabortion.com/

    National Suicide Hotline: You can call 998 or find help online at
    https://988lifeline.org/

    Domestic Abuse Hotline
    https://www.thehotline.org/

    Trevor Project
    https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

    Support the Podcast Links

    Full Album on Link
    Venmo Link
    Patreon Link


    Thank you for listening. For more about postpartum psychosis, go to Postpartum Support International. For the full album click here . Join the conversation on Instagram.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Let You Go - Episode 05 - With Performing Artist Caroline Kingsley Moffat
    Dec 24 2024

    A lullaby from Andrea's perspective & interview with ever-charming performance artist-actor-comedian-goddess Caroline Kingsley Moffat! We discuss her new mother journey, community, buttcracks, and more!

    The Violet Hour / Winnifred Coombe
    https://www.instagram.com/winnifredcoombe/

    The Motherhood Center
    https://themotherhoodcenter.com/

    Tully
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5D3O4yCmCg

    Pen15
    https://www.hulu.com/series/8c87035d-2b10-4b10-a233-ca5b3597145d

    Night Bitch
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55835474-nightbitch
    https://youtu.be/918prRymA-U?si=dUEkbip5K2CqlDUI

    Build Your Nest - Workbook & site by Kestrel Gates​​https://www.buildyournestworkbook.com/

    This site includes resources like postpartum navigators, etc.
    https://www.buildyournestworkbook.com/postpartum-navigators-directory

    Moonwise Podcast - Dorothee Sophie Royall
    https://www.moonwise.co/

    Parent Artist Advocacy League
    https://www.paaltheatre.com/

    Matthew Coleman
    https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2023-10-12/coleman-competency-ruling-mexico-san-diego

    https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvmjzq/matthew-taylor-coleman-santa-barbara-qanon

    Ballad of Dena & Andrea Links

    Postpartum Support International
    https://www.postpartum.net/

    PSI Yates Children Memorial Fund Legal Justice Program
    https://www.postpartum.net/about-psi/legal-justice/

    About the Yates Children Memorial Fund
    https://www.postpartum.net/twenty-years-later/

    I Need An Abortion
    https://www.ineedana.com/

    National Suicide Hotline: You can call 998 or find help online at
    https://988lifeline.org/

    Domestic Abuse Hotline
    https://www.thehotline.org/

    Trevor Project
    https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

    Support the Podcast Links

    Venmo

    Patreon Link

    Album

    Hosted & created by Becky Poole
    Songs written & sung by Becky Poole
    Musical Saw - Becky Poole
    Song & Theme Instrumentation, Production, & Mix - Abby Posner
    Mastered by Dave Locke
    Podcast Audio Editing & Mixing - Evan Mosher
    Graphic Design - Stefan Lawrence
    Photo - Logan Futej

    Thank you for listening. For more about postpartum psychosis, go to Postpartum Support International. For the full album click here . Join the conversation on Instagram.

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins

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