Bonus: Behind the Scenes with Host
Listen to episode here:
As Propensity: A True Crime Anthology Podcast nears the conclusion of the first season, I thought now would be a great time to take a peek behind the curtain, and tell listeners a little more about me, the host, Rorie Jane McCormack, and how Propensity came about.
Is Rorie Jane McCormack Your Real Name?
Yes and no. It is a pseudonym. But it is based on my real name and a family name. I went back and forth for a long time, too long in fact, on whether to use a pseudonym or not, and if so, what should it be? I did not want to make up a name for the sake of it, particularly one that wasn't meaningful.
Rorie is a rare nickname for my first name that isn't used very often. Jane is my actual middle name, so I kept that. McCormack is my grandmother's maiden name. She died from a childbirth complication decades before I was born, and I never got to meet her. So, it felt fitting that I could keep her memory alive by incorporating her name into my own. It’s important that I am authentic and honest, even though I am using a pseudonym. So, everything I share about myself, my background, work history, education and experiences are all true.
Why Use a Pseudonym or Pen Name?
I am not trying to be anonymous. Plenty of people who know me in the real world know that this is the name I am using for creative projects. It just lets me draw a line between my personal life and my creative life. It makes me less accessible to the world, as I don't like unnecessary attention. It has been working well for me so far, but it's hard to build a following for my projects, when as far as the world is concerned, I didn't exist before September 2023!!! People who know me, won't necessarily know that this is me, unless they stumble across the podcast and recognise my voice, or some of the details I mention about my background or life. It’s one of those things that lets me decide how much of myself I want to reveal to the world, while still creating and producing work that I can share.
How Did Propensity Start?
I have been listening to true crime podcasts for a long time and have had the idea for Propensity since 2019, but I just procrastinated for so long that I almost didn't think it would happen. It wasn't so much about the actual podcast content, but the vulnerability of putting myself out there. Once you put yourself out there, you can't take it back. The pseudonym makes me feel a little better about this. I started taking a more active role in making the podcast a reality in 2021, took a short podcasting course, bought equipment, bought a domain name and so on.
I started working on it seriously in April 2023, and spent 5 months working non-stop researching, writing, recording and teaching myself audio editing, building my website, and learning how to create audiograms and everything else that goes along with producing a podcast.
How Do You Decide Which Cases to Cover?
I start with a theme. I try to expand that theme as much as possible and include cases that might not fit at first glance, but I would like to think that I somehow make it work. Then, it is about access to information. Can I get adequate information on the case, in English, that I can verify through other sources? So often, when researching a case, I find conflicting information across different sources that I have to verify.
If I can't verify the information through multiple sources, I might leave it out, or else go with the information that is contained in the most reputable source. Or, as you may have noticed, I let you know that the information is conflicting, and you can decide for yourself.
Then, it is about the story. Can I tell this story in a compelling way? Can I do it justice? Are there glaring loose ends that I can't tie off for the listener? Would telling the story be damaging to victim in the case who doesn't want it in the media? I use my own judgement here.
If a survivor of a violent crime has spoken to the media, published a book or otherwise participated in publicly telling their own story, then I am happy to also tell it, and use their words whenever possible. It's harder when the victim hasn't survived, and again, it's a judgement call.
Are Any Cases Off Limits?
Yes. I try to avoid any case that is too recent. Firstly, because it may still be unfolding, and secondly because it may still be quite raw for the victim's family. I usually prefer covering older or historical cases. Some cases are just so horrific that I don't feel able to cover them. I know that I have covered some very dark and difficult cases, and I'm not trying to compare them or rate them.
The barometer I use is based on torture. If I can't tell you the story of a case without 60% or more of the episode involving me telling you about graphic torture, then I am just going to skip it. Some cases that I won’t cover are Junko Furuta, Colleen Stan, Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom and similar. If you’re familiar with true crime, you might already know those cases, and why I won’t cover them. I also prefer to cover solved cases, as I know it can be very frustrating for listeners to not have a resolution to a case.
How Long Does It Take to Produce an Episode?
Each episode takes between 40 - 150 hours to produce. That is the full life cycle from initial research, fact checking, writing the script, to recording, editing, adding music, creating audiograms and other social media assets. Some cases, by their very nature are more complex, and take longer to research and produce. I have improved my editing workflow so much since the first couple of episodes, so that part is so much faster now.
The part that takes the longest is researching and writing the script. This is why it is not possible to produce episodes on a weekly basis. It is extremely time-consuming, and I do every aspect of production myself. With a full-time job. This podcast is 100% independent, and so I am limited in what I can produce and how often. I prefer to have quality over quantity.
Do You Listen to Other Podcasts Covering the Same Cases When Researching?
No, I actively avoid podcast episodes covering the cases I am researching. I want my take on a case to be fresh and 100% my own. If I have listened to a podcast episode on a case in the past, that is fine, as it is probably a distant memory by the time I am researching and writing an episode. I work so hard to create something original in how I approach a case, and take plagiarism, even if it is unintentional, very seriously. Once I have released my own episode, then I happily listen to other podcasts on the same case. It is interesting to see how they present the case and which conclusions they draw.
What Other Projects Are You Working On?
I have so many ideas for projects, and not enough time or resources to execute them all. Right now, I am working on finalising a dark poetry/memoir book that I will self-publish in late 2024. The book is a dark poetry collection interspersed with personal essays. Most of it was written over the course of several years and I didn't necessarily plan to publish it. I have come this far, so now am determined to get it out into the world.
I am also working on a non-fiction book based on the research and scripts for the first season of Propensity. I have some other creative projects that I want to do, but I have to remind myself that while I can do anything, I can't do everything.
What Advice Would You Give To Others Wanting to Start a Podcast or Other Creative Project?
If you have a project, creative or otherwise that you have been thinking about or obsessing over, just do it. Bite the bullet and create it. The world will be better for your contribution, and even if it doesn't work out, you will have learned something from the experience.
Whether you are planning a business, a podcast, a blog, a book, or custom illustrations, whatever it is, don't let the fear of being perceived or judged stop you from doing what you want to do. You've probably seen some variation of the quote, 'there are people less qualified and less talented than you, doing the thing you want to do, just because they believe in themselves'.
I am taking a short break from podcasting to work on some other projects, but will start working on Season 2 in the coming months. Propensity will return with a brand-new season in late 2024. Subscribe for updates or follow the podcast on social media.