Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Randall.
Hi Jacob, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As far back as I can remember, I have always been a storyteller. I was born and raised in the small town of Van Buren, Arkansas. From a young age, I believed that the stories I wanted to tell were happening somewhere far away from me, in big cities with tall buildings and seemingly endless opportunities for new experiences. Our family never had a lot of money, and there were obstacles in my childhood that truly affected my sense of self-worth. But I felt a spark within me to pursue my dreams, despite any challenges that would come my way. I was drawn to the performing arts. I loved acting, singing, and writing. And I knew I wanted to spend my life doing something that allowed me to share stories with the world.
Initially, like so many people who move to Los Angeles, I wanted to be an actor. But before I made it to the west coast, I spent four years in college, studying theatrical performance. And by the time I graduated, I could feel my motivation slipping away. I loved performing on stage, but the business of acting was both intimidating and discouraging. I knew I wanted to be an artist, but I no longer understood how I would do it. My pursuit of a career in creativity seemed pointless, and my confidence was shaken. Still, I knew that I needed to go to LA and discover myself further. I needed to take a chance and see what would happen in a new environment. After my 25th birthday, I finally made the decision to pack up my car and my entire life and move to California. It has been the biggest adventure of my life, and it eventually led me to combining my passions and interests into a new kind of storytelling; podcasting.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It certainly has not been a smooth road. My biggest struggle has always been with money. I made poor financial choices in my early 20s that put me into serious debt because I wanted a college education. It took many years to understand and overcome the challenges that come with financial hardship. My other biggest struggle has been my mental health. Anxiety and depression have been a daily part of my reality since I was a teenager, and I never really started dealing with my issues until I was in my late 20s. I found myself in a fortunate position where I was able to seek help, and the decision to do so changed my life for the better.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am now the creator and host of an independent true crime podcast called Crime Of Your Life. With each episode, I focus on an unsolved criminal cases told through my own scripted narrative. I like to tell stories about mysteries, many of which will probably never be solved. My specialty is in creating narratives around cases for which very little information can be uncovered through research. The lack of information in a mystery is tantalizing to me, and it drives me to ask questions and look at my subjects with a nuanced perspective. Most of my listeners seem to appreciate my compassionate approach to the lives of the human beings in my stories. I am also drawn to cases that involve themes of identity. And I am probably most proud of my third episode which tells the story of a man who faked his death in 1989 and was discovered living under an assumed identity over 20 years later. I also co-produce a comedic horror movie podcast called Happy Horror Time, where the hosts talk about recent horror films and speak to the stars and creators of some of the most memorable horror franchises in film history.
What’s next?
My plan is to keep telling stories and producing new content. With my true crime podcast, I will never be someone who can solve the mysteries that I am sharing with the world. But I want to build a catalogue of material that will fascinate people and perhaps motivate them to solve the mysteries themselves. I want to bring more attention to the victims of crime and to the injustices that are faced by people everywhere. In the new year, I want to release more episodes and grow my audience so that I can eventually translate the podcast into a live show. My journey has not been easy, but I finally feel like I am on the right path in my life and I am looking forward to seeing what the future has in store.
Pricing:
- $5.00 per month to support Crime Of Your Live and receive exclusive access to bonus episodes and additional audio.
Contact Info:
- Email: crimeofyourlife@gmail.com
- Website: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-of-your-life/id1531247154
- Instagram: @crimeofyourlife
- Facebook: @crimeofyourlife
- Twitter: @crimeofyourlife
- Youtube: @crimeofyourlife
