From Vacation to Investigation - Inside Someone Knows Something with David Ridgen

Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

James Wolner

Documentary, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.8 • 900 Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2026

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

James sits down with award-winning filmmaker and host of Someone Knows Something, David Ridgen. We talk about his approach to storytelling, how he works with families, and what it really means to stay with a case over time. We also get into his latest investigation, the disappearance of Jaclyn Ferland-Smith, and how a simple trip to Costa Rica turned into something much more. Following our conversation, you’ll hear Episode 1 of the Jaclyn Ferland-Smith investigation from Someone Knows Something. Jaclyn Ferland-Smith moved to Playa del Coco with her husband Sebastien to find and build a new life. But then Jackie disappears, with no trace found. Jackie's family, with David's help, begins the process of picking up the pieces. More episodes of of Someone Knows Something are available wherever you get your podcasts, and here: https://link.mgln.ai/SKS10xDSP Explore the full catalog: https://DakotaSpotlight.com Listen early and ad-free with Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/DakotaSpotlight Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter Have information about a case or want to get in touch? Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Join the Dakota Spotlight community on Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Watch Dakota Spotlight on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 To advertise on Dakota Spotlight, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Dakota Spotlight is produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and sound design, is the property of Six Horse Media. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. For permissions, contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	If you would rather skip ads like this one and get bonus material and early access to new episodes, consider supporting this independent podcast.
0:08.6	You can do so on Patreon or by becoming a Spotlight Plus subscriber right in your Apple or Spotify app.
0:15.5	Learn more at DakotaSpotlight.com.
0:18.6	Hi guys. My goodness, time flies when you're immersed in the production of season 13,
0:23.7	which is where I am now.
0:25.4	I know you've been hearing this for a while, but I'm really excited about season 13,
0:30.2	and the pieces are coming together as we speak.
0:33.3	I'm not there quite yet, though.
0:35.5	I know you're here because you're expecting stellar work,
0:38.3	and that's what I'm working on. This work takes time. Meanwhile, today, I have a really nice treat
0:44.2	for us, an interview with award-winning filmmaker and writer David Ridgin. David is the host of the
0:50.9	CBC podcast, Someone Knows Something. David is going to tell us about his craft,
0:56.3	his interests, and his latest work. In fact, we'll follow the interview with episode one of his
1:02.7	latest season. David Ridgin, thank you so much for joining us on Dakota Spotlight. How are you doing
1:09.4	today? Doing great. Thanks for having me.
1:11.7	I think a lot of my listeners already know who you are and a lot about your work. But tell us yourself a little bit about yourself.
1:18.8	Let's see. That's a hard question for me because it's hard to talk about myself. But I am the host investigator of someone knows something.
1:26.7	I'm a podcaster now, but I came out of documentary film at Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
1:32.1	and other places before that.
1:35.3	Started into the true crime realm, I guess, in 2004, 2005 when I worked on the Dien Moore
1:40.9	case down in Mississippi.
1:42.0	That was a clan murder of two 19-year-olds,
	...

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