{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"STALKERS : The Truth Behind the Obsession","title":"The Original Celebrity Stalker: Eddie Waitkus SHOT!","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2750,"description":"This is an experimental podcast series. All content has been created using A.I. tools. Not all information may be factually correct and the hosts may occasionally suffer AI Hallucinations and fabricate information entirely disconnected from reality.  Independent fact-checking is advised.\nLong before social media, viral fame, or online parasocial relationships, one young woman's obsession with baseball star Eddie Waitkus became one of America's first notorious stalking cases. Charlie West and Jack Mercer trace the extraordinary story of Ruth Ann Steinhagen, exploring the psychology of fixation, the limits of psychiatric understanding in 1949, and how a shocking act of violence forever changed the relationship between celebrities and their fans.\nCharlie & Jack also examine the lasting legacy of the case—from its influence on modern threat assessment to its surprising connection with The Natural. Along the way, they ask whether today's hyper-connected world makes dangerous obsessions easier to spot... or easier to fuel. It's a fascinating journey into The Truth Behind the Obsession—with just enough baseball trivia to prove that not every surprise waiting in a hotel room should be accepted.\nHighlights: ⚾ The astonishing true story that became one of history's earliest documented celebrity stalking cases.  🧠 How obsession, delusion, and erotomania blurred the line between fantasy and violence.  🎬 The real-life shooting that inspired The Natural—and why Hollywood rewrote the ending.\nCHARLIE WEST\nCharlie has a lifelong fascination for the psychology behind criminal obsession. Known for her sharp wit, fearless opinions and ability to find humour in even the darkest conversations, she's never afraid to challenge accepted narratives or ask the awkward questions others avoid!\nStalker Spotlight: Charlie's favourite stalker is the bizarre story of the \"Hollywood Letter Stalker\"; a woman who became convinced she was destined to marry a famous actor, sending thousands of...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/eMA6G3LIoo-DBXamQ2h6D2G7nhjKEyUgn5PmmuQQRSY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85Yjhk/MDMyNTAxNzFhMjQ4/MTY5Mzk5MjZjMGJl/ZDRmZS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}