Talking Dateline: Open Water episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 13, 2025 · 23 MIN

Talking Dateline: Open Water

from Dateline NBC · host NBC News

Blayne Alexander sits down with Josh Mankiewicz and Dateline producer Michelle Madigan to discuss their episode, “Open Water.”  When Micki Kanesaki’s ex-husband Lonnie Kocontes invited her on a European cruise in 2006, she thought it would be a chance to rekindle their relationship. But a few days into the trip, Lonnie awoke to find Micki missing from their stateroom. After a boat captain found her body floating in the Mediterranean, both Italian and American authorities zeroed in on Lonnie as a possible suspect in her death. Two of his friends stepped in to prove his innocence – but soon came to an entirely different conclusion. Josh and Michelle share what it was like working on this episode during the pandemic in 2020. Blayne reveals her secret feelings about the open seas and Josh shares his not-so-secret feelings about cruises. Plus, Josh and Michelle answer viewer and listener questions from social media.   If you have a question for Talking Dateline, send us a video message on social @datelinenbc or leave us a voicemail at 212-413-5252. Listen to the full episode “Open Water” on Apple: https://apple.co/4ltM66b Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6sbElILJRgm55N0aXQ9MKR?si=52f894b4cf764f8c To learn more about Dateline LIVE in Nashville on Sept. 28, and to get tickets, go here: https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline-event To make Keith or Josh your voicemail voice, go here: https://soundcloud.com/datelinenbc/sets/keith-and-josh-voicemails-1 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 13, 2025

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Talking Dateline: Open Water

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