The Real-Life Escape that Inspired Run, Bambi, Run

This is an episode of Inside the Tent, a podcast going behind the scenes of Campside’s award winning shows.Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.Laurie Bembenek was a Milwaukee police officer and Playboy Club bunny before being arrested for the murder of her husband’s ex-wife, a crime she insisted she did not commit.When Vanessa learned about the story, she questioned everything she was told: was Bembenek really a feminist icon? Or was she the tabloid-friendly, killer Playboy bunny who escaped from prison?Over two years, Vanessa and the team read Bembenek’s letters from prison and discovered a straight A student who also wanted to challenge the sexist status quo.But how do you make a story feel relevant when so many people at the center of it are dead or dying? Start by relentlessly tracking down anyone still able to talk on tape. And be sure to read through all the material available to get any color on the story you can. In a past column, Vanessa explains what attracted her to the story of Bambi Bembenek in the first place.With sound design and writing support from Campside’s Mark McAdam, Run, Bambi, Run became a stylized retelling of a complicated life.Listen to the interview with Vanessa on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. And let us know what you think: [email protected] hope to see you inside the tent again soon. Subscribe now for updates on Run, Bambi, Run and all of Campside’s hit shows.Run, Bambi, Run is an Apple Original produced by Campside Media. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit join.campsidemedia.com