The First Wife: John Meehan's Reign of Terror Podcast with Rachel Louise Snyder cover art

The First Wife: John Meehan's Reign of Terror

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The First Wife: John Meehan's Reign of Terror

By: Tonia Bales, Laura Richards, AYR Media
Narrated by: Rachel Louise Snyder
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About this listen

 Many listened to the Dirty John podcast, which introduced the world to John Meehan, a dangerous serial predator who infiltrates the life of Debra Newell and ultimately dies at the hand of her daughter, Terra. But there was an overlooked story that’s now being told, in full, for the first time. In The First Wife: John Meehan’s Reign of Terror, Tonia Bales recounts her harrowing experiences as John’s wife of 10 years and the mother of their daughters, Emily and Abby. Highlighting new details and revelations, Tonia shares the abuse she suffered from the man she once believed to be her soulmate, but who ultimately revealed himself as a coercive and controlling terrorist. Through exclusive archival materials and all-new interviews with the people who knew her and John best, uncovering long-held secrets and including perspective from their daughters, Tonia embarks on a re-investigation of the man she thought she knew. The multiple bombshells she unearths include one that will change her and her daughters’ lives forever.©2021 AYR MEDIA, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions True Crime
Episodes
  • Trailer

    Trailer
    Jul 12 2021

    You can listen to The First Wife: John Meehan's Reign of Terror full podcast on Thursday, July 22.

    Many people listened to the Dirty John podcast, about a scheming psychopath who infiltrates the life of a woman and ultimately dies at the hand of her daughter. But there was an overlooked story, now being told in full, for the first time. Tonia Bales, John Meehan’s first wife, recounts the harrowing story of her life as John’s wife and mother of his two daughters. Tonia reveals the abuse she suffered from the man who started as her soulmate and became a terrifying emotional terrorist. Through new interviews with the people who knew her and John best and exclusive archival materials, Tonia learns that there’s a lot about her traumatic marriage that she never knew, including one bombshell that will change her and her daughters’ lives forever.
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    1 min
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  • Episode 1: Filthy John Meehan

    Episode 1: Filthy John Meehan
    Jul 22 2021
    As Tonia prepares to begin the podcast about her life with John Meehan, her daughter Abby gets a Facebook message from a man claiming to be John’s long-lost son, allegedly conceived during Tonia and John’s engagement. The revelation prompts Tonia to re-investigate her marriage to John, and discover what else she doesn’t know about him and their relationship. She remembers their storybook courtship and marriage, and how it began to fall apart.
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    37 mins
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  • Episode 1: Bonus Episode

    Episode 1: Bonus Episode
    Jul 22 2021
    Criminal Behavioral Analyst Laura Richards joins Tonia Bales for a deep dive into "Episode 1: Filthy John Meehan".
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    15 mins
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All stars
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The story mimics a lot of my life, and after 17 years of violent marriage, two daughters, 18 years divorced, 10 years through the courts to keep my youngest daughter safe as he wanted full custody, numerous protection orders all of which he broke. He is still trying to cause us pain and terror. There is something about the narcissistic psychopath that makes them try to inflict more terror . I really found this podcast very informative. Anyone listening should take note of the details of this type and if any of it rings a bell, then I implore you to seek refuge and advice. They do not change. I'm going to re listen as we are yet again being drawn into his focus.

dirty John

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Although the sound copy was terrible and full of interference,the true life story was too good to not listen to it all. Definitely recommend to any true crime life fans. So glad he died in the end. I binge listened all in the same day.

Terrible sound and interference

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I’d listened to “Dirty John” aeons ago and suspected this might be merely some sort of pale spin-off. Not a bit of it: in fact I think The First Wife surpasses Dirty John both in terms of content and delivery. The quality of this podcast is greatly enhanced by the articulate, measured way in which his first wife Tonia tells her sorry tale. Despite the years of torment and harassment from Meehan, often in fear for her own life and those of her two daughters, this woman emerges calm and strong and deserves a medal for bravery!

Sandwiched between the narrative episodes are other, shorter pieces where an ex Scotland Yard detective (now ploughing her furrow in the US as some sort of psychological crime consultant) discusses Tonia’s latest input.. This is an ingenious editorial device as, not only does it help the listener untangle the dense web of lies, spite, cruelty and deviousness we’ve just heard about, but also seems to enable Tonia herself (also on air during these pieces) to name and understand the outrages perpetrated against her. Without descending into psychobabble!

Meehan’s catalogue of evil beggars belief and the podcast makes clear how “relatively minor” infractions can escalate over time into full-blown psychopathy. With her dogged courage and insistence he be made accountable for his wrongs Tonia possibly put herself more than necessarily at risk, though her native intelligence did make sure she either escaped, hid or sought protection at critical moments. As she herself explains at one point, she was a nice middle-class Catholic girl from a loving family who, when she met that toe-rag, had scarcely heard certain words let alone witnessed certain behaviours, and it took her a while to get used to someone whose common currency was lies, deception, revenge and, basically, any other wicked human characteristic you care to throw into the mix. It’s totally plausible that her first reaction would have been disbelief and shock. The humans on her planet simply didn’t behave like that! Making the way she outmanoeuvred Meehan all the more to her credit. The triumph of intelligence and simple goodness over a seriously dangerous evil!

A gripping story - and a useful one if it gets people thinking how psychopaths evolve.



Really superb!

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it's really interesting and insightful into manipulation. but the bonus content is awful. I gave up with it after the second episode

very insightful but the bonus content is annoying

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An horrendous and mind blowing account of one mans behaviour on his own family and anyone who was susceptible to his behaviours. Tonia and her daughters are amazing to have been able to survive and recount his terror towards them and women in general. 10 out of 10 to Laura Richards. Again. Check out her other podcasts.

Shocking

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I think this is a story that all women should read or listen to. Thank you Tonia for sharing your story!

Tonia is such an amazing example!

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Not only is this podcast a fascinating narrative, it also contains perfect examples of how a victim can get sucked in and manipulated by a psychopathic/ sociopathic/ narcissistic partner. I found the conversations between the wife and the therapist particularly enlightening. I am so glad I came across this podcast

Excellent eye opener for emotionally manipulated

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This podcast explains how vulnerable to coercive control women and men can get. Tonia Bales was very brave in standing up to John Meehan after all these yearsof abuse he has put her through.

Educational

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Having watched the movie Dirty John this was very interesting and enjoyable but I thought Laura should have been a separate narrator. Her ‘discussions’ were overpowering and dominated the conversation so it seem she was speaking AT the interviewee rather than with them. Not really allowing them to talk about how they felt in depth but rather she was doing it for them. I found this slightly jarring but it’s a good listen overrall

Interesting but narrator annoying

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Fabulous real time telling of the notorious Mr Meehan by the people closest to him. What a twisted man. Absolutely fascinating and mesmerising retelling of the story by the amazing people who were part of his life and time. Loved it.

Amazing story, amazing people

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