Time to read

Random musings, news on my research, writing tips, and just generic PhD updates.

Caitlin Burns Caitlin Burns

Why are women so obsessed with true crime? And is it all ‘bad’?

A reflective dive into why true crime stories captivate us. Explores the rise of female‑focused true crime, how documentaries shape our perceptions of “good” and “bad” storytelling, and what our fascination reveals about gender, violence, and cultural expectations.

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Caitlin Burns Caitlin Burns

From Enlightenment to Exploitation: When Self-Help Turns Coercive

In the digital age, it’s never been easier to join, swipe, or connect with people via social media and internet forums where self-help gurus and spiritual guides can be booked in an instant. Yet how can we distinguish between a harmonious group and an empathetic leader and one that is a coercive cult?

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Research Caitlin Burns Research Caitlin Burns

Rewinding History with Cassette Tapes

About a month ago, my doctoral research led me to sects and new religious movements. I was fortunate to have sourced a selection of a dozen tapes that held the teachings of a notorious sect leader. What was on these tapes? I wondered. What things could be revealed to push my research in the right direction or another direction completely?

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Travel Caitlin Burns Travel Caitlin Burns

A Revolutionary Quest in Paris

Let me take you back to the year 2014. A young, exuberant, history nerd had just finished high school and embarked on a gap year around Europe. It was there in Paris, with her mum, that she made it her goal to visit every place of significant importance to the French Revolution. I guess you could say this was my very own journée.

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