We recently connected with Whitney St. Andre and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Whitney, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
When the COVID pandemic hit and the lockdown ensued, I had no clue what my purpose was. I have always been the person that is the first to volunteer for things. Whether it was at my kid’s school, in volunteer organizations, or just within the community. The lockdown took away all of those opportunities. Thankfully, my family had quarantined along with our best friends and we were able to continue our scheduled Wednesday night dinners. My best friend, Melissa Leinweber, and I would sit down every week and discuss all of the true crime content we had absorbed that week. Eventually, we came to a decision to record our conversations and begin our own podcast. It started out as an absolute trainwreck! Horrible sound quality as both of our kids, 4 boys total, were running amuck in the background. A few weeks into putting together this content, Melissa and I both realized that we were approaching true crime content in the wrong manner and our volunteer traits took hold. We both knew we needed to do more for the families of the victims we were talking about. After a little bit of research and a few conversations with others within the genre, we settled on a specific story of a missing man named Brandon Lawson from the San Angelo, Texas area. Melissa and I drove out to the location Brandon was last known to be to physically see the area. We also met with the case advocate and discussed how we could help spread awareness about Brandon’s disappearance. At this point, he had been missing for almost 8 years. After months of planning with the case advocate, Melissa and I were a part of a 9 person volunteer search team that headed out into a field that had never before been searched. We covered acres upon acres of land thick with mesquite trees, brush, and cacti in 50 mile per hour winds and 30 degree temperatures. As we were running out of daylight that winter day, we found clothing items that resembled what Brandon had last been wearing. A pair of shoes that were the same brand, same style, and same size as Brandon’s, as well as a unique pair of mixed martial arts style shorts. Law enforcement agencies were called in and it was confirmed that those items of clothing were consistent with Brandon’s last outfit. That evening we called Brandon’s family to let them know the outcome of our efforts. That exact moment is what solidified not only my role but also Melissa’s. We knew that we wanted to create positive change for victim’s families before this moment, but hearing Brandon’s family that night confirmed that action-oriented advocacy was our purpose.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Podcasting was never a dream; helping people was. With Navigating Advocacy, our work with action-oriented advocacy, and the launch of Advocacy Con is what we are currently focused on. Each week, my co-host and I research and speak about an unsolved case in the United States. Then, a few times a year, we will travel to the location of the missing or murdered and help families with whatever they need. That can be a honk and wave, passing out flyers, or foot searches. We take the lead from families. They are our daily inspiration and are the people we use to guide our actions. The true crime genre can be scary, and we just want to be a safe space for families. Only a few podcasters are getting their hands dirty and putting their words into action like we are. Without the victim, our profession does not exist. This is why we have created Advocacy Con. It is a conference like no other. We are bringing together victims’ families and much-needed resources. My co-host Melissa Leinweber, along with our dear friend, fellow podcaster, advocate, and the brother of a murder victim, Eric Carter-Landin wanted to make a more significant impact than our weekly conversations, and trips could ever do. March 28-30, 2025, we will be in Indianapolis, Indiana for the inaugural Advocacy Conference.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I honestly feel that this list could go on forever because as they say hindsight is 20/20. Being open to receiving advice, evaluating how that advice could apply to your mission, and then implementing the items that work best for your vision. Just because someone offers you advice, does not mean you have to take it, or that it is what is correct for you. Secondly, don’t get comfortable. Be willing to step out of those comfort zones, get hands-on, and do the things that make you uncomfortable. Be willing to do more than talk. And of course, if you are starting a podcast, gain a small amount of knowledge about audio editing before jumping in with both feet. Just a little bit of information can take you a long way.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We are always looking for like-minded individuals to collaborate in creating positive change in the true crime community. In this genre, the shift to ethical and empathetic content is happening and we will gladly collaborate with those on the same path. We are seeking resources that may help the family members of the missing or murdered advance their loved one’s stories to attend AdvocacyCon. If you have a specific skill set or knowledge that could help these families. please reach out to us via email at info@advocacycon.com.
Contact Info:
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