Ep 5: Sisters, Secrets & The Nazi Past: Uncovering The Man Who Calculated Death
Two American sisters. Their mother’s plea from her deathbed to finish her memoir leads them shockingly to their Nazi-linked grandfather. A Gracie Award-winning podcast. In this unforgettable Call Me Friend episode, host Daryn Kagan talks with Suzanne and Stephanie Rico about their gripping podcast The Man Who Calculated Death, exploring family legacy, Nazi Germany, and the truth hidden in a dying mother’s memoir. If you’re into family secrets, WWII history, or award winning storytelling this one’s for you.
Discover how a journalist and a scientist used podcasting to unravel their grandfather’s role in Hitler’s weapons program and what they found at a concentration camp that changed everything.
Timestamps :
- (00:00) A dying wish: Finish my memoir
- (01:00) Meet Suzanne Rico and her Emmy-worthy storytelling
- (02:36) How Facebook connected two recovering journalists
- (05:28) Daryn discovers the powerful podcast The Man Who Calculated Death
- (07:00) The legacy of their grandfather’s weapon design for Hitler
- (08:36) Stephanie—voice memos, war stories, and Nazi archives
- (11:06) From memoir to podcast: how it evolved
- (13:12) Did their mom know they’d uncover Nazi secrets?
- (15:00) The weight of truth: family guilt and generational trauma
- (17:12) The V-1 vengeance weapon and ties to concentration camps
- (19:06) Sisters reflect on truth, teamwork, and emotional healing
- (21:42) The aunts: storytelling, survival, and sisterhood
- (24:00) What the Rico sisters learned about resilience
- (27:00) Legacy, redemption, and one powerful apology to a Holocaust survivor
- (30:12) Behind the scenes: How working with a sister shapes the project
- (34:36) Advice for sister teams launching podcasts
Key Takeaways:
- A dying mother’s memoir launched a multi-year investigation into a family’s Nazi-linked past
- Suzanne and Stephanie Rico used journalism, science, and family archives to create an award-winning podcast
- Their grandfather designed Hitler’s V-1 vengeance weapon and joined the Nazi party for career survival
- The sisters’ emotional journey included confronting Holocaust survivors and family myths
- Sisterhood, resilience, and truth-telling are at the heart of both their podcast and their lives
Guest Bios:
Suzanne Rico is a former TV journalist turned podcast creator. She’s the writer, narrator, and producer of The Man Who Calculated Death, a deeply personal and award-winning exploration of her family’s past.
Stephanie Rico is a sustainability strategist with a background in science. Fluent in German and equally devoted to the investigation, she joined her sister on this podcast journey, helping uncover crucial documents and interviewing family members.
Kallan Kagan is a creative producer and co-executive producer of Call Me Friend. With a background in storytelling, branding, and creative development, she brings a unique blend of heart and strategy to every project. As Daryn Kagan’s sister, Kallan offers a behind-the-scenes force of connection, structure, and style, helping to shape the podcast’s vision, tone, and emotional impact.
Resource Links:
- 🎧 Listen to The Man Who Calculated Death: Available on all major platforms
- 🌐 Bonus content and photos: TheManWhoCalculatedDeath.com
- CallMeFriendPodcast.com – Join the conversation or leave a voicemail
- Miss Lou’s Cabin:airbnb.com/h/mslouscabin
- Call Me Friend Hotline: 912-766-0446 Call Daryn, leave a message, let her know about one of your friends who would make a great story.
- Daryn’s Book: Hope Possible: A Network News Anchor’s Thoughts On Losing Her Job, Finding Love, A New Career, and My Dog, Always My Dog https://amzn.to/3GPcicB
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