Rising Star Alexis Linkletter: “Don’t be shackled by fear of judgment; There’s nothing that will make people want to work with you more than having confidence in your creativity and the conviction to follow through with your vision”
The concept of not caring what other people think of you is something that’s drilled into us by our parents when we’re kids. It’s only as an adult that you learn that no one is thinking about you. Everyone is focused on themselves and how they’re being perceived. Don’t be shackled by fear of judgment. There’s nothing that will make people want to work with you more than having confidence in your creativity and the conviction to follow through with your vision.
Alexis Linkletter is a Long Island-raised and Los Angeles-based true-crime documentary producer, podcaster, and investigative journalist with a focused interest in serial killers and police corruption. As a producer, she has been instrumental in the creative launch of several TV series, including “Unmasking a Killer” for CNN and “Deadly Recall” for Investigation Discovery. As a writer, she has contributed several true crime stories and essays to Vice on topics ranging from murder and matricide to the death industry and public policy reform. She is also an active podcast producer, writer, and interviewer who has conducted more than 100 hours of interviews with law enforcement personnel, victims’ family members, and convicted criminals for the podcast “The First Degree” with Billy Jensen and Jac Vanek.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I was born in California, grew up on Long Island, and returned to California when I turned 18 to pursue a career in entertainment. My mom is a lawyer, so growing up she was fascinated with various aspects of the criminal justice system. Her interest was passed down to me.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
I started working in TV as an assistant to three executive producers at Discovery Studios, which was the production arm of Discovery Communications. I started working on shows for “Shark Week” and wedding shows for TLC. I knew I wanted to work in the world of true crime, so I pivoted in that direction as quickly as I could. Once I was working on the types of shows I was interested in watching, I could feel I was on the trajectory, and I thrived from there. Once I understood how to produce TV series, a natural progression was to explore the world of podcast storytelling too. Now with the “Unraveled” anthology, I’m able to do something incredibly exciting by marrying my love of audio storytelling with podcasts with companion specials streaming on discovery+.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I’m constantly going down rabbit holes, finding new cases to obsess over, and building relationships with subjects. Many of these cases would be a perfect fit for more seasons of Unraveled. The latest anthology of our “Unraveled” series, “Once a Killer” explores the “one and done killer” phenomenon and how a new DNA genealogy is used to help solve decades-old cold cases. The five-part podcast is rolling out now, with new episodes released every Wednesday. The two-hour special is streaming on discovery+.
Aside from that, I’m executive producing a true-crime show for CNN titled “All That Remains,” which is a deep dive into a very high-profile Houston homicide case. I also produce and co-host a weekly true crime podcast called “The First Degree.”
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
To succeed in this field, you must have a truly organic and authentic interest in the material. The criminal justice system moves slowly, and some of these projects take years to get off the ground. This delayed gratification means that you must really love doing this and have the tenacity to keep the momentum going. The beautiful thing about podcasting is that anyone can do it if you have the patience to learn and the persistence to keep going.
In the unscripted world, whether it’s TV or podcasts, another thing to be acutely aware of is that you’re dealing with real people, not fictional characters. Approaching them with empathy and the understanding that they are allowing us into their lives, and the responsibility that goes along with that is essential.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
In unscripted storytelling in particular, diversity is essential. Diversity represents varied perspectives as well as an opportunity to teach, learn, and listen.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Honestly, this is not something I haven’t mastered yet. I think the entertainment industry puts tremendous pressure on creators to deliver more and more content more and more quickly. I do my best to unplug and put myself in beautiful places as often as I can, but admittedly, I’m always thinking about the next story.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Something I’ve become passionate about on the heels of the Unraveled series is various aspects of criminal justice reform. Especially when it comes to the use of forensic “science” and the use of paid trial experts. The “science” is often flawed and subjective and the room for error is immense. In our latest installment of “Unraveled,” we explore how murder cases went unsolved for decades because of inaccurate criminal profiling that led investigators in the wrong direction and how the use of new DNA technology helped solve these cases.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Joke Fincioen is the woman who gave me my first job in true crime as a researcher. Years later, “Unraveled” was created at her production company, Joke Productions. She was my boss, then a teacher, a mentor, and she’s always been my biggest supporter through every challenge this industry has thrown at me. It’s hard to imagine what my life and career would look like without Joke Productions.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
The concept of not caring what other people think of you is something that’s drilled into us by our parents when we’re kids. It’s only as an adult that you learn that no one is thinking about you. Everyone is focused on themselves and how they’re being perceived. Don’t be shackled by fear of judgment. There’s nothing that will make people want to work with you more than having confidence in your creativity and the conviction to follow through with your vision.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I’m Tamron Hall’s biggest fan. I’m fascinated by her versatility. Her energy. Her crime reporting is stellar, and the way she pivoted to hosting her daytime talk show was masterful. The compassion she demonstrates in speaking with interview subjects, as well as the conviction to ask the hard questions. Learning bits and pieces about her personal life through her show further demonstrates her ability to break preconceived notions about ambitious women, about motherhood, and beyond. She’s also shared stories of career disappointments and how she overcame those low moments, only to come back stronger.
How can our readers follow you online?
- Instagram @alexislinkletter
- Website: alexislinkletter.com
- TikTok: @alexislinkletter
- Twitter: @lexlinkletter
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Rising Star Alexis Linkletter: “Don’t be shackled by fear of judgment; There’s nothing that will… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.