IN CONVERSATION WITH TRISHA LAFACHE

interview by JANA LETONJA

Actress, writer, and producer Trisha LaFache, host and creator of the true crime and chart-topping podcast ‘The Unborn’ currently available on iHeart Podcasts, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc., gained acclaim for her role as the formidable plaintiff’s attorney in the Amazon Prime hit series ‘Jury Duty’. Drawing on her background as a former federal criminal defense attorney, Trisha advised the series' writers, helping them build realistic case arguments to enhance the authenticity of the court scenes. She has also performed on stage and, as a classically trained ballerina, choreographed and directed productions.

What inspired you to create ‘The Unborn’, and how did you first come across this bizarre true-crime story?

Great question. The story actually fell into our laps. My husband, Frank, who also serves as co-creator, and I are always on the lookout for projects that make sense for us to collaborate on, but we truly didn’t go looking for this one. The podcast centers on a story of a man named Jared in Avella, Pennsylvania and his experience with an ex-wife who went above and beyond to fake a pregnancy and potentially other crimes that we discuss in depth on the podcast. 

A friend of Frank’s called us out of the blue. He had been with one of the players while it was all unfolding and thought the story was unbelievable, like something straight out of a movie. He connected us with Jared, and when we spoke to him, we were absolutely blown away by what we heard. Jared wanted to tell his story, and we agreed. Four years later, here we are with you.

Pseudocyesis (false pregnancy) is a unique and underexplored phenomenon. What challenges or surprises did you encounter while delving into this topic?

Many, to be honest. Both challenges and surprises. We did a ton of research, and there are several theories about why or how this disorder occurs. But, at the end of the day, they’re all theories. We had never personally heard of pseudocyesis before, and what surprised us was that almost no one we spoke to about it had heard of it either. Whenever anyone saw a photo of Kristy, they automatically assumed she was stuffing her belly. But she wasn’t. We never found a doctor who had seen a woman suffering from a phantom pregnancy take it this far, “carrying” for nine months, let alone going to the hospital to give “birth.”

How did your background as a former federal criminal defense attorney influence your approach to narrating and investigating this story?

My background as a defense attorney definitely affected how I approached telling the story. I wanted to make sure we presented both sides as much as possible. We had more access to Jared and his friends and family than to Kristy’s. But even in her absence, we talked extensively with a psychologist and Kristy’s former best friend to paint a picture of how she could’ve gotten where she did. As the host, I’m far more interested in the why and how of things happening than just judging her.

What makes ‘The Unborn’ stand out in the crowded true-crime podcast genre?

Everything about it is different from anything I’ve ever listened to. There are other podcasts about people who were misled to believe one thing only to find out it was all a lie. But I’ve never heard a podcast that includes so many perspectives and examines how each person was affected by that lie. This wasn’t just a scam involving someone seeking attention and money. There’s an argument that partly it was, but it goes far beyond that and has so many layers. We’ve never heard a podcast that tells a sensational, “ripped-from-the-headlines” story while also examining possible mental health aspects and unpacking the trauma that could’ve caused the situation. It’s not black and white. We don’t ask you to see her as all bad just because of what she did.

‘Jury Duty’ became a viral hit and earned major accolades. What was it like to play Debra LaSeur, and how did you use your real-life legal experience to make the courtroom scenes believable?

As far as playing Debra, it was the single most rewarding acting job of my career so far. I had to do approximately six hours of court per day and make it look real. I felt enormous pressure to achieve that, so every bit of my real-life experience was utilized. I hadn’t picked a jury or written an opening or closing statement in a long time, and I forgot how methodical direct examinations have to be. It was a lot of work, but I loved doing it. Turns out practicing law is like riding a bike.

How has the success of ‘Jury Duty’ impacted your creative choices moving forward?

I think that working so closely with our showrunner Cody Heller, our head writer Andrew Weinberg, and the rest of the executive producers was really empowering. I proved to myself that there’s really nothing I can’t do if I’m passionate about it and set my mind to it. I’m ready for whatever comes next.

You’ve had a fascinating career path from federal criminal defense attorney to actress, writer, and producer. What motivated you to make that leap?

The truth is, it wasn’t a leap from attorney to actor. I always wanted to act, and I went to law school to maintain my father’s love. He is a criminal defense attorney and really wanted me to follow in his footsteps. So I went to law school in New York City and ended up getting an agent my first week of school. Writing and producing came slightly later, but ironically, the first pilot I ever wrote was based on my experience working on a federal death-penalty-eligible case in Brooklyn, NY.

From co-writing ‘The Unborn’ to hosting podcasts like ‘Heeled’, storytelling seems central to your work. What drives your passion for exploring unconventional narratives?

I’m always attracted to the story. Even when we did ‘Jury Duty’, everyone was kind of like “What are we doing? What is this even going to be?” And I kept saying “Trust me, if anyone sees this, everyone is going to see it.” With ‘Heeled’, the story actually happened to Kevin J. Hynes, who I met on the Fox TV show ‘Rake’. He’s incredibly funny. When he asked me to co-write and co-host with him, I thought the two of us together could bring something really special to the already outrageous story.

You’ve worked across various mediums—TV, film, stage, and now podcasting. How does podcasting compare, and what excites you most about this format?

We absolutely see ‘The Unborn’ as a scripted TV series or a movie. However, when this story came to us in December 2020, we thought a podcast would be a great way to create something immediately without waiting to see what was happening in the world. We ended up going to Pennsylvania last spring to get additional interviews that really filled out the show. Starting with a podcast allowed us to create from the ground up without delays. Later, we partnered with Audio Up as producers and eventually iHeart Radio, which was a big win for something we started ourselves.

When you’re not working on your many projects, how do you unwind or find inspiration?

I like to tell specific and unique stories that resonate with people. As for unwinding, let’s put it this way: My husband is a frequent collaborator. Last night, after spending time with my divorced parents, who are friends, we went to a bar for a drink. As soon as we sat down, I pitched him an idea to tweak the cold open of a film we’ve been working on. Immediately, he had his notes app out, and we started brainstorming. That’s how we often unwind,  with more work. But we love it.

photographer MATT KALLISH
hair and makeup KRISTINE LISMAN