About this episode
<p>Josh Mankiewicz and Craig Melvin sit down to talk about Craig’s episode, “Return to the Lake.” In 1994, the disappearance of two young brothers, Michael and Alex Smith, following an alleged carjacking in Union, South Carolina, was all anyone could talk about. The nation felt their mother’s despair as she told the harrowing story of a man who drove off with her two young boys after threatening her at gunpoint. Nine days after Michael and Alex disappeared, Susan Smith confessed to the unimaginable – she had killed her sons. Josh and Craig discuss Craig’s heartbreaking interview with David Smith about the deaths of his sons 30 years ago and his ex-wife’s recent bid for parole. Dateline Producer Carol Gable joins Josh to discuss the letters she and Susan Smith have exchanged for the past 20 years and to answer questions from social media.</p><p>Listen to the full episode of “Return to the Lake” on Apple: https://apple.co/3CM39jz</p><p>Listen to the full episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/13y8ZWq4lKB5kM9ZY7Crli</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>
Listen to this episode in English to learn English
Podcast episodes are one of the highest-density ways to absorb English at native pace. Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake from Dateline NBC gives you natural dialogue, unscripted speech, and vocabulary that actually appears in real conversations.
In the Clue app, every word in the transcript is tappable. Tap an unknown word, see the translation in your language instantly, and keep listening without breaking flow.
Episodes to Learn English
- True Confession Jun 12, 2026
- Karen Read's bombshell lawsuit. Twist in Crystal Rogers case. Plus, Legally Brunette host Emily Simpson. Jun 11, 2026
- Talking Dateline: A Killing in Midtown Jun 10, 2026
- A Killing in Midtown Jun 9, 2026
- Dateline Presents: Five Miles From Home Jun 8, 2026
- Lester Holt on Luigi Mangione. Divorce attorney on trial for client's murder. Plus, ankle monitors. Jun 4, 2026
- Talking Dateline: The Devil Wore White - Update Jun 3, 2026
- The Devil Wore White - Update Jun 2, 2026
- Introducing: Five Miles From Home Jun 1, 2026
- TikTok star accused of hiring hit man. Hemlock and magic spells at a murder trial. Plus, the Bexley Box. May 28, 2026
- Consumed May 27, 2026
- The House on Badger Lane May 26, 2026
- An American fugitive in Italy. A detective's alleged Instagram account. Plus, Kristil's Law. May 21, 2026
- Talking Dateline: In the Matter of Alex Murdaugh May 20, 2026
- In the Matter of Alex Murdaugh May 19, 2026
- Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions thrown out. A new search for Kristin Smart. Plus, AI and murder. May 14, 2026
- Talking Dateline: Breaking Point May 13, 2026
- Breaking Point May 12, 2026
- Arrest in bank secretary's murder. A father's quest for justice. And wrongful death lawsuits 101. May 7, 2026
- Talking Dateline: A Window of Time May 6, 2026
- A Window of Time May 5, 2026
- Alleged double murder at USF. A husband accused of hexes and murder. And "Allegedly,” the new true-crime video podcast. Apr 30, 2026
- Talking Dateline: Book of Lies Apr 29, 2026
- Book of Lies Apr 28, 2026
- North Carolina mom allegedly poisons family. Singer D4vd arrested. Plus, sexual assault awareness. Apr 23, 2026
- Talking Dateline: Deadly Swagger Apr 22, 2026
- Deadly Swagger Apr 21, 2026
- A wife goes missing in the Bahamas. Utah mom's alleged plot to kill son-in-law. Plus, crimes abroad. Apr 16, 2026
- Talking Dateline: The Gorge Apr 15, 2026
- The Gorge Apr 14, 2026