Don’t miss an episode. Find us on:
Surviving one’s mother is a universal experience – if one survives. In this episode, I’ll tell you how I survived my mother – Phyllis Hall – a candidate for Worst Mom Ever. While the headline is her six months in prison for abandoning my younger sister, Phyllis did plenty of other awful things to fully earn that title.
Show Notes
Being a mother, I know: parenting is hard work. Not everyone’s good at it. Some people are downright terrible at it. And then there are people like my mom – Phyllis Hall – who was, in fact, criminally bad at being a mom. She literally went to prison for six months for abandoning my younger sister.
I was seventeen at the time – living in a shelter so I could avoid living at home. My mom, Phyllis, had fallen hard for a man named JOHN HALL. He became the love of my mom’s life, more important to her than her 12 year old daughter. Rose had lived pretty much alone in our house for six months – out in Bucks County while Phyllis shacked up with John in Philadelphia.
John needed to stay in Philadelphia because he was a criminal who’d figured out how to manipulate the criminal justice system. He was known around the DA’s office and the Police Department as “The Monsignor” because he got so many people to confess to him. They didn’t really confess, John made up all the confessions. But the authorities didn’t care because they were closing cases thanks to John. That was what mattered to them, not justice.
In this episode, I’ll explain what I think makes my mom tick. What drove her and still drives her to do the things she does be they careless, corrupt, chaotic or criminal? If ever there was a “mom from hell”, it’s Phyllis. And it’s time to meet her!
The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall and A L Katz. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.
CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS
The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST
Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST
Threads: @the.hall.closet.p
SUPPORT THE SHOW
Please visit our Patreon Page: patreon.com/hallcloset