What it’s like working on Darkness | The Murder of Irene Garza
This past summer, I had the opportunity to connect with Talisa Treviño, the host and producer of this season of Darkness. At the time, I had just stepped into my role as a marketing lead at The Drag, eager to contribute to something meaningful. The new season came out last week, Darkness: The Murder of Irene Garza. It is a six-episode series that explores the 1960 murder of Irene Garza, a young school teacher from McAllen, Texas, and the decades-long battle to hold her killer accountable.
From the beginning, it was clear how deeply Talisa cared about telling Irene’s story with the utmost sensitivity and respect. Her goal is to honor Irene’s kindness and heart while also amplifying the voices of other survivors.
Over the past few months, our team has worked tirelessly—script reading, recording, preparing marketing content and audio editing—to craft a season that is both informative and high quality.
Khushi Dahya, our lead graphic designer, carefully brought Talisa’s vision to life through stunning cover art that captures the essence of McAllen, Texas. Sara Kinney, former host of Darkness: The UT Tower Sniper, and now our executive producer, ensured every line and statistic was thoroughly vetted for accuracy and integrity. Jake Gripp, our talented audio editor, pieced together hours of interviews and narration to create an immersive, high-quality listening experience.
As for me, I hope my work helps bring Irene’s story to as many ears as possible. Everyone at The Drag poured their hearts into this season, and we can’t wait for you to listen to it.
Over the next few weeks, I will share more of our behind-the-scenes process to bring this story to you. The Drag’s mission is to provide university students a platform to tell stories like this one, and I hope to recognize each person who is helping to propel Irene’s story. As a journalism student, I’m drawn to stories that might otherwise be overlooked—stories that deserve to be heard. Irene’s case is a reminder of how important these stories are to preserve, and working on this project has reinforced my belief that journalism isn’t just about reporting facts; it’s about giving a voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves.
Stories like these don’t come together alone—it truly takes a village. From reporters to final editors, every person played a role in making sure Irene’s story is told with care and accuracy. I’m grateful to be part of a team dedicated to keeping these voices alive.
One of Irene’s friends once said, “She’s just a beautiful person. She was quiet, loving and caring.” That’s why this story deserves to be told, and why we hope you’ll follow along as we piece together the details of her life and legacy.
Be sure to follow Darkness on Instagram so you don’t miss what’s coming up next. And as always, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and let us know what you think of this season.
