Wolf Entertainment – Spotlight: Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi

Photo credit: Belathée Photography

With 21 years of experience in the field, former Brooklyn homicide officer Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi knows a thing or two about true crime. She’s shared her expertise as a former host of True belief and current host of the podcast “Anatomy of Murder,” she’s now helming the first season of Wolf Entertainment’s new podcast “Law & Order: Criminal Justice System,” which delves into the world of the American Mafia in New York City, chronicling the real-life downfall of the most notorious criminal organization in history. We spoke with Anna-Sigga about what she’s learned throughout her career, what it’s like to see your work in action when you watch Law and orderand why she wants the public to listen to this new true crime podcast.

Q: How did you become interested in a career as a homicide prosecutor?

A: From my first semester in law school, I just knew I had to be a prosecutor. When I started at the Brooklyn DA’s office and got into the courtroom, I truly found my calling as a trial attorney. From that point on, homicide has been the pinnacle of the law, at least in the way we look at it professionally. Of my 21 years as a prosecutor, I spent 17 as a homicide prosecutor, and I loved everything about it. The challenge of “solving” and putting the pieces of each case together for the jury was exhilarating, and I learned something new from each case. Most importantly, it has always been meaningful to me to be a voice for the voiceless. I have seen the devastation that homicide cases leave behind since I was a child; when a niece of mine was murdered, her parents became a shell of their former selves, and they were never the same again. While there are so many different types of cases that deserve our attention, I felt that homicide was the avenue I needed to take to be that voice.

Q: How would you describe your experience as a female prosecutor in a murder case?

A: In summary: fun and demanding. When I started as a homicide prosecutor, there weren’t as many women in the field as there are now. We were generally treated well, although of course there were a few people who didn’t respect us. I’ll never forget a judge who wouldn’t talk to me directly; he only wanted to talk to my male colleague. But I saw that as a challenge. Go ahead and underestimate me — we’ll see what happens in the courtroom. Today, there are significantly more female homicide prosecutors in general, and I think that’s great. I think it’s a reflection of the fact that more women are saying I can do anything I want.

Q: How was your work similar to what we see on Law & Order, and how was it different?

A: I’m not lying to you — Law and order is my favorite TV show ever! Part of the reason is that it is so close to real life. Even though there is a touch of Hollywood in it, it really understands what we do. I appreciate that they emphasize the good and don’t shy away from the bad, both in the individual characters and in the system as a whole. The truth is, it’s not a perfect system and we’re not perfect people, but most people do their jobs to the best of their ability, honestly and sincerely. Let me tell you, their offices look better than ours! I’ve also never given a perfect three-minute summary like Jack McCoy could. But I still saw my life reflected on television when I watched the show.

Q: What life lessons have you learned from your time as a prosecutor?

A: First, love what you do. I didn’t make a lot of money for years, but I loved every day at work, and with so much of our lives spent working, that’s priceless. In the same way, I’m doing exactly what I want to do now, and that’s important to me. Second, be prepared. That’s essential. There’s no excuse not to know your business. I think I look at a lot of things in life the same way — I try to think things through in advance, because there will still be surprises, and general knowledge helps us deal with them better. Finally, never take life and the people you love for granted. For decades, I’ve seen people lose loved ones every day, and their lives are never the same again. Seeing their pain has been the hardest part of my job, but the most rewarding has been being able to hold someone’s hand through their grief. I often remind myself that it can all be over in the blink of an eye.

Q: Tell us about “Law & Order: Criminal Justice System.”

A: Our first season tackles the topic of organized crime, specifically the American Mafia in New York City. Mafia stories have fascinated audiences for decades, but seeing them through the lens of those who actually worked the cases or were affected by their reach is on a whole other level. This show brings that perspective to the listener and gives an inside look at how the government has taken on this massive organization. I’m so glad that Law and order has decided to take this iconic series to the next level and tell the stories through the voices of those who lived it.

Q: What do you hope people learn or take away from the podcast?

A: Where there’s a will, there’s a way. In the case of the stories we cover this season, law enforcement and prosecutors were faced with what they saw as the insurmountable task of taking down an organization that had dominated New York City for years. Yet they didn’t give up, and instead they thought outside the box and came up with new approaches. When things didn’t go their way, they pivoted and ended up in the right place, albeit by a different route. I think if we do that in life, we can get exactly where we need to be. It’s a great example of the criminal justice system in motion, which is at the heart of this podcast.

“Law & Order: Criminal Justice System” will air live on iHeart and Apple Podcasts beginning Monday, August 22. Watch the official trailer here.