The fourth season of the hit true crime docuseries “Betrayal” has arrived, and it tells one of the most disturbing stories the franchise has ever covered. “Betrayal: Dirty Secrets” centers on Karoline Borega, a woman who discovered that her husband, Joel Kern, a respected Colorado Springs police officer, had been living a secret double life filled with infidelity and abuse of his position. The three-part series premiered on August 4, 2026, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. But how did this story make the jump from a personal nightmare to a major docuseries? The answer lies in a late-night drive, a podcast discovery, and a leap of faith.
Karoline Borega Discovered the Betrayal Podcast While Driving With Her Daughter
The journey to “Betrayal: Dirty Secrets” began with a moment of chance. Karoline Borega was driving with her then-16-year-old daughter, Nicole, in the middle of the night when she came across Andrea Gunning’s “Betrayal” podcast. At that time, Borega and her daughter were just beginning to uncover the truth about Joel Kern’s actions. The podcast resonated with them on a deep level, as it told stories of betrayal similar to what they were experiencing.
Borega was moved by the strength and bravery of the women featured on the podcast. After listening to a few episodes, she felt inspired to reach out to Gunning. She wrote to the podcast host requesting that her family’s story be featured. It was a bold move, but one that would eventually lead to the creation of the docuseries.
Andrea Gunning Knew the Story Had to Become a Season After Hearing Joel Kern’s Recordings
When Andrea Gunning first received Borega’s message, she was intrigued. Gunning initially believed that Borega’s story could be adapted for “Betrayal: Dirty Secrets”. However, she became certain about the project after reviewing the evidence.
“When we saw the investigation files and heard the recordings, they really showed the extent of Joel’s behavior and his lies, and we knew this had to be a season.”
The investigation files and audio recordings revealed the full scope of Kern’s deception. They showed how a man who was supposed to uphold the law had been using his position to pursue a secret sexual life. The recordings provided undeniable proof of his actions, making it clear that this was a story that needed to be told.
The Docuseries Exposes a Police Officer’s Double Life and Its Impact on His Family
“Betrayal: Dirty Secrets” tells the story of Karoline Borega, whose life was turned upside down when she learned about her husband’s years of alleged misconduct. Kern was having affairs with multiple people, and the number of his partners grew from two to eight to fifteen. He was described as having a “severe sex addiction” and would even “clock in” to work and have sex with other people in his squad car.
The betrayal cut even deeper because of Kern’s profession. As Andrea Gunning explained, police officers take an oath to be honest and truthful because they can take people’s basic liberties away. Kern’s actions violated that oath on every level.
One of the most devastating moments in the docuseries involves Borega’s daughter, Nicole. When Nicole was hospitalized with sepsis, Borega assumed her husband was working long hours. She spent days at the hospital with her daughter. But time-stamped photos revealed that on the same day a photo of the three of them was taken, Kern was exchanging messages to arrange meetings with other women. Nicole says in the trailer: “I was shocked my dad could do something so stupid. My dad, I don’t even know who this person is”.
Reclaiming Her Story Has Been a Healing Experience for Karoline Borega
For Karoline Borega, participating in the docuseries has been a way to take back control of her narrative. Before the truth came out, there were many lies and narratives created that pointed the finger at her. People had a lot of blind trust in Kern’s word, and no one took ownership of what he had been doing.
Borega emphasized that everything she says in the podcast and docuseries is vetted, fact-checked, and corroborated by multiple sources. The truth has been incredibly vindicating and validating for her.
“I not only see it as justice, but I feel like it’s validation for the storytellers and the women who write in…it’s so validating to see that the split screen life and what you thought was normal is something that you able to heal from and you begin to feel this validation and truth from.”
Borega hopes that her story will inspire and validate other women who reach out to Gunning’s podcast.
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Andrea Gunning Says People Stay for the Healing and Resilience
Andrea Gunning has hosted the “Betrayal” podcast and worked on multiple seasons of the docuseries. She knows what draws audiences to these stories. As she put it: “I always say people come for the intrigue of what the lie and the deception is, but they stay for the healing and the resilience. They stay for that”.
Gunning believes that the docuseries is more than just true crime entertainment. It serves as a reminder that no deception is permanent and that women can rebuild their lives. Both Borega and Gunning see the series as a testament to the bravery of women who have healed and fought back through their resilience.
Previous seasons of the docuseries include “Betrayal: The Perfect Husband” (2023), “Betrayal: A Father’s Secret” (2024), and “Betrayal: Under His Eye” (2025). “Betrayal: Dirty Secrets” continues the franchise’s tradition of investigating stories of trust and deception.
The three-part docuseries features key interviews with Karoline Borega and her daughter Nicole, as well as one of Joel Kern’s ex-lovers. It also includes exclusive videos from the internal affairs investigation conducted by the Colorado Springs Police Department. The series is streaming now on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
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