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Submit ReviewIn this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary “Longest Third Date," out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Brent Hodge.
After a pair of dates, Matt and Khani decided to go on a spontaneous getaway to Costa Rica. While they drank Coronas on the beach, coronavirus was shutting the world down. And when all air travel to the United States was canceled, the couple found themselves stranded indefinitely in Central America. Now thrown together, the two had to navigate life in lockdown while waiting two and half months to go home. Using video Matt captured on his iPhone, “Longest Third Date” follows the couple’s efforts to find housing, pass the time, and get to know a person they just met on a dating app. After Matt and Khani’s story went viral, the couple needed to confront an unspoken question: would this relationship of necessity continue when they returned?
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Longest Third Date" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Floyd Russ.
In the confusion after two explosions at the marathon finish line, two bombers slip away with the panicked crowd into the streets of Boston. It leaves investigators with hundreds of victims injured, a trampled crime scene, and no good leads. When they realize the cops are on to them, the Tsarnaev brothers extend their deadly crime spree in an attempt to escape. After a week of terror, the entire city shuts down to bring the bombers to justice.
“American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing” brings us the stories of the victims at the finish line, the investigators who pursued the culprits, and the patrolmen who engaged the fugitives in a deadly firefight in a quiet neighborhood.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Emergency NYC" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews directors Adi Barash and Ruthie Shatz.
With more than 300 rescue calls a minute, emergency medicine in New York City is a fast-paced world where time and skill make the difference between life and death. The staff at Lenox Hill Hospital are constantly confronted by those who need care in the gravest of situations: a teenager caught in a shootout, a teacher needing a liver transplant, an opera singer with a brain tumor. But these doctors and nurses are also witnesses to the public health challenges of the day. The scourge of gun violence; the lingering effects of care delayed by the pandemic; and the burnout of their colleagues likely to leave medicine altogether. “Emergency NYC” brings the struggles and triumphs of helicopter flight nurses, paramedics, and a staff of world-class surgeons, as well as the many patients who need their help the most.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Emergency NYC" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
The tragedy at Waco became a rallying cry for the anti-government movement within America and the foundation for arguments surrounding gun rights and religious freedom. In this final episode of the Waco companion podcast, Tiller speaks again with Lee Hancock and then with Bob Ricks, the FBI’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge, about the FBI’s failed response to Waco, rampant conspiracy theories, government distrust, Waco’s connection to the Oklahoma City Bombing a year later, and how the events of 30 years ago resonates through to the present day.
Waco: American Apocalypse is streaming now on Netflix.
In the third episode of this special series, we explore the enduring emotional toll Waco had on those who were directly involved. Tiller speaks to Lee Hancock about the challenge of objectively reporting on Waco during those 51 days in 1993, and the lasting trauma the story has had on her life. Then Tiller interviews KWTX reporter John McLemore, the sole reporter who covered the ATF raid live - and whose life and career were upended by it. And finally we hear from David Thibodeau, perhaps the most well-known Branch Davidian alive today.
Waco: American Apocalypse is streaming now on Netflix.
Robert Rodriguez was an undercover agent with the ATF who embedded with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. On the day of the raid, Robert knew the Davidians were tipped off that the ATF was coming, and he tried to call the whole thing off. Despite his warnings, the ATF went ahead with their plan, resulting in the largest gunfight on US soil in over 100 years, and Robert was pinned as the scapegoat.
In a rare interview not included in the documentary series, Robert sits down with director Tiller Russell and recalls his time working undercover. He also shares in detail his experiences on the day of the raid and the toll it took on his personal and professional life.
Waco: American Apocalypse is streaming now on Netflix.
On this week's episode, we're bringing you the first in a four part special companion to the Netflix documentary series, Waco: American Apocalypse.
Director Tiller Russell and reporter Lee Hancock discuss the inspiration behind the series and then paint a complex portrait of cult leader David Koresh – the controversial figure at the center of the story – and how he was able to convince over 100 people (and perhaps himself) that he was a living prophet. Featuring interviews with FBI Agent Bob Ricks, Hostage Rescue Team Sniper Chris Whitcomb, Branch Davidian Kathy Schroeder, and Heather Jones, the last child to make it out of the compound alive.
Waco: American Apocalypse is out now on Netflix.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we're bringing you something special: the latest episode of We Have The Receipts, the Netflix podcast about all things reality, hosted by Chris Burns and Love is Blind's Lauren Speed Hamilton. And they're talking about the Netflix reality series “Outlast" out now on Netflix.
Outlast is a raw survival competition series where 16 lone wolves must outlast each other in the Alaskan wilderness in an attempt to win 1 million dollars. There is only one rule in this cutthroat game: they must be part of a team to win. And the winning team is with us on today's episode to talk about what went on behind the scenes, from off-screen kidney stones to on-screen sabotage.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Outlast" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “MH370: The Plane that Disappeared" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Louise Malkinson.
Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 was supposed to be a routine trip: a redeye to Beijing, with 239 people on board. But shortly after takeoff, the jet vanished from radar screens for good. “MH370: The Plane that Disappeared” explores three of the most contentious theories about the plane’s disappearance. Did the pilot intentionally veer from his course, sailing over the Indian Ocean until he ran out of fuel? Did hijackers commandeer the aircraft as part of a Russian propaganda campaign? Or did the plane carry sensitive cargo that forced the US military to shoot it down? Journalists, family members, and ordinary people hope to answer the question: what happened to MH370, the plane that disappeared?
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “MH370: The Plane that Disappeared" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Full Swing" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer Paul Martin.
Money! Fame! Legacy! All are constantly on the line for the professional golfers on the PGA tour. But navigating the personal and professional hazards off the course are just as challenging. “Full Swing” gives fans a chance to get to know the players through their wins and losses and witness what it takes to compete at the highest level in men’s professional golf.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Full Swing" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal," out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews directors Julia Willoughby Nason & Jenner Furst.
Alex Murdaugh was a third-generation lawyer in a powerful South Carolina family. But their reputation began to crack when his son Paul was behind the wheel during a fatal boating accident. The controversy rekindled interest in other deaths the Murdaughs were connected to - such as the unsolved murder of a high school classmate and the fatal fall of their housekeeper. Then the community was shocked when Murdaugh’s wife and son were murdered on their property. While under suspicion, Alex Murdaugh was wounded from a gunshot in what authorities say was a set-up.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Murdaugh Murders" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
(Listener note: This episode was recorded before the conclusion of Alex Murdaugh's murder trial.)
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Bill Russell: Legend" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Sam Pollard.
With his revolutionary defense, Bill Russell changed the game of basketball, winning a record eleven NBA championships and cementing the Boston Celtics as a dynasty. But throughout the 1960s, Russell grappled with his place in sports and in society, being among the first athletes to demonstrate in the civil rights movement and against the Vietnam War. His contributions to the game and to equality made him more than a superstar; they made Bill Russell a legend.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Bill Russell: Legend" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Gunther's Millions," out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Aurelien Leturgie and executive producer Emilie Dumay.
When a German countess died in 1992, she left her fortune to the only family she had: her dog Gunther. At the direction of Gunther’s caretaker, the world’s richest dog enjoyed yachts, private jets and started a pop group that was maybe a sex cult? The series “Gunther’s Millions” asks was there ever really a countess? Was it just a tax dodge? Or was it all an elaborate scheme by one clinically depressed man to see if he could - literally - buy happiness.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Gunther's Millions" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary film “Pamela, a love story" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Director Ryan White and Producer Jessica Hargrave.
From Playboy centerfold to sun-soaked TV lifeguard to that stolen sex tape, Pamela Anderson was always associated with beauty and sensuality. But she was objectified and easily dismissed by a lascivious press core, more interested in her physique than her talent. “Pamela, a love story” is an intimate portrait of one of the world’s most famous blonde bombshells, revealing a doting mother, a passionate activist, and a hopeless romantic. And just as she settles into the quiet life of her old hometown, she’s offered the opportunity for a comeback.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Pamela, a love story" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Break Point" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews showrunner Kari Lia.
After decades of dominance, tennis’s legendary names are leaving the game. Now a new generation of men and women athletes are ready for their place at the top. But who has the makings to be tennis’s next champion? “Break Point” is an intimate, globe-trotting look on the court and behind the scenes with the up-and-coming stars grinding it out on the Grand Slam circuit
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Break Point" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary film “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Colette Camden.
A driver’s assault on pedestrians is foiled by the man he picked up hitchhiking, striking him in the head with a hatchet from his backpack. The story of the rescue by a colorful, carefree drifter goes viral. Soon there are memes, TV appearances, and talk of a reality show for the man simply known as “Kai.” But those taken with Kai’s whirlwind, feel-good story overlook the obvious warning signs. Is the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker just a quirky vagabond, or does a violent person linger beneath the surface?
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street," out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Joe Berlinger.
Bernie Madoff was considered an elder statesman of the stock market, but hidden away from his legitimate securities firm, he was running an unregulated hedge fund. But it was all a Ponzi scheme swindling investors out of $64 billion. “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street” chronicles the rise and fall of a stock market giant. It also exposes the many missed opportunities to protect his victims and discover his scam.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street."
This series reveals the truth behind Bernie Madoff’s infamous $64 billion global Ponzi scheme - the largest in history - which shattered the lives of countless individual investors who had placed their trust in the revered Wall Street statesman.
In our next episode, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Joe Berlinger. If you haven't watched “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street,” make sure to add it to your watch-list before next week’s episode. Stay Tuned!
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street."
This series reveals the truth behind Bernie Madoff’s infamous $64 billion global Ponzi scheme - the largest in history - which shattered the lives of countless individual investors who had placed their trust in the revered Wall Street statesman.
In our next episode, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Joe Berlinger. If you haven't watched “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street,” make sure to add it to your watch-list before next week’s episode. Stay Tuned!
To finish out the year, we're replaying one of our most popular episodes of 2022.
Wherever he went, Simon Leviev’s entourage would follow. A carefully curated supporting cast – his business partner, his driver, his security guard – created an air of glamour and legitimacy. But who were these people? Were they in on the scam? Or were they as much victims as the women Simon swindled?
The Making of a Swindler Part 1 is a companion to the documentary, "The Tinder Swindler", only on Netflix.
To finish out the year, we're replaying one of our most popular episodes of 2022.
Wherever he went, Simon Leviev’s entourage would follow. A carefully curated supporting cast – his business partner, his driver, his security guard – created an air of glamour and legitimacy. But who were these people? Were they in on the scam? Or were they as much victims as the women Simon swindled?
The Making of a Swindler Part 1 is a companion to the documentary, "The Tinder Swindler", only on Netflix.
At the top of Rebecca's Best Of list, we're replaying her interview with “Descendant" director and producer, Margaret Brown.
The Clotilda was the last known ship to arrive in the United States carrying enslaved Africans, decades after slave importation was outlawed. The ship was burned and sank somewhere in the Mobile River, while its passengers would later settle in the community of Africatown. In the century that followed, the descendants of The Clotilda struggled to preserve their heritage in an Alabama town encircled by industrial property owned by the descendants of the slave owners. As a renewed effort to find the missing wreck gets underway, the community grapples with the implications of its discovery.
At the top of Rebecca's Best Of list, we're replaying her interview with “Descendant" director and producer, Margaret Brown.
The Clotilda was the last known ship to arrive in the United States carrying enslaved Africans, decades after slave importation was outlawed. The ship was burned and sank somewhere in the Mobile River, while its passengers would later settle in the community of Africatown. In the century that followed, the descendants of The Clotilda struggled to preserve their heritage in an Alabama town encircled by industrial property owned by the descendants of the slave owners. As a renewed effort to find the missing wreck gets underway, the community grapples with the implications of its discovery.
One of Rebecca's favorites of 2022, we're replaying her interview with "Trainwreck: Woodstock '99" director Jamie Crawford and producer Cassie Thornton.
Organizers from the original Woodstock tried to recreate the music and magic at a new three-day festival in 1999. But concert-goers expecting another groovy weekend were met with high food prices, dirty water, and mountains of litter. And promoters learned too late their audience wasn’t filled with 60s flower children; they’d drawn an army of rowdy thrash-rock fans who showed their displeasure by - literally - burning it all down.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie talks with Amanda Richards, the docs and docuseries writer for Tudum, Netflix's editorial companion site, about their favorite Netflix titles from 2022.
This year there were intriguing cold cases, historical crimes, and cunning con men. There were meltdowns at power plants and meltdowns at rock concerts. There was also plenty of drama on reality shows. We cheered for cooking, baking, catfights, and matchmaking. There were game shows that asked whether true love is blind…and asked “Is It Cake”?
Rebecca and Amanda give their top five favorite things from 2022.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Jessica Dimmock.
Between 1986 and 1991, the remains of four missing women were discovered in the same field in League City, Texas. Authorities couldn’t rule out the deaths were connected to a string of 30 murders outside of Houston since the 1970s. Then another string of disappearances began in the 1990s. Were all of these crimes linked in some way? And what is their connection to that secluded plot of land on Calder Road?
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Pepsi, Where's My Jet?" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews documentary subjects John Leonard and Todd Hoffman.
In a 1996 ad campaign, Pepsi claimed if you earned enough points people could get free sunglasses, leather jackets…or a Harrier jump jet. When a 20-year-old college student found a loophole that would let him obtain a $32 million plane for just $700,000, he and his friend began a campaign to claim the jet. “Pepsi Where’s My Jet?” recounts the landmark case of a kid who launched his own cola war and became the hero of a new generation.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Pepsi, Where's My Jet?" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary “Capturing the Killer Nurse" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Tim Travers Hawkins and author Charles Graeber.
Charlie Cullen was an experienced registered nurse, trusted and beloved by his colleagues at Somerset Medical Center in New Jersey. He was also one of history’s most prolific serial killers, with a body count potentially numbering in the hundreds across multiple medical facilities in the Northeast.
Based on the best-selling book The Good Nurse and dramatized in the Netflix feature film starring Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne – “Capturing the Killer Nurse” reveals the twisted story behind Cullen’s hidden spree of murders and how Cullen’s horrific actions underscore an even bigger danger still lurking in our healthcare system.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Capturing the Killer Nurse" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary “Descendant" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director and producer Margaret Brown.
The Clotilda was the last known ship to arrive in the United States carrying enslaved Africans, decades after slave importation was outlawed. The ship was burned and sank somewhere in the Mobile River, while its passengers would later settle in the community of Africatown. In the century that followed, the descendants of The Clotilda struggled to preserve their heritage in an Alabama town encircled by industrial property owned by the descendants of the slave owners. As a renewed effort to find the missing wreck gets underway, the community grapples with the implications of its discovery.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Descendant" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we conclude our look at volume three of the Netflix series "Unsolved Mysteries" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Robert M. Wise about his episode "Body in the Bay"
After Patrick Lee Mullins's small boat never returned from a ride on the river, search crews scoured the waters in and around Tampa Bay. Days later, his body was discovered in a shallow part of the bay, carefully tied to his own anchor…but his empty boat was recovered far out to sea. At first investigators assumed this was a straight-forward suicide, but the cause of Patrick’s death was not drowning. It was a shotgun blast to the head. “Body in the Bay” explores whether Patrick set off to take his life or whether he encountered something he shouldn’t have seen.
Note: We talk in detail about suicide in this episode. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you can call 988 anywhere in the US to talk with someone who can help.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Unsolved Mysteries: Body in the Bay" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we continue our look at volume three of the Netflix series "Unsolved Mysteries" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Gabe Torres about his episode "What Happened to Josh?"
In 2002, Josh Guimond left a party at St John’s University in Minnesota and was last seen walking back to his apartment. When his friends realized he never made it home it kicked off a massive search of the area’s woods and waterways. What could have contributed to Josh’s disappearance? The investigation would have authorities explore a romantic rivalry, a church abuse scandal, a killer targeting students in the area, and online secrets someone wanted erased from Josh's computer. Could any of these things answer the question: what happened to Josh?
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Unsolved Mysteries: What Happened to Josh?" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about volume three of the Netflix series “Unsolved Mysteries" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews series executive producer Terry Dunn Meurer and director Donald Eichar.
Over the next three weeks, new episodes featuring more unexplained deaths, baffling disappearances, and bizarre paranormal activity will be available on Netflix. "Unsolved Mysteries" is a series you don’t just watch. Viewers engage with the stories, offering more than 5,000 tips regarding the last two seasons at unsolved.com. Maybe you have information about cold cases, missing persons, and paranormal puzzles.
In this podcast we'll talk about “Body in Bags.” When a beloved single father disappeared and was later found dead, there was only one suspect. Now the U.S. Marshals Task Force is on the hunt for his girlfriend who is now a fugitive from justice.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Body in Bags" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary “The Redeem Team" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director and executive producer Jon Weinbach.
When the US added NBA players to their men’s Olympic basketball team in 1992, it seemed they’d never lose again. But in the years after that first Dream Team, the international competition got better and the American teams began to coast.
After a humiliating bronze-medal performance in 2004, organizers shook up the US system. A legendary coach assembled the nation’s greatest players with a renewed sense of purpose and a shot at redemption. But can these superstars learn to play together and bring the gold medal home?
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “The Redeem Team" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga," out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer Dan Cogan.
Powerful Wall Street hedge funds made a financial bet: if video game retailer GameStop went bankrupt, they’d make a killing on its devalued stock. But no one could anticipate an army of online day traders would prop up GameStop and squeeze the over-extended hedge funds that were short selling the company. What happened next made some people very rich, while bringing the nation's financial institutions to their knees.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Eat the Rich" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Miles Blayden-Ryall.
They slipped undetected in and out of the homes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and others stars just by watching their social media. They became known as The Bling Ring and their exploits were made into a book and a movie. But their stories didn’t end there. In “The Real Bling Ring” we go inside the crimes and wild times of these star-studded burglars, who preyed on the famous while seeking fame for themselves.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “The Real Bling Ring" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary film, “The Anthrax Attacks: In the Shadow of 9/11" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Dan Krauss.
In the days after September 11th, the nation was on edge fearing more attacks. When politicians and media figures began receiving letters filled with deadly anthrax, officials thought foreign terrorists were responsible. But when tests revealed the anthrax was a strain used only by American laboratories, the FBI turned its attention to the scientists who had access to the bacteria...including Dr. Bruce Ivins.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “The Anthrax Attacks" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Sins of Our Mother" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Skye Borgman.
Lori Vallow was known to friends and family as a devoted mother of three, a loving wife, and a woman of God. But then things changed. Lori joined a doomsday religious community. Her ex-husband was shot after a family confrontation…and the wife of her lover died under mysterious circumstances. Lori’s face was in the news after two of her children went missing - all while she was on a carefree Hawaiian honeymoon. Now she faces trial in connection with their murders.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Sins of Our Mother" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Listener note: The following interview was recorded in August 2022 and does not take into account any recent developments pertaining to the case.
In this episode of "You Can't Make This Up," Rebecca Lavoie is joined by Connie Wang from Tudum to discuss the best unscripted films and series on Netflix coming this fall.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary “Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director David Terry Fine.
Basketball referee Tim Donaghy worked his way through the ranks to become an elite official in the NBA. He and a friend from high school began placing bets on games he officiated. Soon, Donaghy’s picks were watched by organized crime - and eventually - the FBI. It unfolded in a scandal that threatened to take down the league. Was Donaghy merely using his inside knowledge of the game to win bets - or was he influencing the outcome to make money?
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Operation Flagrant Foul" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews directors Ryan Duffy and Tony Vainuku.
Notre Dame’s Manti T’eo was already one of college football’s biggest stars. His stature grew when he revealed his longtime girlfriend died at the beginning of his senior season. But on the eve of going pro, reporters uncovered his online girlfriend never existed. At a time when the public hadn’t heard of catfishing, football fans were left to wonder how T’eo could be duped by someone he never met…or whether he was actually in on the hoax.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Trainwreck: Woodstock '99" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Jamie Crawford and producer Cassie Thornton.
Organizers from the original Woodstock tried to recreate the music and magic at a new three-day festival in 1999. But concert-goers expecting another groovy weekend were met with high food prices, dirty water, and mountains of litter. And promoters learned too late their audience wasn’t filled with 60s flower children; they’d drawn an army of rowdy thrash-rock fans who showed their displeasure by - literally - burning it all down.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Trainwreck: Woodstock '99" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Trainwreck: Woodstock '99." The original 1969 concert promised peace and music, but its 1999 revival delivered three days of rage, riots and real harm.
In our next episode, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Jamie Crawford and producer Cassie Thornton. If you haven't watched "Trainwreck: Woodstock '99," make sure to add it to your watch-list before next week’s episode. Stay Tuned!
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “The Most Hated Man on the Internet," out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Rob Miller and producer Vikki Miller.
Kayla was stunned to learn her intimate photos were posted on a revenge porn website called IsAnyoneUp.com. It was run by Hunter Moore, a self-styled bad boy who enjoyed the humiliation of the victims and the adoration of his equally raucous fans. When Moore refused to remove her pictures, Kayla had only one person to turn to. That’s when her mother Charlotte decided she needed to take down who the press had dubbed “The Most Hated Man on the Internet.”
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “The Most Hated Man on the Internet" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “The Most Hated Man on the Internet." Hunter Moore was a self-proclaimed “professional life ruiner” who found fame in the early 2010s with a notorious revenge porn website. But then the mother of one of his victims began her own quest to take down this Internet bully.
In our next episode, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Rob Miller and producer Vikki Miller.. If you haven't watched “The Most Hated Man on the Internet,” make sure to add it to your watch-list before next week’s episode. Stay Tuned!
The twisted conclusion is revealed about the little girl who never really knew who she was. A reinvestigation of the cold cases of Sharon Marshall and Michael Hughes unravels the mystery of the little girl who never really knew who she was.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is a companion to the documentary coming to Netflix on July 6, 2022. The podcast is a standalone audio documentary and can be listened to before or after watching the film. If you are hoping to avoid spoilers, we recommend watching the film before listening to episode 3.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is brought to you by Netflix and Main Event Media.Narrator: Skye BorgmanWriter and Producer: Anna PriestlandExecutive Producers: Emily Bon and Jimmy Fox for Main Event Media, Skye Borgman and Matt Birkbeck.Sound Editor: Joel PorterSound Designer and Mixer: Reed Thomas LawrenceOriginal Music Composition by: Jimmy StoferBased on the books “A Beautiful Child" and “Finding Sharon” by Matt Birkbeck.
Special Thanks: Matt Birkbeck, Ashley Rodriguez, Scott Lobb, Nate Furr, Sandra Willet, Cliff Sevakis, Mary Dufresne, Megan Dufresne, and Steve Patterson.
If you are in need of support on any of the issues related to this podcast, please reach out to someone.
If you need to talk with someone, but aren't sure which service is best for you, Victim Connect Resource Center can help you.
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 oror online using a safe computer at www.thehotline.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Centre
National Human Trafficking HotlineHotline: 1-888-373-7888Text: 233733
ChildHelp National Child Abuse HotlineHotline: 1 (800) 422 – 4453Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone and text.
National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenHotline: 1 (800) 843 – 5678
National Suicide Prevention LifelineHotline: 1-800-273-8255
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Hotline: 1 (800) 662 – 4357
A so-called father’s obsession with his son turns deadly as the true nature of his crimes and aliases become clear. When the shocking past of federal fugitive, Franklin Floyd intersects with a Jane Doe mystery, an avalanche of secrets are revealed. With it, a resolution of the Sharon Marshall mystery seems closer than ever.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is a companion to the documentary coming to Netflix on July 6, 2022. The podcast is a standalone audio documentary and can be listened to before or after watching the film. If you are hoping to avoid spoilers, we recommend watching the film before listening to episode 3.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is brought to you by Netflix and Main Event Media.Narrator: Skye BorgmanWriter and Producer: Anna PriestlandExecutive Producers: Emily Bon and Jimmy Fox for Main Event Media, Skye Borgman and Matt Birkbeck.Sound Editor: Joel PorterSound Designer and Mixer: Reed Thomas LawrenceOriginal Music Composition by: Jimmy StoferBased on the books “A Beautiful Child" and “Finding Sharon” by Matt Birkbeck.
Special Thanks: Ashley Rodriguez, Joe Fitzpatrick, Billy Carter, Merle Bean, Jenny Fisher, Robert Schock, Dr Anthony Falsetti, and Heather Lane
If you are in need of support on any of the issues related to this podcast, please reach out to someone.
If you need to talk with someone, but aren't sure which service is best for you, Victim Connect Resource Center can help you.
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 oror online using a safe computer at www.thehotline.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Centre
National Human Trafficking HotlineHotline: 1-888-373-7888Text: 233733
ChildHelp National Child Abuse HotlineHotline: 1 (800) 422 – 4453Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone and text.
National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenHotline: 1 (800) 843 – 5678
National Suicide Prevention LifelineHotline: 1-800-273-8255
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Hotline: 1 (800) 662 – 4357
With escalating abuse and violence, a father becomes a husband, and very likely a killer. Sharon takes on a new identity, leaving her old life and her sense of self behind. A supposed accident leaves Michael in foster care as authorities discover his family was never who they said they were.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is a companion to the documentary coming to Netflix on July 6, 2022. The podcast is a standalone audio documentary and can be listened to before or after watching the film. If you are hoping to avoid spoilers, we recommend watching the film before listening to episode 3.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is brought to you by Netflix and Main Event Media.Narrator: Skye BorgmanWriter and Producer: Anna PriestlandExecutive Producers: Emily Bon and Jimmy Fox for Main Event Media, Skye Borgman and Matt Birkbeck.Sound Editor: Joel PorterSound Designer and Mixer: Reed Thomas LawrenceOriginal Music Composition by: Jimmy StoferBased on the books “A Beautiful Child" and “Finding Sharon” by Matt Birkbeck.
Special Thanks: Joe Fitzpatrick, Karen Parsley, Charles Engles, Merle Bean, and Mary Dufresne.
If you are in need of support on any of the issues related to this podcast, please reach out to someone.
If you need to talk with someone, but aren't sure which service is best for you, Victim Connect Resource Center can help you.
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 oror online using a safe computer at www.thehotline.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Centre
National Human Trafficking HotlineHotline: 1-888-373-7888Text: 233733
ChildHelp National Child Abuse HotlineHotline: 1 (800) 422 – 4453Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone and text.
National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenHotline: 1 (800) 843 – 5678
National Suicide Prevention LifelineHotline: 1-800-273-8255
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Hotline: 1 (800) 662 – 4357
A father pushes his daughter into a life of selling sex as friends attempt to make sense of it all. Sharon leaves behind her dreams of college and brings a baby into a world of sex work, controlled by the one person who was supposed to protect her. Once again, her new friends struggle to help her escape.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is a companion to the documentary coming to Netflix on July 6, 2022. The podcast is a standalone audio documentary and can be listened to before or after watching the film. If you are hoping to avoid spoilers, we recommend watching the film before listening to episode 3.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is brought to you by Netflix and Main Event Media.Narrator: Skye BorgmanWriter and Producer: Anna PriestlandExecutive Producers: Emily Bon and Jimmy Fox for Main Event Media, Skye Borgman and Matt Birkbeck.Sound Editor: Joel PorterSound Designer and Mixer: Reed Thomas LawrenceOriginal Music Composition by: Jimmy StoferBased on the books “A Beautiful Child" and “Finding Sharon” by Matt Birkbeck.
Special Thanks: Karen Parsley, Heather Lane, Rosario Sanchez, Michelle Cupples, and Jenny Fisher
If you are in need of support on any of the issues related to this podcast, please reach out to someone.
If you need to talk with someone, but aren't sure which service is best for you, Victim Connect Resource Center can help you.
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 oror online using a safe computer at www.thehotline.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Centre
National Human Trafficking HotlineHotline: 1-888-373-7888Text: 233733
ChildHelp National Child Abuse HotlineHotline: 1 (800) 422 – 4453Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone and text.
National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenHotline: 1 (800) 843 – 5678
National Suicide Prevention LifelineHotline: 1-800-273-8255
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Hotline: 1 (800) 662 – 4357
A bright and mesmerizing teenager tries to make her way in the world only to find her father is the one person standing in her way. Sharon Marshall navigates high school in the 1980s with a mysterious home life that troubles all those around her. As her teenage years unfold, so does the darkness of Sharon and her father's relationship.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is a companion to the documentary coming to Netflix on July 6, 2022. The podcast is a standalone audio documentary and can be listened to before or after watching the film. If you are hoping to avoid spoilers, we recommend watching the film before listening to episode 3.
Girl in the Picture Podcast is brought to you by Netflix and Main Event Media.Narrator: Skye BorgmanWriter and Producer: Anna PriestlandExecutive Producers: Emily Bon and Jimmy Fox for Main Event Media, Skye Borgman and Matt Birkbeck.Sound Editor: Joel PorterSound Designer and Mixer: Reed Thomas LawrenceOriginal Music Composition by: Jimmy StoferBased on the books “A Beautiful Child" and “Finding Sharon” by Matt Birkbeck.
Special Thanks: Heather Lane, Sherry Forston-Bailey, Lynn Clemons, Jenny Fisher, Diane Cranley, and Kurtis Bloss.
Resources:If you are in need of support on any of the issues related to this podcast, please reach out to someone.
If you need to talk with someone, but aren't sure which service is best for you, Victim Connect Resource Center can help you.
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 oror online using a safe computer at www.thehotline.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Centre
National Human Trafficking HotlineHotline: 1-888-373-7888Text: 233733
ChildHelp National Child Abuse HotlineHotline: 1 (800) 422 – 4453Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone and text.
National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenHotline: 1 (800) 843 – 5678
National Suicide Prevention LifelineHotline: 1-800-273-8255
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Hotline: 1 (800) 662 – 4357
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series "Web of Make Believe: Death Lies and the Internet" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Brian Knappenberger.
The Internet connects friends and strangers like never before. But that ease of communication, and the ability to mask your identity or location, can make the digital world a hunting ground: Spreading hate or disinformation. Extorting the innocent. Ripping off the unsuspecting. “Web of Make Believe” goes beyond the crimes of bad actors to explore the unseen ripple effects of their digital deeds. Whether they can damage an individual’s self-esteem, violate a community’s privacy, or even lead to death.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Rachel Dretzin.
Through personal accounts, "Keep Sweet" reveals the incredible events leading to the 2011 life sentence of Warren Jeffs, the self-professed prophet of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In a dramatic raid at the Yearning for Zion Ranch, which generated headlines around the world, law enforcement and Child Protective Service agents uncovered stunning evidence of systemic sexual, physical and psychological abuse.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey." From forced underage marriage and pregnancy - to a complete unraveling of the oppressive criminal cult of Fundamentalist Mormons under Warren Jeffs’ rule - the story uncovers extraordinary bravery battling tyrannical control in modern America.
In our next episode, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews the director and executive producer of "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey" Rachel Dretzin. If you haven't watched the series yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before our next episode that releases next week. Stay Tuned!
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series "Meltdown: Three Mile Island" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Kief Davidson.
In 1979, crews at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania were stunned when a series of malfunctions led to a partial core meltdown. Though plant operators said the situation was under control and no radiation had leaked, government officials questioned their honesty and debated whether a wide scale evacuation was necessary. Even after the largest nuclear accident on American soil had been contained, undetected dangers to the nation remained.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "Meltdown: Three Mile Island" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
On this special bonus, we’re going to hear an episode of the podcast "Factually! with Adam Conover" as Adam talks about his new Netflix series, “The G Word.”
Love it or hate it, the government plays a huge role in our lives. Adam explores its triumphs, failures and how we might be able to change it. In this podcast, The Fifth Risk author Michael Lewis turns the tables on Adam, interviewing him about how made the show.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are again talking about the Netflix documentary "Our Father" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Lucie Jourdan.
For decades, Dr. Donald Cline was a respected physician in fertility medicine. With the growing availability of home DNA-testing, many of the adult-children conceived at his clinic began to search for relatives of their sperm donor. It didn’t take too much digging to see many of these children were all the offspring of Dr. Cline himself.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "Our Father" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Please note that this episode contains material some listeners may find challenging. Please listen at your own discretion.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary "Our Father" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews documentary subject Jacoba Ballard.
Jacoba’s mother became pregnant with the help of an Indiana fertility clinic and donor sperm. When she used a home DNA kit to find possible half-siblings, she found more people than would be conceived by an average donor. Jacoba and the others realized their shared relative was the clinic’s doctor, Donald Cline.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "Our Father" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Please note that this episode contains material some listeners may find challenging. Please listen at your own discretion.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary "The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Emma Cooper.
Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe's tragic death spawned conspiracies and rumors leading all the way to the White House and which Hollywood legends are made of, securing her unique place in history. By piecing together her final weeks, days and hours through previously unheard recordings of those who knew her best, this feature illuminates more of her glamorous, complicated life, and offers a new perspective on that fateful night.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about "The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes." She was Hollywood's biggest star and her 1962 overdose rocked the nation. Hear directly from those who knew her work, her personal life, and secrets about her death.
In our next episode, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews the director of "The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe," Emma Cooper. If you haven't watched the film yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before our next episode that releases next week. Stay Tuned!
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary "White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Alison Klayman.
The clothing store Abercrombie & Fitch conquered malls in the late ‘90s with gorgeous models at the door, pulsing dance beats from inside, and a fierce scent all over. It had the aura of a popular nightclub where only the cool kids could get in. But while the brand was running white hot, its popular “all-American” image began burning out.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "White Hot" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about "White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch." All the cool kids were wearing it. This documentary explores A&F’s pop culture reign in the late ’90s and early 2000s and how it thrived on exclusion.
In our next episode, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews the director of "White Hot," Alison Klayman. If you haven't watched the film yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before our next episode that releases next week. Stay Tuned!
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the documentary series "Our Great National Parks" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Executive Producer James Honeyborne and Series Producer Sophie Todd.
Produced and narrated by former President Barack Obama, "Our Great National Parks" brims with wonder, humor, and optimism as each episode tells the story of a park through the lives of its wildest residents — and explores our changing relationship with wilderness.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "Our Great National Parks" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the documentary series "Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King" out now on Netflix. Our host Rebecca Lavoie interviews the director of the documentary film, Luke Sewell.
Gerald Cotten was the head of Canada's largest bitcoin exchange. While on his honeymoon to India, Gerald become ill and died from complications from Crohn's disease. His sudden death left the exchange in shambles because no one else had the password that controlled hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto-currency. But the circumstances of his death and the loss of their money made investors ask questions, did Gerald fake his demise to either cover substantial losses or to abscond with an untraceable fortune?
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
On this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the documentary series "The Andy Warhol Diaries" out now on Netflix. Our host Rebecca Lavoie interviews the director Andrew Rossi.
This breathtakingly expansive, six-part portrait of a legend chronicles the remarkable life of Andy Warhol from the intimate vantage point offered by the artist’s own posthumously published diaries. Though intensely protective of his personal life, beginning in the 70s Warhol dictated his observations to a typist. They capture his thoughts about his secret loves, his personal struggles, and his professional self-image. “The Andy Warhol Diaries” employs cutting-edge AI-technology that recreates Warhol’s own voice to narrate his own words.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "The Andy Warhol Diaries" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Today we're talking about "Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives." which is the latest documentary series on Netflix, directed by Chris Smith. Bad Vegan is about a wild four-part documentary series that explores how Sarma Melngailis, the celebrity restaurateur behind the glittering New York hotspot Pure Food and Wine, went from being the queen of vegan cuisine to being known as the “Vegan Fugitive.” Shortly after meeting a man named Shane Fox on Twitter in 2011, Melngailis begins draining her restaurant’s funds and funneling the money to Fox, after he cons her into believing he could make her dreams a reality... but only if she continues to obey his every request without question. Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. takes viewers on a journey more bizarre than fiction.
Today we're turning over this episode to our friends at Swindled, a true-crime podcast about white-collar criminals, con artists, and corporate evil. In this episode, we'll dive even deeper into the story of Sarma Melngailis, Shane Fox, and the scandal that took down a burgeoning vegan empire.
Today on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the true-crime series, "Worst Roommate Ever" out now on Netflix. Our host Rebecca Lavoie interviews the director and executive producer, Domini Hoffman about the terrifying series.
Every day in newspaper ads and online posts, people reach out to find someone to share a space and the cost of their rental properties with, but who is that stranger you just let into your apartment?
In this series, we hear about renters who go beyond leaving towels in the bathroom or getting behind on their utility bills. We learn about a man who developed a fatal attraction to his roommate. A boarding house in which men check in but don't check out. A con-artist who turned to violence to cover up his financial crimes. And a serial squatter who moves in then pays nothing and refuses to leave.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched "Worst Roommate Ever" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.
Today on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about "jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy" out now on Netflix. The lives of an emerging superstar and filmmaker intertwine in this intense and intimate three-act documentary following Kanye West's career. The documentary event showcases both his formative days trying to break through and his life today as a global brand and artist.
Our host Rebecca Lavoie interviews the directors, producers, and writers of "jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy," Chike & Coodie. Listen on to hear what they share about their experience capturing the footage that spans over two decades. Here is your SPOILER ALERT, so if you haven't watched the trilogy yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening.
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about "jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy" out now on Netflix. The lives of an emerging superstar and filmmaker intertwine in this intense and intimate three-part documentary following Kanye West's career. The documentary event showcases both his formative days trying to break through and his life today as a global brand and artist.
In our next episode, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews the directors, producers, and writers of "jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy," Chike & Coodie. We can't wait for you to hear what they share about their experience capturing the footage that spans over two decades. If you haven't watched the trilogy yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before our next episode that releases next week. Stay Tuned!
New to this podcast? We tend to talk about some pretty heavy stuff, from stories about true crime, scandals, and swindles... to documentaries ranging from socially conscious to emotionally gripping and suspenseful.
BUT TODAY on You Can't Make This Up, we are adding a little bit of spice and Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness! You better believe that on this episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie speaks with the most fabulous guest, Jonathan Van Ness himself!
Jonathan Van Ness is known as one of the stars of Netflix's Queer Eye and has been exhibiting his curiosity for years on his podcast Getting Curious. Now, JVN is bringing his own brand to his new unscripted series, Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, out now on Netflix.
In the show, Jonathan goes on location and talks with experts about topics that he wants to know more about (and we mean a wide variety of topics). We learn about all things Hair, Ice skating, Snack Foods, Non-Binary Gender Identity, and more!
If you like You Can’t Make This Up, please rate and review this show, and share it with friends. Thank you so much for listening!
Years before he was pretending to be a millionaire playboy, Simon Leviev was Shimon Hayut, the son of an Orthodox rabbi from a small town near Tel Aviv. In this final episode we take a deep dive into Shimon’s younger years. We’ll hear the true tale of his upbringing, his earliest crimes, and a chilling story that shines a new light on the making of a Swindler.
The Making of a Swindler is a companion to the documentary, The Tinder Swindler, now on Netflix.
The Making of A Swindler is a production of RAW and NETFLIX.
Presenters: Bernadette Higgins, Felicity MorrisProducers: Bernadette Higgins, Felicity MorrisSeries Producer: Georgina SavageExecutive Producer: Deborah DudgeonResearcher: Lucy BarnesSound Design: Emma BarnabyOriginal Score: Jessica JonesJunior Production Assistants: Rowan Lee-Potter, Shemsije ZeqiriProduction Executive: Nageena AhmedRaw’s Head of Podcasts is Sarah Harris. The Head of US Production is Kate Leonard-Morgan
It’s clear that Simon is a criminal mastermind. But that level of skill requires practice, and a certain amount of pathology. In this episode, Felicity and Bernadette try to understand the mind – and methods – of the Swindler. We hear from an old friend - patient zero if you like - who knew Simon before he was The Prince of Diamonds.
The Making of a Swindler is a companion to the documentary, The Tinder Swindler, now on Netflix.
The Making of A Swindler is produced by RAW and NETFLIX.
Presenters: Bernadette Higgins, Felicity MorrisProducers: Bernadette Higgins, Felicity MorrisSeries Producer: Georgina SavageExecutive Producer: Deborah DudgeonResearcher: Lucy BarnesSound Design: Emma BarnabyOriginal Score: Jessica JonesJunior Production Assistants: Rowan Lee-Potter, Shemsije ZeqiriProduction Executive: Nageena AhmedRaw’s Head of Podcasts is Sarah Harris, and the Head of US Production is Kate Leonard-Morgan
Wherever he went, Simon Leviev’s entourage would follow. A carefully curated supporting cast – his business partner, his driver, his security guard and more – created an air of glamour and legitimacy. But who were these people? Were they in on the scam? Or were they victims of his lies, as much as the women Simon swindled? In this first special episode, we look into the theater of Simon.
The Making of a Swindler is a companion to the documentary, The Tinder Swindler, now on Netflix.
The Making of A Swindler is produced by RAW and NETFLIX.
Presenters: Bernadette Higgins, Felicity MorrisProducers: Bernadette Higgins, Felicity Morris Series Producer: Georgina SavageExecutive Producer: Deborah DudgeonResearcher: Lucy BarnesSound Design: Emma BarnabyOriginal Score: Jessica JonesJunior Production Assistants: Rowan Lee-Potter, Shemsije ZeqiriProduction Executive: Nageena AhmedRaw’s Head of Podcasts is Sarah Harris, and the Head of US Production is Kate Leonard-Morgan
SPOILERS AHEAD! Today Rebecca talks with the director and producer of the hit documentary, The Tinder Swindler. Felicity Morris and Bernadette Higgins talk about how they wanted to focus on the women behind this story and the sophisticated nature of the con. They also explain why it can be so hard to prosecute swindlers like Simon. Plus, they introduce the upcoming You Can't Make This Up series, The Making of a Swindler. Stay tuned as we go even deeper behind this unbelievable story in a special 3 part series running over the next two weeks.
In this week's episode we take a closer look at a Netflix documentary podcast, 'The Last Movie Ever Made.' This podcast is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Netflix film 'Don't Look Up.' Today we have the film's Co-Producer and Podcast contributor, Staci Roberts-Steele speaking with our host, Rebecca Lavoie.
The production of the film's fictional global emergency was upended by a real-life global emergency that we all are very familiar with. 'The Last Movie Ever Made' podcast takes us inside the bubble as filmmakers invent a new way of shooting a motion picture during the global pandemic, COVID-19.
After the interview, you will hear a full podcast episode of 'The Last Movie Ever Made.' Much of the audio in the podcast is recorded guerilla-style on phones by the crew, with commentary from the film's many stars on how life imitated art.
If you like You Can’t Make This Up, please rate and review our show. Thanks for listening!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Today on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the highly anticipated season 2 of Cheer on Netflix. If you haven't watched it yet, Cheer season 1 followed all the ups and downs (literally) of Navarro College's competitive cheer squad as they worked to win a coveted national title.
In season 2, we reconnect with the Navarro College Cheer Squad, meet some new and incredibly talented Trinity Valley College Cheerleaders, experience the hardships they all endured over the past two years, and see the teams battle it out at the Daytona Cheer Competition of 2021!
In this episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie speaks with special guest, Director Greg Whiteley of seasons 1 & 2 of Cheer.
If you like You Can’t Make This Up, please rate, and review this show (and of course share it with friends). Thanks for listening!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Today on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the highly anticipated season 2 of Cheer on Netflix. If you haven't watched it yet, Cheer season 1 followed all the ups and downs (literally) of Navarro College's competitive cheer squad as they worked to win a coveted national title. Now season 2 is picking up right where the first season left off, and it's as binge-able as ever.
Today our host Rebecca Lavoie speaks with a VERY special guest from the series, Head Coach Vontae Johnson of Trinity Valley Community College Cheerleading squad!
If you like You Can’t Make This Up, please rate, and review this show (and of course share it with friends). Thanks for listening!
It's a New Year with new & exciting content coming your way!
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the highly anticipated Cheer Season 2, coming to Netflix on January 12th. If you haven't watched yet, Cheer Season 1 followed all the ups and downs (literally) of Navarro College's competitive cheer squad as they worked to win a coveted national title. Now season 2 is picking up right where the first season left off, and it's as binge-able as ever.
Our host Rebecca Lavoie will be interviewing some VERY special guests from the series next week, and we want to hear from you before then! If you have thoughts or questions to share about Cheer, tweet Rebecca, @reblavoie, and she might just ask your question to one of our guests on the next episode! Stay tuned!
This week, we are looking back on some of your favorite 'You Can't Make This Up' episodes of 2021. Today we are throwing it back to our interview with the editor, writer, and producer of Operation Varsity Blues, Jon Karmen, and the film's director and producer, Chris Smith.
You may have heard a lot about the 2019 college admission scandal, but you haven’t heard everything yet. Operation Varsity Blues goes beyond the celebrity-driven headlines with real conversations from FBI wiretaps. The film offers a rare glimpse of the man at the center of the scandal, Rick Singer, and the methods he used to help his wealthy clients cheat a system already designed to benefit the privileged.
If you have a favorite Netflix documentary from 2021 or a favorite You Can't Make This Up podcast episode, tweet our host @Reblavoie your thoughts. Thanks for listening!
In today’s special episode, we take a look back at some of our favorite 2021 documentaries, unscripted series, and more from Netflix. We are talking about a large variety of titles so come with your ears open; from “Cocaine Cowboys'' and “Britney vs Spears” all the way to "Tick, Tick... Boom!" and even "Selling Sunset." This is not your average, You Can't Make This Up episode.
Today our host, Rebecca Lavoie speaks to some friends from some of your other favorite Netflix podcasts and asks them what titles they couldn’t get enough of this year. We’ll hear from Krista Smith from the podcast “Present Company" and Scottie Beam and Sylvia Obell from the “Okay, Now Listen” podcast. But first, we’re off to London for our favorite Netflix UK watchers, as we welcome Tolani Shoneye & Gena-Mour Barrett from the "10/10 (Would Recommend)" podcast.
If you like “You Can’t Make This Up,” please rate, and review this show (and of course share it with friends)! Thanks for listening & See you in 2022!
And here are links to all of the shows mentioned in today's episode:
Tolani Shoneye and Gena-mour Barrett
Krista Smith
Sylvia Obell and Scottie Beam
“Catching Killers” retells the stories of some of America’s most notorious serial killers from the point-of-view of the people who caught them. Each film in this series recounts the investigation into one notorious killer.
One of the more terrifying cases is covered in the two-episode arc in “True Lies.” After a body is discovered in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge, a grandmother accuses her alcoholic boyfriend of being the killer. Laverne Pavlinac even provides more details, fabricated evidence, anything to get John Sosnovske arrested. She eventually talks herself into a confession which lands the two of them in prison. Soon after, police and reporters get letters from someone else confessing to the crime. Because of the peculiar doodles on the letters, the media dubs him “The Happy Face” killer
Today our host, Rebecca Lavoie is talking to one of the directors of the series, Alex Emslie. What did YOU think of Catching Killers? If you have thoughts and reactions to share, tweet @reblavoie. If you like “You Can’t Make This Up,” please rate, and review this show - and share it with friends!
Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about Catching Killers. This series retells the stories of some of America’s most notorious serial killers from the point of view of the people who caught them. Each film in this series recounts the investigation into one infamous case.
Next week, our host Rebecca Lavoie will be interviewing one of the series directors, Alex Emslie. Make sure to watch Catching Killers before then, and especially the two-episode arc "True Lies, Part 1 & Part 2: The Happy Face Killer" to follow along with Alex Emslie's insight into the case.
We want to know what story shocked you the most on Catching Killers. If you have thoughts to share about this series, tweet Rebecca @reblavoie and she might just read your tweet on our next episode! Stay tuned!
Spoiler Alert! If you haven't watched the wild ride that is Tiger King 2, go watch it on Netflix now. Today, our host Rebecca Lavoie is talking to directors Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin about all things Tiger King 2.
When we last heard from America’s most notorious big cat owners, Joe Exotic was behind bars. He had been convicted of animal abuse and planning the murder of an animal activist & CEO of a non-profit animal sanctuary, Carole Baskin. Jeff Lowe and Tim Stark formed an uneasy partnership to construct a new roadside zoo from Joe’s animals. And the unexpected fame of the documentary series, and unwanted attention from the authorities, now unearths some stunning revelations.
Tiger King is back and Season 2 is out on Netflix now. As you get ready to binge-watch away, today's You Can't Make This Up episode is a reminder of all the wild events that ensued in season 1. We will also share some snippets from our first interview about season 1 with the directors, Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin.
When we last heard from America’s most notorious big cat owners, Joe Exotic was behind bars. He had been convicted of animal abuse and planning the murder of an animal activist & CEO of a non-profit animal sanctuary, Carole Baskin. Jeff Lowe and Tim Stark formed an uneasy partnership to construct a new roadside zoo from Joe’s animals. And the unexpected fame of the documentary series, and unwanted attention from the authorities, now unearths some stunning revelations.
Stayed tuned for next week's episode where Rebecca Lavoie catches up with directors Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin again, but this time they'll be diving into all things Tiger King 2.
The Netflix documentary, 'Found' is an extraordinary tale of three teenagers who were born in China and adopted by American families. Though these girls live in different parts of the country, they discover through DNA tests that they are cousins and quickly become very close. They then decide to take a journey back to China together to find out more about where they come from. In this episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Amanda Lipitz and producer Anita Gou about this heartfelt film about self-discovery.
Have you learned anything about your family because of DNA testing? What part of this documentary moved you the most? If you have thoughts about this film, or you just can't believe how much you cried while watching Found, tweet Rebecca @reblavoie on Twitter and she might just read your tweets on the next show!
The Netflix documentary, 'Found' is an extraordinary tale of three teenagers who were born in China and adopted by American families. Though these girls live in different parts of the country, they discover through DNA tests that they are cousins and quickly become very close. They then decide to take a journey back to China together to find out more about where they come from. In this episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie gives you a sneak peek into one of the most heartfelt and moving films she has ever seen. Make sure to watch 'Found' on Netflix before next week's episode where Rebecca interviews director Amanda Lipitz and producer Anita Gou.
Have you learned anything about your family because of DNA testing? What part of this documentary moved you the most? If you have thoughts about this film, or you just can't believe how much you cried while watching it, tweet Rebecca @reblavoie on Twitter and she might just read your tweets on the next show!
The world of sports and true crime collide in the new Netflix series, "Bad Sport." The show examines the misdeeds of athletes,
coaches, officials... and even nations. Episodes include a point-shaving scandal in basketball, a
match-fixing case in soccer, an Indycar drug smuggling operation, and an insurance fraud involving
the assassination of... a racehorse.
But today we focus on the episode set in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. For decades, the Russians had dominated the sport of pairs figure skating. But that year, the underdog Canadian pair turned in a flawless performance, while their Russian competitors stumbled. To the shock of the sporting world, the judges denied the Canadians their gold medal. Then the Olympics was thrown into confusion when the French judge said she was forced to give the gold to Russia.
“Gold War” recalls the score-fixing scandal and looks at the two couples caught in the middle of
an international incident. In today’s episode, we speak to Lizzie Kempton, the episode director of "Gold War."
This is You Can’t Make This Up — where we uncover the true stories behind your favorite
Netflix documentaries and films.
For as long as we've had competitive sports, there's been scandal. In the new docuseries, Bad Sport, true crime and sports intersect, with firsthand accounts of some of the most shocking scandals you won't soon forget. Rebecca gives you a sneak peak into the series ahead of next week's episode, when she sits down with Lizzie Kempton, director of Bad Sport: Gold War. Watch it now so you're all caught up for next week's conversation!
In today's episode, we take a closer look at the documentary, Britney vs. Spears and speak with the film's director, Erin Lee Carr. Britney Spears was a mega-superstar and favorite of the paparazzi. Then Britney suffered a few very public meltdowns, the singer's parents and management team went to court to secure control of her vast fortune and life. The conservatorship allowed others to manage Britney's personal life and career. A process designed to protect the elderly and infirm was being used to control a celebrity who continued to make millions for the people holding the reins.
In the 1970s police at Ohio State University arrested a man for a string of campus rapes. When examined by a doctor, it was determined that Billy Milligan had what was called multiple personality disorder. His personas were of different ages, genders, and temperaments. Milligan's case fascinated the public, law enforcement, and medical experts alike.
Join us this week as our host, Rebecca Lavoie sits down with Billy Milligan's sister and veteran teacher, Kathy Preston.
This episode contains spoilers, so make sure to watch all four episodes of “Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan” before listening on.
The Guilty takes place over the course of a single morning in a 911 dispatch call center. Call operator Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) tries to save a caller in grave danger—but he soon discovers that nothing is as it seems, and facing the truth is the only way out.
Watch The Guilty on Netflix October 1.
Bob Ross brought joy to millions as the world's most famous art instructor on the TV series “The Joy of Painting.” But beyond the iconic hair, soothing voice, and nostalgic paintings, lies a mystery involving the artist’s personal life and business empire. This week we take a closer look at his legacy with Joshua Rofé, the producer and director of “Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed”.
Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is a six-part documentary series on the South Florida traffickers indicted in one of the largest drug cases in U.S. history. Cuban exiles Augusto “Willy” Falcon and Salvador “Sal” Magluta were accused of smuggling over 75 tons of cocaine into the U.S. in the 1980s. The high school friends built a reputed $2 billion empire that made Willy and Sal, aka “Los Muchachos,” two of Miami’s biggest celebrities.
Up this week, our host Rebecca Lavoie sits down with two fascinating contributors to the "Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami" series. First up, former drug kingpin ,Jorge Valdes. Then we hear from Sal's girlfriend, Marilyn Bonchea.
This episode contains spoilers, so make sure to watch all six episodes of “Cocaine Cowboys: Kings of Miami” before listening on. Stay tuned for next week's Part Two podcast episode with a very special guest to be announced!
Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is a six-part documentary series on the South Florida traffickers indicted in one of the largest drug cases in U.S. history. Cuban exiles Augusto “Willy” Falcon and Salvador “Sal” Magluta were accused of smuggling over 75 tons of cocaine into the U.S. in the 1980s. The high school friends built a reputed $2 billion empire that made Willy and Sal, aka “Los Muchachos,” two of Miami’s biggest celebrities.
Up this week, our host Rebecca Lavoie sits down with the "Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami" series director and executive producer Billy Corben and executive producer Alfred Spellman.
This episode contains spoilers, so make sure to watch all six episodes of “Cocaine Cowboys: Kings of Miami” before listening on. Stay tuned for next week's Part Two podcast episode with a very special guest to be announced!
Ex-leaders and a survivor of the so-called "conversion therapy" movement speak out about its harm to the LGBTQ+ community and its devastating persistence. In this episode, Rebecca Lavoie speaks with Director Kristine Stolakis and producer Jessica Devaney about the Netflix documentary film "Pray Away."
This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch all of "Pray Away" before listening on.
Suburban father “Toby” Curtsinger was bored when he began smuggling and selling bottles of rare and expensive whiskey from the distillery where he worked in Frankfort, Kentucky. But what seemed like an easy way to improve his family’s quality of life, soon escalated from a side hustle of booze-skimming to organized crime.
In this episode, Rebecca Lavoie speaks with Executive Producer Nick Frew about "The Bourbon King" -- part three of our special coverage of all three stories featured in the docuseries "Heist."
This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch both episodes of "The Bourbon King" before listening on.
Karls Monzon immigrated to Miami from Cuba in search of his American dream to own a home, a nice car, and start a family. But when his wife struggled to have children, he hatched a plan to pay for an expensive adoption by stealing millions in cash delivered by plane to Miami International Airport. And he did all the research he needed to pull off the heist by watching American TV.
Up for discussion today is “The Money Plane”—part two of our special coverage of all three stories featured in the docuseries “Heist.”
Rebecca Lavoie will talk with Oscar-winner Martin Desmond Roe, who directed “The Money Plane.” This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch both episodes of “The Money Plane” before listening on.
We’re kicking off the first of a three-part special from the Netflix documentary series, Heist. This series chronicles three of the biggest heists in modern American history through in-depth interviews with the people who pulled them off.
21-year-old Heather Tallchief felt lost in life until she was swept off her feet by prison poet and paroled murderer, Roberto Solis. Hypnotized by Roberto’s dangerous allure and practice of “sex magick,” she gets involved with the largest armored truck robbery in Las Vegas history, taking off with over three million dollars.
For today’s episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie is joined by Derek Doneen, the executive producer and director of “Sex Magick Money Murder.” This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch both episodes of “Sex Magick Money Murder” before listening on.
The murder of a French woman in rural Ireland sets off a convoluted quest for justice that spans decades and cuts across national borders. This week, our host Rebecca Lavoie covers the new Netflix docu-series “Sophie: A Murder in West Cork" and speaks with Suzanne Lavery, the series’s executive producer.
This episode contains spoilers so be sure to watch all three episodes of “Sophie: A Murder in West Cork” before listening on.
If you like “You Can’t Make This Up,” please rate, and review this show - and share it with friends!
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Welcome to You Can't Make This Up, a companion podcast for Netflix's original true crime stories. In each episode, we take a close-up look at a true-crime narrative, documentary, or series, and our host Rebecca Lavoie talks to the people who made them. We dive deep into the backstories and get answers to questions raised by what we just watched.
This week, we’ll be discussing the documentary “Nail Bomber: Manhunt” with the film’s executive producer, Colin Barr.
"Nail Bomber: Manhunt," tells the story of a far-right extremist who, in 1999, detonated three bombs across London in hopes of instigating a race war. Through exclusive interviews with investigators, undercover informants, local leaders, and survivors, the film recounts how the city was terrorized for 13 days and ultimately how the community and police captured and brought the bomber to justice.
This episode contains spoilers. Please make sure to watch the entire film and then, listen on.
This episode contains *spoilers* so make sure to watch the entire series of "The Sons of Sam" on Netflix before listening on.
When the “Son of Sam,” David Berkowitz was caught in the summer of 1977 after a string of shooting attacks in New York City, the world believed the nightmare was over, but for journalist Maury Terry, the real mystery was just beginning. Terry was convinced that Berkowitz had not acted alone. He spent decades attempting to prove that the web of darkness behind the murders went deeper than anyone imagined.
In this episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie is joined by Joshua Zeman, the director and executive producer of the docu-series "The Sons of Sam."
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