Episodes
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It is with heavy heart that I announce the end of the Payne in the Pod era.
I'd like to thank each and every single listener and follower from the bottom of my heart for being so loyal. Thank you to each of my podcast guests who allowed me to ask my burning questions, and even get a little personal. Thanks for my friends and family who have supported this journey wholeheartedly. And finally, thank you to the podcast community for welcome this loud southern belle with open arms!
While this is the end of Payne in the Pod, don't you worry - I'm not leaving completely. You can still find my reality-tv-loving southern charm on Pink Shade with Erin Martin and the Patroon-only podcast Hey Bunkie. And you know I'm always listening to podcasts so let me know what you're listening to or if you need recommendations.
Love y'all - and I'll be in your ears again soon!
PS. Stay tuned to my announcement in July about my next venture!
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Mary Payne and her friend Doug Budin thought they were going to spend today’s episode recapping the hit podcast, Mob Queens. Instead, they got something better: a surprise entrance by Mob Queens co-host Michael Seligman. Mary Payne and Doug asked Michael their burning questions about the fascinating and mysterious Anna Genovese, a 20th-century New York mob wife and drag club maven.
The Hidden Story of a Mob Wife
Michael and his co-host, Jessica Bendinger, began researching Anna Genovese several years ago when they stumbled upon Anna’s name in numerous places across New York City. They began to research who she was--leading years of public records searches, followed by interviews with her surviving grandchildren and former mobsters.
Anna was the wife of Vito Genovese, a major player of the Genovese crime family in the 20th century. She also operated a speakeasy drag club in downtown New York, helping to solidify long-running ties between the drag community and mobsters. Anna eventually divorced her husband Vito and had a female romantic partner named Jackie (who herself was a drag king).
A woman ahead of her times, Anna is an adorned figure in some drag communities and the subject of rumors and speculation. During the Mob Queens podcast, Michael and Jessica separate fact from fiction and try to uncover the truth behind Anna’s folklore.
Questions, Answered
Mary Payne and Doug had A LOT of questions for Michael when he entered the conversation. Some include: Was Anna a CIA agent? Are her grandchildren in the mob? Why is her name excluded from her tombstone? Was it nerve-racking to interview former mobsters? Take a listen to hear Michael’s answers!
A Host’s Ancestral Journey
Another major aspect of Mob Queens was Michael’s journey to discover his family roots. While the results of his ancestral journey weren’t what he expected, Michael has received reassuring feedback from many of listeners who had gone through similar experiences.
Mary Payne and Doug agree that--albeit disappointing--Michael’s ancestral history search was touching and real. It didn’t need a fairytale ending.
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
Podcast Recommendations:
The Jungle Prince
The Shrink Next Door
Find Doug at:
Instagram – @dougbudin
Jeff Lewis Live on Radio Andy (SiriusXM Channel 102)
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Episodes manquant?
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Sheila Wysocki is a private investigator who uses her podcast, Without Warning, to crowdsource true crime cases in real-time. The third season of the Without Warning podcast digs into the mysterious 2008 deaths of Kadie Major, her baby River, and her unborn child, Aidan, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.
The Beginnings of Without Warning
Sheila became a private investigator in 2004 to discover what happened to her college roommate who was raped and murdered in the 1980s. After six years of work, in 2010, she helped to convict a man for this crime. Since then, Sheila has expanded her case portfolio across the US.
Sheila began the Without Warning podcast as a real-time investigative tool for some of her cases. She uses her podcast platform to receive feedback, assistance, and tips from listeners. In her first two seasons, she covered two separate cases on the deaths of Lauren Agee and Christian Andreacchio.
The Case of Kadie Major
Now in Season 3, Sheila is investigating the bizarre deaths of Kadie Major, daughter River, and baby boy (to be named Aidan Robert) in Moncks Corner, South Carolina in 2008. Sheila, fellow investigators, and her Patreon team are working with Kadie’s mom, Vicky, to find the truth behind their deaths.
Kadie and River’s bodies were found near a train track and quickly ruled a suicide. However, Sheila has found convincing evidence to question this suicide theory. This story digs into a strange and complicated world of Kadie’s husband, Aaron, and his immediate family. It also looks at the seemingly botched investigation by the local officials. As the case continues, Without Warning will continue to reveal more unbelievable and unworldly evidence about this case.
The Power of Women Investigators
One of Sheila’s primary motivations is the strength and determination of the grieving mothers of deceased adult children. Sheila works closely with these strong mothers on different cases to find justice and bring closure to these cases.
Sheila is also constantly amazed by her Patreon team--many of whom are also mothers--who are working with her to solve cases in real-time. If you think you have the investigative tools to help Sheila, then consider joining today!
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
Podcast Recommendations:
Culpable
Southern Fried True Crime
Brainscratchers
The Unlovely Truth
Three Men and a Mystery
Find Sheila at:
sheilawysocki.com
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Nikki Boyer returns to Payne in the Pod to speak with Mary Payne about her new podcast, The Daily Smile. Best known for her work on the Dying For Sex and Straight Talk with Ross podcasts, Nikki’s latest podcast brings listeners new episodes every weekday morning highlighting uplifting stories from quarentine.
A Must-Listen During Quarantine
Nikki and her colleagues at Wondery were already in discussions for creating The Daily Smile podcast when the coronavirus pandemic struck in March. As the world entered quarantine, Nikki and her colleagues believed it was the right time to bring people uplifting stories amid the pandemic.
Launched in May, The Daily Smile features daily episodes that tell feel-good and family-friendly stories to brighten your day. In each episode, Nikki tells stories of how people have turned pain, sadness, and grief into optimistic experiences. Mary Payne notes that this podcast isn’t all about sugar-coated happiness, but instead tells real stories that balance negative and positive aspects of life.
The Daily Smile’s first batch of episodes have included stories on the “real life Golden Girls,” a romance sparked by a drone delivery, and new pen pals. Nikki and her team are always searching for new uplifting stories to tell. If you have a story you wish to share, you can send an email to [email protected].
The Latest From Dying for Sex
Mary Payne and Nikki also talk about the enormous success of Nikki’s hit show, Dying for Sex (check out Mary Payne’s previous interview with Nikki on this podcast). Nikki is overwhelmed by the number of listeners reaching out to her who resonate with Molly’s story. Moving forward, Nikki is working to publish a book based on the podcast.
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
Podcast Recommendations:
Armchair Expert
Dr. Death
Julie: The Unwinding of a Miracle
Find Nikki at:
Insta: @nikkiboyer
Twitter: @nikkiboyer
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Kristen Meinzer is an overachiever. She currently hosts three podcasts, has authored three books (including a book on podcasting), and regularly delivers lectures and keynote addresses. In this episode, Kristen speaks with Mary Payne about her podcast, By The Book, in which she and her co-host, Jolenta Greenberg, experiment with different self-help books.
By The Book
Kristen and Jolenta are former co-workers living in New York City. Kristen is a culture critic and Jolenta is a comedian. In 2017, they decided to combine their talents and perspectives to create the By The Book podcast. Over the course of six seasons, Kristen and Jolenta have read and completed two-week trials on over 50 self-help books.
Kristen notes that some of the most helpful themes distilled from their self-help trials have included gratitude, living in the moment, and self-love. She notes, however, that many books are unhelpful, especially those written by upper-class white males who are disconnected from the largely female audience of self-help books.
In a recent season, Kristen and Jolenta focused exclusively on the first-edition of books written over 50 years ago. The results were hysterical--and demonstrated the drastic way our values have changed over the decades. Some of these older generation self-help books included “How To Win Friends And Influence People” and “The Joy of Sex.”
Spin-Offs From By The Book
In 2019, after receiving messages from listeners requesting more hands-on interactions, Kristen and Jolenta created the We Love You (and So Can You) podcast, in which they prescribe self-help guidance to guests. In this makeover-type show, Kristen and Jolenta use their self-help knowledge to develop a two-week “self-love trial” for guests, who make audio diaries of their experiences.
Kristen and Jolenta also recently published a book called How To Be Fine, which distills their lessons learned from their self-help journey of the By The Book podcast.
A Host of Other Podcasts
Kristen has also co-hosted several previous podcasts, including When Meghan Met Harry (which celebrates the monumental Royal Wedding), Lisa, Sandra, and Kristen Go to the Movies, and Movie Date.
Currently, Kristen and Newsday film critic, Rafer Guzman, host Movie Therapy, in which they “prescribe” movies for listeners facing certain issues or challenges. This podcast has picked up steam in recent months, with listeners having more free time to watch movies during these COVID times.
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
Podcast Recommendations:
Trashy Divorces
What A Creep
Spectacular Failures
Find Kristen at kristenmeinzer.com, where you can find her books, podcasts, and social media platforms.
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The Murderous Minors podcast occupies a unique niche in the podcasting world. It tells the complex, heartbreaking stories of children who commit terrible crimes. Mary Payne speaks with Simone (AKA Warbaby), the host of Murderous Minors, about her experience telling these stories and how she thinks our society can help children before they commit crimes.
A Warbaby Turned Podcast Host
The daughter of two Vietnam vets, Simone was born into a military world (thus, the “Warbaby” nickname). For over a decade, she followed the “military/defense” path by working in the aerospace industry before becoming a pastry chef. Over the course of her diverse career, she always had a love for writing. And as a mother, she is fascinated with true crime stories from a parent’s perspective.
In 2017, Simone brought together these interests and talents to create the Murderous Minors podcast, which has released over 60 scripted episodes that tell the stories (and backstories) of kids who kill. These episodes look into the “why” of these murders and tell the victims’ stories.
Why Children Murder
People are often shocked and appalled when they hear stories of children who murder. Simone is not. Children do crazy things because their brains are not fully formed and they do not think through the consequences of their actions.
Simone notes several common factors tying together the children in the Murderous Minors podcast cases:
Separation from mothers at an early age;Domestic violence victims or witnesses; andBehavioral warning signs prior to the crime.What Can Be Done
Simone and Mary Payne discuss how parents and other adults can help prevent these awful cases. Simone stresses that adults must be more involved in childrens’ lives and provide better guidance. Involved parents and mentors are also more alert to behavioral warning signs.
Simone also urges reform for the juvenile justice system and rehabilitation programs. There must be a better, more uniform way across all US states for authorities to give these children an opportunity for success once they return to normal life.
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
Podcast Recommendations:
Minds of Madness
Murderish
Generation Why
True Crime Garage
Southern Friend True Crime
Case File
Covert
American Scandal
Business Wars
Pod Save America
Find Murderous Minors on any podcast platform (including Apple Podcasts)
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Joe Nocera’s move to The Hamptons a decade ago had a most unexpected twist. The New York journalist’s quiet Long Island neighborhood became the center of one of the most bizarre and jaw-dropping stories in the podcast world.
In this episode, Mary Payne speaks with Joe about his experience creating The Shrink Next Door, which follows the doctor-patient relationship of Dr. Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf and Martin “Marty” Markowitz.
Something Strange in The Hamptons
Joe is a long-time journalist who has worked for several esteemed publications, including Esquire, GQ, Newsweek, Fortune Magazine, The New York Times, and now Bloomberg News. In 2010, while Joe was working for The New York Times, he bought a summer home in The Hamptons. In a strange series of events, Joe met his next-door neighbor’s groundskeeper, named Marty. Soon after, however, Joe learned that Marty actually owned the house, but had his life taken over by Dr. Ike Herschkopf, his therapist of 30 years. Joe later learned that Ike had assumed control of Marty’s business, had ruined his family relationships, and had even become the head of his household.
Over the next few months in 2010-2011, Marty’s sister, Phyllis, returned to the house to rescue Marty from his homemade prison. Marty eventually kicked Ike out and subsequently filed legal complaints about Ike’s abusive psychiatric practices.
La Familia
Joe’s curiosity about the drama next door prompted him to begin a nearly two-year effort to write an investigative story about Dr. Ike Herschkopf. Over the course of his research, Joe found that Marty was not Ike’s sole victim -- Ike had taken over the lives of several other patients.
During Ike’s career, he convinced patients to cut ties with their families, bring him into their business operations, and to put aside millions of dollars in their inheritance for Ike and his family. Ike created a cult-like group of patients, isolating them from their loved ones, making them dependent upon him, and pressuring them to join his social circle.
Around 2012, after nearly two years of investigative work, The New York Times decided against running Joe’s story. Years later, Joe collaborated with Bloomberg’s podcast team and Wondery to produce the story in podcast format. The show debuted in May 2019.
Where Are They Now?
Today, Joe still lives next door to Marty and his sister, Phyllis, in The Hamptons. Marty is now free from Ike’s grip and is enjoying several new hobbies, such as looking over his chicken coup and raising honeybees.
In 2019, the New York Department of Health took up Marty’s complaint about Dr. Ike’s ethical behavior. It is now reviewing whether or not to remove Ike’s psychiatric license. However, throughout the entirety of Joe's investigation and during the current legal proceedings, Ike has denied all allegations of ethical wrongdoing. He remains a practicing therapist today.
The Shrink Next Door to Hit the Big (Apple) Screen
In April 2020, Apple TV announced that it would create an 8-10 episode series based on The Shrink Next Door podcast. The lead show writer for the series is Georgia Pritchett, with Will Ferrell playing Marty and Paul Rudd playing Ike. Mary Payne will give listeners more details about this new series as they come available!
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
Podcast Recommendations:
Running From Cops
Dirty John
Find Joe at:
Twitter: @opinion_joe
Find The Shrink Next Door at Wondery. And stay tuned for “The Shrink Next Door” TV Series on Apple TV!
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Mary Payne speaks with Ryan Bailey about his hysterical new podcast, So Bad It’s Good. Mary Payne admires Ryan’s ability to dive deeply (and humorously) into Reality TV shows and other areas of pop culture--but tries to get him to cut back on his 4-5 hour episodes!
Ryan’s Journey to the Podcasting World
Ryan has always loved pop culture. He was obsessed with movies and TV as a kid, and later moved to LA to pursue a career in acting. He still lives in LA today as an actor (including appearances in past hit shows The Office and How I Met Your Mother) and an acting coach.
Ryan made his debut in the podcast world with Realizing Stuff with Kara and Ryan, a show in which he and his friend Kara would recap Keeping Up With The Kardashians (which, Ryan notes is a terribly produced and boring show). He then created his own podcast, So Bad It’s Good, in late 2019 that looks at all things pop culture.
The Making of So Bad It’s Good
So Bad It’s Good episodes are well-produced, detailed, and hilarious. Each weekly episode is usually 4-5 hours long, with time stamps to allow listeners to skip to their favorite content. The episodes involve outside interviews and Ryan’s own musings on recent Reality TV seasons and other other pop culture developments (including any opportunity to express his disdain for Jax Taylor of Vanderpump Rules). Ryan’s hard work hosting and producing the show is paying off with a loyal and growing audience after only six months.
Mary Payne loves Ryan’s podcast, but gives him some advice on how to shorten episodes. She suggests splitting the weekly episodes into two-part episodes (each two hours long). However, Ryan plans to keep producing longer episodes for now to give more content to all quarantined listeners, and will look into evolving his format at a later time.
A Must-Follow Twitter Account
Mary Payne first discovered Ryan on Twitter. His account offers endless entertainment and he has an impressive list of followers. Some of his most notable followers are Monica Lewinsky (a close personal friend), DJ James Kennedy and Raquel Leviss, Steven Ray Morris, Dave Holmes, and Spencer Pratt. He is also followed by two TV Show accounts: Watch What Happens Live and Entertainment Tonight. Be sure to follow Ryan for the latest gossip and some comic relief!
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
Podcast Recommendations:
The Daily
Heavyweight
WTF with Marc Maron
Find Ryan at:
Twitter: @ryanbailey25
Instagram: @sobaditsgoodwithryanbailey
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Mandy Slutsker is a Reality TV enthusiast and host of the Is This Real Life? podcast where she focuses not only on reality TV, but the “why” of the things they do. Mandy joins Mary Payne to offer her thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic and to discuss her favorite reality TV shows.
A Deep Dive into Reality TV Personalities
Mandy started the Is This Real Life? podcast over two years ago as a way to connect with other fans about her favorite reality TV and Bravo shows. In her episodes, Mandy and her guests look deeply into the characters’ personalities to find out more about what makes them tick. While many aspects of reality TV are ridiculous, she thinks that some of the shows’ situations and characters are relatable.
Mandy and Mary Payne are both huge fans of Bravo TV’s Vanderpump Rules. They enjoy watching the characters grow up over the seasons. Mandy also loves Real Housewives of New York. She finds the women on this show to be fun, humorous, and resilient. Mary Payne’s loyalties, on the other hand, lie with Real Housewives of Atlanta.
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
Podcast Recommendations:
Serial
S-Town
In the Dark
Pink Shade
So Bad It's Good
Mixing with Mani
Epidemic
Bitch Sesh
Everything Iconic
Give Them LaLa...with Randall
Find Is This Real Life at:
Any major podcast platform (including Apple Podcasts)
Instagram: @itrl_podcast
Find Mandy at:
Twitter: @mandyslutsker
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Mary Payne sits down with Jake (aka Poodle) and Matt (aka Mattie) from the Sissy That Talk podcast network for some much-needed laughs for all of our quarantined listeners. Jake and Matt talk about their long journey to develop Sissy That Talk and discuss their new show, 90 Day Gays, which recaps TLC’s hit show, 90 Day Fiancé.
Natural Entertainers
90 Day Gays hosts Jake and Matt first met while studying music at the University of North Texas. They later bonded while teaching summer camp theater classes in Massachusetts and then became roommates in LA.
Always the natural entertainers, Jake and Matt began small shows to entertain their LA friends, including an annual “CabarGay” show. Thus, the first seed for a podcast network was planted.
About five years ago, Matt started a therapy podcast called Dear Mattie, which included Jake as an occasional guest. During this time, a friend approached them about creating a reality TV show. Though this idea ultimately died, Jake and Matt were beginning to realize that they had great charisma as a duo. Soon after, the podcast network, Sissy That Talk, was born.
Podcasts for Sissies
Sissy That Talk features several podcasts, including TV Tea Time, a fast and loose (and often tipsy) TV show recap podcast; Sweet T, a recap podcast for Bravo’s Southern Charm; Bitchcraft, a recap of Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and now 90 Day Gays. Their audience of “Sissies” continues to grow with each new show.
Jake and Matt find 90 Day Fiance to be compelling because, although the show’s characters are crazy, they are just searching for love and companionships -- something to which everyone can relate.
Natural Jugglers
The 90 Day Gays podcast, and all of their others, is far from Jake and Matt’s only job. Jake is a singer and vocal/life coach. Matt is a therapist. They also keep busy with side hustles. Somehow, they still find time to produce their growing list of podcasts.
Due to the coronavirus quarantine, they have much more free time to record new podcast episodes. They are now cranking out as many episodes of 90 Day Gays as they can. Check out Jake and Matt’s wildly entertaining shows today!
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
Podcast Recommendations:
Unlocking Us
The Moth
Dolly Parton’s America
Ear Hustle
90 Day Fiance Cray Cray
On Being
Armchair Expert
The Score: Bank Robber Diaries
Cold Case Files
Find Jake and Matt at:
Sissythattalk.com
Find 90 Day Gays at:
Website: https://play.acast.com/s/90daygays
Twitter: @90DayGays
Instagram: @90DayGays
Patreon: Tiger Queens on Patreon
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The American South is seeping with eerie, dark tales that lie beneath its unique and majestic culture. In the Southern Gothic podcast, siblings Brandon and Bryanne Schexnayder combine music, exhaustive research, and traditional southern storytelling to provide the real histories behind Southern legends.
Inspirations Behind Southern Gothic
Brandon and Bryanne Schexnayder grew up immersed in New Orleans history. Their parents were amateur genealogists who brought Brandon and Bryanne along on their trips to cemeteries and libraries to research New Orleans history. Brandon notes that there is no better place for spooky vibes than New Orleans (especially their graveyards!).
Brandon is an audio engineer by trade. He produces country music in a recording studio in Nashville, TN. His job has taught him how to use sound to tell rich and meaningful stories. Bryanne is a professional archivist at the Louisiana State Museum. She has used her cataloguing skills to help conduct deep research for the Southern Gothic podcast episodes.
Southern Tales and Legends
Brandon and Bryanne have a nearly endless list of Southern tales and legends from which to choose. They focus on old myths that predate the modern (post-WWII) era. They vet numerous potential stories and try to find primary sources that can help flesh out the factual history behind these tales. They ultimately produce episodes on stories with the strongest historical sources.
Brandon finds that there are three primary categories of Southern tales. First, archetypal stories that originated elsewhere, but eventually moved to the American South and were adopted to the Southern landscape and culture. Second, stories of old plantation culture meant to teach lessons. Third, myths that helped cities and areas cope with/explain away bad things that previously took place (such as the “Witch of Yazoo City”).
Brandon and Bryanne have even explored their own family’s history. “The Madison County Grey” episode tells the story of their ancestor who died in a camp outside of Richmond, VA at the start of the Civil War. Legend has it, the day after his death, he appeared to his two daughters outside their house. The family received a letter notifying them of his death several days later. “The Madison County Grey” episode digs into the story of their ancestor’s life and follows the path of his military unit after his death.
Catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. And don’t forget, Payne in the Pod is on Patreon – become a Patron!
Podcast Recommendations:
Scary Story Podcast
History That Doesn’t Suck
Radiolab
Carolina Shout
Find Southern Gothic at:
Southerngothicmedia.com
Instagram: @southerngothicmedia
Twitter: @SoGoPodcast
Facebook Page: Southern Gothic
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The story told on the podcast Over My Dead Body: Joe Exotic is a story so crazy it is hard to believe that it is real. In this episode of Payne in the Pod, host Robert Moor, joins Mary Payne.
Joe Exotic is a gay polygamous zookeeper in rural Oklahoma and who bred and rescued lions, tigers, ligers, and exotic big cats. He traveled with these big cats and put on shows where he would charge visitors to pet the baby cubs. As a result, Carole Baskin, the owner of a big cat sanctuary in Florida, became one of his enemies who he is convicted of hiring two men to kill.
Robert takes Mary Payne through his experience of spending time with Joe from the animals and the zoo to extreme things he caught him on tape saying to his current trial. Was it trauma in Joe’s life and his self-image that led him to spiral out of control or was it simply his boosted ego?
Carole Baskin of Florida
Mary Payne and Robert then touch on Carole Baskin. She is a woman who ran away at a young age, lived fairly rough for a few years, was in an out of horrible relationships, was married three times, and one of her husbands randomly disappears. Carole did not think that Joe Exotic was treating his animals with respect, but the two have many similarities. Were Carole and Joe a match made in heaven to be enemies?
Throughout the crazy story surrounding Joe Exotic, the craziest part may be what ultimately brought him down and lead him to jail. Robert and Mary Payne discuss the irony of the situation and updates to the other characters in the story.
Catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. And don’t forget, Payne in the Pod is on Patreon - become a Patron!
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In September 2010, 24-year-old Michelle O’Connell was found dead in her home in St. Augustine, Florida just minutes after breaking up with her boyfriend, St. Johns County Sheriff Deputy Jeremy Banks. Just over eight years later, in January 2019, Eli Washtock, an amateur investigator looking into the O’Connell case, was found dead in his condo.
Criminal Conduct is a brand new true-crime podcast hosted by John Taylor and Javier Leiva that investigates these two interlinked murders. The ten-episode, weekly series looks into new evidence and perspectives from O’Connell’s murder, tying her death into the Washtock case.
A New Collaboration from Two Podcast Pros
John hosts a true crime podcast called Twisted. He brings deep criminal justice experience to the podcast as a practicing private investigator and former Secret Service agent. Javier is the producer of Pretend Radio, a documentary-style podcast that tells stories of people pretending to be someone else.
John and Javier first connected about three years ago at a podcast meetup in their home state of North Carolina. They remained in contact since then, looking for an opportunity to do a collaboration podcast. Several months ago, they agreed that the O’Connell/Washtock story was a great case for the first season of their new podcast series, Criminal Conduct.
Case #1: Michelle O’Connell
Minutes after breaking up with St. Johns County Sheriff Deputy Jeremy Banks, Michelle O’Connell was dead in her home. Soon after, Jeremey called 911, claiming he found her lying on her floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The St. Johns County Sheriff investigators ruled her death a suicide.
John and Javier look into the Sheriff’s Office’s handling of the case, noting several mistakes in an overall lackluster (and likely biased) investigation. They also take a deeper look into Jeremey, whose 911 call and overall demeanor during the episode raises major red flags.
Case #2: Eli Washtock
Just over eight years later, Eli Washtock was found dead in his St. Augustine condo. Eli was an amatuer sleuth conducting his own independent investgiation into the O’Connell murder. He was said to have found “bombshell” evidence against Jeremy right before his death, which is still under investigation by the neighboring Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
John and Javier find Eli to be a fascinating character. He was a loner, with very little social media presence. He never knew Michelle O’Connell, but was so enthralled by the case that he befriended Michelle’s mom, Patty O’Connell, over the course of his investigation. He was also a car mechanic who owned two expensive condos that seemed to be out of his price range. Throughout the series, Javier and John dig deeper into Eli’s past to understand his motivations and secrets.
The Inaugural Ten-Episode Season of Criminal Conduct
The first season of Criminal Conduct explores the O’Connell and Washtock cases, with the hope of reinvigorating interest into the mysteries surrounding their deaths. Perhaps the podcast can even help lead to a resolution of the cases.
The ten-episode season of Criminal Conduct debuted on March 23, 2020 with new episodes published weekly. Start listening today!
You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!
John and Javier’s Podcast Recommendations:
Re-Sound
Case of the Missing Hit
Mugshot
Swindled
In the Dark (Season 2)
Serial (Season 1)
The Shrink Next Door
Find Criminal Conduct at:
Criminalconduct.net
Twitter: @criminalcon
Instagram: @criminalcon
Facebook: Criminal Conduct Podcast
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Dr. Fredric Brandt was the pioneer of botox. He was an innovative scientist and one of the first doctors to champion cosmetic dermatology. His clients included Joy Beyhar, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kelly Ripa, and Madonna.
Justine Harman, the host of the popular Broken Harts podcast, takes a deep dive into Dr. Brandt’s life in a ten-episode podcast series called The Baron of Botox.
Who Was Dr. Fedric Brandt?
Through an extensive investigation and numerous interviews, Justine highlights the multi-layered and complex nature of Dr. Brandt in The Baron of Botox podcast.
Dr. Brandt was much more than a cosmetic surgeon. By all accounts, he was generous, funny, sweet-natured, and benevolent, despite his polarizing profession. Moreover, his love of beauty was manifested in his world-renowned art collection.
Brandt also struggled with mental health issues and his previous bout with cancer may have contributed to his mental health woes. At the same time, he had limited contact with members of his family. Justine thinks that these factors mixed together likely contributed to his efforts to find more happiness through his own botox procedures.
Life After Dr. Brandt
Dr. Brandt committed suicide on April 5, 2015, sending shockwaves throughout the skincare and esthetics community. To honor him, his business affiliates (especially his close partner Stephane Colleu) continue his work today through Dr. Brandt Skincare. They seek to build on Dr. Brandt’s efforts to bring his skincare solutions to everyday Americans--not just the elites.
In addition, much of Dr. Brandt’s art collection has been sold to help support his skincare business, settle debts against his estate, and--most importantly--to establish the Dr. Brandt Foundation.
The Subjectivity of Beauty and Botox
Justine and Mary Payne discuss the tricky and imperfect science of botox. Some people get into a vicious cycle of overdoing their procedures; you must know where to draw the line. At the same time, Justine believes that the right amount of work, in consultation with your doctor, can help you feel confident.
In fact, one of The Baron of Botox episodes records Justine’s procedure with world-class cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Robert Anolik, to help bring the audience into Dr. Brandt’s botox world. During the consultation and procedure, Dr. Anolik used his own judgment on which features to enhance--which was a popular way for Dr. Brandt to perform his surgeries.
Start listening to The Baron of Botox today to get a more personal look into the life and work of Dr. Brandt.
And, as always, you can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else.
Podcast Recommendations:
Catch and Kill
Believed
Boomtown
Find Justine at:
Website: justineharman.com
Twitter: @JustineHarman
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Rainbow Valentine grew up in a typical 1970s-80s American family. Or so she thought. During her high school years, she learned that the garbage bags of pot in her living room were not so normal. In fact, her parents were pot distributors who delivered loads of marijuana all across the country from their California home. Rainbow’s podcast, Disorganized Crime: Smuggler’s Daughter, tells their story.
The Right Time to Open Up
Rainbow Valentine (a name she gave to herself when she was five years old) works as a TV show creator. With a number of states across the country legalizing marijuana, some of Rainbow’s friends at iHeart Radio approached her to create a podcast about her parents’ previous job. After clearing it with their attorney, Rainbow’s parents agreed to share the story about their previous life as pot distributors.
Several months ago, Rainbow sat down with her parents to produce the first season of the Disorganized Crime series. She compares the podcasting experience to telling stories around the campfire. She believes it was a great way to honor them.
Everything Seemed Normal
Disorganized Crime: Smugglers Daughter takes listeners back to Marin County, California (outside of San Francisco) in the 1970s-80s, where the counterculture generation moved to raise children. Pot was everywhere. It was so common among adults that many children refused to smoke because they thought it was “lame”. Within this context, Rainbow thought she was part of a normal American family.
When Rainbow was in high school in the late 1980s, her older sister told her that their parents were drug distributors. They moved thousands of pounds of pot across state lines, including frequent delivery trips to New York. Their job even made them acquaintances with celebrities like the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin. At first, Rainbow was shocked and horrified by this revelation. But as time passed, she began to appreciate her parents’ way of life. The Disorganized Crime: Smugglers Daughter podcast tells this story.
Life After Pot Distributing
After having quit the pot distribution business in the early 1990s, Rainbow’s parents are now working in the medicinal marijuana field in California. They spend much of their free time outdoors (especially at the beach). Rainbow’s mother also paints while Rainbow’s dad plays music.
Rainbow’s parents focus on beauty, love, and art. They have always stayed away from dangerous drugs (like cocaine), which is why they continue to live peaceful lives to this day. The Disorganized Crime podcast helps shine a light into the atypical and fascinating life story of Rainbow’s parents. They have listened to the podcast and were honored to be part of Rainbow’s beautiful storytelling.
Catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. And don’t forget, Payne in the Pod is on Patreon – become a Patron!
Rainbow Valentine’s Personal Podcast Recommendations:
Dolly Parton’s America
My Favorite Murder
Science Friday
Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me
The Joe Rogan Experience
S-Town
Find Rainbow at:
Website: rainbowvalentine.com/
Instagram: @rainbowvalentinelemur
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rainbowvalentinelemur/
Twitter: @rainbowvlemur
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Lindsay Graham has turned his passion for storytelling and human history into a podcasting career. He is the Webby Award-winning host of the podcasts American History Tellers, American Scandal, and American Elections: Wicked Games, and the executive producer of the audio dramas 1865 and Terms. Mary Payne speaks with Lindsay about his journey to the podcasting world, his storytelling methods, and his perspective on the importance of history.
From the Insurance Industry to Podcasting
Lindsay worked for an insurance company before he switched to a career in audio production. At first, he worked in audiobook production. In 2015, he began writing the script for his first podcast, a political thriller called Terms. Coincidentally, the podcast, which debuted in November 2016, follows a fictional election of a populist outsider who wins the White House (remind you of anyone?).
Terms used hired actors to voice the characters and Lindsay read the podcast’s advertisements in between the Acts-. Soon after the Terms debut, Lindsay received an offer by the podcast network Wondery to host American History Tellers, which debuted as the number one podcast on iTunes in January 2018.
American History from the Perspectives of Real Americans
American History Tellers gives listeners compelling, informative, and empathy-building stories about critical eras in American history. Each season comprises 5-6 episodes that look into a different era of American history (such as Prohibition, the Cold War, and the 1968 Chicago Protests). Each episode has three Acts, each including an historical description of the events along with reenactment that brings listeners into the experience of a real American involved in the historical episode.
The American History Tellers team includes a producer, editor, writer, as well as researchers. For each season, Lindsay's team works with a subject matter expert who helps to conduct research and (sometimes) write the script. Some seasons conclude with a conversation between Lindsay and the subject matter expert.
History is Human
Once asked why he loved history, famed American historian David McCullough responded: “History is human.” Lindsay is drawn to history because he is interested in humanity and has a passion for telling human stories.
History helps us understand, appreciate, and learn from our predecessors. It forces us to come to terms with difficult and painful eras. For example, Lindsay and Mary Payne discuss the debate about what to do about Confederate monuments. Lindsay believes that monuments of Confederate generals are essentially emblems of white supremacy. In fact, many of these monuments were erected in the 1920s as part of white supremacists’ “revisionist history” campaign during the Jim Crow era. As such, he does not believe that we should honor Confederate leaders.
Overall, Lindsay believes that Americans can be simultaneously ashamed of notorious parts of our history, while also being proud American citizens. This perspective requires us to think about our history in a nuanced and complex manner. Reckoning with our past helps Americans understand ourselves and our fellow citizens.
Catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. And don’t forget, Payne in the Pod is on Patreon – become a Patron!
Podcast Recommendations:
Revisionist History
Broken Record
Twenty Thousand Hertz
Script Notes
Startup
Find American History Tellers at:
https://wondery.com/shows/american-history-tellers/
Twitter: @ahtellers
Find Lindsay at:
Twitter: @lindsayagraham
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In April 2016, the wife of a police officer in Griffin, Georgia was shot twice inside a locked closet. She survived, but with no recollection of the incident. As a result, that night’s events remain a mystery to this day. Brendan Keefe, the Chief Investigator for 11Alive in Atlanta, takes listeners inside this perplexing cold case of The Officer’s Wife.
Brendan’s Journey Covering the Officer’s Wife Case
Brendan serves as the Chief Investigator on a team of eight investigative journalists at 11Alive. He also co-anchors The Reveal, a weekly program featuring long-form reporting from the 11Alive Investigative Team. He has received Peabody, duPont, and National Murrow awards for his investigative work.
Brendan heard about The Officer’s Wife case in 2016 when he was working on a corruption case in Griffin, Georgia. Soon after, Brendan’s team obtained the case records through a public records request. They decided to feature the case on The Reveal in November 2016. Later, in January 2020, the team produced The Officer’s Wife podcast, a deep dive into the details of the case.
A Cold Case Without a Death
The Officer’s Wife podcast takes listeners on a journey of discovery, with each revelation more shocking than the one before. The story involves the unhappy marriage of a Georgia police officer (Matthew), his wife (Jessica Boynton), and their two children. After Jessica learned about Matthew’s extramarital affairs, she prepared to divorce and leave Matthew. One night in April 2016, Matthew called 911 to report gunfire in his house. Police who arrived on the scene found Jessica inside a locked closet with Matthew’s service gun beneath her collapsed body.
A Botched Investigation
This case brings up a number of puzzling questions. For example, how could have Jessica fired two shots in an attempted suicide? Was she really suicidal if only Matthew--and no one else--claimed that she was? Moreover, Matthew’s actions and words surrounding the shooting are suspect. For instance, he had also stolen Jessica’s overnight (or “getaway”) bag just before the night of the shooting.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) work on this case also raises eyebrows. Matthew and Jessica’s neighbors had apparently heard guns hours before Matthew called 911, but the GBI waited several months to interview these neighbors. Brendan believes that GBI’s investigation tried to reach the conclusion that Jessica tried to commit suicide, rather than seeking to solve the mystery.
To this day, Brendan and his team do not know what happened in Matthew and Jessica’s apartment that night in April 2016. Brendan believes the GBI did very little to help bring out the truth. This case remains cold--even though the main players are alive.
Where Are They Now?
Today, Matthew has given up his career as a police officer. It is unclear what he is doing today. Jessica is now engaged and recently gave birth to a third child with her fiancé. Matthew and Jessica share custody of their two children.
Brendan believes that Jessica is happy now. Even though she still cannot remember what happened that night in 2016, she is doing her best to move on and start her new life.
Catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. And don’t forget, Payne in the Pod is on Patreon – become a Patron!
Podcast Recommendations:
Bardstown
True Crime Chronicles
Slow Burn
Find Brendan and 11 Alive at:
11alive.com
Thereveal.tv
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
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Nicki Weisensee Egan has covered the Bill Cosby sex scandal since the first victim filed her lawsuit in 2005. Over the past 15 years, Nicki was one of the only journalists to consistently ask the tough questions without giving Cosby the benefit of the doubt. She recently chronicled her journey in her book, Chasing Cosby: The Downfall of America's Dad and a new podcast, Chasing Cosby.
Nicki’s 15-Year Coverage of the Cosby Sex Scandal
Nicki was an investigative writer at the Philadelphia Daily News when the Director of Operations for the Temple University basketball team, Andrea Constand, filed a lawsuit against Cosby in January 2005. As a Temple Graduate and longtime supporter of the university, Cosby met Andrea in the early 2000s and offered to be her mentor. A few years into their relationship, he drugged and sexually assaulted her.
Soon after, a second woman, Tamara Green, disclosed her disturbing story about Cosby sexually assaulting her in the 1970s. Over ten additional women came forward with similar allegations later that year. Combined, their stories reveal a terrifyingly similar pattern: Cosby would befriend young and aspiring women, gain their trust, and then drug and sexually assault them before abandoning them.
However, the media and public refused to believe the allegations against Cosby. Nicki was one of the few journalists to take the allegations and Bill Cosby scandal seriously. And she was ridiculed for it.
Later, the District Attorney assigned to the case decided not to press charges--even though Cosby admitted to drugging women for sex during a sealed deposition.
Cosby was in the clear for several years until a 2014 video of standup comedian Hannibel Burress bringing up Cosby’s allegations brought the issue back into the public eye. Soon after, authorities released Cosby’s sealed deposition record from 2005. A new District Attorney later charged Cosby in 2015.
Cosby’s Enablers
Cosby is believed to have sexually assaulted at least 60 women since the 1960s. The actual number of victims is likely much higher. How did he get away with this for so many years? Nicki believes that Cosby’s influence over the media and Hollywood elites allowed him to silence his victims with bribes and threats. In fact, Cosby’s sexual assaults were an “open secret” in Hollywood. But they let him get away with his actions.
After the 2014 Burress video, Cosby’s supporters in Hollywood and in the media began to turn on him. The public, which never wanted to believe that America’s Dad could have done these things, also began to acknowledge the awful truth. Today, Cosby is disgraced and his name is forever tainted. Even several members of his family, once his staunchest defenders, were noticeably absent during the trials. He receives few visitors in prison.
Cosby, now 82, denies any wrongdoing and continues to file appeals. His refusal to admit his actions makes it unlikely he will make parole before his 10-year sentence ends in 2028.
Voice As a Powerful Mode of Communication
Nicki chronicled her experience covering the Cosby allegations in her 2019 book Chasing Cosby: The Downfall of America's Dad. Soon after publication, she began a six-episode podcast series as a companion piece to the book.
In the Chasing Cosby podcast, Nicki interviews several Cosby victims, giving them the opportunity to tell their stories. Mary Payne and Nicki note how powerful and emotional it is to hear the victims’ voices.
Nicki is hosting a live discussion with Andrea Constand in Los Angeles, CA on February 26, 2020. This discussion will be featured as a bonus episode in the Chasing Cosby podcast series. Stay tuned!
Catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. And don’t forget, Payne in the Pod is on Patreon – become a Patron!
Podcast Recommendations:
Real Crime Profile
Making the Breast of It
Catch and Kill Podcast with Ronan Farrow
Dirty John
Man in the Window
Detective Trapp
Find Nicki at https://www.nicoleweisenseeegan.com
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Jami Rice has always been fascinated with true crime. After a surreal experience as a juror in a murder trial, Jami decided to begin telling the stories of true crime victims. The Murderish podcast takes delves into true stories of murder, disappearances, and other creepy events.
Turning a Courtroom Drama into a Podcast
Three years ago, Jami served as a juror in the trial of Rob Arvizu, who was charged with murder of his wife, Courtney Arivzu. Over the two-week trial, Jami and her fellow jurors learned about Rob’s abusive history and his frequent bouts of anger. Late one night, Rob brutally murdered Courtney as she tried to escape their Los Angeles apartment. Jami and her fellow jurors convicted Rob of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 28 years-to-life in prison.
After the trial ended, Jami wanted to tell Courtney’s story. So she decided to start a podcast, with the first episode focused on the Arvizu trial. Soon after, she recorded another episode on her own real-life horror story, followed by a number of local true crime cases.
Building the Murderish Brand
Two and a half years later, Jami’s continues to delve into true crime stories. She receives many episode ideas from her devoted fanbase, while also keeping her eyes peeled for cases in her southern California area. Today, Jami, her small team of researchers, and her producer have recorded over 40 hours-worth of true crime thrillers.
Jami’s stories in Murderish focus on the victim. All too often, true crime stories neglect the victim’s personality and life-story. She doesn’t want them to become mere demographics. She wants to memorialize them.
Listening to this Podcast Doesn’t Make You a Murderer, It Just Means You’re Murder-ish.
Jami’s has a devoted audience. See has connected with many fans throughout the past few years who share her fascination with true crime. The Murderish podcast has an active Facebook discussion group and Jami is frequently interacting with fans about past cases and ideas for future episodes.
If you’re a bit murder-ish too, start listening today!
Catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. And don’t forget, Payne in the Pod is on Patreon – become a Patron!
Podcast recommendations:
Minds of Madness
Criminology
Murderous Minors
Serial
S-Town
Accused
Cold
How I Built This
Catch and Kill
Find Jami at:
Twitter: @MurderishPod
Facebook Discussion Group: Murderish Podcast
Instagram: @Murderishpodcast
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When she’s diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, Molly decides to do something bold: she leaves her unhappy marriage and embarks on a series of sexual adventures to help her feel alive. These experiences are beyond anything she could have imagined, so she shares the details with her closest friend, host Nikki Boyer. The two best friends dissect these hilarious, often touching stories. And they growing even closer as they share Molly's journey together. From the makers of The Shrink Next Door and Imagined Life, Dying for Sex is a six-part series about friendship, death, sex, and what you do with the time you have left. Hosted by Nikki Boyer. Premieres on February 12th. Listen now at : wondery.fm/DFSPanyeInterview
From Life-Changing News to a Life-Changing Decision
Nikki Boyer is an actress, singer-songwriter, and a co-host of Straight Talk with Ross. She met Molly over twenty years ago in acting class and they have remained close friends ever since. Molly is one of the most creative and insightful women Nikki has ever met.
Molly battled breast cancer several years ago, only to have it return in several different parts of her body in the past year. Her doctors informed her the cancer was terminal. She does not know how much time she has left.
Molly’s gut-wrenching story is all too common. However, her response to the news was unique. While some dedicate their remaining days to family and friends and others knock out “Bucket List” goals, Molly instead left her struggling marriage and entered the brave new world of dating--a world she never really experienced before.
Exploring Life Through Sex
Molly moved out of her husband’s home and into a new place just a few minutes from Nikki. The two began having conversations about Molly’s wild, wacky, and jaw-dropping dating life (including plenty of Tinder encounters). Nikki broached the idea of turning these conversations into a podcast. Molly agreed.
Over a six-episode podcast, Nikki and Molly recap Molly’s sexcapade. At first, the Dying For Sex podcast focuses on how Molly balances dating with her medicine, treatment plan, and doctor visits. Nikki is fascinated by Molly’s adventurism and willingness to put herself out there while in such a vulnerable state.
As the podcast progresses, Nikki’s questions reveal deeper and more intimate revelations about Molly. They begin to talk about more than just sex, as the conversations get more introspective. Molly teaches Nikki and the audience about love and friendship. Molly’s stories about her sex life gives Nikki new persectives on life and death, and an even deeper appreciation for Molly’s creative spirit.
Don’t miss this compelling conversation between Nikki and Molly--start listening today!
Catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. And don’t forget, Payne in the Pod is on Patreon – become a Patron!
Podcast Recommendations:
Straight Talk with Ross
The Joe Rogan Experience
Stuff You Should Know
Find Nikki at:
Insta: @nikkiboyer
Twitter: @nikkiboyer
Find Dying for Sex at https://wondery.com/shows/dying-for-sex/
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