Payne in the Pod

Latest Episodes:

Wondery Presents Dying For Sex Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

When host Nikki Boyer’s best friend Molly is diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, she decides to do something bold. She leaves an unhappy marriage and embarks on a series of sexual adventures to feel alive. Over this six-part miniseries, Molly shares the details of her hilarious escapades in a story about friendship, death, and what you do with the time you have left. From Wondery, the creators of Dirty John and The Moment comes Dying For Sex. Listen now at wondery.fm/DFS17

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An Aussie's Take on Reality TV Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

Kirsten (Kirsty) Moore has found an outlet for her addiction to reality TV. A few years ago, she began a podcast called Reality TV & Me, which gives listeners an Australian’s perspective on some favorite American reality shows, with a focus on Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise.

A Ten-Year Fascination with Reality TV

Ten years ago, Kirsty was diagnosed with spinal cancer at the age of 21. Throughout surgery, recovery, and rehab, Kirsty couldn’t do the typical 21-year-old activities with her friends. Reality shows helped fill the void during this difficult stage of her life. Her first “reality show love” was Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, quickly followed by the Real Housewives franchise and a whole host of reality shows that have come on air over the past several years.

Although halfway across the world, Kirsty and her fellow Australians find ways to watch their favorite American reality shows (including the Hayu platform). Their initial attraction to these shows stems from the shows’ wild and unbelievable characters. Kirsty prefers American reality shows, which she believes to have a bit more class.

Kirsty decided to turn her obsession into a podcast. A few years ago, Kirsty began to produce Reality TV & Me in London while she was writing a book. She found that the podcast was a much-needed outlet from the draining process of writing. Since then, she continues to evolve and improve her podcast craft.

American Versus Australian Reality TV

Australia has also begun to air its own reality shows. Kristy is a huge fan of Bravo's Real Housewives of Melbourne, which follows a group of ladies that Kirsty calls “bogans”—the Australian version of American “rednecks.” She thinks that these wacky, hysterical ladies are most similar to the Real Housewives of Dallas. She’s particularly intrigued by their “unique” fashion statements.

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!

Kirsty’s Podcast Recommendations

Kirsty has a range of favorite podcasts, including:

The Doctor Drew Podcast, which covers mental health issues.

Insane Rambling, her brother’s podcast that airs every fortnight (i.e., once every two weeks).

My Dad Wrote a Porno, an absurdly funny exposé on the writings of an older British gentleman.

Pink Shade with Erin Martin, with Mary Payne as a frequent co-host.

Office Ladies, recapping every episode of the hit American TV show, The Office.

Find Kirsty at:

Website: kirstenmoore.com.au

Podcast Instagram: realitytv&me

Personal Instagram: shespernicious

Personal Twitter: shespernicious

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A Nashville Cold Case. Officially. Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

The 1969 murder of a 12-year old girl in Nashville, Tenneesse has remained “officially” unsolved for over 50 years. But Flatrock host Olivia Lind gives listeners an in-depth look into the case that points to the guilt of one man.

True Crime Cases in Tennessee

Olivia co-hosts a podcast called Something’s Not Right, a weekly series that primarily focuses on true crime cases in Tennessee. A past episode of Something’s Not Right focused on the “unsolved” murder of 12-year old Kathy Jones in a subsurb of Nashville traditionally called Flatrock. Olivia became enthralled in the case and wanted to do a deep-dive investigation. So she began a separate podcast on this story called Flatrock.

Olivia assembled an all-star team to create her eight-episode series. She works with an NPR executive producer who led a production group that developed the script and executed the audio production. In addition, Steven Pacheco of Trace Evidence (and a past guest of Payne in the Pod) helped Olivia with creating the warnings/credits for the episodes.

A 1969 Murder in Flatrock

12-year old Kathy Jones was murdered around Thanksgiving of 1969 in Flatrock. She was on her way to go roller skating, and her body was found in a vacant field a few days later.

Olivia investigates the circumstances and suspects surrounding Kathy’s murder. The most likely suspect is Darrel, then-boyfriend of Kathy’s mother Nora. (Darrel later married Nora, and they remained married until Nora’s death.)

Flatrock provides the details of the murder, along with interviews of surviving witnesses from the case. Olivia’s investigation points to Darrel as the most likely suspect.

Mary Payne and Nora grapple with the reality that someone alive today likely knows the truth of the murder---but refuses to come forward. They point to Darrel’s (literal) partner in crime named Tim (or “The Dude”) as someone who could probably come clean with the full story. They hope that someone will eventually clear his or her conscience by spilling the secrets of Kathy’s murder.

A Violent End for the Suspected Killer

Darrel was never a straight-edge citizen. He and Tim committed petty thefts in the past. Darrel later got into drug dealing. In fact, Darrel was murdered in 2011 during a drug deal gone wrong. The illegal and troubled circumstances of Darrel’s death reinforce suspicions that he was the most likely suspect in the “unsolved” case of Kathy Jones.

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:

Death in the Afternoon

Getting Curious

Find Olivia at:

Instagram: @Notrightolivia

Find Flatrock at:

Website: https://www.flatrockpod.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flatrockpod

Twitter: @flatrockpod

Instagram: @flatrockpod

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Following Up with Tiffany Reese of Something Was Wrong Jan 22, 2020

Show notes

Mary Payne welcomes back Tiffany Reese of the award winning podcast Something Was Wrong. Tiffany joined Mary Payne in Episode 27 of Payne in the Pod, where they talked about the Season 1 story of Sara’s engagement to a liar. In this episode, Mary Payne and Tiffany discuss the traumatic stories in Seasons 2 and 3 of Something Was Wrong.

Stories of Emotionally Abusive Relationships

Tiffany has produced three seasons of Something Was Wrong. Each story provides a gripping, immersive narrative into the experience of dealing with a narcissist, told from the viewpoint of the victim.

Season One follows the story of Sara, who was duped into an engagement (and eventual breakup) with a narcissist and serial liar. The podcast became widely popular and won a “Podcast of the Year” Iris award in 2019.

Tiffany’s two subsequent seasons take listeners into the lives of others who have been duped and emotionally abused. Season 2 follows Tee, a woman who befriended a deceptive and emotionally draining coworker. Season 3 brings the audience into the traumatic story of CJ, who deals with a narcissist seeking to ruin the lives of her in-laws.

Tiffany has kept in close contact with Sara, Tee, and CJ even after each season concluded. She has a strong emotional bond with these women who shared their traumatic experiences with her.

Humanizing Interactions with Listeners

Tiffany has chosen to use her personal Instagram account to promote her podcast, instead of using a separate podcast account. She believes her personal account helps people relate to her as a person, making her more approachable. She has also noticed that listeners treat her with more respect than if she used a professional (i.e., impersonal) account. Mary Payne agrees that the “personal touch” makes people less aggressive and negative.

Season 4 Coming Soon

Tiffany plans to begin releasing episodes of Season 4 of Something Was Wrong in late January 2020. This season will interview a survivor of a well-known American cult. 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:

Someone Knows Something

Aftermath

Believed

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

The Ballad of Billy Balls

Find Tiffany at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lookieboo/

Website: https://www.somethingwaswrong.com/

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Pulling Back the Curtain on 90 Day Fiancé Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

Anyone who has seen the hit TLC series 90 Day Fiancéknows that there is much more to the couples’ drama than the show lets on. That’s where the Fraudcast comes in. Podcast host Katrina takes listeners behind the scenes of 90 Day Fiancé to find out what is true and what is “fraud” in the couples’ relationships.

Picking Up Where Recap Podcasts Leave Off

Katrina started pulling back the curtain on 90 Day Fiancé with an Instagram page that reveals the falsehoods behind some of the episodes. Kartrina’s Instagram popularity has grown rapidly, with over 60,000 followers today.

Building on the success of her Instagram page, Katrina recently started Fraudcast to provide more in-depth discussions about 90 Day Fiancé. Fraudcast distinguishes itself from other reality TV show podcasts because it does not simply recap shows--instead, it digs deep into the episodes to find the truth about the couples.

Katrina works as a lawyer in her day job and uses her legal investigative skills in her research for Fraudcast. She receives numerous scoops from cast members and other close sources, but she always makes sure to verify the information they provide. She will only post or discuss the scoops if she believes she could argue their veracity in a courtroom.

For the Diehards and Reluctant Followers of 90-Day Fiancé

Katrina has a number of guest co-hosts on Fraudcast, but one regular guest co-host is her boyfriend (who is also the podcast’s producer). The audience enjoys the dynamic between Katrina, a 90 Day Fiancé diehard fan, and her boyfriend, who only loosely follows the show. Many listeners have told Katrina that the Fraudcast discussions mirror those of their own relationships.

Only 11 episodes in, and the podcast is finding its stride and will continue to bring you behind-the-scenes access to one of TV’s most intriguing shows!

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:

Find Fraudcast at:

Instagram: @fraudedbytlc

Facebook Group: The Fraudcasters

Podcast: https://www.talkersoffraud.com/

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Ordinary People Doing Unthinkable Things Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

In The Minds of Madness, host Tyler and his wife, Bek, use immersive storytelling to tell true crime stories from the perspective of the victim’s families. They go beyond the typical details discussed in new reports and, instead, provide a more personal view of a true crime event. In this episode, Mary Payne speaks with Tyler about his passion for true crime cases and his work to bring them to life.

From True Crime Fan To Podcast Host

Tyler has always loved true crime stories and audio productions. He grew up listening to old-time radio shows by legends like Orson Welles and Jack Benny. Several years ago, he began listening to popular true crime podcasts like Serial, and quickly became an avid listener to a wide range of crime podcasts.

Tyler decided to start The Minds of Madness podcast about three years ago. He and Bek both have backgrounds in film and audio production, which made it a bit easier to produce the show. While they still have day jobs and a family to raise, Tyler and Bek are able to publish a new episode every other Sunday at 7PM EST.

Immersive Storytelling

The Minds of Madness tells the stories of ordinary people doing unthinkable things. In each podcast episode, Tyler narrates a true crime case through the perspective of a victim and his or her loved ones. Tyler emphasizes the need to be delicate when telling true crime stories out of respect for the victim’s family and friends.

Tyler often works with families of victims to research and produce episodes. He observes that many families want their stories to be heard and seek to memorialize their loved ones through the podcast.

Mary Payne is fascinated by the bizarre and unbelievable stories that Tyler tells. His first episode digs into the 1984 case of the abduction of Jody Plauche. Another remarkable episode discusses the murder of Kim Wall onboard the submarine of Danish entrepreneur Peter Madsen. You can check out all of the episodes here.

The True Crime Podcast Family

Tyler and Bek do not produce their podcast in isolation; they have a number of friends in the true crime podcast world. Tyler notes that members of this close-knit community routinely help each other out, trade ideas, and collaborate on episodes. He always looks forward to catching up with his true crime friends at the annual CrimeCon.

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:

Murderish

Mysterious Circumstances

Astonishing Legends

Moms and Murder

Generation Why (Stay tuned for a collaboration between The Minds of Madness and Generation Why coming soon!)

Find Minds of Madness at:

The Minds of Madness Website

Twitter: @madnesspod

Instagram: @mindsofmadnesspodcast

Facebook page: Minds of Madness

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2019 Favorite Podcast Recommendations Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

Mary Payne sits down with her friend, Ingrid Sanden, to discuss their favorite podcast recommendations of 2019. Some of the most intriguing podcasts include true crime thrillers, first-person narrations, and investigations into overlooked and forgotten places (such as long-term care facilities and prisons). See the full listing of Mary Payne and Ingrid’s 2019 favorites below!

Mary Payne’s Top Podcasts of 2019

Room 20: Joanne Faryon of the LA Times digs into the life story of an allegedly unconscious and unidentified man in a long-term care facility, only known to the staff as “66 Garage.”

Ear Hustle: This podcast gives an inside view of the life of San Quentin State Prison residents. It is co-produced by visual artist Nigel Poor and prison residents, Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams. All episodes are recorded in the prison and tell the untold stories of the incarcerated men of San Quentin.

The Shrink Next Door: Veteran New York Times journalist Joe Nocera tells the story of his neighbor, the famous therapist Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf. After a number of curious encounters, Nocera decides to begin investigating Ike’s background and makes some startling discoveries.

Armchair Expert: American actor Dax Shepard has a long history of addiction. In this podcast, he sits down with a number of celebrities about their own struggles. Dax’s self-deprecating and honest nature help drive fascinating conversations with some of Hollywood’s elites, including Kate Hudson and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Ingrid’s Top Podcasts of 2019

To Live and Die in LA: Neil Strauss hosts a true crime podcast about the murder of an aspiring actress named Adea Shabani. Strauss’ investigation into Shabani’s murder is happening in real-time, which makes for dramatic and stunning storyline twists.

22 Hours - An American Nightmare: Megan Cloherty and Jack Moore of Washington, DC’s WTOP Radio tell the devastating story of the 2015 murder of a DC family and their housekeeper. The hosts were able to take a sensitive approach to this story, which hits close to home for many DC residents.

The Thing About Pam: Keith Morrison of Dateline takes listeners through a series of events that lead to multiple deaths in Lincoln County, Missouri in 2011.

The Dropout: Host Rebecca Jarvis tells the story of Elizabeth Holmes, former founder of Theranos, the infamous healthcare company. The podcast highlights the crazy worlds of healthcare, venture capital, and Silicon Valley.

Ingrid also listed a few of her favorite interviewees on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Howard Stern.

After another year of eye-opening podcasts, we are expecting more of the same for next year. Mary Payne and Ingrid look forward to presenting their favorite podcast recommendations of 2020 next December!

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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A Closer Look into Unsolved Crimes Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

Mary Payne speaks with Steven Pacheco to talk about his journey to become the host of the true crime podcast, Trace Evidence.

Crime and History

Steven grew up fascinated by history because it involves unknown elements and can be viewed from multiple lenses. Steven notes that we can never really know the complete story of a historical event because we are only given certain opinions and angles.

Steven’s love for history has animated his interest in unsolved crimes, which also contain different perspectives and puzzling pieces of evidence--with the complete story remaining elusive. His interest in both crime and history has fueled his efforts to explore unsolved crimes.

Digging into the Details

Trace Evidence takes listeners to the frontlines of unsolved criminal cases. The true crime show typically covers three types of cases: disappearances; murders; and abductions. Steven said that about 60-70 percent of his episodes focus on disappearances, which are the most popular with his audience.

Trace Evidence episodes are divided into two parts. First, Steven outlines all of the available evidence of an unsolved case. Second, he discusses the top theories about the case. Mary Payne likes this structure, as the first part of the episode allows a listener to develop his or her own theory, and then the second part presents outside top theories for the listener to consider.

Mary Payne is impressed by the amount of research Steven puts into every episode. In fact, Steven generally writes 20-25 page scripts for each show, providing extensive details and exploring outside theories for the case. He also includes outside audio clips and employs different character voices to bring the cases to life.

The Learning Curves of Podcasting

Steven and Mary Payne agree that podcasting is a work-in-progress, filled with trials and errors. When Steven began recording Trace Evidence episodes about two years ago, he quickly discovered the time-consuming nature of researching, writing, and producing a podcast. He now works full-time on the true crime podcast, and continues to find new, creative ways to improve his production. He also regularly updates his Trace Evidence website with links and additional information for each episode.

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:

Find Steven at:

Facebook Page for Trace Evidence

Twitter: @TraceEvPod

Instagram: @TraceEvidencePod

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The Devastating Story of a Brilliant Mind Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

Mary Payne sits down with her friend Doug Budin to discuss the blockbuster podcast called S-Town, which dives into the life of the enigmatic John B. McLemore.

A Groundbreaking Podcast

Released in 2017, S-Town has become one of the most popular and critically acclaimed true crime podcasts over the past two years due to its brilliant storytelling, fascinating characters, and hauntingly beautiful music. S-Town was created by the producers of Serial and This American Life and is hosted by Brian Reed.

The podcast has not been without controversy. Soon after the podcast aired, McLemore’s Estate sued the producers of S-Town for revealing details of the now-deceased McLermore’s personal life without his permission. Despite the ongoing legal battle, S-Town continues to receive praise by listeners who are enthralled by the life of John.

The Unusual Friendship of Brian Reed and John B. McLemore

Mary Payne and Doug take us through the seven episodes of S-Town. Several years ago, Brian Reed began receiving messages from a stranger named John B. McLemore about a murder that occurred in his hometown of Bibb County, Alabama (which is not-so-affectionately called “Shittown” by John). When Brian traveled to Bibb County to look into John’s allegations, he quickly found that the real story was not with the now-debunked murder story, but rather with John himself. The first few episodes follow the budding friendship between Brian and John.

S-Town takes a shocking turn when John committed suicide in 2015. The remainder of the series unravels John’s life, as seen through his friends and acquaintances. It also follows the legal battles for John’s Estate between his close friend Tyler and his relatives, Reta and Charlie. Mary Payne and Doug are more sympathetic toward Tyler, who, despite his own legal troubles and shady history, had a close and loving relationship with John.

A Portrait of a Suffering Genius

Mary Payne and Doug find John to be a complex and intriguing character. A profane and ranting “redneck” from rural Alabama, John was also a mechanical genius, horologist, and self-educated expert on issues like climate change. He developed a number of close friendships and romantic relationships throughout his life, only to cut himself off once others came into the picture. John and his friends also discussed his struggles as a gay man in his rural South community.

John’s penchant for retreating from relationships and diving into rant-fueled depressions could be linked to his dangerous habit of fire gilding while working on clocks. This revelation provides us with a more complete understanding of S-Town’s protagonist.

Overall, Mary Payne and Doug recommend that everyone listen (at least twice) to this emotional and compelling podcast series.

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:

Mob Queens

Find Doug at:

Instagram - @dougbudin

Jeff Lewis Live on Radio Andy (Sirius Channel 102)

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Corruption, Murder, and the Pursuit of Justice Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

In Murder in Oregon, host Lauren Bright Pacheco takes listeners back to 1989 Salem, Oregon where the state’s Director of Corrections, Michael Francke, was murdered. Soon after his death, authorities pinned the murder on a low-level meth dealer. Murder in Oregon looks into the murder through the lenses of Francke’s brothers and a local journalist who believe that authorities got it wrong--that Francke is dead because he knew too much.

A Long Road to True Crime Podcasts

Lauren Bright Pacheco has found a home in the podcast community. She and Mary Payne discussed how they enjoy media productions in which the subjects can drive the narrative and their voices can be heard.

Previously, Lauren was a TV producer on the Dr. Oz show where she met Melissa Moore, daughter of Keith Hunter Jesperson (the infamous Happy Face killer). Lauren and Melissa produced a podcast about Melissa’s dad called Happy Face.

Lauren first heard of the Francke murder from journalist Phil Stanford during her production of the Happy Face. Phil worked for the Oregonian newspaper at the time of Francke’s murder, where his ensuing obsession with the case almost derailed his career. The more Lauren learned about the complex and compelling case, the more her fascination grew. She decided to start a podcast on this story and began production in March 2019.

The Murder of Michael Francke

Murder in Oregon takes listeners to the night of Francke’s murder, where he was stabbed to death next to his car outside of his office in Salem. The murder was ruled a “car burglary gone wrong,” even though the suspect didn’t steal his watch, wallet, or any money. The murderer did, however, steal his laptop and floppy disks--just before Francke planned to present evidence of endemic corruption and an organized criminal element within his department.

Authorities convicted low-level meth dealer Frank Gable of killing Francke. He was sentenced to 30 years in jail. Phil Stanford, along with Francke’s brothers, Pat and Kevin, believe Gable is innocent. The podcast gives these three compelling and compassionate characters a platform to argue why they believe that the Gable arrest was a coverup--and why the real truth would implicate powerful figures in Oregon.

The Story is Not Over

Frank Gable was released from prison after his 30-year sentence in June 2019. However, the State of Oregon plans to appeal his release and put him back behind bars. Gable’s defense attorney, Lisa C. Hay, is presenting a strong argument for Gable’s innocence. Meanwhile, Lauren, Phil, Pat, and Kevin continue to hunt down the truth.

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:

Next Question with Katie Couric

Mobituaries

Ridiculous History

Done Disappeared

Find Lauren at:

Personal Twitter: @BrightPacheco

Podcast Twitter: @MurderinOregon

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