Pop Mystery Pod
Tess Barker
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Recent Episodes
An Alleged Tupac Assassin Stands Trial. Who Hired Him?
Nearly thirty years after the killing of Tupac Shakur, Duane Davis is set to face murder charges in a Nevada court. Additionally, Davis has been named in a civil complaint filed by Tupac’s step…
The TMZ Secret Sauce (with Lauren Vino)
When TMZ reports on a tragedy in Los Angeles, chances are, it’s true. How does this tabloid source its seedy confidential information, and why do TMZ and its founder Harvey Levin remain such powerful…
A Literal Captive Audience
After Tess learns about a shocking method of filling live studio audiences, she is sent on a long journey to get to the bottom of a clandestine and widespread practice. In her search for the truth,…
The Terrifying Face Behind Those Pass It On Billboards (from the vault)
This is dark money hiding in plain sight. Tess revisits the twisted reality of those strange ads the in one of her favorite vault episodes. There’s something unsettling about those “Pass It On”…
Exposing “Girls Gone Wild” (with Courtney Kocak)
Few commercials were as ubiquitous in the early aughts as the ones for the video series “Girls Gone Wild.” The premise of these videos was so dumb it seemed funny: girls being treated as zoo animals…
The Settlement: What Justin Baldoni’s Lawyer Doesn’t Want Us to Know
Blake Lively’s case against Justin Baldoni has settled. Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman has been doing a media tour in an attempt to frame this as a “victory.” Yet, for all Freedman has been talking,…
Banksy Gets His Mask Ripped Off (with Chris Fairbanks)
For decades, the street artist Banksy was one of the most famous anonymous people in the world. Like most street artists, Banksy used anonymity for cover, but also as a means of generating mystique.…
Nevertheless, Blake Lively Persists (with MJ Morley)
Blake Lively’s civil case is scheduled to head to trial. As the actor is set to claim retaliation against Justin Baldoni, many of her harassment claims have been tossed out on a technicality. Why…
The Tom Cruise Wife Casting Couch (with Claire Lim)
When Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah’s couch and declared “I’m in love!” he may as well have been playing one of the high octane characters that has made him a super star since the ‘80s. Was the Church of…
Bluntly, Afroman Prevails (with Paul Danke)
Finally, some good news. After being sued for making music videos based on a break in of his own home, Afroman scores a big win for free speech, and, honestly, millennial stoners at large. Joining…
Is Spencer Pratt a Villain in Reality? (with Rachel Brodsky)
Spencer Pratt is one of reality television’s iconic bad guys…but is he really a bad guy? What is it about this former “Hills,” cast member that has led to his surprising endurance as a public figure?…
Shen Yun (with Jenny Yang)
What actually is the mysterious dance show Shen Yun, whose advertisements are seemingly everywhere, always? The answer is weirder and more profound than you may imagine. Joining Tess to talk through…
The Screenwriter Who Faded to Black (with Christian Duguay)
In the 1990s, action screenwriter Gary Devore had the career many people dream of. Late one night after finishing a draft, though, he disappeared seemingly without a trace. Was Gary abducted because…
Free Britney Was Right.
After a reading a slough of bad takes on recent Britney news, Tess has some thoughts on the enduring legacy of the Free Britney movement, and why attention still needs to be turned, not to Britney,…
The People You Meet at Groundhog Day
Tess reports from the field in Punxsutawney, PA on Groundhog Day. This is more than just a fake holiday. It’s a singular, surreal experience. Tess gets to the bottom of this absurd celebration and…
Britney Spears Sells Britney Spears: A Britney’s Gram Reunion! (with Babs Gray)
Britney Spears has sold the rights to her huge music catalogue for a reported 200 million dollars. What might the sale of Britney’s music mean for Britney herself, and what was the financial…
Angelyne (with Chris Farah)
If Los Angeles has a mascot, it is the beautiful, busty figure who’s been flitting about our freeways for decades: Angelyne. Basically, Angelyne invented being “famous for no reason.” This enchanting…
Babes in Hollyweirdland: Can We Keep Young Performers Safe? (with Stacy Keanan and Christine Lakin)
Clearly, there will always be a demand for young people on screen. Shows geared toward young audiences have a huge appeal, and they usually feature kids as principal performers. Recent revelations…
The Music Universal Studios Lost Forever (with Steven Ray Morris)
When a fire tore through the backlot of Universal Studios in 2008, it took with it countless priceless music archives. Recordings from a staggering number of artists, from Nirvana to Aretha Franklin…
Jenna Jameson: The Porn Industry Climaxes (with Molly Lambert)
In the 1990s, the porn industry dominated the mainstream aesthetic and vice versa, as stars like Jenna Jameson used appearances on the Howard Stern show to become household names. The porn industry…
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Pop Mystery Pod has published 93 episodes since May 2024, covering topics in Documentary, Film History.
Pop Mystery Pod is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 59m.
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