Do You Really Know Me❓
More Scams and Anna Delvey, +just added and charts!
Hey Poddy People,
I’ll also be spending more time editing and posting the interviews I’ve captured these last couple of months. Trying to get some fresh content out for y’all before my birthday in July. Also, what should I do for my birthday? Welcome to the new subs!
Let’s go!!!
Updates:
Oh, snap. Last week, I mentioned the potential of pod merch and Brian (Designer) posted the first non-GP logo item to the store.
Check the first of the MERCH here. Leave a comment if you know who it is…
Substack has referral rewards! Lucky you. I added 3 tiers for rewards pulled from our Merch store. Here’s how I initially broke it down:
Earn benefits. When more friends use your referral link to subscribe, you’ll receive unique benefits.
Get GP Sticker! for 5 referrals
Get Great Pods T-Shirt of Choice for 20 referrals
Get Great Pods Hoodie of Choice for 40 referrals
I’m also working up the courage for paid subscription perks on Substack. After almost 3 years of writing this newsletter weekly, “it is time.”
Ads: Love me some experiments. On the website, we are running a 90-day test of Google Ads to see if they won’t disrupt your GP experience. Some of you will see it, some of you won’t.
Serial is back with a new medical true crime pod called The Retrievals. Coming June 29th. Trailer here.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell Audio divorce from Spotify is still making the news. Have you read the mixed reviews for Archetypes yet?
Spotify announced a new podcast with Trevor Noah. Read it here. I guess Trevor Noah’s deal with Luminary is done.
Podcast Critic, Keelin wrote a beautiful piece on the Bitter/Sweet podcast which I recommended two weeks ago. Read it here.
The video game, Dead Space (Electronic Arts), is coming out with a companion podcast in 2024 to expand the game’s universe. Read more here.
Finally, help me help you…
On to my picks this week…
Chameleon: Scam Likely
Genre: Scam, True Crime
Publisher: Sony Music, Neon Hum, Campside Media
About: When a small team of government investigators learns that ordinary citizens all around the U.S. are losing their life savings to scam callers, they go on the hunt for the shadowy multinational mob behind the con, unraveling their plot from strip malls in suburban Texas to office towers in one of India's largest cities. In the latest season of Chameleon, host Yudhijit Bhattacharjee retraces the steps of the cops and the crooks, and goes deep into the Indian underworld looking for the alleged masterminds who got away.
Just like the last two newsletters, I met Yudhijit this year at The Ambies red carpet. I’ve been lucky to meet such wonderful and kind journalists and podcasters along the way. I wanted to listen to Scam Likely before I met him, but time just escaped. However, a road trip to the Bay Area with my Indian Aunt and Uncle was the right time. I didn’t tell them anything about the podcast and just started playing it. They were hooked on two things. The scam calls, we still get them, and an Indian reporting the story. I can tell you this with 70% confidence they know what a podcast is now. Or at least this version of a podcast.
We finished the series, but there isn’t an ultimate conclusion like so many podcasts. The calls keep coming and investigations will still happen. At least in this podcast, Yudhijit gets to multiple sources in India and the Department of Homeland Security to give us a rounded experience.
Stephen O. • Podcast Delivery
“…reminds us that it’s really more of an industry than a few opportune cons. Scam Likely is the closest thing to a police ride-along for your ears and really sets the bar high.”
Podcast: People Who Knew Me
Genre: Fiction, Drama
Publisher: BBC
About: Emily Morris uses 9/11 to fake her own death and run away to start a new life in California as Connie Prynne. Fourteen years later, now with a teenage daughter by her side, Connie is diagnosed with breast cancer. She will be forced to confront her past so that her daughter will not be left on her own if she does not survive. Starring Rosamund Pike and Hugh Laurie, Kyle Soller and Alfred Enoch.
Frustratingly good. There’s a back and forth of the story from Emily/Connie’s past in NYC and then coming back to LA. It’s played so well by Rosamund (EDITH!, Mother, Neighbor, Russian Spy) I wanted to stop because why would anyone act this way? But just like Nashville Hot Chicken, no matter how much the heat gets to me, I want to keep going. In the latest episode, Emily/Connie finally confesses to someone about what she’s done. We aren’t done yet…
After listening to the 7 released episodes, I even looked at the logo differently. How the faded Polaroid look of a Rosamund Pike with a stare that is hiding some shit.
Fiona Sturges • Financial Times
“The suspense of this pacy, bingeable 10-part drama, which has shades of David Fincher’s film Gone Girl (which also starred Pike)”
Podcast: The Anna Delvey Show
Genre: Society?
Publisher: The Anna Delvey Show
About: The first time audiences hear from the actual Anna Delvey. Season One is recorded from house arrest in NYC's east village. The Anna Delvey Show is a weekly podcast that explores the preconceived notions of rule breakers, effects of adversity, validity of existing systems and status quo in conversations with guests who are experts in their fields. Covering wide-ranging topics from intersections between art, politics, fashion, music, tech, film, law and finance, it will move beyond tired notions of what's right and wrong.
The high society scammer subject of Inventing Anna wants to get real and honest. Ok. The description is pretty standard. Experts in all sorts of fields. What’s missing is Anna Delvey talking about herself, her motivations, and the why. I listened to parts of two episodes and it’s not a train wreck, but it lacks more Anna.
So take it for what it is after 4 episodes.
Rachel Cunliffe • New Statesman
“We’re not going to learn anything about Delvey, except that she still doesn’t think she did anything wrong.”
Lauren Passell • Podcast The Newsletter
“It is not good but interesting. You don’t have to listen to The Anna Delvey Show, I’ll fill you in if anything fascinating happens.”
Thanks Lauren!
Just Added This Week:
Hidden Signal: Evergreen - QCode
Under Cover of Knight - Apple
Without - HyperObject Industries
Queen Havoc and Her Murder Cult - iHeartPodcast Network
Sad Oligarch - Cool Zone Media, iHeartPodcast Network
Ghosthoney's Dream Machine - Pod People
Limelight: Seige - BBC
My Mrs. Maisel Pod - QCode
Objeks & Tings - Message Heard
Call Jonathan Pie - BBC
Marianna in Conspiracyland - BBC
I Love My Kid, But - Wondery
Paper Cuts - Podmasters
Diss and Tell - Wondery
Resurrection - Dane Stewart
Top 5 Podcasts This Past Week: June 12th-18th
People Who Knew Me - BBC
The Horror of Dolores Roach - Gimlet (Why? The TV Trailer is out)
The Witch Trials of JK Rowling - The Free Press
Scamanda - Lionsgate Sound
Archetypes - Spotify (Spotify divorce)
Stay safe, take a deep breath, and help each other out!
Listening with you,
Captain Ron
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