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Pop Mystery Pod

Tess Barker

Investigative journalist and pop culture junkie Tess Barker, dives into the pop culture moments that have puzzled her for years. This addictive, informative and revelatory show dives features the deep research and first person reporting that helped her launch the #FreeBritney movement while co-hosting Britney's Gram. Each episode unpacks a moment in celebrity news that was misunderstood or intentionally covered up at the time. Part true crime, part comedy, part deconstructing pop culture trivia, the show shines light on the dark corners in the entertainment capital of the world.

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  • 23 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr
  • English

Episodes 23

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  • #107
    August 13 · 1 hr 28 min

    Grimes, Mother of X Æ A-12 (with Steven Ray Morris)

    Since hard launching with Elon Musk at the Met Gala in 2018, recording artist Grimes has been a mysterious and divisive figure. Who is Grimes as an artist, and what could she have been had Musk not interceeded in her strange little indie career?

  • #106
    August 6 · 1 hr 22 min

    The Cult That Jared Leto Runs (with Shannon McNamara)

    Jared Leto started his career as a 23 year old teen heartthrob on “My So Called Life.” He then went on to achieve the nearly impossible: dual careers as both a rock star and a critically acclaimed actor. Recent bombshell reporting from the BBC has revealed that over decades, as he’s enjoyed wild success, Leto has allegedly assaulted a staggering number of teenaged girls. Oh, and also he appears to have started a cult.

  • #105
    July 30 · 1 hr 23 min

    Tyra Banks Cuts Models (with Jackie Johnson)

    America’s Next Top Model” is a stunning piece of television. For over a decade, svelte contestants ostensibly vied for a chance at modeling success. What they were also seemingly fighting for, however, is their mental well-being. What actually went down behind the scenes of this singular juggernaut of a show? Is the recent backlash against Tyra warranted? What exactly is she claiming in her lawsuit against Netflix? Perhaps most importantly wtf is hit ice cream? Joining Tess to walk the runway is

  • #104
    July 23 · 1 hr 20 min

    The Ice Cream Blonde Cold Case (with Babs Gray)

    Thelma Todd seemed to be living the life of classic Hollywood dreams. She had a busy career, an active social life, and she owned a restaurant at arguably the most beautiful corner of southern California coastline.

  • #103
    July 16 · 44 min

    Jerry Springer Fakes It (Throwback)

    This week, we revisit a classic American story. For better or worse, “The Jerry Springer Show” changed television as we know it. Were the guests on this trainwreck real? Or fakers?

  • #101
    July 2 · 9 min

    The Top Pop Independence Days

    Pop history is full of notable independence days. If the red, white, and blue isn’t doing it for you, this year, here are some iconic moments of libration to celebrate instead.

  • #100
    June 25 · 1 hr 33 min

    James Cameron’s Quest to Pester Ghosts (with Caitlin Durante)

    The Titanic is one of the most famous and chilling disasters of all time. The movie “Titanic.”  could have also been a lesson in hubris. It was helmed by James Cameron, whose reportedly maniacal behavior may have been the impetus for a bizarre and mysterious food poisoning.

  • #99
    June 18 · 1 hr 8 min

    The NFL is Bravo (with Megan Gailey)

    You don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate the wild and jaw dropping tale of a sports reporter and a head coach whose affair may have changed the direction of the entire football league.

  • #97
    June 4 · 1 hr 32 min

    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 forces in the land of pop journalism?

  • #96
    May 28 · 41 min

    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.

  • #94
    May 14 · 1 hr 14 min

    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 as they flashed the camera. A deeply disturbing truth permeated this cultural phenomena, however. Joining Tess to talk through her own first hand experience with the franchise is comic, writer, and podcaster Courtney Kocak (Private Parts Unown). 

  • #92
    April 30 · 1 hr 4 min

    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. A recent expose in Reuters, however, seems to have gotten to the bottom of this icon’s identity. But did they truly blow up Banksy’s spot? Joining Tess to talk all things Banksy is comic and podcaster Chris Fairbanks @chris_fairbanks (Do You Need a Ride?)

  • #91
    April 23 · 1 hr 6 min

    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 were some of Lively’s claims actually tossed out? What is at stake in this trial, and what do we expect each side to claim? Joining Tess for a legal analysis of where this case stands today is attorney and writer MJ Morley (@morewithMJ)

  • #90
    April 16 · 1 hr 42 min

    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 Scientology a driving force in Cruise’s marriage to Holmes? Was it part of why he divorced Nicole Kidman? Joining Tess on an illicit trip to the Celebrity Centre is Calie Lim (@weeclairehere)

Showing 1–20 of 23 episodes