Bookmark this always-updating directory to the best episodes of the Enthusiasts podcast!
Enthusiasts, a podcast about both celebrity culture and the most passionate of passionate people, is available wherever you subscribe to the other podcast, 17 Carat K-Pop, and at the links below!
Maureen Ryan on TV’s Evolution, The Writers Strike, and “A Call for Change in Hollywood”: My conversation with Maureen “Mo” Ryan, author of Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood. Mo describes what it has been like to watch streaming change everything about TV show creation, to witness multiple writers strikes over the years, to see Hollywood enable concerning behaviors and attitudes, and to envision what a better culture could look like after real systemic change.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
American Girl’s Historical Characters: Allison Horrocks, a trained historian and co-host of the American Girls podcast (now called Dolls of Our Lives), joins me to break down the ways perspectives on the American Girl books change with age, how the American Girl historical characters effectively get people interested in history, how much the American Girl brand really has or has not changed since Mattel’s acquisition, the importance of learning history, and much more!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
The Past, Present, and Future of Boy Bands: My conversation with Maria Sherman, author of Larger Than Life, about the often-overlooked parts of boy band history, the factors that led to One Direction’s massive popularity, how BTS is breaking boy band stereotypes, and much more!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Harry Styles: My conversation with Professor Louie Dean Valencia, who created and teaches a course on Harry Styles at Texas State University! He explained what to expect from the course, different lenses through which to view Harry Styles' discography, the ways Harry's music relates to today's society and vice versa, and more!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Tony Hsieh and the Quest for Happiness: While this five-part series is about one extraordinary man who deserves as much name recognition as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, it’s also about the many overlapping contexts that explain his successes, his tragic downward spiral, and his evergreen comments on how to be happy. Tony Hsieh spent his life studying and trying to create and spread happiness, implementing elements of rave culture, the Silicon Valley lifestyle, Howard-Hughes-level renovation ideas, and outside-the-box theories. The results: a shoe company where meetings were more like pep rallies, Tony’s llama obsession was apparent, and decor and toys abounded; a Vegas project set on creating the happiest city on Earth in just five years; a “Happiness Tour” that spread fun and games nationwide; and even more pursuits. However, Tony’s ambitious projects also brought chaos, misery, loneliness, and confusion to many - including, unbeknownst to some, himself.
Each episode in this mini-series covers both Tony Hsieh’s life story and seemingly unrelated stories that took place simultaneously. At the end, the different puzzle pieces will form a clear picture, one that shows what happiness is, was, and could be.
This is part one: Tony Hsieh’s early years, during which he pulled off one clever and amusing marketing gimmick after another and tried everything from selling buttons to running a restaurant; the comeback of a “ghost town;” two bizarre characters’ published ramblings from when they were high on laughing gas; turn-of-the-century, over-the-top bashes that kept outdoing each other; and a new idea for a workplace overhaul.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Kelly Weill on All Things Conspiracy Theories: My conversation with Kelly Weill, a reporter for The Daily Beast and author of the book OFF THE EDGE: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything. We discuss the history of the Flat Earth Movement, the overlap among conspiracy theory groups online, the implications of de-platforming misinformation-spreaders, ways to bring conspiracy theorists out of an alternate reality, and much more.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
D.B. Cooper: D.B. Cooper, who committed the only unsolved hijacking in commercial airline history, has become something akin to a folk legend among citizen sleuths. “Cooperites” and other true-crime enthusiasts still pour over theories and potential suspects to this day, both in online forums and at in-person meet-ups like CooperCon. Part of the enduring fascination with D.B. Cooper’s story is the amount of unknowns: did he survive his jump off the airplane? Was his bomb real? Did he act alone? What suspects seem the most and least likely? Why do so many people suspect they know “the REAL D.B. Cooper”? And how is the emotional investment in his daring mission still prevalent nearly fifty years after he pulled it off? I talk to Darren Schaefer, host of The Cooper Vortex, to find out.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Bonnie J. Wallace Talks Dove Cameron, Disney Channel, and Going from “Hometown to Hollywood”: As the mother of actress and singer Dove Cameron and as a well-known consultant, author, and podcast host who covers all things Hollywood, Bonnie J. Wallace is uniquely positioned to clear up misconceptions about the industry. In this conversation, Bonnie pulls back the curtain on auditions, “stage parents,” fan-idol relationships, Disney Channel, and so much more.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Knowledge Fight 101: Alex Jones and the show InfoWars have played a massive role in spreading conspiracy theories, radicalizing right-wingers, and fostering an apocalyptic mentality. No one understands Alex’s beliefs, persuasive tactics, and sources of misinformation quite like Dan and Jordan. They host a podcast called Knowledge Fight, on which they react to Alex’s most bizarre tangents, fact-check his most inaccurate claims, and provide context for his most misleading remarks. In this episode, I talk to Dan about what makes Alex such a unique character, how much of Alex’s act is sincere versus clout-chasing, and how Alex’s supporter base has evolved. This episode also makes time for unrelated anecdotes about Bob Ross, a secret DJ past, wrestling, and hatchets. Tune in for Alex’s backstory and a serious assessment of his intentions and impact, then stay for the bizarre asides about the colorful company he keeps!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Reality TV: A condensed history of the most bizarre and concerning reality shows of all time, reality television's rise, and the reasons why reality TV stars gained a permanent spot in the world of pop culture.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Mark Twain: A look at some of the most absurd, intriguing, and humorous fan letters sent to Mark Twain throughout his writing career!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Miku, Holograms, and a Redefining of Reality: A brief history of how the concept of “reality” has been redefined by live performances over time, from puppetry to holograms to famous virtual characters like Hatsune Miku. In addition, I break down why Miku and other “vocaloids” are so popular and what that says about how what is “real” to fans is actually quite subjective.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Astroworld: The Investigation: A grand jury decided not to pursue criminal charges against anyone affiliated with the 2021 Astroworld Tragedy. Since then, over 1,200 pages from the crowd-crush investigation have been made public: 911 calls, interviews, emails, text exchanges, and more. The documents form a timeline that starts months before the Travis-Scott-hosted event, goes through the minute details of what unfolded that tragic night, and describes the varied reactions afterwards from the companies and people fearing legal consequences. I poured over these documents, and in this episode, I share the most revealing excerpts from them: insights into who should have stopped the show the second the first medical emergency started, why it took so long to stop the concert, what red flags were raised during the festival construction process, what theories the investigators ruled out, and so much more.
Stream part one on Spotify here!
Stream part one on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream part one elsewhere here!
Stream part two on Spotify here!
Stream part two on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream part two elsewhere here!
Elon Musk: This two-part episode seeks to make sense of who Elon Musk is, who the "Musketeers" are, and why Musk has consistently been present in the public conversation, both online and in the "real world." This comprehensive timeline lays out Musk's social media history, personal and professional lives, career highlights and lowlights, and other moments that are key to understanding why, like it or not, Musk's popularity and level of influence come as no surprise.
Stream part one on Spotify here!
Stream part one on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream part one elsewhere here!
Stream part two on Spotify here!
Stream part two on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream part two elsewhere here!
Twitter and Tech Bros: The first part of this episode recaps all the major changes to Twitter since Elon Musk bought it and dives into the now-public text exchanges Musk had with famous friends in the lead-up to the acquisition. The second part looks at the backstories of the Silicon Valley types who have Musk's ear, what they believe, and how their views and goals might be shaping Musk's own. Lastly, this episode explains what "longtermism" is all about, a popular mentality among Musk's acquaintances that explains some of their more peculiar fixations. Understanding Elon's inner circle and filter bubble help answer the question on many people's minds lately: what is Elon thinking?!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
EJ Dickson on All Things Internet Culture: Rolling Stone culture reporter and Don’t Let This Flop podcast co-host EJ Dickson joins me to break down the best of, the worst of, and the most memorable content on TikTok!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
And lastly, the “Betrayals” series
Each episode in this mini-series tells a story about a time when fans felt lied to and betrayed, how they reacted to the betrayal, and whether or not their loyalty withstood the uproar.
Ep. 1: JT Leroy: The story of JT Leroy, the teen author who never actually existed.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Ep. 2: Lip-Synching Scandals: A look back at three lip-synching scandals that became defining moments in pop culture history and what caused such different public reactions to each of those instances.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Ep. 3: Art and Book “Hoaxes”: This installment in the “Betrayals” series tells the true stories of false identities. First, the story of Marla Olmstead, a painter and alleged child prodigy whose actual abilities were questioned after a 60 Minutes investigation. The second story is about how Timothy Barrus portrayed himself as a Navajo man named Nasdijj while writing his memoirs, and what happened when the truth about his life story came to light.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Ep. 4: Scammer Stories: A man created a fake restaurant that topped Tripadvisor’s list of the best restaurants in London. A woman repeatedly took on a new identity and fled town as soon as her bills - both financial and metaphorical - came due. An influencer was caught using her supporters to launder money. A chef sold a questionably edible product to her followers. Do stories like these, of stars misleading or outright betraying the public, make a notable dent in their popularity, or is all quickly forgiven? What does it take to completely end fans’ trust in an idol? Where do fans draw the line at supporting deceptive people? This episode does not just cover many examples of times celebrities were accused of scamming their admirers, but also the aftermaths of some of the alleged scams. Beneath the surface of these fascinating true stories lies an even more interesting story about the nature of celebrity, fan loyalty, and the limitations of both.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
I’ve also released episodes about enthusiasts of…
View the rest of the back catalog here!
Check out episode guides for my other podcast, 17 Carat K-Pop, here, here, and here!
Maureen Ryan on TV’s Evolution, The Writers Strike, and “A Call for Change in Hollywood”: My conversation with Maureen “Mo” Ryan, author of Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood. Mo describes what it has been like to watch streaming change everything about TV show creation, to witness multiple writers strikes over the years, to see Hollywood enable concerning behaviors and attitudes, and to envision what a better culture could look like after real systemic change.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
American Girl’s Historical Characters: Allison Horrocks, a trained historian and co-host of the American Girls podcast (now called Dolls of Our Lives), joins me to break down the ways perspectives on the American Girl books change with age, how the American Girl historical characters effectively get people interested in history, how much the American Girl brand really has or has not changed since Mattel’s acquisition, the importance of learning history, and much more!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
The Past, Present, and Future of Boy Bands: My conversation with Maria Sherman, author of Larger Than Life, about the often-overlooked parts of boy band history, the factors that led to One Direction’s massive popularity, how BTS is breaking boy band stereotypes, and much more!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Harry Styles: My conversation with Professor Louie Dean Valencia, who created and teaches a course on Harry Styles at Texas State University! He explained what to expect from the course, different lenses through which to view Harry Styles' discography, the ways Harry's music relates to today's society and vice versa, and more!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Tony Hsieh and the Quest for Happiness: While this five-part series is about one extraordinary man who deserves as much name recognition as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, it’s also about the many overlapping contexts that explain his successes, his tragic downward spiral, and his evergreen comments on how to be happy. Tony Hsieh spent his life studying and trying to create and spread happiness, implementing elements of rave culture, the Silicon Valley lifestyle, Howard-Hughes-level renovation ideas, and outside-the-box theories. The results: a shoe company where meetings were more like pep rallies, Tony’s llama obsession was apparent, and decor and toys abounded; a Vegas project set on creating the happiest city on Earth in just five years; a “Happiness Tour” that spread fun and games nationwide; and even more pursuits. However, Tony’s ambitious projects also brought chaos, misery, loneliness, and confusion to many - including, unbeknownst to some, himself.
Each episode in this mini-series covers both Tony Hsieh’s life story and seemingly unrelated stories that took place simultaneously. At the end, the different puzzle pieces will form a clear picture, one that shows what happiness is, was, and could be.
This is part one: Tony Hsieh’s early years, during which he pulled off one clever and amusing marketing gimmick after another and tried everything from selling buttons to running a restaurant; the comeback of a “ghost town;” two bizarre characters’ published ramblings from when they were high on laughing gas; turn-of-the-century, over-the-top bashes that kept outdoing each other; and a new idea for a workplace overhaul.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Kelly Weill on All Things Conspiracy Theories: My conversation with Kelly Weill, a reporter for The Daily Beast and author of the book OFF THE EDGE: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything. We discuss the history of the Flat Earth Movement, the overlap among conspiracy theory groups online, the implications of de-platforming misinformation-spreaders, ways to bring conspiracy theorists out of an alternate reality, and much more.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
D.B. Cooper: D.B. Cooper, who committed the only unsolved hijacking in commercial airline history, has become something akin to a folk legend among citizen sleuths. “Cooperites” and other true-crime enthusiasts still pour over theories and potential suspects to this day, both in online forums and at in-person meet-ups like CooperCon. Part of the enduring fascination with D.B. Cooper’s story is the amount of unknowns: did he survive his jump off the airplane? Was his bomb real? Did he act alone? What suspects seem the most and least likely? Why do so many people suspect they know “the REAL D.B. Cooper”? And how is the emotional investment in his daring mission still prevalent nearly fifty years after he pulled it off? I talk to Darren Schaefer, host of The Cooper Vortex, to find out.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Bonnie J. Wallace Talks Dove Cameron, Disney Channel, and Going from “Hometown to Hollywood”: As the mother of actress and singer Dove Cameron and as a well-known consultant, author, and podcast host who covers all things Hollywood, Bonnie J. Wallace is uniquely positioned to clear up misconceptions about the industry. In this conversation, Bonnie pulls back the curtain on auditions, “stage parents,” fan-idol relationships, Disney Channel, and so much more.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Knowledge Fight 101: Alex Jones and the show InfoWars have played a massive role in spreading conspiracy theories, radicalizing right-wingers, and fostering an apocalyptic mentality. No one understands Alex’s beliefs, persuasive tactics, and sources of misinformation quite like Dan and Jordan. They host a podcast called Knowledge Fight, on which they react to Alex’s most bizarre tangents, fact-check his most inaccurate claims, and provide context for his most misleading remarks. In this episode, I talk to Dan about what makes Alex such a unique character, how much of Alex’s act is sincere versus clout-chasing, and how Alex’s supporter base has evolved. This episode also makes time for unrelated anecdotes about Bob Ross, a secret DJ past, wrestling, and hatchets. Tune in for Alex’s backstory and a serious assessment of his intentions and impact, then stay for the bizarre asides about the colorful company he keeps!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Reality TV: A condensed history of the most bizarre and concerning reality shows of all time, reality television's rise, and the reasons why reality TV stars gained a permanent spot in the world of pop culture.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Mark Twain: A look at some of the most absurd, intriguing, and humorous fan letters sent to Mark Twain throughout his writing career!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Miku, Holograms, and a Redefining of Reality: A brief history of how the concept of “reality” has been redefined by live performances over time, from puppetry to holograms to famous virtual characters like Hatsune Miku. In addition, I break down why Miku and other “vocaloids” are so popular and what that says about how what is “real” to fans is actually quite subjective.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Astroworld: The Investigation: A grand jury decided not to pursue criminal charges against anyone affiliated with the 2021 Astroworld Tragedy. Since then, over 1,200 pages from the crowd-crush investigation have been made public: 911 calls, interviews, emails, text exchanges, and more. The documents form a timeline that starts months before the Travis-Scott-hosted event, goes through the minute details of what unfolded that tragic night, and describes the varied reactions afterwards from the companies and people fearing legal consequences. I poured over these documents, and in this episode, I share the most revealing excerpts from them: insights into who should have stopped the show the second the first medical emergency started, why it took so long to stop the concert, what red flags were raised during the festival construction process, what theories the investigators ruled out, and so much more.
Stream part one on Spotify here!
Stream part one on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream part one elsewhere here!
Stream part two on Spotify here!
Stream part two on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream part two elsewhere here!
Elon Musk: This two-part episode seeks to make sense of who Elon Musk is, who the "Musketeers" are, and why Musk has consistently been present in the public conversation, both online and in the "real world." This comprehensive timeline lays out Musk's social media history, personal and professional lives, career highlights and lowlights, and other moments that are key to understanding why, like it or not, Musk's popularity and level of influence come as no surprise.
Stream part one on Spotify here!
Stream part one on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream part one elsewhere here!
Stream part two on Spotify here!
Stream part two on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream part two elsewhere here!
Twitter and Tech Bros: The first part of this episode recaps all the major changes to Twitter since Elon Musk bought it and dives into the now-public text exchanges Musk had with famous friends in the lead-up to the acquisition. The second part looks at the backstories of the Silicon Valley types who have Musk's ear, what they believe, and how their views and goals might be shaping Musk's own. Lastly, this episode explains what "longtermism" is all about, a popular mentality among Musk's acquaintances that explains some of their more peculiar fixations. Understanding Elon's inner circle and filter bubble help answer the question on many people's minds lately: what is Elon thinking?!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
EJ Dickson on All Things Internet Culture: Rolling Stone culture reporter and Don’t Let This Flop podcast co-host EJ Dickson joins me to break down the best of, the worst of, and the most memorable content on TikTok!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
And lastly, the “Betrayals” series
Each episode in this mini-series tells a story about a time when fans felt lied to and betrayed, how they reacted to the betrayal, and whether or not their loyalty withstood the uproar.
Ep. 1: JT Leroy: The story of JT Leroy, the teen author who never actually existed.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Ep. 2: Lip-Synching Scandals: A look back at three lip-synching scandals that became defining moments in pop culture history and what caused such different public reactions to each of those instances.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Ep. 3: Art and Book “Hoaxes”: This installment in the “Betrayals” series tells the true stories of false identities. First, the story of Marla Olmstead, a painter and alleged child prodigy whose actual abilities were questioned after a 60 Minutes investigation. The second story is about how Timothy Barrus portrayed himself as a Navajo man named Nasdijj while writing his memoirs, and what happened when the truth about his life story came to light.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Ep. 4: Scammer Stories: A man created a fake restaurant that topped Tripadvisor’s list of the best restaurants in London. A woman repeatedly took on a new identity and fled town as soon as her bills - both financial and metaphorical - came due. An influencer was caught using her supporters to launder money. A chef sold a questionably edible product to her followers. Do stories like these, of stars misleading or outright betraying the public, make a notable dent in their popularity, or is all quickly forgiven? What does it take to completely end fans’ trust in an idol? Where do fans draw the line at supporting deceptive people? This episode does not just cover many examples of times celebrities were accused of scamming their admirers, but also the aftermaths of some of the alleged scams. Beneath the surface of these fascinating true stories lies an even more interesting story about the nature of celebrity, fan loyalty, and the limitations of both.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
I’ve also released episodes about enthusiasts of…
- UFOs
- True crime
- Sailor Moon
- SpongeBob
- The Simpsons
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Hello Kitty
- My Little Pony
- Sherlock Holmes
- Disneyland
- Sports
- Horror movies
- Comics
- Influencers
View the rest of the back catalog here!
Check out episode guides for my other podcast, 17 Carat K-Pop, here, here, and here!
