🚢 Titanic truther 💎 hidden treasure ❌ Florida men 🐊 cancellations 🏄‍♀️ very good vibes 😎 oysters 🦪

🍭 👂 You're in for a treat! 🌈 🤸‍♀️

Bonjour!

Today is Monday, September 12. There are 23 days until I go on my next Disney Cruise. In case this email is too long, a funny Titanic truther here, a twist on true-crime here, we should be building our cities with 6-year-olds here.

xoxo lp

ps If you are pleased with Podcast The Newsletter, please spread the word.

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👋q & a & q & a & q & a👋

Bethanne Patrick

Bethanne Patrick is the host of Missing Pages. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Missing Pages on Twitter here.

Tell us about the show in 10 words or less.
Missing Pages uncovers literary scandals to highlight book-publishing issues.

You will like Missing Pages if you like _____.
Scams, pop culture drama and/or books!

What’s your favorite episode of Missing Pages?
Probably the Anna March episode (which will drop on September 19). It’s quite personal for me. It shows how even the most well meaning – perhaps because they are the most well meaning – literary people can get conned.

Which episode was the most challenging to make?
A few months ago, I would have had one answer; now I have a different one, but that’s because we’ve had different challenges with each episode. Sometimes it’s tracking down the right people to interview. Sometimes it’s setting the right tone. Sometimes it’s making sure we have thought through all aspects of a story before we finish writing. I’m proud that I have a credit as a producer as well as host, because I tried to contribute as much as I could, whether that meant helping to write, cracking open my virtual Rolodex, or getting advice from trusted industry colleagues.

Why is the publishing industry so dramatic?
A question that deserves discussion! Consider this: Why do so many people, even people who have achieved huge success in other areas/endeavors, still want to write a book (or have one ghostwritten)? It’s because a book is the shortest distance between the consciousness of two people, the writer and the reader. Meaning it’s highly personal, and anything highly personal is going to be full of. . . drama. And so is the industry that fosters books. Publishing, as we saw during the recent DOJ vs. PRH trial, doesn’t have a lot of hard-and-fast rules. It’s an industry that relies heavily on relationships and trust.

Can you tell us a story or detail that you had to leave on the cutting room floor?
Our bonus episodes (an exclusive treat for Apple Podcast subscribers!) are chock full of information, so much information about publishing that at least one university professor I know is using them on her Fall 2022 syllabus for a class about editing and publishing. Don’t miss Deesha Philyaw discussing separation between social media and real art, or Luis Urrea telling us what it was like to learn from the great Ursula K. Le Guin.

What’s a podcast you love that everyone already knows about?
I recently guested on Roy’s Job Fair with Daily Show Correspondent Roy Wood, Jr., and I had sooooo much fun with Roy, Third, and Jacqueline. I hope I get to return as a guest someday, but I will be listening all the time. And I can’t wait to see Roy in the upcoming movie he’s co-starring in with Jon Hamm!

What’s a podcast you love that not enough people know about?
Ursa Short Fiction with Dawnie Walton and Deesha Philyaw! Listen in, my bookish friends!

How are authors like podcasters?
Authors spin out narratives like podcasters do, sometimes in an organized fashion, sometimes by the seat of our pants. We have one narrator, or a cast of characters, or a deep conversation, or superficial chatter. Books and podcasts are both highly elastic forms.

Can you give us a book recommendation?
Can I give you thirty? 

OK, OK, just one. Hmmmm. I’ll go with Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, a magical novel about a young woman who becomes a 1920s aviatrix. It starts in Montana and I won’t tell you where it ends but I will tell you that if you don’t read all the way through you will be cheating yourself. A lush, complicated, important, high-wire act of a book.

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🚨If u only have time for 1 thing🚨

Lemonada does everything a bit differently, with a little bit of extra care. They completely broke the true-crime rule book when they made Believe Her, which told the story of a woman suffering from domestic abuse who…plot twist…survived her husband’s violence and killed him in self defense. It ended up being a story that could break your brain. They’re back with another true-crime show in Lemonada style, The Letter, about the 1996 murder of Zachary Snarr. It opens with a scene that pulls you in…you are invited to hear the phone conversation between a woman and someone in jail. She loves him. But later you learn that he is the person who killed her son decades ago. After that explosive beginning, you get a nice little introduction to the Snarr family—it reminds me a bit of the opening segments to Are You Afraid of the Dark (anyone?)…things feel scenic and safe, but also ominous. By the time you get to the story of the murder and a shot back to the woman on the phone on her couch, you’ve been twisted in all sorts of directions. I feel like I’m on a wild ride and I don’t want to get off. Lemonada doesn’t just get stories that are different, they tell the stories in a way that nobody else is.

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oh hey

✨I’ve been working on In Your Hands for a month. Thanks to all who have joined the movement: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Podnews, Vocal Fridays, Inside Podcasting, plus the people who have interviewed Lizzy (Tom Sharpling, The Daily Zeitgiest, Liza Treyger.) Numbers are more than doubled, more soon. It’s not too late to listen!

✨Sign up for my 10/3 Radio Bootcamp class here. I *promise* you it will be a fun time.

✨Last week’s Podcast Marketing Magic answered 4.5 podcast marketing questions Tink gets from podcasters about marketing.

✨How to Pretend Your Podcast is a Hit [Nick Hilton]

✨11 Best New Upcoming Podcasts to Listen to in 2022 [Vulture]

✨My piece on the best experimental podcasts is here. [Lifehacker]

✨Jinx, buy me a coke! Arielle Nissenblatt also spotlighted The Letter in her newsletter and podcast.

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💎BTW💎

🎙️A hundred and fifty years ago, the Osage Nation bought a block of oil-rich land in what's now Oklahoma, but today, much of the land is owned by white people with no Osage ties. This can be blamed on the Reign of Terror, a period in which Osage people were forced to sign away their land. They were married for their head rights then murdered, they were poisoned, their cars were run off the road, and one of their houses was blown up. Even without the violence, the Osage have been losing out to generational wealth for decades. (White people just can’t stand when people of color have money. See: Tulsa Massacre.) On In Trust, Bloomberg’s Rachel Adams-Heard is doing fabulous reporting—I picture her laser focused on unearthing that have gone overlooked for years, going through files in abandoned buildings, calling people with tough questions and not taking no for an answer, like a superhero. (Rachel, I don’t know if you actually looted an abandoned building but please don’t crush my dreams.) I’m no longer surprised that this stuff happened but I am surprised I didn’t know about it. Listen here.

🎙️FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) allows young people living in the UK take us on audio journeys to learn about things they wished they learned in school. The first episode (which you can listen to now) gives the mic to 17 year old Atlanta (I cannot believe she is 17,) who lives in Glasgow but spent the first few years of her life living in Uganda, where her mom is from. Most of her friends don’t know anything about the British Empire, and she uncovers uncomfortable truths about Colonialism’s brutal violence and past. This episode should be played in schools. Even if you already knew all the facts, you’ll be swooped up by the dynamic format of storytelling and interview, and the beautiful production. I listened to episodes two and three (about media reporting of queer communities and how overpolicing begins with kids) and they just got better and better. It will give you possibly too much to think about. I listened to the third episode twice. It includes a heartbreaking story about a young woman punished for having braids at school. Listen here.

🎙️I fucking love Normal Gossip and felt like a life raft had been thrown to me when I saw there was a new episode. (Not that I’m drowning, but lol, aren’t we all?) Samantha Irby is the perfect guest, and the way Kelsey McKinney pulls you through the story makes me feel like the show could be called “Pins and Needles.” I’m on the edge of my seat wondering…and then? This is a particular method of storytelling that is hard to do, I imagine, but Kelsey pulls it off perfectly. One of her tricks is adding a ridiculous amount of detail to her stories…details we could not possibly know. Do we know that someone was literally pulling an earring through her ear when she heard a knock on the door? No! But who cares? That’s the whole point of gossip—we don’t know. But imagining these circumstances with these delightful additions (knowing the weight of a dog, a character’s preference for drive-in margarita stands) completely immerses you in the story, demanding you to become invested in something which might otherwise seem unimportant. I want Samantha back. Guest favorite. Listen here.

🎙️Did Titanic Sink? is a comedy conspiracy podcast, but there’s earnestness in it, too. Tim Batt is making an argument that ship we believe to be the The Titanic did not sink, and is extending his case throughout a series where he tries to convince his friend Carlo Ritchie that he’s right, and gets feedback from friends about how the argument is going. The banter between Tim and Carlo feels like a funny chat show, but Tim’s mission is both hilarious and compelling…it’s actually a conspiracy theory I’ve heard before. Conspiracy theories are fun and best when treated with a mix of research and levity, and even if you are still convinced that Titanic sunk, you have to appreciate Tim’s dedication to proving you wrong. (Though I get closer and closer to the fence the more I listen.) Listen here.

🎙️Mortified allows people to read from their childhood diaries, and episodes are often funny, but never as heart-breaking as this one told by Jessica. Jessica had a challenging childhood, more challenging than mine. Her parents were divorced and she was tasked to help her with her house cleaning business, which included cleaning the home of her school bully. And yes, she was bullied mercilessly, for being fat. And she always felt like the dud of the family. But this wasn’t a sob fest. Little Jessica seems have an admirable awareness that awkward adolescence is funny and isn’t everything. Her reading is full of laughter and compassion for herself. Listening gave me more compassion for myself and everyone in the world. I want a YA novel based on this diary. Listen here.

🎙️I started listening to Cancelled because Chelsey Weber-Smith told me to and could not stop. On the surface it appears to be a straight-forward show about people who have been cancelled (like the one from Broccoli) but it’s bursting with humor and insight. Jessie & Clare Stephens are twin sisters whose chemistry is energetic and quick. I think it’s a twin thing, and I don’t know too many podcasts hosted by twins. They have discussions on Andrew Tate, Chris Pratt, and Elon Musk…all topics I have heard before. But it still felt fresh and funny coming from these two. At the end they give a judgment, what the cancelled person should do to redeem themselves. The judgements are always funny and actually sort of make sense. Listen here.

🎙️For the best episode of Media Circus yet, Kim Goldman talked to Lora, the daughter of Rodney King, about who her father really was and what it was like to grow up with her family at the center of one of the most monumental moments of American history. Lora brings a perspective to the story we’ve never heard, but it is her dynamic with Kim that makes this one of the best interviews I’ve heard in a long time. The two have a lot to talk about—their relatives were both involuntarily brought to the front of a racially-fueled media storm. Though their stories are different (ICYMI Kim is the sister of Ron Goldman, who was murdered by OJ Simpson) the things they share reveals so much about what it’s like to be at the center of a story like this, to have someone you love and their lives blasted across the country for all to speculate on and reinterpret. In each story, it’s a fight to keep control of the narrative and grieve with all that noise, and it’s a reminder that we don’t actually know the real story. Maybe only Kim and Lora do—it’s like they’re sisters sharing a secret. This interview gets us a little closer to the truth. Listen here.

🎙️I can’t tell you how good the true crime season of Spectacle is. Mariah Smith is uncovering the uncomfortable truths about true-crime—the feminist fantasy of Law & Order, citizen sleuthing gone bad, hot Ted Bundy, and all the white women who “true crime, glass of wine, in bed by nine” HARD. Plus, an interview with Keith Morrison. This season should be required listening for anyone who consumes true crime. Each episode has a perfectly specific angle that allows Mariah to really dig into, but as a whole, the series exposes true crime as a fantasy without ruining it for us, just helping us understand what we’re taking in. Listen here.

🎙️Chelsey Weber-Smith’s American Hysteria episode on Florida Man is the most interesting explanation for why Florida Man…is. It’s more than just then often referenced Sunshine Law, that provides a right of access to governmental proceedings at both the state and local levels. Chelsey provides a history of Florida and interesting nuggets of info (like Florida is the only place in the world where crocodiles and alligators coexist) that paint a picture of a state that is more reflective of the United States than an oddity on its own. Listen here. And I wasn’t writing the newsletter last week, so I didn’t get to write about my DREAM episode—Chelsey talking about The Donner Party on You’re Wrong About with Sarah Marshall. The perfect mash-up episode. Listen to that here.

🎙️Because I am your #1 call-in girl (tied with Arielle Nissenblatt) I called the Climavores hotline the moment I finished the first episode to ask about oysters. (I’m a vegetarian but I have heard vegans admit to eating them.) I’m writing about this because the show is great, I’m grateful that my question was aired, but mostly to tell you that Tamar Haspel makes a solid argument about oyster eating and has convinced me to try one. One small, creamy oyster without any sauces. An oyster doesn’t have a face, it doesn’t feel pain, and farming them is good for the environment. (Now I’m just convincing myself that trying one doesn’t go against my mission to lessen animal cruelty.) Listen here.

🎙️99% Invisible kicks off an episode about the hit Japanese TV program Old Enough, where toddlers go on errands by themselves, in order to tell a story about how city infrastructure can impact kids and their capacity for independence. In Japanese cities, neighborhoods are zoned differently, which means everything families need are bunched together, and elementary schools are often located right in the heart of the neighborhood. Narrow streets and a lack of large plazas prevent cars from driving too fast, making it imaginable that a young child could go to the store and pick up bread or whatever at the store. Maybe we should be building our cities with 6-year-olds in mind. Listen here.

🎙️Kimi Culp’s All the Wiser is one of the most beautiful interview shows in existence. Kimi cares about great stories and knows just how to get them. It’s a lesson in empathy and Kimi’s questions are a scalpel that gets to the heart of what it’s really like to make it through darkness. The new season starts with an interview with Amanda Knox. And you may have listened to interviews with Amanda Knox, you haven’t listened to this interview with Amanda Knox. The one with Kimi’s touch. Subscribe now if you haven’t, there are some doozies on the horizon. Listen here.

🎙️When Forrest Fenn hid a chest full of gold, sapphires, and rubies somewhere in the Rocky Mountains in 2010 and wrote a poem to help people find it, Darrell Seyler became absolutely obsessed. Missed Fortune tells the story of his treasuring hunting addiction that makes you feel like you’re on the hunt along with him. Host Peter Frick-Wright is literally long for the ride, and is a great guide. Peter is both down to follow Darrell to extreme lengths but also there to offer the listener his own perspective as an observer, noting that gold fever will sweep you off your feet, but can also break your heart. The treasure was hidden in order to get people off their couches to explore the outdoors, but Forrest’s riddles seem to have made Darrell go nearly mad, and the hunt has turned out to be more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. Listen here.

🎙️Depending on where you’re coming from, the Phoenix Goddess Temple was either a place where “seekers” could be healed through sensual touch, or a brothel operating under the guise of religious freedom. On paper it was based on Tantra and Goddess worship but behind closed doors were (earmuffs, children readers…) prostate massages, handjobs and vaginal fingering, performed next to big old donation baskets. Witnessed: Mystic Mother is the story of temple founder Tracy Elise, who is sitting in jail for four-and-a-half years. So we know the end of the story. But what happened between will have you asking questions about sex work, control, power, the concept of religious status, and whether or not an orgasm is simply an “energy event.” Should all sacred things be legal? Even people totally sex positive will be scratching their heads, there is this whole “whorearchy” thing going on, where white women have sex work privilege that others do not. Almost. Hosts Katie and Leah Henoch are your temple guides. Listen here.

🎙️I didn’t do much reading about Vibe Check before listening so I imagined it’d be like It’s Been a Minute with Sam Sanders plus Sam’s friends. I also don’t listen to chat shows religiously, so I thought I’d just be peeking in to see what’s up. But this is a show I won’t be skipping—Sam, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford find the tiny cultural moments that are actually huge and have smart conversations about them. Their conversations illustrate why we need to care about nuanced cultural moments. Listen here.

🎙️Thamarrah Jones’ As It Should Be is a wonderful interview series for people who are actively learning and unlearning their role in upholding systems that hurt people. Mind-bendy episodes clarify thorny topics and give you tons to think about. Listen here.

🎙️If you were grossed out by Dave Jackson’s distasteful (and admit it…poorly written) response to the Ben Shapiro thing (no I’m not linking to it) refresh your palette by listening to Wil Williams on Cancel Me Daddy, where they underscore the dangers of hosting fascists at large events, and what’s at stake for the most vulnerable people there. I saw a lot of people wringing their hands about what to think about this. If you’re on the fence, you have to listen to Wil. They are your friendly prosecutor laying down facts and pulling in general empathy to argue that when everyone is welcome, many of us aren’t. Listen here.

🎙️I love you!

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Speaking of Wil Williams. This week we’re getting to peek into their listening life! Wil is a podcast creator, showrunner, sound designer, writer, editor, producer, and critic based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are one of the co-founders of Hug House Productions, an independent podcast collective, and currently the Head of Community & Communications at Apollo.

The app you use to listen: For nonfiction, PocketCasts; for fiction, Apollo ;)

What speed do you listen to podcasts? 1x speed! I only listen to very few podcasts faster than that: American Hysteria and You Must Remember This.

How do you discover new shows? For nonfiction, almost always by recommendation of a trusted friend who really knows podcasting. For fiction, I love going on searches for new listens. I'll go through Twitter, Tumblr, the press releases I get, and sometimes just searching different terms and tags and trying them out.

One show you love that everybody loves. You're Wrong About

One show you love that most people don't know about. A World Where! It's binaural trans Black Mirror! How is this not the most famous fiction podcast yet!

Unpopular opinion: Serial and S-Town did more harm to podcasting than they did good to podcasting.

Mental health tip: Be transparent and explicit with your support system: your family, your friends, your community. Tell them where you're at. If you're moody and feel like you're going to snap at someone, don't just hope you won't. Give them a heads up. Thank them for their support. And give that support back when they need it, too. All we have is each other.