Pop Mystery Pod

Ten years ago, Buffalo’s beloved NFL cheerleading squad disbanded abruptly. The dismantling of the Buffalo Jills has left this die-hard sports community pointing fingers. Who is really to blame for the disappearance of the Bill’s cheer squad, and why has it still not returned to Buffalo?    Tess interviews former Jills cheerleaders Erin Oliver and Lonna Rich (@glitteryhippie)  about the unexpected history of the Buffalo Jills’ fight for fair working conditions.    Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod    Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.   Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.   Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod   Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.    Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Backstreet Boys. Nsync. It’s hard to overstate how larger than life these groups were in the late ‘90s and ‘00s. While millions of girls screamed over these boy bands, though, the guys in the groups were getting royally screwed by the guy who built them: Lou Pearlman. The fraud goes so deep, and gets so weird. Writer and podcaster Dave Holmes @daveholmes  of the Homophilia, Who Killed the Video Star, and Waiting for Impact podcasts joins journalist and pop culture junkie Tess Barker for a dive into this strange and shocking story.    Looking for video docs about Lou Pearlman? Check out  “The Boy Band Con” and “Dirty Pop.”    Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod    Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.    Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.   Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod   Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic: The Britney Spears Story wherever you get your pods.    Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For better or (more likely) worse, “The Jerry Springer Show” changed television as we know it. Were the guests on this trainwreck real? Or fakers? Investigative journalists Tess Barker parses through Jerry Springer’s improbable life for clues as to how genuine the guests on his show were.    Tess is joined by comics Doug Stanhope @dougstanhope  and Terrence Newman @mayorofechopark, who have wild first-hand insights into the veracity of this iconic show.    Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod    Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.   Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.   Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod   Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.    Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lisa Vanderpump, a reality TV icon and successful restaurateur, joins fashion designer Haley Solar, an expert on Vanderpump Rules, to unravel the complex web of her restaurant empire. They discuss the duality of fame and business, revealing the challenges of navigating Hollywood's hospitality scene. Topics include the blurring lines of reality TV storytelling, ongoing controversies surrounding fires and lawsuits, and the performative nature of philanthropy in the Vanderpump world. Listeners get an inside look at the chaos, charm, and hidden struggles behind the glamorous facade.

Judd Legum, investigative journalist and founder of the Popular Information newsletter, dives into the eerie world of 'Pass It On' billboards featuring stars like Dolly Parton and Whoopi Goldberg. He questions the true intent behind these ads, unraveling a hidden agenda masked as positivity. The conversation explores the complexities of celebrity endorsements and political contradictions, revealing how ultra-wealthy backers influence philanthropy and public messaging. Legum critiques the oversimplified rags-to-riches narrative and its societal implications.

Brandie Posey, a journalist, comic, and pop culture enthusiast, joins the fun to dissect the epic feud between Vin Diesel and The Rock. They humorously explore the real names behind the personas and how astrology reveals their contrasting energies. The conversation digs into Diesel's surprising twin and reflects on the dynamics of masculinity and family within the Fast and Furious franchise. Additionally, they highlight celebrity rivalries and their influence on Hollywood, blending insightful commentary with laughs along the way.

Broadway actor Sara Jean Ford and musicologist Dr. Lynda Paul discuss the infamous musical 'Cats,' exploring its commercial success, unconventional elements, and the rigorous demands on performers. They delve into the creation of the show, the significance of T.S. Eliot's poems, and the hidden meanings within the characters. The podcast also examines the music of 'Cats,' its emotional resonance, and its impact on audiences, touching on human connection and memories.

Journalist, comic, and pop culture junkie Tess Barker welcomes Emma Gray @emmaladyrose (Love to See It podcast, Rich Text newsletter). How much did “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member and Erika Jayne know about her husband, Tom Girardi’s alleged frauds? Tess and Erika sort through the saga of this fallen power couple. Read the LA Times invetsigative piece on Tom and Erika, written by Matt Hamilton and Harriet Ryan here.   Watch the doc "The Housewife and the Hustler" on Hulu.  Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod    Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.    Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.   Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod   Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic: The Britney Spears Story wherever you get your pods.    Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Journalist, comic, and pop culture junkie Tess Barker unpacks a question that’s been nagging her since the ‘90s: Did someone put dirty jokes into classic Disney movies? How? And why? The search for the truth leads Tess to a place she didn't see coming.    Guests include Liz Climo (“The Simpsons,” children’s book author & illustrator), Mike Hollingsworth (“Bo Jack Horseman,” “Tuca and Bertie”), Tom Sito (“The Little Mermaid,” “Who Framed Rodger Rabbit?”, “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast”), Brenda Chapman (“Brave,” “The Prince of Egypt,” “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast”). Featuring an Animation Guild oral history from Ann Guenther (“Sleeping Beauty,” “Winnie the Pooh,” “Robin Hood,” “The Rescuers.”)    Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod    Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.   Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.   Abigail Keel was a consulting producer on this episode.    Clearance Counsel is  Dale Nelson and Jacqueline Swett at Donaldson Callif Perez, LLP   Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod   Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.    Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Comic Danielle Perez talks about Lindsay Lohan's impact on the kombucha industry, from her party girl phase to innovative product ideas. They also discuss Lohan's career, legal troubles, and humorous mishaps, reshaping perceptions of the actress and kombucha beverages.