Explore every episode of the podcast Pop Mystery Pod
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britney Spears Sells Britney Spears: A Britney’s Gram Reunion! (with Babs Gray) | 26 Feb 2026 | 01:01:36 | |
Britney Spears has sold the rights to her huge music catalogue for a reported 200 million dollars. What might the sale of Britney’s music mean for Britney herself, and what was the financial condition in which her estate was handed back to her after 14 years of being usurped by other people? Joining Tess to talk through Britney’s catalogue sale, and to reflect on the Free Britney movement is Babs Gray (@babsdgray) co-host of Britney’s Gram (@BritneysGram)! 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. | |||
| Angelyne (with Chris Farah) | 19 Feb 2026 | 01:35:12 | |
If Los Angeles has a mascot, it is the beautiful, busty figure who’s been flitting about our freeways for decades: Angelyne. Basically, Angelyne invented being “famous for no reason.” This enchanting icon has also long been a figure of mystique and intrigue for Angelinos. Who is Angelyne, really? And how was she able to engineer her own super stardom? Joining Tess to talk about the queen of the City of Angels is Chris Farah (@chrislfarah) host of the “Vanity Farah” podcast. Read “Angelyne’s True Identity is Finally Solved,” by Gary Baum Watch “Angelyne” on Peacock 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. | |||
| “Jaws”: Out for Blood | 18 Dec 2025 | 01:02:08 | |
Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water, Steven Spielberg created an opus that absolutely rattled human beings everywhere: “Jaws.” This movie is a horror classic. It’s also a highly misunderstood film that led to serious death and destruction in our oceans, and not at the hands of white sharks. What is it about “Jaws” that scares us so badly, and how have our human phobias harmed our planet? Joining Tess to talk through this fascinating and highly consequential story are: Frank Lehman, associate professor of music at Tufts University; Dr. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach, and Dr. Gabriella Hancock, assistant professor of psychology at Cal State Long Beach. Watch the documentary “Blue Water White Death.” Learn more about the importance of shark conservation. 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. | |||
| The Dave Matthews Incident (with Babs Gray) | 11 Dec 2025 | 00:56:00 | |
The Dave Matthews Band has enjoyed a large and loyal following for over 30 years. They are a live performance giant. Perhaps nothing in the band’s long history, however, looms quite as large as one very infamous incident that happened when one of the band’s tour buses, well, dumped on some unsuspecting Chicago tourists. Joining Tess to talk through this hilarious scatological tale is comedian and Tess’ Lady to Lady and Britney’s Gram co-host Babs Gray (@babs_gray). Read the the WBEZ round up the the Dave Matthews Band Incident Read “That’s Not Water, Buddy,” from Chicago Mag 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. | |||
| “Love is Blind,” Being on a Reality Show is a Job (with Giulia Rozzi) | 04 Dec 2025 | 01:12:07 | |
The guilty pleasure show “Love is Blind,” may feel like a silly love/hate watch, but according to former cast members, the experience working on the show was anything but a joke. The many serious allegations made against the producers of “Love is Blind,” have highlighted serious potential violations of labor law. By speaking out in spite of the NDAs they have signed, some cast members may be about to change the way reality shows are produced forever. Joining Tess to talk through this fascinating and disturbing world is comic Giuilia Rozzi (@msgiuliarozzi) 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. | |||
| (Reprise) “Cats”: Crime of the Century? | 27 Nov 2025 | 00:40:04 | |
Happy Holiday week everyone! This week we’re visiting the Pop Mystery vault for a look at “Cats” an absurd show that really keeps giving. Highly recommend the movie version for that post-meal fever dream period if your Friendsgivign is cool. “Cats” is a musical so ridiculous that it often drives people to anger. So why has this absurd show made so much money, and how does it keep taunting us all with its reemergence into culture? Jellicle journalist, comic, and pop culture junkie Tess Barker is on the case. Featuring interviews with actress Sara Jean Ford (On Broadway: “Phantom of the Opera; “Finian’s Rainbow;” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying;” “Cats:” ) and musicologist and dramaturg Dr. Lynda Paul (professor, Yale University; PhD music history/ethnomusicology/performance studies). 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. Special thanks to voice actors Sean Green and Babs Gray. 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. | |||
| Bruno Mars is Maybe Stuck in Vegas Forever (with Sean Green) | 20 Nov 2025 | 01:15:22 | |
Bruno Mars is one of the most prolific pop artists of our time. Is he also one of our most degenerate gamblers? Joining Tess to assess the veracity of rumors that Bruno Mars has amassed 50 million dollars in gambling debt that he’s having to perform indefinitely to pay off is Sean Green (SGPN), host of the Sports Gambling Podcast. (And…huge credit…Tess’ husband!) Read the GQ article “The Mars Expedition” by Chris Heath 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. | |||
| It Looks Like A Child: Tilly Norwood, the AI Actor (with Gretchen Andrew) | 13 Nov 2025 | 01:06:31 | |
AI “actor” Tilly Norwood made divisive headlines when it was announced that major agencies were circling up to sign the ingenue-looking robot. Norwood’s arrival to the scene presents a number of existential questions. This new technology also offers a window into the ways beauty standards will be further shifting in Hollywood. Joining Tess to talk through the implications of AI actors is artist Gretchen Andrew(@gretchenandrew), whose Facetune Portraits are currently showing at the Whitney. 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. | |||
| The F**d Up World of Lisa Frank (with Tess Bellomo) | 06 Nov 2025 | 01:04:37 | |
Lisa Frank became an absolute 1990s icon among children with her colorful, cheerful cartoon animals. The truth behind the Lisa Frank company, however, is anything but sunshine and rainbows. Joining Tess to talk through the whacked out truth behind this school supplies queen is Tess Bellomo, co-host of the “Right Answers Mostly” podcast. Watch the documentary “Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story” 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. | |||
| Michael Jackson, Sean Diddy Combs, and the Man in the Middle | 16 Oct 2025 | 00:43:32 | |
Two disgraced superstars. One man who acted for both as their head of security. Is it just a coincidence that a man named Fahim Muhammed played key roles in both Sean Diddy Comb’s and Michael Jackson’s life? Tess dives into the strange connection between the end of life and death of Michael Jackson, and the alleged litany of crimes committed by Sean Diddy Combs. Watch the documentary Murder Rap here. Watch footage from the Dr. Conrad Murray Manslaughter trial here. For an extreme deep dive into Britney Spears conservatorship, listen to Tess’ podcast “Toxic: The Britney Spears Story.” 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. | |||
| Sean Diddy Combs: An Incomplete Sentence | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:17:40 | |
A judge has decided how long will Sean Combs will serve for the two counts of transportation for prostitution he’s been accused of. Here’s a look at the spectacle and ego that surrounded Combs’ Manhattan sentencing. Watch the full Combs sentencing hype video here. 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. | |||
| Elevatorgate (with Lauren Smith and Rachel Smith) | 02 Oct 2025 | 01:48:27 | |
The footage was silent, but it still felt like a shot heard round the world. The infamous leaked elevator security camera footage of Beyonce and Solange Knowles seemingly giving Jay Z his due is one of the most compelling moments in history. (According to this historian at least.) Joining Tess to unpack what actually went down that famous night after the Met Gala are Lauren Smith (@mslas) and Rachel Smith (@privatecirizenrachel), co-hosts of “The Smith Sisters Live” on Radio Andy on Sirius XM. Read “Becoming Beyonce” by J. Randy Taborelli Watch “Beyonce: Life is but a Dream” 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. | |||
| Babes in Hollyweirdland: Can We Keep Young Performers Safe? (with Stacy Keanan and Christine Lakin) | 12 Feb 2026 | 01:17:05 | |
Clearly, there will always be a demand for young people on screen. Shows geared toward young audiences have a huge appeal, and they usually feature kids as principal performers. Recent revelations about the conditions on kids shows like “All That” have led to serious concerns by some people over whether it’s ethical to have kids on set at all. Joining Tess to share their own experiences as child stars are Stacy Keanan and Christine Lakin lead actors on the sitcom “Step by Step.”Stacy and Christine are also hosts of the podcast “Keanan and Lakin Give You Deja Vu.” (@keananandlakin)
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. | |||
| All of the Times Harrison Ford Has Crashed a Plane (with Jon Gabrus) | 25 Sep 2025 | 01:00:47 | |
Harrison Ford is a long-time pilot. That doesn’t mean he’s a great one. The only thing perhaps more impressive than Harrison’s long acting resume is the number of times he’s managed to find himself involved in aviation incidents. How many times has this star come pummeling frim the heavens? And why does he keep going back? Joining Tess to talk through Harrison’s spotty flight log, is Jon Gabrus @gabrus, host of “Staying Alive,” and “The Action Boyz.” 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. | |||
| Lisa Left Eye Lopes Barbecues Her Some Shoes (with Ashley Ray) | 21 Sep 2025 | 01:12:38 | |
TLC was the definitive girl group of the ‘90s. They dominated both the hip hop and pop music scenes. They were pioneers of feminist music and culture. Perhaps no member of TLC embodied the group’s independent ways more than Lisa Left Eye Lopes. After Lopes was charged with arson for setting the home she shared with her football player boyfriend on fire, Lopes was seen as a truly chaotic figure. What really ignited that fire, though? Joining Tess to talk through the icon that was Left Eye, is Ashley Ray (@theashleyray) , host of “TV I Say.” Watch “The Last Days of Left Eye” Watch “Hopelessly in Love: Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes and Andre Rison” 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. | |||
| The Swan (with Jackie Johnson) | 04 Sep 2025 | 01:16:06 | |
A competitive plastic surgery reality show. Perhaps premise kind of sells itself. It certainly did in 2004, when 15 million people tuned in to watch this darkly comic trainwreck. How did “The Swan,” even happen? And, perhaps less puzzling, why? Joining Tess to navigate the wild west of 2004 reality TV is comic, actor, and writer Jackie Johnson (Natch Beaut @jackiemichellejohnson). Grab tickets to Jackie’s show “How to Get a Second Husband” at the Elysian September 24th! Watch “The Dark Side of Reality TV: ‘The Swan’” on Vice. 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. | |||
| Us Weekly Time Capsule Mini | 28 Aug 2025 | 00:19:25 | |
This timeline sucks, yes? This week, we’re doing something a little different, a quick time travel back to the world of September 15, 2003. Tess flips through an US Weekly from this glorious time, when Madonna and Britney had just kissed at the VMAs, Beyonce was just starting to go solo, and life was pretty good. 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. | |||
| Mariah and Mom’s Spaghetti (with Kara Luiz) | 21 Aug 2025 | 00:48:08 | |
In part two of this Mariah tale, we get into the nitty gritty of what actually went down between Mariah Carey and Eminem. Did Mariah and Marshall Mathers actually date? Why is Eminem so obsessed with her? Was it all worth it, for us to get a music video of Mariah in drag as Eminem? We’ll say this - beware of all Detroit “touchdowns.” Joining Tess to chat through this long, bizarre and often one-sided feud is the actor Kara Luiz (“The Studio”, “Hacks”) @karaluiz. Read “The Meaning of Mariah Carey” 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. | |||
| The Incarceration of Mimi (with Kara Luiz) | 14 Aug 2025 | 00:53:47 | |
Mariah Carey is, in many ways, a definitive diva. She’s got the pipes, she’s got the style, and the attitude. Behind Mariah’s coy smile and wind blown curls, though, there is a person who has survived extraordinary circumstances. As Mariah Carey was blowing up as one of the most famous and successful recording artists in the world, she was living a double life - one that belies an all-too-familiar power imbalance. Joining Tess to chat through Mariah’s early life, which ultimately inadvertently leads her to get mixed up with the rapper Eminem, is the actor Kara Luiz (“The Studio”, “Hacks”) @karaluiz. Read “The Meaning of Mariah Carey” 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. | |||
| Everyone F—-ing Everyone in Fleetwood Mac (with Jackie Zebrokwski) | 07 Aug 2025 | 01:11:13 | |
“Rumors,” is an apropos name for the dream of an album that was born of two and a half couples all sharing a tiny recording studio while actively doing all of the cocaine. Rumors, indeed, have long circulated that while Fleetwood Mac was creating its opus, each member was also actively destroying their lives. What really happened in those powder filled studio walls? Joining Tess to talk through this tale of creativity, soul mates, and betrayal is the comic and podcaster Jackie Zebrowski (Jack that Worm) the Page 7 podcast, and Who’s the Bitch podcast. Read Mick Fleetwood’s autobiography “Play On.” Read the Stevie Nicks biography “Gold Dust Woman” Watch the documentary “Fleetwood Mac: Rumors” 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. | |||
| Tri Star: The Combs to Spears Connection | 31 Jul 2025 | 00:40:04 | |
In the past few years, two big entertainment stories stand out as exceptionally shocking and horrifying: the wrongful conservatorship of Britney Spears, and the alleged large-scale sex trafficking syndicate of Sean Diddy Combs. It’s chilling then, to consider that both the business affairs of Sean Combs and Britney Spears were handled by the same business management company: TriStar Sports and Entertainment. Who is at the helm of this mega-powerful company, and what is behind their unconventional business practices? To learn more about the backstory behind Lou Taylor and early early employers, find Melanie Carlson’s substack here. Watch the New York Times documentary “Controlling Britney Spears” here. Read the New York Times article "Britney Spears Felt Trapped. Her Business Manager Benefited," here. For an extreme deep dive into Britney’s conservatorship, listen to Tess’ podcast “Toxic: The Britney Spears Story.” 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. | |||
| Sex and the Inequity (with MK Paulsen) | 24 Jul 2025 | 01:20:18 | |
“Sex and the City,” did more than usher in the ‘golden’ era of HBO. It created characters that endeared themselves to countless viewers with their depth, relatability, and deeply enviable wardrobes. Despite the fact that this is a show about friends and friendship, however, rumors have persisted for years that a long-standing feud exists between two of its stars: Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. So what’s actually behind the gossip? Joining Tess to talk the fab four is comic M.K. Paulsen (@mkpaulsen). Read The Telegraph’s article “Sex and the City Movie: Exclusive On Set Report” Read Variety’s “And Just Like That Finale Spoilers” Read Elle’s feature “A Timeline of Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker's Rumored Sex and the City Feud” Read NY Posts’ “Inside the Mean Girls Culture That Destroyed Sex and the City” 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. | |||
| La Veneno: Queen of the Late Night (with Tamara Yajia) | 17 Jul 2025 | 00:59:55 | |
“La Veneno,” aka Cristina Ortiz Rodriguez, was a tour de force and a revolutionary. She delivered jokes flawlessly, covered her nipples barely, and changed the way Spain viewed trans people. Joining Tess to talk through the legendary life and mysterious death of Cristina Ortiz Rodriguez is writer and performer Tamara Yajia @tamarayajia (“Acapulco”; “This Fool”) and author of the new memoir “Cry for Me, Argentina: My Life As A Failed Child Star.” Read “Digo: Ni Puta Ni Santa: Las Memorias De La Veneno” Read “Bad Girls” by Camilla Sosa Villada 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. | |||
| The Music Universal Studios Lost Forever (with Steven Ray Morris) | 05 Feb 2026 | 01:20:27 | |
When a fire tore through the backlot of Universal Studios in 2008, it took with it countless priceless music archives. Recordings from a staggering number of artists, from Nirvana to Aretha Franklin were incinerated, never to be heard by anyone again. For its part, Universal Music Group has appeared to be transparent with neither the impacted artist nor the general public, in terms of assessing the scale of the damage done that day. Joining Tess to talk through this sad and fascinating story is Steven Ray Morris @stevenraymorris, host of “See Jurassic Right,” who has produced shows like “My Favorite Murder” and “Jordan Jesse Go.” Read “The Day the Music Burned” by Jody Rosen 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. | |||
| Injustice is Served: The Sean Diddy Combs Verdict | 03 Jul 2025 | 00:38:25 | |
After weeks of disturbing witness testimony, the jury in the Sean Diddy Combs case has delivered a confounding, and frankly insulting verdict. How did we get here? And why? 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. | |||
| The Framing of Pee-Wee Herman (with Erin Lampart) | 26 Jun 2025 | 01:21:55 | |
It was a place where everyone was welcome: “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.” This magical fever dream of a show impacted an entire generation of people. It also made such a big star of its creator, Paul Reubens, that when Reubens was arrested after being targeted by Florida police, his reputation had a far way to fall. Joining Tess to talk though the genius of Paul Reubens and the tragedy of his media bludgeoning, is comic and performance artist Erin Lampart (@thatssolampy) Read “Pee-Wee Herman, Paul Reubens, and Sarasota” in Sarasota Magazine 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. | |||
| THE Dress (with Jamie Loftus) | 19 Jun 2025 | 01:02:47 | |
Was it white and gold or blue and black? The important thing is, when “The Dress” took over the internet for a glorious week in 2015, the internet was still fun. Joining Tess to talk through the historic and fascinating phenomenon of The Dress, and what it says about today’s internet is Jamie Loftus @jamiechristsuperstar (The Bechdel Cast, My Year in Mensa, 16th Minute, Lolita Podcast. Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs) 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. | |||
| The Mysterious Death of Kim Porter | 12 Jun 2025 | 00:36:28 | |
Sean Diddy Combs’ long-time partner and co-parent died at the young age of 47. At the time, her death was ruled the result of pneumonia, but insiders have expressed suspicions around why Porter really died. Given what’s been alleged about Combs in recent years, Tess unpacks the facts and rumors around Porter’s life and death. 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. | |||
| Why We’re Still Seeing So Many “Stories” About the Lively/Baldoni Case | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:25:27 | |
It’s been half a year since anything meaningful happened in the Baldoni/Lively case. So why do we keep seeing headlines about it? Tess has some ideas. 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. | |||
| The Sean Diddy Combs Trial - Bombshells So Far | 29 May 2025 | 00:26:45 | |
As we cross what appears to be the midpoint of Sean Diddy Combs’ federal trial, Tess rounds up highlights from witnesses like Cassie Ventura and Kid Cudi, and assesses the prosecution and defense’s strategies thus far. 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. | |||
| The Dinosaur Movie Whoopi Goldberg Made Under Duress (with Tom Lenk) | 22 May 2025 | 01:13:13 | |
Making a dinosaur buddy cop movie is all fun and games, until you’re Whoopi Goldberg and you actually have to shoot this thing with sworn enemies. Joining Tess on this bonkers journey that sent Tess into the courthouse archives is the hilarious Tom Lenk @tommylenk (“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Tilda Swinton Answers a Craigslist Ad.” If you must, watch “Theodore Rex” here. 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. | |||
| Patti LuPone Loses It (with Paul Caiola) | 15 May 2025 | 01:06:12 | |
There’s only one Patti LuPone. Which is why the s**t hit the gold plated fan when Andrew Llyod Webber tried to have two Norma Desmonds. Tess is joined by Paul Caiola, one of the hosts of “That Aged Well,” (@thatagedwell) as the two of them dissect the fascinating and high drama turns of Patti Lupone’s “Sunset Blvd,” firing, and the antics that followed. 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. | |||
| Tommy Boy is Hamlet (with Lisa Chanoux) | 08 May 2025 | 01:26:40 | |
To be, or not to be? Aye, there’s the central question at the heart of the classic work “Tommy Boy” the 1995 broad comedy starring the late Chris Farley. This movie is more than a work of staggering childish genius. It is also a sophisticated adaptation of “Hamlet,” as in, the Shakespeare one. Joining Tess for a close reading of “Tommy Boy” through a Shakespearean lens is the comedian and podcaster Lisa Chanoux @LisaChanoux. Listen to BBC’s “In Our Time: Hamlet” Listen to the Hardcore Literature podcasts’ Hamlet episode. 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. | |||
| Cassidy Ventura: The One That Got Away | 01 May 2025 | 00:40:46 | |
The landslide of allegations against Sean Diddy Combs was started by a singular person - R&B singer Cassie Ventura. Cassie’s allegations formed the framework for the federal case against Sean Combs, which is set to kick off May 5, 2025. Tess takes a deep look into Cassie’s harrowing escape and the surprising stories Cassie’s intersects with. 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. | |||
| Jenna Jameson: The Porn Industry Climaxes (with Molly Lambert) | 29 Jan 2026 | 01:13:51 | |
In the 1990s, the porn industry dominated the mainstream aesthetic and vice versa, as stars like Jenna Jameson used appearances on the Howard Stern show to become household names. The porn industry has shifted along with popular culture, and in many ways been the literal impetus for technological revolution. Joining Tess to talk about Jenna Jameson and this fascinating industry is writer and podcaster Molly Lambert (@molly_lambert) from the JennaWorld podcast. Read “How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale,” by Jenna Jameson
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. | |||
| Selena, Yolanda, and the Room Where It Happened (with Vanessa Gonzalez) | 24 Apr 2025 | 01:19:54 | |
Selena Quintanilla was 23 years old, and well on her way to becoming an international megastar when she was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldivar, the president of her fan club. Though a biopic starring Jennifer Lopez paints a fairly simple picture of this tragic death, the truth appears less black and white. Only two people really know how and Selena died that day, and one of them was Selena. Joining Tess to talk through this operatic tale of a forever young pop star is hilarious comic Vanessa Gonzalez @vanessagcomedy. Watch the sourced documentary Selena and Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them Read the sourced book: To Selena, With Love, By Chris Perez Watch the sourced biopic “Selena.”
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. | |||
| It Takes Two (Episodes) - The Olsen Twins Return (With Guy Branum) | 17 Apr 2025 | 00:51:58 | |
If there is such a thing as the typical college experience, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, the two most famous child star twins of all time, were probably never going to have it. Nevertheless, they persisted…kind of. Joining Tess to talk through the Olsen twins transition to otherworldly fashion icons is writer, actor, and comic Guy Branum. See Guy’s new one-person show “Fruitful” live in Chicago May 6th, St. Paul May 7th. And watch “Hacks,” the HBO comedy Guy just won a Golden Globe for. Read sourced article: WSJ: “Mary Kate and Ashley Olsens’ The Row Launches Menswear” NYT: “No Labels For the Olsen Twins” Vogue: “Mary Kate and Ashley Find a Home for ‘The Row’ in Paris” 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. | |||
| The Olsen Twins: The Origin Story (With Guy Branum) | 10 Apr 2025 | 00:53:03 | |
The Olsen twins are endlessly fascinating celebrities. They were selected for stardom before they could walk. They’re both an inspirational story and I cautionary tale. They’re just so important. Joining Tess to talk through the wild mystery that is the Olsen twins existence is writer, actor, and comic Guy Branum. See Guy’s new one-person show “Fruitful” live in Chicago May 6th, St. Paul May 7th. And watch “Hacks,” the comedy Guy just won a Golden Globe for. See the “Tiny Tycoon” TV Guide cover here. Read sourced article: Washington Post “Less is More: How the Little Stars of “Full House” Hit the Big Time Watch sourced documentary “Celebrity Profile: The Olsen Twins” here. 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. | |||
| The Mall in Barbra Streisand’s Basement (with Chelsea Devantez) | 03 Apr 2025 | 01:18:14 | |
Forget skeletons in the closet. Barbra Streisand has a mall. In her basement. Like, a real one. Joining Tess to tour this fascinating and unhinged corner of American architecture is writer, director, and podcaster Chelsea Devantez. Chelsea’s memoir “I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This, But I’m Going to Anyway,” is out now. Her podcast “Glamorous Trash” is pop perfection and a must-listen! Got 48 hours? Check out “My Name is Barbra.” Want to see more of that Malibu house? Check out “My Passion for Design.” 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. | |||
| Jojo Siwa and Unhappy Pop Star Campers (with Jade Catta-Preta) | 27 Mar 2025 | 01:19:34 | |
Before she was proclaiming she’d invented “gay pop,” child dance phenom-turned heavily costumed try-hard helmed a junior girl group called XOMG. The group claimed to offer aspiring pop stars as young as 8 years old a line into their show biz dreams. Some claim what followed was a candy-flavored nightmare. Joining Tess to talk through Jojo’s turn as a teacher and her life as a child star, is comedian, actor, podcaster, and singer Jade Catta-Preta @jadecattapreta. To learn more about this story check out the Rolling Stone article “Jojo Siwa Promised Them Stardom. They Say They Were Thrown in the Trash.” 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. | |||
| Sean Diddy Combs: An Alleged Surprise Attack | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:41:27 | |
“Plaintiff would pay for her statement regarding Tupac.” In this chilling line from an assault case filed against Sean Diddy Combs, legal representatives for Ashley Parham, an alleged victim’s of Sean Combs synopsize what is a shocking and brutal claim of sexual assault by Combs. Parham’s story is deeply disturbing. It also provides telling insight into Comb’s alleged network of trafficking and coercion…and seems to point to figures still hiding in the darkness. 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. | |||
| Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni: It Ends Here (For Now) | 13 Feb 2025 | 00:43:20 | |
Cameras wrap on “It Ends With Us.” Now, the real battle begins. After Blake Lively alleges that she’s been harassed while filming this movie, her attempts at wrestling back agency stall out. Ultimately, Lively is able to get back some power…but at what cost? And who is really making her pay?
Tess has sifted through the many legal filings in this case. As this story’s concludes (for now) what does it have to tell us about media and how easily we can all be manipulated by it?
Read the New York Times story “‘We Can Bury Anyone:’ Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine” by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate.
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
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni: The Beginning | 06 Feb 2025 | 00:41:22 | |
Betrayal. Gaslighting. Things not being what they seem. These are themes in the movie “It Ends With Us,” but they could also describe the dramatic and seemingly constantly escalating conflict between actor and fashionista Blake Lively and her co-star and director Justin Baldoni. Tess has sifted through the many wordy legal filings and blurry screen grabbed texts, and a narrative seems to emerge around what actually happened behind the scenes. It may not be the narrative you expect.
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. | |||
| The Beef That Made Billions: Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Scooter Braun (With Amber Kenny) | 09 Jan 2025 | 01:27:07 | |
You don’t have to be a Swiftie to know there’s bad blood between Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Scooter Braun. What exactly went down between these three powerful and strong personalities? Who was really in the wrong here, and how did Kanye taking the mic from Taylor at the VMAs lead to the re-recorded albums known as “Taylor’s Version?”
Joining Tess to parse and explain this twisted and juicy tale is performance artist and Taylor Swift expert Amber Kenny.
Read “The Many Faces of Scooter Braun” by Anna Sillman here.
Watch “Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood” on Max
Watch “Miss Americana” on Netflix.
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. | |||
| Diddy, Biggie, and Tupac (with Wynter Mitchell Rohrbaugh) | 19 Dec 2024 | 01:34:27 | |
Few murders have rocked the music world like the untimely deaths of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. Neither slain rapper has ever had their killer brought to justice. Recent allegations against Sean Diddy Combs, the producer who have Biggie Smalls his start, have forced questions about Diddy’s involvement in this dark and violent tale.
Joining Tess to talk through Diddy’s role in the Tupac and Biggie murders is writer, podcaster, and digital strategist Wynter Mitchell Rohrbaugh @wynter.
To learn more about this case check out the documentary “Murder Rap”, or read some of the Rolling Stone pieces used for research in this episode.
“Bad Boy for Life: Sean Combs’ History of Violence
“The Hunt For Tupac’s Killer: Confessions, Conspiracies, and Confusions.”
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. | |||
| Mary Cosby’s Church (with Will Weldon) | 22 Jan 2026 | 01:16:53 | |
One of the most compelling and confounding cast members on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is Mary Cosby, a woman who is a reverend of her own church. While housewives fans have been enjoying Mary’s antics, some former members of Mary’s church say Mary is no laughing matter. They allege that they’ve been financially and emotionally abused by Mary Cosby’s church. So is this organization a cult? Joining Tess to did through the sordid details of Mary’s house of worship is comedian and actor Will Weldon (@oldmanweldon), host of the “I Hate Bill Maher” podcast. Watch “The Cult of the Real Housewife”
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. | |||
| The Babe Vegetarians | 12 Dec 2024 | 00:43:28 | |
A sweet movie about a talking pig turned a whole new generation of children into vegetarians. Those children often remained vegetarians into adulthood, and played a role in transforming the plant-based food industry. How did “Babe” make such a lasting impact on kids, and why were so many of those ‘90s babes girls?
Joining Tess to talk through this phenomenon are psychologist and author Dr. Carla Manly (@drcarlamanly); author of books including “The Sexual Politics of Meat” and “Pedaling Resistance,” Carol Adams (@cja_from_dallas); and food scientist Dr. Jessica Ruiz Hallstrom @vegspice_eats.
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. | |||
| The Bromance of Dennis Rodman and Kim Jong Un (With Megan Koester) | 05 Dec 2024 | 01:06:14 | |
So this actually happened: one of the most unpredictable and eccentric NBA players of all time put the entire United States (and maybe the whole world) at risk when he found himself cozying up to one of the world’s most notorious dictators. Joining Tess to talk through this strange and hilarious story is writer, actor, and comedian Megan Koester (@bornferal).
To learn more about this story, check out the documentary “Big Bang in Pyongyang” and “The Hermit Kingdom”
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.
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| Minisode: Some Thoughts On Britney and the Biopic | 28 Nov 2024 | 00:19:48 | |
While we’re all lining up to see “Wicked,” Tess has some thoughts on a different upcoming Jon Chu movie musical – the Britney Spears biopic. Britney herself has said on Instagram that this movie, which was optioned from the book “A Woman in Me,” is not actually a biopic. So what is really going on here?
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. | |||
| Madonna and the Kabbalah Craze (with Rachel Fisher and Desi Jedeikin) | 21 Nov 2024 | 01:38:59 | |
There was a moment in history where it seemed like every celeb was dabbling in Kabbalah - the secretive spiritual practice that set up camp at the bottom of Beverly Hills. Madonna and her many famous friends were all wearing red bracelets and talking about awareness and balance, but for all the press Kabbalah got, Kabbalah’s darker side was pushed into the shadows.
Joining Tess to talk through this very LA fad are Rachel Fisher (@childlikeempress) and Desi Jedeikin (@desijed), hosts of the Hollywood Crime Scene podcast.
For more reading on Kabbalah and the IRS inquiries into it, check out this LA Times piece.
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. | |||