You Cant Make This Up

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary “WHAM!" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews producer Simon Halfon. In 1982, best friends and teenagers George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley set out to conquer the world as WHAM! By 1986, it was over. Now for the very first time, told in their own words, it’s the amazing story of how in four years they dominated the charts around the world with classic pop songs. With unprecedented access to both George and Andrew’s personal archive including never-before-seen footage, alongside rare, candid and previously unheard interviews, the Netflix documentary “WHAM!” charts their incredible journey from school friends to superstars. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “WHAM!" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators,” out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Dan “Nitro” Clark and Lori “Ice” Fetrick. In the days before reality TV game shows, one television program invited viewers to win money completing athletic challenges. The catch: they’d have to beat a team of pumped-up, sexy spoilers known as the American Gladiators. The country went wild for the rock’em sock’em action of everyday men and women facing off against characters like Laser and Gemini. Behind the scenes, the troupe of performers dealt with injuries, steroids, and the perils of being young and famous in Hollywood. But resentment grew as the Gladiators were locked in a modest contract while the production company got rich off of merchandise.  Muscles & Mayhem takes us behind the scenes of “American Gladiators.” All the broken bones, screaming groupies, and wild stories of the pioneering tele

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Our Planet II" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer Keith Scholey and series producer Huw Cordey. In every corner of our world, at any given moment, billions of animals have someplace important to be. From whales to pumas, from crablets to cranes – almost every animal migrates. They’re driven by instinct and patterns of their ancestors over millions of years – and the health of our planet depends on it. But as the climate warms and the impact of humanity spreads into ever more remote regions of the natural world, can these animals adapt to survive? “Our Planet II” takes us to some of the most remote locations on the globe and gives us never-before-seen images of creatures on the move and on the hunt. And as the animal kingdom moves with purpose, we must ask whether humans will stand in their way or help them get to where they need to be. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Our

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Arnold" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Executive Producer Allen Hughes and Director Lesley Chilcott. From a tiny village in Austria to the limelight of championship bodybuilding - from conquering Hollywood to capturing Sacramento - Arnold Schwarzenegger's life stands apart. For the first time, Schwarzenegger talks at length about his journey as an athlete and unlikely box office sensation - as well as his jump from public figure to public servant and governor of California. He also opens up about the scandals that rocked his personal life. With commentary from friends, rivals, and colleagues, the series explores Schwarzenegger’s Terminator-like drive to reach a rarefied level of fame - where everyone knows who you are by just one name: Arnold! SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Arnold" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “MerPeople" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer and director Cynthia Wade. No longer the legends of sailors or the stars of fairy tales. Mermaids exist! With a custom-made fin, a can-do attitude, and some strong swimming skills, you too can splash it up as a merperson. Whether it’s entertaining children at birthday parties, wow-ing spectators at Las Vegas casinos, or turning heads at a merpeople pageant, you can bring the magic of the seas to dry land. “MerPeople” dives into the fascinating world of underwater performers who have turned their love for the mystical sea creatures into real-world careers. Get ready to set sail on an unforgettable voyage and immerse yourself in a world where fantasy becomes reality. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “MerPeople" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.

Nicole Chase was a young mom with a daughter to support when she took a job at a local restaurant in Canton, Connecticut. She liked the work and was good at her job. But the place turned out to be more like a frat house than a quaint roadside sandwich spot. And the crude behavior kept escalating – until one day she says her boss went too far and she turned to the local police for help. What happened next would put a detective on the hot seat and lead to a legal battle that would drag on for years. The United States Supreme Court would even get involved. Reveal reporter Rachel de Leon spent years taking a close look at cases across the country in which people reported sexual assaults to police, only to find themselves investigated. In this hour, we explore one case and hear how police interrogated an alleged perpetrator, an alleged victim and each other. De Leon’s investigation is also the subject of the documentary “Victim/Suspect,” now on Netflix.

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary film “Victim/Suspect" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Nancy Schwartzman and journalist Rachel De Leon. An investigative reporter discovered a nationwide pattern of women who’d come forward to report a sexual assault, only to be arrested for filing a false report. But the victims said they recanted because police said they didn’t believe them. Rachel De Leon learned police were employing the same deceptive techniques used in criminal interrogations, even withholding evidence to break a woman’s story and turn a true victim into a suspect. “Victim/Suspect” follows De Leon as she probes what happens when assault survivors seeking justice are punished because investigators do not believe them. The film also recounts the case of several victims who’ve lived with the personal and public pain of false recantations.  SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Victim/Suspect" yet, make sure to add it to yo

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Working: What We Do All Day," out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Executive Producer and Director Caroline Suh. What brings you joy in work? What gives you purpose? What makes a good job…good? These are the questions at the center of “Working: What We Do All Day." The series explores the ways in which we find meaning in our work and how our experiences and struggles connect us on a human level. From the entry-level employee to chief executive officer, “Working" introduces us to several workers trying to make it in an ever-changing world. They also discuss what makes a good job with former President Barack Obama to answer the question, is our work who we are or is it just a paycheck? SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Working: What We Do All Day" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary “Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer and director Ursula Macfarlane. Born in a small Texas town, Vickie Lynn Hogan would go on to fame as the model and actress known as Anna Nicole Smith. From her first appearance in Playboy in 1992, her puzzling marriage to an elderly billionaire, and her popular reality show, Anna Nicole’s dizzying ascent was the very essence of the American dream, brought to a tragic halt with her untimely passing in 2007. With access to never-before-seen footage, home movies, and interviews with key figures who have not spoken out until now, “Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me" reveals new insights into the story of the quintessential blonde bombshell hardly anyone really knew. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about season seven the Netflix series “Queer Eye," premiering May 12 on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer and showrunner Jennifer Lane. From beignets to ben-yays! The Emmy® Award-winning "Queer Eye" is back for a seventh season. Grab your beads and let the good times roll as Bobby, Karamo, Antoni, Tan, and Jonathan bring some sparkle and sass to New Orleans and transform the lives of residents who are in need of a fresh start.

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we’ll peek ahead at some of the hottest nonfiction and unscripted titles coming this summer to Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Tudum's Amanda Richards. Buckle up for another great batch of documentary series and films in the coming weeks. Netflix will take you around the world and the bottom of the sea. From wealthy celebrities to working stiffs. From hotel maids to presidents. Be ready to meet football legends, investigative reporters, and even mermaids…as we reveal the real life stories on Netflix that will have you talking all summer.

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Chimp Empire" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director James Reed. Jackson relies on intimidation and political favors to maintain his leadership position in Central Ngogo, while rivals within the group plot to usurp him. Suddenly, a crisis over resources in disputed territory turns deadly. Now Jackson must prepare for war against those who years ago drove him from his old tribe. This is not a Tom Clancy political thriller…it’s the real life struggle between two groups of chimpanzees in Uganda. “Chimp Empire” takes us into their communities as they play, explore, and care for one another. But the chimpanzees face threats both internal and external. As this forest turf war heats up, the chimps of Ngogo respond in a very human-like way. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Chimp Empire" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary “Longest Third Date," out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Brent Hodge. After a pair of dates, Matt and Khani decided to go on a spontaneous getaway to Costa Rica. While they drank Coronas on the beach, coronavirus was shutting the world down. And when all air travel to the United States was canceled, the couple found themselves stranded indefinitely in Central America. Now thrown together, the two had to navigate life in lockdown while waiting two and half months to go home. Using video Matt captured on his iPhone, “Longest Third Date” follows the couple’s efforts to find housing, pass the time, and get to know a person they just met on a dating app. After Matt and Khani’s story went viral, the couple needed to confront an unspoken question: would this relationship of necessity continue when they returned? SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Longest Third Date" yet, make sure to add it to your

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Floyd Russ. In the confusion after two explosions at the marathon finish line, two bombers slip away with the panicked crowd into the streets of Boston. It leaves investigators with hundreds of victims injured, a trampled crime scene, and no good leads. When they realize the cops are on to them, the Tsarnaev brothers extend their deadly crime spree in an attempt to escape. After a week of terror, the entire city shuts down to bring the bombers to justice. “American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing” brings us the stories of the victims at the finish line, the investigators who pursued the culprits, and the patrolmen who engaged the fugitives in a deadly firefight in a quiet neighborhood. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing" yet, make sure to add it to your wa

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Emergency NYC" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews directors Adi Barash and Ruthie Shatz. With more than 300 rescue calls a minute, emergency medicine in New York City is a fast-paced world where time and skill make the difference between life and death. The staff at Lenox Hill Hospital are constantly confronted by those who need care in the gravest of situations: a teenager caught in a shootout, a teacher needing a liver transplant, an opera singer with a brain tumor. But these doctors and nurses are also witnesses to the public health challenges of the day. The scourge of gun violence; the lingering effects of care delayed by the pandemic; and the burnout of their colleagues likely to leave medicine altogether. “Emergency NYC” brings the struggles and triumphs of helicopter flight nurses, paramedics, and a staff of world-class surgeons, as well as the many patients who need their help the most. S

The tragedy at Waco became a rallying cry for the anti-government movement within America and the foundation for arguments surrounding gun rights and religious freedom. In this final episode of the Waco companion podcast, Tiller speaks again with Lee Hancock and then with Bob Ricks, the FBI’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge, about the FBI’s failed response to Waco, rampant conspiracy theories, government distrust, Waco’s connection to the Oklahoma City Bombing a year later, and how the events of 30 years ago resonates through to the present day.   Waco: American Apocalypse is streaming now on Netflix.

In the third episode of this special series, we explore the enduring emotional toll Waco had on those who were directly involved. Tiller speaks to Lee Hancock about the challenge of objectively reporting on Waco during those 51 days in 1993, and the lasting trauma the story has had on her life. Then Tiller interviews KWTX reporter John McLemore, the sole reporter who covered the ATF raid live - and whose life and career were upended by it. And finally we hear from David Thibodeau, perhaps the most well-known Branch Davidian alive today.   Waco: American Apocalypse is streaming now on Netflix.

Robert Rodriguez was an undercover agent with the ATF who embedded with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. On the day of the raid, Robert knew the Davidians were tipped off that the ATF was coming, and he tried to call the whole thing off. Despite his warnings, the ATF went ahead with their plan, resulting in the largest gunfight on US soil in over 100 years, and Robert was pinned as the scapegoat. In a rare interview not included in the documentary series, Robert sits down with director Tiller Russell and recalls his time working undercover. He also shares in detail his experiences on the day of the raid and the toll it took on his personal and professional life. Waco: American Apocalypse is streaming now on Netflix.

On this week's episode, we're bringing you the first in a four part special companion to the Netflix documentary series, Waco: American Apocalypse. Director Tiller Russell and reporter Lee Hancock discuss the inspiration behind the series and then paint a complex portrait of cult leader David Koresh – the controversial figure at the center of the story – and how he was able to convince over 100 people (and perhaps himself) that he was a living prophet. Featuring interviews with FBI Agent Bob Ricks, Hostage Rescue Team Sniper Chris Whitcomb, Branch Davidian Kathy Schroeder, and Heather Jones, the last child to make it out of the compound alive. Waco: American Apocalypse is out now on Netflix.

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we're bringing you something special: the latest episode of We Have The Receipts, the Netflix podcast about all things reality, hosted by Chris Burns and Love is Blind's Lauren Speed Hamilton. And they're talking about the Netflix reality series “Outlast" out now on Netflix. Outlast is a raw survival competition series where 16 lone wolves must outlast each other in the Alaskan wilderness in an attempt to win 1 million dollars. There is only one rule in this cutthroat game: they must be part of a team to win. And the winning team is with us on today's episode to talk about what went on behind the scenes, from off-screen kidney stones to on-screen sabotage. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched “Outlast" yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.