The Apology Line
Description
If you could call a number and say you’re sorry, and no one would know…what would you apologize for? For fifteen years, you could call a number in Manhattan and do just that. This is the story of the line, and the man at the other end who became consumed by his own creation. He was known as “Mr. Apology.” As thousands of callers flooded the line, confessing to everything from shoplifting to infidelity, drug dealing to murder, Mr. Apology realized he couldn’t just listen. He had to do something, even if it meant risking everything. From Wondery the makers of Dr. Death and The Shrink Next Door, comes a story about empathy, deception and obsession. Marissa Bridge, who knew Mr. Apology better than anyone, hosts this six episode series.
Listen to The Apology Line ad-free on Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-apology-line/ now.
one more commercial before the actuall show and I'm outa here lmao the show sounds cool but every new note on the feed is just an add
Holy shit... I have too much experience with women who have been through abuse and have gotten out as well as women who are currently trying to break free. If there are any women who are actively in an abusive relationship who are listening, it most certainly is not your fault and you do not deserve to be abused! I hope you find whatever you need to break free and live the life that you deserve and not a life you are stuck in due to circumstances and trauma. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE ABUSED!
u could of prevented ppl from dying. this is what u call art.
I found the phone call audio recordings to be too difficult to listen to. Just the quality is so bad- I understand it's the nature of the program but I just couldn't get past it. Really wanted to like this one.
omg that is so creeeppyyyy getting that death threat! so scary
Thanks. This story had me intrigued from start to end.
Loved the whole podcast!
Thank you for sharing. Never heard of the apology line. Found each episode intriguing. Sorry for you loss.
A sad, tragic ending for a man who sacrificed so much for strangers at the expense of his own relationships. To the soulless person who took his life, you live each day with what you did, and I hope the guilt consumes you like a metastatic cancer. To Mrs. Apology, I hope you are doing well. Key West is a good place for a fresh start; congrats on joining 0ne Human Family that's accepting and less prone to judgement.
Podcast Gold. Loved Every Episode.
the first story where Allan teaches her a lesson by leaving her underwater. Dangerous both in action and the type of man/person that feels they can teach someone that way. maybe Richie had a point, maybe Allan was suppressing some dark desire...
This has been a fascinating story, thank you for sharing it with us! Now I would really love to see it as a TV series or a movie, like Dirty John. Who would play Allan?
the story ws interesting but damn, a different voice would of been great. Such a monotone, boring, voice made it hard to get through and the ending was complete trash. Even if the ending isn't super exciting you would think they would try to make it wrap up in a interesting way.
I also think this was a fascinating story, with so many facets. I get the art project concept and while it is viewed in that context, there was no responsibility for anything that transpired or the content of the calls. However ethically as a social/psychological experiment, it was unconscionable (maybe not at that time, but certainly now). There must have been an intrinsic moral aspect for Alan, though? He created something that really tore apart the fabric of morality and whether “confession” or “apology” is really healing guilt or shame. Art? Or philosophy as “art”?
This was a fascinating podcast.
interesting pod topic ruined by god awful narration that tends to meander into irrelevant or self-endugent reflections and monologues. I found myself skipping so much to get to something interesting and the final reveal was a huge anti-climax. with better narration and writing this could have been good but as it is its quite a frustrating experience and the pay off doesn't outweigh that
the lady talking ruins the podcast
Had so much potential but the narrator's droning voice made me lose interest.
a good podcast could be made about the apology line,but I don't think this is it. Don't know what it is about it just seems missing something.
Loved this whole story, even though it ended unexpectedly. Marissa is honest and a great narrator please leave her alone.