You Can’t Make This Up

The Netflix documentary series Turning Point: The Vietnam War covers how American involvement went from advisory role to full-on combat in Southeast Asia. It dives into the key battles and the many opportunities to withdraw from the fight ignored by leaders. Soldiers, protestors, journalists, and civilians from both the US and Vietnam explain how the war affected their nations and the wounds that linger to this day.   In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Brian Knappenberger SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Turning Point: The Vietnam War yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

The Netflix documentary Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror goes beyond the chaos of that fateful day, spotlighting the community's resilience and the search for answers. It explores the heroic efforts of first responders and ordinary citizens who risked their lives to save others, while also examining the investigation that brought Timothy McVeigh and his accomplices to justice. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Greg Tillman. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Piper Rockelle was a young social media superstar with more than 25 million followers. She filmed pranks, challenges, and “crush content” with her friend group, The Squad. For aspiring tween influencers, joining them could unlock hundreds of thousands of followers and big-budget brand deals. But former Squad members accused Piper’s mother and manager, Tiffany, of taking advantage of them—commercially, financially, and even sexually. The Netflix documentary series Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing investigates disturbing stories of alleged exploitation, cult-like manipulation, and abuse at the hands of Tiffany Smith. It asks hard questions about the growing sexualization of tweens and questions how far some will go to make money at the expense of children. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews directors Kief Davidson & Jenna Rosher. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Bad Influence yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com! This week, read their guide to the Squad, as well as where Piper and Tiffany are now. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

The search for a missing person in 2010 led to the discovery of a woman’s body on a secluded stretch of Gilgo Beach. It prompted police to unearth the remains of several more women. Authorities reached a startling conclusion: a serial killer had been preying on sex workers in Long Island for years. For a time, it seemed the case would remain cold, but new investigators utilized overlooked clues and cutting-edge technology to identify the man they believe is responsible for the murders. In the Netflix documentary series Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, director Liz Garbus picks up the story where her motion picture Lost Girls left off. The series chronicles how the investigation into the Gilgo Beach Four expanded into a manhunt for the murderer of at least ten people. It delves into the missed opportunities and public corruption that hindered the search, while also offering a fascinating profile of Rex Heuermann, the man alleged to have used this part of New York as his hunting ground for decades. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Liz Garbus. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com. This week, read their profile on the victims of The Long Island Serial Killer and the latest in the case against Rex Heuermann as his murder trial draws near. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Forrest Fenn caught the imagination of the world when he announced he’d hidden a treasure chest filled with riches somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. All you had to do was solve a riddle to find it. The quest for gold drew many a treasure hunter into the wilderness, all with different theories on where each arcane clue should lead them. But for some, the ten-year-long hunt became an obsession, causing them to lose money, relationships, and for some, their lives. When the chest was found in 2020, rather than celebrating, many wondered if they’d been bamboozled. The Netflix series Gold and Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure brings us inside the quest to solve the million-dollar mystery. Additionally, the series features hidden clues to a whole new hunt, revealing where X marks the spot. The series tells the stories of some of the people who turned their world upside down to find a buried treasure that could change their lives. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Jared McGillard. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Gold and Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

In 1969, Los Angeles was on edge after a bloody killing spree in the Hollywood Hills - one of the victims, a pregnant movie star. The killers all said they committed their crimes at the direction of their leader, Charles Manson. While the Manson Family murders still fascinate today, one question remains unanswered: how was the mastermind able to convince his followers to kill at his direction? Was his charismatic hold that strong? Or did Manson’s powers of persuasion get a boost from the government? In CHAOS: The Manson Murders, Oscar-winning filmmaker Errol Morris explores the connections between the infamous cult leader and the CIA’s MK-Ultra mind control experiments. Were the slayings truly motivated by Manson’s Helter Skelter plans for a race war? Or had Manson unwittingly become part of the government’s secret research into brainwashing? In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Errol Morris. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched CHAOS: The Manson Murders yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com. There you can find out more about CHAOS: The Manson Murders and its connection to Tom O’Neill’s book.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

In the 1990s, mothers in the English industrial town of Corby noticed their children were born with similar disabilities. Could they have been poisoned during their pregnancies by toxic waste being removed from the old steel mill? Led by Susan McIntrye, the group rallied to seek justice, but the borough council denied there was any connection between the children and the reclamation project essential to the city’s future. The mothers hit stonewalls in their quest for the truth, but a crusading lawyer and a disgraced whistleblower might have the information vital to their case. Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, and Rory Kinnear lead an all-star cast in the Netflix series Toxic Town. Based on the true story of the groundbreaking environmental negligence case, the series follows the efforts of the women as they fight powerful forces to get recognition and compensation on behalf of their children. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews writer and series creator Jack Thorne. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Toxic Town yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com. This week: actresses Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood sit down with the real mothers of Corby who they play in Toxic Town. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

In October 1993, US soldiers operating in the middle of a civil war in Somalia were on a mission to capture high ranking militia leaders linked to the fighting. But their extraction from the streets of Mogadishu was blocked by an unexpected counter attack from Somali warriors resulting in an all-out urban firefight. While the Army Rangers were pinned down in the streets, resistance fighters shot down two Black Hawk helicopters. What became known as the Battle of Mogadishu lasted for hours, with the US suffering heavy casualties and seeing a pilot taken prisoner. The failed mission altered the course of American involvement in the conflict. The Netflix series Surviving Black Hawk Down takes us back to the battlefield as told from the perspective of Americans on the ground and in the air. It also brings us the voices of Somali militants who took up arms and of civilians caught in the crossfire. It not only recounts what happened during those many hours of combat. It tackles what it meant for the soldiers who made it out alive.  In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews former US special forces soldiers and series subjects Tom Satterly and Brad Thomas. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched title yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com! This week they go even further into what happened during the Battle of Mogadishu. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

In 2021, Gabby Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie set off in a van for a cross country adventure they’d document for a travel vlog. Despite images of a carefree journey she posted online, the trip was beginning to sour. Then - Gabby’s parents couldn’t reach her. And police discovered Brian had returned home in the van…with his girlfriend nowhere to be found. The Netflix documentary series American Murder: Gabby Petito dives deep into the true crime mystery that captivated the Internet - and the nation. Using Gabby’s never-before-seen videos, texts, and journal entries, the series takes us inside the couple’s troubling relationship, the missteps by authorities who encountered them, and the nationwide search for answers. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews producers Julia Willoughby Nason and Mike Gasparro. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched American Murder: Gabby Petito yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com! You can hear more from Gabby’s parents on what they’re doing to honor her memory through legislative advocacy. If you or someone you know has experienced relationship abuse, information and resources are available at wannatalkaboutit.com.

At the dawn of the social media era, Belle Gibson became a pioneering wellness influencer - telling the world how she beat cancer with an alternative diet. Her bestselling cookbook and online app provided her success, respect, and a connection to the cancer-battling influencer she admired the most. But a curious journalist with a sick wife began asking questions that even those closest to Belle began to wonder. Was the online star faking her cancer and fooling the world? Kaitlyn Dever stars in the Netflix hit series Apple Cider Vinegar.  Inspired by true events, the dramatized story follows Belle’s journey from self-styled wellness thought leader to disgraced con artist. It also explores themes of hope and acceptance - and how far we’ll go to maintain it. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer Samantha Strauss. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Apple Cider Vinegar yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Belle Gibson was an early social media health influencer, with a best-selling  book and a popular wellness app. She drew attention after claiming she had several forms of malignant cancer, and was treating them with alternative therapies and diet. When Gibson told the world her holistic approach was keeping her alive and well despite her diagnoses, followers and readers put their faith in her guidance. But when journalists discovered Gibson had faked her illnesses and wasn’t truthful about her charitable contributions, the fall out implicated not only her, but also a leading publishing house and one of the world’s largest tech companies. The scandal is chronicled in the book The Woman Who Fooled The World: The True Story of Fake Wellness Guru Belle Gibson, which serves as the inspiration for the dramatized Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar starring Kaitlyn Dever. How did the real Belle Gibson build her empire on a bed of lies? And more importantly: why did she do it?  In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews authors and investigative journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Apple Cider Vinegar yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

In 1994, two people were slain in Brentwood, California - one of them the ex-wife of a beloved celebrity. Then the world stood transfixed watching a televised police chase of the famous fugitive through Los Angeles. It seemed like a mountain of evidence would convict OJ Simpson for the murders of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. But his aggressive defense team attacked the science and the motivations of a problematic detective. It all led to a bombshell verdict that divided the country and reverberates today.   From the famous Bronco chase to the “Trial of the Century,” American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson follows the case that shook the nation. We hear from those who investigated the crime, those who fought it out in court, and from witnesses never called to testify. We get insight from a juror on the panel, as well as from Simpson’s close friend who went from a supporter to a doubter of his innocence. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Floyd Russ. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

After making his fortune in tech, Bryan Johnson has set his sights on an even more valuable goal: finding a fountain of youth through cutting-edge science. Employing a mix of smoothies, fitness, regimented sleep, high-tech therapies, and more than 100 pills and supplements, Bryan has been able to slow the aging rate of his body. His Blueprint Protocol has earned him lots of attention, and lots of derision from those who see his quest as folly. And Bryan’s pursuit of even more radical techniques has many questioning how far is too far in his desire for longevity.  The Netflix documentary film Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, follows Bryan’s uncharted path to maximize his lifespan and share his results with the world. It explores whether any of his accomplishments can be replicated. And it seeks to go deeper into his life to explore what is really animating the millionaire’s high-profile attempt to live as long as possible. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Chris Smith. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Jerry Springer’s dull new talk show was relegated to an overnight time slot and the likelihood of cancellation. But when he teamed up with a new executive producer - one with a taste for the sensational - the show evolved into a must-watch television circus. And when guests started punching each other, the ratings went through the roof.  The Netflix documentary series Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action revisits the outrageous talk show, zooming in on the relationship between its affable host and the string-pulling Svengali that - for better or worse - changed television. It brings viewers behind the cameras into the demanding lives of the show’s segment runners. And it looks at the effects the show had in the lives of its guests, resulting in broken hearts, broken bones, and even murder. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews former “The Jerry Springer Show” producer Toby Yoshimura. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

In the documentary, The Biggest Heist Ever, we learned about Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein, who were accused of conspiring to launder $4.5 billion in stolen bitcoin. But this is just a peek into the world of crytpto criminals and the people who track them. Today we're bringing you a recent episode from our friends at American Criminal, where each week host Jeremy Schwartz takes you inside the minds of some of America's most notorious felons and outlaws. In this episode from the Sam Bankman-Fried series, he sits down with Wired senior writer Andy Greenberg to talk about the day that FTX collapsed and the wild world of crypto crime detectives. You can read more in Andy's book, Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency. Listen to all four episodes of the 'Sam Bankman-Fried' series on American Criminal, wherever you get your podcasts.

At the height of World War II, transporting the mail to GIs took a back seat to moving supplies to the front. Soon, millions of letters and packages were piling up with no one to sort them. Commanders reluctantly gave the job to a battalion of Black female soldiers, convinced the task would be too much for them. Despite facing racism and sexism - and grueling working conditions - the women of the Six Triple Eight accomplished their mission, re-establishing an important connection between the homefront and the battlefront. With an ensemble cast featuring Kerry Washington, Susan Sarandon, Sam Waterston, and Oprah Winfrey, The Six Triple Eight is inspired by the real story of the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in the Second World War. Given an extraordinary task and united in their determination, these unsung heroes delivered hope and shattered barriers, raising morale on both sides of the Atlantic. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews writer and director Tyler Perry. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched The Six Triple Eight yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Kevin Curtis was one half of a double Elvis tribute act, living in the Mississippi birthplace of the King. But after he stumbled onto what he thought was a black market organ harvesting scheme, Kevin went down a rabbit hole of conspiracy and on a quest to root out corruption. As his paranoia grew, threatening letters, sprinkled with deadly ricin, turned up at the offices of his enemies - as well as the White House.  The Netflix documentary series The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga tells the quirky tale of Kevin’s colorful life and dark obsessions. With its many twists and turns, we hear from the story’s cast of eccentric characters and follow the investigation into whether this Elvis impersonator hatched a plot sure to have him dancing to the Jailhouse Rock. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews directors Chapman and Maclain Way. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched The Kings of Tupelo yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

The 1996 murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey gripped the nation with its unusual twists. The bizarre ransom note…the uncooperative parents…and those child beauty pageants! The police, the press, and the public all focused on John and Patsy Ramsey and whether they staged the break-in, assault, and murder of their daughter. But even though all the physical evidence pointed to an intruder, years later many still believe the family was involved. The Netflix documentary series Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey dives back into the infamous crime, its troubled investigation, the media firestorm, and the lingering cloud of suspicion over the young victim’s parents. It also examines the behind the scenes struggles between detectives who withheld evidence from colleagues that cleared the Ramseys and those who believed someone outside of the home was responsible. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director and executive producer Joe Berlinger. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

They train for a lifetime, all for ten seconds at glory. But who will take the gold on track’s biggest stage: the Paris Olympiad? Will it be the brash Noah Lyles, the earnest Kenny Bednarek, or the enigmatic Kishane Thompson? Can Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce grab a medal at her fifth games? Or will up-and-comers like Sha’carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson take her place at the top of the sport? Or will Julien Alfred shock the world by earning her tiny island nation’s first ever Olympic medal? The Netflix sports series SPRINT Part 2 delves deep into the psyches of those elite competitors who train to be the fastest person on the planet.  It’s an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the high stakes and the mental toughness of the sprinters whose professional futures are decided in just fractions of a second.  In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Executive Producer Warren Smith and Showrunner Suemay Oram. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched SPRINT Part 2 yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

After a 2020 Olympic performance marked by disappointment, questions lingered on whether the most decorated gymnast of all time would ever return to the world stage. But Simone Biles was determined to go out on top and capture gold in Paris. With the glare of the world upon her, and not feeling 100%, Biles took this summer’s XXXIII Olympiad by storm.  Her story resumes in Simone Biles Rising Part 2. The series follows the acclaimed athlete as she overcomes challenges both physical and personal. It provides an intimate portrait both on and off the mat as she completes her triumph in France and removes any doubt that she’s the greatest of all time. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Katie Walsh. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Simone Biles Rising Part 2 yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.