Best Americanexperience Podcasts (2024)

1
The 7M TikTok Dance Cult: Dancing for the Devil 48:12

1h ago48:12

48:12

Dancing For The Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult explores the experiences of a group of prominent TikTok dancers who are trapped in a cult masquerading as a management company. In the process the film uncovers disturbing truths about the agenda of Robert Shinn, the cult’s founder and pastor of the Shekinah Church. Joining Matthew Sherwood on Factual Ameri…

1
Relationship Hack – Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal 34:42

1M ago34:42

34:42

In 2002 the Ashley Madison website went live. It was a dating agency with a difference for its targets were people already in relationships. Inevitably, Ashley Madison was roundly criticised. The company’s CEO, however, stated that affairs actually helped marriages. In 2015, hackers broke into the website and published the names, addresses, credit …

1
Terrorism and Tragedy - An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th 1:00:30

2M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

It’s April 19th 1995, the 220th anniversary of the start of the American War of Independence, and two years since the violent end of the Waco, Texas siege. In Oklahoma City, a disaffected army veteran named Timothy McVeigh leaves a truck outside the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building. Inside the truck is a bomb. At 9am, McVeigh lights the two minute …

1
A Brief History of the Future: Making the World A Better Place 49:51

2M ago49:51

49:51

Climate change, terrorism, social inequality and poverty, wars between nations, and injustice. Things do not look too good for the world today, and there seems to be little to no hope for the future. A Brief History of the Future, a new docu-series on PBS, challenges this pessimistic outlook. Directed by Andrew Morgan and presented by Ari Wallach, …

1
Against All Enemies: US Veterans Fighting Their Own Country 49:11

3M ago49:11

49:11

Why would US military veterans take up arms against the country they swore to protect? This is the question at the heart of Against All Enemies, a new documentary by Charlie Sadoff. In it, Charlie explores the role disaffected veterans played in the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. In order to better understand what happened on that day, he lo…

1
God Save Texas: Life in the Land of Oil and Gas 49:27

3M ago49:27

49:27

God Save Texas is a three-part docu-series inspired by Lawrence Wright’s book of the same name. In each episode, an acclaimed filmmaker explores the past, present, and future of the Lone Star State. Episode One is directed by Richard Linklater, Episode Three by Iliana Sosa. Episode Two is directed by Alex Stapleton, and she joins Matthew Sherwood t…

1
The NFL’s Greatest Dynasty: New England Patriots 58:28

3M ago58:28

58:28

Between 2001-19, head coach Bill Belichick created one of the most successful dynasties ever seen in American football. Under his leadership, the New England Patriots won a record equalling six Super Bowl titles. Guided by quarterback Tom Brady, the team also set a host of other NFL records, including most wins over a ten year period, longest regul…

1
Amityville: Origins of the Horror Story 42:29

4M ago42:29

42:29

On November 13th 1974, Ronald DeFeo shot his family dead in Amityville, New York. Not long after he was convicted of the killings, the Lutz family moved into the DeFeos’ former home. They did not stay long. After just 28 days, they fled, claiming to have been driven out by paranormal activity. The Lutz family’s experience formed the basis of The Am…

1
Investigating the Octopus Murders: An American Conspiracy 48:14

4M ago48:14

48:14

The 1980s were a time of allegation and scandal in America. From the 1980 October Surprise, 1985-87 Iran-Contra Affair, and 1986-91 BCCI scandal, the decade seemed only to be going downhill. And in the midst of it all, the US Justice Department was accused of stealing PROMIS, a piece of software that could be used to create a programme that would a…

1
MMA’s Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez | Fighting for her Life in the UFC | Q&A with Cassius Corrigan 41:42

4M ago41:42

41:42

Tatiana Suarez was born into poverty, endured a “tumultuous [and] traumatic childhood”, and at school chose to compete in a sport – wrestling – that led to her being relentlessly bullied. She overcame every obstacle that life and people put in front of her and became a champion. And not just once, but multiple times. Finally, the greatest prize of …

1
Challenging Zuckerberg’s Metanarrative 55:53

5M ago55:53

55:53

Who is Mark Zuckerberg? That is the question at the heart of Nick Green’s new Sky documentary, Zuckerberg: King of the Metaverse. We all know how Zuckerberg took Facebook from being a website accessible to just a few American college students in 2004 to one that is used by over a billion people worldwide in 2024. Along the way, he has acquired Inst…

1
American Nightmare: Unravelling Crimes That Never Were 35:06

5M ago35:06

35:06

On the night of March 23rd 2015, Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn were drugged and bound by a mystery assailant who had broken into their home. Denise was then kidnapped. When Aaron called the police the next day, they believed he had murdered her. Two days later, however, Denise – who had been sexually assaulted by her kidnapper - was freed. Now the…

1
Inside Lady Bird Johnson’s White House: Recording a Public and Private Life 32:06

6M ago32:06

32:06

Lady Bird Johnson is best known today as the wife of Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the USA between 1963-69. However, there was much more to her life than simply the role of ‘First Lady’. In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood takes a deep dive into Lady Bird Johnson’s life with Dawn Porter, director of new documentary film,…

1
Finding Hope amidst Hate in A Town Called Victoria 26:34

6M ago26:34

26:34

On January 28th 2017, a mosque in Victoria, Texas was burnt to the ground by an arsonist. In the aftermath, Victorians stood side-by-side with their Muslim neighbours. In A Town Called Victoria, Li Lu – who grew up in nearby Sugar Land, Texas – explores what happened next: to the town, its Islamic community, and to the arsonist, who was soon appreh…

1
Stamping Out Racist Lies: America’s Truth 22:01

7M ago22:01

22:01

Racism is a blight upon the United States of America, and has been all through the country’s history. In Stamped from the Beginning, a documentary film featuring and based on the book of the same name by Dr. Ibram X Kendi, director Roger Ross Williams explores the history of racist ideas in the US. Using an innovative array of methods, including VF…

1
How the Cabbage Patch Kids Conquered America 37:08

7M ago37:08

37:08

In 1983 America was overwhelmed by a disaster, the likes of which it had never seen before. Hysteria led to riots; mayhem became the norm. And the reason? Chubby, potato faced toys: the Cabbage Patch Kids. In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood meets Dan Goodman, co-executive producer of Billion Dollar Babies, a documentary about the …

1
Wisdom in the Shadows of Dementia 35:33

7M ago35:33

35:33

In 1999, Rose Tajiri, a second-generation Japanese-American, was diagnosed with dementia. She was 76. Over the following years, as her condition worsened, her daughter, filmmaker Rea Tajiri, became her caregiver. In Wisdom Gone Wild Rea documents the journey that she and her mother took together, a journey that sees them navigate both the now of li…

1
Carlos Santana: Discovering the Spirit of the Man. 48:43

7M ago48:43

48:43

Carlos is a documentary that takes the viewer from legendary guitarist Carlos Santana’s beginnings in Mexico to concerts across the world in a musical career that has lasted over fifty years. It goes off-stage as well, exploring his spiritual journey and life with his family, from mother and father, to siblings, and children. In this episode of Fac…

1
Sylvester Stallone: Portrait of a Son, Icon, and Man 29:19

7M ago29:19

29:19

To call Sylvester Stallone a film star is only the beginning of any conversation about him. Movies such as Rocky and Rambo have made him an American icon. But even that barely scrapes the surface of who he really is. In Sly, a new documentary film available to watch now on Netflix, director Thom Zimny takes a deep dive into Sylvester Stallone’s sto…

1
Something Ghostly This Way Comes: The Enfield Poltergeist 26:37

8M ago26:37

26:37

In The Enfield Poltergeist, Jerry Rothwell uses over 250 hours of audio recordings made by paranormal investigator Maurice Grosse to revisit the case of 284 Green Street in Enfield, North London. There, for a period of eighteen months starting in August 1977, the Hodgson family witnessed furniture move of its own accord, objects get thrown across r…

1
Are We Alone? UFO Encounters from around the World 32:01

9M ago32:01

32:01

Welcome to the first episode of the fifth season of Factual America! Joining host Matthew Sherwood is Yon Motskin, the director of Encounters, a new Netflix docu-series about four UFO/alien encounters from around the world. Encounters tells a story that is both epic and intimate in its range. It not only explores what occurred when a diverse range …

1
Wayne Shorter: Visionary, Innovator, Icon and Human Being 28:42

10M ago28:42

28:42

Wayne Shorter has long been considered one of the greatest modern composers and musicians of American music. His career reads like a Who’s Who of the genre, starting with Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, then the Miles Davis Quintet, followed by solo fame and the founding of fusion super group Weather Report. His collaborations extend beyond jaz…

1
From the Tennis Court to New York: Exploring John McEnroe’s Life 37:49

11M ago37:49

37:49

John McEnroe’s volcanic temper on the tennis court is legendary. But there was always more to him than just the explosive outbursts. In McEnroe, a documentary now available to watch on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW, John McEnroe takes a night time journey through his home town of New York, reflecting on, discussing, and interrogating …

1
Mining Appalachia: Preserving the Story of King Coal 18:59

11M ago18:59

18:59

For 200 years, the people of central Appalachia in the US have lived off the industry of coal. Now, though, times are changing, and the coal industry is dying. One day, it will become no more than a memory. Director Elaine McMillion Sheldon describes King Coal as “part documentary, part fable”, and the film aims to not only tell the story of Appala…

1
Transforming the Planet: Discussing the Human Footprint 45:42

11M ago45:42

45:42

Humanity is the master of the world. But how did we achieve this? And what do our actions say about us as a people? These are the questions at the heart of Human Footprint, a new PBS docu-series directed by Nate Dappen and Neil Losin. They join Matthew Sherwood to discuss the programme, which they describe as ‘a science show that explores human his…

1
Last Flight Home: The Death and Life of Eli Timoner 1:06:16

12M ago1:06:16

1:06:16

Eli Timoner lived a life founded on love. As a result, long after an accidental stroke forced him into retirement, he was celebrated by his former workers. And when he died aged 92, on 3rd March 2021, he did so, surrounded by his family. Last Flight Home, a documentary by Eli’s daughter Ondi, tells the story of his last days. But more than that, it…

1
Masterclass: Discussing Maestra with Maggie Contreras 52:47

12M ago52:47

52:47

Once upon a time, to be the conductor of an orchestra was to be a man. No longer. Female conductors, however, are still very much a rarity. The Paris based La Maestra Competition aims to break down the barriers that women still face in becoming conductors by giving them a space to showcase their skills. In Maestra, Maggie Contreras follows five wom…

1
Arnold: Exploring Schwarzenegger‘s Three Lives 55:31

12M ago55:31

55:31

Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most recognisable figures in the world today. His meteoric rise to fame began in the 1960s and 70s when he won the coveted Mr Olympia and Mr Universe bodybuilding titles multiple times. In the 80s and 90s, Schwarzenegger starred in some of the most successful action films ever to be made, including The Terminator…

1
Early 2000s New York: the Last Romantic Age of Rock’n’Roll 39:07

1y ago39:07

39:07

It’s the 1990s, and in New York, guitar music is at its nadir. But as the new millennium approaches, new bands rise out of the ashes of the past. The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, and LCD Soundsystem, are just a few of those bringing a new, powerful sound to the Big Apple. In the middle of this renewal, however, another, wholly discordant, so…

1
Working: What We Do All Day featuring Barack Obama 38:14

1y ago38:14

38:14

Working: What We Do All Day is a docu-series that explores both what it means to work and the ways in which the meaning of work is changing. Presented by former US President Barack Obama, the docu-series focuses on people working in three different industries: technology, hospitality, and home care. Through him, we hear of their dreams, and their r…

1
32 Sounds: Exploring the Most Mysterious and Profound of the Senses 23:17

1y ago23:17

23:17

It’s March 2020 and the pandemic has just begun. All of a sudden, director Sam Green has a lot of time on his hands. He uses it to read a book, which mentions Annea Lockwood, a composer, who has spent fifty years recording the sound of rivers. Intrigued, he contacts her. Their conversation leads Sam to contemplate sound. The result is 32 Sounds, a …

1
Reimagine Wildfire: An Elemental Threat That We Can Control 48:52

1y ago48:52

48:52

In 2018, the Californian town of Paradise was destroyed by a wildfire. How did it happen? Could anything have been done to limit or even stop the inferno? Global warming has made the risk of wildfires greater than ever before, and there are people who believe that we are doing all that we can to stop them. As Trip Jennings tells Matthew Sherwood, h…

1
Jason Isbell: Portrait of the Musician as a Young Man 39:25

1y ago39:25

39:25

In 2019, four-time Grammy award winner Jason Isbell recorded his album Reunions. As he did so, he discussed his life and work with director Sam Jones. The result is Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed, an unflinchingly honest account of a difficult childhood, Jason’s addiction to drink and drugs, the ups and downs of his marriage to fellow m…

1
The Rise and Fall of America's Most Corrupt Police Squad 34:58

1y ago34:58

34:58

The Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF) was meant to help the Baltimore Police Department fight violent crime. Instead, its officers terrorised innocent civilians. In 2017, a criminal investigation resulted in the successful prosecution of the officers, and they were convicted of extortion, fraud, racketeering, and robbery. In I Got A Monster, director Kev…

1
Waco: The Tragedy that Still Haunts America 39:20

1y ago39:20

39:20

February, 1993. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has received word that the Branch Davidians, a cult based near Waco, Texas, is stockpiling illegal weapons at their compound. The ATF attempts to storm the base but the cultists know they are coming and force them to retreat. A 51-day siege follows, and it only ends when the compound…

1
Charles Starkweather: The Murder Victim Who Lived 48:09

1+ y ago48:09

48:09

In the winter of 1957-58, 19 year old Charlie Starkweather went on a killing spree that would claim eleven victims before he and his accomplice, Caril Ann Fugate, were caught. At their trial, both were found guilty of murder. Charlie was executed while Caril was given a life sentence, later reduced. In The 12th Victim, Nicola Marsh explores what ha…

1
Investigating MH370: The Plane that Disappeared 40:47

1+ y ago40:47

40:47

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 represents one of the greatest mysteries in modern aviation history. On March 8th 2014 the plane left Kuala Lumpur on a scheduled flight to Beijing. Forty minutes later, the captain and Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control bade each other good night. That was the last communication between MH370 and t…

1
The Day Fatboy Slim Narrowly Avoided Disaster 1:08:47

1+ y ago1:08:47

1:08:47

Right Here, Right Now represents a beginning and an end. As director Jak Hutchcraft tells Matthew Sherwood, the film is his directorial debut. A concert, like the one that forms the film’s subject, however, will likely never be repeated in the UK again. The year is 2002. Superstar DJ Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) has decided to put on a free concert at…

1
Oscar Nominations 2023: Three Tales from the Past and the Heart 1:08:25

1+ y ago1:08:25

1:08:25

The Martha Mitchell Effect Martha Mitchell, wife of John Mitchell, Attorney General of the US under President Richard Nixon, was not afraid to speak ‘truth to power’. She was so influential that President Nixon would go on to say that without her, there would have been no Watergate scandal. Despite her important role, Mitchell has, in the years sin…

1
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck 39:56

1+ y ago39:56

39:56

Whether or not you give a f*ck, this is the film for you. If you don’t care about anyone or anything, The Subtle Art shows why you should. If you do care, The Subtle Art shows why you shouldn’t. It may have something to say, but The Subtle Art says nothing new. As director Nathan Price tells Matthew Sherwood, it uses ‘very old knowledge... Buddhism…

1
Moonage Daydream: David Bowie’s Impressionistic Life 37:01

1+ y ago37:01

37:01

David Bowie lived a life of extraordinary creativity and success. It was also a life of controversy, radical changes of direction, and an unceasing desire to push his art to the limits. He was a cultural icon and an artistic genius. How does someone make a film about such a figure? According to the director of Moonage Daydream, and this episode’s g…

1
Dog Days: The Truth Behind Gunther’s Millions 42:28

1+ y ago42:28

42:28

Gunther’s Millions is about a dog who is living anything but a dog’s life. Gunther is a German Shepherd. He lives a life of luxury thanks to a trust fund. But did a Countess really bequeath her money to him? And what can be his interest in the homes of celebrities, pop bands, and perhaps even a sex cult? The answer, of course, is that – being a dog…

1
Pelosi in the House – a life of service in troubling times 55:53

1+ y ago55:53

55:53

In the course of her 36 year – and counting – political career, Nancy Pelosi has redefined what American women may achieve in politics. Two stints as House Speaker and twenty years as leader of the House Democrats have made her one of the most important female politicians of the early twenty-first century. With her every step of the way has been he…

1
Phil Spector – Music Legend and Murderer 50:52

1+ y ago50:52

50:52

Phil Spector was a musical genius. His brilliance as a producer made him a legend. On February 3rd 2003 he shot Lana Clarkson dead. In 2009, he was convicted of murder, and died in prison on January 16th 2021. Spector is a four-part Showtime docu-series (available to watch on Sky Documentaries in the U.K.). In it, series co-directors Sheena M. Joyc…

1
How Bernie Madoff Became the Monster of Wall Street 32:37

1+ y ago32:37

32:37

No one knows when Bernie Madoff created the Ponzi scheme that would one day lose $64 billion and ruin many lives. Madoff said it started late on. In this episode of Factual America, Joe Berlinger, director and executive producer of Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street, tells host, Matthew Sherwood, that he thinks it was right at the start of Madoff’s…

1
I am Vanessa Guillen 31:08

1+ y ago31:08

31:08

Christy Wegener, director and producer of I Am Vanessa Guillen, joins Matthew Sherwood to tell the story of Private First Class Vanessa Guillen. In 2020, after suffering from sexual harassment by a superior, Vanessa was murdered by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood army base outside Killeen, Texas. In the months that followed, her family refused to let…

1
FIFA Uncovered 51:37

1+ y ago51:37

51:37

This week on Factual America, Matthew Sherwood is joined by Miles Coleman, writer and co-producer of Netflix docu-series, FIFA Uncovered. When the Fédération Internationale de Football Association – more popularly known as FIFA – was founded in 1904, its remit was simple: to oversee a competition between various footballing nations. Today, however,…

1
Santa Camp 44:27

1+ y ago44:27

44:27

Every summer, a horde of professional Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves descend on a campsite in the New Hampshire woods to learn the tricks of their trade. But this year is different. As Santas adapt to a modern world and embrace inclusivity, they are met with a lot of love but a lot of hate too. Filmmakers Nick Sweeney and Stacey Reiss join us to ta…

1
Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich 39:44

1+ y ago39:44

39:44

Disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, was an infamous sexual predator, using his money and influence to hide is secret life preying on young girls. But he did not act alone. Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and daughter of privilege was just as much a monster as Epstein, as revealed by the new Netflix documentary,…

1
Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? 47:39

1+ y ago47:39

47:39

In 1996 a Pepsi giveaway competition inspired John Leonard, a young mountain guide from Seattle, to do everything he could to claim the top prize – a Harrier jet. Realising that it was physically impossible to drink enough cans of cola to earn the necessary 7,000,000 points, John hatched a plan that soon had him facing off against a team of corpora…

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Americanexperience Podcasts

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