Factual America

Who is Stan Smith? A tennis legend, humanitarian, and... a shoe!

Before Djokovic or Federer, McEnroe or Borg, there was Stan Smith. A brilliant player, his success on the tennis court in the ‘70s led to Adidas naming its now iconic tennis shoe after him. 

But there is much more to Stan Smith than tennis success and shoes. For though he set out to be the best, in the end that wasn’t enough. He wanted to do good as well.

Join Matthew Sherwood as he discusses the new UNINTERRUPTED documentary Who is Stan Smith? with its director, Danny Lee. They discuss the sacrifice Stan Smith made to improve conditions for his fellow tennis players, the help he gave to South African author, Mark Mathabane, and what happened when Stan went behind the Iron Curtain to play the controversial Romanian superstar, Ilie Nastase.

Who is Stan Smith? is a feelgood film about the man who is most known for the shoe, but who deserves far greater recognition for his humility, kindliness, and self-giving. Find out more with Matthew Sherwood and Danny Lee on Factual America.

Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com

“... the moral of the tale is, it's not necessarily all about winning... It's like the longer lasting impacts you can have on humanity... [Stan Smith is] just a wonderful human being. And I think he's a testament of the possibilities of what we can all do [when] we try to do good.” – Danny Lee

Sally McNeil killed her husband, Ray; but was it an act of self-defence or pre-meditated murder? 

That is the question at the heart of Killer Sally, a new three-part docu-series by Nanette Burstein, now showing on Netflix. 

Sally and Ray were a power couple in the truest sense of the word – both were bodybuilders. But Ray took his training to extreme levels, using steroids to increase his muscle growth. And according to Sally, it was during a ‘roid rage’ on St. Valentine’s Day in 1995 that he lost his temper and tried to kill her before she shot him.

The prosecution at Sally’s trial portrayed her as a bully. But as Nanette explains, Ray was an abusive husband. So, while Sally was not an innocent victim, her husband not only abused her but also their children. 

The children’s lives were shattered by what happened. Since then, they have sought to break the cycle of abuse that began even before their mother and father met.

Among the topics discussed by Nanette and Matthew are how Nanette handled interviewing Sally’s son, the seedy side of female body building, points of connection between Sally McNeil, Hilary Clinton and Tonya Harding, and the difficulties faced by women who are trapped by domestic violence perpetrated against them.

Join Nanette and Matthew as they lift the lid on an infamous moment in body building history; a case that remains both relevant and compelling nearly thirty years later.

“... one out of every three women globally, is the victim of physical and or sexual violence by an intimate partner... we sweep it under the rug, you know, and I think that Sally's case definitely sheds light on the fact that we need to revisit how we judicially and socially deal with domestic violence cases.” – Nanette Burstein

Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com

Once, they were gods who had to be placated.

Now, they still need placating, but they also help save lives and bring hope in a time of distress. 

We are, of course, talking about cats.

In her new documentary, Cat Daddies, Mye Hoang explores the relationship between a diverse group of American men and their feline friends. 

At the centre of her film is homeless New Yorker David Giovanni, and his cat, Lucky. It’s 2020. David receives bad news about his health. And then, the pandemic strikes. What will happen to them next?

Once upon a time, David saved Lucky’s life. Now, Lucky will save his.

As Mye tells Matthew Sherwood, Cat Daddies is ‘a love letter’ to men who love cats. But more than that, it shows how cats can help men build their mental health, provide stability to them in a chaotic world, and even make friendships.

Cat Daddies is a tender and inspiring film. It is also a thought provoking one, and, in Mye’s words, an ‘emotional roller coaster’ that explores the topics of masculinity and vulnerability.

Join Matthew Sherwood as he discovers a world both familiar and strange, happy and sad, but always hopeful: that of the Cat Daddies. 

Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com

“... it's also inspired by my own story with my husband, who, when we were first dating, he was not a cat guy at all. And then one day a cat found him... It only took a few days, and he was hooked.... it just goes to show... you think you know who you are. And sometimes life surprises you.” – Mye Hoang

1 game. 38 points. The birth of a legend.

In 2011, no one knew or cared about an NBA player named Jeremy Lin. 

In early 2012, however, that changed, as Lin stunned opposition teams, fans, and the world alike with a series of brilliant on court performances for the New York Knicks. And chief among them were the 38 points Lin scored against the mighty LA Lakers at Madison Square Garden on 10th February 2012.

Success did not come easy for Lin. As Frank Chi, director of new HBO documentary, 38 at the Garden, tells Matthew Sherwood, Lin had to fight stereotypes about what Asian Americans were capable of before he got his chance. And even then, only a stroke of luck put him on the road to Linsanity...

In this episode of Factual America, join Matthew and Frank as they discuss the career of the man whose brilliance on the court destroyed prejudice, built up hope, and left a legacy rich in glory and empowerment.

“The movie is about an impossible moment... A moment when society at large assigns to a group of people, saying you can't do this, and then someone comes out of nowhere and just shatters that to pieces." – Frank Chi

Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com

Welcome to the fourth season of Factual America!

Today, Matthew Sherwood speaks to Shaunak Sen, director of All That Breathes, an award-winning documentary about two brothers, Mohammad and Nadeem, in Delhi, who have dedicated their lives to helping the Black Kite, a victim of Delhi’s ever worsening air pollution.

All That Breathes is both an intimate portrayal of Mohammad’s and Nadeem’s work and, as Shaunak explains, a philosophical documentary that shows how the toxicity of Delhi’s air is reflected on the ground.

Above all, though it is a film about miracles: miracles in the air and on the ground, giving hope to a world that seems doomed to disaster.

Join Matthew and Shaunak as they discuss this timely documentary, which has already taken the film festival circuit by storm, winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and the Golden Eye award at Cannes earlier this year. The film is currently on release in the UK and USA and will be available to stream on HBO next year.

“... every bird that flies out of their basement is a miracle.” - Shaunak Sen

Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com

Woodstock '99 was supposed to be a millennium defining celebration of peace, love and great music. Instead, the festival degenerated into an epic trainwreck of fires, riots and destruction.

Utilizing rare insider footage, and eyewitness interviews with an impressive list of festival staffers, performers and attendees, Netflix docuseries Trainwreck: Woodstock '99, releasing on August 4th, goes behind the scenes to reveal the egos, greed and music that fueled three days of utter chaos.

Acclaimed filmmakers, director Jamie Crawford, producer Cassie Thornton, and executive producer Tim Wardle, join us to talk about 1990s nostalgia, the rock festival that went wrong, and why they thought there should be another documentary about it. 

Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com

“Woodstock ’99 was like an experiment in anarchy: what happens when you put a large number of young people together with not many rules.” - Jamie Crawford

*NOTE: At the time of recording this interview, the announced title of the film was Clusterf**k: Woodstock '99, and the participants refer to the film by that title. 

Menudo was arguably the first international boy band and one of the most successful. Starting from humble roots in 1970s Puerto Rico, the group conquered the pop world in the 1980s and 1990s. 

As the boys grew older and their voices started changing, they soon discovered that they were easily replaceable – by a steady stream of 12- to 15-year olds waiting in the wings, ready to chase their dreams of stardom. 

Such success came with an unnecessary price. As revealed by former members, the boys were often overworked, neglected, emotionally and physically abused. Separated from their parents, they also became easy targets for sexual predators. 

Menudo: Forever Young (2022), HBO Max’s four-part docuseries, brings to life the uplifting, as well as tragic story of Menudo. Award-winning filmmakers Angel Manuel Soto and Kristofer Ríos co-directed the docuseries. Rios, who is also co-executive producer, joins us to discuss the allegations made in the film, and how the band still has a fond place in the hearts of millions.

Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com

“What we were attempting to do is celebrate Menudo, but also have everyone understand the cost the band members paid to be in the band.” – Kristofer Ríos

Facing Nolan captures the life of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, arguably one of the greatest pitchers of all time. His 51 records and 27 seasons across four decades are the stuff of lore. It wasn't always so. Even as the Ryan Express was chalking up strikeouts and no-hitters like no one before him, or since, Nolan Ryan was surprisingly undervalued. Oddly enough, he may still be.

What better way to understand Ryan's fierce competitive spirit and otherworldly talent than actually asking the Hall of Famers who had to face his 100-mph fastball, or 12-6 curveball on a regular basis.

In acclaimed filmmaker Bradley Jackson's documentary about this living Texas legend, Nolan Ryan is revealed by those who know him best – his family, teammates, and even former US presidents. 

“I can’t think of an athlete that is more associated with a state than Nolan Ryan is for Texas.” - Nolan Ryan

Watch the full interview at https://factualamerica.com

In Netflix's latest true crime documentary Girl in the Picture, a woman named Sharon Marshall is found dying by a road, leaves behind a son, a man claiming to be her husband—and a mystery that unfolds like a nightmare. The film tells an incredibly tragic tale and the incredible story of how the mystery was eventually solved twenty-five years later. 

Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Skye Borgman, Girl in the Picture looks at who Sharon Marshall was, her many different lives and identities, the people whom she touched and the world that she left behind.

Releasing on Netflix on July 6th, Girl in the Picture represents a tribute to this young woman and to victims everywhere. 

Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com

“I’m mostly interested in telling human stories and crime gives us the full spectrum of humanity, from the very best to the very worst of people.” - Skye Borgman

The Netflix docuseries Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey tells the chilling story of Warren Jeffs and his rise in the Fundamentalist Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of the mainstream Mormon church.

FLDS members practice polygamy and assign women husbands by divine revelation to the prophet, in this case, Warren Jeffs. The church turned into a cult under Jeffs' leadership, and its practices led to concerns from outsiders about underage marriage and statutory rape.

But no one was prepared for the shocking crimes perpetrated by Warren Jeffs himself, who remains the prophet of FLDS to the present day, despite being in prison.

The docuseries, directed and produced by Emmy-winning filmmaker Rachel Dretzin, looks at both the ways in which Warren and his father transformed the group, but also at the hunt for, and ultimately, conviction of Warren for crimes against children.

Watch the episode at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/keep-sweet-pray-and-obey/

“The strongest thing about this story is that it tells you a lot about human nature and the ways that these things can happen.” - Rachel Dretzin