Payne in the Pod

It is with heavy heart that I announce the end of the Payne in the Pod era.

I'd like to thank each and every single listener and follower from the bottom of my heart for being so loyal. Thank you to each of my podcast guests who allowed me to ask my burning questions, and even get a little personal. Thanks for my friends and family who have supported this journey wholeheartedly. And finally, thank you to the podcast community for welcome this loud southern belle with open arms!

While this is the end of Payne in the Pod, don't you worry - I'm not leaving completely. You can still find my reality-tv-loving southern charm on Pink Shade with Erin Martin and the Patroon-only podcast Hey Bunkie. And you know I'm always listening to podcasts so let me know what you're listening to or if you need recommendations.

Love y'all - and I'll be in your ears again soon!

PS. Stay tuned to my announcement in July about my next venture!

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Mary Payne and her friend Doug Budin thought they were going to spend today’s episode recapping the hit podcast, Mob Queens. Instead, they got something better: a surprise entrance by Mob Queens co-host Michael Seligman. Mary Payne and Doug asked Michael their burning questions about the fascinating and mysterious Anna Genovese, a 20th-century New York mob wife and drag club maven.

The Hidden Story of a Mob Wife

Michael and his co-host, Jessica Bendinger, began researching Anna Genovese several years ago when they stumbled upon Anna’s name in numerous places across New York City. They began to research who she was--leading years of public records searches, followed by interviews with her surviving grandchildren and former mobsters.

Anna was the wife of Vito Genovese, a major player of the Genovese crime family in the 20th century. She also operated a speakeasy drag club in downtown New York, helping to solidify long-running ties between the drag community and mobsters. Anna eventually divorced her husband Vito and had a female romantic partner named Jackie (who herself was a drag king). 

A woman ahead of her times, Anna is an adorned figure in some drag communities and the subject of rumors and speculation. During the Mob Queens podcast, Michael and Jessica separate fact from fiction and try to uncover the truth behind Anna’s folklore. 

Questions, Answered

Mary Payne and Doug had A LOT of questions for Michael when he entered the conversation. Some include: Was Anna a CIA agent? Are her grandchildren in the mob? Why is her name excluded from her tombstone? Was it nerve-racking to interview former mobsters? Take a listen to hear Michael’s answers!

A Host’s Ancestral Journey 

Another major aspect of Mob Queens was Michael’s journey to discover his family roots. While the results of his ancestral journey weren’t what he expected, Michael has received reassuring feedback from many of listeners who had gone through similar experiences. 

Mary Payne and Doug agree that--albeit disappointing--Michael’s ancestral history search was touching and real. It didn’t need a fairytale ending.

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

The Jungle Prince

The Shrink Next Door

Find Doug at: 

Instagram – @dougbudin

Jeff Lewis Live on Radio Andy (SiriusXM Channel 102)

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Sheila Wysocki is a private investigator who uses her podcast, Without Warning, to crowdsource true crime cases in real-time. The third season of the Without Warning podcast digs into the mysterious 2008 deaths of Kadie Major, her baby River, and her unborn child, Aidan, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

The Beginnings of Without Warning 

Sheila became a private investigator in 2004 to discover what happened to her college roommate who was raped and murdered in the 1980s. After six years of work, in 2010, she helped to convict a man for this crime. Since then, Sheila has expanded her case portfolio across the US.

Sheila began the Without Warning podcast as a real-time investigative tool for some of her cases. She uses her podcast platform to receive feedback, assistance, and tips from listeners. In her first two seasons, she covered two separate cases on the deaths of Lauren Agee and Christian Andreacchio.

The Case of Kadie Major

Now in Season 3, Sheila is investigating the bizarre deaths of Kadie Major, daughter River, and baby boy (to be named Aidan Robert) in Moncks Corner, South Carolina in 2008. Sheila, fellow investigators, and her Patreon team are working with Kadie’s mom, Vicky, to find the truth behind their deaths. 

Kadie and River’s bodies were found near a train track and quickly ruled a suicide. However, Sheila has found convincing evidence to question this suicide theory. This story digs into a strange and complicated world of Kadie’s husband, Aaron, and his immediate family. It also looks at the seemingly botched investigation by the local officials. As the case continues, Without Warning will continue to reveal more unbelievable and unworldly evidence about this case.

The Power of Women Investigators

One of Sheila’s primary motivations is the strength and determination of the grieving mothers of deceased adult children. Sheila works closely with these strong mothers on different cases to find justice and bring closure to these cases. 

Sheila is also constantly amazed by her Patreon team--many of whom are also mothers--who are working with her to solve cases in real-time. If you think you have the investigative tools to help Sheila, then consider joining today!

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

Culpable

Southern Fried True Crime

Brainscratchers

The Unlovely Truth

Three Men and a Mystery

Find Sheila at: 

sheilawysocki.com

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Nikki Boyer returns to Payne in the Pod to speak with Mary Payne about her new podcast, The Daily Smile. Best known for her work on the Dying For Sex and Straight Talk with Ross podcasts, Nikki’s latest podcast brings listeners new episodes every weekday morning highlighting uplifting stories from quarentine.

A Must-Listen During Quarantine

Nikki and her colleagues at Wondery were already in discussions for creating The Daily Smile podcast when the coronavirus pandemic struck in March. As the world entered quarantine, Nikki and her colleagues believed it was the right time to bring people uplifting stories amid the pandemic.

Launched in May, The Daily Smile features daily episodes that tell feel-good and family-friendly stories to brighten your day. In each episode, Nikki tells stories of how people have turned pain, sadness, and grief into optimistic experiences. Mary Payne notes that this podcast isn’t all about sugar-coated happiness, but instead tells real stories that balance negative and positive aspects of life.

The Daily Smile’s first batch of episodes have included stories on the “real life Golden Girls,” a romance sparked by a drone delivery, and new pen pals. Nikki and her team are always searching for new uplifting stories to tell. If you have a story you wish to share, you can send an email to [email protected].

The Latest From Dying for Sex

Mary Payne and Nikki also talk about the enormous success of Nikki’s hit show, Dying for Sex (check out Mary Payne’s previous interview with Nikki on this podcast). Nikki is overwhelmed by the number of listeners reaching out to her who resonate with Molly’s story. Moving forward, Nikki is working to publish a book based on the podcast. 

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

Armchair Expert

Dr. Death

Julie: The Unwinding of a Miracle

Find Nikki at: 

Insta: @nikkiboyer

Twitter: @nikkiboyer

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Kristen Meinzer is an overachiever. She currently hosts three podcasts, has authored three books (including a book on podcasting), and regularly delivers lectures and keynote addresses. In this episode, Kristen speaks with Mary Payne about her podcast, By The Book, in which she and her co-host, Jolenta Greenberg, experiment with different self-help books.

By The Book

Kristen and Jolenta are former co-workers living in New York City. Kristen is a culture critic and Jolenta is a comedian. In 2017, they decided to combine their talents and perspectives to create the By The Book podcast. Over the course of six seasons, Kristen and Jolenta have read and completed two-week trials on over 50 self-help books.

Kristen notes that some of the most helpful themes distilled from their self-help trials have included gratitude, living in the moment, and self-love. She notes, however, that many books are unhelpful, especially those written by upper-class white males who are disconnected from the largely female audience of self-help books.

In a recent season, Kristen and Jolenta focused exclusively on the first-edition of books written over 50 years ago. The results were hysterical--and demonstrated the drastic way our values have changed over the decades. Some of these older generation self-help books included “How To Win Friends And Influence People” and “The Joy of Sex.”

Spin-Offs From By The Book

In 2019, after receiving messages from listeners requesting more hands-on interactions, Kristen and Jolenta created the We Love You (and So Can You) podcast, in which they prescribe self-help guidance to guests. In this makeover-type show, Kristen and Jolenta use their self-help knowledge to develop a two-week “self-love trial” for guests, who make audio diaries of their experiences.

Kristen and Jolenta also recently published a book called How To Be Fine, which distills their lessons learned from their self-help journey of the By The Book podcast.  

A Host of Other Podcasts

Kristen has also co-hosted several previous podcasts, including When Meghan Met Harry (which celebrates the monumental Royal Wedding), Lisa, Sandra, and Kristen Go to the Movies, and Movie Date.

Currently, Kristen and Newsday film critic, Rafer Guzman, host Movie Therapy, in which they “prescribe” movies for listeners facing certain issues or challenges. This podcast has picked up steam in recent months, with listeners having more free time to watch movies during these COVID times. 

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

Trashy Divorces

What A Creep

Spectacular Failures

Find Kristen at kristenmeinzer.com, where you can find her books, podcasts, and social media platforms.

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The Murderous Minors podcast occupies a unique niche in the podcasting world. It tells the complex, heartbreaking stories of children who commit terrible crimes. Mary Payne speaks with Simone (AKA Warbaby), the host of Murderous Minors, about her experience telling these stories and how she thinks our society can help children before they commit crimes.

A Warbaby Turned Podcast Host

The daughter of two Vietnam vets, Simone was born into a military world (thus, the “Warbaby” nickname). For over a decade, she followed the “military/defense” path by working in the aerospace industry before becoming a pastry chef. Over the course of her diverse career, she always had a love for writing. And as a mother, she is fascinated with true crime stories from a parent’s perspective.

In 2017, Simone brought together these interests and talents to create the Murderous Minors podcast, which has released over 60 scripted episodes that tell the stories (and backstories) of kids who kill. These episodes look into the “why” of these murders and tell the victims’ stories. 

Why Children Murder

People are often shocked and appalled when they hear stories of children who murder. Simone is not. Children do crazy things because their brains are not fully formed and they do not think through the consequences of their actions. 

Simone notes several common factors tying together the children in the Murderous Minors podcast cases:

What Can Be Done

Simone and Mary Payne discuss how parents and other adults can help prevent these awful cases. Simone stresses that adults must be more involved in childrens’ lives and provide better guidance. Involved parents and mentors are also more alert to behavioral warning signs. 

Simone also urges reform for the juvenile justice system and rehabilitation programs. There must be a better, more uniform way across all US states for authorities to give these children an opportunity for success once they return to normal life.

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

Minds of Madness

Murderish

Generation Why

True Crime Garage

Southern Friend True Crime

Case File

Covert

American Scandal

Business Wars

Pod Save America

Find Murderous Minors on any podcast platform (including Apple Podcasts)

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Joe Nocera’s move to The Hamptons a decade ago had a most unexpected twist. The New York journalist’s quiet Long Island neighborhood became the center of one of the most bizarre and jaw-dropping stories in the podcast world. 

In this episode, Mary Payne speaks with Joe about his experience creating The Shrink Next Door, which follows the doctor-patient relationship of Dr. Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf and Martin “Marty” Markowitz.

Something Strange in The Hamptons

Joe is a long-time journalist who has worked for several esteemed publications, including Esquire, GQ, Newsweek, Fortune Magazine, The New York Times, and now Bloomberg News. In 2010, while Joe was working for The New York Times, he bought a summer home in The Hamptons. In a strange series of events, Joe met his next-door neighbor’s groundskeeper, named Marty. Soon after, however, Joe learned that Marty actually owned the house, but had his life taken over by Dr. Ike Herschkopf, his therapist of 30 years. Joe later learned that Ike had assumed control of Marty’s business, had ruined his family relationships, and had even become the head of his household.

Over the next few months in 2010-2011, Marty’s sister, Phyllis, returned to the house to rescue Marty from his homemade prison. Marty eventually kicked Ike out and subsequently filed legal complaints about Ike’s abusive psychiatric practices. 

La Familia

Joe’s curiosity about the drama next door prompted him to begin a nearly two-year effort to write an investigative story about Dr. Ike Herschkopf. Over the course of his research, Joe found that Marty was not Ike’s sole victim -- Ike had taken over the lives of several other patients. 

During Ike’s career, he convinced patients to cut ties with their families, bring him into their business operations, and to put aside millions of dollars in their inheritance for Ike and his family. Ike created a cult-like group of patients, isolating them from their loved ones, making them dependent upon him, and pressuring them to join his social circle. 

Around 2012, after nearly two years of investigative work, The New York Times decided against running Joe’s story. Years later, Joe collaborated with Bloomberg’s podcast team and Wondery to produce the story in podcast format. The show debuted in May 2019.

Where Are They Now?

Today, Joe still lives next door to Marty and his sister, Phyllis, in The Hamptons. Marty is now free from Ike’s grip and is enjoying several new hobbies, such as looking over his chicken coup and raising honeybees.

In 2019, the New York Department of Health took up Marty’s complaint about Dr. Ike’s ethical behavior. It is now reviewing whether or not to remove Ike’s psychiatric license. However, throughout the entirety of Joe's investigation and during the current legal proceedings, Ike has denied all allegations of ethical wrongdoing. He remains a practicing therapist today.

The Shrink Next Door to Hit the Big (Apple) Screen

In April 2020, Apple TV announced that it would create an 8-10 episode series based on The Shrink Next Door podcast. The lead show writer for the series is Georgia Pritchett, with Will Ferrell playing Marty and Paul Rudd playing Ike. Mary Payne will give listeners more details about this new series as they come available! 

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

Running From Cops

Dirty John

Find Joe at:

Twitter: @opinion_joe

Find The Shrink Next Door at Wondery. And stay tuned for “The Shrink Next Door” TV Series on Apple TV!

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Mary Payne speaks with Ryan Bailey about his hysterical new podcast, So Bad It’s Good. Mary Payne admires Ryan’s ability to dive deeply (and humorously) into Reality TV shows and other areas of pop culture--but tries to get him to cut back on his 4-5 hour episodes! 

Ryan’s Journey to the Podcasting World

Ryan has always loved pop culture. He was obsessed with movies and TV as a kid, and later moved to LA to pursue a career in acting. He still lives in LA today as an actor (including appearances in past hit shows The Office and How I Met Your Mother) and an acting coach.

Ryan made his debut in the podcast world with Realizing Stuff with Kara and Ryan, a show in which he and his friend Kara would recap Keeping Up With The Kardashians (which, Ryan notes is a terribly produced and boring show). He then created his own podcast, So Bad It’s Good, in late 2019 that looks at all things pop culture.

The Making of So Bad It’s Good

So Bad It’s Good episodes are well-produced, detailed, and hilarious. Each weekly episode is usually 4-5 hours long, with time stamps to allow listeners to skip to their favorite content. The episodes involve outside interviews and Ryan’s own musings on recent Reality TV seasons and other other pop culture developments (including any opportunity to express his disdain for Jax Taylor of Vanderpump Rules). Ryan’s hard work hosting and producing the show is paying off with a loyal and growing audience after only six months.

Mary Payne loves Ryan’s podcast, but gives him some advice on how to shorten episodes. She suggests splitting the weekly episodes into two-part episodes (each two hours long). However, Ryan plans to keep producing longer episodes for now to give more content to all quarantined listeners, and will look into evolving his format at a later time.

A Must-Follow Twitter Account

Mary Payne first discovered Ryan on Twitter. His account offers endless entertainment and he has an impressive list of followers. Some of his most notable followers are Monica Lewinsky (a close personal friend), DJ James Kennedy and Raquel Leviss, Steven Ray Morris, Dave Holmes, and Spencer Pratt. He is also followed by two TV Show accounts: Watch What Happens Live and Entertainment Tonight. Be sure to follow Ryan for the latest gossip and some comic relief!

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

The Daily

Heavyweight

WTF with Marc Maron

Find Ryan at:

Twitter: @ryanbailey25

Instagram: @sobaditsgoodwithryanbailey

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Mandy Slutsker is a Reality TV enthusiast and host of the Is This Real Life? podcast where she focuses not only on reality TV, but the “why” of the things they do. Mandy joins Mary Payne to offer her thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic and to discuss her favorite reality TV shows.

A Deep Dive into Reality TV Personalities

Mandy started the Is This Real Life? podcast over two years ago as a way to connect with other fans about her favorite reality TV and Bravo shows. In her episodes, Mandy and her guests look deeply into the characters’ personalities to find out more about what makes them tick. While many aspects of reality TV are ridiculous, she thinks that some of the shows’ situations and characters are relatable. 

Mandy and Mary Payne are both huge fans of Bravo TV’s Vanderpump Rules. They enjoy watching the characters grow up over the seasons. Mandy also loves Real Housewives of New York. She finds the women on this show to be fun, humorous, and resilient. Mary Payne’s loyalties, on the other hand, lie with Real Housewives of Atlanta. 

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

Serial

S-Town

In the Dark

Pink Shade

So Bad It's Good

Mixing with Mani

Epidemic

Bitch Sesh

Everything Iconic

Give Them LaLa...with Randall

Find Is This Real Life at:

Any major podcast platform (including Apple Podcasts)

Instagram: @itrl_podcast

Find Mandy at:

Twitter: @mandyslutsker

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Mary Payne sits down with Jake (aka Poodle) and Matt (aka Mattie) from the Sissy That Talk podcast network for some much-needed laughs for all of our quarantined listeners. Jake and Matt talk about their long journey to develop Sissy That Talk and discuss their new show, 90 Day Gays, which recaps TLC’s hit show, 90 Day Fiancé. 

Natural Entertainers

90 Day Gays hosts Jake and Matt first met while studying music at the University of North Texas. They later bonded while teaching summer camp theater classes in Massachusetts and then became roommates in LA.

Always the natural entertainers, Jake and Matt began small shows to entertain their LA friends, including an annual “CabarGay” show. Thus, the first seed for a podcast network was planted.

About five years ago, Matt started a therapy podcast called Dear Mattie, which included Jake as an occasional guest. During this time, a friend approached them about creating a reality TV show. Though this idea ultimately died, Jake and Matt were beginning to realize that they had great charisma as a duo. Soon after, the podcast network, Sissy That Talk, was born.

Podcasts for Sissies

Sissy That Talk features several podcasts, including TV Tea Time, a fast and loose (and often tipsy) TV show recap podcast; Sweet T, a recap podcast for Bravo’s Southern Charm; Bitchcraft, a recap of Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and now 90 Day Gays. Their audience of “Sissies” continues to grow with each new show.

Jake and Matt find 90 Day Fiance to be compelling because, although the show’s characters are crazy, they are just searching for love and companionships -- something to which everyone can relate. 

Natural Jugglers

The 90 Day Gays podcast, and all of their others, is far from Jake and Matt’s only job. Jake is a singer and vocal/life coach. Matt is a therapist. They also keep busy with side hustles. Somehow, they still find time to produce their growing list of podcasts. 

Due to the coronavirus quarantine, they have much more free time to record new podcast episodes. They are now cranking out as many episodes of 90 Day Gays as they can. Check out Jake and Matt’s wildly entertaining shows today!

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

Unlocking Us

The Moth

Dolly Parton’s America

Ear Hustle

90 Day Fiance Cray Cray

On Being

Armchair Expert

The Score: Bank Robber Diaries

Cold Case Files

Find Jake and Matt at:

Sissythattalk.com

Find 90 Day Gays at:

Website: https://play.acast.com/s/90daygays

Twitter: @90DayGays

Instagram: @90DayGays

Patreon: Tiger Queens on Patreon

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