To this day, the Chernobyl disaster remains the worst nuclear accident in history… and the 2019 HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” details what happened in disturbing, yet riveting, detail. 

In the first episode of this 2-part series on the award-winning “Chernobyl,” Candy and Ashley share a little background on the terrifying incident and discuss the creation of the miniseries. 

What is it like to visit Chernobyl today, according to a firsthand account? What strategies did creator and writer Craig Mazin use to tell the story of the disaster as authentically as possible? Which lead character was fictional, created solely for the TV series, and why? And which events from the actual Chernobyl disaster are addressed in the miniseries?

Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel.

*Thank you to Abbey and Allie for sharing insights from their personal visits to the Chernobyl site. 

How to support Scandal Water:

Give a gift through buymeacoffee.com/scandalwaterpod or patreon.com/ScandalWaterPodcast– which will also grant you access to fabulous bonus content!

“Armageddon” was not only the highest-grossing film of 1998, but it also earned 4 Oscar nominations. Yet that same flick was named the worst movie of the year by Roger Ebert and nominated for 7 Razzie Awards. 

How could a film beloved by so many also receive such harsh criticism? That’s just one of the many points we drill down on in this fun episode on the 1998 blockbuster “Armageddon.”

What inspired the writers to add the romantic subplot between Grace and A.J.? Which pieces of space equipment were real, and what prompted NASA to let “Armageddon” use them? What’s the backstory behind Aerosmith’s #1 single “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”? And just what did Ben Affleck say on that famous DVD commentary that resurfaced–and went viral– in 2016?

Thank you to Jim for his top-of-the-episode shout out! 

Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel.

How to support Scandal Water:

Fearless storm chasers, a love triangle, and a flying cow… the 1996 blockbuster “Twister” had a lot going for it. 

And in this special double-feature episode, we discuss not only the original film, but also the 2024 standalone sequel “Twisters!”

What connection did “Twister” have to “Jurassic Park”? How did the technology developed for the 1996 movie advance filmmaking? In what ways does “Twisters” parallel “Twister,” and where do the two differ? And just how accurate is the science in both movies? 

This podcast is so fun and fast-moving, it’ll have you in a whirl! Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast YouTube channel.

*Thank you to Jennifer and Rocky for sharing their own encounter with a tornado in May of 1996. 

*Thank you to the “Podcasting Class at a KY Middle School” for their top-of-the-episode shout out! 

*Thank you to Patreon Member Maggie for her ongoing support of Scandal Water! 

How to support Scandal Water:

#WhataDisaster #DisasterMovie #NaturalDisaster #StormChasers #RyanHallYall  #Twister #Twisters #HelenHunt #BillPaxton #DaisyEdgarJones #GlenPowell #AnthonyRamos #JamiGertz #ScandalWaterPodcast #Podcasting

*Warning: There are brief descriptions of child abuse in this episode. Listener discretion is advised.

As Shari Franke watched the police break into her family’s home on August 30, 2023, her Instagram post simply read, “Finally.”

In Part 3 we finish our series on Ruby Franke, the Utah mother of 6 who somehow moved from beloved family YouTube vlogger to convicted child abuser. 

What happened when Shari and neighbors called child welfare services to report concerns? How did the youngest Franke boy escape from Jodi’s home, and why do authorities believe his action saved both his and his sister’s life? What incriminating evidence was found in Ruby’s diary? How has Shari advocated for increased protection for the children of content creators? And where are Kevin and the 6 Franke kids now? We discuss all this and more in this fascinating final episode. 

Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel.

MID-ROLL: For May’s minisode, we will dive into more mayhem as we delve into Ruby’s diary. Using the Guilty Words Youtube channel we mentioned in our series as our source, we will analyze and discuss a portion of Ruby’s own words that helped lead to her conviction. 

To listen, see “How to support SW” below! 

Music: "Final Step" purchased at www.FreePD.com

Ruby Franke’s friend called Jodi Hildebrandt a guru… Ruby’s daughter Shari called her “our family’s very own cult leader.”

In Part 2, we continue our 3-part series on the Ruby Franke case, sharing what happened after Ruby and Kevin sought help for their son Chad’s behavior. 

How did it impact the family when therapist and life coach Jodi Hildebrandt entered their lives? What incident caused most of Ruby’s 2.5 million YouTube followers to turn against her? How did Jodi come to move into the Franke home? Why was daughter Shari disowned? And what circumstances led Kevin and Chad to both be “invited” to move out on the same day? We discuss all this and more. 

Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel.

How to support Scandal Water:

Give a gift through buymeacoffee.com/scandalwaterpod or patreon.com/ScandalWaterPodcast– which will also grant you access to fabulous bonus content!

It was the 911 call heard around the world.

Through countless media releases, we all listened as a man in Utah tearfully described the wounds on the young boy who had shown up at his door asking to be taken to the police… a young boy who, we soon learned, had been horrifically abused by his own mother and her business partner. 

For many of us, this was our introduction to the shocking and sad story of Ruby Franke, the subject of this 3-part series. 

In this Part 1 we discuss Ruby’s progression from devout Mormon wife and mother of six, to ‘America’s Mom,’ a beloved YouTube family vlogger with more than 2.5 million followers.

But what concerns did some of Ruby’s family members have about her parenting even before she became a YouTube star? How did Ruby’s faith inspire her to become a content creator? What changes occurred in the Franke children’s lives after they became ‘employees’ for 8 Passengers, Ruby’s channel? And what happened when the kids started to rebel against the constant filming… son Chad, in particular?

Don’t miss the first episode in this 3-part series. Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel.

Warning: There is a brief reference to child abuse at the top of the episode. Listener discretion is advised. 

Thank you to Jennifer G. for her top-of-the-episode shout out!

MID-ROLL: Thank you to BMaC member Jill M. for her ongoing support of Scandal Water! 

EARLY ACCESS: For those of you who like to binge your podcasts, the ENTIRE series is now available for our Patreon, BMaC, and Apple Subscribers! Get the full story now! To join and take advantage of this perk, see “How to Support SW” below!

How to support Scandal Water:

Duunnn dunnn… duuuunnnn duun…

It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years since “Jaws” arrived with a splash, bringing acclaim to young director Steven Spielberg, forever changing the public perception of sharks, and introducing the concept of the summer blockbuster for the very first time. 

So what better way to celebrate than with a trip to the Falcon Theatre in Newport, Kentucky, to see the regional premiere of “The Shark Is Broken,” a witty and entertaining comedy about the making of “Jaws.”

This past Thursday Candy and Ashley did just that, attending the final dress rehearsal for this wildly popular show that is fresh off Broadway. They also had the privilege of speaking with the 3 actors who bring “Jaws” leads to life: Keith Cassidy (Robert Shaw), Ted Weil (Roy Scheider) and Brady Dunn  (Richard Dreyfuss), as well as David Derringer (Director) and Katie Ruwe (Stage Manager). 

Wish you could have been there? No worries– you’ll feel like you WERE when you hear the fascinating interviews and other behind-the-scenes tidbits shared in this episode!

Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel.

And after you listen, head on over to Newport to catch the show between now and May 17, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Tickets available by visiting www.falcontheatre.net 

Thank you to David Derringer, Katie Ruwe, Keith Cassidy, Brady Dunn, and Ted Weil for their top-of-the-episode shout-out!

How to support Scandal Water:

Were you Team Coco or Team Jay? 

We’re referring to the highly publicized battle that occurred between Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien over “The Tonight Show” back in 2010. And if you remember that, you may also recall a similar rivalry that took place years before– this time between Jay Leno and Dave Letterman. 

But these late night talk show conflicts are just part of what we cover in Part 2 of this lively episode on late night talk shows. Here’s a glimpse at a few other events that come up…

What secret deal helped Jay Leno land the spot as Johnny Carson’s replacement? How did Conan O’Brien strike back at NBC when he felt he’d been mistreated by the network? What heartfelt Craig Ferguson monologue from 2007 is now legendary? And which talk show host ended the NBC ban on Joan Rivers by inviting her on his show?

We give you plenty to talk about in this fun episode! Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel. 

Thank you to listener Jennifer for her top-of-the-episode shout out!

MID ROLL AD: A big thank you to listener Sherry for her ongoing support of Scandal Water via Buy Me a Coffee!

How to support Scandal Water:

Which late-night talk show hosts have kept YOU company during the wee hours? 

Chances are, there’ve been several because the history of late night talk shows extends back more than 70 years… and is the subject of this fascinating Part 1 episode!

What woman holds the distinction of being the very first late night talk show host? Who established trademark features of the genre, like the opening monologue, comedy bits, and host’s desk? What “Tonight Show” host quit and walked off during a show? How did Johnny Carson help launch the careers of numerous comedians, including Dave Letterman and Jay Leno? And what incident resulted in Joan Rivers being banned from NBC late night for decades?

Talk about a fun episode! Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel. 

How to support Scandal Water:

#TheTonightShow #JohnnyCarson #JackParr #SteveAllen #FayeEmerson #JoanRivers #DavidLetterman #JayLeno #CraigFerguson #TalkShows #TalktoMe #Podcasting

Whether you’ve seen Dawne Gee anchoring the news, hosting a talk show, being awarded the 2024 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, or simply enjoying a meal out with her family, Dawne’s friendly face is likely one you recognize if you’ve spent any time in the Louisville area. 

In this fascinating episode, we interview news personality and humanitarian Dawne Gee. 

How did Dawne move from one-time bouncer and stand-up comic to news anchor and talk show host? What does she consider to be the greatest benefit of her role as a TV news personality? What are some behind-the-scenes stories from Dawne’s 30+ years with WAVE News? And why has Dawne chosen– despite the painful memories it brings to mind– to share about the stroke she experienced on air in 2016?

We discuss all this and more in this interview with Louisville native and beloved community figure Dawne Gee. 

Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel.

If you’re watching on our YouTube channel, be sure to stay tuned for a very brief “post-credits” clip where one of Dawne’s beloved dogs makes an appearance.