This Sounds Serious - podcast cover

This Sounds Serious

In 1991, TV producer Kirk Todd was supposed to direct his first movie, Grand Casino, but the movie was never made. Kirk disappeared with the film’s budget and was revealed to be a con man named Jeremy Weaver. We follow host Gwen Radford as she tracks down the victims and puts together the pieces of this con three decades later.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

Introducing: The Weird Place

From executive producer Dana Carvey and Team Coco Podcasts, "The Weird Place" is an episodic sci-fi comedy adventure that will blow your mind. From manipulative aliens to time-traveling pirates to a power-hungry mad man with a magic globe, "The Weird Place" has no shortage of action-packed supernatural occurrences. On this episode, a Cold War–era nuclear submarine accidentally travels back in time and encounters a pirate ship from the 1700's. Listen to the next episode of "The Weird Place" where...

Nov 01, 202215 min

Introducing: Let's Make A Sci-Fi

Producer Dave Shumka introduces a new show from the team behind This Sounds Serious: Let's Make a Sci-Fi, an eight-part adventure through the creative process as three comedians try writing a successful sci-fi pilot— with help from scientific experts and Hollywood screenwriting pros. In the first episode, hosts Ryan, Mark, and Maddy talk to producers Catherine Winder (Star Wars) and Jem Gerrard (Vagrant Queen) and learn how to identify great story ideas. Then, they pitch each other concepts for ...

Mar 01, 202236 min

A Message from Kirk Todd in Jail

Kirk Todd is back in jail and he has an important message for you: He wants you to vote for This Sounds Serious in the 2021 Webb Awards for Best Writing in a Podcast. Click here to vote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 29, 20212 min

8: The Premiere

With Kirk’s release from prison and a movie premier in the works, the truth comes into focus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 20, 202031 minSeason 3Ep. 8

7: Vegas

Gwen travels to Las Vegas, where crime writer Frank Reeves tells her that a casino robbery took place during the film shoot, and Kirk buried the movie to hide the evidence. Click here to get the entire season right now, ad-free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Oct 13, 202025 minSeason 3Ep. 7

6: Rotten Popcorn

After tracking down Grand Casino, Gwen watches the movie and is underwhelmed. She calls on the goofball hosts of the “Rotten Popcorn” podcast to weigh in, and investigates a theory that maybe Kirk was the one who buried the movie. Click here to get the entire season right now, ad-free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Oct 06, 202027 minSeason 3Ep. 6

5: The Con Man’s Handbook

Gwen finds out how Kirk finally got caught. Kirk insists Grand Casino exists and invites Gwen to use his “Con Man’s Handbook” dictaphone recordings to help uncover it. Click here to get the entire season right now, ad-free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 29, 202030 minSeason 3Ep. 5

4: Visiting Hours

Gwen travels to Maricopa County Prison to meet Kirk Todd and get inside the mind of a con man. She learns about his marriage to art forger Helen Chatham and the events that tore them apart. Click here to get the entire season right now, ad-free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 22, 202028 minSeason 3Ep. 4

3: How to Make a Fake Movie

In order to pull off the Grand Casino con, Kirk had to convince the studio and the crew that he was making the movie. How did nobody catch on? Click here to get the entire season right now, ad-free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 15, 202029 minSeason 3Ep. 3

2: We Were Filming a Crime Scene

Click here to get the entire season right now, ad-free. How did Kirk Todd put himself in the position to pull off this con? Gwen answers that question and reveals the events of the Grand Casino premier from the red carpet to the chaos in the lobby after the crime is discovered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 08, 202025 minSeason 3Ep. 2

1: Jeremy, Kenny, Karl, Klaus, and Kirk

A 9-1-1 call about a heart attack at a 1991 movie screening leads investigative journalist Gwen Radford to unearth the life story of con man, Kirk Todd, from his childhood crimes through his career as a TV producer, up to Grand Casino, the movie he never made. Click here to get the entire season right now, ad-free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 01, 202022 minSeason 3Ep. 1

This Sounds Serious: Grand Casino

Click here to get the entire season right now, ad-free. In 1991, TV producer Kirk Todd was supposed to direct his first movie, Grand Casino, but the movie was never made. Kirk disappeared with the film’s budget and was revealed to be a con man named Jeremy Weaver. We follow host Gwen Radford as she tracks down the victims and puts together the pieces of this con three decades later. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Aug 25, 20201 min

Introducing Record Club

From Kelly&Kelly, the studio that brought you This Sounds Serious comes Record Club - a live storytelling podcast that celebrates seminal albums and explores how these albums affect our lives. Hosted by musician Louise Burns, each episode features storytellers telling a true, personal story about how a particular record shaped them. Subscribe to Record Club here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 25, 202033 min

8: The Conclusion

Seriously, what is in those barrels? Surprise evidence found in the quarry leads to a confession, but maybe not justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 16, 201929 minSeason 2Ep. 8

7: The Barrels

The barrels in Rhoda Day’s backyard may hold the key to Melissa Turner’s disappearance. Gwen wants to find out what’s inside them, but it’s not going to be easy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 09, 201921 minSeason 2Ep. 7

6: Theories

Gwen outlines the most likely scenarios about what happened to Melissa Turner. A surprise phone call by a key player bolsters one theory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 02, 201924 minSeason 2Ep. 6

5: The Mayor

Gwen’s focus turns to Rhoda Day, Jimmy’s mother and the longtime mayor of Tom Day. Just how many strings is Rhoda Day pulling in this town? And are they about to snap? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 25, 201925 minSeason 2Ep. 5

4: Subcultures

Manhattan Media podcast “Here’s Some Information” teams up with TSS to learn about the online society of scent fanatics that could possibly link Jimmy and Melissa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 18, 201922 minSeason 2Ep. 4

3: All About Jimmy

Gwen travels to Tom Day, Oregon the home of serial hostage-taker Jimmy Kline and learns about his criminal past through his mother, his neighbors, and the man himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 11, 201931 minSeason 2Ep. 3

2: Hostages

Gwen takes us on an audio tour of an incredibly bizarre 9-1-1 call that chronicles the 36 hours that Jimmy Kline held a bank hostage in Tom Day, Oregon, claiming the mayor killed his girlfriend, Melissa Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 04, 201929 minSeason 2Ep. 2

1: Missing Melissa

A 9-1-1 call from a 2017 bank heist leads investigative journalist Gwen Radford to the story of the country’s most missing person, Melissa Turner. And now Melissa has disappeared again, only this time it’s different. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 04, 201927 minSeason 2Ep. 1

This Sounds Serious: Missing Melissa

After listening to a 9-1-1 call from the longest hostage situation in Oregon history, Gwen finds herself on the trail of America’s most missing person. Season 2 brings you another story so believable it can’t be true. Launching June 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 28, 20192 minSeason 2Ep. 10

8: The Finale

Daniel travels to Gwen to confront her about the podcast, the 911 call, and the truth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 16, 201825 minSeason 1Ep. 8

7: The Trial

After all the other suspects were ruled out, Daniel Bronstadt went on trial for murder. With his life on the line, he decided to use a rookie attorney… himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 12, 201830 minSeason 1Ep. 7

6: The Weatherman Strangler

Could a serial killer who targeted weathermen be responsible for Chuck Bronstadt’s murder? Gwen looks to the classic true crime TV show, Last Known Whereabouts, for answers. Featuring Lauren Ash (NBC's Superstore). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 05, 201825 minSeason 1Ep. 6

5: The Suspects

Despite the mountain of evidence against him, Daniel has always maintained that he didn’t kill Chuck. But if he didn’t, who else could have? Featuring: Paul F. Tompkins, Graham Clark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 29, 201826 minSeason 1Ep. 5

4: All About Chuck

While Daniel was in a cult, Chuck’s career as a weatherman was on the rise. But then Daniel returned. Guest star: Paul F. Tompkins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 22, 201832 minSeason 1Ep. 4

3: The Cult

In the 1990s, a cult known as “the Mandala” was infamous for trying to rebuild the lost city of Atlantis. Was Daniel Bronstadt a key member? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 15, 201825 minSeason 1Ep. 3

2: Meet The Twins

Journalist Gwen Radford travels to Florida to finally meet Daniel Bronstadt. While at his creepy ranch she learns about the brothers’ past: their boy bands, their twin pranks and their falling out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 08, 201827 minSeason 1Ep. 2

1: The Call

A confusing 9-1-1 call is placed to report the murder of Florida weatherman, Chuck Bronstadt. Journalist Gwen Radford tries to track down the caller only to meet a man who is even more fascinating than the murder itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 01, 201825 minSeason 1Ep. 1