You Can’t Make This Up - podcast cover

You Can’t Make This Up

Netflixwww.netflix.com
The incredible real stories behind the making of the biggest documentary series & films on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie leads in-depth interviews with creators and subjects, exploring how these stories are produced & their impact, while uncovering new information. New episodes every Wednesday.
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Episodes

My Father, the BTK Killer

In the Netflix documentary My Father, the BTK Killer , Kerri Rawson embarks on a personal journey of understanding—confronting childhood trauma and searching for healing. In this bonus from the podcast Monster: BTK from Tenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts, Executive Producer Payne Lindsey sits down with Kerri to talk about her early childhood, learning about her dad's true identity when she was an adult, and dealing with the aftermath of his arrest, 20 years ago. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watch...

Oct 15, 202537 minSeason 8Ep. 36

Rebel Royals

The Netflix documentary Rebel Royals offers an intimate look at the unlikely romance between Märtha Louise, daughter of the King of Norway, and Shaman Durek Verrett, a mystic from California. The spiritual couple navigates issues of class, race, and national identity as they prepare for a royal wedding among the Scandinavian fjords. They address critics in the press and the public who view their union as an oddity, and reveal what life looks like for two unconventional soulmates. In this episode...

Oct 08, 202534 minSeason 8Ep. 34

Love Con Revenge | Part 2

In part two of our look at the Netflix series Love Con Revenge , we talk to the private eye working with The Tinder Swindler ’s Cecilie Fjellhøy about the tradecraft of locating other con artists who’ve swindled their partners. She discusses the challenge of uncovering their web of deceit and bringing any measure of justice for victims duped by those who loved their money more than they loved them. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews private investigator Bri...

Oct 01, 202535 minSeason 8Ep. 33

Love Con Revenge | Part 1

In the Netflix series Love Con Revenge , Cecilie Fjellhøy from The Tinder Swindler teams with a private investigator to track down other swindlers and tell the stories of those left both broke and heartbroken. Faced with limited legal options, the team goes to bat for a group of victims who were ripped off in different ways, but were all victims in elaborate romantic long cons. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Cecilie Fjellhøy. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven...

Sep 24, 202540 minSeason 8Ep. 32

Katrina: Come Hell and High Water

From Executive Producer Spike Lee, the Netflix series Katrina: Come Hell and High Water tells the story of what happened, what’s changed, and what hasn’t. It recounts the harrowing experiences of those whose lives were forever changed by the storm. And it provides a report card 20 years later on the long term efforts to rebuild a community and its culture, and the effects of Katrina’s wounds that will not heal. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews showrunner ...

Sep 17, 202542 minSeason 1Ep. 31

aka Charlie Sheen

The Netflix documentary film aka Charlie Sheen looks at the actor’s rise to movie and TV stardom, his personal demons, and his public implosion. With deeply candid insights from those he loved and those he fought, Sheen gives his own colorful takes on the heights of celebrity, the depths of addiction, the cycle of self-destruction, and the quest to be #winning at life. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Andrew Renzi. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't w...

Sep 10, 202538 minSeason 8Ep. 30

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

The Netflix documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish brings us the teen victims, their families, and the investigators behind a disturbing case of digital harassment. We also hear from the catfish who attempts to explain their actions, as well as the people they hurt, about whether or not they can forgive the pain inflicted on them. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Skye Borgman. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Unknown Number: The...

Sep 03, 202536 minSeason 8Ep. 29

The Truth About Jussie Smollett?

In the Netflix documentary The Truth About Jussie Smollett? we hear directly from the actor about his claim he was beaten by racists that frigid night on a Chicago sidewalk. We also hear from police, journalists, and the two men who say Smollett paid them to fake the hate crime. The film also explores unexamined evidence which questions whether the assailants were actually the two Black men who took responsibility…or whether they were white men like the actor said they were. In this episode of Y...

Aug 27, 202534 minSeason 8Ep. 28

Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser

In the Netflix series Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser , former contestants, producers, and stars of the show talk about what went into making the revolutionary weight-loss competition. It reveals the tensions between medical staff and show runners about the lengths players were pushed to. It explores The Biggest Loser ’s legacy and the long-term effects on those who played the game. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Mike Gasparro and Skye Borg...

Aug 20, 202537 minSeason 8Ep. 27

Paul Finebaum's 2025 Natty Pick & Diego Pavia's Heisman Hopes 🏆

Diego Pavia and Paul Finebaum are this week’s Netflix Sports Club guests. Paul Finebaum, the voice of the SEC, drops a bold national championship prediction that might give the Big Tenners pause, and he reveals which SEC quarterback has him starstruck. Vanderbilt quarterback, Diego Pavia, gives a standout performance on and off the field in SEC Football: Any Given Saturday. He relives that improbable ‘Bama victory, including pre-game routine and why he thinks this victory changed the conversatio...

Aug 13, 202536 min

Introducing: The Wednesday Season 2 Official Woecast

Do you like podcasts about crime? Well, the Wednesday Season 2 Official Woecast is here and it’s as twisted, unhinged, and relaxing as any true crime podcast. Hosted by Caitlin Reilly, the Woecast is your backstage pass to Nevermore Academy and beyond, with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes secrets, and episode-by-episode breakdowns. BE WARNED! This podcast will contain spoilers for Wednesday Season 2, episodes 1-4. In this episode: Jenna Ortega peels back the layers on the new tension bet...

Aug 06, 202532 min

Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes

The Netflix documentary series Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes features newly-released recordings of David Berkowitz talking about his troubled past and why he killed. He admits on tape to fabricating some of the most sensational aspects of his criminal persona to build his legend. But how much of what Berkowitz says is true… and how much of it is him still trying to shape his own narrative? In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Joe ...

Jul 30, 202536 minSeason 8Ep. 27

Amy Bradley is Missing | Part 2

On the second part of our look at the Netflix documentary series Amy Bradley is Missing , we hear from an online sleuth hoping to locate the vanished American. Who are the suspects who could have kidnapped her? Are the sightings of her credible? Do the forensics prove the sex trafficked woman in that photo is Amy? And does the online habits of a user fixated on the investigation website suggest they have an answer to where Amy Bradley is? In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca L...

Jul 23, 202535 minSeason 8Ep. 25

Amy Bradley is Missing | part 1

The Netflix documentary series Amy Bradley is Missing explores what really happened to the cruise ship passenger three decades ago. Did she go over the rail into the ocean? Or did someone target her and spirit her away for their own purposes? The series looks at those aboard who could have targeted her, and presents the stories of those who’ve claimed to have encountered a sex trafficked woman they say is her. It seeks to answer the question, if she didn’t die at sea, where is Amy Bradley today?...

Jul 16, 202537 minSeason 8Ep. 24

Trainwreck | Part 2

The Netflix series Trainwreck looks at the scandals, disasters, and plain ol’ screw-ups that captivated the world. This season covers the rise and fall of a fashion empire in The Cult of American Apparel. And it explores the mistakes that led to a fatal concert performance in The Astroworld Tragedy. We hear from experts, journalists, and those who lived through it to explore not only what happened…but why. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Georgia Jasper, ...

Jul 02, 202535 minSeason 8Ep. 23

Trainwreck | Part 1

Netflix’s Trainwreck takes viewers inside a series of calamities - some large, some small - and tries to bring reason to chaos. This season covers the scandal surrounding Toronto’s Rob Ford in Mayor of Mayhem , and embarks on the 2013 sewage-filled voyage in Poop Cruise . We hear from the people who lived through each fiasco where anything that could have gone wrong… did . In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Shianne Brown and James Ross. SPOILER ALERT! If yo...

Jun 25, 202543 minSeason 8Ep. 22

Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster

The Netflix documentary film Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster explores how the tragedy at sea was the foreseeable result of a driven CEO who for years ignored the warnings his experimental sub was slowly breaking apart. It takes us inside its many failed testings and Rush’s refusal to acknowledge Titan’s engineering defects which led to the death of its passengers - including his own. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Mark Monroe and prod...

Jun 18, 202536 minSeason 8Ep. 20

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders

The Netflix documentary series Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders dives into the mystery behind the deadly 1982 cyanide tainting, one whose effects are seen on thousands of products today. It explores several theories about how and why the capsules were tampered with. And it features an interview with the man authorities say is their main suspect in the poisoning of seven people. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer Yotam Guendelman and directo...

Jun 11, 202534 minSeason 8Ep. 20

UNTOLD: The Fall of Favre

UNTOLD: The Fall of Favre looks at Brett Favre’s gridiron glories and the scandals that sullied his reputation. We hear from Jenn Sterger, the sideline reporter who tried to rebuff Favre’s explicit text messages. And we learn more about his involvement in a scheme to defraud the government for millions of dollars. It also asks what it takes to hold someone accountable when they’re a superstar. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Rebecca Gitlitz. SPOILER ALER...

Jun 04, 202533 minSeason 8Ep. 20

American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden

The Netflix series American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden takes us inside the search for the wanted terrorist. We hear from the analysts who culled through the intelligence, the warriors on the ground, and the leaders who called the shots. It guides us through the near misses of Bin Laden’s capture, right up to the zero dark thirty raid that ended his reign of terror at the point of a rifle. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews filmmakers Mor Loushy and Daniel Sil...

Jun 02, 202539 minSeason 8Ep. 18

A Deadly American Marriage

The Netflix documentary film A Deadly American Marriage looks at the killing of Jason Corbett, a case that reverberated on both sides of the Atlantic. Featuring intimate interviews with both Molly & Tom Martens and Jack & Sarah Corbett, the film searches for the truth - not just of what happened, but why. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Jenny Poppelwell and Jessica Burgess. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched A Deadly American Marriage yet, mak...

May 28, 202531 minSeason 8Ep. 17

Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story | Part 2

In part two of our look at the Netflix documentary series Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story , we’ll talk about the investigation into the couple and the quest to get them to turn on each other and give up their secrets. Plus, for the first time, we’ll hear from the sister of Alison Chambers to talk about who she was and how her loss affected her family. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews former Detective Constable Russ Williams and Dezra Chambers, ...

May 21, 202534 minSeason 8Ep. 16

Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story | Part 1

The Netflix documentary series Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story looks back on the crime that shook the UK. It follows the couple's decades of deadly cruelty and takes viewers inside the interrogations with newly obtained audio recordings. It also examines the Wests themselves, and questions why they would turn their home into a house of horrors. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Dan Dewsbury and former solicitor Leo Goatley. SPOILER ALER...

May 14, 202535 minSeason 8Ep. 15

Turning Point: The Vietnam War

The Netflix documentary series Turning Point: The Vietnam War covers how American involvement went from advisory role to full-on combat in Southeast Asia. It dives into the key battles and the many opportunities to withdraw from the fight ignored by leaders. Soldiers, protestors, journalists, and civilians from both the US and Vietnam explain how the war affected their nations and the wounds that linger to this day. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews direct...

May 07, 202536 minSeason 8Ep. 14

BONUS | Battle Camp S1: Reality Rivalries with Dana Moon & QT

This week on You Can't Make This Up, we have a special bonus episode featuring the latest episode on our sister podcast, We Have The Receipts. Do you have fond childhood memories of summer camp? For a chance at $250,000, campers must compete in a series of summer camp-themed challenges to prove that they are unbeatable, unhateable, and unbreakable. Host Chris Burns is joined by the multi-talented comedian Dana Moon to recap the first five episodes of season one of ⁠Battle Camp⁠ . Plus, Quori-Tyl...

Apr 30, 20251 hr 1 min

Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror

The Netflix documentary Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror goes beyond the chaos of that fateful day, spotlighting the community's resilience and the search for answers. It explores the heroic efforts of first responders and ordinary citizens who risked their lives to save others, while also examining the investigation that brought Timothy McVeigh and his accomplices to justice. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Greg Tillman. SPOILER ALERT! If...

Apr 23, 202538 minSeason 8Ep. 13

BONUS | Black Mirror S7

We're trying something different this week: a full post-show breakdown of every episode in the latest season of Black Mirror ! Ari Romero from "Now on Netflix" is joined by Tudum's Black Mirror expert, Keisha Hatchett, to give you all the nuance, the insider commentary, and the details you might have missed in this incredible new season. Plus commentary from creator & showrunner Charlie Brooker! SPOILER ALERT: We're talking about the new season in detail and revealing key plot points. If you...

Apr 16, 202529 min

Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing

Piper Rockelle was a young social media superstar with more than 25 million followers. She filmed pranks, challenges, and “crush content” with her friend group, The Squad. For aspiring tween influencers, joining them could unlock hundreds of thousands of followers and big-budget brand deals. But former Squad members accused Piper’s mother and manager, Tiffany, of taking advantage of them—commercially, financially, and even sexually. The Netflix documentary series Bad Influence: The Dark Side of ...

Apr 09, 202537 minSeason 8Ep. 12

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer

The search for a missing person in 2010 led to the discovery of a woman’s body on a secluded stretch of Gilgo Beach. It prompted police to unearth the remains of several more women. Authorities reached a startling conclusion: a serial killer had been preying on sex workers in Long Island for years. For a time, it seemed the case would remain cold, but new investigators utilized overlooked clues and cutting-edge technology to identify the man they believe is responsible for the murders. In the Ne...

Apr 02, 202533 minSeason 8Ep. 11

Gold and Greed: The Hunt for Fenn's Treasure

Forrest Fenn caught the imagination of the world when he announced he’d hidden a treasure chest filled with riches somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. All you had to do was solve a riddle to find it. The quest for gold drew many a treasure hunter into the wilderness, all with different theories on where each arcane clue should lead them. But for some, the ten-year-long hunt became an obsession, causing them to lose money, relationships, and for some, their lives. When the chest was found in 2020, ...

Mar 27, 202535 minSeason 8Ep. 10
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