A podcast about people who really, really love stuff — and the people who make that stuff. We dive into the world of geek fan culture, interviewing both devoted fans and creators about their favorite comics, movies, TV shows, and how they celebrate them. From famous filmmakers to fan fiction writers, and celebrities to cosplayers, we are like a weekly Comic-Con party for your ears. Follow us on Twitter: @FandomFilesSYFY.
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Fandom Files Podcasts
/report came out of the primordial ooze of cheap technology and even cheaper tastes in media consumption. If you've ever been listening to a podcast about culture and wished it was a little more downmarket or the dudes would make out, or if you've found yourself watching obscure movies just to see your favorite Canadian sci-fi actor romp around like a third-year theater student, you've found a kindred spirit in us. Mklutz and Pru host our weekly (usually) Sunday updates, and have cultivated ...
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convention & cosplay lore (est 2000)
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The Niche Files is a pop culture and media podcast where three nerdy friends dive into cult classics, forgotten gems, and fan favorites. We overanalyze movies, shows, books, and games with humor, deep dives, and plenty of unhinged tangents. Sometimes it’s overlooked, sometimes it’s weird, and sometimes it’s just something we love too much not to share. Expect chaotic debates, fandom hot takes, and maybe too much thought about which fictional characters are... dateable. Come for the nostalgia ...
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Your weekly deep-dive into the archives of Roddenberry Entertainment, from the personal files of Gene Roddenberry. Each week, "Dr. Trek" himself, Larry Nemecek, and his guest host will take a behind-the-scenes look at documents that haven't been viewed in decades—many being revealed publicly for the very first time!
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PRETEND is an investigative true crime podcast about real people who lie for a living — con artists, scammers, and the victims caught in their web. Hosted by journalist Javier Leiva, PRETEND exposes the human psychology behind deception and fraud. Each episode follows a real case of manipulation — from financial scams and Ponzi schemes to digital hoaxes and emotional cons. PRETEND explains how and why deception works without shaming victims, combining ethical journalism with cinematic storyt ...
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Welcome to Uncanny Valley—an insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley—where each week, WIRED’s writers and editors bring you original reporting and analysis about some of the biggest stories in tech. On Tuesdays, WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond sits down with influential figures in culture, politics, business, science, and beyond for a discussion captured through the WIRED lens. On Thursdays, Lauren Goode and Michael Calore to break down a recent st ...
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The Renner Files is a new kind of true crime podcast… one that’s not about true crime at all. Instead it’s about Jeremy Renner’s ill-fated app. Why did Oscar-nominated actor Jeremy Renner ever have an app? What did it do? Who made it? Who used it? And why did it shake the internet to its core? Hosts Caroline Goldfarb and Sarah Ramos set out to investigate the mystery of the app, but got so much more in return. The Renner Files tells a larger story: one about the dangerous side of celebrity f ...
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BIG INTV: CTO Elizabeth Stone On The Future of Netflix: “Personalized, Interactive, Immersive”
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42:42Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone is an anomaly. Instead of coding, she spent her twenties getting a PhD in economics. She quietly rose through the ranks in Silicon Valley and is now responsible for leading Netflix’s technology push towards live programming. In this candid conversation, Stone discusses the value of failure, the power behind genuine curio…
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'Tis the season for true crime chaos! Hosts Kristen Seavey from Murder, She Told, Javier Leiva from PRETEND, and Shaun from Sins & Survivors join forces to explore Christmas crimes gone horribly wrong. From a bath salts-fueled home decorator in suburban Ohio to a serial burglar stealing Robert De Niro's wrapped presents right from under his tree, t…
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14-16 The Breen, From TNG to Discovery: Trek Writer Carlos Cisco Explains
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22:02Before Star Trek: Discovery unmasked the Breen in season 5, they were little more than an enigma in the Trek canon, name-dropped but rarely seen. This week on The Trek Files, Discovery writer and producer Carlos Cisco joins us to talk about tracing those first cryptic mentions of the Breen, buried in The Next Generation scripts for "The Loss" and "…
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A simple holiday question turns into disbelief, metaphorical daggers, and a passionate defense of a Muppet-filled “beautiful masterpiece.” Was The Muppet Christmas Carol a yearly tradition -- or did someone in the room somehow miss it entirely?By The Niche Crew
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Listener Reaction - Matthew Fenner vs. Ted Bell (Bonus)
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29:12This bonus episode features Kim, a Patreon supporter who connected with the Matthew Fenner story...but not for the reasons you might expect. Kim's been through the criminal justice system herself. She was prosecuted, sentenced, and spent two years in jail. The conversation goes to some unexpected places. Kim discusses how small-town politics can im…
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WIRED Roundup: The Five Tech and Politics Trends That Shaped 2025
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31:00For better or for worse, this year had it all — from the AI industry shaping the global economy and our lives, to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) taking over U.S federal agencies under Elon Musk’s leadership. In today’s episode, Zoë and WIRED’s executive editor Brian Barrett get together to reflect on some of this year’s ke…
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Introducing A New Chapter for Uncanny Valley
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25:43As the year draws to an end, Mike and Lauren have some news to share with listeners. But first, they head over to the pool to unwind and reflect on what they’ll be watching for in the tech space this upcoming year, and what they think should stay behind. Articles mentioned in this episode: OpenAI's Big Bet That Jony Ive Can Make AI Hardware Work | …
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2405: The Prophet: Matthew Fenner vs Ted Bell
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58:41
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58:41What happens when the person responsible for prosecuting your case seems more interested in protecting your attackers? Matthew Fenner has been asking that question for eight years. After a 2017 mistrial in his assault case against Word of Faith Fellowship members, the judge ordered an immediate retrial. It never happened. Instead, DA Ted Bell grant…
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BIG INTV: AWS CEO Matt Garman Doesn’t Think AI Should Replace Junior Devs
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45:51
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45:51The head of Amazon Web Services has big plans to offer AI tools to businesses, but says that replacing coders with AI is “a non-starter for anyone who's trying to build a long-term company.” Katie sits down to discuss German's vision, and why Amazon could be a dark horse in the AI race. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they diss…
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Off Script: Pretend, Murder She Told & Sins and Survivors Spill the Tea (BONUS)
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36:42
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36:42Join hosts Javier from Pretend, Kristen Seavey from Murder She Told, and Shaun from Sins and Survivors for a special holiday crossover episode where three true crime podcasters let their guard down and talk shop. Featured Guests: Kristen Seavey, host of Murder She Told https://open.spotify.com/show/0n9q2IMjGQyrHMMByvnA2H?si=5975eb73d4714d07 Shaun, …
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14-15 What really happened to Jonathan Archer after Enterprise?
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31:59This week, we open the Starfleet personnel file for Admiral Jonathan Archer, a detailed biographical memo written by Star Trek: Enterprise writer/producer Michael Sussman for the fan-favorite episode "In a Mirror, Darkly." It was only meant to be a quick background graphic, so how did it evolve into a fan-favorite bit of canon? And why did Mike sne…
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This week on The Niche Files, we take on The Nightmare Before Christmas, a movie that’s been sparking arguments for decades. Kass makes her case, Cody questions the hype, and Ryan does his best to derail the conversation at every opportunity. We talk big opinions, strong nostalgia, and why this movie hits very differently depending on who you ask. …
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WIRED Roundup: Making Art In the AI Era, With Wicked’s Jon. M Chu
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26:00You don’t have to be a fan of musicals to know about the Wicked film franchise — it’s been everywhere since the first film launched last year, and that’s exactly how director Jon. M Chu wanted it. At WIRED’s Big Interview event last week, senior culture editor Manisha Krishnan sat down with Chu to discuss what it takes to make a blockbuster during …
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AMD CEO Lisa Su Isn’t Afraid of the Competition
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47:07Last week, some of the most forward-thinking minds in tech, culture, and politics came together for WIRED’s Big Interview event — a series of live, in-depth conversations with industry leaders. To kick off the event, Lauren sat down with AMD’s CEO Lisa Su. In today’s episode, Mike and Lauren sit down to discuss the key ideas that came up during the…
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14-14 Designing Voyager with Rick Sternbach
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25:24Before it was a spoon-shaped ship lost in the Delta Quadrant, the U.S.S. Voyager was a series of sketches, foam-core models, and engineering daydreams from the mind of artist and tech consultant Rick Sternbach. As we continue marking the 30th anniversary of Star Trek: Voyager, Rick returns to The Trek Files to walk us through the behind-the-scenes …
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BIG INTV: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie: ‘We Are a City on the Rise’
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31:14Since taking office, San Francisco’s mayor has been on a quest to revitalize the city and increase public safety. He’s also kept the National Guard out—with a little help from some very powerful friends. Katie sat down with Mayor Lurie (who took off his shoes) on stage at WIRED’s Big Interview Event in San Francisco. Join WIRED’s best and brightest…
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2404: Open Enrollment, Open Season for Scammers
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28:00This is the story of Simple Health Plans, a $150 million health insurance scam that preyed on desperate Americans and left thousands buried in medical debt. We'll meet Dawn, who nearly fell victim to their scheme, and Steven Dorfman, the mastermind who spent over a million dollars on jewelry while his customers discovered their "insurance" was wort…
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In a world where one Christmas movie dominates every Hot Topic shelf… Three podcasters must face the truth: Is it a masterpiece? Is it overrated? Is it both?By The Niche Crew
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WIRED Roundup: DOGE Isn’t Dead, Facebook Dating Is Real, Amazon AI Releases
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25:47
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25:47In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Leah Feiger to discuss five stories you need to know about this week — from how Amazon is trying to catch up in the AI race, to why Facebook Dating is more popular than ever. Then, they dive into how despite recent reports claiming that DOGE is over, its operatives are still working across federal agenci…
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What Happens When Your Coworkers Are AI Agents
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36:16This year, AI agents have been at the forefront of tech companies' ambitions. OpenAI’s Sam Altman has often talked about a possible billion-dollar company being spun up with just one human and an army of AI agents. And so last summer, journalist Evan Ratliff decided to try to become that unicorn himself — by creating HarumoAI, a small startup that’…
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Harry spent nearly two years believing the woman he loved was dying of brain cancer. He stood by her for every surgery, organ failure...None of it was real. In this episode, Harry walks us through the emotional fantasy Rachel built. Want the full story? 🎧 Listen to The Rachel Cancer Scam Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Hn5De466DmCIN8Sppw5Ik…
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BIG INTV: Melinda French Gates on Secrets: ‘Live a Truthful Life, Then You Don’t Have Any’
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46:48
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46:48On this week’s episode of The Big Interview podcast, the philanthropist sits down with Katie to offer her insights on billionaire donors, kids on phones, and the importance of women’s healthcare. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian's newest tec…
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14-13 Roddenberry Family Album – Stories from the Inside
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27:17This week, The Trek Files returns to one of our most personal corners of Trek history. Reinelda Estupinian,known lovingly as Reina, joins us again to share rare family photos and her firsthand memories of life inside the Roddenberry household. Hired in 1974 as a nanny for six-month-old Rod Roddenberry, Reina became a trusted part of the family for …
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Listener Reaction: The Cancer Sympathy Machine (BONUS)
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20:22In this bonus episode, Ali, one of my longtime Patreon supporters, reached out after listening to the Cancer Sympathy Machine series. Ali talks openly about her past with addiction, stigma, Hep C treatment and why some people hide the truth about what they’re really going through. I’m also sharing two listener stories about friends, classmates, and…
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Charlie Brown: The Closest Thing You'll Get to Wholesome
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41:06This week on The Niche Files, we’re dropping a special Thanksgiving Day episode and talking about A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving -- from Snoopy’s chaotic cooking to Peppermint Patty inviting herself (and everyone else) over, plus our own questionable childhood traditions and holiday memories. Join us for the holiday vibes! It’s nostalgic, lightly unh…
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Why would anyone fake cancer? Money? Sure. Attention? Definitely. But as I learned in this episode… the motives are a lot darker, messier, and more human than you might expect. In Part 2 of The Cancer Sympathy Machine, we go beyond the headline-grabbing scams and into the emotional machinery behind these lies. With the help of cancer-survivor-turne…
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14-12 Fan Letters and Fandom Flashpoints – November 1986
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26:53
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26:53What happens when fans learn their beloved Star Trek is returning, but not the way they expect? This week on The Trek Files, we take a mid-season dive into the pre-internet letter-writing era of fandom with a look at Interstat #109, a Star Trek "LOC-zine" published just after the announcement of The Next Generation in late 1986. With Mission Log ho…
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A small appetizer before our full Thanksgiving episode full of cozy vibes, and Ryan speaking entirely in Charlie Brown–adult gibberish. Here’s the general translation: Happy Thanksgiving! We’re grateful for you -- enjoy your holiday and stay tuned. Want the full word-for-word version? We posted it on our socials.…
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WIRED Roundup: Epstein Files Fallout, NVIDIA Earnings, Gemini 3 Release
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23:00In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Max Zeff to discuss five stories you need to know about this week — from the political fallout after the release of the Epstein files, to why two young mormon men created an app to help men stop "gooning". Then, we dive into Gemini 3's release and how companies like Google and OpenAI are honing in on AI …
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Whether it's teenagers reviving the Benadryl TikTok challenge or people signing up for an out of body experience program previously used by the CIA, some of us are chasing unconventional trips. Bad trips, essentially. But these trends are happening at a time when AI companies are also looking to create a “cleaner” trip for users, and others are usi…
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BIG INTV: Joe Weisenthal Has Predictions About How the AI Bubble Will Burst
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41:19
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41:19Right now much of the US economy rests on AI’s future. In fact, Odd Lots cohost Joe Weisenthal says the rest of the economy that isn't tech or AI related is creaking along. He breaks down for Katie why AI’s impact on finance goes beyond billion-dollar investments. Follow the UnCanny Valley feed for WIRED’s best and brightest as they provide an insi…
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14-11 Interface, Probes, and Saying Goodbye
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20:14In the 1993 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Interface," Geordi La Forge uses experimental technology to remotely explore a stranded starship and is confronted by a deeply personal mystery. Was the image of his mother real, or something else entirely? This week, returning guest Dr. David Williams joins Larry to explore the real-world science…
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Some people fake cancer for sympathy. Others do it for money. But the truth is darker than most of us want to believe. In this episode, we break down the tactics, behaviors, and mindsets of some of the most convincing cancer fakers out there. From Madison Russo’s botched medical props to Elizabeth Teckenbrock’s alleged search history...“Is it illeg…
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On PRETEND, we tell stories about people who build false identities and hide the truth in plain sight. This week, we are featuring a case that fits right into that world. It is the newest season of Dakota Spotlight, titled “Meanwhile in Mankato.” In 1965, an 18-year-old gas station attendant named Ray Dahm was murdered during an overnight shift at …
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Join us as we journey back to Lamia for Ella Enchanted, where we read Lucinda’s very real* (*not at all real) AITA post, expose some magical red flags, and accidentally curse each other along the way.By The Niche Crew
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WIRED Roundup: AI Romantic Affairs; Google Sues Text Scammers; DHS’s Privacy Breach
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23:40In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Brian Barrett to discuss five stories you need to know about this week — from how AI affairs can now be grounds for divorce, to why Google is suing one of the largest networks of text scammers. Then, we dive into how the Department of Homeland Security illegally gathered the data of hundreds of Chicago r…
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In Alex Karp’s World, Palantir Is the Underdog
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29:36Recently, WIRED’s editor at large Steven Levy sat down for an interview with Palantir’s CEO Alex Karp. Karp defended his company’s contracts with clients like ICE and the Israeli government, which have increasingly gathered criticism. In today’s episode, we dive into the most revealing parts of the interview and break down how Karp’s technostate id…
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BIG INTV: Open AI’s Former Safety Lead Calls Out Erotica Claims
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39:13Steven Adler used to lead product safety at OpenAI. When Katie read his recent op-ed asking OpenAI to prove that they have and continue to address safety issues, she knew she wanted to talk to him. This week she sits down with Steven to talk about what AI users should know about their bots. Follow the UnCanny Valley feed for WIRED’s best and bright…
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14-10 Your Move, Doug – First Contact with TNG
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27:08Imagine being invited to visit the Star Trek: The Next Generation set before it even aired by none other than Bob Justman. This week, The Trek Files welcomes back Doug Drexler to share the story of his very first visit to the TNG set in 1987, spurred by a letter from legendary Trek producer Robert H. Justman. That visit changed everything. Doug qui…
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2309: From Smallville to NXIVM: The Psychology Behind Allison Mack
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43:23Smallville's Allison Mack is out of prison, and she's finally talking. What was NXIVM, and how did Allison Mack become a high-ranking member? NXIVM was a self-help organization that sold leadership training and personal development courses. Beneath the surface, it operated as a coercive group led by Keith Raniere, using control tactics like starvat…
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Bonus: The Psychology Behind Parasocial Relationships (Cracks in the Fandom)
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28:05This bonus episode is a chance to step back and make sense of everything that just unfolded in Cracks in the Fandom. If you listened to the series, you saw how an Instagram unfollow spiraled into harassment, infighting, and full-on chaos inside the SVU fandom. This series was petty, confusing , and pretty revealing about how people form attachments…
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What happens when we step away from vampires and accidentally trip into a fairy-tale disaster zone? Ogres, elves, rogue magic, and a fairy godmother who should’ve been banned from baby showers. Check out the trailer.By The Niche Crew
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WIRED Roundup: Zuckerberg’s Illegal School, Nepal’s Discord Revolution, Fandom in Politics
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21:20In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Leah Feiger to discuss the top stories you need to know about this week — from Zuckerberg’s illegal school to the repercussions behind the recent pardoning of Changpeng Zhao, Binance’s ex-CEO. Then, Zoë and Leah discuss how fandom on the internet played a key tole in this week’s election results. Article…
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Chatter about an AI bubble has been everywhere lately, and top tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft have doubled down on their AI investments for 2026. But how have analysts in the past accurately identified forming tech bubbles? Mike and Lauren sit down with WIRED contributor and author of the newsletter Blood in the Machine Brian Merch…
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BIG INTV: Kara Swisher Says Silicon Valley's Biggest Lie is That They Care About People
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47:11Katie catches up with fellow journalist and podcast host, Kara Swisher to talk about interviewing arrogant pricks, the power of negging and who would play her in a movie. And she tells Katie if she had to she would rather work for Sam Altman over Mark Zuckerberg. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tec…
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14-9 From Saving Trek to Shaping It – Doug Drexler's Journey
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25:46Before he was an Oscar-winning makeup artist and Star Trek's go-to designer, Doug Drexler was just a teenage fan fighting to save the show he loved. This week, Doug joins The Trek Files to reflect on a remarkable journey—from the 1968 Newsday article that quoted him as a 14-year-old letter-writing activist, to working for the legendary Federation T…
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Alien abductions. Hundreds of people say it’s happened to them. They’re not looking for fame or attention. Some keep it a secret...haunted by memories they can’t explain. In Day 3 of PRETEND’s Halloween Marathon, we meet Dr. John Mack, a Pulitzer Prize–winning Harvard psychiatrist who risked his reputation to study these so-called abductees. Using …
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This week on The Niche Files, we’re wrapping up spooky month with a special Halloween day release -- Kass’s pick: Interview with the Vampire. From Brad Pitt’s eternal angst to Tom Cruise’s chaotic energy, Kass unpacks Anne Rice’s gothic masterpiece, shares wild behind-the-scenes facts (including the makeup nightmares and River Phoenix’s almost-role…
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It’s Day 2 of my Halloween Marathon, and today we’re diving into The Haunted Tourist. I’m joined by Brandon Schexnayder, host of Southern Gothic and Fear Daily—two shows that live and breathe ghost stories. Together, we pull back the curtain on haunted tourism: the ghost tours, the myths, and the money that fuels them. From fake cemeteries built fo…
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WIRED Roundup: Grokipedia, Real Estate AI Videos, Alpha School
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23:04In today’s episode, WIRED’s Brian Barrett is joined by Leah Feiger to run through five stories that you need to know about this week — from the release of Grokipedia to real estate entering its AI slop era. Then, Brian and Leah dive into why the promise of a tech-forward school in Texas with software instead of teachers fell apart. Join WIRED’s bes…
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