The big finish: podcasts that really stick the landing
Headphones are essential for this atmospheric audio drama from Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, released in 2022 and told over 12 parts. Tracy Letts plays radio shock jock Rick Egan, who casually, carelessly stirs up racial tensions in the post-9/11 US. Fast forward eight years, and Rick is persona non grata in the industry, a deadbeat dad and – on top of all that – has become the target of an evil parasitic force called the Blank (voiced by Taran Killam), in a series that offers thrills and chills right to the end.
Megan Bhari was a teenager who – despite apparent ill health – poured her energy into founding a charity for sick children that was supported by the likes of One Direction. But, astoundingly, web sleuths alleged that Bhari was faking cancer – even claiming that she had gone to Disney World when she was supposed to be undergoing treatment. Sensitively handling its hugely tricky subject matter, Jamie Bartlett's 2023 BBC series keeps up its rigorous investigation of the Believe in Magic charity all the way to its final chapter, with big revelations about Bhari and her family.
This pod from the FT and Pushkin is the sort of series that lodges itself deep in your brain after listening. First released in 2022, it offers a forensic look at the world of online porn, from the surprising role of Visa and Mastercard to what performers really think of their tech overloads, and the ascent of OnlyFans. It also seeks to answer a simple but seemingly unknowable question: who is PornHub's secretive owner? Gladly, Patricia Nilsson and Alex Barker find this out – and much more besides.
Released earlier this year, this series hosted by journalist Nicky Anderson for the British podcast outfit Stak delves into the elite New York City Ballet, where allegations of abuse and toxicity have festered over the decades – even leading to a headline-grabbing lawsuit. Its greatest strength is its candid accounts from former members of the company – which continue right to the last episode, when a newly retired dancer unpacks the isolation and mental strain she suffered.
Funded in part by Nasa, Quantum Quest was an ambitious, educational sci-fi animation with an enviable voice cast that included Samuel L Jackson, Mark Hamill and Sandra Oh. Why, then, did the film barely see the light of day, showing in one Kentucky cinema for six months in 2011 before all traces of it were scrubbed from existence? This indie pod explores all the theories, before getting some solid answers about how such a starry project ended up on the scrapheap.
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Daily Mail
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Stacey Dooley slammed by fans for featuring controversial OnlyFans star Lily Phillips on her documentary show: 'You shouldn't give her a platform!'
Stacey Dooley has been criticised by fans for featuring OnlyFans star Lily Phillips on the upcoming series of her show Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over. The TV presenter, 38, will be spending 72 hours with the controversial porn performer, 23, who attracted global attention when she had sex with 100 men in a day and filmed it for her OnlyFans. The show will air on U&W, with the channel sharing a photo of Stacey and Lily together on Instagram to promote the series. But the decision to feature Lily has not gone down well with some of Stacey's fans who said the presenter should not give the adult film star 'a platform'. One unimpressed user wrote: 'Pretty grim giving that deviant airtime, not a single positive thing can come from the trainwreck of her life, screams if the worst click bait, expected better tbh.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Another wrote: 'Really disappointing, just don't think Stacey Dooley should be promoting or giving this girl a platform. Lowest derivative entertainment, a real regression in content from Stacey. Another added: 'If she is sleeping over at Lily Phillips' gaff I strongly sugggest she getrs the sheets fumegated.' One wrote: 'I'm just losing my conviction towards Stacey's content and the authenticity of her views... is it just documentary clickbait?' Others were more positive about the upcoming episode, saying: 'Oh wow this will be so interesting,' and that they 'can't wait to watch'. MailOnline has contacted a representative of Stacey Dooley for comment. Lily, from Derbyshire, previously said she started 'sleeping around' which prompted her to launch her OnlyFans feed in 2020, when she was not able to attend any lectures because of the pandemic. She said: 'I was sort of selling sex to guys on my nights out without making any money, so I thought I might as well charge for it.' The decision to feature Lily has not gone down well with some of Stacey's fans who said the presenter should not give the adult film star 'a platform'. She added: 'I was at university and already being such a 'sluzza'so I thought, why don't I try OnlyFans and make a bit of money on the side?' Lily appeared on the Getting There podcast with Brogan Garrit-Smith to discuss how her life has changed in the media spotlight and the moral complexities surrounding OnlyFans and other adult content platforms. Speaking to Brogan, Lily revealed she initially earned $20,000 in her first month on the site and would regularly rake in $26,000 or more each month for the first year. However, she refused to disclose how much she currently earns as she doesn't want to mislead other young women into also joining the adult industry. 'I don't ever want to encourage young girls into doing this business [OnlyFans] because they think it's really quick, easy money,' she said. 'I try to stay away from that side. Everyone's going 'oh I earned $43 million last year on OnlyFans.' Of course, all the young girls are going, 'well, why the f*** am I not doing that.' 'I really, really try to be honest and open about the realities of this industry. I try to stay away from that personally in my own consciousness. I don't want to be braggy.' With the money she's earned, Lily is saving to buy a house and has also invested some of her lavish income, admitting: 'I could stop now and I'd be happy.' 'Things just get more expensive the more you earn, you do need more staff,' she added. 'I put it back into the business.' Admitting she feels responsibility for 'glamorizing' her life, she said she hopes to be 'honest and open' about the reality of a life on OnlyFans. She added: 'Everyone who knows you will think about you so much differently once you start doing OnlyFans. 'Even though you were probably doing this behind closed doors without cameras and without putting it on the internet. Now they just have this perception of you that you didn't have before.'
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Jeremy Clarkson's Farm pub plagued by walkouts as staff quit in 'disaster'
Jeremy Clarkson's pub The Farmer's Dog was hit with a mass walkout with staff storming out the bar and demanding to quit. Jeremy Clarkson's pub launch was overshadowed by staff walkouts, details of which have only now come to light. The ex-Top Gear host faced intense challenges during the inaugural weekend of The Farmer's Dog in August last year. The Farmer's Dog is located in Burford, Oxfordshire, in the heart of the Cotswolds. But in the season four finale of Clarkson's Farm, released on Prime Video last week, the 65-year-old is forced to acknowledge a string of mishaps. In a candid conversation with Charlie Ireland after a tumultuous opening day at his licensed establishment, Clarkson admits: "We've lost two waitresses. We lost a pot washer. After one day." His troubles are compounded when he engages in urgent discussions with Sue and Rachel, his front of house team, in the pub's upstairs bar. The duo convey their concerns, indicating that the situation is dire with "too many problems" to operate a "successful business," reports the Express. They reveal the staff's fatigue, saying: "Everyone is exhausted, even when we say go for a break, there is no staff room," and highlight the less-than-ideal working conditions: "They're weeing in a port aloo. It's not lovely conditions." Offering some reassurance to Clarkson, they add: "They love you. They're excited about the British food," to which Clarkson insists: "I have no problem with the staff. Not one single problem with the staff. They're all brilliant. They are smiling. They are nice." However, Sue and Rachel warn him about the impending crisis in the kitchen as they explain: "The kitchen is about to go pop, those chefs have had it.... It might be worth popping into the kitchen," they suggest. "I just popped in," Clarkson retorts, to which Sue and Rachel reply: "go back." Jeremy, worn out from juggling farm duties and preparing the pub for its opening, hits back: "Do you want me to go and find a manager? Or go back into the kitchen?" His sarcastic tirade about his workload continues: "Or do you want me to mend the leak? Or do you want me to deal with the car parking issues? Or do you want me to deal with the neighbours? "Do you want me to deal with the council? I've got plenty to be doing and I'll get on with it. Thank you." This outburst was the last straw for the pair who subsequently resigned. However, an undeterred Jeremy insists he has a solution. "We've worked out if we shut the lavatories and use plastic glasses instead of glass ones, we'll have enough water to serve food until six," he concedes. "The next problem is Sue and Rachel, who brilliantly set up the pub, have now left. So it's a Sunday morning, I've managed to secure a new front of house person who is the head of sixth form at the local village school. That's good." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Bizarre rise of celebs flogging their own UNDERWEAR & dirty bathwater to fuel pervs' sick fantasies
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SYDNEY Sweeney has been getting pervy fans hot under the collar after releasing limited edition bars of soap containing her bathwater. But the Hollywood star, 27, is not the first celebrity to cash-in on fans' dirtier fantasies - and PR gurus have told The Sun why it could be a genius move for her. 13 Sydney Sweeney has got fans hot under the collar selling her bathwater Credit: Instagram / Sydney Sweeney 13 Sweeney in an ad for Bathwater Bliss, her latest product with Dr. Squatch Credit: The Mega Agency 13 She has been an ambassador for the soap brand since last year Credit: Dr Squatch The Eurphoria and Anyone But You actress created her Bathwater Bliss with Dr. Squatch, who made 5,000 bars that come with a certificate saying they come from the water she bathed in. Ms Sweeney said: "When fans start asking for your bathwater, either ignore it or turn it into a soap. "It's weird in the best way." Nick Ede, branding expert, told us the actress has clearly got "a good sense of humour", adding: "I think she understands the kind of irony of her celebrity. READ MORE SHOWBIZ SO HUNG UP Sydney Sweeney shows off her long legs in new photoshoot for footwear brand "She also understands that a show like Euphoria, for instance, which is pretty sexual, will have had people fall in love with her because of her character... She is a sex symbol." Mr Ede went on to say, being a celebrity now is "all about the fans" and "getting them engaged". "In every way this is good PR," he added. Belle Delphine 13 Belle Delphine made thousands selling her bathwater before Sweeney Credit: Instagram Ms Sweeney is not even the first celebrity to be selling her dirty bathwater, with the gimmick having been pioneered by British-South African influencer and porn star Belle Delphine. The star, 25, began controversially flogging her bathwater in 2019 - and last year revealed how much she'd made from the venture. She launched Gamergirl Bath Water in July 2019 and sold out within three days. Sydney Sweeney looks incredible as she makes FOUR outfit changes in one day to promote new movie Echo Valley When she launched the product on her online store, it was going for $30 (£22) a pop and she said she managed to sell 600 in total – making $18,000 (£13,370) in bathwater sales. During an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, she said: "Obviously the sexual aspects of it also is very clickable, but where I got inspiration from it was I knew that Japan has panty vending machines." Katie Price 13 Katie Price sold framed thongs and suspenders for £350 Credit: @kpmemorabilia Former Page 3 girl Katie Price raised some eyebrows in January 2023 when she announced plans to sell off memorabilia from her time as a glamour model. This included sets of used underwear for £350 a pop, framed and signed. Speaking on an Instagram live, mum-of-five Katie shared: 'I'm putting all my old underwear and bras in frames, and signing them, because they're just hanging about, and they don't fit me the amount of boob jobs I've had.' When her pal asked if they had been cleaned, the star - who is well loved for her glamour modelling career - replied: 'Well they might want them authenticated.' Kerry Katona 13 Kerry Katona previously sold her used underwear on OnlyFans Credit: Instagram / Kerry Katona Ex-Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona earns tens of thousands of pounds a month on her OnlyFans account. But in 2022 she even began raking in cash from flogging her used underwear, with bra and knicker sets fetching up to £100 a pop. The former Atomic Kitten star joined the subscription site in May 2020 and she's confessed to being so desperate for money at the time that she couldn't even pay her rent. She charges £19-a-month for access to raunchy photoshoots and videos on her OF account. Ms Katon said in 2022: 'I've always been a grafter, I've always had my own money. I've never met anybody like me, to be honest! 'Someone who's been on every side of the coin - go into bankruptcy, become a millionaire, go into bankruptcy and become a millionaire again. Who does that?' Appearing on The Jay Hutton podcast, Kerry continued: 'I think I'm quite extraordinary and I like to give myself a pat on the back.' Brande Roderick 13 Former Playboy Playmate Brande Roderick is apparently selling her worn pyjamas on eBay Credit: EBay Former Playboy playmate and Baywatch Hawaii actress Brande Roderick appears to be currently selling her worn pyjamas, alongside an autograph on eBay for £110 ($149). The 50-year-old revealed last year how she's making "more money than ever" by stripping off on OnlyFans. She told Fox News Digital: "Me being a single mom of two boys with no financial support from their father, I have to take care of my family. "And for me, my passion and love is acting and producing. So, in order for me to do that, I have, you know, my side job with OnlyFans, which helps to facilitate my other passion of acting and producing. "So, for me, it's been really a wonderful outlet for me." Brande went on to compare her OnlyFans shoots to her Playboy work, but this time with more creative control. Scarlett Johansson 13 Scarlett Johansson with her used tissue on the Tonight Show in 2008 Credit: Getty During a chat show promotion for her 2008 film Spirit, Scarlett Johansson used a tissue twice to blow her nose. That mucus covered tissue was signed by the star, now 40, and then auctioned off on eBay where it sold for over $6,523 (£4,803). Johansson used the tissue during an appearance on The Tonight Show, explaining she'd caught a cold from Samuel L. Jackson, joking that it gave her sniffles "more value". She donated the money from the used tissue to USA Harvest, an American hunger charity. Sydney Sweeney 13 Sweeney puts on a busty display in the bath in an ad for Dr Squatch Credit: Dr Squatch Ms Sweeney became an ambassador for Dr Squatch in October last year, leaving fans hot under the collar by selling body wash while sitting in a bubble bath. In the innuendo-filled ad, Sydney swooned to the camera: "'Hello you dirty little boys, are you interested in my body... wash?" "Well you can't have it, because this isn't for boys. It's for men. This is Dr. Squatch Natural Body Wash with long lasting, natural aromas like wood barrel bourbon, pine tar, coconut castaway, and fresh falls." Her new soap - which costs $8 a bar and contains droplets of Ms Sweeney's bathwater - goes on sale next week. 'People feel connected and free to be able to speak about me in whatever way they want, because they believe that I've signed my life away, Sweeney told Variety in March 2024. 'That I'm not on a human level anymore, because I'm an actor." Annabelle Knight, Sex & Relationships Expert at Lovehoney told The Sun: 'The idea of buying soap infused with Sydney Sweeney's bath water might seem bizarre to some, but it taps into a very real and popular kink - body worship and object fetishism. "For some people, there's a thrill in owning something that's touched or belonged to someone they desire as it creates a feeling of intimacy, even if it's one-sided. "Think of it like a modern twist on keeping a lover's t-shirt or locking away a love letter. Sydney Sweeney looks incredible as she makes FOUR outfit changes in one day to promote new movie Echo Valley By Callum Wells SYDNEY Sweeney looked incredible as she made no less than four outfit changes in one day to promote her new movie, Echo Valley, in New York City. Actress Sydney, 27, turned heads in a bold red gown, with a midsection that highlighted her svelte waist and a statement skirt accessorised with a giant red bow. The Euphoria star wore her blonde locks in tumbling waves and accentuated her natural beauty with a full face of make-up. Earlier in the day, Sydney put on an equally-chic display in a black fitted waistcoat and a white miniskirt, elevating her height with leather boots. She toted her essentials around in a black leather handbag and shielded her eyes with wayfarer sunglasses. If that wasn't enough, Sydney was also spotted wearing a plaid brown jumpsuit and a giant matching tie on the same very steps of her hotel. This time, she carried a stone handbag, which coordinated with her heels. And, for her arrival at Good Morning America, the starlet put on a leggy display in a brown pinstriped blazer dress. Sydney appeared to confirm her breakup with long-term partner Jonathan Davino at the film's premiere. Speaking to The Times at the AMC Lincoln Square event, the Washington-native was asked if she was still planning her wedding to Jonathan. "No,' she replied. When pressed on whether she was now single, she answered simply: 'Yes.' The actress had been seen in recent months without her engagement ring, fuelling rumours that the couple - who began dating in 2018 and became engaged in 2022 - had quietly parted ways. At Wednesday's premiere, Sydney was joined by co-star Julianne Moore, who plays her on-screen mother in the new thriller. The film follows Julianne's character, a horse trainer living on a Pennsylvania farm, whose life is upended when her daughter, played by Sydney, arrives covered in someone else's blood. It comes as Sydney films the third - and potentially last - series of Euphoria. The explicit teen drama, which follows recovering drug addict Rue (Zendaya) as she navigates school life and relationships while narrating the lives of her school mates, has become known for its dark storytelling. Sydney shot to fame in the series as Cassie, a popular girl with painfully low self-esteem who starts an abusive relationship with her best friend's ex, the violent and uncaring Nate (played by Jacob Elordi). Despite the success of the series, by the time season three is released there will have been a four-year wait for new episodes, thanks to the massive success of its cast in other projects, the death of star Angus Cloud, and the 2023 writers and actors' strikes. As a result, writer Sam Levinson has placed a time jump, launching the troubled teenage group into adulthood. Sydney has since sparked rumours that, despite their physically and mentally abusive relationship, her character Cassie is set to marry Nate, with the actress being spotted in a wedding gown on set. 'It's also a reminder that not all kinks are overtly sexual. Many are about connection, power dynamics, fantasy, or even just fascination. "Someone buying Sydney Sweeney's bathwater soap might not be using it for anything sexual at all - they might just feel closer to her, or enjoy the taboo, playful nature of the idea. "Kinks are incredibly diverse, and they don't always fit into what we consider 'sexual behaviour'. "Sometimes, it's about curiosity, ritual, or even a bit of fun rebellion against what's 'normal.' 'If you think about it celebrity culture is full of kink-adjacent behaviour. "From people collecting toenail clippings on eBay to sniffing old concert t-shirts, this kind of thing is just a more commercial version of what fans have been doing for decades. "Sydney's just owning it - and having a bit of cheeky fun with it too." 'She understands the irony' Branding expert Mr Ede told us: "I think someone like Sydney Sweeney has also got quite a good sense of humour. "I think she understands the kind of irony of her celebrity, and she also understands that a show like Euphoria, for instance, which is pretty sexual, will have had people fall in love with her because of her character. She is a sex symbol. "People have slipped into her DMs or commented on social media posts, saying, 'Oh, wouldn't mind a bit of your bath water', you know. "It's a bit like when, years ago, when people threw knickers at Tom Jones, or asked people for their underwear, it's a modern progression of that." He went on to say: "It's got a little bit of salt burn in it, which sounds a bit strange, but it feels like that with the bath water. "It is a bit naughty, but you know we've seen it before with somebody like Gwyneth Paltrow and her famous candle that smelled of her vagina, which sold out in minutes. "Now with celebrity, it's all about the fans. It's all about actually getting them engaged, and this is a good way of connecting with them. In every way this is good PR." Mr Ede said Ms Sweeney selling her bathwater could be seen as being "quite empowering, because this has come from Sydney herself". "This is not some guy who works in a hotel and has gone into her bath and taken a jar of it and gone 'right, I'm going to sell it.' "This is somebody who's gone: 'Actually, this is quite fun. I'm going to do it. Let's see what we can do. And let's create some noise about it.'" Mr Ede said platforms like OnlyFans - previously "frowned" upon, have given content creators control "of their own creation". "They've allowed for it to happen, it doesn't feel sleazy." Asked how exactly the bathwater would've been collected, the expert said: "I don't think she had a full on bath. "Who knows whether she was singing in the bath for a while, but I'd be interested to see actually how much essence of Sydney Sweeney has gone into that soap." Referring to some of the backlash the actress has garnered on social media by the decision, Mr Ede said: "It's something that's going to follow her forever, and I don't know whether that's going to be negative or positive." He added: "Who knows? We might see some other stars dipping their toes in things that aren't just bath water. "For some talent I would say it would be cheapening their brand, but she (Ms Sweeney) has used social media to really engage her fans. It's a case of you asked for it, now here it is for you. "It's a pretty genuine attitude and I find that quite refreshing." 13 Sweeney has generated a huge fanbase through her acting and social media accounts Credit: Getty 13 Roderick appeared in a Baywatch spin off in 2000 and was also a Playboy playmate Credit: Getty 13 Price was previously a glamour model before becoming an entrepreneur Credit: Xposure
