Latest news with #Heaven'sGate
Business Insider
04-08-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Amazon is breaking up Wondery as podcasts shift to video. Read the memo explaining the changes.
Amazon is breaking up its Wondery podcast studio as consumption of the medium shifts to video and personality-driven shows, according to a memo viewed by Business Insider. About 110 people are being let go as a result, including Wondery's CEO Jen Sargent, a person familiar with the matter told BI. Wondery has a track record of producing strong narrative podcasts, some of which turned into TV shows like "Dirty John" and "Dr. Death." But podcasting has increasingly been dominated by personality-driven shows — like those from Joe Rogan, Mel Robbins, and Amy Poehler — and video podcasts, particularly on YouTube. In a sign of this shift, Pineapple Street Studios, which distinguished itself with prestige narrative documentary podcasts like "Missing Richard Simmons" and "Heaven's Gate," shut down in June. "The podcast landscape has evolved significantly in the past few years, particularly with the rise of video-forward, creator-led content," Amazon said in a statement on the reorg. In recognition of these market conditions, Amazon is separating the teams that make its narrative podcasts from those that develop its creator-led shows. The narrative podcasts will move to Amazon's audiobook division, Audible, where they'll focus on audio-led storytelling. Wondery will seek to build out its big-name podcasts like Jason and Travis Kelce's podcast "New Heights," which are sold as part of bespoke ad sponsorship packages, similar to how deals are done with Amazon Music. "By making these changes, we can better support creators in monetizing their content across multiple channels, help them expand their brand IP, and simplify the process for advertisers while making content more accessible to audiences wherever they prefer to consume it," Amazon said. Bloomberg earlier reported on the reorg. Here's the memo to staff from Steve Boom, Amazon VP overseeing audio and music, Twitch, and games, explaining the changes. Hi all, Wondery joined Amazon in 2021 to bring their unparalleled expertise in narrative podcasts in-house and to provide even more high-quality, innovative content to audiences wherever they listen. Since then, Wondery has continued its track record of producing chart-topping and award-winning narrative podcasts (including Podcast of the Year wins in 2021, 2022 and 2025). Wondery also expanded its presence into video-forward, creator-led podcasts, working with some of the world's culture-moving talent. As a result, more customers are listening to Wondery content than ever before, and podcast revenue has grown by more than 4x. The podcast landscape has evolved significantly over the past few years. As video podcasting has grown in popularity, we have learned that creator-led, video-integrated shows have different audience needs and require distinct discovery, growth and monetization strategies compared to audio-first, narrative series. The rise of video has also blurred the lines on what it means to be a podcast creator. As a result, we have adapted to meet creators' needs across several ATG businesses, with deep relationships not only at Wondery, but also at Audible, Twitch, Amazon Music, Games, and Talent Services. In light of these learnings, we've decided the best and most efficient way to serve customers is by separating the teams that oversee Wondery's narrative podcast efforts from those developing its creator-led shows, and by consolidating those divisions into other ATG businesses that have shared capabilities. These changes will not only better align our teams as they work to take advantage of the strategic opportunities ahead but, even more crucially, will ensure we have the right structure in place to deliver the very best experience to creators, customers and advertisers. Unfortunately, these changes also include some role reductions, and we have notified those employees this morning. The following changes to our organization are effective today: We will combine Wondery's narrative podcast studio (including its slate of award-winning podcasts such as Dr. Death, American Scandal, and Business Wars) with Audible. This integration will strengthen Audible's position as a leader in immersive and premium audio content, while continuing to invest in the quality series that Wondery and Audible listeners have come to expect. Coinciding with this change, the Wondery+ subscription will also move under Audible (with more details to come later this year). Wondery's Chief Content Officer Marshall Lewy will be joining Audible's content team. The newly combined team will report throughout the Audible organization. The team responsible for Wondery's creator-led podcast studio and shows will join our Talent Services team, forming a new organization we will call Creator Services. This change unites Wondery's growing slate of hit creator-led shows (including Mind the Game, New Heights, Armchair Expert) with Talent Services' portfolio of strategic deals that span multiple businesses across Amazon. This new team will continue to operate our creator-led podcast studio under the Wondery brand, working with a select number of top creators to drive scaled listenership and unlock broader and long-lasting relationships across Amazon. Creator Services will be led by Matt Sandler, who will continue reporting to me. We see a bigger opportunity to help creators maximize revenue through advertising and sponsorship, so I am creating a new team responsible for sponsorship advertising across Wondery and Amazon Music. This team will be led by Angie More, who will report to me. Angie has done an incredible job scaling Wondery's brand advertising and sponsorship sales to-date, and she and her existing Wondery advertising team will continue to work closely with Amazon Ads to onboard new advertisers to Amazon. Amy Grabisch and her team, who are currently responsible for monetizing Amazon Music's live programming, will move to this new org. This integrated approach will make it easier for advertisers to work with Amazon shows, creators, and IP, and I am excited to see what this team can accomplish in this space. As a result of all these changes, Jen Sargent will be moving on to pursue new opportunities but will be helping us through this transition. I'd like to thank Jen for her leadership of Wondery and her partnership with me and the ATG leadership team throughout the past four years. Upon acquisition, Jen stepped up into the CEO role and has led Wondery through many impressive milestones. Under Jen's leadership, Wondery has produced chart-topping and award-winning narrative podcasts, resulting in 84 #1 hits globally across Apple and Spotify. Jen has also led the team through seven successful podcast-to-TV series adaptations (including the recent Emmy-nominated series on FX, Dying for Sex), and has expanded Wondery's presence into the successful creator-led podcasts we have today. Jen's leadership has been instrumental in Wondery's success, and we are grateful for her ongoing support and perspective. While this is the right organizational structure for the future success of the business, our partners, and our customers, in conjunction with these changes we've made the difficult decision to reduce some roles within Wondery. We have notified colleagues whose roles were impacted across the org in North America and Costa Rica, and we are dedicated to handling this transition with care and respect. In other countries, we are following the required legal procedures which require additional time and steps, and we will communicate with affected employees in those regions accordingly. To those of you impacted, I want to sincerely thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the Wondery business, to our team, and to our customers. Your creativity, dedication, and hard work have helped establish Amazon as a leader in audio entertainment and creator partnerships. We are working on an individual level to ensure all impacted employees are given the support they need, including severance pay, outplacement services, health insurance benefits and more. Your HRBPs are available for conversations, and we have a licensed counselor available 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Program (US Phone: 1-833-721-2323). To those continuing with us on this next chapter, additional communication will be shared from your leadership team this week. We're proud of the work we've done together, and we remain excited about what lies ahead for Wondery, Creator Services, and Audible, as we focus on building for creators and customers. Thank you,
Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Big Bang Theory star lands role in thriller based on one of America's most notorious cults
The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons has boarded the cast of The Leader, a new true-crime drama based on the infamous Heaven's Gate cult The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons has signed up for a forthcoming true crime thriller centred on the infamous Heaven's Gate cult. Specifics about the sitcom favourite's character remain shrouded in mystery. Nevertheless, he'll be appearing alongside the previously confirmed Tim Blake Nelson and Vera Farmiga, who will portray UFO cult masterminds Marshall Herff Applewhite and Bonnie Lu Nettles. During Heaven's Gate's operations from 1974-1997, the organisation convinced hundreds of devotees to withdraw from mainstream society and desert their loved ones, driven by the conviction they would transcend their physical forms to achieve the 'Next Level'. Their doctrine reached its tragic conclusion when 39 individuals ended their lives in March 1997, including Applewhite, marking America's most devastating mass suicide to date, reports the Express. The supporting ensemble features Simon Rex, Grace Caroline Currey, Matthew Glave, William Mapother, JB Yowell, Kelly Lynn Reiter, Danielle Vasinova, Blake Robbins, Jana Gallagher, Paten Hughes, Molly Robbins, and Jill Winternitz. Dexter favourite Michael C Hall was also confirmed as part of the lineup shortly after The Leader was initially revealed at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2023. Leading man Nelson coincidentally played supervillain Samuel Sterns, also known as the Leader, in this year's Marvel spectacular Captain America: Brave New World. Writer-director Michael Gallagher commented on Parsons' casting: "Jim Parsons' mesmerizing, tour-de-force performance will leave audiences with their jaws on the floor. "We are beyond grateful to have Jim join our phenomenal cast of award-winning actors in this stunning dramatic turn." Beyond The Big Bang Theory, which wrapped up with its 12th series in 2019, Parsons has recently graced Broadway in the Tony-nominated Our Town. Watch Stranger Things on Netflix for free with Sky This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £15 Sky Get the deal here Product Description He has also landed parts in Ryan Murphy's Netflix series Hollywood and the romantic-comedy-drama Spoiler Alert. The comedy favourite will next appear on the silver screen in Andy Serkis' animated take on George Orwell's Animal Farm, featuring Seth Rogen and Glenn Close. He'll be voicing Carl, a sheep, along with the remainder of his flock alongside a stellar voice ensemble which also includes Stranger Things' Gaten Matarazzo, Succession's Kieran Culkin, Steve Buscemi, Laverne Cox and Woody Harrelson. A premiere date for The Leader has yet to be announced. The Big Bang Theory is available to stream on Netflix.
Buzz Feed
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
21 Disturbing Notes People Actually Found
Do you love all things weird, dark, and creepy? Subscribe to the That Got Dark newsletter to get your weekly dopamine fix of the macabre delivered RIGHT to your inbox! Like this envelope labeled "For Good Hearts" that someone found on their windshield out in the wilderness... ...that had a note inside talking about "falsehoods" and a highly suspicious USB drive, too. This homemade flyer from the Heaven's Gate cult. Founded in the 1970s by Bonnie Nettles and Marshall Applewhite, Heaven's Gate is most known for the March 26, 1997 discovery by police of 39 members after a mass suicide in a San Diego mansion. They were found wearing Nike Decades shoes (which were discontinued as a result), identical black shirts and sweat pants, and their bodies covered by a square purple cloth. The discovery was highly televised at the time and dominated news headlines for weeks. This kinda threatening note that someone's friend found in a cabin. It reads like something out of a horror film, but because I can't help myself, I'd probably open it just out of curiosity. It reads: "Do NOT open the attic under ANY circumstances! ESPECIALLY if the light is on! This is VERY IMPORTANT. –Mgmt" This roommate wanted sign that's all kind of red flags. This REALLY weird and cryptic note that someone's mom found inside a stick of butter after she opened it... Part of the cryptic notes reads: "SECRET soc. r tied to drugs/riots/terror'm...: JFK warn'd of SS." ...the EXTRA weird thing is that apparently other people, specifically in the Pennsylvania area, have also found this same note but in things like a box of crackers! One Redditor even noted that "people keep seeming to find notes like this. Based on some of the stuff I can legibly read, it talks about Saturn Worship, Identity change, Aryan Nations, Elon Musk, Skull N Bones Secret Society, the vaccines... This seems to be some conspiracy shit, it brings up a lot of below-the-surface-level conspiracies. [...] And these notes are seemingly becoming more common, I believe it's the same text every time on every note." This simple, but pretty horrifying, note that is actually quite terrifying to read out of context (explanation below). "I work at a pathology lab but out of context this note is oddly terrifying." —seismicqueef (OP)"Um, I am not sure the context made it better."—ikillsims This note someone found at their door that left them feeling really uneasy. "Dear sorry I don't know your name :-) but I like your glasses :-)I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I saw you recently, and you caught my attention in the best way possible. There was something about your presence. Maybe it was your smile or the way you carry yourself and that made me want to reach out and get to know you you're open to it, I would love the chance to talk and learn more about you. If not, I completely understand and respect your you a wonderful day!" This message (which is more of a "digital" note LOL) from an AI chatbot that actually invited someone to a random address in New York City, which is NOT sketchy at all. (It's the "Be ready," at the end for me.) This threatening note a Portland, Oregon man found on his car, at his HOME, after his tires were slashed. According to KOIN News, The night before, the car's owner, Mark Holzmann, had been driving into a parking garage and "may have" cut a bicyclist off. Holzmann said, 'I don't know, it's not like I overtook him, passed him, and turned in front of him. If anything he was coming up from behind me.' Apparently, the bicyclist then "went from zero to ballistic" and started "yelling, screaming, shouting." Holzmann believes the bicyclist may have found his address through his customized license plate. This creepy note someone found from a "secret admirer" on their car at night. The note reads: "Hey I think you're really cute I've noticed you work at Bed Bath & Beyond, been checking you out for a bit and I think next time I see your car here I'm finally gonna go and talk to you, hope this doesn't creep you out. — Secret Admirer" "I love the 'I hope this doesn't creepy you out' part. Hrm, you've watched me long enough not only to know where I work but what I drive and where I park. Then you tell me you'll be watching for my car? Why no, that's not creepy at all!"—Noia20 This truly bone-chilling note someone left on a street pole. It reads: "Notice, while you are reading this there is a man in one of the windows high above you who is taking your photograph, he will then make a wee model of you and put it with other wee models of other people, then he plays weird games with them." This inexplicable message someone found posted on a pole near their home that asks more questions than it answers. Like, even if it's just a paper with some would someone post it, then?! This mysterious note that was taped to the back of a stop sign in someone's neighborhood: Some of the text on the note reads:"Watch the following movies to save your fatherGeorge H.W. BushThe GameThe FirmDie Hard With VegenanceThe Wolfman" This uncomfortable note from a person named "David" that someone's neighbor came home to and found on her door. The note reads: "OK I'm going try this again because of earlier today I like what I see, give me call — David. Reason I don't speak is because u look like u don't want to be spoken to, to me. Like u not with it. So, I just watch from a distance." This disturbing note that someone put on a teacher's door. This confusing note that a stranger left in an office (along with a debit card number written on the back). Part of the note reads: "I was told you help people like me? Look at her she was about 5', dark hair and olive skin very pretty. I took her scent in. I'm a were butterfly or shifter if you prefer. Slow down tell me what the problem is?" This short, but ominous, note someone found in their coat sleeve while leaving work. "I found this note in my coat sleeve while I was leaving work. I don't have any work enemies… or so I thought."—Think-Repeat630 (OP) This creepy note someone found outside their door when they returned home from work. Turns out, it was left by their ex. "I installed a deadbolt and had my locks changed."—Moo_Snukle (OP) This icky and nonsensical note that someone found on their mom's car. This weird and cryptic anonymous note that was left in someone's mailbox. "It's a combination of really sweet and Zodiac Killer. Given that they've identified themselves as my neighbor creeps me out. They know who I am and where I live. Or maybe they meant my wife?"—OvidPerl Finally, this note from a "secret admirer" that someone found on her with a bag containing TEETH. The note reads: "To Lauren, don't frown — you never know who is falling in love with your smile, from your secret admirer." Love this kind of content? Subscribe to the That Got Dark newsletter to get a weekly post just like this delivered directly to your inbox. It's a scary good time you won't want to miss.
Buzz Feed
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Willem Dafoe '70s Pic Leaves Fans Shocked
You know Willem Dafoe. The actor, now 69, made his film debut in an uncredited role in the 1980 Western Heaven's Gate. Of course, he went on to star in a bunch of acclaimed movies, including the Spider-Man films, At Eternity's Gate, Nosferatu, and more. And it's perhaps fair to say that these days, Willem is more widely known for his acting work in the latter half of his career, with several internet users only recently discovering what he looked like in the '70s. Sharing a clip of the actor from a 1975 theatre production, one Reddit user jokingly branded him 'Willem DaFINE' as they praised his good looks. And before long, numerous other people followed suit, noting that Willem — who would've been about 20 at the time — looked really hot. 'He has the swagger and confidence of a man who knows he's blessed by the gods,' one person remarked, while someone else quipped, 'Willem DAFUQ?! 👀👀👀' Meanwhile, a few internet users suggested that Willem looked like a young Heath Ledger back in the day. What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump blinks on tariffs in face of GOP resistance — but he hasn't given up on his cult leader dreams
History's most famous cults are known primarily for their final suicidal acts: the mass poisoning at Jonestown, the self-immolation of the Branch Davidians, the self-asphyxiations of Heaven's Gate. We know these things happen, but it's still a mystery to most of us how cult members get to this point. Why didn't they hit the eject button sooner, as their leader descended further into his incoherent megalomania? Why did they stick by him, even as it became increasingly clear he was putting the whole community on a pathway to self-destruction? Why didn't more people voice doubts or even confront the cult leader before things got this bad? We're getting a compelling illustration on the national stage of how a cult leader can induce his followers to stick by him, even as he loses his mind and his behavior becomes too erratic and dangerous to defend. Almost every Republican on Capitol Hill knows that Donald Trump's tariff plan is political suicide, but few are willing to admit that Dear Leader fully intends to see this idiocy to the very end. Instead, most resemble the residents of Jonestown, many who hoped Jim Jones was testing their faith with all this poison-Kool-Aid talk, which allowed them to play along until it was too late to save themselves. But while the Republican party acts very much like Trump's cult, there are still some obstacles between Trump and his Jim Jones fantasies. He doesn't have congressional Republicans geographically isolated, which is key to maintaining control over the flock. Their connections to the outside world, especially to constituents frantic about rising prices and lost savings, are pulling them away. Many Republican politicians aren't true believers, either, but cynical operators whose "loyalty" to Trump only lasts as far as their perceived self-interest. As a result, a small but growing number of Republicans in both the House and the Senate started to back bills to roll back Trump's tariff powers. For now, the pressure is working. On Wednesday, Trump agreed to a 90-day "pause" on most tariffs, while escalating the trade war with this victory is small and short-lived. At the risk of sounding like a grubby leftist that Republicans want to ignore, but the GOP has what you might call a collective action problem. Trump has a messiah complex, which has only grown since that missed assassin's bullet from July was hyped by his followers into "proof" that he's the Chosen One. Even as he blinks momentarily on his tariff mania, his behavior is getting even more erratic in a way that's got "last days of Waco" vibes from a president who has already unsubtly compared himself to David Koresh. His Truth Social meltdown when announcing the "pause" indicates a decline in Trump's already-fragile mental state. There have been various failed efforts, both from the White House spinsters and pundits, to sane-wash Trump's choice to torch the U.S. economy as some kind of "strategy." In a Tuesday speech before the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Trump made it clear that he's just a malignant narcissist whose only goals are self-worship and imposing increasingly baroque loyalty tests on his cult followers, i.e. the entire Republican party. "I see some rebel Republican, some guy who wants to grandstand, say, 'I think that Congress should take over negotiations.' Let me tell you, you don't negotiate like I negotiate," he groused as the crowd nervously laughed to please Dear Leader. He pretended foreign leaders are "calling us up, kissing my a—." 'They are dying to make a deal. 'Please, please sir, make a deal. I'll do anything sir,'' he claimed, in a moment quite reminiscent of how late-stage cult leaders experience a total collapse between reality and their grandiose fantasies. "BE COOL!" he barked on Truth Social Wednesday, promising, "Everything is going to work out well. The USA will be bigger and better than ever before!" Then there's this confusing and chaotic "pause." It all feels like the final stage of a cult, when the leader's frantic efforts to retain control result in escalating dictates and prophecies that become increasingly hard for followers to make sense of. "There is no grand plan or strategic vision, no matter what his advisers claim — only the impulsive actions of a mad king," explained Jamelle Bouie in the New York Times on Wednesday. "Trump's tariffs are not a policy as we traditionally understand it," he continued, but an expression of Trump's inability to "conceive of any relationship between individuals, peoples or states as anything other than a status game, a competition for dominance." Republican behavior helps illustrate the in-group dynamics of a cult that make it so hard for members to buck the leader when he puts them on the path to suicide, either literal or metaphorical (which is so far all that Republicans are contemplating). Few are willing to be the one seen questioning the infinite wisdom of Dear Leader, lest they draw his ire and be singled out for punishment. Instead, they resort to passive language, in hopes they can convey their concerns without daring to question whether the MAGA prophet is not the wisest man who ever lived. "What's happening is not good. Now will it continue?" Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said in a typical comment. "I think it is a mistake to assume that we will have high tariffs in perpetuity," said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex. One would think they're talking about the weather, rather than a deliberate choice by Trump. Billionaire Elon Musk is trying a slightly different tactic of blaming Trump advisor Peter Navarro, rather than Trump himself. What ties all this together is a fear of criticizing Trump directly, and instead hoping that all this gentle hand-holding and blame-shifting will give their leader the space he needs to stop the madness. Republicans would be foolish to treat this 90-day pause as a victory big enough to justify scurrying back to their holes, to hide from the wrath of Dear Leader. He is spiraling and sees these tariffs as the final proving ground of his total conquest of the GOP. He will keep going back to that well — which means economic tumult, more stock market crashes, and more panicked constituents — unless this tariff nonsense is put to bed entirely. Republicans need to realize, not to return to the commie talk, that this is a "hang together or hang separately" moment. If enough of them join with Democrats to pass a veto-proof bill stripping Trump of his power to pass tariffs, there isn't anything he can do but stand down. The irony is that they'd be saving Trump from himself. But that might be a price worth paying to save the rest of us — including their own party — in the process.
