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Fiasco

Fiasco

43 episodes

Introducing... Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer

Apr 13, 20265 min

From Business History: De-Nazifying the Love Bug: The VW Beetle Story Part II

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We're sharing an episode from another Pushkin podcast, Business History. Hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith examine the surprising stories of businesses big and small, bringing to life the greatest innovations, the boldest entrepreneurs and the craziest mavericks in the archives of commerce and finance.It's 1945. The Volkswagen factory has been bombed and members of the staff have been arrested as war criminals. So how did the company turn around in just a few years and begin making Beetle cars that became a global sensation? Big political and economic moves helped - but a British Army officer, Walt Disney and a New York ad agency also played pivotal roles in turning a car that Hitler had championed into the favourite ride of surfers, school teachers and hippies.    This is part 2 of a two-part series. Check out part 1 from last week. Find more episodes of Business History on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 21, 202642 min

From Business History: Hitler's Gift to the Hippies: The VW Beetle Story Part I

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We're sharing an episode from another Pushkin podcast, Business History. Hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith examine the surprising stories of businesses big and small, bringing to life the greatest innovations, the boldest entrepreneurs and the craziest mavericks in the archives of commerce and finance.The VW Beetle was the biggest selling car of all time, and it found particular favor with people like hippies and surfers. But this icon of the 60s counterculture had its roots in Nazism. The Volkswagen—the People's Car—was an obsession of Adolf Hitler. He wanted to transform Germany into a land of drivers—and needed an affordable, but reliable automobile. Germany's private auto manufacturers knew the project was doomed to failure. So Hitler assembled a team of designers and factory managers to enact his vision - even if that meant enslaving workers and committing murder. This is part 1 of a two-part series. Find part 2 here next Wednesday. Find more episodes of Business History on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 14, 202633 min

S4 Ep 6Benghazi: Episode 6 - Radicals

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The Tea Party takes over the search for the truth about Benghazi, while the FBI pursues a Libyan militia leader suspected of planning the attack.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 6, 20251h 8m

S4 Ep 5Benghazi: Episode 5 - Greatest Hits

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As the political world looks toward the 2016 Presidential election, Benghazi becomes a Clinton scandal. For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Benghazi, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 29, 202558 min

S4 Ep 4Benghazi: Episode 4 - Feckless

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How the attack in Benghazi collided with an American election, and how the seeds of a scandal were planted.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Benghazi, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 22, 202553 min

S4 Ep 3Benghazi: Episode 3 - Barefoot

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An anti-Islamic video sparks protests in the Middle East, and the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi comes under attack.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Benghazi, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 15, 202552 min

S4 Ep 2Benghazi: Episode 2 - We Will Stay Here

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Libya is swept up in a wave of revolution, and an American diplomat makes his mark on Benghazi. For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Benghazi, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 8, 202557 min

S4 Ep 1Benghazi: Episode 1 - The Dictator

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How a prison massacre carried out under Libya’s long-time dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, set the stage for the Benghazi attack. For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Benghazi, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 8, 202548 min

Introducing Fiasco: Benghazi

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Fiasco: Benghazi unpacks the 2012 attack in Libya that left four Americans dead, including Ambassador Chris Stevens—and the ensuing political storm, which raised questions about America’s role in the world, established a playbook to weaponize attention in the social media age, and ultimately changed the course of U.S. history. For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this season visit: bit.ly/fiascopoliticsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 25, 20253 min

S3 Ep 8Iran Contra: Episode 8 - Pardon Me

How George H.W. Bush ended Iran-Contra. For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopoliticsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 26, 202550 min

S3 Ep 7Iran Contra: Episode 7 - Olliewood

How Hollywood tried to capitalize on Iran-Contra -- and why the story didn’t take. For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopoliticsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 19, 202538 min

S3 Ep 6Iran Contra: Episode 6 - Fault Lines

How the Iran-Contra hearings made Oliver North an icon, and got Ronald Reagan off the hook.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopoliticsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 12, 202545 min

S3 Ep 5Iran Contra: Episode 5 - All Out

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How the Reagan administration tried to prevent the Iran scandal from becoming a second Watergate.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopoliticsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 5, 202541 min

S3 Ep 4Iran Contra: Bonus - Bombs, Drugs, and the Contra War

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A bonus interview with journalists Martha Honey and Tony Avirgan. Honey and Avirgan tell Leon about their time reporting on the Contra war from the southern front in Costa Rica. For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this season visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Iran Contra, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 28, 202534 min

S3 Ep 4Iran Contra: Episode 4 - Diverted

How Oliver North decided to do a little multitasking -- and ended up on a plane to Tehran.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Iran Contra, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 21, 202546 min

S3 Ep 3Iran Contra: Episode 3 - Contra Dance

How the United States got involved in a not-so-secret secret war in Nicaragua.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Iran Contra, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 14, 202541 min

S3 Ep 2Iran Contra: Episode 2 - Trade Secrets

How the Reagan administration landed in a hostage crisis…and extended a hand to one of America’s sworn enemies.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Iran Contra, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 7, 202548 min

S3 Ep 1Iran Contra: Episode 1 - Get Me Kevin Kattke

How a crew of amateur spies from Long Island helped the Reagan administration set the stage for Iran-Contra.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Iran Contra, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 7, 202541 min

Iran Contra: A New Introduction from Leon Neyfakh

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Host Leon Neyfakh transports listeners into the day-to-day reality of our country’s most pivotal historical events, bringing to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present. Fiasco: Iran-Contra tells the story of a secret war, a secret deal, and a foreign policy scandal that threatened to destroy Ronald Reagan’s presidency — until it didn’t.For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this season visit: bit.ly/fiascopolitics Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the entire season of Fiasco: Iran Contra, ad-free, right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 7, 20256 min

Introducing Fiasco: Iran-Contra

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Host Leon Neyfakh transports listeners into the day-to-day reality of our country’s most pivotal historical events, bringing to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present.  Fiasco: Iran-Contra exposes a secret war, a secret deal, and a scandal that threatened to destroy Ronald Reagan’s presidency—until it didn’t. Fiasco: Iran-Contra is available wherever you get your podcasts. Pushkin+ subscribers can hear the entire season, ad-free, now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 3, 20252 min

S2 Ep 12Bush v. Gore: Bonus - Legacy.

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The late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens talks about his memories of Bush v. Gore, and why the ruling’s legacy, years after the fact, looks even worse than he thought it would.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 23, 202418 min

S2 Ep 11Bush v. Gore: Bonus - Lawfare

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Attorneys David Boies and Ted Olsen, who represented the Gore and Bush sides, respectively, talk about the unique challenges that came with representing their clients before the Supreme Court.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 16, 202433 min

S2 Ep 10Bush v. Gore: Bonus - What If…

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An interview with Ralph Nader on his role as a “spoiler” in the 2000 election, and historian Mary Frances Berry, who led the 2001 commission looking into the impact that ballot box irregularities involving Black voters may have had on the outcome in Florida.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 9, 202424 min

S2 Ep 9Bush v. Gore: Bonus - Information Wars

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A conversation with Craig Waters, spokesman for the Florida Supreme Court, about becoming the face of an embattled, apolitical institution during a partisan battle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 2, 202422 min

S2 Ep 8Bush v. Gore: Bonus - Inside the Florida Secretary of State’s Office During the 2000 Recount

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Conversations with Florida’s former Secretary of State Katherine Harris, the Bush supporter who presided over the 2000 recount, and self-described Republican operative and “Bush liege” who embedded in Harris’s office during the recount and helped her bring the election “in for a landing.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 25, 202439 min

S2 Ep 7Bush v. Gore: Bonus - A Mile In Their Shoes

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An interview with Brian Noyes, who worked on the Bush 2000 presidential campaign, and what it was like to feel like an election is being stolen. Noyes oversaw an oral history project with recount alums from the Bush campaign. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 18, 202426 min

S2 Ep 6Bush v. Gore: Episode 6 – No Precedent

In the season finale: How the 2000 presidential election was distilled and decided in a case called Bush v. Gore. For a full list of sources, check out the Fiasco website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 13, 202453 min

S2 Ep 5Bush v. Gore: Episode 5 – Contingencies

Democrats and Republicans hope for the best and plan for the worst. For a full list of sources, check out the Fiasco website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 6, 202446 min

S2 Ep 4Bush v. Gore: Episode 4 – Spin-Off

How public relations battles yielded big legal wins for the Bush team. For a full list of sources, check out the Fiasco website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 30, 202453 min

S2 Ep 3Bush v. Gore: Episode 3 – Ballot With Butterfly Wings

What happened in Palm Beach County when a bitterly-contested national election came to town–and who paid the price? For a full list of sources, check out the Fiasco website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 23, 202455 min

S2 Ep 2Bush v. Gore: Episode 2 – Real Numbers

On election night 2000 an ad hoc network of statisticians, news producers, TV anchors, and political operatives tried to figure out what the hell was going on in Florida–and failed spectacularly. For a full list of sources, check out the Fiasco website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 202450 min

S2 Ep 1Bush v. Gore: Episode 1 – Homestead

How the largely forgotten race between Al Gore and George W. Bush roiled Florida long before anyone had ever heard of a hanging chad. For a full list of sources, check out the Fiasco website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 202451 min

Trailer: Bush v. Gore

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Bush v. Gore recounts what happened during the contested 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush, and the extraordinary legal battle that unfolded in Florida in the aftermath of Election Day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 15, 20242 min

S1 Ep 8The AIDS Crisis: Episode 8 - No Harm

The Clinton administration promises a new approach to the AIDS epidemic — but gets bogged down in the politics of sex, drugs, and morality. You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod If you like this series, mark your calendars: a new season of Fiasco is coming July 27, 2023, exclusively on Audible. Fiasco: Vigilante tells the story of a shooting that took place in 1984 on the New York City subway, leaving four Bronx teenagers gravely wounded and turning a man named Bernie Goetz into a national folk hero. Fiasco: Vigilante offers a panoramic but intimate view of how this era-defining story unfolded, giving voice for the first time to key players, and immersing listeners in the gritty, paranoid world of ’80s New York City. Listen to the trailer now at adbl.co/vigilante, only on Audible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 9, 202356 min

S1 Ep 7The AIDS Crisis: Episode 7 - Lazarus

After years of frustration and despair, scientists finally make a breakthrough. You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod If you like this series, mark your calendars: a new season of Fiasco is coming July 27, 2023, exclusively on Audible. Fiasco: Vigilante tells the story of a shooting that took place in 1984 on the New York City subway, leaving four Bronx teenagers gravely wounded and turning a man named Bernie Goetz into a national folk hero. Fiasco: Vigilante offers a panoramic but intimate view of how this era-defining story unfolded, giving voice for the first time to key players, and immersing listeners in the gritty, paranoid world of ’80s New York City. Listen to the trailer now at adbl.co/vigilante, only on Audible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 9, 202344 min

S1 Ep 6The AIDS Crisis: Episode 6 - Drugs into Bodies

A new coalition of AIDS activists takes on the American medical establishment, pushing for access to clinical trials and experimental drugs. You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod If you like this series, mark your calendars: a new season of Fiasco is coming July 27, 2023, exclusively on Audible. Fiasco: Vigilante tells the story of a shooting that took place in 1984 on the New York City subway, leaving four Bronx teenagers gravely wounded and turning a man named Bernie Goetz into a national folk hero. Fiasco: Vigilante offers a panoramic but intimate view of how this era-defining story unfolded, giving voice for the first time to key players, and immersing listeners in the gritty, paranoid world of ’80s New York City. Listen to the trailer now at adbl.co/vigilante, only on Audible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 9, 202355 min

S1 Ep 5The AIDS Crisis: Episode 5 - Leading Men

One of the most famous actors in Hollywood tries to keep his diagnosis under wraps - and ends up becoming the face of AIDS in America. You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod If you like this series, mark your calendars: a new season of Fiasco is coming July 27, 2023, exclusively on Audible. Fiasco: Vigilante tells the story of a shooting that took place in 1984 on the New York City subway, leaving four Bronx teenagers gravely wounded and turning a man named Bernie Goetz into a national folk hero. Fiasco: Vigilante offers a panoramic but intimate view of how this era-defining story unfolded, giving voice for the first time to key players, and immersing listeners in the gritty, paranoid world of ’80s New York City. Listen to the trailer now at adbl.co/vigilante, only on Audible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 9, 202357 min

S1 Ep 4The AIDS Crisis: Episode 4 - Blood

AIDS spreads through the country's blood supply, endangering people with hemophilia and leading to a breakthrough about the cause of the disease. You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod If you like this series, mark your calendars: a new season of Fiasco is coming July 27, 2023, exclusively on Audible. Fiasco: Vigilante tells the story of a shooting that took place in 1984 on the New York City subway, leaving four Bronx teenagers gravely wounded and turning a man named Bernie Goetz into a national folk hero. Fiasco: Vigilante offers a panoramic but intimate view of how this era-defining story unfolded, giving voice for the first time to key players, and immersing listeners in the gritty, paranoid world of ’80s New York City. Listen to the trailer now at adbl.co/vigilante, only on Audible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 9, 202347 min

S1 Ep 3The AIDS Crisis: Episode 3 - The Baths

A debate rages in San Francisco over whether or not to close the city’s famous bathhouses, as government officials and gay rights advocates weigh the implications for civil liberties and public health. You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod. If you like this series, mark your calendars: a new season of Fiasco is coming July 27, 2023, exclusively on Audible. Fiasco: Vigilante tells the story of a shooting that took place in 1984 on the New York City subway, leaving four Bronx teenagers gravely wounded and turning a man named Bernie Goetz into a national folk hero. Fiasco: Vigilante offers a panoramic but intimate view of how this era-defining story unfolded, giving voice for the first time to key players, and immersing listeners in the gritty, paranoid world of ’80s New York City. Listen to the trailer now at adbl.co/vigilante, only on Audible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 9, 202354 min

S1 Ep 2The AIDS Crisis: Episode 2 - How to Have Sex in an Epidemic

As the AIDS crisis worsens, gay men in New York City improvise a response, forming alliances and drawing battle lines. You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod. If you like this series, mark your calendars: a new season of Fiasco is coming July 27, 2023, exclusively on Audible. Fiasco: Vigilante tells the story of a shooting that took place in 1984 on the New York City subway, leaving four Bronx teenagers gravely wounded and turning a man named Bernie Goetz into a national folk hero. Fiasco: Vigilante offers a panoramic but intimate view of how this era-defining story unfolded, giving voice for the first time to key players, and immersing listeners in the gritty, paranoid world of ’80s New York City. Listen to the trailer now at adbl.co/vigilante, only on Audible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 9, 202350 min

S1 Ep 1The AIDS Crisis: Episode 1 - Gay Plague

How doctors and scientists responded to the arrival of a strange and terrifying new disease. You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod. If you like this series, mark your calendars: a new season of Fiasco is coming July 27, 2023, exclusively on Audible. Fiasco: Vigilante tells the story of a shooting that took place in 1984 on the New York City subway, leaving four Bronx teenagers gravely wounded and turning a man named Bernie Goetz into a national folk hero. Fiasco: Vigilante offers a panoramic but intimate view of how this era-defining story unfolded, giving voice for the first time to key players, and immersing listeners in the gritty, paranoid world of ’80s New York City. Listen to the trailer now at adbl.co/vigilante, only on Audible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 9, 202350 min

Introducing Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis

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From the co-creators of Slow Burn, Fiasco is a narrative podcast that transports listeners into the day-to-day reality of America’s most pivotal historical events. Using original interviews with dozens of key players, host Leon Neyfakh brings to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present day. The new season of Fiasco goes deep on the AIDS epidemic in America, with a special focus on the early years of the crisis, when a diagnosis was tantamount to a death sentence. The eight-part series looks at the mystery and missteps around identifying and treating a new, contagious disease, and what it took to get the public - and the government - to care.If you like this series, mark your calendars: a new season of Fiasco is coming July 27, 2023, exclusively on Audible. Fiasco: Vigilante tells the story of a shooting that took place in 1984 on the New York City subway, leaving four Bronx teenagers gravely wounded and turning a man named Bernie Goetz into a national folk hero. Fiasco: Vigilante offers a panoramic but intimate view of how this era-defining story unfolded, giving voice for the first time to key players, and immersing listeners in the gritty, paranoid world of ’80s New York City. Listen to the trailer now at adbl.co/vigilante, only on Audible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 9, 20231 min