Model Wars
On the surface, the modeling industry in the 80s was about parties and pretty clothes, but underneath the flash, there were drugs, sex, and violence. And Paul Fisher, a former straight-A student from the San Fernando Valley, rose to prominence amidst the turmoil. After a chance encounter with an alleged mobster, Paul suddenly found himself with a million dollars in funding and the chance to start a modeling agency in New York City. The city was then embroiled in a “model war” between industry titans Eileen Ford and John Casablancas, and Paul tried to make his mark. But even as Paul thrived in the party-heavy culture of the time, burning cash like a furnace, he came face to face with the darkest forces in the industry. As his shady backers put the screws to him, Paul faced down deadly consequences, trying to make a star while saving his soul.
Episodes
In the grit & glam 1980s, Paul Fisher started a New York City modeling agency, fueled by $1 million in rumored mob money, and warring with industry giants like Ford and Elite. What could go wrong?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Paul Fisher is a semester away from graduating college when his knack for seducing beautiful women catches the eye of alleged mobster Larry Lind. Larry convinces Paul to work for him, and we follow Paul’s journey from growing up in the Valley to running a model agency in gritty 1980s New York City, with absolutely no experience.
To connect with the creative team, join the community at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio...
Paul arrives in New York City, overwhelmed by its glamorous modeling scene. What he lacks in fashion knowledge he makes up for in confidence. He learns about the “model war” between John Casablancas, a powerful playboy model agent, and the matronly agency boss Eileen Ford. Paul begins his own battle against the titans.
Join the community at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Model turned agent Omar Albertto enters the business, and meets Paul. The two join forces in their quest for good times and industry clout, all on Larry Lind’s dime. But with Larry proving increasingly toxic, how much longer can they work for him?
Learn more about this show and others we're working on at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After their modeling agency abruptly shuts down, Paul and Omar are unhireable. Along with their hustler buddy Billy, they do whatever it takes to stay afloat in New York City.
Learn more about this show and others we're working on at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The LA modeling scene isn’t much, but it’s all Paul has. Can he claw his way to the top again?
Learn more about this show and others we're working on at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Legendary model Jennifer Gimenez educates us about the dark side of the industry, from a model’s perspective.
Learn more about this show and others we're working on at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After losing his only client to John Casablancas, Paul launches his own “model war” against Elite and signs supermodels like Stephanie Seymour. Reunited with Omar, Paul transforms the LA modeling scene and their new agency becomes an unstoppable force.
Learn more about this show and others we're working on at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Now a big shot, Paul recruits his old friend David to run It Models, but Paul’s erratic behavior and impulsiveness put everything at risk. He’s finally at the top, but deep down he knows the modeling industry is a terrible business. Has Paul’s life’s work made the world a worse place?
Learn more about this show and others we're working on at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
We talk to Kara Young, a model who made the cover of many top magazines, and model agent Suzie Sugarman about how modeling has–and has not–improved.
Learn more about this show and others we're working on at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Omar Albertto tells his story. As he takes us on the wild ride that is his life—from partying at Studio 54 to modeling in Milan—he considers the racism he battled to find a place in the industry for himself and others.
Learn more about this show and others we're working on at joincampsidemedia.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Post Run High features conversations with high-performing founders, athletes, artists, health and science experts, and leaders about what it really takes to succeed. Through honest, post-movement conversations, guests share how they’ve navigated challenges, built resilience, and used movement as a tool for clarity, discipline, and growth. Each episode explores the mindset behind performance — what keeps people going when things get hard — and offers tangible advice listeners can apply in their everyday lives.
Buck Sexton breaks down the latest headlines with a fresh and honest perspective! He speaks truth to power, and cuts through the liberal nonsense coming from the mainstream media. Interact with Buck by emailing him at teambuck@iheartmedia.com
Stop doomscrolling. Start decoding the tech rewiring your week - and your world. The Interface is the BBC's fiercely informed, fast and funny take on how tech is changing everything. Hosted by journalists Tom Germain, Karen Hao, and Nicky Woolf, each episode unpacks week-by-week the unfolding story of how technology is shaping all our futures. No guests. No jargon. Just three sharp voices debating the tech news stories that matter - whether they shook a government, broke the internet, or quietly tipped the balance of power. As TikTok shifts geopolitics, Trump drives digital shockwaves, Elon Musk expands his space-internet empire and AI reroutes the routines of everyday life - the trio ask: what world are the tech titans building for us? And do we want to live in it?