Reel Stories, Real Problems

Pop stardom promises fame and fortune — but what happens when the spotlight becomes a cage? Today’s episode dives into Britney vs. Spears, the explosive documentary that shines a spotlight on one of the most disturbing celebrity legal battles in modern history. Was the conservatorship ever really about concern for a troubled pop icon, or was it about power and control over a multi-million dollar career?We’ll unpack how Britney Spea...

Multi-level marketing companies, or MLMs, have long marketed themselves as business opportunities offering the dream of working from home and being your own boss. But are the inspirational slogans and Instagram-perfect success stories a cover for a system that can only succeed if most of their recruits don’t?

In this episode, we’re diving into the documentary The Rise and Fall of LuLaRoe, which examines how a leggings empire explode...

One of the worst parts about gift giving is trying to figure out what other people want. In today's episode, we talk about the show Frasier and the episode Frasier Grinch. In this episode, Frasier Crane, the self-appointed curator of good taste, sets out to give what he believes are thoughtful, elevating Christmas gifts. The problem? No one asked to be elevated. A gift chosen to reflect your values, your preferences, or your idea o...

Long before the birth of Jesus, people across the ancient world were lighting fires, decorating evergreen branches, and throwing raucous midwinter festivals in celebration of the new year. But in the present day, Christmas is a grab bag of cultural and religious practices gathered from around the globe, wrapped in pretty paper, and sold to the American public at a 50% markup. In this episode, we’re unwrapping Christmas Before Chris...

Christmas brings a touch of holiday magic into the lives of people all over the globe, but that holiday spirit often seems to pass by the homeless and hungry. In the Twilight Zone episode Night of the Meek, Rod Serling brings those less fortunate through the doorway between the ordinary and the uncanny to a place where holiday magic (and a touch of cosmic intervention) are available to everyone, even those with a front row seat to ...

This week's episode takes us to a place that’s equal parts heartwarming, surprising, and quietly powerful — the world of Santa Camp, the 2022 documentary that invites us inside a unique summer retreat where dozens of professional and aspiring Santas gather to perfect their craft.

But Santa Camp isn’t just about red suits, fake beards, and learning how to deliver the perfect “ho ho ho.” It’s a moving exploration of community, identit...

Brene’ Brown has built an entire career around the idea that courage and vulnerability are two sides of the same coin, writing books on the topic as well as producing Ted Talks and Netflix documentaries that explain why it’s impossible to be brave without being vulnerable. But how can the average person use the lessons she teaches to improve their careers? Is there a financial benefit to vulnerability? You’re listening to “Reel Sto...

Everyone thinks that more money will fix all of their problems, but any lottery winner will tell you that coming into money brings more than financial freedom, it also brings the possibility of strained relationships, loss of privacy, and sometimes even attempted murder. There is even a name for the significant emotional or psychological challenges that come along with winning the lottery: "Sudden Wealth Syndrome". This week Rachae...

As we've continued to record new episodes every week our recording and editing skills have improved tremendously, so enjoy this remastered version of The Law of Attraction and The Secret!In 2006 Rhonda Byrne released her documentary The Secret, followed quickly by the book, and together they earned more than $300 million. But what exactly is The Secret? And can you really use it to build wealth or is it a scam? In this week's episo...

Planning for retirement is supposed to be simple—save a little, invest wisely, and watch your nest egg grow. But as the 2013 Frontline documentary The Retirement Gamble reveals, the system isn’t always stacked in your favor. Between high fees, confusing plans, and a maze of financial jargon, even the most diligent savers can find themselves coming up short. In this episode, Rachael and Roxanne break down how the retirement industry...

For our final Halloween-themed episode this October we’re turning down the lights and turning up the chills by talking bout the the spookiest thing of all...the Devil! Grab a handful of Halloween candy, put on your costumes, and get ready for a glimpse at something far scarier than Satan - a moral panic!In the 1980s, frantic parents and talk show hosts thought teenagers huddled around a table rolling dice and battling dragons were ...

Dim the lights and grab a pillowcase full of candy, because every episode this month is diving into the creepy, spooky, and macabre to celebrate Halloween. Join us as we talk about all the things that go bump in the night! 

Russ McKamey is a soldier-turned-masochist who created a “haunted house” so extreme it is nothing short of torture. Nobody has ever managed to get all the way through it, so why do people continue to sign up for ...

For the month of October we’re turning down the lights and turning up the chills! Every episode this month will dive into eerie incidents, spooky stories, and haunted histories to celebrate Halloween—so put on your costumes and get ready for a frightfully fun ride!

This week we discuss the shocking case at the heart of the Beware the Slenderman documentary, which reveals more than the dangers of an internet myth—it exposes the criti...

For the month of October we’re turning down the lights and turning up the chills! Every episode this month will dive into eerie incidents, spooky stories, and haunted histories to celebrate Halloween—so grab your mellowcreme pumpkins and get ready for a frightfully fun ride!

The Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books were eerily enticing to an entire generation of young readers. But behind the jump scares and creepy illustrations l...

The 1948 documentary Going to Blazes! might be vintage, but its message about fire safety still burns bright today. In this episode, we revisit this classic public safety film to explore how a few simple precautions can protect not just your home and family, but save you money by preventing future disasters. From smoke alarms to insurance discounts, we’ll break down how fire prevention pays off in more ways than one. Because when i...

This month we’re turning down the lights and turning up the chills! Every episode this month will dive into eerie incidents, spooky stories, and haunted histories to celebrate Halloween, so grab your bucket of fun sized candy bars and join us as we talk about the things that go bump in the night! When John Landis set out to film his portion of The Twilight Zone movie in 1982, no one imagined it would end in one of the deadliest acc...

What’s it really like to grow up with more money than you could ever spend? In this episode, Rachael and Roxanne dive into Born Rich, the eye-opening documentary by Jamie Johnson that pulls back the curtain on the lives of heirs and heiresses from some of the world’s wealthiest families.

In this remastered version of an episode from our first season, we’ll explore the strange mix of privilege and pressure that comes with extreme wea...

Friendship is supposed to be about love, trust, and shared experiences — but what happens when money gets in the way? In the second season of Friends, the gang runs headfirst into the uncomfortable reality of class differences. This episode doesn’t just play the situation for laughs — it shines a light on a real issue that affects many friendships: how financial inequality can create guilt, resentment, and distance, even among the ...

Money isn’t the only kind of currency — sometimes attention, sympathy, and status are worth just as much. Nobody knew that better than Tania Head, who became one of the most famous survivors of the terror attacks on 9/11, except for one small problem: she wasn’t there. So why do people invent lies this big, especially when there’s no big paycheck at the end? What’s the real payoff for a con built on pure fiction? You’re listening t...