You Can’t Make This Up

4.5 (47)
FILM INTERVIEWS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Hear the incredible real stories behind the making of the biggest documentary series & films on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie leads in-depth interviews with creators and subjects, exploring how these stories are produced & their impact, while uncovering new information. New episodes every Wednesday.

5 HR AGO · BONUS

BONUS | The Piano Lesson: The Official Podcast

On this episode, we’ll turn things over to one of our sister shows “The Piano Lesson: The Official Podcast.” Host Jazmine Hughes looks at the making of the The Piano Lesson, talks to actors, and discusses August Wilson’s plays about the Black American experience in the 20th century. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched The Piano Lesson yet, make sure to add it to your watch list before listening. You can listen to “The Piano Lesson: The Official Podcast” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you listen to your podcasts. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

38 min
20 NOV

SPRINT Part 2

They train for a lifetime, all for ten seconds at glory. But who will take the gold on track’s biggest stage: the Paris Olympiad? Will it be the brash Noah Lyles, the earnest Kenny Bednarek, or the enigmatic Kishane Thompson? Can Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce grab a medal at her fifth games? Or will up-and-comers like Sha’carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson take her place at the top of the sport? Or will Julien Alfred shock the world by earning her tiny island nation’s first ever Olympic medal? The Netflix sports series SPRINT Part 2 delves deep into the psyches of those elite competitors who train to be the fastest person on the planet. It’s an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the high stakes and the mental toughness of the sprinters whose professional futures are decided in just fractions of a second. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Executive Producer Warren Smith and Showrunner Suemay Oram. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched SPRINT Part 2 yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

39 min
13 NOV · BONUS

The Diplomat: The Official Podcast

In this episode, we’re turning things over to one of our sister shows, The Diplomat: The Official Podcast. Host Baroness Ayesha Hazarika talks with actors, producers, and real-life diplomats for a deeper look into the show's creation and the real-life inspirations that shaped the storylines in season 2 of The Diplomat. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched The Diplomat season 2 episode 2, titled "St. Paul's," make sure to add it to your watch list on Netflix before listening to this episode. You can listen to The Diplomat: The Official Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you listen to your podcasts. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

30 min
6 NOV

Simone Biles Rising | Part 2

After a 2020 Olympic performance marked by disappointment, questions lingered on whether the most decorated gymnast of all time would ever return to the world stage. But Simone Biles was determined to go out on top and capture gold in Paris. With the glare of the world upon her, and not feeling 100%, Biles took this summer’s XXXIII Olympiad by storm. Her story resumes in Simone Biles Rising Part 2. The series follows the acclaimed athlete as she overcomes challenges both physical and personal. It provides an intimate portrait both on and off the mat as she completes her triumph in France and removes any doubt that she’s the greatest of all time. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Katie Walsh. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Simone Biles Rising Part 2 yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

37 min
30 OCT

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin

Mats Steen appeared to live a life of isolation. A Norwegian teen suffering from a degenerative muscle disease, reliant on adaptive technologies, Mats spent all of his time on his computer. It wasn’t until he died at age 25 that his parents learned what he’d been doing. The gamers did not know Mats’s medical condition. Instead, they knew him as Ibelin: a brawny medieval nobleman in search of adventure. The online players regarded Ibelin as a caring friend, a ladies man, and someone whose advice changed them in real life. It wasn’t until his passing, Mats’s impact on both worlds was revealed. The Netflix documentary film The Remarkable Life of Ibelin uses game logs and code to digitally recreate Mats’s online journey. Through Ibelin, he experiences companionship, romance, and acceptance in a community where he could be his true self. The film asks questions about the nature of friendship and what it means to live a quality life - even one in a virtual world. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Benjamin Ree. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched The Remarkable Life of Ibelin yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

37 min
23 OCT

I AM A KILLER

What goes through the mind of a killer just as they take a life? And how do they feel about their actions after spending years in prison? Season five of the Netflix documentary series I AM A KILLER explores those questions, allowing admitted killers to talk about their crimes and reflect on how taking a life has changed them. But their tales don’t go unchallenged. Investigators, prosecutors, and loved ones hear their words and respond - some with forgiveness, some with a fact check on what really happened. What are the inmates looking for? Understanding? Redemption? A chance to rewrite their violent histories? Or simply the opportunity to tell the world “I am a killer.” In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producers Ned Parker and Danny Tipping. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched I AM A KILLER yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

35 min
16 OCT

Starting 5

In a league filled with superstars, they stand out among the rest. But what does it take to achieve greatness in the NBA, as well as away from the court where you can’t call a timeout in real life? The ten-part Netflix sports series Starting 5 provides an intense, behind-the-scenes look at the 2023-24 season through the eyes of five of the league’s biggest players - Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Domantas Sabonis, and Jayson Tatum. The series captures their battles on and off the court as they chase greatness, push through injuries, and balance the demands of family and legacy. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Showrunner Peter Scalettar. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Starting 5 yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

35 min
9 OCT · BONUS

The Menendez Brothers: The Official Companion Podcast | Part 3

Part 3: Hope for the Future. Today, over 30 years after their crime, Lyle and Erik feel they have healed and evolved. Alejandro learns how they've spent decades in search of peace and fulfillment in their lives behind bars. The brothers speak on the renewed interest in their case spawned from social media sites like TikTok, and share their hopes for the future. As their hours of conversation come to an end, Alejandro reflects on how his journey with the Menendez Brothers has personally impacted him as a storyteller. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, information and resources are available at www.wannatalkaboutit.com. The Menendez Brothers is streaming now on Netflix. --- CREDITS Netflix Podcasts Presents A Campfire Studios Production in association with Pod People The Menendez Brothers: The Official Podcast Written and produced by Angela Palladino, with help from Tony Mantia, Rebecca Chaisson, Natalie Grillo, Sam Gebauer, Alex Vikmanis, and Aimee Machado From Campfire Studios, Executive Producers: Ross M. Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans From Netflix, Executive Producer: David Markowitz Edited by Carter Wogahn and Morgane Fouse Sound design and mixed by Carter Wogahn Music composition by Jimmy Stofer Narrated by Alejandro Hartmann

35 min

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TRAILER

Introducing: You Can't Make This Up

Join journalist, true-crime author and podcaster Rebecca Lavoie as she delves into the true stories behind some of the biggest documentaries and films on Netflix. Hear from filmmakers, writers, actors and contributors as they describe the journey from real life to screen: how they found the story, how they got access, what got cut, and the continuing impact on the lives of its subjects. New episodes every Wednesday.

S1

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2 min

4.5

out of 5

47 Ratings

Love Rebecca!

17/03/2020

Ny Ny Happy

CWO fan brought here by Rebecca, love the content.
The Staircase

25/06/2022

Londongirl79

Maybe I just didn’t start at the right episode, but I listened to The Staircase episodes, and I was really disappointed by the lack of accuracy in the review of this show. This documentary was edited by a woman he was in relationship and only reflected what looked good for Michael Peterson. Please watch the trial on Court Tv and read Written in Blood by Diane Fanning. I’m looking forward to listening to other reviews and hoping for more focus on the programme and less on making decisions about what could have happened.
Confused

07/03/2022

Sophīa

The American Vandal episode confuses me, I feel like it devalues the podcast as this series literally is made up…

Hear the incredible real stories behind the making of the biggest documentary series & films on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie leads in-depth interviews with creators and subjects, exploring how these stories are produced & their impact, while uncovering new information. New episodes every Wednesday.