You Can’t Make This Up

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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.

1 DAY AGO

CHAOS: The Manson Murders

In 1969, Los Angeles was on edge after a bloody killing spree in the Hollywood Hills - one of the victims, a pregnant movie star. The killers all said they committed their crimes at the direction of their leader, Charles Manson. While the Manson Family murders still fascinate today, one question remains unanswered: how was the mastermind able to convince his followers to kill at his direction? Was his charismatic hold that strong? Or did Manson’s powers of persuasion get a boost from the government? In CHAOS: The Manson Murders, Oscar-winning filmmaker Errol Morris explores the connections between the infamous cult leader and the CIA’s MK-Ultra mind control experiments. Were the slayings truly motivated by Manson’s Helter Skelter plans for a race war? Or had Manson unwittingly become part of the government’s secret research into brainwashing? In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Errol Morris. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched CHAOS: The Manson Murders yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com. There you can find out more about CHAOS: The Manson Murders and its connection to Tom O’Neill’s book. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

36 min
12 MAR

BONUS | State Secrets: Inside The Making of The Electric State

Step into the mysterious and visually stunning world of The Electric State as host Francesca Amiker takes you behind the scenes with the creative masterminds who brought Simon Stålenhag’s dystopian vision to life. In this premiere episode, directors Joe and Anthony Russo, stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and producers Angela Russo-Otstot and Chris Castaldi reveal how they transformed a haunting graphic novel into an epic cinematic experience. Watch The Electric State coming to Netflix on March 14th. Check out more from Netflix Podcasts. State Secrets: Inside the Making of The Electric State is produced by Netflix and Treefort Media.

22 min
5 MAR

Toxic Town

In the 1990s, mothers in the English industrial town of Corby noticed their children were born with similar disabilities. Could they have been poisoned during their pregnancies by toxic waste being removed from the old steel mill? Led by Susan McIntrye, the group rallied to seek justice, but the borough council denied there was any connection between the children and the reclamation project essential to the city’s future. The mothers hit stonewalls in their quest for the truth, but a crusading lawyer and a disgraced whistleblower might have the information vital to their case. Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, and Rory Kinnear lead an all-star cast in the Netflix series Toxic Town. Based on the true story of the groundbreaking environmental negligence case, the series follows the efforts of the women as they fight powerful forces to get recognition and compensation on behalf of their children. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews writer and series creator Jack Thorne. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Toxic Town yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com. This week: actresses Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood sit down with the real mothers of Corby who they play in Toxic Town. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

34 min
26 FEB

Surviving Black Hawk Down

In October 1993, US soldiers operating in the middle of a civil war in Somalia were on a mission to capture high ranking militia leaders linked to the fighting. But their extraction from the streets of Mogadishu was blocked by an unexpected counter attack from Somali warriors resulting in an all-out urban firefight. While the Army Rangers were pinned down in the streets, resistance fighters shot down two Black Hawk helicopters. What became known as the Battle of Mogadishu lasted for hours, with the US suffering heavy casualties and seeing a pilot taken prisoner. The failed mission altered the course of American involvement in the conflict. The Netflix series Surviving Black Hawk Down takes us back to the battlefield as told from the perspective of Americans on the ground and in the air. It also brings us the voices of Somali militants who took up arms and of civilians caught in the crossfire. It not only recounts what happened during those many hours of combat. It tackles what it meant for the soldiers who made it out alive. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews former US special forces soldiers and series subjects Tom Satterly and Brad Thomas. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched title yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com! This week they go even further into what happened during the Battle of Mogadishu. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

36 min
19 FEB

American Murder: Gabby Petito

In 2021, Gabby Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie set off in a van for a cross country adventure they’d document for a travel vlog. Despite images of a carefree journey she posted online, the trip was beginning to sour. Then - Gabby’s parents couldn’t reach her. And police discovered Brian had returned home in the van…with his girlfriend nowhere to be found. The Netflix documentary series American Murder: Gabby Petito dives deep into the true crime mystery that captivated the Internet - and the nation. Using Gabby’s never-before-seen videos, texts, and journal entries, the series takes us inside the couple’s troubling relationship, the missteps by authorities who encountered them, and the nationwide search for answers. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews producers Julia Willoughby Nason and Mike Gasparro. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched American Murder: Gabby Petito yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com! You can hear more from Gabby’s parents on what they’re doing to honor her memory through legislative advocacy. If you or someone you know has experienced relationship abuse, information and resources are available at wannatalkaboutit.com.

35 min
12 FEB

Apple Cider Vinegar - part two

At the dawn of the social media era, Belle Gibson became a pioneering wellness influencer - telling the world how she beat cancer with an alternative diet. Her bestselling cookbook and online app provided her success, respect, and a connection to the cancer-battling influencer she admired the most. But a curious journalist with a sick wife began asking questions that even those closest to Belle began to wonder. Was the online star faking her cancer and fooling the world? Kaitlyn Dever stars in the Netflix hit series Apple Cider Vinegar. Inspired by true events, the dramatized story follows Belle’s journey from self-styled wellness thought leader to disgraced con artist. It also explores themes of hope and acceptance - and how far we’ll go to maintain it. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer Samantha Strauss. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Apple Cider Vinegar yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

32 min
5 FEB

Apple Cider Vinegar - part one

Belle Gibson was an early social media health influencer, with a best-selling book and a popular wellness app. She drew attention after claiming she had several forms of malignant cancer, and was treating them with alternative therapies and diet. When Gibson told the world her holistic approach was keeping her alive and well despite her diagnoses, followers and readers put their faith in her guidance. But when journalists discovered Gibson had faked her illnesses and wasn’t truthful about her charitable contributions, the fall out implicated not only her, but also a leading publishing house and one of the world’s largest tech companies. The scandal is chronicled in the book The Woman Who Fooled The World: The True Story of Fake Wellness Guru Belle Gibson, which serves as the inspiration for the dramatized Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar starring Kaitlyn Dever. How did the real Belle Gibson build her empire on a bed of lies? And more importantly: why did she do it? In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews authors and investigative journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Apple Cider Vinegar yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

37 min
29 JAN

American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson

In 1994, two people were slain in Brentwood, California - one of them the ex-wife of a beloved celebrity. Then the world stood transfixed watching a televised police chase of the famous fugitive through Los Angeles. It seemed like a mountain of evidence would convict OJ Simpson for the murders of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. But his aggressive defense team attacked the science and the motivations of a problematic detective. It all led to a bombshell verdict that divided the country and reverberates today. From the famous Bronco chase to the “Trial of the Century,” American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson follows the case that shook the nation. We hear from those who investigated the crime, those who fought it out in court, and from witnesses never called to testify. We get insight from a juror on the panel, as well as from Simpson’s close friend who went from a supporter to a doubter of his innocence. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Floyd Russ. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

36 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.

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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.