16 episodes

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. The fifth season of the show 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 want more Fiasco, be sure to check out the latest season, available exclusively on Audible. The six-part series 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.
Fiasco: Vigilante launches July 27th on Audible at audible.com/fiasco.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fiasco Leon Neyfakh

    • History
    • 4.7 • 316 Ratings

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. The fifth season of the show 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 want more Fiasco, be sure to check out the latest season, available exclusively on Audible. The six-part series 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.
Fiasco: Vigilante launches July 27th on Audible at audible.com/fiasco.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Introducing... FIASCO: VIGILANTE

    Introducing... FIASCO: VIGILANTE

    The new season of Fiasco is out now on Audible. You can sign up for a free trial and listen at adbl.co/vigilante
    In 1984, as a New York City subway train made its way downtown, a white man named Bernhard Goetz shot four unarmed Black teenagers he believed were going to rob him. The shooting and its aftermath came to embody the widespread fear of crime that reigned supreme around the country during the 1980s. The twist: Goetz became a cause célèbre — a folk hero to many who declared they were sick and tired of crime. His vigilantism was applauded, while his victims — Darrell Cabey, Troy Canty, Barry Allen, and James Ramseur — were marginalized and attacked in the press. This six-part series 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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 min
    Episode 1: Gay Plague

    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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 49 min
    Episode 2: How to Have Sex in an Epidemic

    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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 49 min
    Episode 3: The Baths

    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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 53 min
    Episode 4: Blood

    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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 46 min
    Episode 5: Leading Men

    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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 56 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
316 Ratings

316 Ratings

bam526 ,

Absolutely brilliant journalism

The extremely important story of AIDS in American is given the dignity it deserves with incredible research and storytelling at its finest. A must-listen — I cannot recommend more highly

jmdjackie ,

If only politics could have been left out of this podcast…

I enjoyed learning about this subject now that more is known about AIDS/HIV.
The narrator has a pleasant voice and tone~ just seems a bit biased towards the left.
And WAY too easy on Fauci and his missteps with this disease. He is responsible for much of the delays in acting - very sad.

ligamental ,

Incredible!

Best podcast I’ve heard in years.

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