Unpacked

Nova Podcasts
  • 4.0 (1)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • SERIES

An investigative podcast that delves into the world's most curious and complex stories. In season one we’re unpacking the story of Britney Spears and talking to the people who were there to examine how the media, her family and the general public have played a part in Britney losing control of her career, her money and her life.

  1. EPISODE 1

    The Conservatorship

    How did we get here?  How did one of the world’s most influential and successful pop stars end up losing control of her own life?  Unable to make decisions about her finances, day-to-day tasks or even her own health...but at the same time still performing on stages around the world and drawing in millions of dollars. Britney Spears has been under the conservatorship of her once-estranged father for well over a decade.  And as the world asks why, we're digging deeper into the factors which lead Britney to where she is today. Are the media to blame? Is it the machine of the music business? Her own family? Or perhaps is it us who are the problem? GUESTS Author of Britney: Inside the Dream, Steve Dennis Paparazzi, Daniel Ramos Attorney and conservatorship expert, Lisa MacCarley Journalist for The Atlantic, Spencer Kornhaber Lawyer and the Director of the Spectrum Institute, Thomas Coleman AUDIO SOURCES Britney Spears on Star Search - T.P.E./Rysher Entertainment  Britney Spears at 2002 Video Music Awards - MTV Britney Spears at 1999 & 2000 Billboard Music Awards - Fox Broadcasting Company Britney Spears at the 2014 People's Choice Awards - CBS Entertainment Group Britney Spears on E! News, Big Stars Big Stories - E! News Fox News Commentary on Britney Spears Child Custody Battle - Fox Broadcasting Company  Britney Spears attacking Paparazzi - X17  Britney Spears transported to Cedars Sinai - Hollywood.TV Britney Spears interview on For The Record - Radical Media / MTV  CREDITS Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Andrew Brentnall For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    The Media

    In the mid-2000s Britney Spears was the most famous pop star in the world and the public's insatiable appetite for stories about her meant she was constantly followed by a swarm of desperate paparazzi. The frenzy began to take its toll and in 2007 she finally reached breaking point, shaving her head and attacking a paparazzo's car with an umbrella. So why didn't the media leave Britney alone when she was clearly suffering under intense scrutiny? And if they had, would she have been put under conservatorship at all? In episode of Unpacked, we’re going to attempt to answer that. GUESTS Journalist, David Samuels Paparazzi, Daniel Ramos Entertainment Reporter, Dax Holt Blogger & Media Personality, Perez Hilton AUDIO SOURCES Britney Spears and the paparazzi - X17  Britney Spears at 29th Annual GLAAD Awards - Maximo TV Britney Spears hits paparazzo's car with umbrella - X17  Britney Spears and Kevin Federline Sketch at 2006 Video Music Awards - MTV CREDITS Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Andrew Brentnall For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    The Industry

    From Mickey Mouse Club to global pop sensation, Britney Spears spent the formative years of her life being shaped by the music industry machine. A machine notorious for oversexualising young women and controlling every aspect of their image. She was sold to the public as a Southern belle who was saving herself for marriage while simultaneously being marketed as an object of sexual desire. So how did the music industry machine shape Britney Spears and how much control did she really have? GUESTS Author of Britney: Inside the Dream, Steve Dennis Music journalist, Jeff Weiss Singer-songwriter, Skye Sweetnam Pop culture writer for The Atlantic, Spencer Kornhaber AUDIO SOURCES Britney in Hawaii: Live and More!  Britney Spears on a stretcher - Hollywood TV Britney Spears on Star Search - T.P.E./Rysher Entertainment  Britney Spears talks about her virginity - AP CREDITS Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Andrew Brentnall For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    The Family

    In previous episodes, we've heard how Britney's Conservatorship was put into place and the role the media and the machine of the music industry played. But there’s still more to the story. In this episode, we’re shining the light on those closest to Britney.  We’ll again track her rise and fall looking at the people who were around when it was happening. GUESTS Author of Britney: Inside the Dream, Steve Dennis Rock & Roll historian, Jen Otter Bickerdike Singer-songwriter, Skye Sweetnam Entertainment Reporter, Dean McCarthy AUDIO SOURCES Britney Spears Interview With Diane Sawyer 2003 - Primetime, ABC  Justin Timberlake on radio bragging about taking Britney's virginity - TMZ Crowd of Britney supporters outside court - Entertainment Tonight & The Telegraph UK CREDITS Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Andrew Brentnall For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    The Movement

    The Free Britney movement has been pivotal in Britney’s fight against the Conservatorship.  And they continue to protest and amplify her story. So could the movement ultimately provide Britney with the key to freedom? GUESTS Entertainment Reporter, Dean McCarthy Influencer and Free Britney Protester, Hayley Herms Rock and Roll Cultural Historian, Jen Otter Bickerdike Lawyer and Member of the Free Britney Law Army, Marylin Shrewsbury Member of the Free Britney Law Army, Emily Lagarenne AUDIO SOURCES Crowd of Britney Supporters Outside Court - Ruptly, Global News  "Leave Britney Alone" - Chris Crocker via Youtube Decoding Socials Videos Devin Strebler via Tik Tok - Matthew Litty via Tik Tok CREDITS Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Andrew Brentnall For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min

  6. EPISODE 6 BONUS

    Is Perez Hilton To Blame For Britney's Breakdown?

    Britney’s next hearing will be on November 12th and we'll be back with another episode of Unpacked after that.  In the meantime, we're releasing full versions of some of the series’ most fascinating interviews. First up, Perez Hilton because you can’t talk about Britney without talking about Perez. He’s faced fierce criticism for the role he played in Britney’s breakdown and in this interview he addresses how he feels about the impact of his behaviour and why he’s still comfortable being paid to talk about Britney. GUEST Celebrity Blogger, Perez Hilton CREDITS Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Andrew Brentnall For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min

  7. EPISODE 7 BONUS

    Skye Sweetnam On Touring With Britney

    There are very few people who know what it’s like to grow up with millions of people watching your every move but Skye Sweetnam is one of them.  Skye got into the music industry when she was just 12 years old and by the time she was 14 she was touring with Britney Spears. In this interview, Skye shares the crippling loneliness of life as a teen star, what it was like working with Britney and how she struggled to maintain control of her image and her career. GUEST Singer-songwriter, Skye Sweetnam CREDITS Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Andrew Brentnall For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min

  8. EPISODE 8 BONUS

    David Samuels On The Paparazzi's Dangerous Game

    In 2008, journalist David Samuels spent months with Britney Spears' paparazzi pack. He hung out with them in the Hollywood Hills, watched how they worked and at one point found himself standing next to Britney herself. In this interview, he talks about the lessons we should all learn from what he observed. GUEST Journalist, David Samuels Read his article here: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/04/shooting-britney/306735/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Andrew Brentnall For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min

  9. EPISODE 9

    The End?

    On Friday the 12th of November, it took Judge Brenda Penny just 30 minutes to terminate the Conservatorship that had been in existence for almost 14 years. In this episode, we look at what happened in the courtroom and what it means for Britney moving forward. GUESTS Conservatorship Attorney, Tamar ArminakFree Britney Campaigner and Conservatorship Attorney, Lisa MacCarley AUDIO SOURCES Britney Spears fans react with joy to conservatorship ruling, Guardian News CREDITS Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Andrew Brentnall For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
See All Season 1 (9)

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About

An investigative podcast that delves into the world's most curious and complex stories. In season one we’re unpacking the story of Britney Spears and talking to the people who were there to examine how the media, her family and the general public have played a part in Britney losing control of her career, her money and her life.

Information

  • Channel
    Nova Podcasts
  • Creator
    Nova Podcasts
  • Episodes
    10
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Nova
  • Show Website
    Unpacked

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