Unpacked Nova Podcasts
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- Society & Culture
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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.
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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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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.