Haileywood
by iHeartPodcasts
Onscreen, Bruce Willis dodged bullets and explosions in Die Hard and countless action films, making him the biggest movie star of the ‘90s. Offscreen, he dodged the tabloid press and became so determined to live a private life he moved to one of the smallest towns in Idaho. But he didn’t just want to live in Hailey — he wanted to transform it. Soon, this sleepy old mining town was home to a culture clash between Hollywood spectacle and small-town values, with real-life secret rooms, car chases, and betrayal worthy of a Willis thriller. Welcome to Haileywood. Host Dana Schwartz will be your guide.
Episodes
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Introducing: Free Therapy with Ben & Kevin
We’re two best friends having unfiltered conversations about the modern sh*t we all go through, with a rotating cast of top therapists to help us unpack it all. We’re not experts, just very curious, slightly unhinged, and can label our feelings (most of the time). Come hang with us as we have the...
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Introducing: UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob | Starring Michael Imperioli & Steve Schirripa
Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa star in the untold true story of how the New York Mafia exploited the aftermath of 9/11. Nearly 3,000 families lost loved ones that day, and a shocked world mourned alongside them. But for Five Families—the New York Mafia—the day meant something very…
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The Case of the Missing Novelist [from Very Special Episodes]
Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time. But her biggest mystery unfolded outside the pages of her books. In this episode, Dana examines the 11 days in 1926 when the beloved author went missing, and the rollicking media circus inspired by her disappearance.
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E.T. and Me [from Very Special Episodes]
In 1981, 11-year-old Matt DeMeritt got a call that would change his life. He wasn’t a child actor, or a performer of any kind. He was just a suburban kid enjoying his summer break. But Matt had something no other kid had. Something Steven Spielberg needed to make his most ambitious movie yet. *...
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Introducing: Hollywood Handbook
Hollywood Handbook is an insider's guide to achieving your showbiz dreams from two A-List it-boys who are living theirs. Hayes and Sean provide an exclusive VIP backstage pass into Tinseltown politics, answer questions from unsuccessful listeners, and bring in famous guests to discuss their craft...
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The Dog Who Saved the 1966 World Cup [from Ridiculous Crime]
In 1966, England hosted the FIFA World Cup, an incredible honor and landmark moment for English football. Just one problem: someone made off with the cup itself just weeks before the start of play. How can you have a global tournament with no prize? How can England save face? Enter Pickles, the...
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Introducing: REAL DEAL with Tony Reali
Welcome to Episode 001 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Every episode starts with one unforgettable sports moment, and together we relive the feeling to figure out why it still matters. For this first episode, Olympic champion and legendary broadcaster Rowdy Gaines…
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Introducing: Waking Up With Ryan
On the Waking Up with Ryan podcast, coach Ryan Weiss explores how the first five minutes of your day can shape everything that follows. Through short daily audio and video episodes (10–12 minutes), he delivers powerful "moments of awakening" designed to interrupt the inertia of fear, ego, and...
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Introducing: Waking Up With Ryan — a daily meditation podcast
When life feels heavy, it's easy to believe you're carrying it all alone. In this episode, Ryan shares a personal story about moving through fear and uncertainty. A simple shift in perspective can help you remember that you're supported, loved, and never taking the next step by yourself. You can...
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Chaotic Philanthropy: Saint Joan of the Golden Arches [from VSE]
Thanks to her McDonald’s fortune, Joan Kroc was one of the world’s wealthiest people. And she was determined to die nearly broke. * Special thanks to our guests Lisa Napoli, Dick Starmann, and Stephanie Bergsma. Go check out Lisa's excellent book Ray & Joan. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron…
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How a Dog Talks: The Surprising Redemption of Comic Sans [from VSE]
Comic Sans is a punchline. A design crime. Cultural shorthand for bad taste. But the notorious font's legacy isn't one of failure. Because Comic Sans succeeded in ways its critics never saw coming. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Bess Lovejoy Senior Producer...
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Searching for Soshern: The Forbidden Star Trek Fanfiction [from Very Special Episodes]
In 1968, a woman wrote a romantic story about Kirk and Spock, passed it quietly among friends, and hoped it would never see the light of day. Before vanishing entirely, The Ring of Soshern had become the stuff of legend. The quest to recover it would lead back to a community of women who'd been...
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What Happened to Burr After He Killed Hamilton? [from American History Hotline]
In 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in the most infamous duel in American history. But what happened next? Did Burr face murder charges? Was he convicted? And why did he go full Gary Busey? (You'll have to listen to understand that reference!) Bob calls up Yale...
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Children of the Moon [from Very Special Episodes]
Emma has never felt the sun on her skin. Born with a rare condition that makes UV light dangerous, she lives by sunscreen, meters, and moonlight. But she’s also part of a community finding extraordinary ways to make ordinary childhood possible. And thanks to new research, the future may actually…
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Dock Ellis: High and Outside [from Very Special Episodes]
In June 1970, Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates somehow tossed a no-hitter while tripping on acid. The LSD stunt made him a legend, but it overshadowed a much deeper story: a man who spent the second half of his life searching for redemption, purpose, and a way to help others escape the same...
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The Family Who Vanished Into Siberia for Over 40 Years [from Very Special Episodes]
In 1978, Soviet geologists flying over Siberia spotted something impossible: a family living in total isolation, untouched for decades by the modern world. But when outsiders finally reached their remote cabin, the family’s hidden world began to change forever. Special thanks to Rebecca E.…
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A Very Special Mini-Mailbag
Time for another mailbag episode! This week Dana, Zaron, and Jason answer pressing listener questions on yearbook quotes, hidden talents, and ads they'd read for free. Plus they plan a Very Special Festival (and/or Cruise). We'll be back with a new episode next Wednesday. Got a question for a...
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The Unintended Insanity of the 1994 Caribbean Cup (w/John Green and Daniel Alarcón of The Away End)
Today we're sharing an excerpt from a new soccer podcast, The Away End with John Green and Daniel Alarcón. In a recent episode they covered the 1994 Caribbean Cup, which felt very Very Special Episodes-y. If you like soccer or enjoy listening to smart friends chat, check out their show! Dana…
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Very Special Episodes: Live From New York, It's Your Grandmother
During its first 50 seasons, Saturday Night Live has welcomed legendary actors, superstar athletes, and notable politicians. But for one memorable night in 1977, Lorne Michaels turned the show over to an 80-year-old amateur. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by...
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Episode 8: Until Further Notice
Things come to a head in Hailey as Bruce Willis enlists the help of a rogue security force to chase unwanted visitors out of town. Soon, a life-altering event threatens to end the love affair between Willis and Hailey. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
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Episode 7: Homecoming
Hailey, Idaho isn’t the only small town Bruce Willis wants to remake. He sets his sights on Penn's Grove, New Jersey, his actual hometown, and promises big things to come for the economically-strapped region. But red tape and negative press threaten to leave the town with a broken heart—and leave...
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Episode 6: A Bruce Willis Production
Willis announces he’s starring in and producing a major feature film - a Kurt Vonnegut adaptation - that will be shot in the state of Idaho. He even gives some local actors their big screen breaks. But in a bid to retain almost complete creative control, Willis upends both his career and the…
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Episode 5: Citizen Willis
Small town bureaucracy slows Willis’ ambitions, the police go after his inner circle and some Hailey residents are just saying no to Bruce. When lawsuits start popping up, Willis steps out of the shadows and flexes his political muscle. It turns into a statewide battle when the federal government...
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Episode 4: Mint Condition
Bruce Willis opens his biggest investment in Hailey yet—the two-story Mint bar and nightclub. Major acts draw modest crowds, but the real attraction is Willis and his band, who show up unannounced and rock long into the night. But having a major nightlife hotspot in the sleepy town leads to some...
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Episode 3: Planet Haileywood
Willis ventured into big business with his gimmicky Planet Hollywood franchise, but after being a quiet Hailey resident for several years, Willis buys and renovates a restaurant and bar, and soon an old movie theater. When blockbuster Hollywood premieres start happening on Hailey's main street,...
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Episode 2: Welcome to the Party, Pal
An incident involving an angry Willis and even angrier police officers prompts the star to rethink his life in the spotlight. Just when Willis has had enough, an accident opens the door to a different life in Hailey, Idaho. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
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Episode 1: His Own Private Idaho
As one of the most famous movie stars in the world, there aren’t many places Bruce Willis can feel comfortable. He decides to exit Los Angeles and seek solace in a tiny Idaho town in the hopes he can blend in as a regular guy. But can anyone thirty feet tall on movie screens ever seem small?…
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Introducing: Haileywood
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
About this show
Onscreen, Bruce Willis dodged bullets and explosions in Die Hard and countless action films, making him the biggest movie star of the ‘90s. Offscreen, he dodged the tabloid press and became so determined to live a private life he moved to one of the smallest towns in Idaho. But he didn’t just want to live in Hailey — he wanted to transform it. Soon, this sleepy old mining town was home to a culture clash between Hollywood spectacle and small-town values, with real-life secret rooms, car chases, and betrayal worthy of a Willis thriller. Welcome to Haileywood. Host Dana Schwartz will be your guide.
Hosted by
iHeartPodcasts