PODCAST · society
What Really Happened?
by Andrew Jenks
We live in an age where news comes at us fast, and from all angles. We see a headline that catches our attention, but often just skim the surface, before the next headline comes along. In Season 3, award-winning documentarian Andrew Jenks uses the power of great storytelling to take us on a journey through the biggest scandals to recently hit headlines. He’ll unravel the layers, bringing to life key figures, and shedding light on the important, yet overlooked components to paint the entire picture. Executive produced by Seven Bucks Productions’ Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Brian Gewirtz, Andrew Jenks and Cadence13.
Episodes
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Presenting Gone South Season 3: The Sign Cutter
On September 3, 2018, a rancher in Laredo, Texas, discovered a woman’s body shot execution-style on the side of the road. When investigators identified her as a local sex worker, their search for the killer took them into the darkest corners of the city. Then, after days of false starts and...
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“Hey Failure, Screw You”
Andrew Jenks went on a date to a restaurant he really liked, only for it to go out of business. Years later, he realized the head chef was in the news for uniquely inspiring reasons. In partnership with Dell, a special episode on business, failure, and adding up the little wins in order to do...
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S3 [16] Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (Part 2)
In Part 1, we explored the myriad of theories as to why MH-370 vanished, digging into one that is most common, and understanding how it came to be so widely accepted. But does it make the most sense? In Part 2, Jenks dives into another theory, and while it isn’t the most popular, it may be the…
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S3 [15] Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (Part 1)
On March 8, 2014, a Boeing-777 carrying 239 people suddenly disappeared. It has been called the biggest mystery of the decade, fueling a slew of conspiracy theories and heated debate. How did a massive commercial airplane and everyone aboard just vanish? This episode explores different theories,...
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S3 [14] Anna Delvey, “The Heiress”
Rachel DeLoache Williams made a new friend named Anna Delvey. Anna came from a wealthy German family, lived in a New York City hotel, and was starting an ambitious foundation. But when a trip abroad goes awry, Rachel starts to realize her 'friend' may not be who she thought she was. Guests…
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S3 [13] The Shooting of David Ortiz, aka Big Papi
One of the most famous people in the Dominican Republic is shot and nearly killed. Two established reporters can’t figure out who did it. Should we believe the authorities? Or could it have been the notorious Cesar “The Abuser”? Why won’t anyone talk? Despite knowing who took the infamous shot…
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S3 [12] Instagram Feud Heard Around the World
Wayne Rooney, a famous soccer player, and his wife's private photos were getting leaked to a tabloid magazine. But then, Colleen, Wayne's wife, discovers through an ingenious Instagram trick who the culprit is. The story became an international sensation. But what does it say about the news that...
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S3 [11] The Robert Kraft Massage
Robert Kraft is the owner of the New England Patriots, one of the NFL’s most prestigious franchises. His world came crashing down when he was arrested in a sex trafficking sting. But as it turns out, that is just the beginning of the story. Guests: May Jeong, Journalist (Vanity Fair) To learn…
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S3 [10] Jussie Smollett
Jussie Smollett was on the hit TV show Empire. He suddenly became a household name after he reported being the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime. But investigators, including the FBI, now believe that's not what really happened. To learn more about listener data and our privacy…
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S3 [9] The Horses are Dying
Horse-racing is part of America’s pastime. And the Santa Anita racetrack is perhaps the most prestigious in the country. But within the span of only a few months, 30 horses had died. What really happened? Joe Drape, New York Times reporter and Best-Selling author of American Pharoah: The Untold...
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S3 [8] Lyft Ride From Hell
After a night out, Alison was picked up in a Lyft to go home. When she awoke the next morning and checked the app, she found it odd her driver had taken her into another state. What transpired after is her journey putting the pieces of the night together, and the battles she faced with Lyft, the...
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S3 [7] NXIVM Sex Cult
NXIVM claimed to offer personal and professional development seminars through its "Executive Success Programs". But in reality it was a a cult and a pyramid scheme that brainwashed and blackmailed women into being sex slaves. GUESTS: Sarah Edmondson, author of Scarred: The True Story of How I...
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S3 [6] The Anatomy of an Urban Legend
It was a Tinder match. Then a date. But she got sick. When she woke up in the middle of the night, her date was in her basement. 911 was called, but the police came in a surprise fashion. Unless, the whole thing was made up. What really happened? GUESTS: Dr. Joseph Stubbersfield, Urban legend...
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S3 [5] The Billionaires Murder: Barry & Honey Sherman
Barry and Honey Sherman were one of the richest couples in the world. They were beloved for giving hundreds of millions to those less fortunate. But when both were found murdered in their mansion, enemies suddenly appeared. What really happened? Guests:Jeffrey Robinson (Financial Crime...
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S3 [4] The Interrogation Tape; George Huguely & Yeardley Love
George Huguely had it all: a bright future, a scholarship on University of Virginia’s esteemed lacrosse team, and a summer job lined up. When George was brought in to speak with police, he believed it was because of an argument he got in with his ex-girlfriend. But when he told them what happened...
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S3 [3] The QAnon Mob Murder
Only months ago, the head of the Gambino Family was shot several times and killed. Rumors sparked of a mob war. Who had killed him? It turns out, it wasn’t anyone people were expecting. What really happened? Guests: Geoff Schumacher, The Mob Museum Travis View, Co-host QAnon Anonymous To learn…
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S3 [2] JEFFREY EPSTEIN (Part 2)
Detective Joseph Recarey and Police Chief of Police Michael Reiter are about to find out they are in for the surprise of their lives. They thought they were up against a vast network of Epstein’s friends, lawyers, and private investigators. But as it turns out, it is also their own government....
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S3 [1] JEFFREY EPSTEIN (Part 1)
Everyone has heard about Jeffrey Epstein. But in such a deep case, there are many untold stories that ultimately lead to bringing him down. This isn’t just about Epstein. It’s about power, cover-ups, corruption, and a Florida detective who risked it all to fight the people he thought were on his...
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S3 Trailer | What Really Happened?
What Really Happened? is back, launching Tuesday, September 10th with a special two-part series on the shocking life and death of billionaire sex trafficker Jeffery Epstein. In this new season, Andrew Jenks unravels some of the biggest scandals is recent history. From the bizarre saga of Jussie...
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Interview Series: SADY DOYLE
Everyone is once again wondering what really happened to Britney Spears. Has she lost her freedom? In a follow-up to the hit Season 1 episode of WRH?, “Without a Voice”, Jenks talks with author Sady Doyle about Britney’s current situation, from her unique perspective, and discusses the deep…
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Interview Series: FULTON ARMSTRONG and THE CUBAN SOUND MYSTERY
Since our Season 2 episode, "The Secret Sonic War", the main question remains: what really happened in Cuba? Reporting on this topic has continued in the New York Times, USA Today, The New Yorker, CNN, and many other outlets. But, Jenks believes he may now have the answer. This episode also...
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Interview Series: JASON FLOM
Jason Flom is an entrepreneur, music industry executive, and social justice activist, known for his work with the Innocence Project. In this interview, Jenks talks to Jason about the ever-expanding US prison population, criminal justice reform efforts, and how mass incarceration makes us less…
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Interview Series: WORLD OF PODCASTING with JAMES ANDREW MILLER
Journalist and author Jim Miller recently took his talents to podcasting, with his critically acclaimed series Origins. After Jim and Jenks met at the podcast studio two years ago, they quickly became friends, with Jenks seeing Jim as a mentor. In this episode, the pair talk about Jim’s...
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Interview Series: MARYUM ALI
After receiving a shocking voicemail a few months ago, Jenks's What Really Happened? journey comes full circle on this episode, as he sits down for an enlightening conversation with Maryum Ali, daughter of the great Muhammad Ali, to discuss the very first episode of of WRH?, "The Talk", about the...
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Interview Series: JERRY FERRARA
Jerry Ferrara starred in HBO’s hit comedy, Entourage, and now has a leading role in the acclaimed Starz show, Power. In this episode, Jenks talks to Jerry about working with everyone from Morgan Freeman to Mark Whalberg, navigating the Hollywood landscape, and much more. It also becomes...
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Interview Series: MATT HEINEMAN
Jenks talks to Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, not to mention his former roommate, Matt Heineman, about his documentaries "Cartel Land" and "City of Ghosts", his riveting feature film "A Private War", and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy...
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Interview Series: LERA BORODITSKY
In Budapest, she plays chess in ancient baths. In the Sahara Desert, she serves tea. When she met the Dalai Lama, he interviewed her. She is the most interesting person in the world. Jenks talks to cognitive scientist and one of the main contributors to the Theory of Linguistic Relativity, Lera...
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Interview Series: ANDREW STANTON
Andrew Stanton is a storytelling guru. He's won Academy Awards for Finding Nemo and Wall-E, and his films have made over a billion dollars worldwide. But, he's also experienced the other end of the spectrum when John Carter lost $250 million and got terrible reviews. In this wide-ranging…
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Interview Series: SUKI KIM, UNDERCOVER IN NORTH KOREA
Suki Kim is the only writer ever, as far as we know, to have lived undercover in North Korea. She was there for 6 months. She managed to get out alive, secretly taking notes that eventually became her book, “Without You, There is No Us”, a best-seller in 2015. Jenks recently read the book and was...
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Interview Series: GENERAL STANLEY A. McCHRYSTAL
Four-star General Stanley A. McChrystal led the Joint Special Operations Command in Iraq during the Persian Gulf Wars and was the top Commander of American forces in Afghanistan, eventually retiring after a controversial Rolling Stone article was released. In this interview, McChrystal opens up...
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Interview Series: ERIN LEE CARR (LIVE AT SXSW)
Critically-acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Erin Lee Carr, joins Jenks live at SXSW Festival to discuss the premier of her new HBO film, "I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth vs. Michelle Carter", documentaries going mainstream, particularly in the true crime genre, and what really happens when...
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Introducing: What Really Happened? Interview Series
Jenks will sit down with a wide range of notable personalities to discuss “what really happened” during a specific, significant time in their lives. Jenks will kick off the series on March 13 with a special interview with filmmaker Erin Lee Carr conducted at SXSW. Additional guests throughout the...
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S2 Reaction: NETFLIX, MUHAMMAD ALI, AND YOU
Jenks ponders the future of Netflix, and considers the possibility for interactive podcasts. He takes calls from a few listeners, and also gets corrected on what he missed during Season 2. And, he gets a surprise voicemail from a special someone who promises she has the answer to Jenks’ first…
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S2 Reaction: TELL ME A STORY
The world is a complicated place. Stories can help us simplify things. But, how a story is told, and who tells the story to us, has a huge impact on our understanding of what really happened. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit…
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S2 Reaction: THE 'RENTS
"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." - James Baldwin ... This episode examines the impact parents had on the lives of children who went on to become world leaders and cultural phenoms. To learn more about listener data and...
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S2 Reaction: SILENCE IS GOLDEN
Jenks identified that many of the leaders he chronicled in Season 2 understood the power of keeping information hidden, or remaining outright silent, in a variety of situations. This first Reaction Episode focuses on silence as a major theme of WRH? Season 2. To learn more about listener data and...
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S2 [16] KANYE WEST: A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN
Jenks explores Kanye West’s search for identity, his rebelliousness, and ultimately, his desire for artistic freedom, through the lens of his childhood. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices....
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S2 [15] SITUATION ROOM: THE OSAMA BIN LADEN RAID
There have been films and TV shows about the brave and heroic SEAL TEAM 6, and other Marines, that killed Osama Bin Laden and changed history. There is a famous photo that captured President Obama and his team watching the raid from the Situation Room. Secretaries Clinton and Gates, Vice…
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S2 [14] THE MARVELOUS MRS. MERKEL
Jenks saw Angela Merkel on TV at George H. W. Bush's funeral. Then, he remembered that Donald Trump wouldn't shake her hand when the two first met. What could be learned from Merkel’s relationships with Presidents Clinton, W. Bush, and Obama? As it turned out, a specific, largely unknown meeting...
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S2 [13] KENDALL JENNER: THE ANATOMY OF AN ADVERTISING DISASTER
Kendall Jenner is one of the most famous people on Earth. And so, it made sense for the global brand Pepsi to feature her in a commercial in 2017. But, the commercial faced a major backlash for co-opting the imagery of social-political movements. Who decided this was a good idea? This is the...
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S2 [12] MEEK MILL V. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Meek Mill, one of the hottest rappers in the world, violated parole too many times. But when the judge at his hearing began giving him tips on his music and lifestyle, people started to question who was in the wrong. It all got more bizarre after she sentenced Meek to two-to-four years in prison....
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S2 [11] KAWHI LEONARD: THE REALLY SHY SUPERSTAR
You wouldn’t think one of the best basketball players in the world, worth well over $100 million, spends his summers in a two-bedroom apartment in San Diego, but that’s what Kawhi Leonard does. In San Antonio he opted to live with his mom, and they played Jenga at night over enchiladas. His...
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S2 [10] STEVE JOBS: A BILLIONAIRE GETS SMALL
Would Apple exist without if Steve Jobs had never taken acid? Jobs said repeatedly that taking LSD was one of the "two or three most important things" he ever did in his life. But was this a tale to galvanize press, or a genuine belief. What Really Happened? Guests: Daniel Kottke (college friend…
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S2 [9] HER BROTHER'S REVENGE: THE DEATH OF GENERAL CUSTER
In 1876, Buffalo Calf Road Woman, also known as Brave Woman, miraculously saved her brother from death against the Americans trying to take over their land, and soon afterwards she became a war leader for her tribe. Only 15 years ago, Northern Cheyenne storytellers broke more than 100 years of...
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S2 [8] BALLOON BOY
A 6-year-old boy was stuck in a hot air balloon that happened to look like a flying saucer, 7,000 feet above ground, flying over Colorado. Cable news channels had a field day. And, when the balloon landed, something didn't add up. Ultimately in this episode, a professor predicts what won't happen...
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S2 [7] THE BORIS & BILL SHOW
President Bill Clinton and President Boris Yeltsin were ready to change the world. Their epic press conferences and newly released phone transcripts reveal a sincere friendship. But, as time went on, things got complicated, and led to Vladimir Putin. Guests: Adele Lindenmeyr (Professor of History...
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S2 [6] THE 27 CLUB
Famous musicians Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse all died at 27 years old. Some call this phenomenon "a media construct". Research shows that of the 3,463 musicians who died in the last two hundred years, there is a 40% spike at the age of 27,...
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S2 [5] CITIZEN CHAPPELLE
The most famous comedian in the world had just signed a $50 million contract, and had started filming the third season of his critically acclaimed show, Chappelle's Show. Then, he had a “meltdown” and “escaped” to South Africa. Now, more than ten years later, Jenks revisits what really happened,...
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S2 [4] THE LOST KING
King John II of France is missing from the pages of history. There are no movies, no books, hardly a Wikipedia page. But, after Jenks dug in to the mystery of this seemingly forgotten king, a whole medieval world came to life. As it turns out, John II, perhaps better known as John the Good…
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S2 [3] THE ANATOMY OF A BOX OFFICE FLOP
John Carter is one of history's biggest box office flops: $250 million... gone. But, it was directed by two-time Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton, had Disney’s marketing prowess, and was based on the book that inspired Star Wars and Avatar. What Really Happened? This episode is the anatomy of…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
We live in an age where news comes at us fast, and from all angles. We see a headline that catches our attention, but often just skim the surface, before the next headline comes along. In Season 3, award-winning documentarian Andrew Jenks uses the power of great storytelling to take us on a journey through the biggest scandals to recently hit headlines. He’ll unravel the layers, bringing to life key figures, and shedding light on the important, yet overlooked components to paint the entire picture. Executive produced by Seven Bucks Productions’ Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Brian Gewirtz, Andrew Jenks and Cadence13.
HOSTED BY
Andrew Jenks
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does What Really Happened? have?
What Really Happened? currently has 67 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is What Really Happened? about?
We live in an age where news comes at us fast, and from all angles. We see a headline that catches our attention, but often just skim the surface, before the next headline comes along. In Season 3, award-winning documentarian Andrew Jenks uses the power of great storytelling to take us on a journey...
How often does What Really Happened? release new episodes?
What Really Happened? has 67 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to What Really Happened??
You can listen to What Really Happened? on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts What Really Happened??
What Really Happened? is created and hosted by Andrew Jenks.
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