You Can’t Make This Up

Netflix

Hear the incredible real stories behind the making of the biggest documentary series & films on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie leads in-depth interviews with creators and subjects, exploring how these stories are produced & their impact, while uncovering new information. New episodes every Wednesday. read less

Our Editor's Take

For audiences who can't get enough of their favorite Netflix shows, You Can't Make This Up is a fascinating podcast. It's a journey into the making of popular documentaries and series screened on the streaming platform. Journalist and true crime author Rebecca Lavoie hosts this show.

Almost everyone has a favorite Netflix series. It's the show they never wanted to finish—when it was over, there was a longing for more. This is where You Can't Make This Up comes in. It gives a sneak peek into the making of these shows. It gives the real stories of how creators brought the characters to life. It explores the details of what went through the director's mind during filming. Lavoie reveals great insight into the most-loved shows. This is material listeners can't get elsewhere.

For those who have ever wondered, "How did the director find the ideal cast member for that true crime?" Or it was, "What made producers want to enlighten viewers on Woodstock '99?" You will have a chance to get an answer on You Can't Make This Up. This podcast comes out every second Wednesday, so there's lots of info on plenty of Netflix series. Previous series include The GameStop Saga or The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe. The broad topics mean there's something to suit a range of tastes. Even if someone hasn't seen a show, the podcast will spark their intrigue immediately. Warning: Listeners should know that the episodes contain spoilers aplenty.

Lavoie poses intriguing questions to directors, executive producers, and other guests. Audiences then become privy to information they wouldn't know otherwise. Fans can listen to learn, discover, and even find the next best show!

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TV & FilmTV & Film

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Introducing: You Can't Make This Up

Introducing: You Can't Make This Up

Join journalist, true-crime author and podcaster Rebecca Lavoie as she delves into the true stories behind some of the biggest documentaries and films on Netflix. Hear from filmmakers, writers, actors and contributors as they describe the journey from real life to screen: how they found the story, how they got access, what got cut, and the continuing impact on the lives of its subjects. New episodes every Wednesday.

Episodes

The Antisocial Network: From Memes to Mayhem

The Antisocial Network: From Memes to Mayhem

It started as a low-tech online message board where people shared funny memes. Then users of 4chan began testing their influence offline, identifying targets for comeuppance and demonstrating against them. But some used the site to organize hacking attacks for social action, which drew the attention of the FBI. Others found an unchecked platform for extremism which eventually led to insurrection. The Netflix documentary The Antisocial Network: From Memes to Mayhem chronicles the rise of 4chan, from its early days as a snarky imageboard to a home for the hacktivists of Anonymous and conspiracy theorists of QAnon. It not only examines its grip on users stuck in its infinite scroll, but also its real life effects on technology, politics, and society. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews directors Arthur Jones and Giorgio Angelini. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched The Antisocial Network yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

BONUS: Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned

BONUS: Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned

BONUS - Enjoy this featured bonus episode from the podcast Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now. S1: E1 – Breaking Bad “For as long as I can remember I was always trying to make a couple pennies.” That’s Ray Trapani, one of the co-founders of the crypto-currency company, Centra Tech. In the premiere episode of Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned, we hear the origin story of Ray, the guy who, in his own words said, “I always wanted to be a criminal since I was a kid”. Was it destined in his nature? Or would this prolific con artist be shaped by his environment and the influences on his life from an early age? If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

What Jennifer Did

What Jennifer Did

In 2010, police in a quiet Ontario suburb received a frantic 911 call. A woman said she’d been tied up by intruders who’d just shot her parents. With her mother dead and her father clinging to life, Jennifer Pan gave detectives gripping descriptions of the home invasion. Investigators had no idea why the Pans had been targeted. But a closer look at Jennifer’s life made them rethink what they knew about the case. The Netflix documentary What Jennifer Did looks back at the high-profile crime that shook Canada. The film uses police interrogation footage and testimony from those involved to unravel a web of complexities that no one saw coming. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Jenny Popplewell & producer Paul Nguyen. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched What Jennifer Did yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Unlocked: A Jail Experiment

Unlocked: A Jail Experiment

In an effort to reduce problems with discipline and recidivism, the sheriff in Pulaski County, Arkansas rolled out a radical plan for the county jail. Instead of the standard 23-hour lockdown, he’d open the doors in one pod for six weeks and let the detainees run things without the presence of guards. The goal: empower them to become self-sufficient and learn the skills needed to succeed on the outside. But the experiment is not without its risks - for both the inmates and the sheriff. The Netflix series Unlocked: A Jail Experiment takes us behind bars and into a make-shift community of O.G. prisoners and a new generation of inmates as they try to navigate their new responsibilities. Can they work together to improve behavior in the unit and preserve their newfound privileges? Or will the old ways of jailhouse culture return and force the sheriff to shut the experiment down? In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Executive Producer Greg Henry and Pulaski County Sheriff Eric S. Higgins. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Unlocked: A Jail Experiment yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Files of the Unexplained

Files of the Unexplained

From eerie encounters to bizarre disappearances, mysterious hauntings to chilling cold cases - some mysteries are best when left unsolved. But that doesn’t mean the unexplained should go unexamined. Told by witnesses to the supernatural and the extraterrestrial, the Netflix series Files of the Unexplained explores a mix of perplexing phenomena. The show also features scientists and historians who offer more earthly possibilities for these baffling puzzles. But it’s left to the viewer to decide whether there are objective explanations for these riddles…or whether something else is at play. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Executive producers Skye Borgman & Avril Z. Speaks. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Files of the Unexplained yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

A young woman’s fateful decision in 1960s China reverberates across space and time into the present day. When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel before their eyes, a close-knit group of brilliant scientists join forces with an unorthodox detective to confront the greatest threat in humanity’s history. In this episode, we turn things over to our friends at “3 Body Podcast,” the official companion podcast to Netflix’s 3 Body Problem. Hosts Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Jason Concepcion will talk to a range of people involved in the making of the show for unparalleled behind-the-scenes insight and discuss the real-world implications of what unfolds on screen. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched 3 Body Problem yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Homicide: New York

Homicide: New York

In New York City, homicides are investigated by two separate squads: Manhattan North and Manhattan South. From killings deeply personal to seemingly random, these police detectives tackle some of the most difficult and high-profile murders possible. But what did it take to solve the crimes…and what did it do to those who solved them? In the Netflix docuseries Homicide: New York, legendary executive producer Dick Wolf brings viewers inside some of the real-life cases that shocked and puzzled the city. From the point of view of those who investigated the crimes and prosecuted the offenders, these are the stories of some of Manhattan’s most notorious murders In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer Adam Kassan. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Homicide: New York yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War

Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War

Former allies became foes when the Soviets maintained their grip on post-war Eastern Europe to spread communism. Beyond the clash of ideologies, an arms race had begun between emerging superpowers. For decades Americans stood at hypervigilance, living under the constant threat of a nuclear exchange. When the Soviet Union finally collapsed from within, it looked like the US had won the Cold War. But from its long legacy remain the old divisions which fuel today’s conflicts. Netflix’s Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War explores the decades-long struggle between the United States and the USSR. World leaders, prominent academics, and other witnesses to history weigh in on the existential threat of this global chess match. From detonation to détente, from the fall of the Soviet Union to the rise of Putin, the series makes the case that the Cold War still is felt in today’s hot zones. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer and director Brian Knappenberger. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping

The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping

Like hundreds before her, Katherine Daniel was sent by her parents to a school for troubled teens. The Academy at Ivy Ridge claimed to use therapy and recreational activities to help its students. Instead, teens suffered mental and physical abuse in a program that operated like a cult. Years later, Katherine and her former classmates rummaged through the files and videotapes left behind in the abandoned school. Their goal was to come to terms with what happened to them within its walls and hold those responsible to account. The Netflix documentary series The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping is a gripping look at the so-called Troubled Teen Industry by those traumatized from its practices. It also explores the company whose business model is to keep parents paying huge fees while their children suffer horrors at the hands of their schools’ staff. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Director Katherine Kubler. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders

American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders

Writer Danny Casolaro believed he’d uncovered a secret organization of political leaders and covert operatives pulling the levers of power around the globe. He called it “The Octopus.” In 1991, when Danny’s body was discovered in a hotel bathtub, authorities ruled it a suicide - but his friends and family feared he’d been killed to keep the story quiet. In American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders, filmmakers reopen Danny’s investigation and retrace his final days. Was the official narrative about the writer’s death a cover-up? And can they link - once and for all - a string of seemingly unconnected crimes to a shadowy group with the power to control the world? In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews filmmaker Zachary Treitz and researcher Christian Hansen. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. PROGRAMMING NOTE: This episode contains discussions about suicide. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Love is Blind season 6

Love is Blind season 6

The hit reality series Love Is Blind is back , following a new set of singles from Charlotte, North Carolina — all ready to cut through the static of modern dating and forge authentic relationships, sight unseen. The singles form deep and immediate connections, setting the stage for an unexpected journey full of twists, turns, and shocking revelations that will test each relationship well after the participants leave the pods for the real world. This episode, we’ll turn things over to our friends on the podcast “Now on Netflix.” Hosts Jessica Shaw and Henry Goldblatt talk to Tudum.com’s Cole Delbyk and Natalie Morin about season six and whether love truly is blind. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Lover, Stalker, Killer

Lover, Stalker, Killer

Dave Kroupa thought his relationship with Cari Farver was low-key, but Cari began sending threatening texts and emails. She even targeted Dave’s old girlfriend, Liz Goylar. The stalking persisted for years, and while the trauma drew Dave and Liz closer, authorities could never track down Cari for an arrest. But investigators tracing Cari’s digital footprint uncovered evidence that upended the case. The Netflix documentary Lover Stalker Killer looks into this bizarre tale of obsession and violence. Among the women in Dave’s life, who could get away with years of online harassment? And who was willing to turn a romantic rivalry into murder? In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Sam Hobkinson. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Lover Stalker Killer yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

The Greatest Night in Pop

The Greatest Night in Pop

It was an ambitious attempt to raise money for famine relief in Africa: record a single sung by the biggest names in rock, pop, R&B, and country. But putting the 1985’s “We Are The World” down on tape was easier said than done. The all-star chorus had to balance schedules, fix tech issues, and curb egos to create the legendary record. But their biggest challenge: the clock was ticking and they had only one night to make it happen. Netflix’s The Greatest Night in Pop features never-before-seen footage of the song’s early planning stages, including the writing sessions, and goes inside the studio where “We Are the World” was recorded. Stars like Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, and Cyndi Lauper reminisce alongside musicians, engineers, and production crew about one of the most storied nights in music history. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Bao Nguyen. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched The Greatest Night in Pop yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

NASCAR: Full Speed

NASCAR: Full Speed

After a year of high stakes racing, it all comes down to the final ten races of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The sport’s best drivers face elimination as they make their way to the final race and most storied championship in motorsports. But who are these competitors behind the wheel? Are they the same person at home as they are on the track? And do they have the right stuff to take the checkered flag? NASCAR: Full Speed brings fans behind the scenes — both on and off the track — while exploring the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of competing for a championship at the world’s highest level of stock car racing. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Producer Aaron Cohen and NASCAR Senior Vice President Tim Clark. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched NASCAR: Full Speed yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Break Point season 2

Break Point season 2

As some of tennis’s legends reach the twilight of their careers, this is the chance for a new generation to finally claim the spotlight. But after years in the shadows of champions like Williams and Djokovic, who has what it takes to step up and become the number one player in the world. Season two of Netflix’s Break Point gets up close and personal with the players competing across the globe each week. From career-threatening injuries and emotional heartbreak, to triumphant victories and personal moments off the court, viewers will get a behind the scenes look at the pressure-tested lives of some of the best tennis players in the world. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews showrunner Darren Lovell. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Break Point yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

When Aaron Quinn reported his girlfriend had been kidnapped in an outrageous home invasion, police suspected he was covering up a crime. Then when Denise Huskins turned up at her parents’ doorstep days later, telling an even more elaborate tale about her abduction, they accused the couple of creating a hoax - one straight out of Hollywood. But miles away a detective investigating an unrelated case discovered a single strand of hair that will tie the sensational cases together. In American Nightmare, Denise and Aaron tell the story of the crime they suffered, the humiliation they endured, and their quest for justice. It unravels the consequences of our cultural rush to judgment — and what happens when law enforcement decides the truth can’t possibly be true. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews filmmakers Felicity Morris and Bernadette Higgins. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched American Nightmare yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

At the height of the Bitcoin boom, Ray Trapani and his friends created a debit card for cryptocurrency. Even though the technology didn’t work and the card was a scam, Centra Tech was making millions of dollars a day. But anyone looking at the operation would discover cut-and-paste business plans, fake executives, and glitchy technology. Bitconned lets Trapani tell his story of fun, fame and fraud as he awaits sentencing for the first high-profile case of the crypto era. Was it real? No. But did it work? Maybe. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Bryan Storkel. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Bitconned yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Best of 2023: Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal

Best of 2023: Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal

A rich Southern family laid low by scandal, fraud...and murder. In this episode, we are talking about our most popular episode from 2023, the Netflix documentary series Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews directors Julia Willoughby Nason & Jenner Furst. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Murdaugh Murders yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. (Listener note: This episode was recorded before the conclusion of Alex Murdaugh's murder trial.) Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Best of 2023 (sports and pop culture)

Best of 2023 (sports and pop culture)

They could be cheered by thousands in a stadium or booed by a few dozen ringside. In 2023, Netflix documentaries and series brought us the stories of famous athletes, music superstars, and little-known dreamers - all of them with lives even more rich and complex away from the spotlight. In this episode, host Rebecca Lavoie features her favorite sports and pop cultures titles from 2023. Films and series include Full Swing, Quarterback, Wrestlers, MerPeople, and WHAM! Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

Best of 2023 (crime and justice)

Best of 2023 (crime and justice)

From cops to criminals, from victims to suspects, from surgeons to patients, Netflix documentary films and series covered incredible real stories in 2023. On this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie features her favorite crime and justice titles from 2023. Films and series include American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing, Victim/Suspect, Depp v Heard, and Emergency NYC. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.