Headlong: Missing Richard Simmons

Topic / Pineapple Street Media / Dan Taberski

On February 15, 2014, fitness guru Richard Simmons disappeared. He stopped teaching his regular exercise class at Slimmons, cut off his closest friends, and removed himself from the public eye after decades as one of the most accessible celebrities in the world. Nobody has heard from him - and no one knows why he left. Filmmaker Dan Taberski was a Slimmons regular and a friend of Richard’s. Missing Richard Simmons is Dan’s search for Richard - and the deeper he digs, the stranger it gets. Listen to the podcast The New York Times calls "a cultural phenomenon."

Headlong is Dan Taberski’s documentary podcast that explores the lives of overlooked people, moments and events in our culture. Season 2 is Surviving Y2K. Season 3 is Running From COPS.

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Our Editor's Take

Richard Simmons, a public figure famous for his eccentricity and his exercise empire, vanished from the public's view in 2014. Headlong: Missing Richard Simmons is a documentary-style podcast that tries to discover why. As an American fitness icon, Simmons was always in the spotlight. His exercise videos and eccentric interviews are all over the internet. Human interaction always seemed to be the source of his energy and motivation. Then, one day, he disappeared from the media and from the public. What's stranger is there was no explanation why.

Dan Taberski is the host of the podcast. He's not only intrigued by the story. He says he's also worried about the man's well-being. Taberski is a filmmaker and a former regular at Simmons's exercise studio, Slimmons. But he's also a friend of Simmons and wants to explore what caused him to disappear from the public. Is he happy? Is he safe?

This podcast uses a true crime-style format. Taberski interviews those who know Simmons best, explores his past, and tries to figure out what caused the change. Did his dog's sudden death have anything to do with it? Did the media pressure and public scrutiny finally get the best of this extrovert? Is it possible Simmons is in a hostage situation?

Taberski interviews guests to find those answers. Lenny Simmons, Richard Simmons's brother, shares his own ideas and observations. Friends of the family, the maid, and others share their opinions, too. The podcast documents this journey in seven episodes. Audiences should listen in sequential order to follow along. As Taberski investigates, he hopes to meet with Simmons and talk with him on the podcast—if he can find him. But as Taberski and listeners learn more, more questions arrive. In this telling, the disappearance of Richard Simmons is a fascinating, compelling mystery.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Play Trailer

Coming Soon: "Missing Richard Simmons"

Coming Soon: "Missing Richard Simmons"

On February 15, 2014, fitness guru Richard Simmons ghosted the world. Three years later, we're going to try to find him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Season 2

Introducing Headlong: Surviving Y2K | November 13

Introducing Headlong: Surviving Y2K | November 13

December 31, 1999: As midnight approached, the world braced for disaster. Then, nothing happened.The new season from the creators of Missing Richard Simmons drops November 13.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Season 1

Coming Soon: "Missing Richard Simmons"

Coming Soon: "Missing Richard Simmons"

On February 15, 2014, fitness guru Richard Simmons ghosted the world. Three years later, we're going to try to find him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Preview: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall"

Preview: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall"

Missing Richard Simmons starts tomorrow. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1: Where's Richard? | Missing Richard Simmons

1: Where's Richard? | Missing Richard Simmons

On February 15, 2014 Richard Simmons didn’t show up to teach the exercise class he had led for 40 years. He hasn't been seen in public since. Filmmaker Dan Taberski starts investigating the disappearance of his friend. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2: Stakeout | Missing Richard Simmons

2: Stakeout | Missing Richard Simmons

Dan begins to explore the main theories about Richard’s disappearance. A lot of his friends think Richard may just be sitting in his house. So that's where we go. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3: The Maid and the Masseuse | Missing Richard Simmons

3: The Maid and the Masseuse | Missing Richard Simmons

The two people closest to Richard at the time of his disappearance hate each other. This episode is about them. Plus, Dan investigates possible claims of a hostage situation and explains what’s up with Richard’s (still very active) social media presence. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4: "Till the Day I Die" | Missing Richard Simmons

4: "Till the Day I Die" | Missing Richard Simmons

We head to New Orleans, Richard’s hometown. From the food to the burlesque to the Southern religiosity, this city shaped young Dickie Simmons into the Richard we all know. It’s also where his brother lives. Dan tries to make contact. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5: O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Missing Richard Simmons

5: O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Missing Richard Simmons

Dan talks to Lenny Simmons, Richard’s brother. Then he looks into some of the stranger, more personal aspects of being a Richard Simmons fan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6: A Day at the Beach | Missing Richard Simmons

6: A Day at the Beach | Missing Richard Simmons

Dan says goodbye to Richard Simmons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Months Later | Missing Richard Simmons

18 Months Later | Missing Richard Simmons

Dan Taberski checks back in. And we announce the new season from Dan and the team behind Missing Richard Simmons. It’s called Surviving Y2K. Subscribe to this feed and get it as soon as it drops right here on November 13th.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Other

Season 3: Running From COPS - Coming April 23

Season 3: Running From COPS - Coming April 23

Dan Taberski and the team behind Missing Richard Simmons investigate COPS — the longest running reality show in TV history — and its cultural impact on policing in America. Our story begins with the footage of a routine arrest behind a church in Georgia... Search for Running From COPS and subscribe today!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Out Now: Running from COPS - Headlong Season 3

Out Now: Running from COPS - Headlong Season 3

Search for "Running From COPS" to listen to the new season of Dan Taberski's Headlong anthology series today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Introducing: The Line

Introducing: The Line

Check out the latest series from Dan Taberski. In 2018, a group of Navy SEALs broke ranks and accused their chief, Eddie Gallagher, of murder—sucking them all into the biggest war crimes trial in a generation. Did a Navy SEAL cross the line in Iraq?apple.co/thelineSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Introducing: 9/12

Introducing: 9/12

How did 9/11 the day become 9/11 the idea? That question drives award-winning host Dan Taberski (Missing Richard Simmons, Running From COPS, The Line) to shift his focus to what happened on 9/12, and every day after that. 9/12 is a poignant, surprising, and surprisingly funny seven episode series about people who wake up on 9/12 having to navigate a new, radically altered world. A teenager gets caught up in an out-of-control conspiracy theory that he helped start. A Pakistani business owner finds hundreds of his Brooklyn neighbors are disappearing. Joke-writers at The Onion must figure out just how soon is “too soon”? 9/12 asks what it all means. We know what happened on 9/11. But what happened on 9/12 to alter our memory and our perspective forever? Listen to 9/12: wondery.fm/9_12_RichardSimmonsAll seven episodes of 9/12 are available to stream now on Amazon Music or Wondery+. Episodes will release weekly everywhere starting September 8th.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Introducing: Harsh Reality – The Story of Miriam Rivera

Introducing: Harsh Reality – The Story of Miriam Rivera

It was supposed to be a reality show with a twist. In a sun-drenched villa in Ibiza, six hot guys compete for a cash prize and for the love of the beautiful and mysterious Miriam. It’s meant to be her big break: the moment she becomes the superstar she was born to be. But this is the era of “cruel reality TV” and the show producers have a different goal: they want to surprise the men with the fact that Miriam is trans. A new six-episode investigative series from Wondery, the makers of The Shrink Next Door and The Apology Line, and from Novel, HARSH REALITY is the story about love, lies, reality TV and a woman before her time: Miriam Rivera. Written by Agnes Borinsky and hosted by Trace Lysette. Listen to Harsh Reality: http://wondery.fm/HR_Missing_RichardSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Introducing Not Lost – Voyage to Montréal

Introducing Not Lost – Voyage to Montréal

Here’s a special preview of Not Lost, a new podcast about finding yourself in places you’ve never been from our friends at Pushkin Industries. Host Brendan Francis Newnam takes us around the world, learning about new places by getting invited to a stranger’s house for dinner. From Montréal to Mexico City, Brendan and his guests drink, dance, and eat, learning as much about themselves as the places they visit.In this preview, Brendan and his guest Danielle Henderson navigate the icy streets of Montréal, seeking out the je ne sais quoi of the Québécois. You can hear more from Not Lost at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/notlost?sid=missingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.