We are looking back on one of your favorite You Can't Make This Up episodes of the year. In February of 2021, the docu-series 'Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel' was released on Netflix. Our host Rebecca Lavoie interviewed director and executive producer, Joe Berlinger, about the anthology series 'Crime Scene', the disappearance of college student Elisa Lam, and the notorious Cecil Hotel located in downtown Los Angeles. The second season of the acclaimed documentary series 'Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer' is out now on Netflix. The anthology series 'Crime Scene' unpacks the ways in which certain locations can become accomplices to the crimes that take place in them, with each season tackling a new location tied to a dark past. In December 1979, firemen responded to a blaze at a disreputable hotel in Times Square. What they found in the room sparked a manhunt for Richard Cottingham, a prolific serial killer who hid in plain sight among the people of Times Square. The series takes viewers deep into the investigation, laying out the social and systemic forces in a near-lawless area that allowed Cottingham’s horrific crimes to go unnoticed for far too long. If you have a favorite documentary from 2021 or a favorite You Can't Make This Up podcast episode, tweet our host @reblavoie your thoughts. Thanks so much for listening to today's episode & all this past year. 2021 wouldn't have been the same without you. We can't wait to share more about your favorite real-life stories shown on Netflix in 2022!

This week, we are looking back on some of your favorite 'You Can't Make This Up' episodes of 2021. Today we are throwing it back to our interview with the editor, writer, and producer of Operation Varsity Blues, Jon Karmen, and the film's director and producer, Chris Smith. You may have heard a lot about the 2019 college admission scandal, but you haven’t heard everything yet. Operation Varsity Blues goes beyond the celebrity-driven headlines with real conversations from FBI wiretaps. The film offers a rare glimpse of the man at the center of the scandal, Rick Singer, and the methods he used to help his wealthy clients cheat a system already designed to benefit the privileged. If you have a favorite documentary from 2021 or a favorite You Can't Make This Up podcast episode, tweet our host @Reblavoie your thoughts. Thanks for listening!

In today’s special episode, we take a look back at some of our favorite 2021 documentaries, unscripted series, and more from Netflix. We are talking about a large variety of titles so come with your ears open; from “Cocaine Cowboys'' and “Britney vs Spears” all the way to "Tick, Tick... Boom!" and even "Selling Sunset." This is not your average, You Can't Make This Up episode. Today our host, Rebecca Lavoie speaks to some friends from some of your other favorite Netflix podcasts and asks them what titles they couldn’t get enough of this year. We’ll hear from Krista Smith from the podcast “Present Company" and Scottie Beam and Sylvia Obell from the “Okay, Now Listen” podcast. But first, we’re off to London for our favorite Netflix UK watchers, as we welcome Tolani Shoneye & Gena-Mour Barrett from the "10/10 Would Recommend" podcast. If you like “You Can’t Make This Up,” please rate, and review this show (and of course share it with friends)! Thanks for listening & See you in 2022!

“Catching Killers” retells the stories of some of America’s most notorious serial killers from the point-of-view of the people who caught them. Each film in this series recounts the investigation into one notorious killer. One of the more terrifying cases is covered in the two-episode arc in “True Lies.” After a body is discovered in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge, a grandmother accuses her alcoholic boyfriend of being the killer. Laverne Pavlinac even provides more details, fabricated evidence, anything to get John Sosnovske arrested. She eventually talks herself into a confession which lands the two of them in prison. Soon after, police and reporters get letters from someone else confessing to the crime. Because of the peculiar doodles on the letters, the media dubs him “The Happy Face” killer Today our host, Rebecca Lavoie is talking to one of the directors of the series, Alex Emslie. What did YOU think of Catching Killers? If you have thoughts and reactions to share, tweet @reblavoie. If you like “You Can’t Make This Up,” please rate, and review this show - and share it with friends!

Next up on You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about Catching Killers. This series retells the stories of some of America’s most notorious serial killers from the point of view of the people who caught them. Each film in this series recounts the investigation into one infamous case. Next week, our host Rebecca Lavoie will be interviewing one of the series directors, Alex Emslie. Make sure to watch Catching Killers before then, and especially the two-episode arc "True Lies, Part 1 & Part 2: The Happy Face Killer" to follow along with Alex Emslie's insight into the case. We want to know what story shocked you the most on Catching Killers. If you have thoughts to share about this series, tweet Rebecca @reblavoie and she might just read your tweet on our next episode! Stay tuned!

Spoiler Alert! If you haven't watched the wild ride that is Tiger King 2, go watch it on Netflix now. Today, our host Rebecca Lavoie is talking to directors Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin about all things Tiger King 2. When we last heard from America’s most notorious big cat owners, Joe Exotic was behind bars. He had been convicted of animal abuse and planning the murder of an animal activist & CEO of a non-profit animal sanctuary, Carole Baskin. Jeff Lowe and Tim Stark formed an uneasy partnership to construct a new roadside zoo from Joe’s animals. And the unexpected fame of the documentary series, and unwanted attention from the authorities, now unearths some stunning revelations.

Tiger King is back and Season 2 is out on Netflix now. As you get ready to binge-watch away, today's You Can't Make This Up episode is a reminder of all the wild events that ensued in season 1. We will also share some snippets from our first interview about season 1 with the directors, Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin. When we last heard from America’s most notorious big cat owners, Joe Exotic was behind bars. He had been convicted of animal abuse and planning the murder of an animal activist & CEO of a non-profit animal sanctuary, Carole Baskin. Jeff Lowe and Tim Stark formed an uneasy partnership to construct a new roadside zoo from Joe’s animals. And the unexpected fame of the documentary series, and unwanted attention from the authorities, now unearths some stunning revelations. Stayed tuned for next week's episode where Rebecca Lavoie catches up with directors Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin again, but this time they'll be diving into all things Tiger King 2.

The Netflix documentary, 'Found' is an extraordinary tale of three teenagers who were born in China and adopted by American families. Though these girls live in different parts of the country, they discover through DNA tests that they are cousins and quickly become very close. They then decide to take a journey back to China together to find out more about where they come from. In this episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Amanda Lipitz and producer Anita Gou about this heartfelt film about self-discovery. Have you learned anything about your family because of DNA testing? What part of this documentary moved you the most? If you have thoughts about this film, or you just can't believe how much you cried while watching Found, tweet Rebecca @reblavoie on Twitter and she might just read your tweets on the next show!

The Netflix documentary, 'Found' is an extraordinary tale of three teenagers who were born in China and adopted by American families. Though these girls live in different parts of the country, they discover through DNA tests that they are cousins and quickly become very close. They then decide to take a journey back to China together to find out more about where they come from. In this episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie gives you a sneak peek into one of the most heartfelt and moving films she has ever seen. Make sure to watch 'Found' on Netflix before next week's episode where Rebecca interviews director Amanda Lipitz and producer Anita Gou. Have you learned anything about your family because of DNA testing? What part of this documentary moved you the most? If you have thoughts about this film, or you just can't believe how much you cried while watching it, tweet Rebecca @reblavoie on Twitter and she might just read your tweets on the next show!

The world of sports and true crime collide in the new Netflix series, "Bad Sport." The show examines the misdeeds of athletes, coaches, officials... and even nations. Episodes include a point-shaving scandal in basketball, a match-fixing case in soccer, an Indycar drug smuggling operation, and an insurance fraud involving the assassination of... a racehorse. But today we focus on the episode set in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. For decades, the Russians had dominated the sport of pairs figure skating. But that year, the underdog Canadian pair turned in a flawless performance, while their Russian competitors stumbled. To the shock of the sporting world, the judges denied the Canadians their gold medal. Then the Olympics was thrown into confusion when the French judge said she was forced to give the gold to Russia. “Gold War” recalls the score-fixing scandal and looks at the two couples caught in the middle of an international incident. In today’s episode, we speak to Lizzie Kempton, the episode director of "Gold War." This is You Can’t Make This Up — where we uncover the true stories behind your favorite Netflix documentaries and films.

For as long as we've had competitive sports, there's been scandal. In the new docuseries, Bad Sport, true crime and sports intersect, with firsthand accounts of some of the most shocking scandals you won't soon forget. Rebecca gives you a sneak peak into the series ahead of next week's episode, when she sits down with Lizzie Kempton, director of Bad Sport: Gold War.

In today's episode, we take a closer look at the documentary, Britney vs. Spears and speak with the film's director, Erin Lee Carr. Britney Spears was a mega-superstar and favorite of the paparazzi. Then Britney suffered a few very public meltdowns, the singer's parents and management team went to court to secure control of her vast fortune and life. The conservatorship allowed others to manage Britney's personal life and career. A process designed to protect the elderly and infirm was being used to control a celebrity who continued to make millions for the people holding the reins.

In the 1970s police at Ohio State University arrested a man for a string of campus rapes. When examined by a doctor, it was determined that Billy Milligan had what was called multiple personality disorder. His personas were of different ages, genders, and temperaments. Milligan's case fascinated the public, law enforcement, and medical experts alike. Join us this week as our host, Rebecca Lavoie sits down with Billy Milligan's sister and veteran teacher, Kathy Preston. This episode contains spoilers, so make sure to watch all four episodes of “Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan” before listening on.

The Guilty takes place over the course of a single morning in a 911 dispatch call center. Call operator Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) tries to save a caller in grave danger—but he soon discovers that nothing is as it seems, and facing the truth is the only way out. Watch The Guilty on Netflix October 1.

Bob Ross brought joy to millions as the world's most famous art instructor on the TV series “The Joy of Painting.” But beyond the iconic hair, soothing voice, and nostalgic paintings, lies a mystery involving the artist’s personal life and business empire. This week we take a closer look at his legacy with Joshua Rofé, the producer and director of “Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed”.

Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is a six-part documentary series on the South Florida traffickers indicted in one of the largest drug cases in U.S. history. Cuban exiles Augusto “Willy” Falcon and Salvador “Sal” Magluta were accused of smuggling over 75 tons of cocaine into the U.S. in the 1980s. The high school friends built a reputed $2 billion empire that made Willy and Sal, aka “Los Muchachos,” two of Miami’s biggest celebrities. Up this week, our host Rebecca Lavoie sits down with two fascinating contributors to the "Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami" series. First up, former drug kingpin ,Jorge Valdes. Then we hear from Sal's girlfriend, Marilyn Bonchea. This episode contains spoilers, so make sure to watch all six episodes of “Cocaine Cowboys: Kings of Miami” before listening on. Stay tuned for next week's Part Two podcast episode with a very special guest to be announced!

Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is a six-part documentary series on the South Florida traffickers indicted in one of the largest drug cases in U.S. history. Cuban exiles Augusto “Willy” Falcon and Salvador “Sal” Magluta were accused of smuggling over 75 tons of cocaine into the U.S. in the 1980s. The high school friends built a reputed $2 billion empire that made Willy and Sal, aka “Los Muchachos,” two of Miami’s biggest celebrities. Up this week, our host Rebecca Lavoie sits down with the "Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami" series director and executive producer Billy Corben and executive producer Alfred Spellman. This episode contains spoilers, so make sure to watch all six episodes of “Cocaine Cowboys: Kings of Miami” before listening on. Stay tuned for next week's Part Two podcast episode with a very special guest to be announced!

Ex-leaders and a survivor of the so-called "conversion therapy" movement speak out about its harm to the LGBTQ+ community and its devastating persistence. In this episode, Rebecca Lavoie speaks with Director Kristine Stolakis and producer Jessica Devaney about the Netflix documentary film "Pray Away." This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch all of "Pray Away" before listening on.

Suburban father “Toby” Curtsinger was bored when he began smuggling and selling bottles of rare and expensive whiskey from the distillery where he worked in Frankfort, Kentucky. But what seemed like an easy way to improve his family’s quality of life, soon escalated from a side hustle of booze-skimming to organized crime. In this episode, Rebecca Lavoie speaks with Executive Producer Nick Frew about "The Bourbon King" -- part three of our special coverage of all three stories featured in the docuseries "Heist." This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch both episodes of "The Bourbon King" before listening on.

Karls Monzon immigrated to Miami from Cuba in search of his American dream to own a home, a nice car, and start a family. But when his wife struggled to have children, he hatched a plan to pay for an expensive adoption by stealing millions in cash delivered by plane to Miami International Airport. And he did all the research he needed to pull off the heist by watching American TV. Up for discussion today is “The Money Plane”—part two of our special coverage of all three stories featured in the docuseries “Heist.” Rebecca Lavoie will talk with Oscar-winner Martin Desmond Roe, who directed “The Money Plane.” This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch both episodes of “The Money Plane” before listening on.

We’re kicking off the first of a three-part special from the Netflix documentary series, Heist. This series chronicles three of the biggest heists in modern American history through in-depth interviews with the people who pulled them off. 21-year-old Heather Tallchief felt lost in life until she was swept off her feet by prison poet and paroled murderer, Roberto Solis. Hypnotized by Roberto’s dangerous allure and practice of “sex magick,” she gets involved with the largest armored truck robbery in Las Vegas history, taking off with over three million dollars. For today’s episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie is joined by Derek Doneen, the executive producer and director of “Sex Magick Money Murder.” This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch both episodes of “Sex Magick Money Murder” before listening on.

The murder of a French woman in rural Ireland sets off a convoluted quest for justice that spans decades and cuts across national borders. This week, our host Rebecca Lavoie covers the new Netflix docu-series “Sophie: A Murder in West Cork" and speaks with Suzanne Lavery, the series’s executive producer. This episode contains spoilers so be sure to watch all three episodes of “Sophie: A Murder in West Cork” before listening on. If you like “You Can’t Make This Up,” please rate, and review this show - and share it with friends! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts.

Welcome to You Can't Make This Up, a companion podcast for Netflix's original true crime stories. In each episode, we take a close-up look at a true-crime narrative, documentary, or series, and our host Rebecca Lavoie talks to the people who made them. We dive deep into the backstories and get answers to questions raised by what we just watched. This week, we’ll be discussing the documentary “Nail Bomber: Manhunt” with the film’s executive producer, Colin Barr. "Nail Bomber: Manhunt," tells the story of a far-right extremist who, in 1999, detonated three bombs across London in hopes of instigating a race war. Through exclusive interviews with investigators, undercover informants, local leaders, and survivors, the film recounts how the city was terrorized for 13 days and ultimately how the community and police captured and brought the bomber to justice. This episode contains spoilers. Please make sure to watch the entire film and then, listen on.

This episode contains *spoilers* so make sure to watch the entire series of "The Sons of Sam" on Netflix before listening on. When the “Son of Sam,” David Berkowitz was caught in the summer of 1977 after a string of shooting attacks in New York City, the world believed the nightmare was over, but for journalist Maury Terry, the real mystery was just beginning. Terry was convinced that Berkowitz had not acted alone. He spent decades attempting to prove that the web of darkness behind the murders went deeper than anyone imagined. In this episode, our host Rebecca Lavoie is joined by Joshua Zeman, the director and executive producer of the docu-series "The Sons of Sam."

This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch all of the film "Why Did You Kill Me?" on Netflix before listening on. After her daughter’s murder, a mother uses the social networking site MySpace to find the people she believes are responsible. She creates a fake profile that leads to unexpected intimacy with the suspects, a key break in the case, and a dark revenge plot. The documentary film "Why Did You Kill Me?" offers a gripping look at the effects of loss and the relationship between revenge, forgiveness, and the criminal justice system. Join host and journalist, Rebecca Lavoie as she speaks with the film’s director and producer, Fredrick Munk. Stay tuned for our next episode on “The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness.” You Can’t Make This Up is a production of Netflix.