Updated on: 24 March 2017
Author’s update: Missing Richard Simmons has now ended and there is still a lot of controversy surrounding the podcast. If you want to find out more, read The Ethical Minefield of Missing Richard Simmons on The Atlantic.
When I’m not getting my caraoke on, I’m listening to podcasts. One of my all time favourites is Serial, which also happens to be the most downloaded podcast series of all time. When Season 2 ended, I felt like a part of me was missing. I always check the charts to see if there is anything new and “Missing Richard Simmons” caught my eye.
Yes, Richard Simmons. The exercise guru with the shrill voice and amazing outfits.
Richard Simmons, who never shied away from the public eye, suddenly went AWOL in 2014 and hasn’t been seen since.
This is where the podcast starts. The narrator, Dan Taberski, a friend of Simmons, tries to solve the mystery as to why Simmons cut of all communication from the outside world and has remained house bound ever since.
This podcast pulls you right in within the first few minutes. The circumstances around Richard Simmons withdrawal from public life are sudden and bizarre.
SEE ALSO: 3 podcasts to make you smarter
Close friends haven’t heard from him in 3 years and then there’s the issue with Simmons’ housekeeper of over 30 years.
Controversy surrounding Missing Richard Simmons
- What if Richard doesn’t want to be brought into the public eye?
- Is the narrator exploiting his friendship with Simmons?
READ MORE: Wired has a lot to say about Missing Richard Simmons
If you’d like to find out what I’m on about, the listen to the Missing Richard Simmons podcast here. It will make your day.
If the player above doesn’t work, click here to listen to Missing Richard Simmons
[Tweet “I’ve just discovered the ONE podcast you need to listen to if you’re missing Serial “]
A bit of info about Serial if you have no idea what I’m talking about
I have tried to convince people to listen to Serial. And only one person has, who is now my all time favourite BFF (you know who you are). Serial season 1 was the most downloaded podcast of all time.
Season 1 followed Adnan Syed who was accused of killing his ex girfriend Hae Min Lee under really weird circumstances. The awesome folks at NPR (same people who do another amazing podcast, This American Life) looked at the evidence and spoke to friends and family as well as Adnan, who has spent the last 16 years in jail.
Yesterday his appeal trial started and in the next few days we will know whether he gets a retrial. If you have no idea what I am going on about, please listen to this. Spoiler alert: listen to the series before you listen to the update on the hearing.
Season 2 started at the beginning of 2016, and to say that I didn’t almost cry when I found out instead of weekly, a new episode would be released every 2 weeks, would be a lie. It follows an American soldier who walked away from his camp and was captured by the Taliban for 5 years. The US is now looking to convict him. Start listening here.
[This bit of info first appeared in Bytesized | 5 February 2016]
