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4.4

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622 reviews

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Leon Neyfakh is a journalist and podcaster best known as the co-creator and host of Slow Burn, Fiasco, and Backfired. He has been a reporter for Slate, The Boston Globe, and The New York Observer and is the author of the book The Next Next Level. Listen to his newest podcasts here. Season 2: Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer Jerry Springer wasn’t supposed to become the host of The Jerry Springer Show. Before the chairs started flying and the fights became a daytime TV staple, the man then known as Gerald Springer was an idealistic rising star in Democratic politics, with ambitions to one day be elected governor of Ohio. From Leon Neyfakh and Prologue Projects — the team behind Slow Burn, Fiasco, Backfired, and Think Twice: Michael Jackson — comes Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer. You may think you know Springer, the notorious ringmaster of what TV Guide once called “the worst show in television history.” But long before Springer’s name became synonymous with outrageous guests, taboo confessions, and vicious on-stage brawls, he was the mayor of Cincinnati — a serious and popular politician who many believed was the future of the Democratic Party. So, what happened? This series traces Springer’s unlikely transformation — from the son of Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Germany, to a respected public servant, to the face of a show many called a symptom of cultural decline. Through intimate interviews with the people who knew him best — family, political insiders, and the producers who helped shape his show — Final Thoughts will bring you closer than ever to the man behind the spectacle, and maybe even cause you to rethink some of your own life choices. Final Thoughts isn’t just a story about one man’s improbable career path. It’s about how far someone can go for success and what they’re willing to trade to stay on top. Was Springer pulled into the gutter, or did he just understand it better than anyone else? Season 1: Think Twice: Michael Jackson More than a decade since Michael Jackson’s death, his legacy remains complicated and unresolved. Think Twice: Michael Jackson is an exploration of the King of Pop’s life and impact — and an investigation into why his global influence continues to endure, despite the disturbing allegations against him. In this ten-part series, journalists Leon Neyfakh and Jay Smooth bring you a new perspective on the Michael Jackson story, based on dozens of original interviews with people who watched it unfold from up close.

Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer podcast

Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | You Can Call Me Mr. Springer

2026/04/09

At the height of The Jerry Springer Show’s popularity, Springer himself is called in front of Chicago City Council to answer for the violent behavior that appears on the show. As he joked, hedged, and defended the debauchery on his program, few would recall that he was once a city councilman himself – a rising star in the democratic party – and a beloved and trusted local news anchor. How did Springer go from idealistic young politician to host of the “world’s worst television show”, and what was his legacy? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | The Idealist

2026/04/09

Born in a London bomb shelter to WWII refugees, young Gerald Springer grows up steeped in liberal politics. After taking his talents to Cincinnati City Council, Springer wins over a base of support in a traditionally conservative town. But personal scandal threatens to drive him from the city that’s grown to love him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | Knives Out

2026/04/16

When the scandal around Springer explodes into public view, he faces a reckoning in the city he has come to think of as his home. As Springer works to regain the trust of his community, where will he go next? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Final Thoughts | Camera Ready

2026/04/16

Springer makes his most ambitious political move yet. And while his work on the campaign trail may not deliver him to the governor’s office, he finds his stride in another arena: television. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Is This Scary?

2023/06/25

It’s 1993 and Michael Jackson is on top of the world: receiving lifetime achievement awards, appearing at Bill Clinton’s inaugural gala, performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. More popular and powerful than he’s ever been, he uses that caché to create a music video that stands among his most personal and prescient works. Then everything falls apart. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | All Children, Except One, Grow Up

2023/06/26

As news breaks of the first sexual abuse allegations against Michael, reporters scramble to dig up any information they can while Michael Jackson’s PR machine battles to control the narrative. Meanwhile, a by-the-book LAPD detective struggles to investigate the case in the midst of the frenzy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Big Boy

2023/07/31

Michael Jackson’s childhood, or lack thereof, is cited constantly in the conversation around his relationships with children. In this episode, we go back to Michael’s earliest days in Gary, Indiana, where he grows up under the domineering hand of his father while he and his brothers take the local music scene by storm in search of a better life. Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producers for this episode were Jay Smooth and Sam Lee. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | The Sound of Young America

2023/08/07

The Jackson family signs with the Motown Record Corporation and moves out to California. As Black artists across the country are achieving new levels of visibility, the Jackson 5 become an overnight sensation and a young Michael must navigate growing up in the spotlight as the front man of America’s hottest boy band. Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producer for this episode was Danielle Hewitt. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Wiz Kid

2023/08/14

As the Jackson family tries to stay relevant as former teenyboppers, Michael Jackson breaks away in New York City and stars in a movie based on The Wizard of Oz that sets the course for the rest of his life. Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth. It was edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producer for this episode was Benjamin Frisch. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Michael on High

2023/08/21

Michael Jackson climbs to new heights with the success of his Thriller album and the groundbreaking music videos that follow. But he finds that his fame and faith are on a collision course, and he's forced to make a choice. Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producer for this episode was Dustin DeSoto. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Leave Me Alone

2023/08/28

Michael’s eccentric behavior and ever-changing appearance pique the curiosity of the public and the press. But was Michael a tabloid victim or a genius public relations ringmaster? Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producer for this episode was Sam Lee. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Colossus of Pop

2023/09/04

In the aftermath of the 1993 sexual abuse allegations, Michael Jackson marries into musical royalty and attempts to rebuild his legacy with the most audacious project of his career. Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producers for this episode were Dustin DeSoto and Benjamin Frisch. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | The Trial

2023/09/09

Ten years after first being accused of child sexual abuse, Michael Jackson finds himself in court facing criminal charges related to a new alleged victim. Meanwhile, Michael’s fans rally around their idol and try to help him get through a new low point in his career. Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producer for this episode was Benjamin Frisch. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Ghost Story

2023/09/18

Michael Jackson spends his final days preparing for a series of comeback concerts, but tragedy strikes before rehearsals are even completed. In the aftermath of Michael’s death, a reckoning begins over everything he left behind. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Introducing - Think Twice: Michael Jackson

2023/06/12

More than a decade since Michael Jackson’s death, his legacy remains complicated and unresolved. Think Twice: Michael Jackson is an exploration of the King of Pop’s life and impact – and an investigation into why his global influence continues to endure, despite the disturbing allegations against him. In this ten-part series, journalists Leon Neyfakh and Jay Smooth bring you a new perspective on the Michael Jackson story, based on dozens of original interviews with people who watched it unfold from up close. You can binge every episode of Think Twice: Michael Jackson, ad-free on Amazon Music, Wondery+ or Audible. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Read Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer podcast reviews

4.4 out of 5

622 reviews

idontknowY 2024/09/30

Great

Loses a star for allowing the rocket money scam to advertise on the podcast, otherwise would be 5 stars

yjydd 2025/08/08

Very biased and misleading

As a csa victim myself and not a michael jackson fan, I was spending lots of time on researching these allegations and digging into tons of evidence. ...

praxis78 2025/07/23

Guilty

Great podcast, sad story. MJ groomed the world.

JS Wondering 2025/07/15

Didn’t know MJ

Thank you for the information on MJs life. I knew of his music, the accusations and the genius. But I didn’t know the man. Even though I feel bad f...

Kat art listens 2025/06/24

Sound

Sounds many people, including myself, listen to podcasts with headphones while we are doing things. Washing dishes, exercising, etc. The volume on the...

AnnEVMCurtis 2025/03/18

Some interesting MJ material; EXTREMELY biased

I got through almost the entire series until a little ways into the final episode, when I could no longer stomach the one sided nature of it. While it...

Midwestgal1174 2025/02/20

Great…but

Great podcast, but a big misunderstanding of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, we don’t follow the Watchtower and Tract Society, we follow Jehovah’s teachings ...

CreativeEntrepreneur 2024/12/19

Enjoyable, but definitely not unbiased.

I enjoyed the clear storytelling, but the hosts do far more psychoanalyzing the perceived motives of the subjects than just stating the facts. It’s mo...

Darkwinter91 2024/10/24

Poorly Researched

The hosts present themselves as unbiased but haven’t done enough homework to credibly speak on these cases. If you’re looking for a podcast that cites...

Madelynne's Girl 2024/10/17

Podcast Gold

I have never written a podcast review in my life. However, I was truly moved by the quality of this particular show. The professionalism, wide variety...

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