Rephonic
Artwork for Astray
Skylab
NASA
San Francisco Examiner
Cabbage Patch Kids
Jeff Jarvis
Dr. Bonnie Dunbar
Esperance, Australia
North Pole
1897 Arctic Expedition
Chernobyl
Russian Invasion
Flower Kids
Salomon Auguste André
Hydrogen Balloon
Ukraine
Dogs Of Chernobyl
Lake Placid
Veterinarian
Radiation
Genetics

How far would you go for enlightenment? Westerners have long been drawn to the spiritual mystique of India. While many find what they’re looking for and return home, some vanish without a trace or even end up dead. Astray investigates those who pay the ultimate cost in search of spiritual awakening.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes11Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTrue Crime

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Artwork for Astray

Latest Episodes

This week's installment of Very Special Episodes is a tour of New York’s secret history with a very special guest!

Greg Young of the beloved Bowery Boys podcast joins Dana Schwartz to prove the world is a very interesting place, if you just know wh... more

In the 1960s, a newly independent Zambia entered the space race with a bold — and baffling — plan. Led by self-declared “Minister of Space” Edward Nkoloso, a team of would-be astronauts trained in oil drums, dreamed of Mars, and captured the world’s ... more

In the winter of 1980, the world turned its eyes to Lake Placid, New York, host of the Winter Olympics. But behind the pageantry, another structure loomed in the Adirondack woods. Built to house 1,800 athletes, the Olympic Village looked less like a ... more

In 1897, a Swedish engineer set out to reach the North Pole ... by balloon. With two companions, a crate of champagne, and the faith of a nation, he rose into the Arctic fog — and vanished. Decades later, their frozen journals and undeveloped film em... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Salomon Auguste André
Swedish explorer known for his polar expeditions
Episode: The Disastrous North Pole Balloon Mission of 1897 [from Very Special Episodes]
Larry Mazza
Former associate of the Colombo crime family
Episode: The Cabbage Patch Crisis [from Very Special Episodes]
Roger Schleifer
Licenser tracking down retail products
Episode: The Cabbage Patch Crisis [from Very Special Episodes]
Abra Zion
Cabbage Patch Kid collector and enthusiast
Episode: The Cabbage Patch Crisis [from Very Special Episodes]
David Bosch
Consumer Behavior Expert and Associate Professor of Psychology at NYU
New York University
Episode: The Cabbage Patch Crisis [from Very Special Episodes]
Paul Friedland
Junior lawyer involved in the Flower Kids lawsuit
Episode: The Cabbage Patch Crisis [from Very Special Episodes]
Dr. Bonnie Dunbar
Professor of aerospace engineering and astronaut
NASA
Episode: Skylab Is Falling [from Very Special Episodes]
Jeff Jarvis
Columnist and media expert
San Francisco Examiner
Episode: Skylab Is Falling [from Very Special Episodes]

Host

Dana Schwartz
Host of Very Special Episodes.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Loved

    This podcast blew my mind. I saw myself as a seeker many years ago and I could see myself becoming lost or taken advantage of in this way. What a powerful podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gypsyocean
    United States10 days ago
  • Very unique topic and well done

    This podcast pleasantly surprised me. India has always been interesting to me just due to the pure culture shock that place gives me even prior to me going there. I think this podcast played a very unbiased role in exploring the dark side of India, as well as the situations foreigners get themselves in that they should know to avoid.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coloradopow
    United States2 months ago
  • Subscribers STILL get ads??

    The show is great but why am I still having to listen to ads?? I paid for the subscription… what’s going on?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JennyBennyyyy
    Canada5 months ago
  • Great show!

    This was a well written and told story. It was disquieting and I learned new things. It felt real, was empathetic, and was wrapped up with wisdom.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    brydlun
    United States9 months ago
  • Interesting

    Some of the people are clearly needy and incredibly naive………& completely open to being conned by unscrupulous pseudo religious individuals that drug and abuse them with no consequences for their actions.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    David Rhys
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, reviewers find the content fascinating and enlightening, often expressing a desire for more episodes and deeper dives into various topics.
Many reviews highlight the engaging storytelling and well-researched narratives, often praising the depth and humanity presented in the discussions.
Listeners appreciate the unique and thought-provoking exploration of spiritual journeys and personal stories overall, captivated by the intersection of adventure and true crime.
There are criticisms regarding biases and the effectiveness of the storytelling at times, with a few expressing dissatisfaction with how cultural issues are handled.

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Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per EpisodeGender SkewLocation
InterestsProfessionsAge Range
Household IncomeSocial Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Astray

What is Astray about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Explore the intersection of cultural spirituality and the darker side of personal quests for enlightenment through compelling, often harrowing stories. The focus is on the journeys of Western visitors to India who seek deeper meaning in their lives but sometimes encounter perilous situations, leaving them missing or worse. Each episode weaves together real-life narratives of adventures and misadventures, showcasing the myriad complexities of seeking fulfillment in foreign lands and the consequences that can arise from these pursuits. Unique elements include the blend of cultural critique, personal anecdotes, and true crime elements that provide a sobering look at these encounters. Listeners are likely to find a rich tapestry of storytelling... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Astray?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Astray. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Astray and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Astray get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Astray, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Astray?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Astray, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Astray have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Astray has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Astray?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Astray:

1. Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders
2. Chameleon
3. Betrayal Season 5
4. What Happened in Nashville
5. The Binge Crimes: Fatal Fantasy

How many episodes of Astray are there?

Astray launched 5 years ago and published 11 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Astray?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Astray?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Astray from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Astray?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Astray. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Astray?

Recent guests on Astray include:

1. Salomon Auguste André
2. Larry Mazza
3. Roger Schleifer
4. Abra Zion
5. David Bosch
6. Paul Friedland
7. Dr. Bonnie Dunbar
8. Jeff Jarvis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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