Rephonic
Artwork for Baggage
Dear Jack Foundation
Mental Health
Canine Companions
Air Traffic Control
Federal Aviation Administration
Richmond
Immigration
CRISPR
Mrna Vaccines
Covid-19
Multiple Myeloma
Leleka Foundation
San Quentin State Prison
Corrections
Air Travel
Fire Department
Roanoke
Atlanta
Abusive Head Trauma
Ukraine War

Baggage brings together the personal, reflective storytelling of "This American Life" with the conversational, often humorous vibe of "SmartLess," delivering compelling, raw narratives from people from all walks of life, offering an intimate and honest look into the weight we carry. Led by an unlikely foursome—a doctor, a prosecutor, a comedian, and a writer—the hosts bring their vastly different ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes71Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHealth & FitnessMental Health

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Baggage

Latest Episodes

You asked for it, so we interviewed another Air Traffic Controller. Landon, an experienced controller, shares insights into the challenges, responsibilities, and realities of the profession, including staffing issues, media perceptions, and technolog... more

YouTube

In the next month, host Eric Shaw will be featured as a guest on the podcast What Was That Like. In honor of that appearance, we are rereleasing a digitally remastered version of our very first episode where Eric speaks about the early days of his ca... more

In this episode, pediatric doctors Sarah and Mike Northrop discuss the complexities of child abuse diagnosis, the science behind abusive head trauma, and the impact of misinformation on medical and legal practices. They explore how medical findings i... more

YouTube

In this episode, the guys follow up the previous conversation with circus performer Kimberly. The discussion starts with praise for Kimberly’s courage in sharing her story and moves through circus nostalgia, strange panhandling stories, and a long fa... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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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

Sarah Northrop
Board-certified child abuse pediatrician
Associate professor at a large academic teaching center in the southeast (child abuse pediatrics)
Episode: Pediatric Doctors (Sarah & Mike)
Mike Northrop
Board-certified in general pediatrics and pediatric critical care
Associate professor at a large academic teaching center in the southeast (PICU)
Episode: Pediatric Doctors (Sarah & Mike)
Scott Martin
Lieutenant, West Metro Fire Department
West Metro Fire Department
Episode: Firefighter (Scott)
Natalie News
With Canine Companions, leading service dog organization in the United States
Canine Companions
Episode: Carry-On: Vigilante Justice For All
Susan Windition
Senior Director of Operations for The Dear Jack Foundation
The Dear Jack Foundation
Episode: Carry-On: Vigilante Justice For All
Melissa Merola
Principal consultant and founder of Starling Enterprise, LLC
Starling Enterprise, LLC
Episode: The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (Melissa & Adrienne)
Adrienne Malin
Founder of the Human Behavior Analysis Group, LLC
Human Behavior Analysis Group, LLC
Episode: The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (Melissa & Adrienne)
Lonnie Beacham
Owner of Restore It Restoration in Jefferson City, MO
Restore It Restoration
Episode: Death Scene Cleaner (Lonnie)
Erika Murvick
Cancer survivor; Dear Jack Foundation staff member
Dear Jack Foundation
Episode: Cancer Survivor (Erika; ft. Dear Jack Foundation)

Hosts

Dr. Eric Shaw
Medical doctor and host with a background in clinical practice and research.
Ryan Frank
Prosecutor and co-host, brings legal perspective and investigative nuance.
Adrian Bonenberger
Writer and host; brings investigative and storytelling prowess.
Ryan Conner
Comedian and host; adds humor, crowd-friendly energy, and counterpoints.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 46 ratings
  • Love

    I love hearing interesting or even the mundane stories told by the ppl who have lived them. And though they make me sad, I love to hear the survival or traumatic stories from the people who lived through them! Some Humans are amazing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Christie in Tennessee
    United States2 months ago
  • Has great potential

    I just discovered this podcast. Unfortunately the first one I listened to was Death Investigator. I had to shut it off after 10 minutes. He added the word “like” several times in each sentence. Drove me nuts and couldn’t listen anymore. I’ll try another episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Cme61
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some episodes mix heavy topics with humor; tone lands differently for some listeners.
Listeners appreciate the heartfelt storytelling and mission-driven charity focus.
Delivery can be polarizing when guests share intense trauma stories; pacing matters for engagement.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

The Builders
The BuildersiHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope
METRO with Sarah Koenig
METRO with Sarah KoenigSerial Productions & The New York Times
Notes from the Edge
Notes from the EdgeGamut Podcast Network
Sold a Story
Sold a StoryAPM Reports
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Air Traffic Controller (Landon)
Q: Have you noticed any changes in day-to-day life under the current administration, especially after high-profile incidents?
There have been administrative discussions and some safety-related adjustments, especially around helicopter separation and visual separation, but for many controllers the core day-to-day work remains similar; morale and pay concerns persist and shape overall job experience.
Air Traffic Controller (Landon)
Q: Tell me about day-to-day operations and what a typical shift looks like.
The job involves consistent routines—clearances, coordination with similarly structured aircraft, and repetitive tasks that vary with traffic and weather. The daily grind is shaped by staffing levels, with some days smoother than others, but always requiring vigilance and adherence to procedures.
Circus Performer (Kimberly)
Q: Kimberly, can you walk us through how you ended up in Scotland with someone you barely knew?
The relationship intensified from shared dreams to an intense, controlling dynamic; she describes how deception and manipulation deepened, culminating in a forced stay and the realization that she needed to escape.
Firefighter (Scott)
Q: How do you cope with the trauma of the job and maintain your personal life?
Scott emphasizes separating work from home life, leaning on a supportive family, and relying on the department's mental health resources, including critical incident stress debriefs and the option to take time off when needed.
Firefighter (Scott)
Q: Can you describe your first call and what went through your mind when you answered?
The first call was daunting but thrilling; Scott recalls sprinting to the scene, entering a dangerous environment, and dealing with an unconscious child, all while processing the immediate need to act and the weight of what it means for the child and family.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Baggage

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

The show blends intimate, personal storytelling with candid conversations on crime, trauma, and resilience, often anchored by four hosts with backgrounds in medicine, law, writing, and comedy. Episodes frequently thread through real-world crises, trauma recovery, and charitable work, with notable collaborations and calls to action for organizations supporting mental health, trauma, and survivor advocacy. A standout pattern is the seamless mix of serious, high-stakes topics with humor and everyday life banter, plus a clear charitable mission that amplifies nonprofit partnerships and donor engagement. For potential listeners, expect high-empathy storytelling, practical insights into policing, disaster recovery, and mental health, and opportun... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Baggage?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Baggage:

1. What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.
2. This Is Actually Happening
3. What It Was Like
4. What I survived
5. The Secret Room | True Stories

How many episodes of Baggage are there?

Baggage launched 3 years ago and published 71 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 Baggage?

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 Baggage?

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

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What guests have appeared on Baggage?

Recent guests on Baggage include:

1. Sarah Northrop
2. Mike Northrop
3. Scott Martin
4. Natalie News
5. Susan Windition
6. Melissa Merola
7. Adrienne Malin
8. Lonnie Beacham

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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