Rephonic
Artwork for Baggage
Dear Jack Foundation
Canine Companions
Mental Health
Immigration
Federal Aviation Administration
Air Traffic Control
CRISPR
Mrna Vaccines
Covid-19
Multiple Myeloma
Leleka Foundation
Air Travel
San Quentin State Prison
Corrections
Fire Department
Public Libraries
Ukraine War
Judo
Bone Marrow Transplant
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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 monthlyEpisodes68Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHealth & FitnessMental Health

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Baggage

Latest Episodes

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

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Being a circus performer is interesting enough. But the guest on this episode tells the guys how pursuing her dream job led to a nightmare relationship. Kimberly shares her harrowing experience with coercive control and manipulation during her time i... more

YouTube

In this follow-up episode of Carry-On, the guys reflect on their recent firefighter interview before quickly veering into the kind of off-the-rails conversation listeners have come to expect. They discuss a tragic wildfire update, Eric's bold attempt... more

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It turns out firefighting has little to do with using a hose relative to everything else expected of them. In this episode, the guys interview Scott, a veteran firefighter and paramedic with 26 years of experience. Scott shares his compelling stories... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Scott Martin
Lieutenant, West Metro Fire Department
West Metro Fire Department
Episode: Firefighter (Scott)
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)
Natalie News
Representative of Canine Companions, discussing service dogs and charitable donations.
Canine Companions
Episode: Carry-On: You Can't Handle the Truth!
Joe Harvey
Chief of Police, Golden Police Department (Colorado)
Golden Police Department
Episode: Police Chief (Capt. Joe Harvey)
Alina Sarnatska
Battlefield medic, writer
Leleka Foundation (guest role)
Episode: Ukrainian Battlefield Medic (Alina Sarnatska; ft. The Leleka Foundation)
Iryna Solomko
Head of strategic communications for the Leleka Foundation
Leleka Foundation
Episode: Ukrainian Battlefield Medic (Alina Sarnatska; ft. The Leleka 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 19 ratings
  • 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 States23 days 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

Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Firefighter (Brad Lilly)
Q: What helped you move from the darkest moments to a more constructive path today?
He describes mindfulness, reading John Kabat-Zinn, the importance of focusing on right timing and actions, and reconnecting with faith and family as foundational to his ongoing recovery and purpose.
Ukrainian Battlefield Medic (Alina Sarnatska; ft. The Leleka Foundation)
Q: How has drone warfare changed medical response on the ground?
Drones have drastically increased kill zones, forcing medics to operate under constant risk, extend care timelines, and rely on ground-based and robotic evacuation, with a need for anti-drone tech and more portable medical kits.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Baggage?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Baggage. 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 Baggage and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Baggage get?

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How many subscribers and views does Baggage have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Baggage 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 Baggage?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Baggage:

1. The Girlfriends: Flight or Fight
2. Island Crime
3. Dr. Death
4. Kingdom of Fraud
5. Deep Cover

How many episodes of Baggage are there?

Baggage launched 3 years ago and published 68 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. Scott Martin
2. Melissa Merola
3. Adrienne Malin
4. Lonnie Beacham
5. Erika Murvick
6. Natalie News
7. Joe Harvey
8. Alina Sarnatska

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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