Rephonic
Artwork for Gerbil
Richard Gere
AIDS
Allen Salkin
Gossip
Gerbil Rumor
Philadelphia
Gerpil/gerbil Rumor
Rock Hudson
Gerbil Rumor Infection Syndrome
Hollywood Reporter
Gerbil
Jan-Harold Brunvand
Jerry Penacolli

Everyone knows the story about Richard Gere. Few know how it started. For four decades, a salacious and unproven rumor has shadowed one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Investigative reporter Allen Salkin spent six years chasing its origins — and uncovered a story about gossip, power, politics, the internet and the peculiar wiring of our own brains. New episodes every Thursday.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes5Founded24 days ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmTrue Crime

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Artwork for Gerbil

Latest Episodes

In the 1980’s after Rock Hudson's death, Hollywood's homophobia is in full panic mode, and American culture is whispering about – and mocking – the sexuality of leading men. Plus: another newsman, another gerbil rumor, real damage, and the case for "... more

Playing pimps and hustlers, attacking the press, projecting an unreadable sexuality — welcome to early Richard Gere. Bret Easton Ellis, Karina Longworth, and journalist Michael Gross help explain how the star became the perfect vessel for a rumor thi... more

Say "gerbil" to someone and watch their face. Everyone's heard the rumor. Nobody knows where it came from. Reporter Allen Salkin isn't sure he should be the one to dig into it, but a tip from the daughter of an '80s ER doctor changes his mind.

Could Jerry Penacoli — Philly's golden-boy newsman, be the Gerbil rumor's actual patient zero? Eyewitnesses and archival tape tell a wilder, sadder story than anyone remembers. Did the rumor jump cities before it infected Gere?

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Recent Guests

Rich Siegel
Former Wichita Falls TV weathercaster who faced a Gerbil rumor
KAUZ-TV/Wichita Falls
Episode: 4 - Tail Between His Legs
Andrew Sullivan
Author and political commentator
Independent columnist (The Weekly Dish)
Episode: 4 - Tail Between His Legs
Mike Figgis
Film director connected to Gere through Internal Affairs and Leaving Las Vegas
Director (Internal Affairs, Leaving Las Vegas)
Episode: 3 - Sex Object
Jan-Harold Brunvand
Folklorist, University of Utah
University of Utah
Episode: 2 - The Philadelphia Gerbil Panic of 1985
Paul Cameron
Physician and controversial psychologist
Episode: 2 - The Philadelphia Gerbil Panic of 1985

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#16
United States/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#26
United Kingdom/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#29
Canada/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#51
Australia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#152
Germany/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#208
France/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#17
New Zealand/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#19
Philippines/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#21
Denmark/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#40
Ireland/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#100
Sweden/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#101
Norway/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#105
Brazil/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#126
Saudi Arabia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#153
Argentina/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#157
Switzerland/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#160
Finland/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#163
Netherlands/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#164
Singapore/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#179
Israel/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#205
South Korea/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#206
Belgium/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#218
Austria/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#221
Taiwan/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#223
South Africa/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

3 - Sex Object
Q: How did Gere's public image influence his career decisions in the 1980s?
Gere's image as a sex symbol both propelled and complicated his choices, with studios often balancing riskier, edgier roles against mainstream blockbusters, as seen in the trajectory from American Gigolo through King David and beyond.
3 - Sex Object
Q: What factors contributed to the Gerbil rumor taking hold in Hollywood?
The combination of Gere's on-screen appeal, aggressive press coverage, and insider network dynamics created a fertile environment for rumors to spread, particularly as studios weighed marketability against personal privacy and perceived sexuality.
4 - Tail Between His Legs
Q: How did Rich Siegel respond to the Gerbil rumor and its impact on his career?
Siegel publicly denied the rumor, published an op-ed, and pursued legal action to reclaim his reputation, which ultimately led to a settlement and his return to work, illustrating how persistence and public accountability can counteract defaming narratives.
4 - Tail Between His Legs
Q: What was the level of fear surrounding AIDS in the mid-1980s, and how did that shape public perception of rumors like the Gerbil story?
Fear was pervasive and visceral, with people fearing a mysterious illness, stigmatization of homosexuals, and the perceived dangerous novelty of the disease; this climate amplified sensational rumors and made people more susceptible to believing or repeating provocative narratives.
Gerbil: Inside Hollywood’s Most Unkillable Rumor - Trailer
Q: Where did this rumor come from and is there any chance it's true?
The hosts and guests discuss origins, acknowledge the rumor's longevity, and emphasize the difficulty of proving or disproving a story that grew from sensational storytelling rather than verifiable facts.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Which podcasts are similar to Gerbil?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Gerbil:

1. Criminal
2. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
3. Reaching Out
4. You Must Remember This
5. Glamorous Trash: A Celebrity Memoir Podcast

How many episodes of Gerbil are there?

Gerbil launched 24 days ago and published 5 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Gerbil?

Recent guests on Gerbil include:

1. Rich Siegel
2. Andrew Sullivan
3. Mike Figgis
4. Jan-Harold Brunvand
5. Paul Cameron

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