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Artwork for Variety Confidential

Variety Confidential

iHeartPodcasts
River Phoenix
Hollywood
Addiction
Acting
Substance Abuse
Stand By Me
Counterculture
The Viper Room
Environmental Activism
My Own Private Idaho
Dogfight
Film Industry
Oscar Nominations
Heroin
Matthew Ebert
Samantha Mathis
Brent Lang
Celebrity Culture
Dr. Drew Pinsky
Matthew Perry

From Variety, Hollywood’s No. 1 entertainment news source and iHeart podcasts, comes Variety Confidential. Season 2, titled "The Life and Legend of River Phoenix,” takes you through the extraordinary life of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated stars. River Phoenix’s name still resonates with cinephiles and casual moviegoers alike, nearly three decades after his untimely passing. Whether you’re a lo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes11Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryTrue Crime

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Artwork for Variety Confidential

Latest Episodes

With only 14 film credits, River Phoenix has left an indelible mark in Hollywood and beyond. In “The Icon,” the fourth episode of Variety and iHeart Podcasts’ “Variety Confidential,” host Tatiana Siegel talks to Variety’s Owen Gleiberman and Brent La... more

River Phoenix’s story is one of brilliance and tragedy, and both his life and work illuminated the beauty and the darkness of the human experience. In “Gone Too Soon,” the third episode of Variety and iHeart Podcasts’ “Variety Confidential,” host Tat... more

While “My Own Private Idaho” showcased River Phoenix’s brilliance as an actor, his time making the 1991 film also exposed him to the darker side of Hollywood. In “The Turning Point,” the second episode of Variety and iHeart Podcasts’ “Variety Confide... more

River Phoenix’s upbringing not only shaped his worldview but also ignited his artistic passions early on, laying the groundwork for his future career in Hollywood. The 1986 film "Stand By Me” catapulted him into the spotlight and established him as a... more

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Recent Guests

Samantha Mathis
Actress and River Phoenix's girlfriend at the time of his death
Episode: Gone Too Soon

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 79 ratings
  • River Phoenix Season

    Stunning work, I’m finding out things via on-set people what was going on with River. I was teenager when we lost him and his death truly shocked and impacted me. River and Kurt Cobain were the sensitive/kind type of men that this world needed. Once they were gone I felt a more misogynistic attitude arrived on the scene.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    imtifflish
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent, informative, and respectful

    A great show that avoids the error of trivializing these crimes and the survivors, and instead presents intelligent analysis and valuable insight into the system of abuse. As ugly as they are, attention must be paid to the Olympic personality disorders and sexual predators of Hollywood who crafted America’s warped mirror. What does it mean to those of us who grew up ingesting their output -from blockbusters to classic films- naively absorbing the narratives pumped out by these sick minds? Does a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Historyspeaks
    Canadaa year ago
  • So many ads

    Good podcast bogged down by way to many ads

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Dean Blondeau
    Canadaa year ago
  • Do you love listening to adds?

    Then this podcast is for you! At least 50% is trailers for podcasts you will never listen to and the rest is a very basic look at well know Golden Era Hollywood scandals. The hosts have nothing to add to what we already know so all in all, a total waste of time.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    89755fffgh
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Show okay, ads are sensationalizing

    I was listening to another podcast and an ad came up for this podcast. The tone taken felt dismissive of the gravity of abuse people have suffered in the industry as well as the gravity of reporting on survivors’ stories. I decided to listen to the first episode to see how the reporting was actually done. It was better than expected, though I still have some issues with the language used (e.g. sex for fame). Please redo your ads and think about some of the implications in the way you’re framing ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Kd838
    United States2 years ago

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Icon
Q: What would you advise for anyone listening, whether it's a parent or a friend around someone who has substance abuse issues?
Address the issue directly from a place of love and concern, and seek your own support system.
The Icon
Q: In your opinion, has anything gotten better in Hollywood since River's death?
Yes, there is a more modern understanding of addiction, though confusion still persists regarding treatment expectations.
The Icon
Q: River's overdose death predates Matthew Perry's by a few decades. Do you think it makes any difference to someone who sees a friend go through addiction or even overdose in terms of their own drug usage?
Seeing a friend's struggle may not stop addiction, but it could encourage treatment by breaking down denial.
The Icon
Q: Dr. Drew, you've seen more than your fair share of celebrities struggling with addiction. Were you familiar with the circumstances of River Phoenix's death back in 1993?
Dr. Drew was aware of River Phoenix's death and knew people around him who had struggled with addiction.
Rising Star
Q: What do you recall with your reaction when you heard the news that he had passed away?
It was horrifying and just... a huge loss.

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Which podcasts are similar to Variety Confidential?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Variety Confidential:

1. United States of Kennedy
2. The Plot Thickens
3. The Idaho Massacre
4. Culpable
5. Unicorn Girl

How many episodes of Variety Confidential are there?

Variety Confidential launched 2 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.

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1. Samantha Mathis

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