A new podcast from filmmaker Payne Lindsay and podcast company Tenderfoot TV called “Dead and Gone” will debut Oct. 15 and investigate fans of iconic jam band the Grateful Dead who have gone missing or been found murdered over the decades.
The show will be hosted by Jake Brennan, who also hosts the podcast “Disgraceland” about the seedy intersection of pop music and crime. Lindsay handles much of the podcast’s behind-the-scenes work including research and is co-founder of Tenderfoot TV.
One such case that the podcast will investigate is the double murder of Mary Regina Gioia and Gregory Allen Kniffin, two Grateful Dead-obsessed Berkeley residents ages 22 and 18, who were found beaten to death in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1986. A Black man named Ralph International Thomas was sentenced to death for the murders, but the podcast promises to look into a “lack of evidence and conflicting witness testimonies” that could prove Thomas was innocent.
Brennan and Lindsey said the podcast was inspired by a “mysterious tip from a fellow Dead Head” that encouraged them to look into Thomas’ case again.
Other true crime cases “Dead and Gone” will revisit include the death of a Dead fan who was unidentified for two decades after a car accident, and other devout fans of Jerry Garcia and his band that went disappeared and continue to be missing.
“I knew we would encounter surprises throughout this investigation because of the strange coincidences, mysterious circumstances and rock and roll at the center of it all… but I never predicted to come across such a tragic case with so many unanswered questions,” Lindsey said in a statement Thursday. “Many of these cases have not been thoroughly examined until now, and our goal is to uncover the truth about what really happened that night so justice is served.”
The podcast will be distributed on all major podcast platforms in partnership with Cadence13, which has previously produced popular true crime podcasts with Tenderfoot TV including show “Up and Vanished,” uncovered new evidence in a cold case in Georgia that lead to new arrests after over a decade and counts over 300 million downloads since its 2017 launch.
10 Celebrities Who Started Podcasts in the Last Year, From Dax Shepard to Rami Malek (Photos)
An estimated 144 million people in the U.S. have at one point or another listened to a podcast. That number, provided by Edison Research's latest study Infinite Dial, is 20 million more than in 2018. The growing popularity of on-demand audio this decade has led Hollywood stars like Will Ferrell to Amy Schumer to take notice.
To get you connected with the latest conversations featuring your favorite personalities, TheWrap has put together a list of stars that have gone into podcasting since the start of 2018.
Will Ferrell
The comedian is giving you more of the "Anchorman" character in 2019. Spotify announced that Will Ferrell would be joining the podcasting ranks in character as the famed Ron Burgundy.
Take a listen here.
Dax Shepard
In less than a year, the "Parenthood" and "Without a Paddle" star built the No. 1 new podcast on the Apple charts in 2018, "Armchair Expert." Shepard did so alongside co-host Monica Padman by using intimate conversations with stars like Seth Rogen and in-depth discussions with experts like Dr. Drew.
Listen to "Armchair Expert" here.
Rami Malek
The Oscar-winning actor is executive producing and starring in "Blackout," a new fictional podcast in which a small-town New Hampshire radio DJ "fights to protect his family and community after the power grid goes down nationwide, upending modern civilization."
Listen to the trailer here.
Amy Schumer
The stand-up comic and "Trainwreck" actress started the podcast "3 Girls, 1 Keith" on Spotify last summer. Schumer is joined by fellow comedians Rachel Feinstein, Bridget Everett, and Keith Robinson.
Listen here.
Topher Grace
Debuting in late March, "Minor Adventures with Topher Grace" will bring on stars like Nina Dobrev and Whitney Cummings to do a challenge with the "BlacKkKlansman" actor as they also try to answer interview questions.
Listen to the preview here.
Gwenyth Paltrow
The "Shakespeare in Love" and "Avengers" actress started a podcast last year where she talks to a variety of lifestyle experts. "The goop Podcast" is a part of her Goop health and wellness company.
Listen here.
Macaulay Culkin
The "Home Alone" star's "Bunny Ears" podcast features Q&As, conversations about his Velvet Underground cover band and celebrity guests like Freddie Prinze Jr. and Anna Faris.
Listen here.
Conan O'Brien
After his late-night show shortened to 30 minutes, the former "SNL" writer decided to give his fans more content with his own podcast. O'Brien's guest list has included Jeff Goldblum, Adam Sandler, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally.
Listen here.
Alan Alda
The "M*A*S*H" actor started his own podcast in July of last year "Clear+Vivid." The podcast aims to help listeners "connect better with others in every area of your life. Immerse yourself in spirited conversations with people who know how hard it is, and yet how good it feels, to really connect with other people – whether it’s one person, an audience or a whole country." Episodes have included conversations with comedian Sarah Silverman and author and activist Letty Cottin Pogrebin on feminism and the #MeToo movement.
Listen here.
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The growing popularity of podcasts this decade has led Hollywood stars like Amy Schumer and Will Ferrell to take notice.
An estimated 144 million people in the U.S. have at one point or another listened to a podcast. That number, provided by Edison Research's latest study Infinite Dial, is 20 million more than in 2018. The growing popularity of on-demand audio this decade has led Hollywood stars like Will Ferrell to Amy Schumer to take notice.
To get you connected with the latest conversations featuring your favorite personalities, TheWrap has put together a list of stars that have gone into podcasting since the start of 2018.
