This Blew Up | Podcast on Podbay

This Blew Up

The Ringer

How exactly does one become famous on the internet? Famous enough to secure thousands of dollars in brand deals or a spot in a swanky Hollywood Hills mansion? In this series, Alyssa Bereznak pulls back the curtain on the Tik Tok influencer ecosystem, looking at how young creators try to supercharge their careers by moving into content houses. Over the course of five episodes, we will also examine the pitfalls of this new, unregulated industry, and how little protects the creators from the other people hoping to profit from their popularity.

6. The Fallout | This Blew Up

An explosive letter sent to Clubhouse Media Group’s board of directors leads to an internal investigation. Leadership clashes as the company moves toward more explicit content. As the series concludes, influencers and staff reflect on their time in the company’s content houses. Host: Alyssa Bereznak Producers: Kaya McMullen, Amanda Dobbins, Conor Nevins, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Kaya McMullen Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Original Music: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 6, 2022

43 min

5. The Vegas Trip | This Blew Up

As Clubhouse Media Group’s stock price continues to climb, the company takes a celebratory trip to Vegas. But what happens in Vegas doesn't stay there; tensions between management and the influencers spill out into the public. Host: Alyssa Bereznak Producers: Kaya McMullen, Amanda Dobbins, Conor Nevins, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Kaya McMullen Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Original Music: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 29, 2022

34 min

4. The Business | This Blew Up

Amir Ben-Yohanan sets his sights on turning Clubhouse the content house into Clubhouse Media Group, a publicly traded company. And thanks to some good luck, meme stocks, and a stray Elon Musk tweet, it looks for a moment like it might just work. Host: Alyssa Bereznak Producers: Kaya McMullen, Amanda Dobbins, Conor Nevins, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Kaya McMullen Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Original Music: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 22, 2022

50 min

3. The Prospectors | This Blew Up

At first, living in a luxurious content house is like a dream for Leslie Golden, Daisy Keech, and all their friends. But it doesn't take long for this utopian arrangement to start showing some cracks. Host: Alyssa Bereznak Producers: Kaya McMullen, Amanda Dobbins, Conor Nevins, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Kaya McMullen Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Original Music: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 15, 2022

35 min

2. The Media Machine | This Blew Up

So what exactly is a content house? In this episode, we'll examine the evolution of creators banding together for clout, from the early days of Team 10 all the way up to the height of the TikTok boom—and all the internet gossip that came with it. Host: Alyssa Bereznak Producers: Kaya McMullen, Amanda Dobbins, Conor Nevins, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Kaya McMullen Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Original Music: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 8, 2022

40 min

1. The Glow-Up | This Blew Up

Leslie Golden was working as a pole dancer in San Antonio, still figuring out her life—until one day she blew up on social media. She underwent a whirlwind social media makeover, partying on yachts, jet-setting to Thailand, and moving into a luxury West Hollywood mansion with other influencers. What could go wrong? Host: Alyssa Bereznak Producers: Kaya McMullen, Amanda Dobbins, Conor Nevins, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Kaya McMullen Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Original Music: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 1, 2022

39 min