A peek behind the curtain and into Fredric Sheldon Brandt's challenging and formative years in post-World-War-II Newark, where his parents run a candy shop. Young Fred is exceptionally bright, but...different. BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month at <a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/start/?go=true&amp;transaction_id=102ff4dcbf10519e9fb78331432dea&amp;utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=1705&amp;utm_medium=Desktop&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=baron&amp;not_found=1&amp;gor=start">BetterHelp.com/baron</a>. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Spin Doctor | Chapter 3

Over two decades, Dr. Fredric Brandt went from a small dermatology practice in Miami to being Madonna's personal skincare consultant and the go-to for public figures desperate to stave off aging. His clients loved him. Fashion magazines profiled him. But as Brandt continued to build his empire—a best-selling product line, pristine homes in New York and Miami, and an absurd modern art collection—he was slowly becoming addicted to his own product. Popular speculation has it that it was Martin Short's scathing portrayal of a clearly-based-on-Brandt character in the 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' that pushed him to his death, but the truth is far more complicated. From Justine Harman and the team behind 'Broken Harts.'