OnlyFantasy
Audible
<p>Leon Neyfakh is a journalist and podcaster best known as the co-creator and host of <em>Slow Burn</em>, <em>Fiasco</em>, and <em>Backfired</em>. He has been a reporter for <em>Slate, The Boston Globe</em>, and <em>The New York Observer </em>and is the author of the book <em>The Next Next Level</em>. Listen to his newest podcasts here.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Season 3: OnlyFantasy</strong></p><p>In this provocative investigation into OnlyFans— the adult platform where subscribers around the world spent more than $7 billion in 2024— journalist Leon Neyfakh teams up with comedian and OnlyFans creator Gracie Canaan for a one-of-a-kind exploration into the current state of human connection.</p><p>Throughout, they discover that the site originally built for spicy adult content has quietly and surprisingly become something more complicated— an emotional marketplace where desire, performance, care, fantasy, and vulnerability seemingly blur together.</p><p>As Neyfakh and Canaan navigate timely questions about autonomy, performance, and profit, a question emerges: is connection mediated by a screen still authentic? To find the answer, they meet creators building lucrative businesses, subscribers who believe they’ve found something real, professional “chatters” who are paid to simulate affection, and pioneers who have helped engineer intimacy at scale.</p><p>Captivating and tender, <i>OnlyFantasy</i> is ultimately about the cost of loneliness, the seductive power of desire, and how the rules of human intimacy are being rewritten online.</p><p>Is what’s happening on OnlyFans real? Or is it only a fantasy? </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Season 2: Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer</strong></p><p>Jerry Springer wasn’t supposed to become the host of <em>The Jerry Springer Show</em>. Before the chairs started flying and the fights became a daytime TV staple, the man then known as Gerald Springer was an idealistic rising star in Democratic politics, with ambitions to one day be elected governor of Ohio. </p><p>From Leon Neyfakh and Prologue Projects<em> —</em> the team behind <em>Slow Burn</em>, <em>Fiasco</em>, <em>Backfired, </em>and <em>Think Twice: Michael Jackson —</em> comes <em>Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer</em>.</p><p>You may think you know Springer, the notorious ringmaster of what <em>TV Guide</em> once called “the worst show in television history.” But long before Springer’s name became synonymous with outrageous guests, taboo confessions, and vicious on-stage brawls, he was the mayor of Cincinnati<em> —</em> a serious and popular politician who many believed was the future of the Democratic Party. So, what happened?</p><p>This series traces Springer’s unlikely transformation<em> —</em> from the son of Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Germany, to a respected public servant, to the face of a show many called a symptom of cultural decline. Through intimate interviews with the people who knew him best<em> —</em> family, political insiders, and the producers who helped shape his show<em> —</em> <em>Final Thoughts</em> will bring you closer than ever to the man behind the spectacle, and maybe even cause you to rethink some of your own life choices.</p><p><em>Final Thoughts</em> isn’t just a story about one man’s improbable career path. It’s about how far someone can go for success and what they’re willing to trade to stay on top. Was Springer pulled into the gutter, or did he just understand it better than anyone else? </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Season 1: Think Twice: Michael Jackson</strong></p><p>More than a decade since Michael Jackson’s death, his legacy remains complicated and unresolved. <em>Think Twice: Michael Jackson</em> is an exploration of the King of Pop’s life and impact — and an investigation into why his global influence continues to endure, despite the disturbing allegations against him. In this ten-part series, journalists Leon Neyfakh and Jay Smooth bring you a new perspective on the Michael Jackson story, based on dozens of original interviews with people who watched it unfold from up close. </p><p><br></p>
Rank History (30 days)
Recent Episodes
20 episodesWe’re All Born Naked and the Rest is Drag | 4
They thought they were in real relationships. They weren’t. As subscribers reckon with betrayal on OnlyFans, Leon and Gracie hear from a former paid “chatter” about how pretending to be someone else for money reshaped her sense of intimacy — and herself.Credits:Hosts — Leon Neyfakh and Gracie Canaan Supervisor Producer — Sam LeeEditor — Diane Hodson Producers — Dustin DeSoto and Betsy ShepherdMix Engineer — Erica HuangTheme Song and Score — Billy LibbyFact-Checker — Annika Robbins Executive Producers — Lara Regan Kleinschmidt, Jules Henderson, and Heather Won TesorieroSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Flirty Little Secrets | 3
A message from a subscriber’s wife sends Gracie and Leon searching for the roots of digital desire — and the quiet thrill many men find in keeping secrets, including a conversation with Leon’s first online crush.Credits:Hosts — Leon Neyfakh and Gracie Canaan Supervisor Producer — Sam LeeEditor — Diane Hodson Producers — Dustin DeSoto and Betsy ShepherdMix Engineer — Erica HuangTheme Song and Score — Billy LibbyFact-Checker — Annika Robbins Executive Producers — Lara Regan Kleinschmidt, Jules Henderson, and Heather Won TesorieroSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Growth Industry | 2
What does it take to make six figures on OnlyFans? Leon and Gracie explore what feels like a modern-day Playboy Mansion, where intimacy is engineered for scale and success. Elsewhere, a medical worker who turned to OnlyFans during the pandemic finds that the connection she sells after hours may be just as life-saving.Credits:Hosts — Leon Neyfakh and Gracie Canaan Supervisor Producer — Sam LeeEditor — Diane Hodson Producers — Dustin DeSoto and Betsy ShepherdMix Engineer — Erica HuangTheme Song and Score — Billy LibbyFact-Checker — Annika Robbins Executive Producers — Lara Regan Kleinschmidt, Jules Henderson, and Heather Won TesorieroSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The World’s Newest Profession | 1
Journalist Leon Neyfakh thought he understood OnlyFans — and dismissed it. After a surprising conversation with his sister unsettles that certainty, he teams up with comedian and OnlyFans creator Gracie Canaan to begin asking what people are really paying for when intimacy goes digital.Credits:Hosts — Leon Neyfakh and Gracie Canaan Supervisor Producer — Sam LeeEditor — Diane Hodson Producers — Dustin DeSoto and Betsy ShepherdMix Engineer — Erica HuangTheme Song and Score — Billy LibbyFact-Checker — Annika Robbins Executive Producers — Lara Regan Kleinschmidt, Jules Henderson, and Heather Won TesorieroSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Introducing: OnlyFantasy
In this provocative investigation into OnlyFans— the adult platform where subscribers around the world spent more than $7 billion in 2024— journalist Leon Neyfakh teams up with comedian and OnlyFans creator Gracie Canaan for a one-of-a-kind exploration into the current state of human connection. Throughout, they discover that the site originally built for spicy adult content has quietly and surprisingly become something more complicated— an emotional marketplace where desire, performance, care, fantasy, and vulnerability seemingly blur together. As Neyfakh and Canaan navigate timely questions about autonomy, performance, and profit, a question emerges: is connection mediated by a screen still authentic? To find the answer, they meet creators building lucrative businesses, subscribers who believe they’ve found something real, professional “chatters” who are paid to simulate affection, and pioneers who have helped engineer intimacy at scale.Captivating and tender, <i>OnlyFantasy</i> is ultimately about the cost of loneliness, the seductive power of desire, and how the rules of human intimacy are being rewritten online.Is what’s happening on OnlyFans real? Or is it only a fantasy?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | Baggage | 9
Donald Trump’s rise to power casts a new light on Springer’s political baggage. As he pursues his last chance at a political career, he must grapple with the reality of how other people see him, and reconcile it with how he sees himself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | Run Jerry Run | 8
While Springer plays the ringmaster on his show, deep down he dreams of returning to political life. By the early 2000s, he seems ready to make a comeback. While some seem eager to welcome his brand of progressive politics, it’s unclear if voters can reconcile Springer’s serious side with the man they know from the show.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | Dog and Pony Show | 7
Springer’s willingness to push the boundaries of what’s allowed on television – and the increasing amount of fighting on screen – put the show under a microscope. Springer and the show’s staff stand firm as accusations of violence, moral debasement, and fakery abound. In the process, Springer becomes a world-famous superstar – but what has he lost along the way?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | Plausible Deniability | 6
By the mid-1990s, The Jerry Springer Show had made a name for itself by embracing the messy and unbelievable aspects of people’s personal lives. As ratings soar, producers scramble to make shocking episodes that will live up studio executives’ highest expectations – and Springer’s guests are caught in the crossfire.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | The Straight Man | 5
As his success on the nightly news in Cincinnati lands him his very own show, Springer struggles to stand out from the crowded field of daytime talk… until one strong-willed producer encourages him to take the show in a new direction.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts | Camera Ready | 4
Springer makes his most ambitious political move yet. And while his work on the campaign trail may not deliver him to the governor’s office, he finds his stride in another arena: television.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | Knives Out | 3
When the scandal around Springer explodes into public view, he faces a reckoning in the city he has come to think of as his home. As Springer works to regain the trust of his community, where will he go next?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | The Idealist | 2
Born in a London bomb shelter to WWII refugees, young Gerald Springer grows up steeped in liberal politics. After taking his talents to Cincinnati City Council, Springer wins over a base of support in a traditionally conservative town. But personal scandal threatens to drive him from the city that’s grown to love him.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | You Can Call Me Mr. Springer | 1
At the height of The Jerry Springer Show’s popularity, Springer himself is called in front of Chicago City Council to answer for the violent behavior that appears on the show. As he joked, hedged, and defended the debauchery on his program, few would recall that he was once a city councilman himself – a rising star in the democratic party – and a beloved and trusted local news anchor. How did Springer go from idealistic young politician to host of the “world’s worst television show”, and what was his legacy? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Ghost Story | 10
Michael Jackson spends his final days preparing for a series of comeback concerts, but tragedy strikes before rehearsals are even completed. In the aftermath of Michael’s death, a reckoning begins over everything he left behind.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Think Twice: Michael Jackson | The Trial | 9
Ten years after first being accused of child sexual abuse, Michael Jackson finds himself in court facing criminal charges related to a new alleged victim. Meanwhile, Michael’s fans rally around their idol and try to help him get through a new low point in his career.Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producer for this episode was Benjamin Frisch.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Colossus of Pop | 8
In the aftermath of the 1993 sexual abuse allegations, Michael Jackson marries into musical royalty and attempts to rebuild his legacy with the most audacious project of his career.Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producers for this episode were Dustin DeSoto and Benjamin Frisch.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Leave Me Alone | 7
Michael’s eccentric behavior and ever-changing appearance pique the curiosity of the public and the press. But was Michael a tabloid victim or a genius public relations ringmaster?Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producer for this episode was Sam Lee.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Michael on High | 6
Michael Jackson climbs to new heights with the success of his Thriller album and the groundbreaking music videos that follow. But he finds that his fame and faith are on a collision course, and he's forced to make a choice.Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth, and edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producer for this episode was Dustin DeSoto.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Think Twice: Michael Jackson | Wiz Kid | 5
As the Jackson family tries to stay relevant as former teenyboppers, Michael Jackson breaks away in New York City and stars in a movie based on The Wizard of Oz that sets the course for the rest of his life.Think Twice: Michael Jackson was produced by Dustin DeSoto, Benjamin Frisch, Kim Gittleson, Danielle Hewitt, Sam Lee, Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, and Jay Smooth. It was edited by Diane Hodson. The lead producer for this episode was Benjamin Frisch.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.