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In this episode, I speak with Dana Goodyear, a staff writer at The New Yorker and the host of the podcast Lost Hills. Dana shares her journey from being an English major to landing her first job at The New Yorker, where she started as an assistant to two nonfiction editors. She recounts her early days of learning the ropes, reading extensively, and eventually working directly with David Remnick, the editor-in-chief. Dana's career path is fascinating, as she transitioned from writing profiles and investigative pieces to diving into the world of podcasting. Her passion for storytelling and her love for true crime led her to create Lost Hills, a podcast that delves into the dark and mysterious crimes of Malibu.
Dana's insights into the making of Lost Hills are truly captivating. She talks about the challenges and rewards of investigative reporting, the importance of collaboration, and the unique storytelling potential of podcasts. Dana also shares some behind-the-scenes stories about the production process, including the intense research, door-knocking, and the occasional threats she faced. Her dedication to uncovering the truth and bringing these stories to life is inspiring.
If you're a fan of true crime and want to hear about the intriguing and often hidden stories of Malibu, this episode is a must-listen.
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Key Takeaways
0:00 Intro
4:43 Discovery of Podcasting
10:18 The My Teresa Richardson Story
11:50 Malibu's Complex Identity
16:29 Malibu's Exclusive Community
18:28 Malibu Creek State Park Shootings
21:31 Dark Side of Mickey Dora
22:32 Unsolved Case of Maitrice Richardson
26:14 Law Enforcement's Role in the Maitrice Case
31:42 Mental Toll of Investigative Reporting
35:00 Safety Concerns in Investigative Journalism
37:55 Podcast Production Process
39:48 Art of Asking Tough Questions
43:55 Dana Goodyear's Experience with Narrative Podcasts
45:37 Future Plans for Lost Hills Podcast
Tweetable Quotes
"I was an English major in college, and I got to New York having very minimal employment. I was working as an unpaid intern at the Paris Review and writing book reviews for various publications. A friend who was ahead of me in school landed a job at the New Yorker and told me about an opening for an assistant. That’s how I started at the New Yorker."
"I remember right around the time I got my first iPhone, there was this weird icon I didn’t know. I found Rachel Maddow and started listening to a ton of her podcasts. For years, that was the only podcast I knew about until things developed in that space."
"When I started making Lost Hills, just being able to bring people’s voices to the listeners was so cool to me. I feel like I’m hosting a party of these sources and the listeners. It’s a unique way to translate the experience to the audience."
Resources Mentioned
Twitter - https://x.com/danagoodyear
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danagoodyear/?hl=en
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p/Dana-Goodyear-100065190092636/?_rdr
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