Banksy Gets His Mask Ripped Off  (with Chris Fairbanks)

Banksy Gets His Mask Ripped Off (with Chris Fairbanks)

Author: Tess Barker April 30, 2026 Duration: 1:04:52
For decades, the street artist Banksy was one of the most famous anonymous people in the world. Like most street artists, Banksy used anonymity for cover, but also as a means of generating mystique. A recent expose in Reuters, however, seems to have gotten to the bottom of this icon’s identity. But did they truly blow up Banksy’s spot? Joining Tess to talk all things Banksy is comic and podcaster Chris Fairbanks @chris_fairbanks (Do You Need a Ride?)

Ever find yourself rewatching an old awards show clip or remembering a bizarre celebrity headline and wondering what really happened behind the scenes? That’s the territory explored in Pop Mystery Pod. Hosted by investigative journalist Tess Barker, this podcast applies a reporter’s rigor to the glittering, often baffling world of pop culture. Barker, whose own deep research and firsthand reporting were instrumental in the #FreeBritney movement, brings that same tenacious curiosity to each story. Rather than just rehashing gossip, she treats these cultural moments like unsolved cases, digging into the archives and seeking out context that was missing when the story first broke. You’ll hear episodes that dissect events everyone talked about but maybe never truly understood, or incidents that seemed to vanish from the headlines a little too quickly. It sits at a compelling intersection of documentary, history, and societal observation, all filtered through the lens of film, TV, and celebrity. The result is a series that feels both like a detective story and a time capsule, revealing how these mysteries shape our collective memory. Tune in for a thoughtful, thoroughly researched deep dive that changes how you see the stories we think we already know.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 89

Pop Mystery Pod
Podcast Episodes
Cats: Crime of the Century? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:56
“Cats” is a musical so ridiculous that it often drives people to anger. So why has this absurd show made so much money, and how does it keep taunting us all with its reemergence into culture? Jellicle journalist, comic,…
What Did Erika Jayne Know? (with Emma Gray) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:31
Journalist, comic, and pop culture junkie Tess Barker welcomes Emma Gray @emmaladyrose (Love to See It podcast, Rich Text newsletter). How much did “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member and Erika Jayne know abou…
Dirty Disney [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:37
Journalist, comic, and pop culture junkie Tess Barker unpacks a question that’s been nagging her since the ‘90s: Did someone put dirty jokes into classic Disney movies? How? And why? The search for the truth leads Tess t…
Lindsay Lohan and the Kombucha Industry (with Danielle Perez) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:42
Journalist, comic, and pop culture junkie Tess Barker invites Danielle Perez @divadelux (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dicks! The Musical, Spiderverse) onto the show for chat through the surprising way Lindsay Lohan’s party girl…
The Blind Side Lie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:28
Journalist, comic, and pop culture junkie Tess Barker unpacks the alleged fraudulent actions behind the 2010 hit movie “The Blind Side.” Guests on this episode are Craig Vail, close friend of Michael Oher and Kellie Cart…
Brittany Murphy's House (with Babs Gray) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:47
Journalist, comic, and pop culture junkie Tess Barker invites Babs Gray @babs_gray, her Britney’s Gram and Lady to Lady cohost onto the show for chat through the confounding case of Brittany Murphy’s untimely death. Foll…
The Bachelor Stalker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:52
Journalist, comic, and pop culture junkie Tess Barker delves into the underbelly of “The Bachelor” franchise. She uncovers exclusive information about the show’s inner workings. Guests include former contestant Sydney Lo…
Welcome to Pop Mystery Pod [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:00
Investigative journalist and pop star advocate (#FreeBritney),Tess Barker is back on the entertainment beat. In each episode, Tess delves into the annals of pop culture history. She indulges in one of her favorite hobbie…