Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis Podcast with Leon Neyfakh cover art

Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis

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Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis

By: Leon Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons, Sam Graham-Felsen, Madeline Kaplan, Ula Kulpa, Prologue Projects
Narrated by: Leon Neyfakh
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About this listen

From the co-creators of Slow Burn, Fiasco is a narrative podcast that transports listeners into the day-to-day reality of America’s most pivotal historical events.

Using original interviews with dozens of key players, host Leon Neyfakh brings to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present day. The new season of Fiasco goes deep on the AIDS epidemic in America, with a special focus on the early years of the crisis, when a diagnosis was tantamount to a death sentence. The eight-part series looks at the mystery and missteps around identifying and treating a new, contagious disease, and what it took to get the public - and the government - to care.

©2022 Prologue Projects (P)2022 Prologue Projects Politics & Government United States World
Episodes
  • Trailer

    Trailer
    Feb 22 2022

    From the co-creators of Slow Burn, Fiasco is a narrative podcast that transports listeners into the day-to-day reality of America’s most pivotal historical events.

    Using original interviews with dozens of key players, host Leon Neyfakh brings to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present day. The new season of Fiasco goes deep on the AIDS epidemic in America, with a special focus on the early years of the crisis, when a diagnosis was tantamount to a death sentence. The eight-part series looks at the mystery and missteps around identifying and treating a new, contagious disease, and what it took to get the public - and the government - to care.
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    1 min
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  • Episode 1: Gay Plague

    Episode 1: Gay Plague
    Mar 24 2022

    How doctors and scientists responded to the arrival of a strange and terrifying new disease.

    You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod
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    49 mins
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  • Episode 2: How to Have Sex in an Epidemic

    Episode 2: How to Have Sex in an Epidemic
    Mar 31 2022

    As the AIDS crisis worsens, gay men in New York City improvise a response, forming alliances and drawing battle lines.

    You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/fiascopod
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    49 mins
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All stars
Most relevant  
An incredibly well-researched and gripping account of one of the most devastating public health crises in modern history. Through meticulous storytelling and insightful analysis, Leon Neyfakh and the team at Fiasco unravel the political, social, and medical missteps that shaped the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S.

What makes this series truly exceptional is its ability to weave together personal narratives, historical context, and investigative journalism. The narration is compelling, the pacing is spot-on, and the depth of information makes it both educational and emotionally impactful.

For anyone interested in history, public health, or social justice, this is a must-listen. It’s a sobering reminder of the consequences of government inaction and stigma, but also a testament to the resilience of those who fought for change. Highly recommended!

A Riveting and Eye-Opening Deep Dive into a Tragic Chapter of History

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Leon Neyfakh and the team have made an extraordinary podcast. What a timely show and powerfully told story.

exceptional

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I had actually learned quite a lot about this topic before but still found a lot of new information in this podcast, and the information I did know was told in a unique enough way for it to really add something new to the existing content. It's really well told and I love the way each episode does a deep dive on a particular area or aspect of the crisis, rather than a straight narrative approach.

A really powerful and well-told documentary

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A beautifully crafted podcast. These episodes are an important testament and tribute to the activists, scientists, victims and survivors.

Riveting

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Wow, this is the best podcast I've listened to. I knew very little about the aids crisis, but throughout these poignant and thought-provoking episodes, I got a glimpse into the harrowing disease.
You hear in real time from medical professionals, scientists, activists, politicians and from the victims and survivors. It's beautifully put together, and an emotive listen that everyone should hear.

Best

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One of the best podcasts I’ve heard; riveting & even though I thought I knew a lot of AIDS history, I still learnt a lot. Particularly poignant in this time of Covid.

Gutted this is final episode!

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it is amazing. The invoked memories of fears, questions, biases and friends gone far too soon. You ask yourself how the world might be different if they had lived. A most worthy listen.

If you lived through it.,

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Superb piece of reportage (hoping I've got my description correct), one is needed for the AIDS treatment saga in the UK. Sadly, I doubt one will ever be produced.

Superb

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This is a well researched, well made podcast. It's heart breaking in parts, but understated and not at all sensationalist. It's great audio storytelling and should be more popular than it seems to be

Excellent

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It's very well researched and presented, so heartbreaking for everyone effected by the subject matter.

Very well done.

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