Pop-Culturalist.com

We’re obsessed with Patrick Hinds, who continues to bring the laughs (and his signature sass) to the podcasting community. As one of the early pioneers, Patrick has been changing the space for over seven-plus years with hit podcasts including Theater People, Broadway Backstory, and True Crime Obsessed. In March 2020, Patrick announced the next chapter in his legacy with the launch of the Obsessed Network and the miniseries Obsessed with: Abducted in Plain Sight. Pop Culturalist caught up with him to chat all about it and his advice for the next generation of podcasters.

PC: You began your podcasting journey in 2013. How has the space changed since you started?
Patrick: Was it really that long ago? I mean, over the years I’ve been so excited to watch the podcast space grow and become this huge arena where anyone with a microphone can make content about something they love. There was very little money in podcasting when I started, so it’s great to see how some people have learned how to make a living as independent creators. And it’s been great to see the world come to embrace podcasts as a legitimate form of entertainment.

PC: What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career?
Patrick: It would have been nice to have had more knowledge of audio production when I started. But honestly, I’m really grateful that I went into podcasting knowing very little about the business or even how to make a podcast. I had to teach myself a lot, and I had to learn quickly, and developing those skills has really served me well.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Patrick: In June of 2019, we decided to do a live show in New York City for Gay Pride Weekend. We’d done some live shows before, but this would be our biggest and craziest. It was in a theater that seated almost seven hundred people. We hired an opening act and a bunch of fabulous drag queens to greet the audience. We had no idea if anyone would come. We ended up selling out the show, and I’ll never forget the moment the announcer introduced us, our show theme music started playing, and we walked out on stage. It was just an explosion of sound from the audience. It was totally overwhelming in the best way possible. The show was so fantastic. That night was truly one of the best nights of my life.

PC: Tell us about your latest endeavor: Obsessed with: Abducted in Plain Sight.
Patrick: Obsessed with: Abducted in Plain Sight is a four-episode deep dive into the most talked-about documentary of 2019. Skye Borgman, the director of the film, had reached out to us to cover the movie on True Crime Obsessed.

She and I stayed friendly and then met up in New Orleans when we were both there for a convention. We went out for a drink one night, and I got to ask her all the questions I’d had after seeing the movie. She told me all the plotlines and stories that had been left out of the film, and we sort of hatched the idea of telling those stories in a podcast.

And that’s really what the podcast is: four episodes worth of new stories, new interviews, audio journals the kidnapper made of himself in the 1970s, and a brand-new conversation with Jan Broberg about how her life has changed since the film came out.

PC: For readers who may not be familiar with Abducted in Plain Sight, should they watch the Netflix documentary first?
Patrick: You don’t need to have seen Abducted in Plain Sight to enjoy the podcast, though you definitely should watch the movie! Each of the four episodes begins with a recap of the information in the film that pertains to that episode of the podcast.

PC: You’ve called Obsessed with: Abducted in Plain Sight a labor of love. What was the biggest takeaway from the experience of putting together this miniseries?
Patrick: My biggest takeaway from making this podcast was how brave Jan and her parents were to tell this story. Like everyone, I was seething with anger towards Jan’s parents when I saw the film. They made so many mistakes that seem so obvious from where I’m sitting in 2020. Which is why, I think, it was a major act of selflessness for them to participate in the film. I didn’t get that the first time I watched the movie. But the fact that they were so willing to tell their stories as honestly as they did and for no reason other than to help other families avoid making the same mistakes they made, I think it’s remarkable. And I don’t think I would have realized that had Skye and I not made this podcast.

PC: You recently shared on your Instagram page that you’re announcing a bunch of new shows on Obsessed Network. Is there anything you can tease at this point in time?
Patrick: Yes! Our next original podcast is called Obsessed with: Disappeared. It’s a spin-off of True Crime Obsessed. It’s a true crime/comedy podcast that recaps episodes of everyone’s favorite true crime show: ID’s Disappeared. I’m cohosting the podcast with my friend Ellyn Marsh, who is a Broadway actress and just an all-around hilarious person. We’re also launching a new podcast with the journalist Maggie Freleng, who is best known for being the host/investigator for Oxygen’s six-part series The Disappearance of Maura Murray. And we have four other new shows coming out this year that I can’t talk about just yet!

PC: What advice would you share with aspiring podcasters?
Patrick: Just get started! Don’t overthink or overplan; just go make your podcast. Listen to other podcasts. Get obsessed with the podcast community. Learn as you go. Make each episode better than the last.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Patrick: Judging Amy. Seriously, go find it.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Patrick: Girls Will Be Girls

PC: Favorite book?
Patrick: Stonewall by David Carter

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Patrick: The Who’s Tommy

PC: Favorite podcast?
Patrick: I’m addicted to Pod Save America

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Patrick: Matchbox 20! No apologies. Rob Thomas forever.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Patrick: Amy Adams. And she’ll win an Oscar for the transformation.

To keep up with Patrick, follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Photo Credit: Curtis and Cort Photography