← DISGRACELAND
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- [00:00]
Amazon Hub Delivery Announcer
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- [00:30]
Danielle Fishel
This is Danielle Fishel and Ryder Strong
- [00:32]
Ryder Strong
from Pod Meets World.
- [00:34]
Danielle Fishel
As cat parents, Ryder and I know the feeling of being ignored by our cats. I often wonder, does my cat even love me?
- [00:41]
Jake Brennan
Well, there's only one solution to solve that.
- [00:43]
Malcolm Gladwell
Sheba.
- [00:44]
Danielle Fishel
Feed your cat Sheba and go from feeling ignored to truly adored in 12 days, guaranteed or your money back.
- [00:51]
Ryder Strong
Sheba has so many incredible products that
- [00:53]
Danielle Fishel
can satisfy even the pickiest eater, like New Sheba Grilled. Made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world, they are savory strips in a succulent sauce that cats are sure to love and it's 100% complete and balanced with essential vitamins and nutrients for adult cats like my bill, Made without artificial flavors or preservatives, no corn, wheat or soy. To learn more, check out shiba.com want
- [01:19]
Amazon Hub Delivery Announcer
to earn extra income for your business? Amazon Hub Delivery is looking for ambitious business owners to assist with local deliveries. When you become a partner, you and your staff will deliver packages to customers in your area on its schedule that works for you. With each package delivered, you'll gain extra income and exposure for your business. Plus, Amazon Hub Delivery makes it easy to get started. There's no upfront costs, delivery experience or long term contracts required. Sign up to learn more@Amazon.com hubdelivery that's
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Cologuard Announcer
Amazon.com hubdelivery this message is brought to you by Cologuard. If you recorded songs off the radio for a mixtape, it might be time to screen for colon cancer. The Cologuard test is non invasive, requires no special prep or time off, and you start screening right from your home. It's just three simple steps. Set up, sample and ship. If you're 45 or older and at average risk, ask your doctor about the Cologuard test, available by prescription only. Learn more or request a prescription@cologuard.com podcast
- [02:18]
Ryan Seacrest
hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals that earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Host, Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.
- [02:49]
Malcolm Gladwell
This episode contains content that may be
- [02:51]
Jake Brennan
disturbing to some listeners.
- [02:53]
Ryan Seacrest
Please check the show notes for more information.
- [02:56]
Jake Brennan
Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis. This is the story of River Phoenix, a once in a generation actor, big talent and big heart. It's also the story of a religious cult, a disappearing guitar player, hustlers out on Vaseline Alley, and a deadly speedball and a death outside the Viper Room. It's the story of not only a great actor, but of that actor's friends who made great music. Unlike that music I played for you at the top of the show. That wasn't great music. That was a preset loop from my melotron called Okie Dokie Smokey Bear MK2. I played you that loop because I can't afford the rights to Dream Lover by Mariah Carey. And why would I play you that specific slice of emotion sampling cheese could I afford it? Because that was the number one song in America on October 31, 1993. And that was the day that River Phoenix died suddenly on the Sunset Boulevard sidewalk. On this episode, religious cults, disappearing guitar players, Back Alley hustlers, and late great River Phoenix. I'm Jake Brennan and this is Disgrace. Although some hadn't seen him in a few years, they all knew they would miss him forever. Filmmakers like Gus Van Zant and Neil Jordan dedicated their latest movies to his memory. REM Dedicated their new album Monster to him. And later a song. The letter bore an inscription with his name on the sleeve of its single. The Cult. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Natalie Merchant, Belinda Carlisle, Rufus Wainwright, the Stereophonics. Not a surface. They all wrote songs that were directly about his legacy or about the tragedy of his untimely death. And every person behind every song, every movie, and every other piece of art that strived to quantify the sense of loss all acknowledged one truism. The most important thing is the hardest thing to say. To paraphrase Stephen King. Anyway, he was only 23, the most talented actor of his generation. His greatest roles lay ahead of him, and he was gone. It was too soon. He was too young. How do you say that? How do you convey exactly what that all means it was near the end of 1993 when River Phoenix walked into the Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard. The room was dark. It was always dark inside the Viper Room, that Hollywood club way so dark that the stars could disappear. It had been that way since 1903. 8825 Sunset Boulevard. For over a hundred years, the LA Hideaway, on the corner of Sunset and Larrabee was known by many names. The Cotton Club, Roo angel, the Last Call. The melody room. Filthy McNasty's the Central. In the 1940s, it was a hangout for wise guy Mickey Cohen, who ran dirty money through the basement. In the 1950s, it was a strip joint again with mob cash and mob muscle until it was shut down for violating obscenity laws. In the 1980s, it was a dive bar where John Belushi could be spotted in the shadows and off the radar and on the rails. Just months before River Phoenix walked inside on that fateful evening, October 30th, going on 31st, 1993, Johnny Depp had outbid both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Frank Stallone to become the club's new owner. The address maintained its CNBC allure, even if the venue's low lit vibe made it hard to see anything at all. A Tom Petty played their gratis on opening night. Unlike the story about Chris Chambers, the character river played in Stand By Me, the Rob Reiner film adapted from a Stephen King novella called the Body, river did encounter two men arguing inside the Viper Room when he entered, and there was no knife. And river wasn't stabbed in the throat as he tried to keep the peace like the fictional Chris Chambers had been. But river was the kind of person to keep the peace. He was big on peace, big on love, big on family and veganism and goodness to others and to the earth itself. He was the kind of guy he wanted for a brother, the kind of guy he could bring home to mom. The kind of guy who was up for any adventure. The crazier, the better. The kind of actor that directors only found once every generation, if they were lucky. Rob Reiner found that actor when he cast river in Stand by me. That was 1986. It was River's breakout role. Coming of age flick, Piss Up a Rope Man. And that's all river had been doing up until that point. Coming of age, river was just 15. He was Chris Chambers because he had already lived that role, just like he had lived the role of Charlie fox in Peter Weir's the Mosquito coast, released later in 86 river played the son of a brilliant inventor, Harrison Ford, who rejects the commercialism of the United States and moves his family to Central America. River was intimately familiar with that narrative. He could also relate to the role of Danny Pope in Running on Empty, directed by veteran Sidney Lumet, who'd worked with everyone from Al Pacino to Paul Newman. In that 1988 film, river played the son of counterculture radicals who were on the run from the FBI and never stayed in one place for too long. River knew about counterculture just like he knew about the rejection of American commercialism. River pulled from his own life experiences to make each character feel lived in. Unlike a lot of his contemporaries, river had something unique, something special. He burrowed into his roles like the method actors of yore and delivered performances that transcended his straight out of central casting good looks. That all changed after Halloween 1993, shortly after river died on a Sunset Boulevard sidewalk. The tragedy of his death overshadowed all all that other stuff. His talent, his choice roles, his goodness. Fame will do that, because fame doesn't care about what movies you were in or the sort of impact you made while you were around. Fame just wants to know how it all ended. Fame wants the stuff from the dark room, the room where you disappeared, where your star went out, the room that you managed to emerge from only to collapse on cold asphalt under the pall of Hollywood light pollution. River's next role was supposed to have been Daniel Malloy in Neil Jordan's adaptation of the Anne Rice novel Interview with a Vampire, a role that ultimately went to Christian Slater. Accepting that role was a calculated move. It must River's image. He'd been mussing that image ever since his pinup photos graced the pages of fan rags like Teen Beat and bop. His dedication to the cultivation of himself as an actor was at the center of the best stories about river, the stories people told to keep the memories alive. The ones that made the campfire circles and tracks out into the woods where trains rumbled down nearby tracks and junkyard dogs failed to live up to their legend. River lived up to his legend, even when he was denying his own legend. Gainesville, Florida. 1989. A skinhead at the party made River Phoenix as the River Phoenix, the one who'd just been at the Oscars, the one who was trying to blend in with the locals, play shows with his alt rock rock band Alakazadik. The same one who'd spent the day tearing down some of those old Tiger Beat pinup photos at a rival band had stapled next to the flyers for his band's upcoming show at the Hardback. The skinhead knew he wasn't just another dude. He wasn't going to let him slip into anonymity that easily. But river was feeling contrarian. He was all method. He slipped into a role. He told the skinhead that his name was Rio. You must be thinking of another guy, he said. I'm Rio, not River. There's a difference. Another skinhead got in on the debate. He summoned a third, and soon river was surrounded. Nah, man, you're full of shit. One of the skinhead spat, his head tilted. Why you full of shit? You got a fucking problem with me? No, river responded. No problem. He looked his three tormentors in the eyes. Just not interested in having this conversation right now. And the skinheads laughed. Not interested. And they laughed some more. Not interested? Are you interested in my fist and your face? Are you interested in my boot up your fucking ass? Or are you too good for that too? Look, Riverset, you want to beat the shit out of me, fine. Why do you want to beat the shit out of me? Because I look like someone else? Because I am someone else? Because you think I'm not telling you the truth? The skinheads paused. Wait. They were confused. Did they not want to beat the shit out of him? Was he actually not the person that he thought he was? Was he telling the truth? Too many questions. The confrontation had become all pretzel logic and was therefore rote. In the process, however, River Phoenix had become someone completely different. Right there before their eyes. Hollywood, February 1971 John McVie looked out the window of his room at the Hollywood Hawaiian Hotel. Yuka street was eerily calm, but John's anxiety was on 11. His English band, Fleetwood Mac, had just rolled into town on their American tour. It was supposed to be a rebirth, their first record in tour without founding member Peter Green. They had a lot to prove, and they were scheduled to prove it for three straight nights at the Whiskey A Go Go. There was one major problem. Fleetwood Mac's guitarist and singer, Jeremy Spencer, was missing. He left after they checked into the hotel, said he was going to the grocery store. When hours passed and it was obvious that Jeremy wasn't coming back, the band went into panic mode. They called the British Consulate. They called the lapd. They called their label, Warner Bros. They even got the Whiskey's owner, Elmer Valentine, a former Chicago cop with a storied history of losing and finding guys via his connections in organized crime, to join the search. But no dice. There would be no Fleetwood Mac shows at the Whisky that week. Three days later, the phone in John's hotel room rang. It was the band's manager, Clifford Davis. The voice on the other end of the line was frantic. John, you're not going to believe this. They found him. They found Jeremy. But you're not going to believe this. Jeremy had gone tropo with the Jesus freaks. He was found dancing, chanting and praying alongside 400 others at a four story building in LA's gritty downtown, the makeshift headquarters of the Children of God, a pseudo revolutionary religious sect that preached change through rejecting societal norms. Jeremy's hair was cut short. He was wearing a sackcloth. He had given his $200 over to the Children of God, or more accurately, to its self appointed prophet, David Brandt Berg. Berg was a pastor who had fallen from grace. Booted from an evangelical church on suspicions of sexual misconduct, he rebounded by attracting impressionable hippies along the beaches of greater LA to what he called Teens for for Christ. The hippies called him Father David or Moses or eventually just Mo. By the time Jeremy Spencer was absorbed into Mo's fold, Teens for Christ had morphed into Children of God. Its membership was growing exponentially. Mo was seizing the attention, not to mention the worldly possessions of 20 something counterculture types who continued to desperately seek out the hippie dream. The same hippie dream that had begun its death spiral a few years earlier at the Rolling Stones deadly Altamont Festival. John and the others in Fleetwood Mac hardly recognized their bandmate. All it took was a few days for Jeremy to become someone else. He had nothing. He wanted nothing. He said very little. They asked Jeremy to return, but he refused. He renounced Fleetwood Mac. He renounced materialism. He renounced his wife and his two children. He wasn't ever turning back. He was a child of God now. Crockett, Texas, 1972 Fleetwood Mac's Sentimental lady crackled from the speakers as John Bottom drove his VW down I45. Sitting behind him, his wife Arlen held their two year old boy, River Jude and sang along. River was their first child, though they were currently expecting another. He was born at a peppermint farm in Madras, Oregon, which John and Arlen stumbled upon while driving around with their DIY mobile commute. With Arlen nearing her due date, they had put down stakes for a spell and the couple's commune members worked the farm in exchange for a place to crash. The idealism of their hippie Mo is what led John and Arlen to Oregon in the first place and also what led them to Texas now they were wanderers, peace and lovers. And they knew there was more to life than materialism. There was a higher consciousness out there for the taking. War was over if you wanted it. And they were searching for something, something real, something true. And they would know it when they found it. Just like he, John Bottom, had known that she, Arlen Dunetz, was the one when he first saw her standing on the edge of Santa Monica boulevard back in 1967, thumbs stuck out in the dry Los Angeles air. She took his breath away. He pulled the VW over, offered her a ride. That was that, brother. And they started a new journey together. In that moment, it was fate. From there, fate gave them a mobile commune. And then the Peppermint Farm. And then river arrived. And then cut to another epic VW odyssey with John and Arlen river in tow, of course, still searching for that thing, that honest, real thing, somewhere away from the trappings of stuff, free from political and economic ideologies that smothered creativity and individuality. And they would know it when they found it. And in Crockett, Texas, in 1972, they thought they'd found it. The Children of God community in Crockett was one of over a hundred that had popped up across the United States and Canada in the early 70s. And at each one members were expected to follow the same rules. Reject society, reject materialism, reject give up all your worldly possessions, don't pay taxes and don't vote. David Brant Berg, AKA Father David, AKA Moe. So called children were also expected to proselytize. They sang songs, they bore witness, they handed out pamphlets. John and Arlen were put in the group's leadership track and soon they were seeing the world and spreading the word. From Mexico to Puerto Rico to Venezuela. And during their four year tenure as proselytizers, their family grew. A girl, Rain, Joan of Arc, and then another boy, Joaquin Raphael, and then another girl, Liberty. Mariposa, river and Rain took to the street corners of Caracas with a guitar and sang songs to scrounge up tips. There was a darker reasoning behind MO their leader's call to live lean and live communally. The apocalypse was near and it was best to unburden yourself of such meaningless flotsam and jetsam before the biblical shit hit the fan. But families like the Bottoms were being duped by Moe's culture because that's what it was, a cult. They weren't told about everything that was going on behind the scenes. There were unspeakable things happening in the darkness, behind closed doors. Some light was shed on the true nature of Moe's cult when he sent around a missive to his flock that encouraged women to freely practice what he dubbed flirty fishing. In other words, find wealthy and powerful men, sleep with them, and convince them to turn their money and their bodies over to the Children of God. When that piece of mail arrived in the Bottom's mailbox, the wool was pulled from their eyes. They began to see the cult for what it really was, and it wasn't that real true thing they had searched so long for on the road. They severed their ties with the Children of God for good. It wasn't until much later that more of the cult's truth emerged. Mo had been openly promoting incest and pedophilia in the ranks. Children were encouraged to experiment sexually with other children, and according to Mo, it wasn't taboo for adults to engage in sexual acts with kids either. Back in 1978, the bottom family split for good from David Brant Berg, AKA Mo and his Children of God when they boarded a cargo ship in Caracas and sailed to Miami and they would search for a better reality. They would make a fresh start. And they cleansed the past by adopting a new surname, Phoenix, which was rich in meaning for River. It was his first experience becoming someone new. We'll be right back after this.
- [20:35]
Ryan Seacrest
Word, Word, Word.
- [20:37]
Ryder Strong
Alright, quick quiz for the hiring managers out there. What's worse, being understaffed or being poorly staffed? Well, that's a trick question because both are recipes for chaos. Either way, just say to yourself, this is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. You'll get matched with candidates that meet the skills, certifications and everything else you're looking for. Or go a different way and get no traction. Seriously, Sponsored Jobs posted directly on indeed are 95% more likely to report a hire than non sponsored jobs. It really is a no brainer. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results when you need the right person to cut through the chaos. This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help your job get the premium status it deserves@ Indeed.com podcast just go to Indeed.com podcast right now. Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs.
- [21:42]
Malcolm Gladwell
Hello. Hello, I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast smart talks with IBM. I recently sat down with IBM's chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna and I asked him how can companies use AI to its fullest potential? To create smarter business. My one advice to them Pick areas you can scale. Don't pick the shiny little toys on the side. For example, if anybody has more than 10% of what they had for customer service 10 years ago, they're already five years behind. If anybody is not using AI to make their developers who write software 30% more productive today with the goal of being 70% more productive. Yeah, wow. So we are not asking our clients to be the first experiment on it. We say you can leverage what we did. We're happy to bring out all our learnings, including what needs to change in the process. Because the biggest change is not technology. It's getting people to accept that there's a different way to do things. To listen to the full conversation, visit IBM.com smarttalks.
- [23:00]
Amazon Hub Delivery Announcer
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- [23:59]
Ryan Seacrest
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock Up Savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for store wide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, post Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pickup or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.
- [24:30]
Cologuard Announcer
This message is brought to you by Cologuard. If you ever printed out directions and hoped you didn't miss a turn, it may be time for you to screen for colon cancer. Luckily, things are a lot easier these days, even screening for colon cancer when caught early, colon cancer is treatable in nine out of 10 people with more options than ever. It's key to start screening at 45 if you are at average risk. The Cologuard test is non invasive, requires no special prep or time off, and it ships right to your door so you can use it in the privacy of your own home with just three simple setup, sample and ship. Completing your Cologuard test is easier than finding the right track on your mixtape. If you're 45 or older and at average risk. Ask your doctor about the Cologuard test, available by prescription only. Learn more or request a prescription@cologuard.com podcast. Do not use the Cologuard products if you have had adenomas, which are a type of colon polyp that can sometimes become cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or other hereditary syndromes, a personal or first degree family history of colorectal cancer, or a positive result from another colon cancer screening method with that test's recommended screening interval. Cologuard results should be interpreted with caution. A positive test result does not confirm the presence of cancer. Patients with a positive test result should be referred for a colonoscopy. A negative test result does not confirm the absence of cancer. Patients with a negative test result should discuss with their doctor when they need to be tested again. False positives and false negative results can
- [25:42]
Danielle Fishel
occur
- [25:46]
Jake Brennan
The Klub kids came from the suburbs. They came from Gresham and Beaverton, and they came across the Columbia river from Vancouver. When they made it to Portland to the City nightclub on Northwest 13th Avenue, the Boys could finally take their shirts off and the girls could ignore the boys, and they all could feel free to be whoever they truly were. Gay, bi, straight, curious, unsure, whatever. Most nights, the line to get inside the alcohol free, all ages club stretched down the sidewalk and the anticipation to get beyond the front door was palpable. Each time the door would open to let in another guest, unrelenting bass would ooze out into the night. So would a steady waft of clove cigarettes. The club kid at the front of the line would get the customary pat down and then would walk inside past the sign at the front office, the one that prohibited over heterosexual behavior, and then on into the main room, a dance floor heaving to the rhythm of house music in the flash of strobes. Boys in wigs, girls with shaved heads, studded collars next to pop preppy collars. From 10pm to 2am every Wednesday through Sunday, anything went. The City nightclub was the only place in Portland where marginalized kids between the ages of 15 and 25 felt comfortable being themselves. In the early 1990s, it was an important gathering place for gay teens and kids who had nowhere else to go. The City nightclub offered a room where they could live out loud without fear of judgment. August 1990. River Phoenix stood in the City nightclub's long line, just another 20 year old anticipating the transformative powers of deep bass, flashing lights and sweaty bodies. But unlike the other club goers looking to be part of something bigger than themselves, river was looking to disappear. He didn't want to be River Phoenix that night. He wanted to be another anonymous Portland street kid looking for something that couldn't be found in the daylight. His locks of blonde hair were cut short, his Tiger Beat pinup style replaced with something greasy and haggard. Thin, sunken eyes. He wore a dirty barn jacket. He was a fallen J. Crew angel. The river was disappearing into research for his next movie, My Own Private Idaho, directed by Portland's hot indie filmmaker, Gus Van Zandt, whose last film, Drugstore Cowboy, took home awards for Best Picture and Best Director from the National Society of Film Critics. In My Own Private Idaho, river would play Mikey Waters, a narcoleptic street hustler who hits the road with co star Keanu Reeves to seek out some idealized version of his mother. For both river and Keanu, then best known as one half of the excellent Bill and Ted, the roles were daring choices that broke from their established Tiger Beat type. The role was such a dramatic shift that River's agent, Iris Burton, didn't want river taking the role in the first place. She was worried it would destroy him. It was worth the risk. Maybe if the role destroyed anything, it would be his teenybopper image to deliver a faithful character on screen, something dark and desperate unlike anything he'd played before. River lost himself in the seedy underworld street culture of Portland. He got into heroin. He'd been using hard drugs like cocaine since he was 15, freebasing at an age when his peers were extremely experimenting with Zima. And so it was easy enough for river to go even harder. In Portland, smack was everywhere, especially in the city's underworld of dealers, users and hustlers. And at places like the City nightclub, he sought out the action going on above the big communal dance party on the first floor. He was looking for what was happening upstairs in the smaller room, the room with a darker soundtrack, more alien sexual fiend than Frankie Knuckles. Because like all great things, the City nightclub had a flip side, a dark side. It lurked upstairs. It blended in among the shadows of the wallflowers. Coke, heroin, and pills were the currency. Creepy old men going incognito or trying to go incognito, though they always stuck out like sore thumbs and they were looking to take advantage of younger boys hard up for attention for a few bucks. The boys, on the other hand, were playing their own grift. Soon they were the ones propositioning the older men in order to make a quick buck in one of the bathroom stalls. River had already been given a crash course in the grift game. That happened earlier that night when Scott Green, a former Portland street kid who was part of the inspiration for the character of Mikey Waters, took River down to a four block stretch of southwest Stark. Portland's gay community referred to it as Vaseline Alley, the Pied Piper somebody's place. Gay bars and hotels where impulsive trysts were just as likely to happen in a lobby bathroom as they were in a paid hourly room. River and Scott took their spots against the wall of a building. The paint was peeling, cigarettes burned between their fingers. The pavement was wet from a recent storm. Scott gave river pointers on his posture. Posture was everything. Posture could make or break a deal, and they watched a kid climb into the passenger seat of a sedan that had just pulled over into a handicap spot on the side of the road. Its rear bumper was dented on the driver's side, headlights cut, muffler rumbling. The kid closed the door behind him. How old is he? River asked. Scott shrugged. A few minutes later the kid was out of the car, stuffing a bill into the pocket of his jeans. He lit a cigarette and disappeared into the shadows on stark dark. We're up, scott said to river as a Volvo station wagon pulled up next to them. The middle aged bald man at the wheel was making discreet eye contact. Just remember, if he box at the price, remind him that he's welcome to drive back home without getting anything. You've got the upper hand. River and Scott never actually followed through with any of the johns they met on the side of the street. River just wanted to see how the deals were made. The two would bail on the Johns as soon as the deals were struck, laughing and screaming as they tore ass down the back streets of Vaseline Alley. Now standing in line for the city nightclub, river looked across 13th Avenue. He was distracted by a small group of protesters lining the opposite sidewalk, and they were silent and pointed handmade signs at the crowd of club kids. Repent, read one of them, the letters surrounded by a cartoon depiction of hell, and the doorman had to yell to get River's attention. He was next in line. There was an issue. River wasn't carrying his wallet immersing himself in the research of the role. He wasn't carrying anything that would identify him as his true self. And since he and Scott had bailed on all the johns that night after sealing each deal, he didn't have any cash on him either. He couldn't pay the COVID charge. Against his best judgment, he told the doorman under his breath that he was in fact River Phoenix, researching a new role. Gus Van Zant and all that. Surely that name meant something here, right? Drugstore cowboy, you know, could you let him in for a quick look around? And the doorman asked for id and river had nothing. Listen, the doorman said, either you got the five bucks to get inside or you don't. But we gotta move this line along. And if you really are who you say you are, you should have some ID on you proving that to be true. I think I would know River Phoenix when I see him. And let me tell you, you ain't him.
- [32:59]
Ryder Strong
Alright, quick quiz for the hiring managers out there. What's worse? Being understaffed or being poorly staffed? Well, that's a trick question because both are recipes for chaos. Either way, just say to yourself, this is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. You'll get matched with candidates that meet the skills, certifications and everything else you're looking for. Or go a different way and get no traction. Seriously. Sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed are 95% more likely to report a higher than non sponsored jobs. It really is a no brainer. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results when you need the right person to cut through the chaos. This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. And listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help your job get the premium status it deserves. Indeed.com podcast just go Indeed.com podcast right now. Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs.
- [34:05]
Malcolm Gladwell
Hello. Hello. I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of Smart Talks with IBM. I recently spoke with IBM's new director of research, Jake Gambetta. We discussed his vision for the future of quantum computing at IBM Research. What we always do is answer what is the future of computing? Whether it's coming up with new algorithms, coming up with better AI, coming up with quantum, or coming up with just how do different accelerators go together? It's our DNA. To answer the question of what is the future? Isn't it a perfect problem for IBM because you kind of need to have a legacy of building stuff, building actual physical machines. Yeah, it's why I came to IBM. I wanted the experience, the culture of building hard things that others have not done before. Where do you imagine we are in the timeline of this technology? There will come a point when it will mature, right? Yeah. My cell phone is a mature technology at this point. How far are we from that point? With Quantum, by 2029 we'll build the first fault tolerant Quantum computer that is one that can run a very, very large quantum large problem. To learn how IBM is building the future of computing, visit IBM.com quantum.
- [35:29]
Amazon Hub Delivery Announcer
Amazon Hub Delivery Wants to partner with your business? Help your business, Help your neighbors Discover a new stream of income for your business. When you partner with Amazon Hub Delivery, you and your team will deliver Amazon packages to customers in your neighborhood on a schedule that works for you, and you'll be paid for every package you deliver. Getting started is easy. There's no delivery experience required, no long term contracts, and you receive weekly direct deposits. Earn more. Gain exposure for your business. Apply today at Amazon.com hubdelivery that's Amazon.com hubdelivery know a local business that would make a great partner? A local coffee shop owner, florist, automotive shop, dry cleaner, you name it. Refer a business today and earn $500 when they successfully join the program. Visit Amazon.com hubdelivery to learn more or refer a partner. That's Amazon.com hubdelivery now looking for Hub partners in your area?
- [36:28]
Ryan Seacrest
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals that earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Hunts, Nerds, Pillsbury, Lowry's, Breyers, Quaker and Culture Pop. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go, pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.
- [36:59]
Cologuard Announcer
This message is brought to you by Cologuard. If you ever printed out directions and hoped you didn't miss a turn, it may be time for you to screen for colon cancer. Luckily, things are a lot easier these days, even screening for colon cancer when caught early. Colon cancer is treatable in nine out of 10 people with more options than ever. It's key to start screening at 45 if you are at average risk. The Cologuard test is non invasive, requires no special prep or time off, and it ships right to your door so you can use it in the privacy of your own home. With just three simple setup, sample and ship. Completing your Cologuard test is easier than finding the right track on your mixtape. If you're 45 or older and at average risk. Ask your doctor about the Cologuard test, available by prescription only. Learn more or request a prescription description@cologuard.com podcast. Do not use the Cologuard products if you have had adenomas, which are a type of colon polyp that can sometimes become cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or other hereditary syndromes, a personal or first degree family history of colorectal cancer, or a positive result from another colon cancer screening method within that test's recommended screening interval. Cologuard results should be interpreted with caution. A positive test result does not confirm the presence of cancer. Patients with a positive test result should be referred for a colonoscopy. A negative test result does not confirm the absence of cancer. Patients with a negative test result should discuss with their doctor when they need to be tested again. False positive and false negative results can occur.
- [38:35]
Jake Brennan
In the early 1990s, the Sunset Strip in Hollywood was a 247 pharmacy. Whatever you wanted, you could get. You just had to know where to look or who to ask. Sometimes you didn't even have to look for it and the pharmacy would find you. Did you need anything? Coke? Ecstasy? Weed? Uppers? Downers? Junk? It was a bad scene for someone who was doing more drugs than he was letting on, perhaps even self medicating as he navigated the demons of his past and the pressures of fame. While researching his role for My Own Private Idaho, river disappeared a little too far into his fictional character, so far that when the shoot was over, he didn't fully return to who he was before his recreational drug use had become unchecked. He would often binge for hours or days and then swear off drugs when another Sunday morning came down. And this was a cycle that played out over and over again. He ran that cycle, sometimes with John Frusciante, guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the LA band river had become friendly with. As he continued to make a go of it with Alakazadik, Frusciante really left that faded pink mansion up Laurel Canyon way, the one that everyone called Houdini's Mansion, even though it was Errol Flynn who had lived there Not Houdini. Frusciante had gone on hiatus from his day job with the Chili Peppers and was spending most of his days and nights at the so called Houdini's mansion during the so called disappearing act. River was interested in that disappearing Hollywood Oct. 31, 1993, 12:27am river carried his guitar as he made his way inside the Viper Room. It was his intention to get on stage as part of the pickup band that Johnny Depp had assembled to perform songs of his band P, as in the Letter. That evening every performer in the band was looking for the same thing river was was looking for. To play against type, to be reborn, if only for the evening to disappear. There was Johnny Depp, actor by day and Viper Room owner by night, playing the role of singer and guitarist. Al Jurgensen, ditching his standard industrial fare and ministry for something far less transgressive. Gibby Haynes, frontman for the Butthole Surfers, seeing what it was like to not be the sole frontman for once. Ben Montench, keyboardist for Tom Petty and the Harper breakers, downshifting from sold out arenas to slum it with the cool kids. And there was Flea, bass player for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who wanted to jam with a unique roster of LA cats and glean some new insight into the art of collaboration. Flea's usual collaborator, John Frusciante, had already attempted to play an opening set, but he had brought that Houdini Mansion vibe with him down from the hills. He was high as he barely made it through one song before we stopped and puked on the stage. The Viper Room stage was as tiny as the pickup band's roster was deep. There just wasn't enough room for river to take part, so he took a seat, guitar at his side. It wasn't in the cards to become another version of himself on stage alongside all the other versions of all the other performers who were better known for doing things besides being in a pickup band called P. And though the room was dark, this wasn't the streets of Gainesville or the meaner street streets of Portland. This was Hollywood. And inside the Viper Room he was made as the River Phoenix by those who walked by his table. Not even 30 minutes later. However, almost as soon as river had been made by those in attendance as a celebrity that he was, river was gone again. He'd split. He wasn't at his table. He wasn't standing in the tightly packed crowd in front of the small stage, absorbing the ripple of sound waves coming from Johnny Depp's band. Where was River Phoenix? He had slipped out the back door of the Viper Room undetected by most inside. He remained anonymous on the outside, too, and that's where he was. On his back on the Sunset Boulevard sidewalk. The seizures started. His arms flailed, his legs kicked, his head banged against the pavement. And the rumble of Johnny Depp's pickup rock show seeped out from the Viper Room's black walls. Hollywood revelers taking advantage of a Saturday night to celebrate Halloween one night sidestepped around River's convulsing body. They were used to random encounters with derelicts tweaking on the sidewalk, but they had no idea who was literally dying right in front of them. Neither did anyone still inside the Viper Room. And by the time the paramedics arrived, river had been having a series of seizures. For about 15 minutes straight. He was out cold, no pulse. They administered a shot of Narcan cpr. They took him to Cedars Sinai. He was pronounced dead at 1:51am Halloween morning. Official cause of death, an overdose of cocaine and heroin. News of River's death hit the wires and the disappearing started again. John Frusciante locked himself in the Houdini mansion up the hill. Johnny Depp skipped town, and the Viper Room closed down for a week and became a makeshift shrine to River's memory. Steve Lightfoot, an unemployed cook who drove a van around town that read Stephen King Shot John Lennon. See the photos that prove it peddled a crackpot theory that river was secretly murdered by the American government for his crusades against animal cruelty. Years later, another particularly explosive murder theory bombshell was dropped by someone close to River. Director William Reichardt, who had worked with river on the 1988 film A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, and at the time of River's death, was preparing to work with him again on his upcoming version of the man in the Iron Mask, gave an interview to writer Gavin Edwards in 2013. Edwards was speaking to Riker as research for his book about river called Last Night at the Viper Room. In that interview, Rykart claims that shortly after river entered the Viper Room and immediately before he began to have convulsions, a friend of his, a guitarist, stopped by his table.
- [44:31]
Amazon Hub Delivery Announcer
Table.
- [44:31]
Jake Brennan
It gave him a cup and told him to drink it. Reichardt's story goes that river did as he was told, but that he had no clue that the cup contained a dissolved speedball. That's cocaine and heroin, and not just any speedball, but one that was eight times a lethal dose. You can easily go online and find many zealous defenders of this theory. The theory that River Phoenix was actually killed, whether intentionally or not, by someone that he knew. These theories from William Reichardt and Steven Lightfoot. Regardless if you believe them or not, regardless of whether or not they are real or fake, they do do the same thing. They displace the pain and draw our focus instead to the scandal and the shame of it all. They also get to a more profound truth. The truth that the most important things are the hardest things to say. And sometimes it's easier to mask grief behind a scandalous claim or a makeshift sign on a white van than it is to state what we really feel. That it sucks that River Phoenix is no longer with us. And how do you convey exactly what all that means when we watch his intoxicating jaunt as a young Harrison Ford in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, or his nuanced comedic turns in I love you to death and the vastly underrated sneakers, we all think the same thing. We'll miss him forever. Because River Phoenix ought to be here. But he's not. And that is a disgrace. I'm Jake Brennan and this is Disgraceland. Alright guys, thanks for checking out this episode on River Phoenix. I called River a once in a generation actor in this episode, but was he? Do you guys agree? Do you think so? And I want to know from you guys, the question of the week is who is the greatest actor from the 1990s and why? 617-906-6638 Leave me a voicemail, send me a text and let me know. You can also reach me his gracelandpod as well on Instagram X and Facebook. Leave a review for the show on Apple Podcasts or something Spotify and you can win some free merch. All right, here comes some credits. Disgraceland was created by yours truly and is produced in partnership with Double Elvis. Credits for this episode can be found on the show notes page@gracelandpod.com if you're listening as a Disgraceland All Access member, thank you for supporting the show. We really appreciate it. And if not, you can become a member right now by going to Disgracelandpod.com membership members can listen to every episode of Disgraceland Ad Free. Plus you'll get one brand new exclusive episode every month, weekly unscripted bonus episodes, special audio collections, and early access to merchandise and events. Visit disgracelandpod.com membership for details. Rate and review the show and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook Disgracelandpod and on YouTube@YouTube.com Gracelandpod Rocka Rolla He's a bad, bad man Amazon Hub
- [47:48]
Amazon Hub Delivery Announcer
Delivery Wants to partner with your business Help your business Help your neighbors Discover a new stream of income for your business. When you partner with Amazon Hub Delivery, you and your team will deliver Amazon packages to customers in your neighborhood on a schedule that works for you, and you'll be paid for every package you deliver. Getting started is easy. There's no delivery experience required, no long term contracts, and you receive weekly direct deposits. Earn more. Gain exposure for your business. Apply today at Amazon.com hubdelivery that's Amazon.com hubdelivery know a local business that would make a great partner? A local coffee shop owner, florist, automotive shop, dry cleaner, you name it. Refer a business today and earn $500 when they successfully join the program. Visit Amazon.com hubdelivery to learn more or refer a partner. That's Amazon.com hub delivery now looking for hub partners in your area?
- [48:46]
Ryan Seacrest
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock Up Savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Hunts, Nerds, Pillsbury, Lowry's, Breyers, Quaker and Culture Pop. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.
- [49:17]
Amazon Hub Delivery Announcer
Wait, everything on this IHOP Value menu is just six bucks?
- [49:21]
Malcolm Gladwell
I told you it was amazing. A huge plate of pancakes, bacon and eggs is just six bucks.
- [49:25]
Danielle Fishel
Wow.
- [49:26]
Ryder Strong
There's also French toast, a ham and
- [49:27]
Malcolm Gladwell
cheese omelette, and oh, they got a
- [49:29]
Jake Brennan
BLT and fries now. Okay, we're coming here every day. You don't have to tell me twice.
- [49:34]
Danielle Fishel
Feast for just six bucks with the IHOP value menu.
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Jake Brennan
$7 in some locations. Available every day for a limited time
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Danielle Fishel
at participating restaurants in the U.S. hours may vary.
- [49:42]
Jake Brennan
No substitutions.
- [49:43]
Danielle Fishel
Not valid with other discounts or promotions. Prices may vary.
- [49:48]
Cologuard Announcer
This message is brought to you by Colegard. If you recorded songs off the radio for a mixtape, it might be time to screen for colon cancer. The cologuard test is non invasive, requires no special prep or time off, and you start screening right from your home. It's just three simple setup, sample and ship. If you're 45 or older and at average risk, ask your doctor about the cologuard Test Available by prescription only. Learn more or request a prescription@cologuard.com podcast
- [50:17]
Danielle Fishel
this is Danielle Fishel and Ryder Strong
- [50:20]
Ryder Strong
from Pod Meets World.
- [50:21]
Danielle Fishel
As cat parents, Ryder and I know the feeling of being ignored by our cats. I often wonder, does my cat even love me?
- [50:28]
Jake Brennan
Well, there's only one solution to solve that.
- [50:31]
Malcolm Gladwell
Sheba.
- [50:32]
Danielle Fishel
Feed your cat Sheba and go from feeling ignored to truly adored in 12 days, guaranteed or your money back.
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Ryder Strong
Sheba has so many incredible products that
- [50:41]
Danielle Fishel
can satisfy even the pickiest eater, like New Sheba Grilled. Made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world, they are savory strips in a succulent sauce that cats are sure to love. And it's 100% complete and balanced with essential vitamins and nutrients for adult cats like my Bill, made without artificial flavors or preservatives. No corn, wheat or soy. To learn more, check out sheba.com.