29:I[46696,["/_next/static/chunks/a945bbd300834012.js","/_next/static/chunks/4060b63f78e0382c.js","/_next/static/chunks/65c5d5dcc87c22c9.js","/_next/static/chunks/15a1b1fbd3cf7d4a.js","/_next/static/chunks/653d605fffff2e75.js","/_next/static/chunks/fa59d51a8b0726c5.js","/_next/static/chunks/a33d1a413064ef53.js","/_next/static/chunks/381ae72bfa6637bb.js","/_next/static/chunks/022589ef34b8ee03.js","/_next/static/chunks/efa6f06dc5162244.js"],"Toaster"] 2a:I[22016,["/_next/static/chunks/a945bbd300834012.js","/_next/static/chunks/4060b63f78e0382c.js","/_next/static/chunks/65c5d5dcc87c22c9.js","/_next/static/chunks/15a1b1fbd3cf7d4a.js","/_next/static/chunks/653d605fffff2e75.js","/_next/static/chunks/fa59d51a8b0726c5.js","/_next/static/chunks/a33d1a413064ef53.js","/_next/static/chunks/381ae72bfa6637bb.js","/_next/static/chunks/022589ef34b8ee03.js","/_next/static/chunks/efa6f06dc5162244.js"],""] 2b:I[5500,["/_next/static/chunks/a945bbd300834012.js","/_next/static/chunks/4060b63f78e0382c.js","/_next/static/chunks/65c5d5dcc87c22c9.js","/_next/static/chunks/15a1b1fbd3cf7d4a.js","/_next/static/chunks/653d605fffff2e75.js","/_next/static/chunks/fa59d51a8b0726c5.js","/_next/static/chunks/a33d1a413064ef53.js","/_next/static/chunks/381ae72bfa6637bb.js","/_next/static/chunks/022589ef34b8ee03.js","/_next/static/chunks/efa6f06dc5162244.js"],"Image"] 2c:I[58016,["/_next/static/chunks/a945bbd300834012.js","/_next/static/chunks/4060b63f78e0382c.js","/_next/static/chunks/65c5d5dcc87c22c9.js","/_next/static/chunks/15a1b1fbd3cf7d4a.js","/_next/static/chunks/653d605fffff2e75.js","/_next/static/chunks/fa59d51a8b0726c5.js","/_next/static/chunks/a33d1a413064ef53.js","/_next/static/chunks/381ae72bfa6637bb.js","/_next/static/chunks/022589ef34b8ee03.js","/_next/static/chunks/efa6f06dc5162244.js"],"ProcessEpisodeButton"] 2d:T464,

In the first episode of Operator, you met Mike Pardes, a colorful character with an even more colorful career history. So, when he first heard about pay-per-call phone sex, still in its infancy, he realized there was no better way to make millions. Once he got the go-ahead from a lawyer, American TelNet was born and, shortly after, the 1-900 phone sex craze hit the stratosphere.

If you want to hear the rest of Operator, you can binge all eight episodes exclusively on Wondery plus.

On Wondery Plus, you can listen to all your favorite podcasts early and ad-free. With a library featuring over 50 #1 Apple Podcast hits and 45,000 binge worthy episodes, there’s something for everyone.

Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or an Apple Podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2e:T41c,

During the 1-900 number craze of the Nineties, one company provided the vast majority of phone sex. American Telnet was an empire founded by the man who called himself “The Telephone Pimp.” He ran the company “like General Motors” and got filthy rich doing it. But for the (mostly) women who answered the calls and delivered fantasies 24-7, it was a different story. The powerful stigma against sex work was always lurking just beneath the surface, until it threatened to tear apart the whole company. Hosted by Tina Horn (Why Are People Into That?), OPERATOR is an eight-part series about big ambitions, Shakespearean-level corporate backstabbing, men and women at the cutting edge of a technological revolution...and on the front lines of a sexual one.

Binge all episodes of Operator exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/operator/ now.

2f:T41c,

During the 1-900 number craze of the Nineties, one company provided the va

Where to find Episodes 2-8 of Operator

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