Pod Meets World – “The Red Weather | E5 | Mick’s Tape”

Date: March 15, 2026
Host: Ryder Strong (with appearances by Danielle Fishel, Monica Tremblain & others)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of “The Red Weather,” titled “Mick’s Tape,” transports listeners into the 1990s as Ryder Strong (recognized for his role in “Boy Meets World”) continues his investigative podcast examining the disappearance of Anna Trainor in 1995. The installment centers on the discovery and impact of a mysterious mixtape Anna made for her boyfriend Mick Bowden, and how this relic from the past complicates relationships with law enforcement, unearths old dynamics, and intensifies the web of small-town secrets, privilege, and corruption.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap & Introduction to Mick’s Mixtape (02:24–07:02)

• Ryder recaps previous findings: Anna disappeared from a commune, Mick Bowden (her boyfriend) was a person of interest, but the investigation was steered away from him, possibly due to his family’s influence.
• Mixtape discovery: Monica, a journalist who covered the case, reveals to Ryder that Mick had left a tape in Anna’s car, unearthed decades later.
• Ryder emphasizes the personal nature and "haunted" legend of the tape, highlighting Anna’s candid, sometimes eerie recordings (03:39–04:32).

2. Exploring the Tape’s Contents (04:39–06:33, 14:31–15:36, 20:46–23:31)

• The mixtape blends 90s alt-rock (Portishead, Nick Cave, Concrete Blonde, The Breeders), personal ramblings, rants, and in-jokes.
• Anna intersperses Poe poetry readings (04:17) and wry, irreverent McDonald's drive-thru banter.
• Her tone shifts dramatically—from somber introspection to sharp humor. One notable instance is the taunting of Mick for his taste in dad-rock:

  "On this tape, there will be no Billy Joel. Fuck the Eagles. Fuck Hotel California. Fuck your dad's music.”
  —Anna, quoting the tape (22:25)

• Anna references Vincent Van Gogh both as a creative in-joke (“Operation Van Gogh”) and as commentary on mental health and societal constraints (22:59–23:27).
• Anna and Mick’s relationship is painted as passionate, combative, and unusual:

  “Everyone thinks you’re the man, but I make you… you like it when I mean to you.”
  —Anna, on the tape (23:31)

3. Investigative Tensions: Privilege, Corruption, and Journalistic Ethics (07:02–13:56, 25:15–26:38, 27:22–28:21)

• Ryder suspects a cover-up: Mick’s father, a wealthy tech investor, is believed to have contributed to the sheriff’s election campaign, influencing the original investigation.
• Monica guides Ryder:

  “Journalism 101. Follow the money.” (08:53)

• Monica considers the risk of sharing the tape with the police, skeptical they’ll act in good faith (15:52–16:56):

  “Every cop, every team... given a choice between something that makes them look bad and the truth, they never choose the truth.”
  —Monica (16:47)

4. Pressures of Family, Fame, and the Investigator’s Dilemma (25:46–29:53)

• Ryder describes his own childhood and his uneasy feelings about Mick, highlighting old social hierarchies and resentments.
• The work affects Ryder’s marriage and work-life balance—he admits neglecting a screenwriting job and feeling guilt about his priorities (29:10–30:19).
• He fantasizes about cracking the case and being embraced by law enforcement, only to be sharply reminded of the barriers and skepticism that come with being “an actor with a podcast” (30:19–32:02).

5. Confronting Law Enforcement (36:03–40:53)

• Ryder meets with his police liaison Greer and Sheriff Laughlin to hand off the tape.
• The tone is immediately adversarial:

  “It’s a serious chain of custody issue.”
  —Sheriff Laughlin (36:59)

• They press Ryder for the tape’s source, which he refuses to reveal, provoking frustration and suspicion (“You see how that’s not helping us? You help us, we help you.” —Greer, 37:51).
• Police try to discredit Monica Tremblain, questioning her professional ethics and reputation (38:24–38:43).

6. Fallout: Publication, Backlash & New Leads (41:09–43:56)

• Monica breaks news of the campaign contributions on her Substack, naming Ryder as the podcasting actor investigating the case.
• Ryder is immediately cut off from law enforcement:

  “I advise Robert Maldonado to no longer speak with you. And Officer Greer is under orders to keep this work internal.”
  —Sheriff’s Office (44:24)

• Ryder reflects on whether his role yields true progress or simply stirs up old trouble, but hints at a revelation buried on the tape that might break things open (44:44, “my biggest breakthrough… I’d already heard it was right there on the tape”).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Anna’s voice on tape (eerily prescient):

  “I love you. I really do. I’ll do whatever I say.” (05:46)
  “…if you caught that, that’s the first of many Vincent Van Gogh references. Get used to it, because I’m picking all the music in Operation Van Gogh. I’m gonna make you camp. You’re gonna hate it.” (22:47)

• Ryder’s reflection:

  “It felt like a window cracked through time. A direct connection.” (05:52)

• Monica’s warning:

  “Every cop, every team, law enforcement team that I have worked with, given a choice between something that makes them look bad and the truth. They never choose the truth.” (16:47)

• Police skepticism, chain of custody:

  “You hand over a tape, but you won’t tell us who gave it to you?... You see how that’s not helping us?” (37:08–37:51)

• On social class and resentment:

  “He’d strut around everywhere he went…like he owned the place. Which maybe served him well.” (26:31)

• Monica confronting Ryder’s hesitation:

  “Ryder, you’ve only been doing this for a few weeks now, right? They have had this case for 30 years, and you have done more on it than they have. Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?” (40:53–41:09)

Important Timestamps

• 02:24: Recap and introduction of Anna’s disappearance & the mixtape
• 03:39: Anna’s voice from the tape first played
• 04:17–05:27: Anna reads Poe, jokes at McDonald’s, exhibits range of tone
• 14:31–15:36: Deep dive into tape’s musical picks and Anna’s rants
• 22:25–23:31: Anna’s strong opinions on music, Van Gogh, & her dynamic with Mick
• 27:22–29:53: Discussion of class differences between Ryder and Mick, and familial background
• 36:03–38:43: Tense meeting with law enforcement about the tape, issues of trust
• 41:09–43:56: Fallout from Monica’s article, Ryder losing access to the case
• 44:44: Tease of a major breakthrough hidden “right there on the tape”

Takeaways

• The episode exemplifies how relics from the past (like Anna’s mixtape) can shift the direction of a cold case, especially when filtered through contrasting lenses of nostalgia, power, and skepticism.
• It throws into relief the eternal tension between “outsider” investigators (podcasters, journalists) and official authorities—raising questions about truth, gatekeeping, and who gets justice.
• Ryder’s personal struggle with stepping outside his comfort zone and confronting authority adds a relatable, vulnerable dynamic to the story—his ambivalence and self-doubt are as central as any clue.

For Listeners:
If you missed the episode, this summary covers the twists and turns of both the investigation and the emotional journey of its narrator. The implications for Anna’s case remain unresolved, but the mixtape and the explosive revelations about campaign contributions have clearly reignited the mystery—setting the stage for what’s next.