Madonna can do no wrong. It's a statement I've said, screamed, sometimes slurred, to anyone who's dared speak ill of Ms. Ciccione in front of me. I've defended her dating choices, her fake British accent, and yes, her right to inject whatever she wants in her face. Seriously, random trolls on the internet - you sing and dance through 81 3 hour stadium shows at the age of 66 and then I’ll ask your opinion on what aging gracefully looks like.

There's a reason Madonna has been a global force for over 40 years. She's never one thing. She's been a subversive pop punk. A dance music cowgirl. She's played Eva Peron. Madonna loves reincarnating Madonna. Maybe that's why Madonna also loves Kabbalah -a spiritual practice that's rooted in reincarnation and eternal youth.

Kabbalah is a secretive, woo woo belief system that took celebrities by storms in the early aughts. Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Charlize Theron, were all stepping out wearing these red Kabbalah bracelets. The Kabbalah Centre on Beverly Hills' Robertson Blvd. became a hot spot for tabloid snapshots. Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore go married there. Madonna, the leader of this pack of famous faithful, made Kabbalah into one of her many iconic personalities.

But what was going on really, behind those secretive Kabbalah doors?

The paparazzi weren't catching the stories of financial abuse and psychological control that Kabbalah's non-famous members were quietly enduring.

The Kabbalah Centre appears to be something more sinister than just a trendy way to meditate. Maybe Madonna did do one thing wrong. Maybe she joined and enriched a multi-national cult.

Today, I have a special crossover episode for you guys. Joining me to parse through this strange organization are Desi Jedieken and Rachel Fisher - the hosts of the Hollywood Crime Scene, podcast. I love Desi and Rachel’s show, and this episode is like a prayer I wana take you there.

If you have thoughts on Kabbalah or any other celebrity cults you want me to look into - email me at tess@popmysterypod.com. The journalists Harriet Ryan and Kim Christensen did some amazing pieces on Kabbalah for the LA TImes back in 2011,which I used quite a bit for my research. I’ll link to some of their pieces in the show notes if you want to learn more!

Aliens: their existence seems kind of inevitable, right? So why are they such a fringe topic? They’re not, to legendary comedian Dan Aykroyd, who has spent his entire life studying alien encounters. This SNL founding member has a lot to say about extraterrestrials, and Tess brings on comedian CJ Sullivan (@cjsullivanwastaken) to sift through what Dan Aykroyd knows, and what the government is (and isn’t) telling us.

Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod

Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.

Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.

Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod

Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic: The Britney Spears Story wherever you get your pods.

Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!

Brandon Lee was supposed to have a long and successful film career. Instead, he died in a freak shooting accident on the set of his breakout film “The Crow.” He was shot by a blank. So how was that shot fatal? Tess talks with professional armorer Mike Tristano about how and why this horrific tragedy occurred.

Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod

Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.

Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.

Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod

Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.

Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!

Happy Halloween! We don't talk much about the woman buried at Donald Trump's golf course, huh? This strange and alarming story has been on Tess' mind for a couple years, and the week ahead of election day seems as good a time as any to get into it.

Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker

Produced by Tyler Hill

Theme song by Rick Wood

Woody Harrelson is a huge movie star. His dad Charles Harrelson was a storied hit man with a fascinating life. The two Harrelsons shared a lot, including the spotlight in twisted various ways. Joining Tess to talk through this strange noir father son story is comedian River Butcher @rivbutcher

Listen to the “Son of a Hitman” podcast by Jason Cavanaugh here.

Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod

Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.

Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.

Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod

Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic: The Britney Spears Story wherever you get your pods.

Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!

In 2001, Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting clothes at Saks 5th Avenue. This resulted in the creation of a wildly trendy garment - the Free Winona t-shirt. The iconic tee was designed by Billy T @yquetradingpost. Why was the Free Winona fad such a big deal? And why was Winona’s relatively petty theft treated like the crime of the century?

Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod

Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.

Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.

Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod

Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.

Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!

In the ‘80s, a gaggle of pop stars pulled an all-nighter to record “We Are the World.” This fever dream of a supergroup hit changed the course of self-serious mega collaborations forever. Comic, writer, and actor Lizzy Cooperman @lizzycooperman joins host Tess Barker to unpack this beautiful and enigmatic moment.

Watch “The Greatest Night in Pop” on Netflix.

Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod

Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.

Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.

Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod

Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic: The Britney Spears Story wherever you get your pods.

Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!

Special feed drop! Tess has a stand up album coming out! Brandie Posey, creator of Burn This Records and Tess’s “Lady to Lady” co-host is here with an episode of her podcast “Burn This Podcast” talking to Tess about her album and playing some tracks!

“Live from My Birthday Week” is available for purchase or stream everywhere starting 10/4/24.

Grab Tess’ album here!