Captive Audience
Summary
Comedian Alice Wetterland discovers unsettling "prison crowd" sounds in Adobe’s library, sparking an investigation into their origins. The hosts trace the audio to legendary sound designer Mark Mangini, who recorded incarcerated men for the 1987 film *Weeds*. They interview former inmate Max Cerda, who confirms the experience was voluntary, compensated, and a rare positive moment during his imprisonment.
Topics discussed
Intro, sponsors, and show premise
Alice's mystery: strange prison sounds in Adobe
Investigating the source of the audio files
Using metadata and the John McAfee story
Identifying sound designer Mark Mangini
Recording at Stateville for the movie Weeds
Sponsors: DripDrop and Built
Interview with former inmate Max Cerda
Resolution, compensation, and outro
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