Power: Don King

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In a sport famed for money and excess, what does it take to get to the top...and stay there? Rising from a life of hardship and crime, Don King became the most successful boxing promoter the sport has ever seen—and the first Black man to do so. He is his own American Dream. His flamboyant appearance and commanding personality made him a star in and out of the ring, as did his promotion of greats like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and even America’s musical dynasty, the Jacksons. But his less-than-honest exploits? They made him legendary. Season two of Power tells the story of Hugh Hefner. Who was Hugh Hefner? Centerfold models, Playboy Bunnies, and other women from the Playboy founder’s inner circle, like TV personality and author Holly Madison, tell journalist Amy Rose Spiegel their side of his story. We hear how Playboy changed their lives, for better and for worse. Beyond the bunny tails are darker questions: What actually went on at the notorious Playboy Mansion? How can we square Hefner's progressive legacy with his abuse of vulnerable people? What can the Playboy saga tell us about sex and power—then and now? Season one of Power tells the story of Ghislaine Maxwell (Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged partner in crime). Everyone’s heard of her, but there’s a shadowy figure who hangs above her who you likely don’t know: her father, media tycoon Robert Maxwell. His rise from nothing to fall… from the deck of his super yacht under mysterious circumstances is straight out of a crime novel. His favourite daughter Ghislaine’s theory: her father was murdered. Power is a Sony Music Entertainment production.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Recent Reviews

Sapphire963

Excellent

Interesting! Enjoyed the use of the experiences from the POV of the women involved, and mixed in with interesting and pertinent historical information. Also, the narrator has the most relaxing voice of anyone I’ve heard.
Fro-Joseph K.

Excellent. 5-Stars

Outstanding research & presentation. Can’t wait to hear more from Panama.
Caterina B.

Good podcast but narrator’s voice

The narrator’s breathy voice drove me crazy-felt like phone sex.
Lizziejean7219

Why remove the interviews?

I don’t understand why the interviews were taken off for season 2 with Hugh Hefner. Why should I pay for this if you’re going to delete these with no warning?
DoxxiLady

season 2 is so good!

BEST PODCAST VOICE EVER! Idk why people r hating on her voice ?! Thank god it’s not the usual flat highly pitched grating voice with every word rising in a question? that? most? millennials? & gen Zrs? seem? to have!?! Couldn’t put season 2 down!! ps- I’m really shocked at all of the haters on here, makes me think she was purposely targeted 🧐
nftchcks

Don King Is A Force For Good (?)

That, at any rate, is what season 3 of this podcast wants you to believe. I didn’t make it past the first episode, but as stated early on, this podcast wants to tell you that on balance, Don King is a good guy. His criminality - the many boxers he defrauded and whose lives he help ruin (plus at least one murder) - must be weighed against all the good he has done (he came up with BOTH the Thrilla in Manila and the Rumble in the Jungle), and overall, the good outweighs the bad. Nonsense.
not worth adding

Thank you

I have a hard time listening to pod cast because the narrators talk to fast thank you your the best
/:"2&' is

Boring and rambling

Tried to listen to a few different episodes on Hefner but I wasn’t hearing much info about him or Playboy. A lot of “experts” inserting their “expert” opinions (yawn). A porn expert? Give me a break. Seems like she took a subject that should be pretty interesting and made it so boring I couldn’t listen. And yes her sexy voice is bad. So bad.
BlueLenses

Interesting but is over-written

Yeah, the narrator’s voice is too breathy, her voice seems unnaturally low pitch. She produces a kind of velvety voice, yes sounding like some kind of sex worker. The narrative is written for a junior-high school or high school level. If this is your intention, then you have created a covert feminist education intended for slavering male teenagers. Well done (if that was your effort). Otherwise, the story is pitched in a kind of breathy over-modulated voice. Loosen up and sound like a real person.
MillsHills

Great!

I don’t understand the negative reviews. So glad i gave it a try. Listened to season 2 over two days. Really great dive into Hugh Hefner and Playboy.
Chippu23

Engaging podcast

“Uneducated ‘reporter’”? Are you kidding me? Do a google search or look at her Wikipedia page. Pretty amazing career for a woman in her early 30s. Her “1-900 voice” may make you turn the podcast off after 10 seconds, but it was good enough to make her White House Correspondent for ABC!!!!
Ocean1185

Extremely Informative

Excellent podcast. Fantastic research on the part of the host. I specifically enjoyed how she analyzes the way the American culture affected PB and also how PB affected American culture. It’s not just smutty stories—it contains a great deal of context. I highly recommend this show. Also, the host’s voice is very nice to listen to….I don’t quite get the issue others have.
UtilitarianFemme

Bad Ratings for Her Voice?

If you find it that distracting: you’ve got issues and women are convenient targets. Seriously, this is such early 2000s sexism, I found her voice to be very soothing. —————— Her voice is not the problem —————— She put in a ton of work, thought and research and you can’t think of anything except her voice? You’re the problem.
Kadence404

Amazing show

The information is well researched, presented in a compelling way and totally binge worthy. I’m shocked and disappointed this show isn’t rated higher because It deserves to be and I want more of this content! Seasons 1-2 were both excellent and I can’t wait for season 3.
Blythe5050

stop with the voice complaint.

I was looking for a review of this podcast to see whether I was interested in paying for the subscription, never have I heard people complain so much about someone's voice in the reviews as I have on this one. when doing a reveal we want to know what the content is about, if you see there are 1000 reviews about someone's voice it's not necessary to go on there and do the same with yours. it's not helpful to the people that are looking for a review I don't much care about her voice to be honest just was wondering if they were being honest on here in dealing with Hefner man. after reading all of these reviews I've got no information at all.
kenziepalmerton

Great topic bad execution

Holly Madison and the whole topic of the mansion is fascinating! She was so honest about her time there and it was entertaining to listen to. The host’s voice was incredibly distracting and seemed insincere. The words and inflection she used in her voice didn’t add up.
cpm0010

Playboy obsessed

Loved this deep dive into playboy! Well researched, great interviews. Listening to it felt like old school days of radio. Storytelling, reporting and whimsy! Loved it! Honestly I want a part 2 of playboy even though it covered everything already.
daykelse

Well done podcast

These negative reviews are why this podcast is important… I feel sad for those people. The narrator’s voice does not sound natural but it suits the tone of the podcast. I have watched/read several interviews and docu-series on Hefner and I found the content of this podcast new and interesting. Also, unlike previous reviewer, I felt the brief Trump reference was used appropriately and fit the context of the episode.
maddynyc259223

Are people seriously focusing on someone’s natural voice rather than WHAT is being said

Are the attacks on the narrators voice really the problem ? Or do you really just not like the truth of what is being shared…The quickness to judge is baffling me…what if this person had a speech impediment and took vocal lessons? What if it was just their natural voice? DONT JUDGE OTHERS BASED OFF THEIR SPEECH. Especially when these stories are TRUE. Podcasts are shared with the INTENT TO UNDERSTAND. Half of speaking is listening. If it’s not what you want to hear because you don’t want to understand, that’s your choice. This is a platform for freedom of speech and it’s every humans right to speak however they do and share their opinions on the truth of the matter on THEIR podcast. You dang dolts.
SCBU64

Please get a new narrator.

This is a very interesting story, & I find it well told. However, Amy Rose Speigel’s voice is grating on my nerves. She sounds like a 1-900 sex voice worker.
JDZM3

Really, her voice?

Shame on all of you for judging her voice! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but to put such unkind comments in writing goes beyond simply sharing your opinion. Roll your eyes at the buzzword but this is gender microaggression at its finest. I find the podcast interesting. I am more than half way through it and toyed with giving it 5 stars. Limitations by subscription bother me but I feel like I am getting a complete story.
ᑕᒪYᗪE

Love the content

But, host is trying too hard to sound sexy. Very off-putting.
Jill and Stuff

Porn star?

Interesting podcast but the host’s voice sounds like she’s a 976 operator. It’s really distracting
RoPie1979

Tara Palmari—not the host!

This hyper-sexual host is gross.
MollyWix

One of the Good Ones!

Great history and analysis. Smart storytelling is that is both fascinating and clear. Interviews are done very well, with insightful questions
Janice1966

Good, but …

This is a really good well written show. I would’ve given it more stars were it not for the host, Tara Palmeri, her voice is distracting. She seems like she wants to sound like a porn star and it’s the one thing made the show not as interesting or enjoyable. She sounds totally unprofessional. She sets women back … :(
redwag0n

This is about what they decide to tell or not tell

This and interesting perspective on playboy and Hefner’s life. However it is a perspective and you can tell some “journalistic” decisions were made on what to include, what to not include and what to rise to prominence. Some of the inferences are tenuous at best and the show presents them as fact or real. You can tell that the authors had a story they wanted to tell and made the pieces fit that narrative. You can also see the cracks in that story in several episodes. In several interviews. I would have preferred a more balanced approach, it would have made it far more interesting of a piece.
Bluestone13

Why?

I really liked the content. It kept me interested in the story. But why take unnecessary jabs at Trump? Like him or not it didn’t fit the story. No need for politics. There’s enough meat with the Maxwells.
Food admirer

Captivating

Great storytelling. Fascinating. Love how Amy Rose Spiegel is so empathetic.
kmd1977

Voice and political agenda

Please stick to the story and keep your political opinions out of it. And ease stop with the creepy voice.
bruxa rosa

Has potential but contradicts itself

I won’t say I’m the best feminist ever but I’ve always been quick to defend women based on my own trauma. However , as a fan of the playboy brand and hearing very positive stories my whole life I am confused by this picture of Hefner as this, I guess dirty old man. The interviews on the paid subscription paint a very positive view of playboy and although I expect that Hugh Hefner was problematic like many rich men, I think it’s odd to have these very positive interviews of Hefner and the brand and yet also try to paint him out to be a predator. As a survivor of real predators it makes it extremely hard to come forward when women who consensually enter into situations with men for both of their benefit yet cry wolf when they don’t get their way. The sexy voice doesn’t bother me personally and parts of the podcast are great
MagLoLex

Well Done!

I thought her voice was great!
Onlyinmydreams

Don’t waste your time

Holly Madison: didn’t have a place to live, knew what playboy was about beforehand, asked Hef to move in, free rent, gave him sex = sex worker haggling over the price and complaining about it. She wasn’t an abused child who was assaulted before moving to LA. At any time, she could have moved home. She’s an opportunist.
hhdjksldknsla

Stop the sexy voice.

The voice. Couldn't stand it. Interesting content but sooooo distracted but the creepy voice the host uses.
Carlyq96

I Actually Like Her Voice

I saw a lot of mean comments about the host’s voice. I think her voice is very soothing and a good voice for podcasting. I don’t mind it and think she is great at interviewing guests. I like how she presents different perspectives from a variety of different people who knew Hugh Hefner.
Cool breezezzzz

That voice!

The story is what I expected. But host’s voice is irritating, and she’s constantly apologizing to Holly…
Jess Fick

My IQ went down listening

Uneducated “reporters” trying to act like they are real. Terrible. Wasted 4 hours of my life I’ll never get back. People want facts. Not your stupid entitled political opinions that have Nothing to do with the matter at hand. Stop using your platform for your agenda and report on the actual subject at hand. It’s a joke.
Pshms7767999

Fantastic podcast

I came here to hear the Holly Madison interview and stayed for the excellent storytelling and production style. Looking forward to binging the first season as well. Cheers!
Meaganclaire

Decent

Interesting content, well produced, but host is trying too hard with her voice. It’s distracting, and honestly disturbing if that’s the sound she’s going for or thinks she needs to have.
Sydnee27

Hosts voice is hard to listen to

I can’t listen to the shows as they come out because of the hosts voice. I’m sure she is sexy and we know her background, her voice is way too much!! I am interested in the story but I don’t think I’ll be able to finish the show. It’s too much!! Especially when she talks normal at times, it’s clear it’s not her real voice. She’s sounds more attractive when she speaks in her voice, not that that matters, but I can’t understand any other reason for the whispered low voice.
_1taylor

I can’t take the narration voice

I paused after 10 seconds of listening. It was too much to bare on my ears. The voice is a turn off.
MSNYL

Biased

I found the first few episodes of this podcast interesting and objective. This was true until the one featuring Holly, which is so biased and revisionist it was difficult to listen to in its entirety.
waterlilylily

Can’t stand the voice of the host!

The story is great and interesting but I just can’t stand when the host speaks in that breathy voice. It sounds so forced in the same way that Elizabeth Holmes has that forced deep voice!!
lizzz000

Come on

In the first episode, a guest made a point of explaining that one of the first women featured in playboy was named “shar-LANE” and not “shar-LEEN” and then the host proceeded to call her “shar-LEEN” at times. I stopped listening because of this.
Jlrz63

Host’s voice is doing too much.

The podcast is well put together, well researched, and well edited. The host’s breathy, pseudo “sexy” voice is difficult to listen to at times. The few times you catch her normal voice, it’s great, she might consider just speaking normally.
BKPslope

Good story but the narration…

The soft, breathy “sexy” voice is too much! Good storytelling though
bballreese

Narrator needs to stop

I have literally never left a review for a podcast before but this one drove me to it. This woman puts on this voice where I don’t know if she’s trying to seduce me or put me to sleep but the result is that I’m creeped out and annoyed. No one talks like this IRL. It’s a great podcast otherwise, but for an entirely audio-based medium this woman should never do another podcast unless she calms way down. HER VOICE IS NOT NATURAL I would take vocal fry any day over whatever this is
TheRubPR

Why Do We Have to Pay for This?

After my trial, I’m done. I don’t know why they can’t have commercials like other podcasts & it just can’t be free.
Tracivee

The woke angle is annoying. Please stop.

As if the voice isn’t irritating enough, now we are expected to judge based on the standards of today. Intellectually vapid. This is a waste of your time.
DaisyDreamer3986

Stop with 1-900 Sex Voice

We get it. This is a “sexy” podcast. The voice detracts from the reporting. Please, tone it down. Its laughable.