Ask Me Anything: I co-created a podcast for the BBC about the infamous wannabe NYC socialite and con artist Anna Delvey. I’ll be answering questions about the programme until Feb 7th.

@aliceko Hi Alice, thanks for listening and for the questions. Here goes... 1. How many people do you estimate you spoke to create the series? Not sure of the total but far more than you hear from in the broadcast interviews. I spoke to multiple people who wished to remain anonymous but helped with...Show More

@vickybaker Reading your answers to @aliceko 's questions were super eye-opening. That part on the ringtone is impressive level to detail. I feel like you need a podcast about the behind-the-scenes creation of the podcast or an episode on The Tip Off! @aliceko For #2, doesn't Anna's voice switching...Show More

@mm @aliceko @vickybaker Yes! Anna's voice reminds Elizabeth Holmes' voice. And the tone of impatience when they talk as if everyone were bothering them

@molinos You nailed it with "the tone of impatience". I guess maybe that makes them sound "more important"? I found this neat episode where a psychologist analyzes the psychology of Anna Delvey: https://podyssey.fm/episode/id3800516-The-Psychology-of-Anna-Delvey-The-Psychology-In-Seattle-Podcast I...Show More

@mm I'm also curious how much of the voice stuff has to do with projecting a certain image to the "audience". I know I have a "phone voice", for example.

@isla That’s so true when you put it that way! Lots of people probably have separate voices for home vs professional, kids vs partner vs clients/colleagues vs parents vs presentation in front of an audience, etc. But Elizabeth Holmes and maybe Anna Delvey(?) take it to next level. cc @molinos

@mm thank you! If we hadn't made it, I'd have been longing for it too. The format ... That was down to Sasha - the producer/director - who works in the BBC audio drama dept. He enjoys an investigative podcast and was looking to bring the two things together, having done various news-inspired dramas...Show More

@vickybaker Thanks for the thoughtful answer! You did a great job in the disclaimers at the beginning of each dramatized scene on what's factual and what's dramatized. I also got a kick every time you started the episode with "what's Anna Delvey without a little drama" or something along those lines...Show More

@mm Yeah, it was envisioned as six acts from the beginning - with a vague idea of what each one would cover. That really helped me actually - in terms of structuring my parts, and figuring out themes. I am really very curious as to how the TV series turns out. I'll be watching as soon as it lands,...Show More

@vickybaker How do your experiences with docudramas, especially with the BBC, differ from more "pure documentary" projects?

@isla @mm I don't usually work on documentaries. I mostly do online / print, so it was different writing for listeners rather than readers. Podcasts can also be more conversational. But the journalistic elements were pretty much the same. The same rules applied.

@vickybaker I love love love theatre, so hearing that the podcast was thought of as “acts” made my heart sing 💖 I wonder if this concept/framework could be extended to other forms of journalism too if it isn’t already. @jspinelle Thought you might be interested in this discussion. Curious if you’...Show More

@brendalouisek @write2tg Here’s the AMA with the Fake Heiress creator.

@danny Cheers Danny! I've talked a little about the conception above. I was fully onboard with the docudrama idea as soon as I heard it. Sasha - the producer - had worked on similar things before but this story felt like an opportunity to cross true crime investigative podcasts with dramatic storyte...Show More

Hi Olivia! 'Based on a true story' is the easiest ways to sum up the dramatic scenes. The journalistic narrative then offers the context and all the facts. On episode one specifically, the court statements - the judge, the lawyer - are pretty much word for word what was said. We don't know exactly w...Show More

Hola Ana! I really enjoyed those other podcasts too. Someone suggested there had been too much of a focus on women who scam. But I don't think so. There have been plenty of male ones too - Dirty John, Who the Hell is Hamish? and the Fyre Festival documentaries. It's fascinating to compare. A note o...Show More

@vickybaker Thanks for your answers. One last question How long did it take to make the podcast serie? I mean from the moment the idea came to your mind until the show was aired? I think that the saddest issue about this storie is Anna´s parents. Thanks!

@molinos The idea was pitched soon after the trial. I think Sasha and I first exchanged emails in May/June. Then we met up to compare notes and get properly started in early July. It aired in December.

@kimberleylw Oh plenty. Did you see this spin-off story that interviewee Elle Dee wrote for us? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-us-canada-50662268

@aoneill @aliceko I thought you’d appreciate this Elle Dee spin-off story about her encounters with Anna.

@mm @kimberleylw thanks! I’ll check it out

@isla Great question. I've thought about it a lot. There are some elements to this story that are very New York. But also these super-elites circles are hard to differentiate in many major cities - people have the same aspirations and pretensions and fall into the same traps. I interviewed Maria Kon...Show More

@vickybaker @isla I think we need a podcast series about the Indonesian fake heiress (or equivalent) now!

@epekilis I read that Humans of New York thread. Rang a lot of bells. Check out this episode of This American Life by Jessica Lussenhop https://www.thisamericanlife.org/518/except-for-that-one-thing/act-one-0 That show is great at condensing big stories, as are many BBC progs. But I'm also a huge,...Show More

@vickybaker Thanks! Can I ask a follow-up question? When you decide that a story has enough qualities to support its own series of podcasts, what are the key elements of pitching that at the BBC? I’’m really interested in the business aspects of getting something like this off the ground. What d...Show More

@epekilis Yeah, though the script/structure was down to three of us, you just have to listen to the full credits at the end of episode 6 to see just how many crucial people were involved. This all came through the BBC Radio Drama dept. I can't tell you much about the pitching as I wasn't involved b...Show More

@vickybaker @epekilis I’m still shocked this is the only Anna Delvey podcast in the market right now, but there are like a gazillion Epstein podcasts. But other media like TV, movie and book folks know where it’s happening. Perhaps that shows why podcasting is still in its infancy!

@mm The good news is - anyone can have a go at podcasting! The bad news is - anyone can have a go at podcasting! By the latter, I just mean it's become a crowded field and also folks like the BBC and the NY Times are in on it, with more resources. But I'd tell them definitely don't be discouraged....Show More

@vickybaker Will definitely pass on your words of encouragement to them. Thanks! And holy moly on the number of actors! I’m going to LA next week and @qcode invited us to watch a recording in session. They specialize in audio dramas with actors like Remi Malek and Chloë Grace Moretz (which wasn’t s...Show More