Payne Lindsey

Last updated
Payne Lindsey
PLindsey.png
Born (1987-11-21) November 21, 1987 (age 35)
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Director
  • Documentary Filmmaker
  • Podcast host
Known for
Spouse
Cassie House
(m. 2016;div. 2018)
Website paynelindsey.com

Payne Lindsey is an American director, documentary filmmaker, Right Side of the Tree lead singer and podcast host. [1] He is best known for co-creating and hosting the hit investigative journalist and true crime podcasts Up and Vanished and Atlanta Monster . [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Early life

Lindsey was born and raised in Kennesaw, Georgia. [6] [7] He obtained his first video camera at age 10 and later directed local television commercials and music videos. [7] As a child, he wanted to direct feature films. [8] Lindsey made a 13-minute documentary film about people that he met on a cross-country road trip and entered it into festivals. [7] He attended college on and off for a few years, but hated school. At age 23, his dad cut him off and he began focusing on creating and directing videos. [8]

Career

Up and Vanished

In December 2015, Netflix released Making a Murderer . Lindsey watched the show and realized that he wanted to do something similar. [7] With an early interest in investigative journalism, Lindsey was inspired to investigate the disappearance of beauty queen and school teacher Tara Grinstead, [9] a well-known cold case in Georgia. [10] At the time, Lindsey's intentions were to develop Grinstead's story into a documentary film, but he realized he did not have the funds to film interviews on location. Lindsey realized that he "could produce a podcast at home in my boxers," and created Up and Vanished . [7] Lindsey did not have access to police files, so instead scoured through old news articles and online forums to hunt out possible leads. [11] Lindsey's grandmother lived in Tifton, Georgia, near Ocilla, where Grinstead had gone missing. [12] Lindsey broadcast in real-time, week by week, in audio form. Within a 12-month period the podcast received over 50 million downloads, [13] which propelled Grinstead's case into the mainstream [14] media. [15] This helped uncover previously unnoticed evidence which lead to the decade-old case being cracked and two arrests made. [11] Lindsey began podcasting full time once Up and Vanished increased in popularity. [7] A second season of Up and Vanished covered the disappearance of Kristal Reisinger. [16]

Tenderfoot TV

After Up and Vanished, together with his business partner Donald Albright, [17] [18] Lindsey launched the content creation company Tenderfoot TV which is based in Atlanta. Together with Tenderfoot TV and Oxygen [19] Lindsey and Albright developed a TV docu-series from Up and Vanished. [20] [21] As of January 2020, Oxygen and Tenderfoot TV are working to develop a television special about Kristal Reisinger which will be produced by Lindsey. [16]

In addition to Up and Vanished and Atlanta Monster, Tenderfoot TV also produced the podcasts To Live and Die in L.A. , [22] Culpable , [23] and Somebody. [24] Meredith Stedman is the Creative Producer at the company. [22] As of June 2019, the company had over 400 million total downloads for its podcasts. [22] Tenderfoot TV is represented by United Talent Agency. [22]

Atlanta Monster

In early 2018, in partnership with HowStuffWorks, [25] Lindsey launched Atlanta Monster , a new podcast about the infamous Atlanta Child Murders, which occurred between 1979 - 1981 with over 25 victims murdered in Atlanta. [26] [27] Lindsey had never heard of the case until his business partner, Donald Albright, told him about the murders. [28] [29] Lindsey hosted the podcast and conducted the interviews featured on the podcast. [30] The podcast had over 70 million downloads. [30]

Radio Rental

In fall 2019, Payne Lindsey announced and released the first episode of a new podcast that features true stories with a fictional backdrop, Radio Rental. [4] Lindsey asked Atlanta citizens to reach out and share the paranormal and scary stories to share on the podcast. [30] The podcast is hosted by a fictional character, a 1980s-era video store employee named Terry Carnation, played by Rainn Wilson. [4] Lindsey and Wilson connected after Wilson tweeted that he loved Lindsey's podcast, Atlanta Monster. [4]

Personal life

Lindsey is from Georgia and resides in Atlanta. [4] [31] In September 2016, Lindsey married Cassie House. [7] [32] According to the Up and Vanished website, Lindsey has a brother, Mason Lindsey, who works as a producer for Tenderfoot TV. [33] He is the cousin of 98.5 The Sports Hub radio host Rich Shertenlieb.

Filmography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Williams</span> American murderer and serial killer

Wayne Bertram Williams is an American convicted murderer and suspected serial killer who is serving life imprisonment for the 1981 killing of two men in Atlanta, Georgia. Although never tried for the additional murders, he is also believed to be responsible for at least 24 of the 30 Atlanta murders of 1979–1981, also known as the Atlanta Child Murders.

True crime is a nonfiction literary, podcast, and film genre in which the author examines a crime and details the actions of people associated with and affected by criminal events.

HowStuffWorks is an American commercial infotainment website founded by professor and author Marshall Brain, to provide its target audience an insight into the way many things work. The site uses various media to explain complex concepts, terminology, and mechanisms—including photographs, diagrams, videos, animations, and articles.

The Atlanta murders of 1979–1981, sometimes called the Atlanta child murders, was a series of murders committed in Atlanta, Georgia, between July 1979 and May 1981. Over the two-year period, at least 28 children, adolescents, and adults were killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxygen (TV channel)</span> American television channel

Oxygen is an American television network owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division and business segment of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. The channel primarily airs true crime programming and dramas targeted towards women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tara Grinstead murder case</span> Missing person case in Georgia (U.S. state)

Tara Faye Grinstead was an American high school history teacher from Ocilla, Georgia, who went missing on October 22, 2005, and was declared dead in 2010.

<i>My Favorite Murder</i> True crime comedy podcast

My Favorite Murder is a weekly true crime comedy podcast hosted by American comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. The first episode was released in January 2016. The podcast debuted at #25 on the iTunes podcast charts and peaked at #3 on April 27, 2018. Weekly episodes regularly land within the iTunes' Top 10 Comedy Podcast chart. As of 2020, the podcast gets 35 million downloads per month.

Jessica Lynn Heeringa disappeared from the Exxon gas station where she was working the late shift in Norton Shores, Michigan, United States, on April 26, 2013.

<i>Casefile</i> Australian true crime podcast

Casefile True Crime Podcast, or simply Casefile, is an Australian crime podcast that first aired in January 2016 and is hosted by an Australian man who remains anonymous. The podcast is released on a Sunday (EST) for three consecutive weeks, with a break on the fourth week. The series deals with solved or cold criminal cases, often related to well-known murders and serial crimes. Many early episodes relate to Australian cases, although notable crimes from the UK and the US are increasingly featured, and well-known cases from other countries have also been included. Unlike a number of similar podcasts, the series is scripted and narrative, relying primarily on original police or mass-media documents, eyewitness accounts, and interview or public announcement recordings. Larger and more-complex cases have received multiple-week serialised broadcasts, and case updates to previously aired cases are also provided from time to time. The series has been well received, and has won a number of awards since its debut.

<i>Atlanta Monster</i> True crime podcast

Atlanta Monster is an investigative journalism podcast hosted by Payne Lindsey. The series takes an in-depth look into the infamous Atlanta Child Murders, which occurred between 1979 - 1981 with over 25 victims murdered in Atlanta. The podcast was co-produced by Tenderfoot TV and HowStuffWorks.

<i>Up and Vanished</i> True crime podcast

Up and Vanished is an investigative documentary-style podcast hosted by Payne Lindsey. The series investigates missing persons cold cases by reviewing old leads, interviewing witnesses and townspeople, and on-site investigation. The show is produced by Tenderfoot TV. The first season premiered on August 7, 2016 and investigated the case of Tara Grinstead, a beauty queen and school teacher who disappeared in Ocilla, Georgia. Season 2 aired in August 2018 and focused on the disappearance of Kristal Reisinger in Crestone, Colorado. The podcast also prompted a television special on Oxygen that premiered on November 18, 2018. The success of Up and Vanished has led to the creation of many other podcasts from Payne Lindsey, such as Atlanta Monster and Radio Rental.

<i>Crime Junkie</i> True crime podcast

Crime Junkie is a true crime podcast hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

<i>To Live and Die in L.A.</i> (podcast) True crime podcast

To Live and Die in L.A. is an investigative and true crime podcast hosted by American journalist Neil Strauss, and produced by Tenderfoot TV and Cadence13. Season 1 of the podcast follows the disappearance and death of aspiring Albanian Macedonian actress Adea Shabani, who was last seen alive leaving her Hollywood apartment with her boyfriend, Chris Spotz. Strauss works alongside private investigator Jayden Brant and producer Alex Vespestad to uncover the truth. In season 2, the focus shifts to the disappearance of California native Elaine Park, who went missing in 2017. Strauss again teams up with Brant, plus Incubus guitarist Michael Einziger, concert violinist Ann Marie Simpson, and Strauss's then-wife and author Ingrid De La O, who first introduced Strauss to Park's case.

<i>The Fall Line</i> (podcast) American true crime podcast

The Fall Line is an American true crime podcast that covers lesser-known cases of murder and disappearance from minority communities in Georgia. As of January 2021, it is an independent podcast, after having been part of the Exactly Right Podcast Network for 2 years. The podcast has helped to publicize the disappearance of Dannette and Jeannette Millbrook, a cold case from Augusta, Georgia.

<i>The Vanished</i> (podcast) True crime podcast

The Vanished is a weekly podcast that focuses on the stories and circumstances of missing people, hosted by Marissa Jones. Most episodes feature interviews with the friends and family of the missing person, and sometimes the local law enforcement.

<i>Culpable</i> (podcast) American true crime podcast

Culpable is an investigative true crime podcast hosted by Dennis Cooper that covers the 2014 death of 21-year-old Christian Andreacchio. It is produced by Dennis Cooper, Mark Minnery, Donald Albright, and Jacob Bozarth as a partnership of Black Mountain Media, Tenderfoot TV, Resonate Recordings, and Cadence13. In September 2019, the podcast was the #2 true-crime podcast and #3 podcast overall on Apple Podcasts. The podcast brought national attention to Andreacchio's case. Tenderfoot TV and Black Mountain Media offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

Jake Brennan is an American podcast host, author, and musician. He is the creator and host of the podcast Disgraceland, and author of the 2019 book DISGRACELAND: Musicians Getting Away With Murder And Behaving Very Badly.

<i>Radio Rental</i> Horror podcast by Tenderfoot TV

Radio Rental is a horror podcast produced by Tenderfoot TV and Cadence13. The show is created by Payne Lindsey and hosted by Rainn Wilson.

References

  1. Miller, Laura (March 19, 2018). "The true-crime podcast Atlanta Monster is a meandering mess of a mystery with a hapless detective at its center". Slate. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  2. "How 'Up and Vanished' Podcast Helped Solve Cold Murder Case". Rollingstone. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  3. "How two men turned a Google search and $100 into a hit podcast and a TV deal". Washington Post. 2017-09-09. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Ho, Rodney (November 4, 2019). "Payne Lindsey's latest suspense-laden podcast 'Radio Rental' uses Rainn Wilson ('The Office') as fictional host". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. House, Margaret Mitchell. "Billy Jensen in conversation with Payne Lindsey". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  6. Bevington, Rickey (August 20, 2018). "'Up And Vanished' Season 2 Is 'A Deep Dive Into People'". Georgia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Henry, Scott (April 12, 2017). "What inspired Payne Lindsey to create the Up and Vanished podcast". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  8. 1 2 Hutcheson, Susannah (March 20, 2018). "How I became a podcast creator: Payne Lindsey's hit series leads to TV deal". USA Today. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  9. "Atlanta filmmaker reignites interest in Tara Grinstead disappearance". WRBL News. 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  10. Joyner, Chris (2017-03-16). "AJC Watchdog: Grinstead murder mystery hampered by Georgia secrecy". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  11. 1 2 "'How I helped solve a decade-old missing person's case with my podcast'". Cosmopolitan. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  12. Bricker, Tierney (November 17, 2018). "The Shocking True Story of Up and Vanished: How an Arm-Chair Detective Solved a 12-Year Old Cold Case". E! News. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  13. "Live stream: 'Up and Vanished' creator answers your questions live". USA Today. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  14. "Arrest Made In Decadelong Cold Case After Podcast Renews National Attentionn". Huffington Post. 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  15. "'Up and Vanished' podcast host on arrests in case, success of series". Fox. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  16. 1 2 Czachor, Emily Mae (January 8, 2020). "Up and Vanished First Look: See Which True Crime Cases Oxygen Will Tackle This Season!". E! News. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  17. "Atlanta filmmaker reignites interest in Tara Grinstead disappearance". USA Today. 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  18. "A true crime podcast will explore the chilling disappearances and murders of over 22 children — and it will be your new obsession". This Insider. 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  19. "'Up and Vanished' Co-Creators Dig Deep Into Atlanta Murders With New Podcast (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  20. "Oxygen Expands Crime Development Slate With Four New Projects Including 'Up & Vanished' Based On Podcast". Deadline. 2017-11-13. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  21. Hernandez, Emma (February 15, 2020). "Up and Vanished's Payne Lindsey Uncovers 'Damning Stories' in Jodi Huisentruit's Disappearance". In Touch Weekly. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  22. 1 2 3 4 White, Peter (June 20, 2019). "'Atlanta Monster' Producer Tenderfoot TV Lines Up True Crime Podcast Series 'Insomniac'". Deadline. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  23. "Tenderfoot TV and Black Mountain Media launch Culpable, a new true-crime podcast". PodNews. June 20, 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  24. "INTRODUCING SOMEBODY EPISODE 1: COURTNEY". The Intercept. April 15, 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  25. "Hear the trailer for new true crime podcast exploring the Atlanta Child Murders". Entertainment Weekly. 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
  26. ""Atlanta Monster": In Pursuit of Justice and a Hit Podcast". The New Yorker. 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  27. "'Up and Vanished' Co-Creators Dig Deep Into Atlanta Murders With New Podcast (Exclusive)". CBS. 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  28. Larson, Sarah (February 12, 2018). ""Atlanta Monster": In Pursuit of Justice and a Hit Podcast". The New Yorker.
  29. Ho, Rodney. "'Up and Vanished' podcaster tackles Wayne Williams, Atlanta missing child murders". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  30. 1 2 3 "Payne Lindsey talks podcast news on Good Day Atlanta". Fox 5 Atlanta. September 2, 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  31. Everett, Cristina (April 12, 2017). "Serial 2.0: How the Up and Vanished podcast helped crack a 2005 cold case". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  32. Thorpe, Jen (June 21, 2017). "AudioBoom Debuts In-House Network of Original Podcasts". Podcaster News. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  33. "About". Tenderfoot TV.
  34. "Just Like You (2014)". IMDB. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  35. "Our People (2015)". IMDB. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  36. "Thank Yo Mamma (2015)". IMDB. Retrieved 2018-03-05.