Operator

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During the 1-900 number craze of the Nineties, one company provided the vast majority of phone sex. American Telnet was an empire founded by the man who called himself “The Telephone Pimp.” He ran the company “like General Motors” and got filthy rich doing it. But for the (mostly) women who answered the calls and delivered fantasies 24-7, it was a different story. The powerful stigma against sex work was always lurking just beneath the surface, until it threatened to tear apart the whole company. Hosted by Tina Horn (Why Are People Into That?), OPERATOR is an eight-part series about big ambitions, Shakespearean-level corporate backstabbing, men and women at the cutting edge of a technological revolution...and on the front lines of a sexual one. Listen to new episodes 2 weeks early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. https://wondery.app.link/Operator

Wondery


    • Apr 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 9m AVG DURATION
    • 66 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Operator podcast is an incredibly captivating and well-produced series that delves into the fascinating world of phone sex. Hosted by Tina Horn, this podcast tells the story of the rise and fall of ATN, one of the largest phone sex companies in the 1980s and 1990s. The podcast is a refreshing change from typical true crime podcasts, providing a unique perspective on an industry that is often stigmatized and misunderstood.

    One of the best aspects of The Operator is its engaging storytelling. Tina Horn does a fantastic job of bringing the story to life, weaving together interviews, personal anecdotes, and historical context to create a compelling narrative. The episodes are well-paced and never drag, keeping listeners hooked from start to finish. Additionally, the host gives great respect to the operators who played a crucial role in ATN's success, showing their humanity and dedication to their work.

    Another strength of this podcast is its attention to detail and thorough research. The production team clearly put in a lot of effort to gather information and conduct interviews with key players in the industry. This deep dive into the history of phone sex provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of how ATN became such a major player in the market.

    While there are few drawbacks to this podcast, some may find that certain episodes lack focus on the actual operators and how corporate greed impacted their lives. However, this minor critique does not detract significantly from the overall quality of The Operator.

    In conclusion, The Operator is an exceptional podcast that offers an intriguing look into an industry often overlooked or dismissed. With its captivating storytelling, thorough research, and respect for its subjects, this series stands out among true crime podcasts. Whether you're interested in learning about phone sex or simply enjoy well-crafted narratives, The Operator is definitely worth a listen.



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    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 5:52


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    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 5:39


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    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 6:30


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    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 6:03


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    Introducing: Encounters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 8:51


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    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 6:37


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    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 4:19


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    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 4:16


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    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 7:37


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    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2024 6:48


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    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 0:49


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    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 7:00


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    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 7:48


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    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2023 5:55


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    Introducing: The Generation Why

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 8:10


    The Generation Why Podcast released its first episode in 2012 and pioneered the true crime genre in the podcasting world. Two friends, Aaron & Justin, break down theories and give their opinions on unsolved murders, controversies, mysteries and conspiracies.One of the longest running true crime podcasts out there, Generation Why has a little something for every true crime listener.Follow The Generation Why Podcast on Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Or you can listen ad-free by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app. Listen here: Wondery.fm/Gen_WhySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Wondery Presents: Diss and Tell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2023 4:37


    Savage subtweets. Scathing diss tracks. Tell-all memoirs. These are the weapons that celebrities use to wage modern social warfare against each other. Feuds between celebrities captivate us like nothing else. Why are there so many fights that play out for everyone to watch? How do public figures tap into the arsenal of weapons at their disposal to come out on top? And why do we have such a hard time looking away?From Wondery, the makers of the hit series Scamfluencers and Even the Rich, comes Diss and Tell. Hosts Sydney Battle and Matt Bellassai take you deep into pop culture's most iconic celebrity feuds, from Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan to Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez. Sydney and Matt unpack who fired the first shot, what happened, and how cultural phenomena and hidden forces influence not only these battles, but also the world we live in. Listen to Diss and Tell: Wondery.fm/Diss_and_TellSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Listen Now: Spellcaster: The Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2023 9:01


    From Wondery and Bloomberg, the makers of The Shrink Next Door, comes a new story of incredible wealth, betrayal, and what happens when “doing good” goes really, really bad.When nerdy gamer Sam Bankman-Fried rocketed to fame as the world's richest 29-year-old, he pledged to donate his billions to good causes. But when Sam's crypto exchange FTX collapsed, billions of dollars went missing, and Sam was in handcuffs, those who knew him were left wondering — who was Sam really? A well-meaning billionaire who made a mistake? Or a calculated con man?Listen to Spellcaster: Wondery.fm/SC_OperatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Wondery Presents - Flipping The Bird: Elon vs Twitter

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 4:51


    When Elon Musk posted a video of himself arriving at Twitter HQ carrying a white sink along with the message “let that sink in!” It marked the end of a dramatic takeover. Musk had gone from Twitter critic to “Chief Twit” in the space of just a few months but his arrival didn't put an end to questions about his motives. Musk had earned a reputation as a business maverick. From PayPal to Tesla to SpaceX, his name was synonymous with big, earth-shattering ideas. So, what did he want with a social media platform? And was this all really in the name of free speech...or was this all in the name of Elon Musk? From Wondery, the makers of WeCrashed and In God We Lust, comes the wild story of how the richest man alive took charge of the world's “digital public square.”Listen to Flipping The Bird: Wondery.fm/FTB_OPERATORSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Introducing: Morbid

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2023 7:09


    It's all a lighthearted nightmare on the MORBID podcast. Hosted by Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley, Morbid is a full dose of true crime with a splash of comedy.Join us all month long as we celebrate 5 years of MORBID with a special anniversary series, a festive edition of listener tales, and more surprises to come.Listen to Morbid wherever you get your podcasts: Wondery.fm/MBD_OPHey Prime Members you can listen to Morbid early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Introducing Foretold: Can a fortuneteller change her future?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2023 8:04


    Foretold is a deeply engrossing podcast that follows the life of Paulina Stevens, a Romani fortune teller as she makes the extraordinary decision to leave her community. In this preview feature we begin with a frantic meeting in a cafe where a panicked Paulina blurts out she has escaped her family's psychic shop with her children, that she is a scam artist born and bred, that she was in an arranged marriage and taken out of school in the 6th grade to prepare for a life pre-determined for her. And so begins the journey to unpack each of those claims, learning about the context and culture of Romani people (commonly known as the pejorative 'Gypsy') along the way. This podcast explores cultural identity, evolution of culture, women's roles, modernization and tradition, and group dynamics --all wrapped up in a compelling and universally relatable life story of a unique woman who is curious about the world and yet metaphysically and culturally connected to her people's history. Listen and follow Foretold at latimes.com/foretold or wherever you get your podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Wondery Presents This Is Actually Happening: Point Blank

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 6:03


    This Is Actually Happening, is a podcast that brings you extraordinary true stories of life changing events, told by the people who lived them. Now, This Is Actually Happening presents: Point Blank, a five-part series shedding a light on the forgotten spree killings of Rancho Tehama. In November of 2017, a lone gunman devastated a small town in northern California, attacking 8 different locations in the span of only 25 minutes. Overshadowed by the Las Vegas shooting that dominated the headlines just weeks earlier, this small community quickly faded from view, and was left alone to pick up the pieces.The series follows five stories of people connected to the incident, from a father that drew the gunman away from the local school, to the sister of the shooter. These are riveting stories that will stick with you long after you listen, exploring the question, what happens when everything changes?Listen to Point Blank by following This Is Actually Happening wherever you get your podcasts: Wondery.fm/O_TIAHHey Prime Members, you can listen to This Is Actually Happening ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Introducing COLD: The Search for Sheree

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2023 9:02


    Sheree Warren left her job in Salt Lake City on a mild October evening in 1985. She told a coworker she was headed to meet her estranged husband, Charles Warren, at a car dealership. But she never made it, Sheree vanished. When her car mysteriously surfaced weeks later, hundreds of miles away in Las Vegas, no one could say how it got there.When a young mother disappears under unexplained circumstances, police always turn suspicious eyes towards the husband. And although there was distrust around Charles Warren, he wasn't the only suspect when Sheree went missing. She also had a boyfriend, a former cop named Cary Hartmann, who lived a sinister double life.Season three follows two suspects– men who both raised suspicion for investigators. But with two strong persons of interest with competing facts and evidence, it muddied the murder investigation. This season, host Dave Cawley, digs into the lives of these two men, the details of the case and examines the intersections between domestic abuse and sexual violence. The COLD team seeks to answer the question: what really happened to Sheree Warren. Hey Prime Members, you can binge all 10 episodes of COLD: The Search for Sheree ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today: Wondery.fm/O_ColdS3See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Wondery Presents: Stolen Hearts

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2023 5:13


    Sergeant Jill Evans is a small town cop in Wales with an impressive record in her job, and a less than impressive record in her love life. After three engagements, two divorces and one affair, she's beginning to worry that love is only true in fairy tales. That is until she meets: Dean. He's a wealthy beauty entrepreneur with his own range of toiletries.Girl meets boy. Boy meets girl. They kiss and fall in love. Roll credits.But that would be boring, wouldn't it? Instead, this is a love story like no other. It's all going so well for Jill and Dean, until Halloween night, when Dean disappears. And Sgt. Jill is left to pick up the pieces.From Wondery and Novel, comes a new series. Hosted by Kerry Godliman.Follow Stolen Hearts on Amazon Music of wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery App. Listen to Stolen Hearts: Wondery.fm/SH_OperatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Wondery Presents: Frozen Head

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2023 3:45


    Hosted by Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart from the hit show Morbid.When 90-year-old Laurence Pilgeram drops dead on the sidewalk outside his condo, you might think that's the end of his story. But, really, it's just the beginning. Because Laurence and others like him have signed up to be frozen and brought back to life in the future. And that belief will pull multiple generations of the Pilgeram family into a cryonics soap opera filled with dead pets, gold coins, grenades, fist fights, mysterious packages, family feuds, Hall of Fame baseball legends, and frozen heads — lots of frozen heads. From Wondery, comes a story about life, death, and what comes next.Follow Frozen Head on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery App. Listen to Frozen Head: Wondery.fm/FH_OPSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Introducing SUSPECT: Vanished in the Snow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2023 6:22


    For more than three and a half decades, the disappearance of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews was a mystery – a riddle neither authorities nor her family members could solve. The residents of her cloistered Colorado hometown had scoured every inch of prairie. Jonelle's face had been on milk cartons nationwide. Even the President of the United States had appealed to the public for help. Still, every lead had fizzled. Every person of interest had turned out to be a dead end.Then, in 2019, Jonelle's remains were unearthed near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. With the discovery came a troubling new question: Had the truth been hiding in plain sight the entire time? Was the man who couldn't stop obsessing over Jonelle's disappearance also the person who took her? From Campside Media and Wondery comes season two of SUSPECT. Former CNN reporter Ashley Fantz and executive producers Matthew Shaer and Eric Benson (Suspect, Over My Dead Body) dig into one of the most mind-bending cold cases in modern history, in an attempt to separate fact and fiction, compulsion from guilt, and true-crime fandom from a motive for murder.Hey Prime Members, you can binge all 6 episodes of SUSPECT: Vanished in the Snow ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today: Wondery.lnk.to/O_SuspectS2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Wondery Presents Against The Odds: Chowchilla School Bus Kidnapping

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 6:29


    When an entire school bus full of children goes missing from a rural California town, local law enforcement, the feds, and the media mount an enormous manhunt. The kidnappers locked the children and their bus driver in a storage container, burying them alive in a quarry. With no rescue in sight, the bus driver tries to get the children and himself out. This is the story of the largest kidnapping for ransom in American history.This is just a preview of Against the Odds. You can listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts, or at Wondery.lnk.to/ATO_OperatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Amazon Music Presents SUSPECT: Vanished in the Snow

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 6:33


    For more than three and a half decades, the disappearance of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews was a mystery – a riddle neither authorities nor her family members could solve. Jonelle's face had been on milk cartons nationwide. Even the President of the United States had appealed to the public for help. Still, every lead had fizzled. Every person of interest had turned out to be a dead end.Then, in 2019, Jonelle's remains were unearthed near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. With the discovery came a troubling new question: Had the truth been hiding in plain sight the entire time? From Campside Media and Wondery comes season two of SUSPECT. The team digs into one of the most mind-bending cold cases in modern history, in an attempt to separate fact and fiction, compulsion from guilt, and true-crime fandom from a motive for murder.Hey Prime Members, listen to the Amazon Music exclusive podcast, SUSPECT: Vanished in the Snow, in the Amazon Music App. Download the app today: www.amazon.com/SUS_us_hfd_wiaa_110122See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Amazon Music Presents COLD: The Search for Sheree

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022 9:05


    Sheree Warren left her job in Salt Lake City on a mild October evening in 1985. She told a coworker she was headed to meet her estranged husband, Charles Warren, at a car dealership. But she never made it, Sheree vanished.When a young mother disappears under unexplained circumstances, police always turn suspicious eyes towards the husband. And although there was distrust around Charles Warren, he wasn't the only suspect when Sheree went missing. She also had a boyfriend, a former cop named Cary Hartmann, who lived a sinister double life.Season three follows two suspects– men who both raised suspicion for investigators. But with two strong persons of interest with competing facts and evidence, it muddied the murder investigation. This season, host Dave Cawley, digs into the lives of these two men, the details of the case and examines the intersections between domestic abuse and sexual violence. The COLD team seeks to answer the question: what really happened to Sheree Warren?Listen to Cold—exclusively on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Download the Amazon Music app now: www.amazon.com/COLD_us_hfd_wiaa_110122.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Amazon Music Presents MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark, and Mysterious Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 7:28


    A hiker terrorized for days by two unknown figures… A man stalked through the woods while camping, who barely escaped with his life… two cops who quit their job at a local theater because of unexplained encounters with an alleged demon…These are just some of the unbelievable cases you'll hear on the MrBallen Podcast on Amazon Music. Each week you'll get new inexplicable encounters, shocking disappearances and other strange, dark and mysterious stories.Hey Prime Members, listen to the Amazon Music exclusive podcast, MRBALLEN PODCAST: STRANGE, DARK & MYSTERIOUS STORIES, in the Amazon Music App. Download the app today: www.amazon.com/BALL_us_hfd_wiaa_110122 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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