Bryan Greene

Cleo to convince people to call and spend $3.99 a minute to get comforting words about their dead loved ones from an absolute stranger on the other end of a landline.

It all ended in ruin, people got defrauded, and she almost went to jail.

But Ms.

Cleo had laid the groundwork, bringing the ancient art of the psychic medium into the mainstream.

And this was just the beginning, because many followed, and today, psychics on TV are a billion-dollar business.

If you don't know about the booming world of TV psychics, either did I. I got back up this time.

I'm Brian Greene.

Let's find out together after the break.

Hi, I'm Brian Greene, creator and co-host of the Commercial Break podcast.

For years, I've been cracking jokes with my best friend, riffing on the absurd, and trying to make sense of this weird little ball we're all spinning on, but through improv comedy.

And man, do I love doing that.

But sometimes the chaos isn't enough.

For me, some stories deserve a bit of a deeper dive.

Some topics are just too fascinating, too ridiculous, or too important to skate past with just a punchline.

That's why we're here after the break.

Each week, I'll take one subject, polyamory, the failing movie business, Venezuela, TV psychics, the rise of hallucinogenic healing, or why people are obsessed with competitive geoguessers and why maps, yes, maps, are so freaking controversial.

We'll chew it up, spit it out, and break it down.

I promise you'll have to do no homework.

You'll get a laugh or two, and I'll bring the voices and perspectives to give you an honest, funny, and unfiltered look at the strangest, most interesting, or most obsessive-worthy things the world is looking at today.

If you like your comedy with a little bit of curiosity, or your curiosity with a bit more comedy, I'm here to scratch that itch.