Zach Mack
@zachmack.bsky.social
Podcasts @ Vox Media, This American Life, NPR, The Ringer
https://www.zachmack.org/
Listen to Alternate Realities on NPR Embedded
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alternate-realities-a-strange-bet/id1091709555?i=1000694434096
https://www.zachmack.org/
Listen to Alternate Realities on NPR Embedded
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alternate-realities-a-strange-bet/id1091709555?i=1000694434096
And then way back in late 2014, just as the podcast industry was starting to surge, I agreed to intern at WNYC's Death, Sex & Money (7). I think I was their first ever intern. It was really exciting to be a part of that show just as it was ascending.
July 23, 2025 at 4:08 PM
And then way back in late 2014, just as the podcast industry was starting to surge, I agreed to intern at WNYC's Death, Sex & Money (7). I think I was their first ever intern. It was really exciting to be a part of that show just as it was ascending.
At The Ringer I was the original producer behind The Big Picture(3), Binge Mode (4) and The Rewatchables (5). All shows I helped develop and frankly had a great time making.
Every now and then I'd pop in and help produce the Bill Simmons Podcast (6).
Every now and then I'd pop in and help produce the Bill Simmons Podcast (6).
July 23, 2025 at 4:08 PM
At The Ringer I was the original producer behind The Big Picture(3), Binge Mode (4) and The Rewatchables (5). All shows I helped develop and frankly had a great time making.
Every now and then I'd pop in and help produce the Bill Simmons Podcast (6).
Every now and then I'd pop in and help produce the Bill Simmons Podcast (6).
Starting with Alternate Realities a season of NPR Embedded (1) that I hosted earlier this year. A version of that same story also ran as a standalone episode on This American Life (2).
July 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Starting with Alternate Realities a season of NPR Embedded (1) that I hosted earlier this year. A version of that same story also ran as a standalone episode on This American Life (2).
Big moment for the podcast on Spotify this week
July 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Big moment for the podcast on Spotify this week
Still can’t believe they let OKC steal Seattle’s team and then steal the Warriors color and mascot name
May 6, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Still can’t believe they let OKC steal Seattle’s team and then steal the Warriors color and mascot name
That Houston finish was…
April 8, 2025 at 3:26 AM
That Houston finish was…
if you're into Severance... you will really enjoy Homecoming
tons of similarities in story and style
tons of similarities in story and style
April 8, 2025 at 12:41 AM
if you're into Severance... you will really enjoy Homecoming
tons of similarities in story and style
tons of similarities in story and style
As a child I watched Top Gun every single day
RIP Ice Man
RIP Ice Man
April 3, 2025 at 7:16 PM
As a child I watched Top Gun every single day
RIP Ice Man
RIP Ice Man
This season of White Lotus feels STRETCHED OUT
Season 1: 6 eps
Season 2: 7 eps
Season 3: 8 eps
You can really feel the show slowing itself down to drag a storyline outcome out. No clearer example than the dad who has been hiding the same news from his family for 7 whole episodes. GET TO IT
Season 1: 6 eps
Season 2: 7 eps
Season 3: 8 eps
You can really feel the show slowing itself down to drag a storyline outcome out. No clearer example than the dad who has been hiding the same news from his family for 7 whole episodes. GET TO IT
March 31, 2025 at 7:54 PM
This season of White Lotus feels STRETCHED OUT
Season 1: 6 eps
Season 2: 7 eps
Season 3: 8 eps
You can really feel the show slowing itself down to drag a storyline outcome out. No clearer example than the dad who has been hiding the same news from his family for 7 whole episodes. GET TO IT
Season 1: 6 eps
Season 2: 7 eps
Season 3: 8 eps
You can really feel the show slowing itself down to drag a storyline outcome out. No clearer example than the dad who has been hiding the same news from his family for 7 whole episodes. GET TO IT
Mark: His innie and outtie are at odds. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the Mark’s right now. She both appear to be a little selfish but what the hell is innie Mark thinking? That he and Shelly can just live together on the severed floor? This character(s) arc is obviously far from over.
March 23, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Mark: His innie and outtie are at odds. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the Mark’s right now. She both appear to be a little selfish but what the hell is innie Mark thinking? That he and Shelly can just live together on the severed floor? This character(s) arc is obviously far from over.
Helly: We love Helly. She and Dylan’s wife are arguably the only people in the entire show that behave like actual humans with emotions and motivations that are understandable. She’s in a tough spot and she’s an Eagon but we love her. She didn’t have a ton to do but she emotionally makes sense.
March 23, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Helly: We love Helly. She and Dylan’s wife are arguably the only people in the entire show that behave like actual humans with emotions and motivations that are understandable. She’s in a tough spot and she’s an Eagon but we love her. She didn’t have a ton to do but she emotionally makes sense.
Natalie: this character’s story goes nowhere and she’s absent from the finale.
March 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Natalie: this character’s story goes nowhere and she’s absent from the finale.
The Goats: So why are they sacrificing goats? Because they’re weird and religious? Okay. Sure. I thought there would be a higher purpose for them but things feel somewhere between unresolved and unsatisfying… glad Lorne had her moment.
March 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The Goats: So why are they sacrificing goats? Because they’re weird and religious? Okay. Sure. I thought there would be a higher purpose for them but things feel somewhere between unresolved and unsatisfying… glad Lorne had her moment.
Dr. Mauer: Excellent new sicko to add to the mix. He did a lot with very little screen time. Chilling to be around.
March 23, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Dr. Mauer: Excellent new sicko to add to the mix. He did a lot with very little screen time. Chilling to be around.
Burt: not much of an arc this season. Lumon driver who helps a man for love. Okay. Not mad at it.
March 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Burt: not much of an arc this season. Lumon driver who helps a man for love. Okay. Not mad at it.
Helena: She was undercover. She’s got a rebellious streak. She’s hot for Mark. And she doesn’t appear in the finale and we have no idea where this character really stands in anything… unsatisfying.
March 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Helena: She was undercover. She’s got a rebellious streak. She’s hot for Mark. And she doesn’t appear in the finale and we have no idea where this character really stands in anything… unsatisfying.
Jame Eagon: He’s creepy and weird, that’s the entire character. He’s into breeding. Still no idea what a “revolving” is or what he really wants. There’s no depth to this character.
March 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Jame Eagon: He’s creepy and weird, that’s the entire character. He’s into breeding. Still no idea what a “revolving” is or what he really wants. There’s no depth to this character.
Ms Cobel: we aren’t entirely clear what her motivations are or why her creating severance matters in any way. She is even less human behaving this season. Just not sure what to do with this character. Or how to feel about her.
March 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Ms Cobel: we aren’t entirely clear what her motivations are or why her creating severance matters in any way. She is even less human behaving this season. Just not sure what to do with this character. Or how to feel about her.
Ricken: He reworked his book and basically had nothing to do all season. Missing from the finale.
March 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Ricken: He reworked his book and basically had nothing to do all season. Missing from the finale.
Dylan: Probably the most authentic character arc we’ve seen. His motivation simply revolves around loving his wife and kids. The innie / outtie Dylan moment was touching. But then he decides to go back to work to benefit his family & his first act of business… join a revolution? A little odd.
March 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Dylan: Probably the most authentic character arc we’ve seen. His motivation simply revolves around loving his wife and kids. The innie / outtie Dylan moment was touching. But then he decides to go back to work to benefit his family & his first act of business… join a revolution? A little odd.
Irving: So he’s just gone? Was cool that he spotted Helena as a mole and sacrificed his innie but his outtie is a complete mystery. We don’t know who he was calling or why he knew about the testing floor or why he was investigating Lumon. His entire character arc is seemingly a dead end.
March 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Irving: So he’s just gone? Was cool that he spotted Helena as a mole and sacrificed his innie but his outtie is a complete mystery. We don’t know who he was calling or why he knew about the testing floor or why he was investigating Lumon. His entire character arc is seemingly a dead end.
Devon: Loved her in season 1. This season she basically just stands around not demanding answers from people she shouldn’t trust like Reghabi and Cobel. This is a character we’re led to believe is smart yet is rendered pretty useless is crucial situations. Disappointing.
March 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Devon: Loved her in season 1. This season she basically just stands around not demanding answers from people she shouldn’t trust like Reghabi and Cobel. This is a character we’re led to believe is smart yet is rendered pretty useless is crucial situations. Disappointing.
Drummond: probably the best arc of the season. An intimidating big bad whose death is absolutely hilarious. The elevator, the bloody tie. Well done. Bravo.
March 23, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Drummond: probably the best arc of the season. An intimidating big bad whose death is absolutely hilarious. The elevator, the bloody tie. Well done. Bravo.