ENCORE: Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker: The God Fraud | Part 1

Scamfluencers

Wondery

Society & Culture

4.1 • 7K Ratings

🗓️ 30 December 2024

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This month a musical featuring a Scamfluencers alum closed its doors on Broadway. Tammy Faye featured music by Elton John and told the story of a televangelist who stole America’s heart with her humor, earnestness, and impressive eye makeup. You may no longer be able to see the musical, but we’re giving you the next best thing: a return to our own coverage of Tammy Faye and her husband, Jim.

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker get their start in Christian broadcasting in the early 1960s and quickly become television superstars. As their fame explodes, they build an empire complete with their own network, a theme park, and a super-sized luxury lifestyle for themselves. But when their spending – and their scandals – get out of control, they’ll face their own judgment day.

This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault. If you or someone you know is a survivor looking for resources, call the U.S. National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-H-O-P-E.

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to Scamfluencers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Wonderie Plus subscribers can listen to scam fluencers early and ad-free right now.
0:04.7	Join Wonderly Plus in the Wondry app or Apple Podcasts.
0:08.0	Sarah, when you come to visit New York, do you ever go to see any Broadway musicals?
0:12.7	You know what's crazy?
0:14.0	I have never gone to see a Broadway musical in all of my visits.
0:17.8	I feel like no one will take me.
0:19.7	I'll take you?
0:21.3	Oh my God, please.
0:22.2	I want to see cats.
0:23.2	Well, what if it was a Broadway show about one of our scam influencer alums, specifically
0:28.3	Tammy Fay Baker, who we covered along with her husband Jim a year ago?
0:33.2	The musical follows her rise to Christian TV stardom, the scandalous fall when Jim was discovered
0:38.3	ripping off his congregants, and Tammy's reinvention as AIDS activist and queer icon.
0:44.3	Oh, and the music is by Elton John.
0:47.0	Okay, that is absolutely crazy that Elton John did the music for this. I had no idea.
0:52.4	Well, Sarah, it seems like we've missed our chance to see this one
0:55.3	because Tammy Faye closed in December.
0:58.0	But I'm going to give you the next best thing to actually seeing her story live.
1:01.6	And that's a return to our episode on this truly over-the-top televangelist duo.
1:08.7	A heads up to our listeners.
1:10.2	This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault.
1:13.1	Please listen with care.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in -92 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wondery, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Wondery and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.