In this episode, I talk to award-winning director and executive producer ALEXANDRA DEAN about her shocking and powerful 10-part A&E documentary series, Secrets of Playboy, a no-holds-barred exposé on the Playboy empire and legendary founder Hugh Hefner. The series paints a damning portrait of Hefner, the pipe-smoking, silk pajama-wearing mogul, who once was a famed champion of women's rights and the sexual revolution. As Alex tells me on the podcast and you can see in the docu-series, several former Playmates claim Hefner raped, coerced and dominated them, allowing his friends and celebrities (among them Bill Cosby) to do likewise, and fashioned a cult-like environment to satisfy his incessant appetite for sex and power.

Alex talks to me about her investigative process, specifically how she uncovered the dark side of the Playboy Mansion, as numerous former Playmates and employees revealed tales of abuse and cover-ups to keep scandals out of the press. We also discuss the role that E!'s reality show, "The Girls Next Door" played in perpetuating the myth of Hugh Hefner and building up the Playboy facade. Check out the trailer below and watch the series on Mondays on A&E. Listen to our conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and TuneIn. Thanks! 🙏

"Secrets of Playboy" - Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuWdBMon3EU