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The “Wild Things” podcast is an audio miniseries devoted to the tragic and mysterious story of Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn. Together, these men had a popular illusion-based stage act from 1990 to 2003. During this time, they performed more than 30,000 times and entertained millions of people. Their act was simply called “Siegfried & Roy” and consisted of illusions and animal tricks.
Unfortunately, Roy Horn was brutally attacked during a 2003 performance by one of the act’s trained tigers. After this accident which nearly took Horn’s life, the show was closed. Horn and Fischbacher received broad criticism from the media and animal rights activists alike.
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“Wild Things,” hosted by journalist Steven Leckart, takes a deep investigative dive into the lives and minds of Fischbacher and Horn. With more to the “Siegfried & Roy” accident than meets the eye, the podcast looks at the events surrounding the tiger attack, investigation reports afterward, and the mysteries that remain.
Where Can People Listen To “Wild Things”?
Even though it is an Apple Original, “Wild Things” is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and anywhere else listeners that listeners prefer to get their podcasts.
There will be eight episodes of the podcast in total, and each new episode is released weekly on Wednesdays. The episodes have a runtime between 35 and 45 minutes.
“Wild Things”: Our Review
Host Steven Leckart does an excellent job on “Wild Things” of incorporating the many sources that have been used in previous efforts to cover the “Siegfried & Roy” debacle. The podcast seems to be one of the most complete media attempts at revisiting the attack. While many podcasts with similar levels of investigative work have longer episodes, listeners may appreciate that releases come in digestible weekly bites that clock in at under an hour each.
“Wild Things” is made for listeners who can follow along with the show’s detail-oriented twists, turns, and many characters. Make no mistake, however: this does not mean that the show is dull, or boring. It is the opposite of boring. In some ways, the podcast bears similarities to Netflix’s hit show, “Tiger King”. The detailed journalism on “Wild Things,” though, makes it hard to follow for distracted listeners despite its entertainment value. is not suited well for listeners hoping for casual or light-hearted audio.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of the show’s strengths and weaknesses:
“Wild Things”: The Good
- One of the best things about “Wild Things” is the host. Steven Leckart relies on his background in journalism to present, in an organized fashion, each episode’s topic. His storytelling rivals that of many of the best podcasts in the industry. He speaks evenly as well, making the show accessible to all listeners.
- The show’s commitment to primary source material is impressive. As mentioned briefly earlier, “Wild Things” is perhaps one of the most complete reports of the tiger attack on Roy Horn. The show incorporates eye-witness testimony, expert opinions, and original investigation reports from 2003 in a seamless way.
- Podcast listeners will enjoy the many guests that Leckart speaks to on the show. In just the first several episodes, “Wild Things” hosts a zoo manager, a surgeon, several journalists, a gay activist, and a counter-terrorism investigator. The sheer diversity of guests on the show speaks to how detailed “Wild Things” is as a program.
“Wild Things”: The Bad
- Oddly, one of the largest weaknesses on the show may stem from its greatest strength. Although “Wild Things” is an impressively comprehensive look at the 2003 tiger attack, it is unclear whether or not the miniseries will reveal anything new about the story. So far, most (if not all) of the material discussed has been covered before. Listeners may be left wondering what the point of the podcast is without new revelations concerning the case.
- “Wild Things” has many storylines, characters, and themes. Unfortunately, trying to keep up with all of these can be a challenge. Many listeners will find that the show feels congested and overly complicated where it does not need to be. Of course, many of the topics covered on “Wild Things” warrants the attention to detail that is present throughout the show. Even sideline themes, however, are covered in a detailed way that distracts from the main story.
- “Wild Things” feels like it was made for TV, which has good and bad consequences. One good thing about the structure, for example, is that the show is very rewarding for attentive people who listen attentively to the episodes. Unfortunately, one cannot help but feel like the producers missed an opportunity to make a TV show out of “Wild Things”. The addition of a visual element would engage more viewers and give the show more flexibility to maneuver through its complexities.
Conclusion
“Wild Things” is an excellent podcast. The investigations are thorough, the production is great, and the story is engaging. The show will reward listeners who can sit back and devote their attention to each episode’s twist and turns. “Wild Things” will likely disappoint, however, podcasters who are looking for a more casual or comedic show.
