

CPT Presents: Origin Stories - Dan Taberski on Hysterical
Sep 15, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dan Taberski, a renowned podcaster behind hits like Finding Richard Simmons, delves deep into his latest project, Hysterical. He examines a mysterious nerve illness that impacted girls in LeRoy, New York, exploring the intricacies of medical storytelling. Taberski emphasizes the need for compassion and care in reporting, as well as the challenges of navigating sensitive subjects. He also shares insights on the creative process of podcasting and the balance between artistic integrity and public recognition.
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From TV Producer To Podcast Auteur
- Dan Taberski moved from TV to podcasts after making a documentary short and attempting a Richard Simmons film that became a podcast.
- That pivot introduced him to long-form audio where he could be the director and voice of his work.
Scratch-Track Shapes Podcast Voice
- Scratch-tracking and writing in other people's voices trained Taberski to be comfortable on the mic and shape narrative voice.
- That experience made his conversational yet authoritative podcast style possible.
Big Mysteries Lead To Human Stories
- Investigating Havana syndrome led Taberski to consider mass psychogenic illness as a plausible explanation.
- That curiosity directed him to the Leroy teenage outbreak as a cleaner, human-scale case study.