Obsessed Fest coming to Columbus featuring true crime podcasters, guests
Three thousand true crime fans will be converging on Columbus Friday through Sunday.
Obsessed Fest, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Columbus, aims to bring together hosts and fans of true crime podcasts such as “Scamfluencers” and “Obsessed with Disappeared” for a weekend of live shows, panel discussions, karaoke, book signings, meet-and-greets and more.
This first Obsessed Fest is the project of Patrick Hinds, who, along with co-host Gillian Pensavalle, have been making the popular “True Crime Obsessed” podcast, which recaps and comments on true crime documentaries, since 2017.
“Gillian and I were both making theater podcasts, so we knew each other from that world,” Hinds, 43, said, speaking by phone from his home in New York.
“When we recorded the pilot, it just ended up being nothing like we thought it would be. I had this idea for making this very serious, NPR-style podcast. We were new friends, and I didn't know she was so funny. When I was editing the first episode, it was like, we're making jokes, but it's never at the expense of the victims of the crime. We were able to find humor on the margins, to take these really dark stories and make them a little easier to digest. People really liked it, even though the true crime space was really saturated,” he said.
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In 2020, Hinds expanded out, in collaboration with his husband, Steve Tipton, to create the Obsessed Network, which pulls together true crime podcasts.
“We wanted to make more shows and different shows and find emerging creators, help them launch their stuff. The first year of the pandemic, 2020, we launched seven new shows,” Hinds said.
This year, they decided to create a festival, and chose Columbus after surveying their listeners.
“In triangulating their responses, Columbus seemed like the most central location. It's not that expensive to get to, it's not that expensive to stay there, it's in the middle. Nobody could complain that this place is much closer to someone else,” Hinds said.
In between karaoke and trivia sessions, the festival also has a serious side. Rabia Chaudry, who helped bring the case documented in “Serial” to light, will be speaking about Adnan Syed's surprising recent release from prison, and Damien Echols, one of the West Memphis Three, will speak about his life. Syed served more than 20 years behind bars for the murder of ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. Echols was on death row for a triple child killing in 1993, before being released in 2011.
The festival is designed to let both listeners and podcasters get to know one another in real life.
“I'm such a believer in the power of community, and we have this incredible community of listeners,” Hinds said. “We thought, let's get all the podcasters together, so we can love on each other and support each other, and let's get all the listeners together so they can meet us and we can meet them, and we can all spend a weekend together, after these two-and-a-half years of intense solitude.”
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If you are interested in attending the event, here are the details.
Where will the festival take place?
The Hyatt Regency Columbus, 350 N. High St.
When is it happening?
Friday through Sunday
Is there an age limit for the festival?
The festival is recommended for those 14 and older.
How much are tickets?
$175 for the weekend. Some live shows are extra. Tickets are limited.
Can I buy tickets for the live shows if I'm not attending the festival?
Yes. Tickets for live shows (if available) cost $40.
What about parking?
Multiple parking garages are available near the hotel and in the Short North.
What are some of the activities going on at the festival?
Drag bingo, tarot readings, live episode tapings, karaoke, panel discussions, makeup tutorials, trivia and book signings.
Where can I get more information?
Visit the Obsessed Network website at www.obsessednetwork.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: True crime podcast festival Obsessed Fest opens Sept. 30 in Columbus
