No Place Like Home

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Do you remember the first time you watched The Wizard of Oz? The familiar pair of red shoes that sparkle as Dorothy skips down the yellow brick road, a rare collector’s item worth millions. In the summer of 2005, a pair was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in the small town of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. No Place Like Home follows a classic heist story against the nostalgic backdrop of one of the most famous movies and Hollywood props of all time. Journalist Ariel Ramchandani and editor Seyward Darby investigate the strange story that dives into small town suspicions between local cops and the FBI, the fraught relationship between Grand Rapids and its most famous daughter, Judy Garland, and brings listeners inside the peculiar world of Hollywood memorabilia and the market for lost and stolen art. Although the shoes were eventually recovered, there are more questions left than answers. We still don't know who stole the shoes and where they were hiding for nearly 13 years.No Place Like Home is an Audacy original.

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Recent Reviews
  • 💚🐅
    The perfect podcast❤️
    I don’t think I have ever listen to such a perfect, incredible, memorable podcast in my life. ❤️👠❤️👠-I enjoyed this podcast so much!
  • ozmark859
    Oz
    Thank you for a different kind of journey than what Dorothy found herself on. I like so many other people, have been on my own journey since I was a kid. I am so happy to have listened to your podcast and learned some extra back story that I may have learned many years ago but have now forgotten. I appreciate the hard work you put into this. I even have a full scale replica of the ruby slippers personally numbered by the company that made them. I see them every night under a low light so if I close my eyes I feel the magic they possess because they bring me so much joy, and honestly, that’s all that matters. 👠👠
  • 64MNgirl
    Resident
    I live in Grand Rapids, and I must say so many of us really have payed no attention to this whole story nor Judy, we know but don’t care. This is a very interesting podcast, thank you. I know all the people who are on here locally. Will you continue with the trial ?
  • Osssssy
    Interesting premise. Boring execution
    I wanted to like this story Probably could’ve been 3 episodes. It felt so padded with unnecessary information. The narration was lackluster and uninterested. The interviews were boring. You should get a better team and re-record this and tighten it up. A story about the theft of runt slippers shouldn’t be this boring
  • LFLocke
    Juicy Hollywood history
    This podcast was riveting from beginning to end. Twists, turns, along with some fascinating insights into Hollywood history, and the preservation of its artifacts. Well done!
  • Bitsy K
    Fried
    Really wanted to hear this podcast but the vocal fry makes it impossible for me to go on.
  • Cpratte89
    Unfortunately
    I couldn’t get into it
  • dardar_87
    Incredible.
    As an Oz fan, I was excited to come across this podcast, but apprehensive (being a fan of the film you come across the same trivia recycled over and over again on various documentaries and in books) that it wouldn’t delve deep enough into the story of the missing slippers. I am thrilled to say, this isn’t a podcast for a novice or causal fan. Seyward Darby and Ariel Ramchandani dive in DEEP. I applaud their thorough, rigorous research. They connect complicated dots, (just one example; how Kent Warner was able to take costumes/movie memorabilia off the studio lots and sell it was always confusing to me) flesh-out important details and aren’t afraid to ask their interview subjects the tough questions. All of the interviews are fascinating. If you’re an Oz fan (or even just a fan of true crime) who has been PARCHED for details regarding the case of the stolen Ruby Slippers, PLEASE go listen to this podcast. You’ll be glad you did. BRAVO!!
  • Disgruntled Lrl
    Awesome. Da Range to a tee.
    I wish there was video to go with the podcast. I love it. Characters are so, so, so,. Just like sitting at the bar at the VC on a Tuesday morning.
  • Beth from MN
    Fascinating
    This was a fascinating podcast. I love how it incorporated movie history with crime investigation. And I love knowing the most likely answer to who stole the slippers! Overall so well done, with interview clips from past and present, and Wizard of Oz info that’s catnip to fans.
  • Petermaz
    Interesting story less than stellar production
    The story is fascinating and well researched. However, we struggled with the technical issues and constant interruptions. The volume level of the interviews, narration, and COMMERCIALS is all over the place. I found it very hard to hear and understand many of the interviews while driving or doing chores at home, the volume was simply too low. And then there was too little explanation of who was speaking or maybe I couldn’t hear that either. I listen to many podcasts and audiobooks and there is a range of production quality but this one is at the bottom and it takes the listener away from enjoying the story. It felt as though there were more commercials and less story as the episodes went on too.
  • AMRB03
    Love true crime where nobody dies!
    This was a great podcast! I loved it! I love a crime podcast where it isn’t about murder. This was very well done.
  • spicybeans123
    Great podcast even with annoying narrator
    Very interesting podcast, well researched, produced and edited. But the host’s upward inflections and Millennial speech patterns really annoyed me by the latter episodes.
  • Fellintooblivion
    Interesting underlying story, too many episodes
    The basic premise of this show is fairly captivating but they probably could have cut two episodes from it. There’s a lot of diversion into stuff about Judy Garland that doesn’t have a direct link to the theft. I guess that’s there for the hard core Wizard of Oz fans but thirty minutes devoted to why Judy Garland is a “queer icon” didn’t really add anything to the story.
  • MandeeFY
    Fascinating but frustrating at the same time
    This was an interesting podcast and I appreciate the work that went into it. However, it really fell flat at times. The narration, at times, made me cringe. Was it purposeful to have the narration sound so monotonous? Seriously- if the hosts sound bored than why should the audience muster up enough care or energy to listen.
  • Joelsephiryn
    Decent story. Awful storytelling.
    The narrators seem to have absolutely no passion for what they’re talking about. Some of the stories are interesting, but I can’t get past monotone script reading and the amount of vocal fry that BOTH narrators use. It is unlistenable. Makes me wonder if they were hired for this without an audition, because I can’t see how they’d put this show together and not care about it. Take some communications courses and try again, ladies. SPEAK UP. No one wants vocal fry in a narrator’s voice. Had to stop after two episodes.
  • theappleofadam
    Many facets
    I really enjoyed how many different angles this story was covered from. This isn’t just for oz fans. It’s a true crime that is about the nature of art theft and the unique place it has in the psychology and motivations of the ownership of famous things. The reporters did a fantastic job of capturing the nebulous reasons for the intense love of the most famous film artifact in the world.
  • Xrybjoddvhkyrghgj
    Yes, it’s worth it.
    Only 8 episodes, so….. if you love, like, or are just slightly familiar with Judy Garland, you’ll like this. I had no idea about how many Ruby slippers were in existence, or that the “traveling” pair even disappeared. Short & interesting, you won’t be disappointed! *now I want to go to Grand Rapids ;)
  • PogoTX
    Great Story!
    The story took some great unexpected twists. Recommend!
  • Joeandangie123
    THE Ruby Slippers
    What a gem of a podcast! Smart, informative, enjoyable. I learned a lot. My love of the Wizard of Oz and the Ruby Slippers has grown. Thanks, y’all!
  • Seeker rf
    Click Your Heels
    Really enjoyed this podcast. Interesting, well paced. Love the back story of the slippers.
  • FearMyMinivan
    Out of order episodes?
    I love this podcast but I feel like the episodes are out of order?
  • makeupmyname
    You can’t manufacture passion
    The two narrators are a bit young to have passion for this story — and they don’t give much reason otherwise — so they’re reporting the story because they thought it made a good story — which it is, it just doesn’t appear the narrators really “get it” (not growing up with the film). And their charisma-less delivery doesn’t help. You can’t manufacture passion just by saying the slippers are “magical” or by quoting others who say so. That’s why the last episode especially falls flat. One of the narrators even gives the impression they had to watch the movie again — for the podcast — but not for any inherent true desire or interest in the movie per se.
  • NY bird feeder
    For lovers of ruby slippers
    I think if you’re really into the Wizard of Oz movie and the ruby slippers in particular, you might find this interesting. I didn’t find it very interesting. It’s meandering and could have been edited better. Listening was kind of like reading a book that you don’t really love, but you finish just to see how it it turns out.
  • Ziggy7411
    Tedious
    Boring and just gets worse with each episode. Could have been covered in an hour. Proof that anyone can make a podcast.
  • Cyndi
    Awesome
    If you are a fan of The Wizard if Oz, this is a must !!!!
  • mowgirl1970
    Not stripper shoes!
    Very interesting. Great show.
  • Meanmaggie1984
    Copaganda
    Eye roll. Poorly produced, to boot.
  • beast mom nicole
    Amaaaaazing
    This combines my three of my favorite things: true crime, Minnesota, and the wizard of oz. Its like this podcast was made specifically for me.
  • kay siva
    Perfection!
    A very well-done podcast! Such an interesting topic, and told with the story-telling it deserves.
  • Macalvert
    Great Story
    I literally heard an ad for this in SXM in the way to a Dental Surgery and thought it would be a good thing to get me through that experience. I told the dentist and his two assistants what I was listening to- turns out they are huge JG fans, so we all listened to the first 2 episodes and it was awesome. We agreed everyone had to listen to all the episodes before my checkup in a week! Now I am just hanging in for the ne5 one…
  • ba1*
    Where is episode 2? It jumps from episode 1 to episode 3.
    Can't figure out why there is no episode 2?
  • MarGarBar
    Johnnies Come Lately
    The two young female podcasters are acting like this is some “new” story and that THEY’VE discovered some huge secret: the allure of Judy Garland and the long, involved, complicated history of her ruby slippers. It’s an OLD STORY, young ‘uns. Millennials are so cute.
  • KMJ*
    Very cool
    I’m just wondering what happened to episode 2?
  • AmyT1975
    Love it!
    As a HUGE Wizard of Oz fan I am loving this, and look forward to it every Tuesday.
  • Kdjlkcl
    Feels like clickbait
    I truly hope that this podcast has new information about the slippers. If not, it’s an absolute horrible way to advertise a new podcast. Based on articles, the case remains unsolved.
  • JTT4
    Love it
    Very well done!! I am enjoying listening to each episode.
  • actor_prez
    Surprisingly so good!
    Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie since I was 4 and I was concerned the podcast might be a little dry or hard to listen to. It’s better than watching a movie. It’s captivating. If you have a heart, a brain, and some courage listen to this podcast! 👠
  • Photogmagob
    Dragging on, hoping it gets better
    I love Judy, I love The Wizard of Oz... this podcast started off strong and then got boring. Filler episodes in my opinion until they get to the point. Losing my patience waiting for them to get there unfortunately
  • A meathead
    Despite not being a fan of WOO, this is great!
    Wonderful podcast, so well done
  • chacerz
    Very interesting
    Very interesting and informative. I really have enjoyed it so far. The Republican sponsors are tacky though.
  • theJG35
    Surprisingly amazing
    I love how informative the podcast is about old Hollywood, as well as the heist. Very well done girls!
  • maryfromtheattic
    Great listening!
    What a great real-life adventure. Someone else has remarked this is like a Coen brothers movie and I TOTALLY agree! The whole big city/small-town vibe is here. Plus, the sense of wonderment from The Wizard of Oz is here too. Great production quality, great story-telling. This is my new favorite podcast!
  • shleeemarie
    Good but…
    I’m enjoying the podcast but I just can’t understand why we have to hear ear piercing tooth whistles during scripted and edited narration.
  • pinacoloda
    Fabulous!!
    My all-time favorite movie and loved hearing all these stories, thank u!!!!
  • King Macon
    A Wildly Entertaining Listen
    Feels like a real-life Coen brothers film
  • Ahmedbright
    Great podcast
    Beautifully narrated, I love the voices of the hosts, very suspenseful and interesting story
  • LargeMarge87
    Somewhere Over The Rainbow
    Just listened to the first 2 episodes & love it. Can’t wait for new episodes to air. The story is very interesting! I hope the slippers find their way home. Great interviews & storytelling. Thank you for sharing the story! -LargeMarge
  • Nanc0328
    Ruby slippers
    Debbie Reynolds owned a pair of ruby slippers. The HBO special Bright Lights shows her with a pair of slippers.
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