Welcome to You Can't Make This Up, a companion podcast for Netflix's original true crime stories.

I'm Rebecca Laveoy, your host. Each episode we take a close-up look at a true-crime narrative, documentary, or series,

and I talked to the people who made them, diving deep into the backstories and getting answers to questions raised by what we just watched.

This week's film is Operation Varsity Blues, the College

Admission scandal. I'm joined by John Carmen, the film's editor, writer, and producer, and

Chris Smith, the film's director and producer.

A note to listeners. This episode contains spoilers so make sure to watch the entire film and then listen on.

You've probably heard a lot about the 2019 college admission scandal,

but you haven't heard everything.

Operation Varsity Blues goes beyond the celebrity driven headlines

with real conversations from FBI wiretaps. The film offers a rare

glimpse of the man at the center of the scandal, Rick Singer, and the methods he used to

help his wealthy clients cheat a system already designed to benefit the privileged.

All of our friends are only talking about one thing and it's this story.

An FBI investigation called Operation Varsity Blues.

USC, UCLA, and Rick Singer.

The mastermind behind the entire operation.

There are any risk that this thing blows up in my face?

Hey Rick?

Hey there.

Is this a good time?

Yeah, yeah, it's good for me.

...