Square Peg

Storytelling Podcasts

In 2017, an American suburban dad named Rob Collins accidentally got sucked into the bizarre world of Frank Carver, a vengeful, one-eyed British curmudgeon who’d been on a decades-long mission to have his brother imprisoned. Rob’s two-year quest to help Frank and learn the truth led him across England, to a psychiatrist in Berlin, and ultimately to a funeral—which Rob officiated. It’s a bizarrely heartfelt story about bitterness, family secrets, and the things we bury in the past. ”…riveting enough that I couldn’t stop listening, and am so glad this show has completely dropped, I would have died if I wouldn’t have been able to binge it.” — Lauren Passell, Podcast the Newsletter “This is what David felt like when he slew Goliath. The Square Peg podcast, an indie production, has released an eight-episode narrative series that is comparable to—and in many ways —better than any production a large podcast network could create, develop, finance and produce.” — Frank Racioppi, EarWorthy

Location:

United States

Genres:

Storytelling Podcasts

Description:

In 2017, an American suburban dad named Rob Collins accidentally got sucked into the bizarre world of Frank Carver, a vengeful, one-eyed British curmudgeon who’d been on a decades-long mission to have his brother imprisoned. Rob’s two-year quest to help Frank and learn the truth led him across England, to a psychiatrist in Berlin, and ultimately to a funeral—which Rob officiated. It’s a bizarrely heartfelt story about bitterness, family secrets, and the things we bury in the past. ”…riveting enough that I couldn’t stop listening, and am so glad this show has completely dropped, I would have died if I wouldn’t have been able to binge it.” — Lauren Passell, Podcast the Newsletter “This is what David felt like when he slew Goliath. The Square Peg podcast, an indie production, has released an eight-episode narrative series that is comparable to—and in many ways —better than any production a large podcast network could create, develop, finance and produce.” — Frank Racioppi, EarWorthy

Language:

English

Website:

https://squarepegpodcast.com

Email:

rob@robcollins.com

Episodes

Bonus: An Interview with Gregg LeFevre from The Compulsive Storyteller

11/1/2023

We’re excited to present this bonus episode. It’s a conversation with Gregg LeFevre, an artist and host of the podcast “The Compulsive Storyteller.” A colleague connected us because of the overlap between our shows—Frank Carver was a bit of a compulsive storyteller, and Rob became one as well in the making of “Square Peg.” So Rob and Gregg talk together in this episode about compulsive storytelling, sharing their experiences and histories with it, starting with Rob interviewing Gregg. You can find Gregg’s podcast at thecompulsivestoryteller.com.

Duration:00:36:34

Part 8: Goodbye

4/8/2022

Rob eulogizes this fascinating and deeply flawed man. Even in death, Frank has some surprises up his sleeve. Transcript: squarepegpodcast.com/part8 — Follow: twitter.com/squarepegpod • facebook.com/squarepegpod Credits: squarepegpodcast.com/credits Please share with a friend! Thank you for listening.

Duration:00:34:07

Part 7: Purpose

4/8/2022

Because of what happened in Berlin, Rob’s mission changes. He races against the clock of Frank’s cancer to bring reconciliation. As Frank dies, they find something better. Transcript: squarepegpodcast.com/part7 — Follow: twitter.com/squarepegpod • facebook.com/squarepegpod Credits: squarepegpodcast.com/credits

Duration:00:41:38

Part 6: Monuments

4/8/2022

Rob brings Frank to Berlin to be evaluated by Dr. Michael Linden, a renowned psychiatrist who developed the concept of post-traumatic embitterment disorder. It’s a revelatory session. Transcript: squarepegpodcast.com/part6 — Follow: twitter.com/squarepegpod • facebook.com/squarepegpod Credits: squarepegpodcast.com/credits

Duration:00:33:45

Part 5: Diagnoses

4/8/2022

His story in shambles, Rob has to figure out how to proceed. But a fortuitous tip suggests a clue to learning who Frank really is. Transcript: squarepegpodcast.com/part5 — Follow: twitter.com/squarepegpod • facebook.com/squarepegpod Credits: squarepegpodcast.com/credits

Duration:00:33:17

Part 4: Shaggy Dog

4/8/2022

Moment of truth: Rob and his team attempts to track down and meet the dreaded John Carver, Frank’s brother. It doesn’t go as expected. Transcript: squarepegpodcast.com/part4 — Follow: twitter.com/squarepegpod • facebook.com/squarepegpod Credits: squarepegpodcast.com/credits

Duration:00:34:01

Part 3: Awkward Exit

4/8/2022

The investigation runs into problems. Rob uncovers conflicting evidence, and John, Frank’s brother, won’t reply to a request to be interviewed. To top it off, Frank seems to have a change of heart about the whole thing. What the hell is going on? Transcript: squarepegpodcast.com/part3 — Follow: twitter.com/squarepegpod • facebook.com/squarepegpod Credits: squarepegpodcast.com/credits

Duration:00:35:25

Part 2: Sunny Scunny

4/8/2022

Despite a lack of journalistic experience and the bewilderment of his wife and friends, Rob travels overseas to investigate. After struggling through Frank’s legal documents and left-side driving, he gets some local help and tracks down a source who deepens the mystery of Frank’s story. Transcript: squarepegpodcast.com/part2 — Follow: twitter.com/squarepegpod • facebook.com/squarepegpod Credits: squarepegpodcast.com/credits

Duration:00:29:24

Part 1: Typo

4/8/2022

How did an American suburban dad end up officiating a funeral in Scunthorpe, England, for a man he’d only known a short while? Because of a typo. Flashback two years, as Rob Collins learns the bizarre story of Frank Carver, a vengeful British provocateur on a decades-long mission to have his brother imprisoned for allegedly stabbing out his left eye. Transcript: squarepegpodcast.com/part1 — Follow: twitter.com/squarepegpod • facebook.com/squarepegpod Credits: squarepegpodcast.com/credits

Duration:00:31:29

Introducing: Square Peg

4/2/2022

After a mistyped email address connects them, an American suburban dad gets sucked into the bizarre world of a vengeful, one-eyed British curmudgeon who’s been on a decades-long mission to have his brother imprisoned. It’s a bizarrely heartfelt story about bitterness, family secrets, and the things we bury in the past. Learn more at squarepegpodcast.com. — Follow: twitter.com/squarepegpod • facebook.com/squarepegpod Credits: squarepegpodcast.com/credits

Duration:00:02:36