The Price of Paradise
When ex-Bunny girl Jayne Gaskin spots the desert island of her dreams for sale online, she decides to risk it all. Trading in their English village home, Jayne and her family relocate to their own private paradise, just off the coast of Nicaragua. And a reality TV crew follows them to film a new show, No Going Back. But soon they all discover that paradise has its secrets. The locals claim the island belongs to them, and it’s been sold illegally. Jayne’s not leaving without a fight. A fight that will soon turn deadly.
Hosted by Alice Levine.
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Our Editor's Take
The Price of Paradise is a podcast about a family's attempt to live on a desert island. This show details a true story. Alice Levine, a British host and narrator, is the host. She has hosted radio and TV shows for the BBC and Channel 4 in the UK. She is also known for hosting the podcasts British Scandal and the award-winning My Dad Wrote a Porno.
The podcast begins with a portrait of the Gaskin family. Front and center is Jayne. With her bright red hair and flamboyant outfits, she courts attention everywhere she goes. Her husband, Phil, has a predilection for camouflage as if he'd like to stay in the background while Jayne shines. It's clear from their interactions that the two make a good match. Their three children-two boys and one girl-complete the picture.
At the beginning of the story, Jayne discovers a website that features islands for sale. She learns that if the family were to sell all their possessions, they could afford one. It's a tiny strip of beach off the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua, in the Caribbean Sea. Most people would realize the insanity of the plan and consider a vacation instead. Jayne is different. By chance, a Channel 4 producer learns of the family's plan. The producer and his assistant hitch a ride with the family to chronicle everything for TV. The podcast details what follows.
At first, the island is paradise. Jayne renames it Janique, a portmanteau of "Jayne" and "unique." Phil wants to build a diving center, even though he has never dived and can't swim. Soon, the real trouble starts. They realize the island is a stopover for Colombian drug smugglers headed to Florida. A group of indigenous Nicaraguans also began to protest on Janique. The island, they claim, is not private property. The Gaskins discover that people see them-upstanding British citizens-as colonizers. Their dream becomes a nightmare.
Levine's narration highlights the bizarreness of The Price of Paradise. Fans of shocking, real-life stories may enjoy this podcast. Episodes are about 30 minutes long.
Episodes