Ridiculous Crime

That's Showbiz, Baby: Steven Kunes

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

To make it in Hollywood, you sometimes have to tell some half-truths and fudge your resume. People play a little fast and loose. But not so loose as to forge checks and scam friends. That's a little too loose, even by Tinseltown standards.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"That's My Motorboat!" :The National Museum Art Heist

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

It's considered one of the more sophisticated art heists of the 21st Century. Three masked men with guns strolled into the National Museum in Stockholm and they breezed back out with three multi-million dollar masterpieces. Thus began a years-long manhunt to find the daring perps and the lost artworks. Many undercover operations, some Bulgarian drug dealers, FBI art crime detectives, and one Swedish boat seller later... and you get this truly wild tale!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cheech Would Never: "Lucky" Luke Brugnara

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

As Social Distortion once sang, “Some people like to gamble/But you, you always lose/Some people like to rock 'n' roll/You're always singin' the blues/You gotta nasty disposition/No one really knows the reason why/You gotta bad, bad reputation/Gonna hang your head down and cry/You got bad, bad luck." This is the tale of Luke Brugnara, the pinnacle of criminal ridiculousness.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"This Once Belonged to Jack Nicholson": the Tod Michael Volpe Story

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

He was a charming art dealer, a man who climbed to the highest heights of the Hollywood elite. Once there, he conned 'em all for fun and profit. That is, until it all came crashing down. Come for the art crimes, stay for the unhinged documentary he later starred in and somehow was even wilder than his cons.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to America, Suckers: Selling the Brooklyn Bridge

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

It's become shorthand for someone being gullible, thinking they can buy the Brooklyn Bridge (and at a discount!). But the idea had to start somewhere. Turns out selling the bridge and other landmarks to those newly arrived on U.S. shores was a lucrative con in the early 1900s. But such cons are not sustainable, and eventually bad guys go to prison.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To Russia With Love: The Robert Hanssen Story

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Inspired by boyhood dreams of wanting to be James Bond, real life FBI guy Robert Hanssen joined the bureau to become a secret agent. But when no one liked him and bosses overlooked him, Hanssen decided to do the next best thing: become a double-agent and spy for the Soviet Union. Larry King, Mother Theresa, secret messages hidden in used car ads, this spy story has a bit of everything!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your Dead Grandma Says Hi: Sylvia Browne

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Some people believe in psychics, others are skeptics who doubt their skills. If you think you're in the camp somewhere in between, not caring one way or another, we dare you to have no opinion once you've heard the tales of Sylvia Browne and her visions and predictions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I Wanna Be A Cowgirl: Cora Hubbard, Lady Bandit

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

She was a legend of the Wild West, a self-made outlaw, iron hard as her six-shooter, yet delicate as a prairie butterfly. Cora Hubbard, Lady Bandit was a compelling mix of contradictions. And at one time she was nationally famous as the next great female outlaw. Her ambitions though were betrayed by the men whom she called her gang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the Swiss Sugar Baron's Fault: The Knoedler & Company Art Forgery Scandal

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

A storied and respected New York art gallery thought they'd stumbled on a treasure trove of undiscovered Abstract Expressionist art. It was, of course, too good to be true. And anyone savvy enough to run a powerhouse art gallery and broker would have known that. But the pieces still went on sale for incredible amounts of money. Full of murky finances, questionable practices, and unnoticed goof ups, this is a classic art crime tale that we all need right now.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life After Pro Football: Have You Considered Getting Into Crime?

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

After his playing days were done, former pro football player Devin Aguilar decided his next move at securing the bag could come from a robbery. He enlisted his girlfriend and together the two planned their "perfect robbery" for 6 months. However, based on the fact he's on this show, Devin Aguilar likely needed a lot more time than that. Come for the crime, but stay for Elizabeth and Zaron's theater play.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'll Buy That for a Dollar: Antiques Roadshow

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

This week on Antiques Roadshow, we're coming to you from historic Ridiculous Crime Headquarters. Zaron Burnett, a crime authenticator, and Elizabeth Dutton, an authority on quirkiness, appraise tales of naughtiness, foolishness, and the search for the truth. It's all made possible by listeners like you (and Darlene Shiley...and Admiral iHeart). And because it can't be said enough, support your local PBS station.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Just a Family Tradition: The Newton Gang

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Imagine some brothers. No, like a lot of them. Now imagine they love robbing banks and trains. But they also love fast cards and high living. Now imagine what Zaron would say about that. Yup, "my men."

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey You Kids, Get Off My Feed: Influencer Fights

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

For those who live their lives online, follower numbers, likes, and ad collabs are essential. The bread and butter in such a new and fleeting industry. You'd think that in the expansive social media universe, these folks could live in peace and harmony. Nope. Not possible. Their beefs are stupid, so let's talk about them.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fred Durst vs. The World

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The front man for Limp Bizkit is known to be a bit of an ass. However, he claims the role of Fred Durst is actually a monster of his own making. But as numerous incidents from his decades as a star prove... the greatest crime is that he just won't stop being Fred Durst.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Go On, Take the Music and Run: Master Tape Theft

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Original studio recordings are the purest form of a song; they are also incredibly valuable. Theft of master tapes are a musician's worst nightmare. But sometimes, it can be a blessing in disguise. Whether the thief nabs the tapes as revenge, as bootleg material, or by accident, you can bet your sweet patoot the chaos that results is pretty ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lance!!! A Curious Tale of Blood Doping for Fun and Profit

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

He was the most famous cyclist in the world. Then it all came crashing down when it was revealed that he was a huge cheater. What went so wrong for Lance Armstrong? Elizabeth and Zaron dig-in to the bullet-proof lies, the champion's mystique, and the many ridiculous crimes of the world famous 7-time winner of the Tour de France.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip the Tub: John Spano, Jr.

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

A con man flim flam artist who loved hockey wanted nothing more than to own a professional hockey team. The problem is that he wasn't a billionaire, which is sort of a prerequisite for professional team ownership. No problem. Borrow some cash, fake some documents, tell some lies and BOOM, the team was his..at least for a couple of months. Fill up the tub.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baby, I Was Born to Run: the Grover Cleveland Bergdoll Story

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

When the first World War kicked off, Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, a notorious daredevil and rich kid playboy, decided armed combat wasn't for him. And so, rather than serve, he decided to dodge the draft. He would spend the next two decades begging for a pardon as he evaded justice and the many men sent to capture him.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brother, Can You Spare Half a Dime: The Hollow Nickel Case

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The best part of espionage is the spycraft, the cool gadgets and codes often disguised as everyday objects. Some look like lipstick, others like umbrellas. And then there are the ones that are a bit riskier because they're smaller and easier to misplace. Coins. Talkin' about coins.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I Go For You Ma": The Love Triangle of Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, and Adolf Hitler

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

When World War II broke out, the biggest star in the world planned to sit it out. But as Fate would have it, events conspired to motivate Clark Gable AKA the "King of Hollywood" to enlist and go fight the Nazis. This was a big bummer for his #1 German fan, Der Fuhrer, AKA Adolf Hitler. But just like his wife Carole Lombard had hoped, Clark Gable did go to war against his biggest fan boy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Phisher King: Filippo Bernardini

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Filippo Bernardini felt like an outsider in the publishing world, so he decided to fix that. Did he dazzle executives with his intellect and insight? No. He stole his way into literary inner circles. And we know how those stories end.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ho, Ho, Hold It Right There: A Collection of Christmas Crimes

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

T'was the night before the Christmas, and all through the house not a creature was stirring... except for a mouse stealing some Christmas cookies. No, not really. But this episode is a fun collection of Christmas crimes and the holiday-crazed criminals who committed them.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Con So Nice, He Named Himself Twice: Lord Gordon Gordon

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

A man who called himself Lord Gordon Gordon sure knew how to con 'em. He scammed jewelers, land owners, and railroad magnates with great alacrity on both sides of the Atlantic. But in the hierarchy of criminals, the robber barons generally come out on top, and Gordon Squared just didn't anticipate that.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Love Triangle of Frank Sinatra, Howard Hughes and Ava Gardner

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner had one of the great love affairs of the last century. But it was actually a love triangle that included the famously-reclusive Howard Hughes. It gets wilder than that –– their love rivalry lasted decades and involved the mafia and the CIA. In fact, the dynamic forever changed Las Vegas and even ended the Rat Pack Era. This one is a wild midcentury tale... and 100% criminally ridiculous!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Napoleon of Crime: Adam Worth

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Using his logistical and felonious prowess, Adam Worth developed a sophisticated criminal network stealing money, art, and jewelry from high-value targets on two continents. Understated and cunning, Worth was so successful he inspired one of literature's greatest criminal masterminds. Quite the criming legacy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Johnny Cash Jamaican Christmastime Miracle

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Who would possibly think it's a good idea to rob Johnny Cash...at Christmastime... in Jamaica? If this sounds like some sort of Mad Lib, trust us, it's not. This really happened. And oddly enough, it's actually a charming Christmastime tale.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You Better Listen to the Radio: Operation Ostrich

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

During WWII, there were lots of ways to contribute to the war effort. One involved sitting at a radio station on Long Island, feeding lies to the Nazis to aid the Allies. Owen House was the secret center of Operation Ostrich, the most intense counterintelligence effort you've never heard of.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Zambian Plot

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Let's say you're a German industrialist who needs to drive up the price of copper on the commodities market, would you hire a midcentury adventurer/boat captain and a pair of Miami skin divers to help you blow up a bridge in Zambia? If so, then you are the perps in this truly wild Cold War tale of international intrigue.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't Mess with the Big Dog: Martha Stewart

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Martha Stewart is more than a food and entertaining icon; she's a brand. Literally. But a brand can't lie to the feds and a brand can't go to jail. Martha Stewart the human, however, could and did just that. But you can't keep a tough gal down. Martha made a comeback and then some. And that's a good thing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The King of Counterfeiters: Jeff Turner

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

If you were in a bad place, hard up financially, looking for work, and some sorta lifeline... how far down your list of options would be the idea: should I start a counterfeiting ring? For Jeff Turner that was his number one idea. And that's how he became the King of Counterfeiters. But it's also how Jeff ended up on this show, so clearly there were some challenges he didn't expect. For example, a duplicitous Cleveland heroin dealer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There Ain't No Cure for the Varsity Blues: Rick Singer

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Applying to college. Oh, what a busy time that is for high school students. There are stressors like posing for a fake rowing photo or making sure your SAT ringer spelled your name right on the Scantron. See, while some teens spend all their time studying and participating in activities to get ahead, others spend their parents' cash to game the system. Gotta put that Full House syndication money to good use!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Flapper Bandit: Rebecca Bradley Rogers

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The 1920s was an era of radical change in the culture. One of the major indicators was the advent of The Flapper –- young women who rejected the previous generations' notions of femininity and embraced their own ideas of modern womanhood. This of course inspired a nationwide moral panic! Enter the Flapper Bandit –– a young woman who rejected previous notions of legality and embraced her own ideas of how to rob a bank... and in the process became a national news story.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someday We'll Find It: The Pizza Connection

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:26:37 +0000

What's your favorite pizza topping? Pepperoni? Anchovies? A kilo of heroin? If it's the drugs, the Sicilian mob had a pizza parlor for you! They created networks of drug wholesale hubs in modest pizza joints up and down the East Coast. But the FBI is the one that delivered when it came to justice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America's First Great Bank Robber: George Leonidas Leslie

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

When people speak of the first American bank robber, typically, they think of Jesse James. While he may have been the first world famous bandit and bank robber, he was not the most prolific. That was a man named George Leonidas Leslie, the first truly great American bank robber. He was an underground figure, an outlaw folk hero who made his living robbing the original robber barons.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Dollhouse: Velvalee Dickinson

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In wartime, codes and puzzles become a language of warfare. But if you can make a code, someone can break the code. Enter Velvalee Dickinson. She was a lover of costumed porcelain dolls and Japanese culture, and Velvalee was at the center of a truly bizarre doll-based mystery. During World War II, a team of female codebreakers investigated a series of letters from doll-lovers in the US sent to Argentina. The forged letters discussed prized dolls and their visits to doll hospitals. Turns out, the letters were coded messages from a doll-loving spy network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warmest Regards, The Leopard: Betty Grable Extortion Letters

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

She was America's Sweetheart, a woman whose gorgeous gams kept the antifascist Allied forces going as they won WWII. With talent, humor, beauty, and wit;, Betty Grable was a star. And with stardom comes creeps. And with creeps often comes crime. But if you come for Ms. Grable, you best not miss.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lord Buckingham, I Presume: Charles Stopford

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Florida man unhappy with life. Florida man move to Europe. Florida man change name. Florida man take phony title. Uh oh, Florida man get in trouble.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Say It Ain't So, Joe: The 1919 Black Sox Scandal

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What does it take to fix the World Series? You'll need players willing to tank the most important games of their careers, a powerful criminal element, and a solid plan. Well, two out of three's not bad. In 1919, a crew of gamblers convinced members of the Chicago White Sox to throw the World Series in order to make a big payday. This was appealing, since their salaries were meager and treatment was dismal. But the plan was weak as creek water, and the whole plot went on to nearly destroy baseball itself.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billy Don't Be a Hero: Fyre Fest

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A modern flim flam artist, Billy McFarland was known for scheming and coming up with ways to make money and have fun doing it. His magnum opus was the epic Fyre Festival. Intended as a luxurious concert on a tropical island, it fell apart before it even began. But not far enough in advance to avoid disappointing and fleecing ticket holders. But at least Ja Rule was there.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

McMillions: When Uncle Jerry Rigged the McDonald's Monopoly Game

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Imagine you have the power to mint millionaires. But to do it you have to engage in crime. Specifically, you have to rig the McDonald's Monopoly game. Now, would you pick as your partners in this crime a made man from the Colombo Crime family and a former cocaine smuggler? If you said yes, you are Uncle Jerry, who did just that!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey Alan Manchester: The Roofman Cometh…AGAIN

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In honor of the new Paramount Pictures movie Roofman, we’re re-releasing this episode from May 2024. Paratrooper Jeff Manchester used his skills to burgle Corporate America as The Roofman. First, he'd focused on McDonalds and other fast food. Then, like a criminal butterfly, he morphed into a Toys 'R' Us Man who built a secret apartment in an open store –– it was the ultimate inside job.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Next Wes Anderson Movie: George Weyerhaeuser

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Young George Weyerhaeuser was snatched off the street back when kidnapping the child of a wealthy family seemed to be all the rage. Neither horrific nor violent nor ending in tragedy, this kidnapping is an offbeat adventure with a heartwarming ending.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Jackley: The Wannabe Robin Hood

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Lots of idealistic young folks come to believe the world is a rigged game run by immoral fat cats. Many get motivated to change the state of things. Some even fantasize about robbing those same fat cats to get even. Stephen Jackley didn't just fantasize, he acted on it. He became a wannabe Robin Hood, a crimer who wanted to rob from the rich to give to the poor. But then life sorta got in the way.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less Talk, More Rock: The Krupp Diamond

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Elizabeth Taylor looooved diamonds. Some had storied histories going back to royal palaces and forgotten empires. Others came from exotic locales. And then there was the Krupp Diamond. Before Liz donned it on her finger, it belonged to the ex-wife of a Nazi. And that's not the craziest part of this story.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bring Your Gun to Work Day: The Soboba Casino Heist

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

It was just like Ocean's 11...except instead of a stylish crew of longtime pro criminals, it was a guy with a BB gun and another in a Ford Mustang. And instead of the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas, it was Riverside County, California. And instead of jetting off to Europe to hide, the criminals holed up in a Motel 6. So maybe it wasn't just like Oceans 11 when Rolando Ramos and Eric Aguilera went to work at a casino and robbed their employer. But they felt like it was. And that's ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Crimes They Don't Want You to Know: Kevin Trudeau

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Kevin Trudeau was a born salesman...and an excellent con man. He knew exactly how to rope people in with promises of wealth, health, and all around better lives. But as we all know, if something sounds too good to be true, it is. And it's probably a brainchild of ol' Kev.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric Edson: The Burlington Bandit

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Sometimes you really just wanna get away –– this week's crimer, Eric Edson, takes that to outlandish and preposterous levels of commitment. Whether on two wheels or four, by land or by sea, either highspeed or slow-rolling, Edson flat out refuses to be caught. It takes a whole consortium of cops, a veritable multiplicty of law enforcement to bring him to justice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Know When to Hold 'Em: Canada Bill Jones

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Folks, we got us a card sharp. Canada Bill Jones was a three card monte guy, taking rubes for their cash on trains and riverboats across the heart of America. Oddly principled and unrepentant, ol' Bill is a con artist for the ages.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Borgwardt: The Wannabe Ghost of Green Lake

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Once upon a time... a married man and father of three went online and there he met a mystery woman from Uzbekistan. The two began an internet friendship that blossomed into an online romance. Within months, he and she decided he should fake his death so he could leave his wife and kids behind in Wisconsin and run away to be with her. Obviously, that didn't go down as planned since he's on this show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Salad Oil King of New Jersey: Tino De Angelis

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The salad oil business is slippery stuff. Sometimes you have to grease some palms to get what you want. You have to be slick. And you have to trim the fat to keep your business profitable. Lubricating the cogs of international trade...okay, you get the picture. This guy dealt in oil and got himself into serious trouble.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith Richards and John Lennon Take an Acid Road Trip

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

LSD didn't used to be a street drug, originally it was considered a wonder drug, part of the post-war belief in "better living through chemistry." That's when Hollywood mega-star Cary Grant was a big advocate for the potential of acid. But that all changed in the '60s. This week, we take a groovy psychedelic trip with Carrie Fisher, Marc Maron, and the Grateful Dead to find out how LSD became illegal. Also John Lennon and Keith Richards enjoy an LSD-fueled magical mystery tour through England on their own acid road trip.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aldi Money in the World: Theo Albrecht

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Theo and Karl Albrecht build a discount food empire. Aldi is known the world over for "the best quality at the lowest price." Bringing bargains to the people is lucrative business, and the Albrecht brothers built their fortunes to astonishing heights. But with great wealth comes great risk, even if you do your very best to stay under the radar.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Critton: the Black Panther Turned Skyjacking Schoolteacher

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A one-time revolutionary and member of the Black Panthers was the first person to successfully hijack a plane in Canada. That led to a 30-year life on the lam as an international fugitive from justice. And for reasons that only make sense to him, he decided to return to the U.S. and do so using his real name. He would've gotten away with it all if it weren't for that pesky new invention called the Internet.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Put It on My Tab: Anna Delvey

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

As Billie Jean King once said, "if you can see it, you can be it." Young Anna Sorokin took this to heart. She saw the fabulously wealthy and became one of them... sort of. She conned the social circles of NY’s super rich. She wined and dined with the best of them. But seeing isn't always being. Especially if your transformation involves audacious criminality.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Fraudulent Aretha Franklin: How Do You Spell Respect?

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

If a New York City hairdresser who looks a little like James Brown comes up to you and says he can make you a star, don't believe him. But Miss Mary Jane Jones had to learn that lesson the hard way –– by playing Florida nightclubs as she pretended to be the real Aretha Franklin. Naturally, that's no way to earn R.E.S.P.E.C.T. But it will certainly get you attention from the law.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diamonds Aren't Forever: Henri Lemoine

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

If you boast that you can make diamonds out of burnt sugar, you better be able to deliver. Especially if you're boasting to a diamond magnate whose industry you could destroy. Proving it may include showing your tush, but that's life in the diamond biz.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't Fence Me In: Mark DeFriest

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

How does someone get a life sentence for stealing their own tools? Take one part probate, one part rebellion, multiple parts prison escapes, and one part Florida. What you get is the wild tale of Mark DeFriest, the Prison Houdini.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curate This: Influencer Crimes

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Looking for some engagement with some crime content from the world of social media influencers? Look no further, Rude Dudes! Become brand embassadors to ridiculousness with tales of sob stories, lies, and financial hijinks! #ad

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someone Could've Died! The Best-Ever College Football Pranks

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

There's Coach John Heisman, bacon grease, rivals Auburn vs. Georgia Tech and the train that nearly wrecked. There's LSU vs. Tulane and the hijacking of the mascot Mike the Tiger, a real live Bengal. There's also Harvard vs. Yale (vs. MIT) and the surprise exploding football field. And finally, the birth of the Legend of the Stanford Axe with its the horseback and wagon chase through San Francisco that gave us The Big Game. It's a wild look at the absurdities of college football rivalries!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wheels on the CAN Bus: Car Hacks

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Today's automobiles are brimming with technology. Most of the time, that's pretty cool. But it stops being cool when sneaky hackers breach the systems and have a field day. Those are crimes…ridiculous crimes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pray For Them: Buddhists Monks Behaving Badly

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Buddhist Monks are supposed to be exemplars of the faith. Yet these days there has been a recent slew of headlines wherein the monks and abbots of temples have been caught in sextortion scandals and have been main players for cartel drug smuggling. What's up with all the meth-addicted monks, vow-violating fathers of love children, and not to mention the widespread corruption and embezzlement? These monks are shaking the faith of their followers and the true believers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Original Child Star: Jackie Coogan

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In the early days of Hollywood, Jackie Coogan made a splash playing a lovable waif in Charlie Chaplin's silent film, The Kid. His groundbreaking performance made him a ton of money. Or rather, it should have, but his parents had other ideas. His life story is full of twists and turns right out of a classic movie, and his legal battle changed the face of Hollywood forever.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doing Crime to Prove You're Innocent: the Han Van Meegeren Story

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

He was trained to be a fine art painter. Early on, he was considered “gifted.” But times change, tastes change, and the art world moves on...Han Van Meegeren wanted his revenge for being left behind. His plan: art forgery of the great masters of the past. But then came World War II, and a huge complication, one that meant he had to do crime to prove his innocence.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Call of the Wild: Plant Crimes

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 11:35:18 +0000

We are stardust, we are golden. We are billion-year-old carbon. And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden. Unless, of course, you're there to scam or steal. In that case, stay out of the garden, bro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Close But No Cigar: The Nearly Perfect Dunbar Heist of 1997

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

It was meticulously planned, it was executed brilliantly, their alibis were unimpeachable, their getaway plan was flawless, and their money laundering scheme a thing of beauty. So then, what went wrong? Why the hell are they on this show? The Dunbar Heist of 1997 is one of those crime tales that will make you say: you have got to be kidding me!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let Me Drive: Violet Charlesworth

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

When a fancy lady rolled into town, she captivated everyone. An heiress-elect, she was about to come into some serious cash, which was exciting! But then tragedy struck. And then mystery. And then drama. A lot of stuff struck. What happened to Violet Charlesworth? Listen to find out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Argentine Heist of the Century

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Sewers, pizza, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles –– this one has everything that's cool, comical and subterranean. It was a brilliant plan. It was executed perfectly. That is, until one fatal flaw brought the whole operation crashing down.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Classic RC: Tonight There's Gonna Be a Jail Break: Two Escaper Boys

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Jack Shepherd was a petty, pretty thief. He wasn't very good at it, so he got caught a lot. And he escaped a lot. Just like Henry More Smith. He, too, couldn't stop stealing and couldn't stop freeing himself from prison life. These guys prove that you can't keep a good (well, at least non-violent) man down.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Classic RC: Just Like in the Movies: The Story of Rédoine Faïd

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Prolific French bank robber Redoine Faid repeatedly evaded capture then repeatedly escaped imprisonment, entertaining all who heard of his exploits. His Hollywood-style capers were larger than life, just like his audacious public image. But can the authorities ever truly capture the man who has captured a nation's imagination?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Classic RC: Barb and Star Would Never: Judy Amar

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A thief breaks into luxury homes in tony Boca del Mar. the cops are flummoxed by this brazen burglar. Even more so when they find out it’s a lady thief! How could the Bandit of Boca del Mar be a woman? That’s unthinkable! Hey, anything is possible in Palm Beach County, baby.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Classic RC: Let's Take to the Sea!

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Sometimes you just need to get away. For a Chinese dissident that meant making a daring escape on a jet ski. For a former cyclist turned "ocean jogger," it meant building himself a human-powered hamster wheel so he could run across the sea. In both cases, these men's choices were crimes, but their methods were... ridiculous!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They Heard it Through the Grapevine: Brinks Jewelry Heist

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

It was a pretty genius plan. Steal gems from a Brinks truck as it made its way from one jewelry show to another. And the heist crew pulled it off…sort of. Seems practice runs can both improve the actual big theft, but also leave a trail of evidence for the feds. Oh, well.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feather Huntin': The Great Trans-Saharan Ostrich Heist

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Elizabeth, what's your third-favorite bird? On the heels of that question follows one of the strangest tales we've told. It's a globe-trotting, desert-crossing, ostrich-wrangling, feather-lusting, pith-helmeted, African cowboy adventure... with crime! Just how far will a bunch of profit-minded South Africans go to steal a flock of coveted French colonial ostriches?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ridiculous Crime takes on The Puzzler: Ridiculous Laws

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Recently, Zaron Burnett and Elizabeth Dutton joined AJ Jacobs on The Puzzler to test their puzzling skills!

Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses.

Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

"The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas.

Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts.

The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions.

Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mad or Wise: Emperor Norton I

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

If you are dissatisfied with the state of the world, you have to get out there and make some changes yourself. Joshua Norton, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, tried to do just that. He dubbed himself leader and issued proclamations asserting his vision for a better life. Only in San Francisco, California, could a madman be a wise man and a folk hero for the ages.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hilarious Hair-Raisin' Crimes of Professional Wigjackers

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

For centuries, wigs were the look. And in the era of Marie Antoinette, the bigger the better, and the more fantastical, the more whimsical, even better. Industries were built to attend to the many needs of the big wigs of Europe. And there was another industry born of the decadence and hair-based opulence. Enter the professional wigjacker! (Ridiculous crimes guaranteed.)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have You Seen My Passport: John Stonehouse

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

An idealistic British MP had it all, until a series of bad decisions nearly destroyed his career. But that didn't stop the bad decisions, it only made them worse.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where's the Beef...the Celebrity Beef?!

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Whether it's Steven Seagal versus his pants, or Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere battling over Princess Di, over Tom Hardy going toe-to-toe with Shia LaBoeuf, or the one celeb brief that led to the greatest pop art of the 21st century, this week, we've got the beef... the celebrity beef you need... for a good laugh!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doing it for the Deeestrict: George Streeter

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A true sovereign citizen, George Streeter claimed land as his own. Then he made even more of it. The cops and the courts and the fat cats of Chicago couldn't pry him out. Instead, he provided entertainment, vice, and choice quotes to a fabulous city that knows how to celebrate a character.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jump, Jive, and Jail: the Pot Bust of Gene Krupa

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

At the height of the swing music era, jazz drummer and musical great Gene Krupa was caught up in a federal bust. He was used as a cautionary tale in America's First Drug War. Taken down in order to scare young people away from that serious and dire threat to America... jazz music.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to Disappear: Raymond Grady Stansel

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

An ocean-loving, expert mariner Florida man made his living transporting bales of marijuana until the law caught up with him. Then he went to a land down under, where women glow and men plunder (as they say in the song). He made a new life for himself there. Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Bart: the Outlaw Folk Hero Poet

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Black Bart was not his government name. While the name was fearsome and his occupation as a stagecoach robbing outlaw was typically violent and careers short-lived, Black Bart was the opposite in every way. He was a gentleman outlaw folk hero who never hurt anyone. Not only that, he left poems for the lawmen chasing after him. The secret to his success? Black Bart was not at all what anyone expected!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yellowstone Isn't Just for Duttons: Tim Blixseth

Thu, 29 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A lumber baron who set his sights on facilitating luxury living established an enormous, posh, private ski club. And in a shocking turn of events that absolutely no one could ever see coming, hundreds of lawsuits followed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Los Beetles (Americanos)!"

Tue, 27 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A Florida club promoter had a big idea: he'd take four young American lads, grow out their hair, dress 'em like John, Paul, George and Ringo, and call 'em the American Beetles to cash in on a thing called Beatlesmania. That worked so well the four lads embarked on a magical mystery tour of South America. And that's how Los Beetles Americanos came to Buenos Aires. Only trouble was: no one told Argentina it wasn't the real Beatles.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the Love of a Funny Girl: Nicky Arnstein

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A cardsharp, a ladies man, a con artist extraordinaire. Nicky Arnstein skirted the law and lived the high life, even married the most famous woman in radio. A couple stretches of hard labor in the pen couldn't break him, but a film adaptation of his life almost did. Tough guy, thin skin.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Great Del Taco Stock Debacle: You Got Jacked!

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

There's the big leagues of insider trading, like what we see from both sides of the aisle in Washington DC. And when we think of Wall St. crimes taking place it's in boardrooms, backrooms, and out on golf courses. But what about in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system? That's where a roster of struggling minor leaguers tried to grab a big league pay day off of Del Taco stock options. Ridiculous crimes followed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diva Up Energy: George Santos

Thu, 15 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We've come to expect corruption and lies in Washington, but there are times when it just goes too far. Witness George Santos, a guy who is seemingly allergic to the truth (but not Hermès). He proves that there's money to be made in the outrage machine, whether we like it or not.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those Battlin' Bachs! Johann and Sebastian

Tue, 13 May 2025 10:48:49 +0000

There's Sebastian Bach. The former lead singer of the hair metal band, Skid Row. You expect stories of him acting out –– that's kinda his whole deal. He goes through life like he's a one-man reality show about a former rock star who now enjoys wine bars and Broadway. But there's also his namesake, Johann Sebastian Bach. And let us tell ya, he was every bit the bad boy. And just as criminally ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bad Boy Book Buddies: Marcus Schrenker and Matthew Cox

Thu, 08 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Two con men. Each masters of financial fraud. Each on the run from the law, using aliases and wild maneuvers to stay one step ahead of the authorities. Until they weren't. And it was only then that they crossed paths, with ridiculous result. Get ready to throw a couple more tomes into the Ridiculous Crime library!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Paal! Did You Steal Edvard Munch's "The Scream"?

Tue, 06 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A former footballer in the Norwegian league who was also a former street criminal jumped back in the game as a high-end art thief. He says he made Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" famous by stealing it. We say his whole story is...ridiculous!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fixer: Lou Blonger

Thu, 01 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

This guy was the other Soapy Smith, running crime rings in Denver, Colorado. A bunco magnate, he made his money off the naïveté of rube tourists. His stock market wasn't real but, then again, is any stock market real? Anyway, the King of the Bunks ran afoul of the law in the most intense way possible. And it was…ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"You Try to Choke George Clooney, See How It Goes": the David O Russell Story

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

On a Hollywood film set, the director is like a god. They have the power to make or to break. They have the carte blanche to do whatever they must to make their art. And they often abuse this privilege and all the fine folks around them. And then, there's David O Russell who takes bad behavior to whole 'nother level. Listeners, be warned: there's plenty of salty language in this one, it's bleeped, but it's still there.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queen of the St. Petersburg Crime Scene: Sonia Golden Hand

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A gorgeous thief who was perhaps too talented for her own criming good, Sonia Golden Hand stole hearts and goods all over Europe. She ran cons and palmed gems like no other, which gained her fame. Pro tip: fame and recognition aren't particularly helpful for those looking to fly under the radar.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Mask: The life and crimes of costumed characters

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

From college mascots getting arrested, to Gritty being investigated for fighting a kid, to the battlin' superheroes of Times Square, and on out west to the tourist wrasslin' costumed characters of Hollywood Blvd, this week Zaron amuses Elizabeth with tales from life behind the mask. It's wild how a little bit of cloth can make a person act out.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I Stencil My Masterpiece: Banksy Thefts

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Graffiti is generally illegal. Unless it's created by a celebrated, anonymous artist named Banksy. Then it's worth millions and ripe for the stealin'. People steal Banksy pieces, even the murals off of walls of buildings. Is it illegal to steal something that's already technically illegal? We shall see.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Curious Kitschy Crime of Sea Monkeys

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A mad inventor, his cheated heiress, a villainous toy company called Big Time Toys, astronaut John Glenn, Howie Mandel, the Pixies, and a dark secret... this story has it all and then some. Get ready for a wild ride into the underwater world of Sea Monkeys and their very, very strange inventor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Those about to Rock: Alcatraz Escapes

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Escaping from prison isn't easy. It was near impossible from a place like Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay. The prison was notorious not only for its infamous prisoners, but also for its harrowing location amidst choppy waters and hungry sharks. But the human spirit and the desire to be free can't be squelched. Come with us as we escape "The Rock."

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dude Where's My House?! The Irishman Whose Home Went Full Brigadoon

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What do you do when you come home to find there is no home where your home should be? This was the curious dilemma for one particularly unlucky Irishman. His missing home conundrum led to a meandering multi-decade long legal melee to solve the seemingly magical mystery of who stole his missing 150-year old house. Because on an island with a population less than the seating limit of a large restaurant, somehow no one knew what happened to his missing home.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long Live the King of Keys: The Antwerp Diamond Heist

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A diamond heist for the ages! An Italian heist crew pulled off an impeccably prepared raid on a vault full of diamonds. Well, almost pulled off. A lesson in the importance of patience, this crime shows us that everything can hinge on a salami sandwich. With special guest appearances by noisy interns!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More from the Casebook of Bob Nygaard, Psychic Detective

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We're back with more tales from the anti-psychic sleuthing of super detective Bob Nygaard. Bob and his fedora get justice for a lovelorn gent who spent a king's ransom trying to win back his dream girl. As you can probably guess, hundreds of thousands of dollars and diamonds later, the guy was still alone. But he (and we) will always have Nygaard.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born to Run: James Hogue

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Is it so bad to want to run? And is it so bad to want to do it in high school? Well, it sure is if you're 25 years old and faking your identity. James Hogue did just that. And then did it again under another identity in college. Baby, he was born to run.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Casebook of Bob Nygaard, Psychic Detective

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Bob Nygaard, a former NYPD detective turned private investigator is a real gumshoe's gumshoe. Like he stepped off the pages of a noir detective novel, the snap-brim fedora-wearing P.I. is the man folks call when a phony psychic fleeces them out of a fortune. And Bob Nygaard, psychic detective, gets them justice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eternal Sunshine of the Meatless Mind: Sarma Melngailis

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

She was a vegan restauranteur looking for meaning in her expanding empire. He was a man who said he could make dogs live forever. Together, they made for one of the most toxic relationships we've ever seen. And along the way, they managed to drain her business coffers and stiff some workers. They put the "well, that sucks" in wellness.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Solar-Powered Con Artist: Jeff Carpoff

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

He was not an engineer, nor was he an inventor, instead he was a failed car mechanic. But Jeff Carpoff didn't let that stop him from creating a billion dollar business based on his invention: a portable solar generator. It worked, kinda... and that was all he needed to run his solar-powered con that roped in a really powerful sucker named President Obama.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Art of Forgery: Art Williams Jr.

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Let's face it, counterfeiting is an art. It takes serious talent and skill. So it should come as no surprise that the best counterfeiter in the land is also a fantastic artist. To say Art Williams, Jr. has lived a surprising and ridiculous life is an understatement. Print yourself a five dollar bill, buy some popcorn, and settle in!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I Wanna Be Bootsy, Too!

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

They say it's never good to meet your heroes in real life. It's even worse if you meet your hero in real life and it's not really them. This week, E and Z examine tales of the many folks who want to be the original funkateer, Bootsy Collins. Antics and mayhem ensue. But there is only one true Bootsy!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dulcet Tones of Zyme Bedewing: Mike Smith

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

AC/DC told us it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. Sage advice. But that was before the age of AI. Now it's a short way to the top if you want to create hundreds of thousands of fake songs to make millions from streaming services. Mike Smith did just that, courtesy of Artificial Intelligence. Gaming the system like that is all well and good, but can AI create a masterpiece like AC/DC's "Big Balls"? Doubtful.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Great Air Jordan Train Robberies of 2024

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Train robberies are so 19th century. Air Jordans are so 20th century. Yet, combine them and you get the hottest new crime of the 21st century: train robberies of boxcars of Jordans. Come aboard as E and Z ride the rails of crime.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IRS Will Survive: Studio 54

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

It was a dark fantasyland of excess and glamor. We speak not of your local Applebee's. No, we mean Studio 54, the ne plus ultra of 70s discotheques. It was the place to see and be seen, to do drugs and get glitter in your cracks. To just dance, baby! Until the IRS came calling. And with the evidence the owners left behind, they couldn't blame it on the boogie.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Inimitable Miss Cleo: The World Famous Fake Phone Psychic

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The late '90s were such a different time... kinda. But the last real decade still had plenty of fakers, grifters, and scam artists, all offering up questionable spirituality and easy answers... just like now! Enter Miss Cleo, the legendarily scammy fakin' Jamaican phony phone-based psychic and the face of a highly profitable long con, the Psychic Readers Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a Side of Chow Chow: The Kidnapping of Elton B. Stephens Jr.

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

A Southern Gothic thriller for the ages, this is the tale of a Coen Brothers-esque kidnapping gone sideways. A bumbling couple take a magazine subscription heir prisoner to fund the purchase of their dream home, and the whole saga is later chronicled by the inventor of a game in which one hunts humans. Listener Lane Price tipped us off to this epic, delivering a Southern fried wild ride.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God Save the Queen...and the Sex Pistols

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

1977 was the year punk broke. It was also the Silver Jubilee year, which was a special celebration to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Never one to miss publicity, the princes of punk rock, the Sex Pistols, released their new single, God Save the Queen, and chartered a boat tour just to mock the monarch, which resulted in a police beatdown. It was truly anarchy in the UK.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Art of the Steal: Stephane Breitwieser

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Listen, we all love art. But this dude LOVES art. So much so that he steals it and never lets go. His mom, though, isn't afraid of turning some loose. It's like they say: if you love something, set it free…into a canal.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Le Scandal: the French Mayor and the Nudist Fortune-Telling Ventriloquist

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

At the start of 2024, a conservative mayor of a small charming French seaside nudist resort town was accused of embezzlement and illegal use of city funds. Allegedly, he was secretly paying a fortune-telling ventriloquist, a woman who claimed she could speak with the dead, so that the mayor could hear from his dear departed daddy. The result? Le scandal!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Come Fly with Me: Airline Stowaways

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Sometimes you need to fly the friendly skies, but you don't have a ticket. There was a time when the solution was to just sneak onto a plane and act like ya know. Follow a handful of young and young-ish scofflaws as they sneak aboard, confound security, and have unforgettable adventures that, of course, end in cuffs.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the USA Caught "Pac–Man Fever"

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In the early '80s, America faced a dire existential threat...in the form of "Pac-Man Fever." A moral panic feared that a generation of kids would be lost to the insidious new video game craze. Inspired by First Lady Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No," America's moral scolds fought back.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Flying Forger: Bad Bobby Baudin

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Zany! That's how people described Robert Baudin, aerial photographer and counterfeiter extraordinaire. But he was more than zany. He was bold. He was crafty. And like Exclamation Perfume, the popular scent of the early 90s, he made a statement without saying a word.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Worm Turns: Dennis Rodman Goes to North Korea

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

What do you get when the Supreme Leader of North Korea has a sports crush on Michael Jordan but can't get the NBA great to come see him? Well, you settle for Jordan teammate, Dennis Rodman. And before you know it that one choice leads to international hijinks, political intrigue, denuclearization talks, and the revelation that Dennis Rodman may be a real life superspy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't Let the Door Hit Ya Where the Good Lord Split Ya: Peter Popoff

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

It's one thing to bilk the gullible who are looking to make a quick buck, it's quite another to con those who are looking for healing and salvation. It's terrible. Sickening. Despite the valiant efforts of a skeptic magician, it looks like Peter Popoff is still selling holy water and phony debt relief. This episode sounds like a bummer, but somehow it isn't.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have Mercy!: The Hard Gambling Nuns of Torrance

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Holy moley! A fake nun, a fake bishop, a con man priest, and the belle of the ball... a pair of hard gambling nuns who embezzle a million dollars from a Catholic school in Los Angeles to fund their secret lifestyle as Vegas whales AKA high roller gamblers who just love the action.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pietro La Greca & The Mexican Money Laundry Part 2

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

For the second part of this tale about Pietro La Greca Sr., the one-time gigolo, turned arsonist, turned money launderer for the Mexican cartels and who later graduated to running tax scams with the head of the Mexican IRS, his son recounts the effects on his family from having a ridiculous criminal for a father. (Warning: there's frank discussion about terminal cancer in this episode)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pietro La Greca & The Mexican Money Laundry Part 1

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Imagine your father is a charming international one-time gigolo turned clothing boutique owner turned arsonist turned money launderer for the Mexican cartels and Mexican presidents. Well, turns out you don't have to imagine it because that's the life of Pietro La Greca Jr. and he told Elizabeth and Zaron all about it!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to Get Away Week: Sealand

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Want to get away from it all? Start your own country? Fight some Dutchmen? Go up against the British crown? That's what Paddy Roy Bates did when he founded Sealand, an island nation off the coast of England. Come for the pirate radio, stay for the dodgy passports!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want To Get Away Week: Come Aboard the Sex Raft!

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Want to get away from it all? What if you could climb aboard a homemade raft, and join a group of young and sexy strangers, and together you all drift across the Atlantic, as a Svengaliesque professor stirs up sexual chaos and documents it all for his study of human beings. Sound fun? Or does it sound... ridiculous?!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ridiculous Update: Revisiting the Theft of the Ruby Slippers

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

We look back at the time someone stole Judy Garland's ruby slippers from the movie The Wizard of Oz. With a special update about the fate of the slippers since the episode originally aired!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ridiculous Update: Rita Crundwell and Her Little Ponies

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

We look back at the woman who embezzled $53 million dollars from her small hometown in the American heartland, all so that she could pay for her pony obsession. Now she wasn't hitting the track, no, Rita Crundwell lusted to become a celebrity in the world of horse breeders and trainers. And now, we have an update!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If I'm Lion, I'm Dyin': The Movie ROAR

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The actress Tippi Hedren and her whole family once made a certifiably ridiculous movie. A little joint called ROAR. With a cast of more than 100 untrained lions and a very loose script, it took years and millions to make. Was the set safe? Not on your life. And the biggest shame is that almost no one got to see it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stealing Baby Jesus

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 15:28:27 +0000

While leafing through 75 years of local newspapers, Zaron Burnett uncovers an American Christmas tradition as ingrained in our culture as the red-and-white Santa: sneaking up to a nativity scene and stealing the Baby Jesus. And, in many cases, immediately regretting it.

Note: Please do not steal Baby Jesus.

VERY SPECIAL CREDITS
Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Zaron Burnett
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs
Voice Actors: Jonathan Washington, Chris Childs, Elizabeth Dutton, Katie Mattie, Josh Fisher, and Zaron Burnett
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Thanks for listening! We'll have one more episode in 2024 next Monday. If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach the show at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stealing the Stone of Scone: A Christmas Story

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

One Christmas night, four proud brave Scots break into Westminster Abbey to steal back the Stone of Scone AKA the Stone of Destiny for the glory and pride of Scotland. It was a Christmas miracle... of crime!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get Off Your Butt and Do It: Tom Vu

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Tom Vu captivated late night audiences with his outrageous infomercials touting his real estate seminars. He was rich, sitting on a yacht, carousing with bodacious bikini babes. Yes, he was rich and wanted you to be rich, too! But you weren't going to be rich. Not by a long shot.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I'm Rick James, Bitch!": A Criminal Inspiration

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Dave Chappelle and his show made Rick James into a catchphrase. Charlie Murphy told the stories that made Rick James into a legendary figure in the culture. But it was Rick James who made the stories and the catchphrase real. "I'm Rick James, bitch!" And these criminals were inspired to be the Rick James they wanted to see in the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince of Lies (not Tides): Anthony Gignac

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

From a young age, Anthony Gignac dreamed of being wealthy and living a lavish lifestyle. That simply wasn't in the cards for him, so he made his own deck. Posing as a Saudi prince, Anthony scammed his way into a life of luxury cars, jewels, and real estate deals. But like the fake diamonds glued to his Rolex, the title of a Roots album, and a line from Yeats' "The Second Coming," things fall apart.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawn Chair Larry & His Homemade Flying Machine

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

What do ya get when you strap 42 weather balloons to a lawn chair? The homemade flying machine of one Lawn Chair Larry. In the early '80s, the amateur aviator took to the skies of Southern California, where he reached such heights that planes taking off from LAX had to dodge Lawn Chair Larry!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tequila Mockingbird: Sammy Hagar's Booze Empire

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 17:28:42 +0000

The recent theft of a shipment of Santo Tequila, the brand owned by rocker Sammy Hagar and diner lover Guy Fieri, really shook America to its core. We take a look at Sammy's bumpy road to establishing his tequila empire, one Waborita at a time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Magic: the Gathering ...on Magic Mushrooms

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Magic: the Gathering is a tabletop card game for dueling wizards. Magic mushrooms are a psilocybin-based psychedelic that distorts reality. Combine them both and you get this story: a man travels to Portland, Oregon to compete on 'shrooms at a Magic: the Gathering Pro Tour event. ...And Elizabeth questions this whole reality!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I See Your True Colors Shining Through: The Fine Cotton Scandal

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

A lifelong criminal fixes a horse race with the help of Australian organized crime. In what would make an excellent Guy Ritchie movie, the crimers bumble their way to a disastrous finish worthy of no photos. But just like a good Guy Ritchie movie, not everything is as it seems.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Half-Alien Human Hybrid Superspy Guy: Jeffrey Alan Lash

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

When a dead body is left in a SUV in a wealthy LA enclave, it launches an out-of-this-world mystery. Was the strange dead man really a half-alien human hybrid superspy working for a super-secret government agency? Or was it all just... a ridiculous crime?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'll Buy that for a Dollar: Emerich Juettner

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

A upright citizen living in "genteel poverty" loses everything — except his dog — and instead of going broke decides to go for broke. When life gives you lemons, make dollar bills, dagnabbit!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The "Break–In of the Century": The Citizens Committee to Investigate the FBI

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In 1971, Muhammad Ali fights Smokin' Joe Frazier in The Fight of the Century. The huge media event is the perfect distraction for a group of Catholic hippie antiwar activists to stage a break-in at an FBI field office in Media, Pennsylvania. This story has everything –– J. Edgar Hoover, Deep Throat, and the Washington Post, all show up in this tale that predates Watergate. Not bad for some amateur break-in artists!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Make it Bahrain: Russell King

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Conning your way into ownership of a professional sports team is one thing, but playing two countries off each other for phony mineral rights is the pinnacle of scamming. Russell King did them both! Hooray!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Criminal King of Parkour: Vjeran Tomic

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

A Bosnian boy with a poet's soul grows up to a pioneer of parkour in Paris. Up there on the rooftops of the City of Lights, he turns to crime. He has a taste for jewels and fine art... and suction cups. That's why they call him: The Spiderman of Paris.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Put it on my Tab: The Crown Casino Heist

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Who's up for some silliness? We got us a crazy, high-end, hard boiled casino Down Under that just can't seem to avoid trouble. But when a dude takes the place for multiple millions, they aren't so tough after all. With a special appearance by Ridiculous Crime barkeep Rascal Jack!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The General, The Viper, and the Rose of Dugdale: Who Wants to Burgle the Russborough House?

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Ireland's world famous Russborough House belonged to Lord Alfred and Lady Clementine –– two 'violently wealthy' British aristocrats with the families to match. Their palatial manor home seemed to attract crime and intrigue. There was the British heiress turned IRA radical who busted in for a robbery. And her success inspired two IRA-adjacent gangsters –– The General and the Viper –– to see what they could pull in art heists of their own.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Brick in the Chest: Thérèse Humbert

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:22:49 +0000

Owing people millions is a big deal, unless you have hundreds of millions and can pay it off. And if you don't and can't, then you just have to act like you can and will. But you can't. And won't. So you don't and…well, you get it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send in the Clowns: ICP Invite You To a Gathering of the Juggalos

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:29:09 +0000

Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope are the Insane Clown Posse. Their fans call themselves the Juggalos and Juggalettes. Each year they hold their annual Gathering of the Juggalos. It is a bazar of fairground games, hip-hop, horrorcore rap, oil wrestling, fight clubs... but also family. Get comfortable, crack open a Faygo and... "Whoop Whoop!"

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's Nuts!: "Dr." John R. Brinkley

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0000

He was the GOAT of early mass communication. And he was also the GOAT of medical quackery. John R. Brinkley duped thousands and made millions, but nothing gold can stay. Especially when it involves goat testicles.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crazy Mike and High Flyin' Ryan: Bank Robbing Stuntmen?

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0000

He was a man with a dream –– and that dream was to fly. His brother shared this dream. Trouble was they weren't the Wright Brothers, they were Crazy Mike and High Flyin' Ryan. The brothers challenged gravity, the law and common sense... until the FBI stepped in.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skin Momma Tried: Criminal Dogs

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0000

You know what they say, all dogs go to heaven. And apparently some dogs go to jail. Elizabeth lets the dogs out with tails (get it?) of mischief, larceny, and dogfoolery.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kris Kristofferson: How To Break Into Country Music

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0000

There is no one way to break into the entertainment industry, there's just the way you do it. Country music. legend Kris Kristofferson used a stolen helicopter to impress Johnny Cash. The rest is music history. ...And the story is ridiculous!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RUMBLE YOUNG MAN RUMBLE

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 22:00:00 +0000

Muhammad Ali and George Foreman’s heavyweight title fight is considered one of the greatest sporting events of all time. What’s less well known is that five weeks earlier in the very same stadium, James Brown headlined an epic, three-day long, pre-fight music festival. Rumble braids together both boxing and music history for a compelling account of Muhammad Ali’s growth into both The People’s Champ and the GOAT. For his first title fight, he takes on the “bad man” Sonny Liston.

REFERENCE BOOKS:

Ali: The Greatest, My Own Story by Muhammad Ali

Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig

Rumble In the Jungle by Lewis Erenberg

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hit the Drippini: Valerio Viccei and the Knightsbridge Security Deposit Robbery

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0000

You gotta love a flashy Italian bank burglar in 1980s London with a penchant for Ferraris. In a bold and zesty tunneling vault robbery, Valerio Viccei stole a bunch of cash, gems, and coke. And then the Flying Squad showed up. This ride? It's wild.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Barefoot Bandit: Colton Harris Moore

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Possibly our most-requested subject. And if there's one thing you can about Ridiculous Crime...we do it for the People. So here it is...the strange but true story of Colton Harris Moore, AKA The Barefoot Bandit. Amateur pilot, well-practiced plane thief, and dog lover.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fan Favs: Treetop Flyer: The Highflying Antics of Tommy Fitz

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Think of this like an early Perpie award. Zaron and Elizabeth are out on assignment and will return with a new episode on Tuesday. Today we're featuring an episode you chose as one of the best of all time, and an episode we still reference all the time in HQ.

Get drunk? Check. Steal a plane? Check. Fly it back to the bar you'd been partying in earlier? Check. Tommy "Fitz" Fitzpatrick had only a few steps in his plan to become a legend. How he executed that plan and took it to new heights makes him the poster boy for mid-century ridiculousness.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fan Favs: A Snowball’s Chance

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0000

America selects them, Casey Kasem counts em down. Zaron and Elizabeth are out on assignment for one more week. Today we're featuring another of the Rude Dude chosen best ever Ridiculous Crime episodes, and this one is a real crackerjack.

2 Texas colleges.
1 two-hundred pound owl.
Mix in 1200 cadets and their bull sergeants versus a team of football players and tracks stars, stir in as many trains, trucks, and cars as can be found, and garnish with two private dicks, one named Snowball.

That’s called a TAMU over Rice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fan Favs: Let 'Er Rip: The Adventures of Bum Farto

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

You choose it, we play it. While Zaron and Elizabeth leave Producer Dave all by himself in the studio, we're featuring your picks for the best ever Ridiculous Crime episodes.

Being named Bum Farto is ridiculous. Selling drugs is a crime. Being named Bum Farto and selling drugs in front of a fire station? Now THAT'S a ridiculous crime.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fan Favs: Strangers in the Night: The Extraordinary Kidnapping of Frank Sinatra… Jr.

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

You choose it, we play it. While Zaron and Elizabeth are out on assignment, we're featuring your picks for the best ever Ridiculous Crime episodes.

You need money. You know the Sinatra family. Obviously, the only thing to do is kidnap the adult son of Old Blue Eyes and ask for a ransom. But not too much, just enough. You don’t want to seem greedy. In this classic episode, learn about one man’s bumbling crusade to raise money for his family and raise the ire of America’s most mobbed-up crooner.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've Never Ordered a Code Red: Stolen Valor

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Military service is valuable, so much so that goofballs try to steal it, or at least the valor that accompanies such a sacrifice. Join us on a journey of fake medals, phony uniforms, and ninjas. There are ninjas.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're Going to Graceland: Elvis Does Crime

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Graceland is not just a Paul Simon album, turns out it was also the home of Elvis Presley. Who knew?! Turns out crimers and scammers –– they knew! Because once the King was gone, the scammers came to steal his Graceland. But there's so much more going down in that world famous mansion. E and Z take you behind the gates... of Graceland. Where we all will be received.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You Just Got Bocked: The Con Artist Amy Bock

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Robin Hood stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Amy Bock conned the rich for shiggles and then gave it all away to random strangers. A fascinating character, she conned throughout her life, over and over. And her masterpiece? You won't bocking believe the audacity.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wall St. Whiz Kid Goes to Hollywood!

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:40:37 +0000

David Bloom made a name for himself in the '80s New York art world. That ended badly. So he moved west –– to a new cultural hotspot also ripe with suckers. Folks who'd believe he was a finance bro long enough for him to fleece the sheep. Again, things ended badly.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Great Escapes: Steven Jay Russell

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

This guy. He pulled off great cons and even better prison escapes. He got tossed in solitary for life, but now walks free. Jim Carrey played him in a movie. I mean, this guy. You simply can't keep him down.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Most Interesting Man of the 1940s: Charles Edwards

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

What good is an ice cream cone without the ice cream? What's an elaborate mating ritual without the dirty deed? What's a con without a payoff? Producer Dave dives deep into the life of 1940s LA man about town Charles Edwards, who created a lot of sizzle but somehow never managed to turn it in to a steak dinner.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brawls, Exciting and New: Carnival Cruise Ship Dust-ups

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

What is supposed to be a luxurious, tropical escape on the high seas can sometimes devolve into a floating barge of drunken tussles at the midnight pizza buffet. Choose your cruise wisely, or you could wind up bruised and battered and also starring in a Ridiculous Crime episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bampfylde Moore Carew: King of the Beggars

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Colonial America, and England in the time of the Puritans... not exactly the time or places you'd expect to find a footloose and fancy-free beggar hopping and skipping back and forth across the Atlantic. His secret? Begging, borrowing and stealing. Also, the kindness of others. A shipwreck? A flooded farm? A burned down farmhouse? These weren't calamaties to the King of the Beggars, no, quite the opposite, those were stages for him to debut a new character and then let charity find him.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secret Agent Man: Garrison Courtney

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

It's pretty brazen to pose as a super secret spy guy in order to hustle up some phony government contracts. You have to convince folks that you are a man of mystery, an agent operating at the most clandestine levels of power. But when your targets are members of the government intelligence community themselves? Patriots and lovers of liberty, hear us when we say that's just plain ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Forget it, Sheik... it's ABSCAM"

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Just a few years after Watergate, the halls of power of Washington DC were again stained with fresh scandal. A busload of sitting US congressmen were caught up in an FBI sting operation, one run by a career, small-time criminal, a swindler and scammer. The operation is most memorable for the FBI's two fake sheiks used for their undercover busts. But when the FBI's callin' the tune, sometimes all you can do is get down and sheik your booty.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No Whammies…Ever: Michael Larson

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

The game show Press Your Luck was an 80s fan favorite. And the biggest fan? Michael Larson. He studied the show for weeks, finding the weaknesses and plotting his attack. Heading out to Hollywood, he took his chance at stardom. And he didn't just make it onto the show, he made it into the history books.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Somebody Call An Arborist!: Tree Killers

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Maybe you’re looking to get back at someone. Maybe that fine root structure is standing in the way of your upcoming financial boon. Or maybe you don’t like the cut of that tree’s xylem and phloem. Whatever the reason and whatever the chosen method, approaching a tree with murderous intent is just plain ridiculous. And it’s way, way out of bounds.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Undercover Newton: William Chaloner

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Sometimes the best way to make money is to literally make money. William Chaloner, a total dirtbag, made his living minting phony coins and framing his co-conspirators for all manner of crimes. That was until a genius stepped in and brought his whole operation down, just like an apple falling from a tree.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fall of Nixon: When the Smoking Gun Goes Blam!

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

For two long years, President Richard Nixon tried to cover-up a break-in at the Watergate Hotel. Nixon's Cold War spy buddies had engineered a plan to embarrass the Democrats but then when they got caught, Nixon had to mastermind a cover-up that would eventually bring down his presidency. And somehow, Howard Hughes makes an appearance! Why? Because this insane story of US history has a little of everything!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Needs More Turkeys: Lothar Malskat

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Don't you hate it when you learn to restore masterworks of art, but then you kind of mess one up, and then you just paint a new one and call it old, but then it's full of anachronisms, and then everyone loves it, but then you don't get any credit for your phony work? Don't you hate that? Lothar Malskat did. He hated it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Two Gun Hart": The Lawman With the Big Secret!

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

He was a famous lawman of the disappearing west, a Prohibition agent who dressed like a Wild West cowboy. The newspapermen loved him, the locals adored him, the bootleggers and moonshiners feared him. He was a bigger-than-life hero who seemed to be from a different, simpler era. But James "Two Gun" Hart also had a big secret. And when the truth finally emerged, the cowboy hero was revealed to be a far more complicated man.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've Got Mail: One More Dive into the Ridiculous Crime Mailbag

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

It turns out we do read the emails. Unless Ex-intern Braxton accidentally deletes them all. Join us for cool listener stories, little shorty crimes, and gripping updates. *hits send*

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Ridiculous Questions: Historical Flex Edition, The Sequel

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

The Ridiculous crews, both History and Crime, rejoin forces to once again play everyone’s favorite guessing game: 20 Questions. There were questions. There were answers. There were jokes about dogs in sunglasses! Join the gang for some puzzling good fun!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red, Happy Hooligan, and Little Dick: The Bad Kids of Old San Francisco

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

We lament the behavior of the youth of today, but what about the youngsters of yesteryear? Friends, they were just as bad. Between the Gold Rush and the Great Quake, kids in San Francisco stole purses, toys, and guns. Yes, guns. Kids those days…

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Undercover Cops: I'm Busted? You're Busted! There Are No Rules For Us!

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

What are the rules for undercover cops? Well, as we learn from stories about cops shooting cops, an activist who falls in love with an undercover cop, a headless Care Bear with an undercover cop inside who busts a drug queen, and the two precincts of undercover cops who brawled... there are none! This week, it's mayhem and chaos with undercover cops!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gotta Catch Em All: Pokémon Theft

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Pokémon! The cards, the games, the Go, the cartoons, the…theft? Oh yeah, when collectibles get pricey, criminals come out of the woodwork, even the Yakuza. These cards are big money these days, and some people will do anything to steal 'em all.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life and Crimes of Ice Cream Trucks

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

From the anarchist ice cream truck to contraband peddling ice cream purveyors in school zones to the slowest police chase you've heard –– it's a full menu chock-a-block with ice cream based crimes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secret Princess: Helga de la Brache

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

It's hard when you feel like a royal, but you're just a commoner like the rest of us. You know what? Live your truth. Live your truth, Helga, and get that money. Soak 'em, sister!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guns, Sperm, and Steal: the Gaston Glock Story

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

He's the man who invented the gun that bears his name. He's also the man who ran a truly surprising second business. But the biggest surprise is how Gaston Glock once faced down an assassin –– without a gun.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Mark Twain

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:07:00 +0000

A bar fight and a stint on the lam transformed Samuel Clemens into Mark Twain — and changed the course of American literature. Settle in for Mark Twain's origin story.

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason English
Written by Zaron Burnett
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design: Jonathan Washington and Josh Fisher
Mixing and Mastering: Baheed Frazier
Story Editor: Marisa Brown
Research and Fact-Checking: Austin Thompson and Zaron Burnett
Voice Actors: Frank Nemec, Zack Nemec, Elizabeth Dutton, and Jonathan Washington
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer: Jason English

Special thanks to Bob Hirst from the Mark Twain Archive at UC Berkeley, and Joseph Amster from Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine.

Want to email the show? We'd love to hear from you. You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We'll Always Have Circus Circus: Heather Tallchief and Roberto Solis

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In our ongoing effort to get sponsored by Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, we present to you the tale of one man, one woman, one goat's blood altar, one private jet, one armored car, one parade, and millions of dollars all in concert to create a ridiculous crime buffet.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

D.B. Tuber: The Craigslist Bank Robber

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000

A man, a plan, a bright yellow innertube. Tony Curcio made his name as the Craigslist Bank Robber after he used the site to devastating effect to hire temp workers. And then, years later, he needed a new name after he dipped into the criminal underworld of black market Pokémon.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyday, Everyday I Steal the Book: Three Major Book Heists

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Rare books are, obviously, valuable. And that means people want to steal them, often in ridiculous ways. Sometimes in huge quantities, sometimes over huge amounts of time. This is the tale of three big book heists that are almost as irritating as Elizabeth's pronunciations of just about everything.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten–Cent Beer Night: The Cleveland Fans vs. Billy Martin

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000

On June 4, 1974... all hell broke loose in Cleveland. You see the Stroh's Beer Co. parked a few of its trucks at the ballpark for a cheap beer promotion –– that culminated in a full-scale riot. Things got so bad Billy Martin had to lead an armed charge!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psssst…Wanna Buy the Taj Mahal?: Natwarlal

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000

India's greatest con artist, Natwarlal, never met a load of cargo he couldn't scam his way into possessing. His many arrests, convictions, and escapes captivated a nation. Especially when he sold the Taj Mahal…thrice!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Bergl: Al Capone's Mechanic

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000

During Prohibition, the gangsters and the outlaw folk hero bank robbers agreed on one thing: you need a good mechanic. Enter Joe Bergl. The preferred mechanic of the underworld. He was the favorite car guy of "Bottles" Capone, brother of Scarface. And also he was the favorite wrench turner for Baby Face Nelson and Machine Gun Kelly. Buckle up, Rude Dudes! It's about to get... fast and ridiculous!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Casino Heists: Ocean's 130 Years For Casino Robbery

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000

If we say casino heist, you probably think Ocean's 11, 12, 13... Maybe Ocean's 8... Or the original Sinatra Rat Pack version. Look, we all do. This week, Elizabeth has got way more real life stories of international casino heists and robberies –– it's a Vegas buffet of crime!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Citizen...Can You Not?!: Orson Welles vs. William Randolph Hearst

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000

The radio and theater phenom, Orson Welles, was the real life Max Fisher from Rushmore. He has early success after success, and then goes off to Hollywood to makes his first film –– Citizen Kane. However, the great man the film is based on goes to war against Orson Welles to crush the filmmaker and bury his film before it's ever released. Hearst uses means, both legal and illegal, to destroy the young genius. Why?! It all comes down to one word: Rosebud.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oh Yes It's Ladies Heist: Josephine O'Dare and Amélie Condemine

Thu, 30 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

The fictional character Raffles established the public's notion of a gentleman thief. But what of the ladies? Josephine O'Dare and Amélie Condemine took the Raffles playbook and blazed their way through European society, lightening wallets and lifting gems. Whether they only made 72 cents on the dollar compared to male thieves remains unknown.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nic Cage and Patricia Arquette: The Love Quest

Tue, 28 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Nic Cage is a mixed bag of nuts. But Patricia Arquette is also no slouch when it comes to being, um, unique. Now imagine the two of them together –– young and in love. Well, you don't have to because it already happened! Zaron has the goods on the Love Quest that she sent him on to prove his. And things, of course, get criminally ridiculous!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sisters are Scheming it for Themselves: Lady Banking Scams

Thu, 23 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Charles Ponzi didn't invent the Ponzi scheme. No, two women pioneered the con on both sides of the Atlantic decades before Ponzi struck. Remember folks, if returns on your investments seem too good to be true, they totally are.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rainfurrest 2015: Send In the Furries!

Tue, 21 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In 2015, a convention descended on the Seattle–Tacoma Airport Hilton Hotel. The 3-day gathering of Furries was meant to be a fun place to let your fur down... but some let the fur go too low. Public nudity, diaper fights, drugs, booze, cops, firefighters, ambulances, emergency plumbers –– this story has everything. And then some!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

None of Your Byzantium: Prince Henri

Thu, 16 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

A guy born in Italy moves to France and says he's the heir to the throne in Constantinople, then he heads to the United States to peddle fake titles. You know what that is? Ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey Alan Manchester: The Roofman Cometh

Tue, 14 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Paratrooper Jeff Manchester used his skills to burgle Corporate America as The Roofman. First, he'd focused on McDonalds and other fast food. Then, like a criminal butterfly, he morphed into a Toys 'R' Us Man who built a secret apartment in an open store –– it was the ultimate inside job.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight There's Gonna Be a Jail Break: Two Escaper Boys

Thu, 09 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who Stole Our Big Boy?!

Tue, 07 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

He is an icon of midcentury America. He's cherubic. He's beloved. He's starred in Hollywood movies. And he's often stolen as a prank, but sometimes things turn darker –– but they always stay ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Psychic, She Wrote Me a Letter: Maria Duval

Thu, 02 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

If you have psychic powers, you should see a scam coming a mile away. Not so for Maria Duval. The French psychic only wanted to use her powers for good, but three shady dealers used her name to create one of the world’s longest-running cons. Just because a letter has a coffee stain on it doesn't mean it's real.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I Say, I Say, This Here Beauty Pageant Is Rigged!

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

For many folks, beauty pageants feel like part of a bygone era of 'big hair, don't care' femininity. But Zaron is here to set you straight on that score. Beauty pageants are still very much a thing... and they've got crime a-plenty! Allegations of bribery and hijinks! And also, Steve Harvey! So you know it's bound to get loose. This week it's a bubbly bevy of beauty pageant scandals!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming to You Live from Ashtar Galactic Command: More Signal Interruptions

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Elizabeth may not watch tv, but that doesn't stop her from regaling Zaron with tales of television signal hijacking. From porn to zombies to aliens to more porn, no broadcast is safe.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Point Bleak: The Flesh-Masked Bandit

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In the early '90s, the Chicagoland area was home to a bank robber known for wearing very specific masks –– masks of former US presidents. Notably, he wasn't inspired by the classic bank-robbing surfers film, and Point Break wasn't inspired by him, it was all just a...ridiculous crime.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It Was a Kayak: John Darwin aka Canoe Man

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

With debt mounting and no relief in sight, John Darwin figured his only option was to fake his own death. One sunken kayak and a complicit spouse later, he found himself in Panama with no clothes on. But that didn't last. Nothing ridiculous ever does.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Zappa Makes a $1,000 Sex Tape, and Bob Dylan Is a Peeping Tom?

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Musicians get arrested... a lot. These singers, songwriters and superstars were busted in some of the dumbest, weirdest, silliest ways possible. Johnny Cash. Amy Winehouse. Ol' Dirty Bastard. Bob Dylan. Frank Zappa. All of them got popped for some... ridiculous crimes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tehama's Most Wanted: Razzlekhan

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

As if the whole cryptocurrency thing wasn't ridiculous enough, enter Heather Morgan aka Razzlekhan. An entrepreneur and amateur rapper, she and her husband, Dutch, lived large. The source? Hacked bitcoin. Can't get enough of these clowns and their techno criming? Fear not, there are plenty of film and tv adaptations in the works. The grift lives on.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil Johnson: The Great Loomis–Fargo Heist

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

"Have you seen this man? Single, lonely, grouchy, rumpled and very possibly. the richest thief who ever lived..." so wrote the Washington Post in 1997 after one man ripped off his employer, the Loomis–Fargo armored car company. Phil Johnson stole 21 cubic feet of cash –– and he had a plan to get away with it. But a man's ego is a helluva thing!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Cut Above: William Smarto

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

What do hairdressing and bank heists have in common? Precision...and a man named William Smarto. A clever bank burglar, Smarto managed to pull of a bank job almost as big as Dolly Parton's wig budget.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martin McNally: Last of the Skyjackers

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

His hero was DB Cooper. So he imitated his skyjacking ransom down to the letter. Only Martin McNally had never used a parachute before he became a skyjacker. And he never expected someone to play the hero with a '71 Cadillac Eldorado.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diamonds are a Gaul's Best Friend: The Affair of the Diamond Necklace

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000

As Orson Welles would say, "Ah, the French." Here, in a lead up to the French Revolution, we consider the tale of one randy Cardinal, one social climbing almost-noble, one doomed queen, and one hideous diamond necklace. C'est ridicule (especially Elizabeth butchering all French pronunciation)!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tiger King of Harlem

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Meet Antoine Yates, the man who raised a tiger in a fifth-floor public housing apartment in Harlem. Until, one day, the tiger remembered that it was a tiger. But Antoine didn't just live with a tiger, he also had a lion and a full-grown alligator. Naturally, this one is both wild...and ridiculous!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Charity Cheat: Aaron Tonken

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Aaron Tonken was celebrity obsessed from a young age, so naturally he made his way to Hollywood. He also made his way into the good graces and wallets of many entertainment icons. With phony or plain chaotic charity galas, Tonken fleeced the rich and famous in one whirlwind fever dream of a conning career.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Narco-Baron and The Rubber-Faced Man

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000

An ultra-wealthy British son of a Royal Naval officer partnered with a Danish master of disguise to become major players in the international drug-smuggling scene. And they would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those pesky... Welsh lobstermen and farmers' daughters.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Old Man and the Gun...on the Run: Forrest Tucker

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000

With a love of robbing banks and the love of a good woman, Forrest Tucker pulled off heists with no violence involved. Plenty of arrests ensued, but so did plenty of prison escapes. He was a man with a life so extraordinary, Robert Redford played him in a movie...that put Zaron to sleep.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Outlaw Dora Cox and the Highwaywoman Barbara Danelia

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000

At the end of the 19th century, two outlaws made names for themselves around the world, but over time both have been forgotten. This week, we resurrect the tales of these outlaw folk heroes. Lady outlaws.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Like TrafiCAN: James Traficant

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

He ran for sheriff, saying he'd take on the mob. Instead, he lined his pockets with their cash. He ran for Congress, saying he'd fight for working Americans. Instead, he had people work for him for free. All the while, James Traficant made a name for himself with his denim suits and a hideous hairpiece. In the words of ol' Jimbo himself, beam me up!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Long Con of Lady Wonder, the Psychic Horse

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Imagine a horse. Now imagine if that horse could read your mind. And imagine you paid for this experience. You would be in good company –– even the President of the USA listened to the prophecies of Lady Wonder, the psychic horse. Of course, it was all a long con.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Scam on Campus: Diploma Mills

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Getting a degree is tough work. Or at least it should be. There are some out there, though, who want to get or give a college diploma the easy way: hot off the presses, no questions asked. From fake high school diplomas to phony medical degrees, come browse the college catalog of bogus academic achievement.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Flying Bandit: Ken Leishman

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Known locally as the Robin Hood of the Great White North, Ken Leishman was a gentlemen thief who pulled off the greatest Canadian gold heist ever. But he really made his name and criminal fame when he took to the skies and became... The Flying Bandit.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are You Experienced... With Kidnapping?

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

What do Fats Waller and Jimi Hendrix have in common –– other than both being brilliant musicians who changed the course of American music? The answer is: they were both kidnapped... by the mafia! But it's cool, it's cool... who would ever wanna hurt them?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Ridiculous Questions: Historical Flex Edition

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:43:56 +0000

The Ridiculous crews, both History and Crime, join forces to play everyone’s favorite guessing game: 20 Questions. There were questions. There were answers. There were half court shots at the buzzer. Join the gang for some puzzling good fun!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where The Streets Have No Shame: Marianne Andle

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Like MLK and Biggie Smalls, Marianne Andle also had a dream. Her dream? That one day she could become Irish. After that plan failed and Marianne had to flee Northern Ireland with the cops hot on her trail, and after a quick name change and return to the US, she found a new dream. That new dream? Conning the semi-rich and gullible of Los Angeles, California, by posing as an Irish heiress.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was in the Stars: Nancy Reagan’s White House

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The president’s wife. Hers is an interesting position, Really just window dressing. Or not. Almost criminal in nature, Trusting the stars to Guide foreign policy is Overly woo-woo. Astrology ran the White House in the 80s and This is the story.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You Gotta Fast Eddie: Edward Davenport

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Money (or the appearance of it) attracts money. Lord Edward Ormus Sharrington Davenport knew this and capitalized on it. With posh mansions, lavish parties, and celebrity pals, Edward Davenport used the appearance of wealth to gain actual wealth by amassing other people's money. Welcome to the lifestyles of the rich and famous...and felonious.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Operation Lunar Eclipse

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:02:00 +0000

When a teenage astronomy fan is gifted a piece of the moon by NASA, he’s inadvertently pulled into the seedy underground moonrock trade. But don’t worry. With help from H. Ross Perot, NASA secret agents are on the case.

Very Special Episodes is a new podcast where we tell one incredible story every week. Stranger-than-fiction tales about normal people in extraordinary situations. Stories that make you say, “this should be a movie!” Follow Zaron, Dana, and Jason down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason English
Written by Jake Rossen
Produced, Edited and Sound Designed by Josh Fisher
Additional Editing by John Washington
Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Story Editing by Marisa Brown
Research and Fact-Checking by Marisa Brown, Austin Thompson, and Jake Rossen
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Agatha Christie: I Want To Get Away!

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Like Lenny Kravitz, sometimes you want to get away. That was Agatha Christie in 1926. Why did the most famous mystery novelist in the world want to disappear? Hint: her husband. But there's so much more. And it all gets... ridiculous!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fix is In: Competition Crimes

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Competition is human nature. And sometimes crime is, too. And sometimes these two come together to give us total ridiculousness. Fat bear ballot box stuffing, cheating Irish dancers, crooked fishermen — this episode has it all. And then some!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wedding Bandits

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

They say a person's wedding day is one of the most magical and memorable days of one's life. Now imagine if you used that extra-special day to pull off... an epic crime. Get ready for tales of wedding bandits!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nixon's Millions: The United California Bank Burglary

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

A crack team of seasoned bank burglars strikes in a tony enclave in Southern California. A tale as old as time. Only they are from Ohio. And the money in the vault might belong to Richard Nixon. And that money may have been extorted from Jimmy Hoffa. And Jimmy Hoffa may have hired this crack team of seasoned bank burglars to steal his money back. There's a lot to get your head around on this one.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Detroit Dream-maker: the John DeLorean Story

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

You know the car from Back to the Future. But John DeLorean was so much more than his stainless steel car. He was also the father of the "Muscle Car Era." He was a maverick, an egotist, and very much a man of his times. DeLorean risked it all to build his eponymous car, and he did so powered by shady coke deals and briefcases of cash.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sing Blue Silver: Blane Nordahl

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

A burglar hits fancy estates and steals just one thing: silver. Silver salt and pepper shakers. Silver serving spoons. Silver everything. Blane Nordahl was sneaky, he was bold, and eventually, he was caught. And all that silver? Who knows and, frankly, who cares.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Livin' My Live Like It's Rollin': Let's Take to the Sea!

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wigging Out: JT Leroy

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Ah, the late 1990s. Gritty realism ruled the day in film, music, and literature. And wunderkind JT Leroy took the book world by storm. A kid who survived the streets and HIV, he became the literary darling of the indie set. JT Leroy touched hearts and minds across the globe. Except JT Leroy wasn't all that he seemed. In fact, he wasn't anything he seemed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fellowship of the Bling: The Bling Ring

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

It was 2009, a different time to say the least. The stars of the era known as Young Hollywood were the targets of a ring of break-in burglars, working the Hollywood Hills. Guns, jewelry, designer handbags, artwork, and "jeans made to fit my body" were stolen from the stars. What band of professional thieves had set up shop in LA? Turns out, it was local teens, AKA the Bling Ring.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ridiculous Crime Podcast's Biggest Night: The Second Annual Perpies

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

It's award season, Rude Dudes! We gather now for the 2nd year of the Perpies, a chance to recognize the best capers, heists, and cons from the last year. And listen, sister, they do not disappoint. With categories like Best Drug Crime, Best Rivalry, and Best Song, you know you are in for a real thrill ride. See you on the red carpet!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Most Ridiculous Crimes of 2023

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Join Elizabeth and Zaron as they enjoy a sampler plate of some of the most ridiculous crimes to go down over the last calendar year. 2023 certainly offered up a full buffet of ridiculous crimes. Enjoy!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Smoothest Con Man: Victor Lustig

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

You sell the Eiffel Tower for scrap. You con Al Capone. You destabilize the American dollar. You get a sheriff arrested for counterfeiting. You end up at Alcatraz. You are Victor Lustig and you are one smooth criminal.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Loathing: Kevin Curtis

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

He was a small town martial arts instructor and local musician. Kevin Curtis was living the dream. Then everything went sideways. One day, he woke up, he had an arch-rival, he was furiously fighting to expose an alleged organ harvesting scandal, and someone had framed him as a presidential assassin. It was a lot to deal with for a simple Elvis impersonator from Tupelo, Mississippi.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sin Eater: Anthony Pellicano

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In the 80s, 90s, and early aughts, Anthony Pellicano was the go-to guy in Hollywood if you had any kind of problem. He didn't have an issue with operating outside the law, loved to allude to mafia ties, and always got the job done -- quick. But as always, things fall apart. This flashy private eye wound up in prison. But even being an ex-felon couldn't stop him from making deals and "eating the sin" of his clients.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lights, Camera, no Action: Netflix Scammers

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Join us for the tale of two men who soaked the streamers for projects that just didn't exist. But hey, the movie business is built on dreams, hype, and money. Con artists thrive on dreams, hype, and money. A match made in Hollywood!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Best Hated Man in the United States: Ferdinand Ward

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Sometimes it's not enough to cheat people out of money, spend the ill-gotten gains, and try to kidnap one's own son. If a fella really wants to be the "best hated" guy in the US, he's gotta bankrupt an American hero. And that's exactly what Ferd Ward did.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Curse of the Unlucky Lottery Winners

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Elizabeth has long had a fantasy that one day she would win the lottery, but in this episode, Zaron offers up evidence that she may want to find a new dream. You see, he bigger the lottery win, the more likely the winner's life is ruined by their good fortune. And often in ridiculous ways!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We Don't Call That Money Over Here: Hushpuppi

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

This episode has it all: internet scammers, Instagram, Gucci, North Korea, ATMs, Zaron getting Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time" stuck in your head. You're welcome, thanks for asking.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"They Call Me Fancy Dan, AKA the Flying Bank Robber"

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

For nearly a year to the day, the FBI chased this elusive bank robber all around the country. And for that year, the Flying Bank Robber embarrassed J. Edgar's G-Men on the front pages of the nation's newpapers. Over the course of criminal escapades this all-American midcentury blue collar James Bond wannabe visited countless states, used 35 aliases, stole 29 cars, and crashed three planes. Until one day, his luck went sour, when he crossed paths with an ornery Mexican cow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Threshold Resistance: Alfred Taubman

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Al Taubman was a good guy, until he wasn't. Captain of industry, supporter of civil rights, mega-developer, art world magnate…crime breaker. This is the story of how one man went from doing deals to doing time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mother Gerlach and Her Band of Rebel Nuns

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Deep in the heart of Texas, in the summer of 2023, a band of rebel nuns had "gone to the mattresses" in an ecclesiastical war against the Bishop of Fort Worth. The leader of this cloistered convent of rebellious Carmelite Nuns, Mother Gerlach, never intended to lead a resistance movement against Rome's representative. But, you see, the trouble all started after the mother superior confessed she'd fallen in love with a priest.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Effing of F1, or Flavio Briatore Can’t Lose

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

What does it take to become so rich that you’re wholly unafraid of the criminal justice system? Eventual clothing magnate Flavio Briatore found a winning combination in great hair, a distaste for hard work, a few card tricks, and the uncanny ability to sell anything to anyone. With Elizabeth out on assignment, Producer Dave explains how Briatore fixed one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diver Down: The Wonderful World of Narco Subs

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

When you think of drug smugglers, you generally think of speedboats, small planes, kilos of coke shoved into the side panels of cars, and tummies full of balloons. But there exists another sort of drug smuggler, one more daring and more enamored of gadgets and intrigue: the submariner. Join Zaron and Producer Dave as they dive into the world of "narco subs," plumbing the depths of criminal ridiculousness.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fake It 'Til You Make It: William and Beryl Toye

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A man and his wife (with more than 100 cats and a house full of booby traps) have a plan. Forge paintings, sell them, and when caught, accuse the buyer of swapping the real painting for a fake. And when questioned, double down. Again and again. And again.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Great Sheffield Tree War

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

The UK town was gifted with green spaces and millions of trees, everything was cool and lovely on those shaded lanes –– that is, until the Highways Team announced its plans for mass tree removal. The locals revolted. War was inevitable. Thus began the Great Sheffield Tree War.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open the Door, Get on the Floor, Everybody Walk the Dinosaur

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Dinos! Everybody loves them! Everybody wants them! Brazilian dinosaur fossils are particularly desirable…especially to smugglers and crooked scientists. Come with us on a journey of paleontological criminal intrigue and completely butchered Portuguese and German pronunciations. Boom-boom, acka-lacka-lacka, boom!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FBI Blows Up Casino... Oops!

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A father and his two sons come up with a plan to get rich –– they'll wheel an impossible-to-defuse bomb into a casino and then charge a hefty ransom to deactivate it. Of course, things go ridiculous!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Tetro: The Art Forger's Forger

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Tony Tetro wasn't the kind of artist who felt the call of inspiration. Instead, he used his talents to forge the masterpieces of great artists. But he really found his way when he started doing forgeries of the great forger, Elmyr de Hory. Come for the art crimes, stay for fact this crimer can tell one helluva story, in his inimitable Tony Tetro way.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prison Escape Artist: A Retrospective

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

From "Houdini" Hinds to Brian Bo Larsen, we consider the works and wonders of two of the world's great escape artists. Long ignored by the art world, the prison escape artist exists in a liminal space, operating as both performance artist and mix media artist, battling against the hard iron bars of tradition and status quo, as they remind us all of the value of freedom.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Dirty Little Book Thief: John Charles Gilkey

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

A man loves rare books. A lot. But the man doesn't have any money and those rare books are pricey. So he steals books. A lot. There was one man, though, who couldn't let this happen. One man standing for truth, justice, and the literary way. So began a cat and mouse game that exists to this day.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dope Floats: The Uncrashable Gary Betzner

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Hippie nudist drug dealer in Hawaii. Check. Father of three who faked his death. Check. Crimes done under hypnosis. Check. Pablo Escobar. Check. The CIA and the Iran-Contra Affair. Check? Wait, what. Yes, this story has... everything, and then some!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sorry About the Drapes: The Dinner Set Gang

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

The best cat burglar in the world, a guitar player with IBS, the Genovese Crime Family, and a child bride walk into a bar. Actually, they walk into a posh dinner party. Actually, they sneak past a posh dinner party. Trust us, the punchline is ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cocaine Connection: Coca-Cola, Freud, and Sherlock Holmes

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

How did we get cokeheads? Who would put cocaine in wine? Why do young men feel compelled to hang Scarface posters on their walls? Thanks for asking. We can lay the blame squarely at the feet of a soda, a psychiatrist, and a fictional detective. From there, it was just a hop, skip, and a bump to mayhem and racial panic.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bach in Black: Composer Crimes

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Classical music, it's so fancy! Did you know that classical and modern composers were also sort of a crimey bunch? Elizabeth gets loose sharing the antics of these highfalutin geniuses.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Joe McCarthy and His Love of Heroin

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

This one is a trip through midcentury America and all its paranoias, moral panics, and witchhunts. In particular, we focus on two men, Senator Joseph McCarthy and Harry J Anslinger. One was responsible for the Red Scare and the other started the War on Drugs. But also one was a daily morphine junkie and the other was his plug. Yes...this is 100% a true story! And it's guaranteed ridiculousness!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plymouth Rock Landed on Us: The Plymouth Mail Heist

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

It's an excellent idea -- hijack a poorly-guarded mail truck. But what if it's just full of junk mail and postcards? Then it wouldn't merit a mention on Ridiculous Crime, now would it? It was full of cash, baby! In response, the police rounded up the usual suspects…and even went after their cats.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Edwin Rist and the Feather Underground

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

A story about hundreds of rare birds, some British naturalists, one of the wealthiest families in the world, and the young American musician who planned to steal the rare collection and sell them on the black market, so he could buy himself a golden flute. It sounds like a fairy tale for felons!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Household Name: Candido and Company

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

You've heard this name. You may have even used it. The name makes you think of relaxation, luxury, cheesiness, and sexy times. And if we do our job right, every time you hear this word from now on, you'll think of crime. Come with us as we follow the story of an immigrant family dead set on making a name for themselves. And oh, how they did.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Girl You Know It's...Not True: the Milli Vanilli story

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

The name Milli Vanilli is now synonmous with a hoax –– but at one time, their heavily-accented pop stardom fooled the whole world. That is, until the truth won out, and when it did it wrecked their money-making illusion. But who were Milli Vanilli, which one was Milli and which one was Vanilli, why did they think they could con the world with well-produced pop songs, and why can't Zaron do a French accent? Learn the answers to all these questions and more!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Darth Vader of Retail: Crazy Eddie

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Crazy Eddie had a slew of stores selling cheap electronics, touted by infectious advertising. Like the universe itself, the Crazy Eddie empire expanded exponentially. Money flowed, celebrities orbited, good times rolled. But then, like a capitalist black hole, it all imploded. So long, Crazy Eddie. Godspeed, you crooked warrior.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Need for Speed: Tom Baker

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

The Italian carmaker Ferrari is known worldwide for the the elegant look, the unique sound, and insane speed and eye-catching design of its sports cars. Some Ferraris are prized as much as works of art by renowned masters. Tom Baker was an American man, with a very curious hobby. Some people collect stamps, others trade collectibles. Tom Baker liked to steal Ferraris from luxury automobile dealerships. And he was surprisingly good at it –– until Det. Joe Hess was put on the trail of elusive Ferrari thief.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can You Dig It: The Hole in the Ground Gang

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Los Angeles, the bank robbery capital of the world. When bank robberies are commonplace, it takes an inventive heist team to stand out. That's exactly what the Hole in the Ground Gang did. They lifted their profile by lowering their operations. Right down into the sewers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doing Time with Tim "the Cokeman" Allen

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Long before he was one of America's most beloved TV dads, TIm Allen was an inmate in federal prison. He was busted on major cocaine charges. Forget Jay Z, Tim Allen was pushing real weight in those days before he found fame. And he kinda paid a price for it; but it definitely made him the man and superstar he is today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If You Come for the Polka King, You Best Not Miss: Jan Lewan

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Jan Lewan was a man with a dream. He wanted to bring Poland to America, whether it was through music, travel, or delightful merchandise. He also had a dream that selling unregistered securities was a solid road to riches. Turns out, it was a solid road to the clink. Who cares. Everybody polka!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frampton Comes Alive... With Crime!

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

A world-famous physics professor fell in love with a world-famous bikini model. The professor obeyed the Laws of Newton, but not the laws of the land. His strange criminal escapade escaped the bounds of all logic when he was caught at an airport smuggling kilos of cocaine and he landed in an Argentinian prison. As the professor knew, every action has a reaction.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We'll Always Have Pearle Vision: The Sovereign Bank Heist Crew

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Destroying the office of a children's charity. Dropping stolen jewelry. Falling out of the ceiling. Making weed candies. Starring in a hit reality tv show. On the islands of Long and Staten, things can get crazy. How crazy? Oh, just listen to the episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Romancing the Stone: The Jewel-thieving Florida Psychic

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

When a woman looking for spiritual guidance met a Florida man calling himself Giovanni, she knew her life was about to change. What she didn't know was that she'd be convinced to steal the jewels of a sheikh, travel to Cannes for no reason, and be given a spell of invisibility. Not all change is good, folks.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cheese Stands Alone: Food Crimes

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

We love food, don't we folks? It's delicious, it nourishes us, it brings us together. Some of it is kind of expensive. And as we all know, where there's worth, there's crime. Join us on a culinary adventure across continents and food groups as we discover sticky situations, fishy deals, tough nuts to crack, and hot cheese.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stealing Kansas City: the Crime Song of Chiefsaholic

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

He was the most famous superfan of the Kansas City Chiefs. He never missed a game –- home or away. He was famous for his rubber wolf mask, weightlifter pants and unhinged passion. But come to find out the superfan known as KC Wolfman was funding his love of football with... crime!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Butcher Gets a Pardon: John Factor

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

John Factor may have been the lesser-known Factor brother, but that didn't stop him from weaving his way through history. Haircuts, Chicago mobsters, London cons, whiskey scams, Vegas casinos, and even JFK. The tale of John Factor is a wild ride through the 20th century's criminal underbelly.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Cosmic Crimes of Lord Buckley

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Imagine a jazz-voiced, reefer-smoking, nightclub comic, a man who preached love long before the Hippies, a cat who was on that cosmic trip of beauty in the decade before the Beats, and imagine this man in a top hat and tuxedo with tails. Before him, there was no one like Lord Buckley. After him, you can find his influence everywhere.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By the Power of the Moon: Dr. Dante

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

You want to make money. So you become a hypnotist. Along the way, you marry a starlet, hire a hitman, fight Johnny Carson, start a university, and teach people to make paper flowers. Ah, the life of a nightclub hypnotist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gram Theft Parsons: How to Throw a Rock n' Roll Funeral

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

He had country music wanderlust and rock star ambition. He was a scion of wealth and privilege. Oh, and he was best friends with Keith Richards! Gram Parsons was someone who was here for a good time not a long time. When he passed, his friends and manager did as they'd promised him. They stole Gram Parsons body and drove out to Joshua Tree, where they gave him the rock n' roll funeral he desired. Including amateur cremation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King of the King of the Con Men: Wilson Mizner

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Wise-cracking Wilson Mizner was a legend among legends when it came to cons. Witty, creative, tough, daring, wild, and forever in the right place at the right time. From the Alaskan Gold Rush to the South Florida land boom to the early days of Hollywood, Mizner was there.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Say Hello to My Amish Friend": Drugs in Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

No one expects to hear stories of beard-loving, barn-raising, technology-avoiding Amish and Mennonites being involved in street crime. Let alone that they have secret pot-growing empires. And outlaw biker-supplied cocaine cowboys riding in black buggies. "Welcome to Amish Country, son! Watch your a$$!"

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once, Twice, Three Times an Art Crime: Theft of "Two Laughing Boys"

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

The Dutch are famous for a lot of things: tulips, cheese, fine art, double jump rope. They are also pretty good at both stealing and having a paintings stolen, apparently. What happens when the same painting is stolen three times? Let's just say it's pretty ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Honey, Will You Fake Marry Me?" : Runaway Brides and Abducted Grooms

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life –– but this cadre of criminal wedding parties, abducted grooms and runaway brides put that to the test. Meet the folks hosting fictitious weddings to get revenge on their exes, and the ones with cold feet who flee from police, as well as the disappearing brides and "gutless" grooms who decide married life may not be for them.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anarchy! I Don’t Know What It Means But I Love It!: William Buwalda

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Alcatraz. The Rock. Home to some of the most notorious criminals in modern American history. Murderers. Vicious thieves. Al Capone! And a guy who got put away for something truly heinous: shaking a woman’s hand. Oh, the humanity.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mystery of the Disappearing Sri Lankan National Handball Team

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In 2004, 23 Sri Lankan men traveled to Germany as the Sri Lankan National Handball Team to take part in an international tournament. But there was one catch, there was no Sri Lankan National Handball Team. And to make things weirder — all 23 men disappeared. A mystery was born in Germany that day.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Biggest Little Confidence Queen in Texas (and New York, Montana, and San Francisco): Bertha Heyman

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

A tale as old as crime. Phony wealthy widow seeks dupe to front her cash until her non-existent inheritance comes through. The queen of the hill, top of the heap when it came to these cons? Bertha Heyman aka Big Bertha. Derided by newspapers, besmitten by suitors, no one ran a con like Big Bertha.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They Call Me MacGyver: Gerald Blanchard

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

He said “no” to Oprah, but he said “yes” to Ridiculous Crime. In a rare twist, Zaron surprises Elizabeth with his own mash-up — an interview with actual international jewel thief, Gerald Blanchard, the star of a new documentary. Meet the folk hero outlaw, the criminal mastermind who later earned the nickname the “James Bond of Crime.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barb and Star Would Never: Judy Amar

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trevor Jacob: I Will Crash A Plane For Your Company!

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In the great spirit of YouTube influencer extreme Logan Paul, we have Trevor Jacob, a man willing to risk his body and soul for “likes and subscribes.”

But he crossed the ridiculous crime line when he crashed a plane into a national forest and then posted the video (ahem, evidence) on his channel. Oops! Don’t look now, Trevor, but it’s the Department of Justice!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slip Slidin’ Away: The Theft of Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue and the shoes are red.
When the pricey and contentious ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz were stolen from a museum, all hope was lost. But hope never dies. And for the slippers, there was no place like home.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s Rob a Bank About It

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

When most college-age kids need a little excitement, they do extreme sports or snap into a Slim Jim. Shon Hopwood robbed five banks in 11 months. When he was done paying his debt to society, he built himself a totally legal and totally cool new career.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out Ta Get Me: The Various Legal Woes of Guns n’ Roses

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Behold as juggernaut hard rock band Guns n’ Roses takes on airplanes, beer, gun stores, video games, and the city of Philadelphia. You know where you are? You’re in Ridiculous Crime, baby!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jean Michel FAKE-quiat: the Radiant Fraudsters

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Basquiat started as a graffiti artist but soon through talent and ambition he became one of the greatest painters in American history, an artist whose works regularly set records for their auction prices. And you know what that means… crime! Meet the art fraudsters pushing fake Basquiats, fraudulent Warhols and counterfeit Harings, and making millions off well-heeled buyers with more money than sense.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dumb and Disorderly: History’s Ridiculous Riots

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Group think. Collective acts of violence. Humans can get each other pretty riled up. Sometimes that can be for a good cause, but not on this podcast. Aeronauts, magic tricks, seasonal beverages. You never know what will set people off.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ride the Snake: The Cobra Venom Con

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Rick Deitsch was a business man with a big big plan — he wanted to make Big Snake. He would use science to milk Wall Street of millions by scamming biotech and pharma investors with the hype for novel new medicines his lab created based on… cobra venom! Unsurprisingly, this modern day snake oil salesman’s grift was not a successsssss…

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holy Ridiculous Crimes, Batman!

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

The Caped Crusader fights crime, but what happens when he IS crime? Stolen movie scripts, missing toys, and the mother of all Bat memorabilia. Tune in! Same crime time, same crime channel!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

634 Ways to Not Kill Fidel Castro

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

For more than 4 decades the CIA – doing their best impression of Wile E. Coyote – tried to kill Fidel Castro. The spy agency made 634 assassination attempts on the Cuban leader. And almost all of them were ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They Might Be Giants

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

When you decide to prove to a preacher that the Bible is hokum, the most logical thing to do is craft a stone giant, right? Right? George Hull certainly thought so. He put a large man in the ground and a little birdhouse in your soul.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Call Bring ‘Em Back Babs: Pet Detective

Tue, 30 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

When a beloved pet goes missing, who do you call? If you’re Paris Hilton you hire a team of pet psychics, dog whisperers and pet detectives. But what about an everyday person? Luckily, for us, there’s a veteran investigator who’s never charged for her services. Bring ‘Em Back Babs: pet detective.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Truth is Out There: The Fox Sisters

Thu, 25 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

What do you get when you mix spiritualism, bereft seekers, kids drinking wine, knuckle cracking, an Arctic explorer, and chicken bones? You get the Fox Sisters, America's original psychic con artists.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You, Me and the Stanford Tree

Tue, 23 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In 1998, the rivalry between Stanford University and UC Berkeley escalated to kidnapping and hostage videos. But in the geeky tradition of both colleges, it was actually a tree-napping. Some Cal frat bros, calling themselves The Phoenix Five, stole the Stanford mascot (…but really, they stole our hearts). Hijinks ensued!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Me Eat this Chicken: Lawrence Joseph Bader

Thu, 18 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Most people spice up their boring lives with fun hobbies or social events. That wasn't enough for Lawrence Bader. He went and made himself a whole new life, this time as Omaha, Nebraska's hippest bachelor. Flagpole sitting, war injuries, hearses, pillow piles -- his new life had it all!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Call Me… Robb TaLLLLL University, I Am A Rock Star*

Tue, 16 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

He was not a real rock star but Robb TaLLLLL University played one in his fantasies. In reality, Mr. University lacked star power or musical talent. Kinda a shame, but he was one helluva bank scammer. He made millions as a pretend rock star. Too bad no one really dreams of growing up to be a bank scammer!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someday My Prince Will Con: Michael Romanoff

Thu, 11 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Everybody loves an entertaining exiled royal. And when that royal is exposed as a fraud? Everybody still loves him! From slinging lies in Brooklyn to slinging fancy strawberry desserts for Hollywood celebrities, Prince Mike lived one ridiculous life.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ballad of L. W. Wright

Tue, 09 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Like Ricky Bobby, he was a pretend NASCAR driver — only this was no movie. L.W. Wright was a fake racer in real life who took on the legends of NASCAR by scamming his way onto the track at Talladega. “Shoot, this story should be a movie!”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Molto Ridicolo: Vincenzo Pipino

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

A city as fabulous and sinister and romantic as Venice, Italy, deserves a fabulous, sinister, and romantic cat burglar. The ultra wealthy were honored to be his target, and he was happy to take their priceless works of art (and the occassional cashmere sweater). His crimes were almost as egregious as Elizabeth's butchering of the Italian language.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Eagles vs. Hotel California (…the band not the football team)

Tue, 02 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

The song is the band’s most popular. The legends, the conspiracies, and lore that surrounds the song are incredible. But the legal struggles, inspired criminals, and cocaine antics take center stage as we focus on the Eagles and Hotel California.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diamonds Are a Serb's Best Friend: The Pink Panthers

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

What do you get when you mix millions of dollars in gems, stolen cars, wigs, international crime families, a French detective, and 800 Serbians? You get a heist gang Inspector Clouseau couldn't imagine in his wildest dreams.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Love Song of Fred W Demara

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

🎶 Oh yes, he was the Great Impostor. (Woo-woooo) 🎶
His government name was Fred Demara, but he rarely used that. Unlike most crimers with his particular skillset, Fred used his powers for good — he liked to heal others. For instance, that time he had to perform 19 surgeries because he was pretending to be a doctor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Heart of the Matter: Irish Relic Theft

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

It has to be bad mojo to steal a religious artifact, and especially bad mojo if it's a sainted body part. Ireland, it seems, has a problem with this. Will the perpetrators be caught? God only knows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Endless Bummer: Beach Bad Boys Rob Hall of Gems

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Murf the Surf was an all-star midcentury party boy turned criminal folk hero. Bob Dylan loved his style. Murf and his partner got famous for stealing JP Morgan’s gem collection. But a freelance-writing used car salesman was the true hero; and he’s the one who eventually saves the day.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wouldn't You Like to Get Away: The North Pond Hermit

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries sure wouldn't help a lot. Sometimes you want to go where nobody knows your name and they're never glad you came. This is the story of a guy who did just that.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live Free, Or Die Lying: Roy Schwasinger and the $900 Trillion Dollar Gold Scam

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

He was an ultra secret agent, working with the Supreme Court, a cabal of generals, and a very disagreeable Bill Clinton clone, to bring justice and a huge fortune to US farmers. At least, that’s what Roy Schwasinger told crowds at his $300 seminars, where he lightened the wallets of gullible “free men.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I Paint His Masterpiece: The Beltracchis

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Like Elmyr de Hory before him, Wolfgang Beltracchi loved painting other artists' works. The "lost" masterpieces were a hot commodity, generating riches for Beltracchi and the rest of the art world. He could forge the works of any genius painter, but he couldn't forge a simple label. Oh, well. It was fun while it lasted.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s Look Back at Anger: the Battlin’ Gallagher Brothers of Oasis

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Oasis was “the biggest band in the world.” Meanwhile, Liam and Noel Gallagher — the brothers who were the heart of the band — despised each other. This gave the band a creative tension. And it made their crimes against each other… ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Handcuffs and Hospitality: Bobby Comfort and the Pierre Hotel Heist

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Raised in a criminal family, Bobby Comfort was destined for a felonious future. When he paired up with a buddy for some high-end hotel robberies, things were looking good. He planned "one last heist," but that planning failed to take into account the apex predator of the crime world: the mafia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I’ll Take That!”: The Diamond Doris Payne Story

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

She is America’s Greatest Living Jewel Thief. Her career criminal exploits date back to black and white movies. Only Diamond Doris never let racism get in the way of her living the high life as an international bon vivant.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Didn't See That Coming: LifeLock Unlocked

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

You put your Social Security Number all over the place: magazine ads, billboards, websites. What could go wrong? Lots. But what if you own a company that protects people from identity theft? Doesn't matter. Crimers gonna crime.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Carlos: the Anti-Footballer

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Carlos Kaiser had it made — he was a handsome professional footballer in Brazil, and he played for all the top clubs in Rio, as well as abroad. There was only one problem: King Carlos was terrible at soccer. He was the “greatest footballer who never played football.” But that’s how he made his living, conning the world of professional soccer… for 26 years!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have You Heard the Good News: Aimee Semple McPherson

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

When a charismatic preacher went missing in the ocean off Venice, California, all hope was lost for her safe return. Almost. What followed was a chaotic tale involving a non-Dave producer, TRAINS, Arizona, goggles, and a woman with no left thumb.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've Got Mail: Another Dive into the Ridiculous Crime Mailbag

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

The Rude Dudes send emails. We share them. Get ready for some onions, the rainbow bridge, Spam, texts to entire cities, and one fantastic gorilla suit. Plus Talkbacks from the iHeart app!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Everybody, It's Me! A Rockefeller!: Christopher Rocancourt

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

He was zee best con artiste en zee 90s, no? Frenchman Christopher Rocancourt took Los Angeles by storm, rubbing elbows with celebrities and emptying the bank accounts of the wealthy and gullible. But when he took his act on the road to the Hamptons as a phony heir to an enormous fortune, they saw right through him.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Howard X and the League of Celebrity Impostors

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

What do you do when you look just like the dictator of North Korea? You make it work for you as a celebrity impostor. And if you’re Howard X, you use it to free a Zelensky lookalike from the war in Ukraine, with the help of a fake Putin.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born to Rum: Bill McCoy

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Bill McCoy was a man of adventure, a romantic, an innovator, and a gentleman. He also ran illegal booze into the United States, flouting the law and sailing the high seas. That is, until the Coast Guard showed up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ballad of Pancho Barnes

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

She was an epic badass. She was the fastest woman alive, after she broke Amelia Earhart’s records. She also ran the Happy Bottom Riding Club for flyboys and future astronauts, that is, until J Edgar Hoover and the Air Force went to war against…Pancho Barnes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long Live the Queenie: Stephanie St. Claire

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A legend. A boss. A queen. Stephanie St. Claire ran Harlem's baddest numbers game, thumbing her nose at the mob. Her elegant life took a turn, though, when she married an audacious con artist. Was hooking up with Black Hitler a wise move? What do you think.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Release the Onions!”: the Vincent Kosuga story

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In 1955, one man attempted to control the price of onions in America – to do that he created an illegal onion cartel and then together they cornered the market and drove the prices. It was like Trading Places for onion futures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throw the Book at 'Em!: The Transy Library Book Heist

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Four amateur crime bros look to make the score of a lifetime -- stealing rare books from their college library. It goes about as well as you'd imagine.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Fry Stole Some Credit Cards and We're All Better for It

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

You'd never believe that an 18-year old buying sandwiches and shoes with a stolen credit card would grow up to be legendary celebrity Stephen Fry. But he did! The actor, comedian, writer, and historian was an honest to goodness teen criminal, one who went on a multi-county spending spree on other people's dimes (well, quid).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fake It and You'll Make It: Elmyr de Hory

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A talented artist is even more talented at forgery. He crosses paths with the rich, famous, and fabulous, and his forgeries are eventually forged themselves. Truly and wonderfully ridiculous, no?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are You There Godzilla, It’s Me Kim Jong-il

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

That one time when the future leader of North Korea abducted the coolest power couple from the South Korean film industry and forced them to make a reboot of Godzilla

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hollywood's Biggest Fright: Stolen Oscars

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Pop quiz, hotshot: how do you have an awards show with no awards? You can't! When a shipment of Oscars went missing, the tale unfolded with twists and turns right out of a Tinseltown thriller. Would Hollywood's biggest night be saved? Probably.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You Robbed A Billionaire From Inside A Prison?

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

The Yap Lavish story has something for everyone: gold coins, private planes, contraband phones, up-and-coming Atlanta rappers. While in state prison, inmate Yap Lavish pulled off the robbery of not one but two billionaires. And he would’ve gotten away with it, if not for those meddling prison guards.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He Wants to Be a Paperback Writer: Clifford Irving

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Want to make a splash in publishing? Try ghostwriting an autobiography for a super famous man. Just make sure the famous man knows about it first.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Come on Barbie, Let’s Go Party: The Barbie Bandits

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Two blonde bombshells get famous after they turn pro as…bank robbers. Heather and Ashley were just a pair of all-American girls who decided that the street crime life was for them. One problem, though: they were terrible at crime.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patron Saint of Confidence Women: Cassie Chadwick

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

She told fortunes. She faked documents. She changed her name. She crashed the economy of a major American city. Sorry, Cleveland.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Family Jewel Heist: the Testicle Thieves of Chicago

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In 1920s Chicago there was a crime wave plaguing the city — no, not Al Capone and gangland mayhem — there was an epidemic of gland piracy, testicle thieves were out there stealing balls.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves: The 40 Elephants Gang

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Organized shoplifting, streamlined fencing, prosthetic arms, hidden pockets, driving cars through shop windows, a strict code of thievery — this London gang (which may have predated the Sicilian mafia) didn't mess around. Just forty women out on the mean streets, taking care of business.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Battlin' Fleetwood Macs

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Once upon a time... there was a band called Fleetwood Mac, but one day someone had an affair with Mick Fleetwod's wife, and boom, suddenly there were two Fleetwood Macs. This became a big problem for everyone. Mostly because, no one knew how to answer the question: which Fleetwood Mac is the real Fleetwood Mac?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Falcon and the Showman: The Epic Journey of Balloon Boy

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 11:59:00 +0000

It was a developing news story that gripped the nation: a little boy flying high in the sky in an uncontrolled electrified experimental balloon. When it crashed to earth and he wasn't in it, panic turned to grief. Where was little Falcon Heene? Hiding at home, it turns out. Just like his publicity-loving father had arranged it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Houston, We Have A Problem… A Love Problem

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Add two astronauts, mix in one younger woman, stir in a 900-mile drive from Houston to Orlando, and garnish with an adult diaper — that’s how you make an Astronaut Love Triangle! This true story is an out-of-this-world tale of love, sex, jealousy, crime and the limits of the human bladder.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ridiculous Crime Podcast's Biggest Night: The 2022 Perpies

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Awards season is upon us and you know what that means: awards. And awards shows. Ridiculous Crime is proud to present the first annual Perpie Awards, celebrating almost a year of incredible capers, heists, and cons. Don't miss this star-studded event!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Destruction, Mayhem and Chaos: The Most Ridiculous Crimes of 2022

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

This was one helluva year! As life in a pandemic returned to a semblance of normalcy, criminals also got back to work. In many cases the results were predictably ridiculous. To review the felonious year that was, here’s a rundown of the Top Ten Most Ridiculous Crimes of 2022!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If the Moon Is A-Rockin', Dont Come A-Knockin': Thad Roberts and the Lunar Rock Heist

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Many kids dream of becoming astronauts, but only a select few actually make it their profession. And even fewer manage to blow that chance. And only one threw away his dreams of space travel in a truly ridiculous way: stealing moon rocks from work in order to say he'd had sex on the moon. Literally.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Ho-Ho-noooooo!”: Orange Sunshine and The LSD-Fueled Christmas Party

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

That one time when the Black Panthers, the militant Weather Underground and the surf mafia The Brotherhood of Eternal Love came together to free a psychedelic charlatan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thieving Las Vegas: Operation G-Sting

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Strip clubs, crooked politicians, cash payoffs, FBI raids, ski school. It's a Vegas corruption story like no other!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s Steal the Mona Lisa!

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Mayhem, chaos and international hijinks ensue after three Italian brothers, led by their super-patriotic older brother, break into the Louvre and steal the Mona Lisa for the glory of Italia. The frantic French police search high and low for the stolen masterpiece, they even drag in Picasso and JP Morgan.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fix Up, Look Sharp: Willie Sutton

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Guy meets girl. Guy loses girl. Guy learns to rob banks. Guy robs banks. Guy likes to look fly. Guy gets arrested. Guy escapes prison. Guy gets caught again. Guy writes memoirs. Guy inspires generations of medical students to better diagnose patients?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Uncatchable”: The Greek Robin Hood

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Born the son of a shepherd, inspired by highwaymen bandits of the mountains, Vassilis Palaiokostas grew up to be a criminal legend known as the Greek Robin Hood. From his daring helicopter prison escapes to his bank-robbery-funded luxurious life on the lam, he’s known for his deep love of Greek guitar music, stolen German cars, and, of course, freedom.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get a Load of These Clowns: The Toronto Circus Riot

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

What do you get when you mix crooked cops, violent firemen, a rollicking bordello, hardboiled clowns, and sectarian violence? You get something wildly ridiculous, that's what. Zaron is still missing, so Producer Dave steps in again and saves the day.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Birthday Boy Bank-robber

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Who among us hasn’t daydreamed of being Steve McQueen for a day? For a 20-year-old community college student, fancy liquors and semi-exotic cars weren’t enough to scratch the dangerous cool guy itch. Only a major bank heist in tribute to McQueen’s own biggest big screen caper would do. So why are we just hearing about it now? Producer Dave Coustan takes the wheel and fills us in.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Mega-Con Man for the Ages: Joseph "Yellow Kid" Weil

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Only the greatest con man could take Mussolini for $2M, run a totally fake casino, fix horse races, pose as a well-known mining engineer, and then write a book about it all. Oh, and look super dapper along the way.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jimi Hendrix, a VW Van of Hash, and the Brotherhood of Eternal Love

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Ron and Scott were brothers, a pair of SoCal surf kids growing up in the ‘60s. They were into the usual stuff: peace, love, catching waves, international drug smuggling, making phony films as a cover for illicit activities, hanging out with Jimi Hendrix in Hawai`i, fooling Porsche into agreeing to a fake car race. You know, just brotherly fun.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hackin' on a Star: Matthew Bevan

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

When your only crime is curiosity, is it still illegal to hack into government computer systems in search of information about UFOs? Yes. Yes, it is.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Coke Boat

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

You’re young, you’re hawt, you’re used to getting paid for it as an Instagram influencer – so why not turn pro and get paid for it overseas? But suddenly you’re now an international cocaine smuggler… how did this happen?! (🎵 Life on the Coke Boat, surely make you lose your mind 🎶)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irritating Posh Kid Hijinks: The Dreadnought Hoax

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Pranks! Some are clever. Some are fun. Some are a little lame. And some manage to create an historical thread from Virginia Woolf to Silvio Berlusconi.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horsing Around for Millions

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Two great tastes that taste great together: horse racing and fraternity brothers. What happens when three frat bros attempt to rig the biggest horse race in America? They all win a free yet priceless education in how not to commit a crime. And it’s all thanks to a long shot horse named Volponi.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're Bacon a Big Mistake: The Tucson Sonoran Hot Dog Turf War

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Regional delicacies are a hot market and a point of pride. Tucson's Sonoran Hot Dogs are a prime example. But are they worthy of extortion and death threats? One guy sure thought so.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids Steal The Darndest Things!

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0000

They can barely see over the steering wheel, they can’t reach the pedals, many can’t even read, but they don’t let that stop them. Kids will steal the dardenest things — like Mom’s SUV. These criming kids all went big, they each tried to drive cross-country!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Train Talk: The Great Train Robbery

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Trains. It was an outrageous caper to end all capers: stealing millions from a train (and maybe a little of the train, too). What could go wrong? Well, a lot. But a fair bit also went right. Trains. And thanks to all that, we have a dope television theme song. Makes sense, don't it? And trains.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Snowball’s Chance

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

That’s called a TAMU over Rice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Real House Burglars of the UK: The Heist

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

This is the true story of five strangers picked to target a mark, work together, and have their lives taped to find out what happens when people stop criming in secret...and start getting loot for the sake of entertainment.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How To Fake Your Death …and Not Get Away With It!

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

David Friedland was a corrupt, mob-connected, LSD-munching, undercover FBI informant and New Jersey state lawmaker, until one day he faked his death and became a scuba diving instructor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I Want to Talk to You about Trains: The Brian Robson Story

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Choose a job. Choose Australia. Choose a gross hostel. Choose some friends. Choose a crate. Choose a pee bottle. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got trains?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Papa, Can You Hear Me: Florida Man Kidnaps Self

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Is it kidnapping if you’re the kid who naps himself? Do FBI informants have a bring your kid to work day? It’s David Hampton Butler Jr. vs David Hampton Butler Sr. in a Florida Man battle of the ages.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pastor Has Two Faces: Don LaRose

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

When a pastor went missing after giving a series of talks about the devil, everyone who knew him was certain Satanists were to blame. But what if the devil in this story was actually the little devil on that pastor's shoulder urging him to find a new life? Guess what...it was.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Comic Books Are Coming For Your Kids!"

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Sen. Estes Kefauver was outraged by a crime: the poisoning of the minds of American children. He spied a vile new threat introduced by Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman –– to him, the superheroes were secretly agents of fascism. The lawmaker knew the best way to fight back and save America's children was to call the press and form... a Senate Subcommittee! (Cue the moral panic in 3, 2, 1..)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Dish Best Served in Antarctica

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Antarctica is cold. Very cold. And there's not much to do other than research and maintenance. Or listen to Metallica. What happens when you mix a limited library, a bully, and a whole lot of booze? Something ridiculous, for sure.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sex Raft!

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

It was an idea so crazy it just might work: what if a middle-aged scientist invited 10 young, sexy strangers to live aboard a raft with him for 3 – 6 months and together they’d solve the question of world peace. Who knows? (Every one knows.)

Warning: adult themes

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uncut Gems: The Great Diamond Hoax

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Diamonds and gems scattered about the dry earth just waiting to be gathered and sold. Little to no work involved. Easy money. Sounds to good to be true, right? Not for the titans of industry, experts, and investors who fell for this ridiculous con.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Insane Love Song of Skyjacker: Garrett Brock Trapnell

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Garrett Brock Trapnell was a criminal Swiss Army knife; he ran guns for Fidel Castro, he rented dogs to Hollywood stars, later he became a skyjacker –– and he became so famous from it that a mother and daughter tried to free him from prison.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rum Running Renegade: Willie Carter Sharpe

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

What do you get when you put a fearless woman behind the wheel of a truck filled with illicit booze on a winding country road with the feds in hot pursuit? You get the brazen capers of Willie Carter Sharpe.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Titanic and The Brain

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

One was a man of action, an incredible athlete who was always ready with an outsized proposition bet, like wagering if he could throw a peanut across Times Square; the other man was a walking calculator of odds and angles, a master gambler, but one who preferred it when the game was rigged — they called themselves Titanic and The Brain. One of them is still remembered as the man who fixed the World Series, at least that’s the rumor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Best Worst Imposter: Edgar Laplante

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Edgar Laplante tried it all: pretending to be a Native American chief, pretending to be a famous athlete, pretending to be a war hero, pretending to be in love with a noblewoman. While not always a very convincing imposter, he was weirdly successful in his relentless career of cons and fraud.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sorry, Not Sorry: Corey Worthington and his Sunglasses Throw a Party

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

It hits every American 80s movie trope: parents go out of town, teen boy throws party, party gets out of control. Except this time it became a global sensation and wound up inspiring its own movie. And in the tradition of Succulent Chinese Meal Man, this Australian teen is unapologetically larger than life and, well, ridiculous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mayor of Favor Town: Buddy Cianci

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

You run for mayor of a large American city. You get elected. You commit a felony. You resign. You run again for mayor of that same large American city. You get elected. You commit another felony. You resign again. But none of that will stop you from remaining a lasting part of the fabric of the city or from participating in a parade. This is the Buddy Cianci story.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Bank, Write Book… Make Big, Big Money?

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Dubbed the “Bank Robbery of the Century,” the daring break-in at a castle-style bank in the French Riviera town of Nice shocked the world — but it was the fact that the burglars from the heist team kept writing novels about it that was far more shocking! Guys, you got away with it… Ssshhh!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ocean's Ten: The Baker Street Robbery

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Brian "The Guv'nor" Reader met his criminal downfall with the Hatton Garden Heist. But that wasn't his first attempt at breaking into a vault. Decades before, he and a crack crew dug a tunnel in search of riches, but were foiled by a guy who just wanted to listen to Radio Luxembourg in peace.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Hands Up!” The Ballad of Bank-robbing Folk Hero, Billy Miner AKA the Gentleman Bandit

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

He spent the majority of his life behind bars, but when he was free he made his time count, robbing stage coaches and trains and traveling the world on stolen booty — meet Billy Miner, outlaw folk hero of the disappearing Wild West.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a Country if We Say So: The Island Nation of Sealand

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

What started as a spot for a pirate radio station blossomed into a whole country. At least to the people who lived there. But the founding of any nation is full of strife, crime, and ridiculousness. Why should Sealand be any different?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willie and Waylon: the Outlaw Country Drug Busts

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Two country legends, good time friends and partners in crime, Willie and Waylon shared a love of staying one step ahead of the law; except sometimes when you fight the law…the law wins.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let 'Er Rip: The Adventures of Bum Farto

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Being named Bum Farto is ridiculous. Selling drugs is a crime. Being named Bum Farto and selling drugs in front of a fire station? Now THAT'S a ridiculous crime.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Great Kansas City Royals Uniforms Heist of 1977

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

The Milwaukee Brewers were scheduled to face the Kansas City Royals, but the night before thieves broke in and stole the Royals’ uniforms. The game that went down the next day became baseball history; yet another legend from the ‘70s era of baseball and its disco riot, short shorts and afro’d funkiness.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whiskey Robber, Take My Mind: Attila Ambrus

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

What do you get when you take one part hardscrabble Eastern Bloc kid, three parts lousy ice hockey skills, twelve parts booze, six parts non-violence, and infinite amounts of determination? You get one whole Attila Ambrus, the Hungarian Whiskey Robber.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Always on my Mind: The Theft of Albert Einstein’s Brain

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Albert Einstein was one of the greatest scientific minds of all time. So of course people wanted to study his brain after he died. One man, though, wanted the brain more than anyone else. His career-ruining obsession with the genius noggin drove him to commit a ridiculous crime and culminated in a bizarre cross-country road-trip with an exasperated journalist. Intent on delivering the pilfered body part to Einstein’s granddaughter, the duo proved that everything is indeed relative.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Great Imposter: The Many Faces (and costumes) of Barry Bremen

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

A sports-loving jokester with a desire to be seen by the masses, Barry Bremen fraudulently made his way into some of the biggest sporting and entertainment events of the 70s and 80s. It's one thing to dress up as a ref at a game, quite another to accept an award on stage meant for someone else. Will Barry's lust for the limelight take him a little too far?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Winning Numbers of the Beast

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Everybody loved Nick Perry. The host of “Bowling for Dollars” was Pittsburgh famous for his loud suits and friendly demeanor. But that wasn’t enough. Nick Perry made a big money move — he rigged the Pennsylvania lottery. Only problem was that he also crossed the mob. That never ends well.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best in Show: The Canine Cons of Margaret Lydia Burton

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

If you have an interesting accent and know how to act fancy, you can get away with a lot. Margaret Lydia Burton used that fact to her advantage, moving from town to town, conning people and living well. She thought she'd settled down to begin a life of skimming enormous amounts of money from a medical clinic and spending it on...show dogs. But people got wise, so Burton got moving.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Champagne for My Horses

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Rita Crundwell seemed like a simple woman. As a kid, she liked 4H, horses, and country living. She grew up to work in City Hall in her small hometown of Dixon, Illinois. For decades, though, this all-American product of the heartland had a secret. She was cooking the town's books, embezzling millions, and lying to everyone she knew to pay for her lavish, pony-loving lifestyle.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Double Trouble: Jose and Ozzie Canseco

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Two major league baseball stars walk into a bar. Well, a nightclub. Either way, chaos ensues. But since it's Jose and Ozzie Canseco, that chaos is awesome. And they didn't stop there. Special guest Travis Dutton, a major Oakland A's/Canseco fan, joins the RC crew for this one.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cult Leader Pretend: Alex Joseph and His Many, Many Wives

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Alex Joseph was a lot of things: accountant, school teacher, author, US Marine, postal worker, private investigator, music manager, health food purveyor, mayor, pirate, polygamist, cult leader. He loved living just outside the law, amassing wives (some of questionable age) and squatting on government land. And unlike many of the ridiculous criminals profiled, he managed to stay one step ahead of the law until his last breath.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Draw Me Like One of your German Criminals: Arno Funke, Germany's Greatest Extortionist

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Aspiring artist Arno Funke, aka Dagobert, just wanted to make a living doing what he loved. And he did, for a time, because in addition to art he loved bombs and extortion plots, and weird contraptions. His antics captivated a nation and made for great headlines, but those kind of capers just can't last. Luckily, the artist in him prevailed and he was able to delight and captivate the public in a legal way after all.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Twas the Night Before Griftsmas: The Con Man and Santa Claus

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

It's Christmas in July! Start drafting those letters to Santa — that's just how John Duval Gluck would have wanted it. He scammed the wealthy of New York society into doing good for poor kids, sending the kids gifts from Santa himself. Until one man asked to see the receipts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smuggler’s Baby Blues: The Fake Baron and 100,000 Glass Eyeballs

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

For years, an erstwhile Baron smuggled glass eyes into Hoboken, until he was busted by customs. He later petitioned to officially change his name to reflect his status as the illegitimate son of a Viscount. When he told the romantic and rather dubious tale of his parentage in court? Not a dry eye in the house.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is Mr. Rochat Speaking: The Theft of Charlie Chaplin's Body

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Criminals decide to steal the body of beloved film star Charlie Chaplin. They call his widow and ask for a ransom. His widow isn't interested. What becomes of The Tramp's remains? Guess you'll have to listen and find out. Come for the crime, stay for Zaron's absurd reenactment of the ransom calls.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High Times on the Mosquito Coast: The Gregor MacGregor Story

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Throughout the ages, con artists have successfully convinced people to buy into fake businesses, fake social or political movements, even fake identities. But it took a truly confident trickster, a brazen Scotsman, to fool people into sinking their life savings into a completely fake country.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Truth is Really Out There: The Long Island UFO Network

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Fed up with local politics, a UFO investigator and his band of misfits conspire to take down their enemies. And expose government plots to conceal alien activity. And equip a school bus with state of the art paranormal detecting gadgets. And threaten the President. And hang out at his mom's house. You know, normal stuff.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treetop Flyer: The Highflying Antics of Tommy Fitz

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swappin' Dead Presidents: The Emancipation of Abraham Lincoln's Corpse

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In 1876, a small time gang plotted to kidnap Abraham Lincoln. He'd been dead eleven years, but they didn't let that stop them. They planned to trade the late leader's body for their imprisoned counterfeiter comrade's freedom. Guess what -- it didn't work.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch the Throne: The Case of the Missing Gold Toilet

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In 2016, the artist Maurizio Cattelan created a masterpiece: a solid goild toilet. After a successful exhibition in New York, the commode was shown in the UK. It was there that the loo went adieu. Who took it? Why? The police had suspects, but will they be able to flush them out?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Yeti Hand: a Film Star, a Relic, and Underpants

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

What do you get when you mix an obsession with cryptids, money to burn, Buddhist monks, geopolitics, relic theft, lingerie, and Jimmy Stewart? You get this ridiculous tale.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Captured Coin Con Consults Convicts Craving Corrections Cover

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Michael Sabo was a classic con man. He posed as a respectable doctor, he wrote phony checks, he stole coins, and he misled trusting people. And what does a classic con man do after getting caught? Turn that grifter knowledge into another con: consulting.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taser, The Tupperware Salesman and the Stolen Stradivarius

Tue, 31 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

An amateur art thief conspires with a barber/part-time “Tupperware consultant” named Universal Knowledge Allah to steal a multimillion dollar Stradivarius violin; it’s step one of the thief’s Robin Hood-style plan to, uh…renovate and fix Milwaukee?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've Got Mail: Ridiculous Crime Listeners Chime In

Thu, 26 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

We get a LOT of correspondence here at RC HQ, and the time has come to share it with the world. Suggestions! Confessions! Campfire Tales! Requests! Guitars! Turkeys! Manhunts! Duct Tape! Y'all are a fascinating and hilarious bunch.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rose Marie and Joyce (Jocelyn?): the IRL Thelma & Louise

Tue, 24 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

It was the ‘90s, just before the internet went big, the perfect moment for two gals to turn outlaw, robbing men from Texas to Vegas. While on the run they were spotted hiding as nurses, strippers and refrigerator customers. Novelty shirts and tv shows followed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drop 'Em!: The Strange Tale of the Pretty Pants Bandit

Thu, 19 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

A dame. A real looker. A minx with a gun demanding all the cash in the register. This was a woman straight out of a film noir. Except this gal's m.o. was a little unusual: your money or your pants, mister!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Loudest Mimes in the Room: San Francisco Mime Troupe vs. the SFPD

Tue, 17 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Mimes and police: two great tastes that don't taste great together. In the time between the Beat Generation and the Summer of Love, a band of misfit mimes joined forces with a future super-promoter to fight for the rights of performace artists and freedom of expression (also the freedom to get freaky while miming). Clashes with cops ensued, but no invisible box could hold the mimes back. This is the true story of how mime culture changed history...and gave us hippies.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Please, for the Love of God, Stop Singing: State vs. Linkhaw

Thu, 12 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Even the worst singers think they're magnificent crooners in the shower or alone in the car. But what of the terrible singers who take their warbling public? Can singing be criminally bad? Turns out the answer is YES.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm Not a Doctor, but I Play One on TV...News

Tue, 10 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

No one likes medical exams that get a little, uh, personal. And it's only made worse if the doctor administering the test is actually a teen con artist posing as an MD. This teen terror just wouldn't give up his medical dreams until he faced the most tenacious opponent of all: a local investigative news team.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catch the Wave, Not the Criminal: The Max Headroom Signal Hijacking

Thu, 05 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Ah, the 80s. Back when MTV ruled the airwaves, shoulder pads were mandatory, Coca Cola was going through some identity issues, and television signal jacking was still possible. It was a magical time when someone in Chicago could turn on the tv and get an unintended eyeful of weirdness, thanks to a rascally criminal in a Max Headroom mask.`

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Con Man, the First Lady, and Madame X: The Story of Gaston Means

Tue, 03 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Gaston Means managed to insert himself into some significant crimes in American history. J. Edgar Hoover himself referred to Means as "the most amazing figure in contemporary criminal history" for his ability to successfully lie to suit whichever situation in which he found himself. But he met his match when he tried to swindle Washington socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean in a fake investigation into the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping. Means ran out of luck when he ran out of lies.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sartorial Violence at its Finest: The Straw Hat Riot

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

It used to be gauche to wear white after labor day, or to board a plane in your pajamas. What once would get you stern looks or eye rolls are now widely tolerated sartorial choices. There was once one choice, though, that wasn't tolerated at all. In fact, it got you a beat down. Woe be the men who wore straw hats after the summer season in New York City.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden: Gerald the Turkey Attacks!

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In the quiet spring and summer of the early COVID-19 pandemic, one creature's reign of terror paralyzed a neighborhood. What was once an idyllic municipal rose garden, prized for its bountiful blooms and serene atmosphere, became a bloody stomping ground for a pissed off turkey. It just so happens that animals can be criminals, too.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Counterfeit Cuneiform: Hobby Lobby & the Stolen Gilgamesh Dream Tablet

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

How does a company go from selling craft supplies and tchotchkes to importing stolen and counterfeit curios? This is the story of how Hobby Lobby got into the business of looted goods and managed to embroil the Museum of the Bible along the way.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elementary, My Dear Houdini: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle vs. Harry Houdini

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

The author of the Sherlock Holmes series of books, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was also an ardent believer in spiritualism. While his most famous character was known for laughingly revealing the deceptions of charlatans and con men, Doyle himself was more easily duped. Harry Houdini was disgusted to see his friend conned like that. As an escape artist and magician, Houdini was familiar with spectacle and games of deception. So he put on a show just for Conan Doyle and tried to convince his friend that spiritualism was a fraud. Could Houdini make the creator of Sherlock Holmes finally see the truth?

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geriatric Ocean’s Eleven: The Hatton Garden Heist

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Sometimes it's hard to retire. Like they say, do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life. For a group of older English gentlemen thieves, this was especially true. There comes a time when the body can't keep up with the mind, though, and simple plans run into complex worlds. It turns out mega jewel heists just aren't what they used to be.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nuns on the Run: the Fun-loving, Felonious Belgian Sisters

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen once said, “Hearing nuns’ confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.” That’s not true in Belgium. In 1990, nuns in the Diocese of Bruge threw off their habits and embraced the criminal life. So much for vows of poverty.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Give My Regards to Javasu

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

A mysterious woman washes ashore in 1800s England. She speaks an unknown language, yet still manages to share tales of her pirate-filled high sea adventures and noble lineage. Her story captivates the nation...until a figure from her past comes and ruins everything. Or does she?

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pablo Escobar’s Problematic Cocaine Hippos

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

We all know that Pablo Escobar exported cocaine out of Colombia in record amounts. What a lot of people don't know is that he had some problematic imports into the vibrant nation, as well. Meet Pablo Escobar's hippos. The cocaine cowboy brought what turned out to be an invasive species into one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Antics ensued.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King of the Frontier Con Men: The Ballad of Soapy Smith

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

The grandson of a Georgia plantation owner, “Soapy” Smith turned to crime when his family’s morally-criminal fortunes vanished at the end of the Civil War. Travelling from Texas to Colorado to Alaska, Smith was a natural leader who couldn’t help but expand his short con mini-gangs into full-fledged political and criminal empires. But how on earth did he get the name “Soapy”? A very clever flimflam and a cop gave him the moniker that made him famous.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

English History Mystery Nerd Fight: The Drake’s Plate Hoax

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

When the historian who spent his whole career studying the life and exploits of Sir Francis Drake was presented with what appeared to be the Englishman's most important relic, he should have thought it too good to be true. Instead, he bought into it with his whole heart and career. A nerdy band of history buffs believed they pulled off the greatest of pranks, but the historian's reputation and sway were too strong to be brought down by a phony artifact. Too bad for one of the pranksters, who had counted on the whole affair as a means to exact revenge. This is how one fake metal plate became part of the California educational curriculum.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pickles to the Rescue: The Stolen FIFA Cup of 1966

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In 1966, England hosted the FIFA World Cup, an incredible honor and landmark moment for English football. Just one problem: someone made off with the cup itself just weeks before the start of play. How can you have a global tournament with no prize? How can England save face? Enter Pickles, the pooch with a nose for sirloin and purloined goods.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just Like in the Movies: The Story of Rédoine Faïd

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gentlemen, This Is Democracy Manifest: the Tale of Succulent Chinese Meal Man

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Listeners Charlotte and Phil suggested this ridiculous crime (and viral sensation) from Down Under. This is the tale of a legendary Australian video that tickled an entire continent and created a folk hero. But who, exactly, was this folk hero? The plot thickens!

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surprise, I’m Not Dead!: The Woman, Her Husband, and the Hitman

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

When a woman, back home for a family funeral, was kidnapped by the hitman her husband hired to kill her, things looked pretty bleak. But lucky for the woman, hers was a hitman with a heart of gold. Together, they plotted to surprise the husband and get her (legal) revenge. The venue: her own funeral.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Crimpin’: The Epic Booze Cruise of Shanghai Kelly

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

During the California Gold Rush, arriving sailors pretty much abandoned ship immediately and headed for the hills in search of gold. Criminals (called “crimps”) solved the sailor shortage by drugging men and tossing them on outgoing ships – if the captain paid enough. The most prolific crimp? Shanghai Kelly, the San Francisco ne’er-do-well who once threw the most epic booze cruise/kidnapping of all time.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British Cats Forced to Go Brazilian: The UK Cat Shaver

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

People love their pets. English people are especially fond of our four-legged friends. So when a dastardly criminal was on the loose, kidnapping innocent felines and shaving tufts of fur from their soft bodies, the people of Plymouth were understandably outraged. Ridiculousness, of course, ensued.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dancing with Myself (and the Thai Army): Billy Idol Takes Bangkok

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Three weeks. Three hotels. Three vices (booze, drugs, and purchased sex). In 1989, rock icon Billy Idol got wild in Bangkok, seeking total oblivion and taking it to a whole new level. Enter the Thai Army and their tranquilizer guns. Was that rock bottom for Idol? Not even close.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s the PCP Superspy

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

There you are, enjoying a family barbecue. Sure, the macaroni salad left much to be desired, but why is everyone suddenly vomiting? And why are you now certain it's up to you to save the world? This is the story of one man's descent into Tom Clancy-esque delusions, complete with carjackings and imaginary skydiving. He was sure he was working for the FBI and the CIA, when in fact he was just full of PCP.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oh, It Gets Worse: Air Rage on United Flight 976

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

There are flights from hell and then there’s United Flight 976 from Buenos Aires to New York City. With all the drinking, outbursts, violence, and other unmentionable deeds in this story, flying first class never looked so horrible.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strangers in the Night: The Extraordinary Kidnapping of Frank Sinatra…Jr.

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

You need money. You know the Sinatra family. Obviously, the only thing to do is kidnap the adult son of Old Blue Eyes and ask for a ransom. But not too much, just enough. You don’t want to seem greedy. Learn about one man’s bumbling crusade to raise money for his family and raise the ire of America’s most mobbed-up crooner.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buzzy Undressed: Theft from Behind the Scenes at Disney

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

An animatronic character was stolen bit by bit from a pavilion at Disneyworld's Epcot, right under the noses of security at the beloved attraction. Who stripped Buzzy naked? Who sold his clothes? Who bought his clothes? Who is Buzzy in the first place?

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget It Jake, it's Flavor Town

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

A man, a plan, a Lamborghini. It was pretty bold to steal the luxury sports car of Guy Fieri, Mayor of Flavor Town. It was even bolder to drive the bright yellow performance vehicle around for months, evading capture and enjoying the ride right out in the open. But just like bold flavors, bold behavior fades over time. The clever thief was eventually apprehended, and his identity was about as surprising as a Guy Fieri dinner without Donkey Sauce.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Ridiculous Crime

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 21:00:38 +0000

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.