Alle afleveringen
502 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
-
Guns, Sperm, and Steal: the Gaston Glock Story
2 juli 2024 · 1 uur
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Mark Twain
28 juni 2024 · 1 uur 5 min
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. Lees meer
*
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 EnglishSpecial 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
27 juni 2024 · 55 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
D.B. Tuber: The Craigslist Bank Robber
25 juni 2024 · 58 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Everyday, Everyday I Steal the Book: Three Major Book Heists
20 juni 2024 · 56 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Ten–Cent Beer Night: The Cleveland Fans vs. Billy Martin
18 juni 2024 · 51 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Psssst…Wanna Buy the Taj Mahal?: Natwarlal
13 juni 2024 · 56 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Joe Bergl: Al Capone's Mechanic
11 juni 2024 · 1 uur 2 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Casino Heists: Ocean's 130 Years For Casino Robbery
6 juni 2024 · 54 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Citizen...Can You Not?!: Orson Welles vs. William Randolph Hearst
4 juni 2024 · 58 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Oh Yes It's Ladies Heist: Josephine O'Dare and Amélie Condemine
30 mei 2024 · 58 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Nic Cage and Patricia Arquette: The Love Quest
28 mei 2024 · 52 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Sisters are Scheming it for Themselves: Lady Banking Scams
23 mei 2024 · 1 uur 1 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Rainfurrest 2015: Send In the Furries!
21 mei 2024 · 1 uur 4 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
None of Your Byzantium: Prince Henri
16 mei 2024 · 54 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Jeffrey Alan Manchester: The Roofman Cometh
14 mei 2024 · 58 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Tonight There's Gonna Be a Jail Break: Two Escaper Boys
9 mei 2024 · 52 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Who Stole Our Big Boy?!
7 mei 2024 · 57 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
My Psychic, She Wrote Me a Letter: Maria Duval
2 mei 2024 · 51 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
I Say, I Say, This Here Beauty Pageant Is Rigged!
30 april 2024 · 1 uur
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Coming to You Live from Ashtar Galactic Command: More Signal Interruptions
25 april 2024 · 49 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Point Bleak: The Flesh-Masked Bandit
23 april 2024 · 55 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
It Was a Kayak: John Darwin aka Canoe Man
18 april 2024 · 51 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Frank Zappa Makes a $1,000 Sex Tape, and Bob Dylan Is a Peeping Tom?
16 april 2024 · 54 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Tehama's Most Wanted: Razzlekhan
11 april 2024 · 55 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Phil Johnson: The Great Loomis–Fargo Heist
9 april 2024 · 54 min
"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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
A Cut Above: William Smarto
4 april 2024 · 48 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Martin McNally: Last of the Skyjackers
2 april 2024 · 1 uur
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Diamonds are a Gaul's Best Friend: The Affair of the Diamond Necklace
28 maart 2024 · 49 min
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)! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
The Tiger King of Harlem
26 maart 2024 · 59 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
The Charity Cheat: Aaron Tonken
21 maart 2024 · 57 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
The Narco-Baron and The Rubber-Faced Man
19 maart 2024 · 51 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
The Old Man and the Gun...on the Run: Forrest Tucker
14 maart 2024 · 52 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
The Outlaw Dora Cox and the Highwaywoman Barbara Danelia
12 maart 2024 · 55 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
More Like TrafiCAN: James Traficant
7 maart 2024 · 52 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
The Long Con of Lady Wonder, the Psychic Horse
5 maart 2024 · 54 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Big Scam on Campus: Diploma Mills
29 februari 2024 · 56 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
The Flying Bandit: Ken Leishman
27 februari 2024 · 53 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Are You Experienced... With Kidnapping?
22 februari 2024 · 53 min
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? Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
20 Ridiculous Questions: Historical Flex Edition
20 februari 2024 · 1 uur 5 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Where The Streets Have No Shame: Marianne Andle
15 februari 2024 · 54 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
It was in the Stars: Nancy Reagan’s White House
13 februari 2024 · 53 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
You Gotta Fast Eddie: Edward Davenport
8 februari 2024 · 54 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Operation Lunar Eclipse
7 februari 2024 · 47 min
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. Lees meer
*
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 EnglishSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Agatha Christie: I Want To Get Away!
6 februari 2024 · 54 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
The Fix is In: Competition Crimes
1 februari 2024 · 53 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Wedding Bandits
30 januari 2024 · 49 min
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! Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Nixon's Millions: The United California Bank Burglary
25 januari 2024 · 48 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
The Detroit Dream-maker: the John DeLorean Story
23 januari 2024 · 1 uur
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-
Sing Blue Silver: Blane Nordahl
18 januari 2024 · 49 min
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. Lees meer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.