Bonus Episodes | The Compendium

Two sisters made a pact to stop speaking to the world, together they build a private language, wrote strange fiction, and ventured out into a life crime spree that ended with them being locked inside Broadmoor, Britains most notorious psychiatric hospital. Now to the world as The Silent Twins, June and Jennifer Gibbons, became one of Britain’s strangest and saddest true stories. Born to Barbadian...

MKUltra was not a fringe conspiracy theory. It was a real CIA programme built to test whether drugs, fear, interrogation and psychological pressure could break the human mind. In this episode, we follow MKUltra from Cold War panic to one of the darkest hidden histories in American intelligence: Project Bluebird, Project Artichoke, Sidney Gottlieb, CIA LSD experiments, Operation Midnight Climax, Do...

Genie Wiley was locked away for thirteen years, but rescue was only the beginning of one of psychology’s most haunting cases. This episode follows the story of Genie Wiley, a child kept in near-total isolation, deprived of language, movement, comfort and the outside world until she was discovered at thirteen. Her case became a landmark in debates around language acquisition, childhood development...

Somerton Man is one of Australia’s most enduring mysteries: an unidentified body found on Somerton Beach in Adelaide in 1948, a hidden scrap of paper reading “Tamám Shud”, and a trail of clues that only got stranger. In this episode, we unravel the dead man with no ID, the copy of The Rubaiyat , the mysterious nurse, the alleged code, the Cold War spy theories, and the DNA breakthrough that may ha...

Thirteen children are discovered living in unimaginable conditions inside a suburban home, exposing a hidden world of abuse that shocks the globe. This episode revisits the Turpin family case, tracing how years of imprisonment, starvation, and psychological control remained concealed behind an ordinary façade in Perris, California. We examine the 911 call that revealed the truth, the arrest and tr...

A Royal Mail train is stopped in the dead of night, and a gang of thieves pulls off one of the boldest robberies Britain has ever seen. This episode revisits the Great Train Robbery, tracing how a determined crew planned and executed a heist that stunned the nation and reshaped true-crime history. We explore the robbery’s meticulous preparation, the moment the train was brought to a halt, the dari...

A French aristocrat’s family is found murdered in their home, and the father vanishes without a trace, leaving a mystery that still fuels debate across the world. This episode examines the Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès case, exploring the financial strain, marital tensions, and emotional entanglements that shaped his final months. We trace the meticulous planning behind the murders, the disappearance...

Nine experienced hikers flee their tent in the dead of night, only to be found scattered across a frozen mountain pass under circumstances no one can fully explain. This episode investigates the Dyatlov Pass Mystery, tracing the 1959 expedition into the Ural Mountains and the baffling injuries, torn tent, and eerie final photographs that fuel decades of speculation. We explore natural theories, mi...

A young mother vanishes without a trace, triggering a nationwide search and a mystery that only deepens as the story unfolds. This episode revisits the disappearance of Sherri Papini, tracing the shock of her sudden vanishing, the intense investigation that followed, and the media storm that turned her case into a national obsession. We explore the evidence, the competing theories, the emotional i...

In this episode of All the Latest Things , we explore the hidden fishing wire encircling Manhattan that serves a surprising religious purpose. The myth behind menstrual cycle synchronisation and its potential evolutionary origins. We learn why Amazon Go’s AI checkout stores are closing and how Heinz is fighting back against ketchup fraud with a clever colour trick. Plus, we delve into the rock-and...

In this episode of All the Latest Things , we explore the wild and the downright bizarre. From a lawsuit over cake slices and creased cushions, to a banana sold as art for $6.2M, this week is packed with stories that will make you question reality. We also uncover the secrets behind fake elevator buttons, the curse of Michelin stars, and the man who took his shoe-sniffing habit way too far. Buckle...

A mysterious poem sends treasure hunters into the Rocky Mountains in search of a hidden chest filled with gold, sparking obsession, danger, and a decade-long frenzy. This episode revisits Forrest Fenn’s modern treasure hunt, exploring why he created the challenge, how his riddle captivated thousands, and the risks and controversies that followed. We trace the devoted searchers, the near misses, th...

In this episode of All the Latest Things  we explore jaw-dropping stories that will leave you stunned. From P. Diddy’s spiraling scandal and wild conspiracy theories, to the man caught smuggling 320 spiders under his clothes. Then, we delve into a chilling near-miss organ harvesting case, and round things off with a 21st-century treasure hunt involving millions in hidden crypto riches. You won’t b...

In this episode of the All the latest things , we uncover some of the strangest news stories. We discuss a wild insurance scam involving bear suits and luxury cars, Mattel's 'Wicked' doll packaging error that accidentally led to adult websites, and the possibility of octopuses taking over the world. We also talk about the Grindr app crash at the Republican National Convention and its unexpected re...

In this episode of  All the Latest Things ,  we explore the strange and fascinating stories making headlines this week. We kick things off with a look at China’s AI-powered highway project—a 100-mile stretch paved entirely by autonomous machines, sparking fresh debate over job security and the future of work. Then, we cover the quirky tale of a New Zealand man who hired a clown as emotional suppor...

In this episode of  All the Latest Things ,  we dig into the surprising stories we’ve uncovered over the past week. First up, we discuss the Capsula Mundi project, a bold new burial approach that turns you into a tree. Then, Kyle reveals the unexpectedly deep meaning behind Hanson’s “Mmmbop,” a 90s anthem that’s not as carefree as it sounds. Finally, we explore Mozart’s mischievous side with a pee...

Centuries of inequality and improvisation shape Britain’s early medical system, long before the creation of the NHS transformed healthcare forever. This episode traces the history of UK healthcare from the medieval era to the early 20th century, exploring monasteries as early centres of aid, the rise of voluntary hospitals, and the harsh realities faced by the poor in workhouses. As the NHS marks...

A young woman from suburban Canada orchestrates a crime so shocking that it exposes a hidden world of lies, pressure, and deadly ambition. This episode unpacks the Jennifer Pan case, tracing how she constructed an intricate web of deception before arranging the attack that left her mother dead and her father gravely injured. We explore the family dynamics, the fabricated stories, the hitmen she re...

Young women painting glowing watch dials begin to fall mysteriously ill, exposing a deadly truth hidden behind one of America’s most celebrated industries. This episode uncovers the story of the Radium Girls, the dial painters encouraged to use radium paint as if it were harmless and even fashionable. We explore the horrific consequences of exposure, the women who fought for recognition, and the l...

A shy entrepreneur chases the American Dream, only to build an empire that spirals into jealousy, crime, and one of true crime’s wildest scandals. This episode explores the rise of Somen Banerjee and the creation of Chippendales, revealing how a flashy nightclub act became the centre of rivalry, betrayal, and deadly ambition. We trace the backstage tensions, the criminal schemes, and the downfall...

A remote utopian experiment ends in horror when a cult leader orders more than 900 people to drink poisoned flavour aid in one of history’s deadliest mass suicides. This episode examines the Jonestown Massacre, tracing Jim Jones’s rise to power, the creation of the Peoples Temple community in Guyana, and the escalating paranoia that led to Congressman Leo Ryan’s murder and the final, tragic comman...

A string of brutal murders grips London’s East End in 1888, and a nameless killer vanishes into history, leaving terror and speculation in his wake. This episode revisits the Jack the Ripper case, exploring the victims, the chaotic investigation, and the suspects who have fuelled debate for more than a century. We trace the theories ranging from doctors to royals to unknown figures, and examine wh...

A “flying disk” is reported recovered in New Mexico, only for the military to retract the claim overnight, igniting decades of suspicion and conspiracy. This episode revisits the Roswell Incident, tracing the crash discovery, the swift change in the official story, and the speculation that transformed a desert mystery into a cultural phenomenon. We explore the theories, the witnesses, the governme...

A young Austrian archduchess becomes France’s most controversial queen, her life swept from royal splendour to revolution and ruin. This episode traces the story of Marie Antoinette, from her early years and marriage to Louis XVI to the opulence of Versailles and the public resentment it fuelled. We explore the myths that clung to her name, the political tensions that shaped her downfall, and the...

An everyday household staple reveals a hidden story of lobbying, marketing, and government influence that quietly shaped the American diet. This episode uncovers the little-known history of the US dairy industry, tracing its rise from early farming to its deep entanglement with federal policy. We explore the powerful tactics of Big Dairy, the studies and campaigns that shaped public beliefs, and h...