The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things

In this episode of the Compendium, we unravel the mysterious and audacious life of Julie d'Aubigny. From her daring duels to her captivating performances as La Maupin, Julie defied societal norms as a female opera singer in 17th-century French history. Discover the life story of this bisexual historical figure, a true icon among historical LGBTQ figures, who lived a life as scandalous as it was fa...

In this episode of the Compendium, we explore the 1937 Hindenburg disaster. A Nazi airship that exploded midair, marking the end of the golden age of zeppelins. We uncover the mysterious details of the Hindenburg explosion and share some of the survivors harrowing experiences. Join us as we examine the impact of this infamous tragedy on aviation history. Resources and Further Reading " What happen...

In this episode of the Compendium, we explore the mysterious rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos scandal that rocked Silicon Valley. Discover how Holmes, decieved investors with false promises and turned Theranos into a culture of secrets and fear. We'll look at the key roles of Sunny Balwani and whistleblower Tyler Shultz in this tale of ambition and deception, painting a vivid pic...

In this episode of the Compendium, cha cha slide into world of Lou Pearlman, the mastermind behind Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. Discover how he orchestrated one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in the music industry, exploiting the 90s pop music scene and creating a legacy of celebrity scandals. From the formation of boy bands to the shocking revelations of financial fraud, we take you through the carni...

In this episode of The Compendium, we continue our Titanic story as we set sail across the Atlantic within this engineering marvel, we explore the luxury and daily life aboard the ship, providing insights into the lives of both passengers and crew. We'll uncover the intricate details behind why the Titanic sank and the aftermath of this catastrophe. By examining the ship's design, the events leadi...

In this episode of The Compendium, we're jumping onboard the highly requested Titanic! This is the first episode of our two-part series, where we delve into the ambitious conception of the RMS Titanic and the enduring stories of its passengers and crew that make this Titanic story unforgettable. Today, you'll learn about key figures like J.P. Morgan and Bruce Ismay, whose dreams and ambitions led...

In this episode of the Compendium, we’re exploring the origin story of the Village People, the iconic band that brought us unforgettable disco music hits like "Y.M.C.A.," "Macho Man," and "In the Navy." From their creation by Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo to their rise to fame, come with us as we dive into their history and cultural impact they had on the disco era...

In this episode of The Compendium, we delve into the chilling life and crimes of Nannie Doss , infamously known as "The Giggling Granny." Today’s story unravels the timeline of one of America's most notorious female serial killers, whose seemingly innocent demeanor hid a sinister agenda. From her obsession with romance novels to her merciless killings of even her grandchildren, Nannie Do...

In this episode of the Compendium, When David Kroupa ventured into online dating, he couldn't have foreseen the terrifying love triangle that would ensnare him and Liz Golyar, leading to the mysterious disappearance of Cari Farver. This dark side of dating and the lengths to which some people will go to get the lover of their dreams. This is the disturbing realities behind online dating gone wrong...

In this episode of the Compendium, we step back into time to revist The Cleveland Balloon Fest of 1986, a high-flying event that hoped to lift a city's spirits but instead spiraled into one of the most infamous blunders of the decade. I tell Adam all the juicy details of this helium-filled fiasco, where ambition met reality with explosive environmental consequences. We'll explore how this well-int...

In this episode of the Compendium, we are diving into part two of our female scammer series where I tell Adam all about Anna Delvey, New York's infamous fake heiress. Originally born Anna Sorokin in Russia, Anna set out to take what she wanted and nothing was going to stand in her way, not even being poor.   We recount Annas first initial appearance in the glittering social scene, her ambitions pl...

In this episode of the Compendium, we're looking up Cassie Chadwick, the woman who walked so that Anna Delvey could run. Dubbed Carnegie's imaginary heir, Cassie Chadwick's scam is a story of deception, ambition, and the pursuit of wealth at any cost. We love a female con artist here on The Compendium, and Cassie Chadwick is the original OG Queen of the con. Today, we explore how Cassie convinced...

In this episode of the Compendium, we delve into the audacious tale where eight Belgian nuns orchestrate an unlikely escape from a life of stringent spiritual commitments to chase a dream of freedom in the sun-drenched South of France. Explore how Sister Anna and her cohort leveraged a surprising Belgian nuns legal loophole exploitation to sell their ancient convent and fund their new lavish lifes...

In this episode of the Compendium, we’re clutching our pearls as I tell Adam all about the tumultuous saga behind the House of Gucci. From the ambitious beginnings of Guccio Gucci to the tragic murder of Maurizio Gucci. We’re not hitting play on an old run of ‘Days of our Lives’, because this is the real story of legacy, scandals and murder. We are recounting the pivotal roles played by Aldo and R...

We're Back!!! In this episode of the Compendium, we’re giving you a brief foray into the intricate and controversial O.J. Simpson trial. Today’s story is one that captivated a nation, and we will help open the doors to the rabbit hole of a story that meanders and weaves. Its a doozie! We unravel the complex layers of celebrity, racial tensions, and the American justice system, dissect the key even...

In this episode of the Compendium, we are revisiting the enigmatic tale of Gunther’s Millions, the legacy behind the world’s most affluent canine. From an unexpected dog inheritance to the mysterious German Countess and her association with the savvy businessman Maurizio Mian, we unravel the story piece by piece. We will uncover how a German Shepherd become the owner of two Italian football clubs,...

In this episode of the Compendium, we are revisiting the mysterious death of JonBenét Ramsey. A 6-year-old beauty pageant queen who was found dead in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colorado. Her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, reported finding a ransom note and contacted the police. However, as the investigation unfolded, suspicion began to fall on the family itself, with many theor...

This week, we revist the fascinating and scandalous true-crime story of Somen Banerjee, a shy but ambitious man from India who made a name for himself in America by opening a club that would become the home of the infamous Chippendales. While you may be familiar with The Chippendales, what you might not know is the wild events that occurred behind the scenes. Initially a story of the American Drea...

In this episode of The Compendium we revist an old favourit and one of our most popular episodes. We dive into the gripping and inspirational story of "The Miracle of the Andes", the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 and the unimaginable circumstances that the survivors faced. We will be drawing on the 1974 book "Alive" by Piers Paul Read, which was written on behalf of t...

In this episode of the Compendium, we sky dive head first into the high-flying escapades of the DB Cooper mystery. What is the only unsolved skyjacking in U.S. aviation history Sees me taking Adam right back to 1971, aboard Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305. I tell Adam how a seemingly ordinary polite guy was able hijack a plane and escape mid flight above the Oregon wilderness with a $200,000...

In this episode of the Compendium, we're taking a wild ride on board a comet as we explore the Heaven's Gate cult, where Star Trek meets spirituality and Nike sneakers become the uniform of the afterlife. Just like Adam you too wont believe this story? As with every cult, it starts with an enegmatic leader, in this case, two of them. Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, are the unassuming found...

In this episode of The Compendium, we fly headfirst into the fascinating life and work of Roald Dahl. A juggernaut of children's literature whose works were just as fantastical as his life story. Today we discover how Dahl's experiences, from his adventurous spirit to his time as a fighter pilot and diplomat, shaped his unique storytelling style. Adam traces his journey from the creation of whimsi...

Listen to the musical version of todays episode: Listen along with us as we explore this story alongside the music that made this story all the more incredible. In this episode of the Compendium, I’m thrusting Adam head first into the enigmatic world of Sixto Rodriguez. If you have never heard of this guy then your world is about to change. Rodrigues was the unsung hero whose music became the soun...

In this episode of the Compendium, I’m telling Adam about the bizarre and hilarious story of The Great Emu War of 1932. Thats right, this was an actual war raged against the backdrop of Australia in the early 1930s, that saw the Australian military take on an unexpected foe: a large flock of emus that were wreaking havoc on Western Australia's farming communities during the Great Depression. We'll...

In this episode of the Compendium, we’re diving into the life and legacy of Griselda Blanco, a champion of the underworld and one of the most infamous female criminals of our time. Known as the Queen of Cocaine, her story intertwines with the Medellin Cartel and the notorious drug lord, Pablo Escobar. Today Adam tells us how Griselda Blanco shaped the cocaine trade during its heyday and how a woma...