Unscrupulous: Recent Episodes
Unscrupulous
The podcast where two true crime nerds laugh their way through tales of underhanded dealings, amoral acts, and unsavoury characters where all of the victims stay alive to tell their tale.Join Adam (he/him) and Bec (they/them) each episode as they explore stories where no one needs to determine a cause of death. With zero expertise or insider knowledge these two pals who grew up too scared to break any rules for themselves are now anxious adults with a deep obsession for the twisted and weird but who need a break from actual murder.
Running another classic episode to allow Bec a bit more time to heal up! Thank you to everyone for your patience and support while we are away.
Re-scrupe your hearts out, lovelies!
We're gonna need you to start imagining bagpipes right about now.
Bec (they/them) starts us off in Scotland, where four Glaswegian students are ready to take back their nations history as they plan to steal the Stone of Scone...of Destiny.
Next Adam (he/him) introduces us to Sherri Papini, a kidnapping victim who is found wounded by the side of the road. Family and friends are thrilled at her return, until some of the details of her disappearance don't quite seem to add up.
Bec's resources:
- https://ultimatehistoryproject.com/an-infamous-theft-the-stone-of-scone.html
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-63130942
Adam's resources:
- Missing California mother feared abducted while jogging - BBC News
- Abducted California woman Sherri Papini found after three weeks - BBC News
- FBI release sketches of Sherri Papini abduction suspects - BBC News
- 'The Vanishing Act': How Sherri Papini fooled investigators, family with phony kidnap plot - ABC News
- Sherri Papini: US woman who staged her own disappearance sentenced to 18 months - BBC News
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
We're basically in syndication!
We are taking this week off to let Bec have a bit more time to heal after top surgery (!!!!!!)
In the meantime we are running an old favourite, hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane as much as we did! Be back soon!
This episode went off the railsssss. See what happens when tech issues cause us to go loopy and can't stop giggling. Jocko Blood!! ifkyk. We accidentally chose to cover very similar men, centuries apart.
First Adam (he/him) introduces us to Col. Thomas Blood, who after a life of bumbling through crime decides to bumble through an attempt of stealing the crown jewels. He befriends an unassuming guard just hoping to marry off his daughter.
Next Bec (they/them) takes us to this century where we meet another deceitful dude. Jeremy Wilson must have the best memory of all time because he has upwards of 27 identities he is operating under. So you think he'd be smarter about a trap left by the cops.
Adam's sources:
Irish adventurer “Colonel Blood” steals crown jewels - HISTORYColonel Blood and the theft of the Crown JewelsAttempt to steal the Crown Jewels - The National Archives
Thomas Blood - Wikipedia
Bec's sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/nyregion/jeremy-wilson-a-compulsive-con-man.html
https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/where-is-jeremy-wilson-from-generation-hustle-now-prison
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Bec (they/them) tells us about Tania Head, a person who pretended to be one of the survivors of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Known as the woman who wasn't there, we go through all of the actual money, time and effort she put into creating The World Trade Center Survivors Network, but really it seems like the entire sick lie was just for attention.
Adam (he/him) then tells us about Jan Marsalek, with a glimmer in his eye he makes a name for himself in e-commerce in the early days of the internet. Eventually his wildly successful company Wirecard comes under fire when it turns out that their success is not as it seems.
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/9-11-fantasists-survivors-world-trade-center-b2164064.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/nyregion/27survivor.html
- https://www.npr.org/2012/04/14/149399210/the-amazing-untrue-story-of-a-sept-11-survivor
- https://archive.nytimes.com/cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/the-brief-return-of-the-woman-who-wasnt-there/
- Wiki
- The Woman Who Wasn't There Doc on Youtube
Adam's Sources:
- How the Biggest Fraud in German History Unravelled | The New Yorker
- Wirecard scandal - Wikipedia
- Jan Marsalek - Wikipedia
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Adam (he/him) tells us a tale we are slowly becoming familiar with on this show, psychic scams. Patrice Runner learned about the legendary psychic Maria Duval and saw dollar signs. He used her likeness to swindle millions of dollars from innocent people looking for answers, and then harassed them to send him even more money. The question remains, how much was Maria involved in this scam?
Bec (they/them) shares us about a different type of scam, pyramid schemes. Created by a couple who claim their only goal is to uplift women. Overtime though, it becomes clear that what they're really after is making ludicrous amounts of money that they can hide in shell companies, pushing their workers to the edge and sending out farty smelling leggings.
Adam's Sources:
- The Greatest Scam Ever Written | The Walrus
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a37543056/lularich-lularoe-founders-family-deanne-mark-stidham/
- https://www.buzzfeed.com/shelbyheinrich/lularoe-documentary-facts
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwhPqG9qB3g
- https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/lularoe-ndss
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Bec (they/them) tells us the infuriating tale of Rachel Dolezal. We learn the story of her life that led up to the infamous clip of her being confronted about her race on tv and the fall out that happened after it aired. Is this a matter of her being delusional and thinking she truly is Black or is this a cry for attention? Is there even a simple answer?
Adam (he/him) then tells us about Violet Charlesworth. After her car was found abandoned on the edge of a cliff locals were worried for her wellbeing. But the more they dug into her history, the more confused they got about who this supposed heiress really was.
Bec's Sources:
- https://abcnews.go.com/US/rachel-dolezal-timeline-naacp-leaders-transition-white-black/story?id=31801772
- https://www.khq.com/news/timeline-rachel-dolezal-in-the-news-over-the-years/article_3dc41c92-4b60-5a5b-ae4d-9f3319be47dc.html
- https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tasneemnashrulla/rachel-dolezals-brother-says-she-warned-dont-blow-my-cover#.ogrRQaZYy
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/13/rachel-dolezal-i-wasnt-identifying-as-black-to-upset-people-i-was-being-me
- https://cdapress.com/news/2015/jun/11/black-like-me-5/
- https://www.thestranger.com/features/2017/04/19/25082450/the-heart-of-whiteness-ijeoma-oluo-interviews-rachel-dolezal-the-white-woman-who-identifies-as-black
- Wiki
Adam's Sources:
- The Welsh woman who stole £2m from would-be husbands then faked her own death - Wales Online
- Harry Thomas' Memory Lane, Volume 1
- Historical Candidates for the Real-Life Carmen San Diego
- Violet Charlesworth - Wikipedia
- The Welsh woman who stole £2m from would-be husbands then faked her own death - Wales Online
- Harry Thomas' Memory Lane, Volume 1
- Historical Candidates for the Real-Life Carmen San Diego
- Violet Charlesworth - Wikipedia
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Adam (he/him) tells us about the group known as The Freedomites. Descending from a group called the Doukobor's, The Freedomites believed in a lot of things, and they were willing to do just about anything to keep their way of life. In the 1950's the Canadian government learned just how far this group was willing to go. The Freedomites held naked protests, and burned their possessions to show how serious they were, and in retaliation, the Canadian government tried to take their children away.
Bec (they/them) then tells us about a GoFundMe campaign that turned out to be a little too good to be true. Kate McClure and her boyfriend Mark D'amico said they just wanted to raise a bit of money to help out good Samaritan Johnny Bobbitt Jr. The heartwarming story became the websites biggest payout to date, unfortunately, it seems there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than met the eye.
Adam's Sources:
- The Origin of the Freedomite Movement | Doukhobor Heritage
- Sons of Freedom - Canada's History
- Annotations: Sergey Tolstoy and The Doukhobors: The Halifax Quarantine - PMC
- Lack of compensation for Doukhobor religious group disappointing, B.C. ombudsperson says | CBC News
- B.C. Doukhobors forced into residential schools want apology akin to natives' | National Post
- Doukhobor Life in Canada - Welcome
- The Vocal 6 - Doukhobor Singing - Природа Играет
- Freedomites - Wikipedia
Bec's Sources:
- https://abc7chicago.com/no-good-deed-documentary-gofundme-hulu-crowdfunding-holiday-heist-johnny-bobbitt/11362176/
- https://globalnews.ca/news/9014465/katelyn-mcclure-gofundme-scam-prison-sentence/
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Bec (they/them) gives us their first ever list episode! They go through a couple of fun stories of people misbehaving at Saturday Night Live and getting themselves banned from the show. Spanning from the 1980's to as recently as 2010's; from hosts to musical guests, some behaved poorly on stage, while others kept it to behind the scenes but for whatever reason every person on this list have managed to get themselves not asked back to Studio 8H. We know that this list would not be complete without mentioning the great Sinèad O'connor, and we do not disappoint.
Adam (he/him) shares what some people call the biggest scam in history! Artur Virgílio Alves Reis didn't want to get into the family business after he saw how often they struggled with money. Alves wanted to make something different of himself, and boy does he ever. He ends up creating such a successful fraud against the Portuguese Bank where he copies bank notes, that in 1925 it becomes known as the Portuguese Note Crisis. Tune in and learn how this one man was almost responsible for the entire financial collapse of Portugal.
Bec's Sources:
- Fear Performance
- https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/every-celebrity-banned-from-saturday-night-live/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Saturday_Night_Live_incidents#Banned_performers
- https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/reason-adrien-brody-banned-from-snl/
- https://ultimateclassicrock.com/steven-seagal-saturday-night-live/
- Sinèad O’connor Clip
- Joe Pesci Monologue
Adam's Sources:
- THE PORTUGUESE BANKNOTE CASE: THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY - INSIDER
- Alves dos Reis: the biggest crook in the history of Portugal & the world !
- Alves dos Reis - Wikipedia
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Adam (he/him) reminds us about the 2000 reality tv dumpster fire that was the two hour special "Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire?" Fifty women come looking for love, one woman, Darva Conger leaves incredibly disappointed with her new husband. Who is our bachelor Rick Rockwell, and is he even a millionaire?
Bec (they/them) then recounts the life of fashion icon and actual Nazi agent Coco Chanel. Despite growing up in poverty, Coco went on to find fame and fortune which allowed her to rub elbows with some upper crust people, perhaps this is where she really honed into her anti-semitism. Once Coco Chanel had a bad business deal that she seems to use as the basis to help the Nazi's while they occupy Paris. Using her social connections, she did all she could to help the German's during the war, no matter what the Chanel apologists say.
Adam's Sources:
- Original Reel | Joey Engelman
- Who wants to marry a multimillionaire? Not the bride | CBC News
- How The Misogynistic Mess That Was 'Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire?' Inspired 'The Bachelor' | HuffPost Entertainment
- Fox Network Will End 'Multimillionaire' Marriage Specials | New York Times
- Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? - Wikipedia
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.snopes.com/news/2017/03/06/coco-chanel-nazi-spy/
- Wiki
- https://spyscape.com/article/operation-modelhut-was-coco-chanel-a-nazi-spy
- https://www.biography.com/history-culture/coco-chanel-nazi-agent
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Bec (they/them) tells the tale of local legend, the Halifax glove guy. Seemingly, just a good Samaritan who offers rides to young men after a night out, with a passion for his glove business. In exchange for a free ride, all they have to do is listen to his sales pitch and try on some gloves. Most people left his car feeling the encounter hadn't been as harmless as it was presented, others had experiences that had longer lasting effects on their lives.
Adam (he/him) then tells us about some queer figures from the old west you've probably never heard of before. A refreshing perspective of American history that isn't exclusively filled with white men; Adam tells us about a handful of people that remind us that queer people have always existed, including the wild west.
Bec’s Sources:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf2QpXPLpfw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTmGjSXxcPc
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nighttime-podcast-name-disputed-1.5203527
- https://www.reddit.com/r/halifax/comments/6qqr7c/warning_men_of_halifax_the_glove_man/
- https://www.vice.com/en/article/3kxb9n/this-late-night-glove-salesman-masturbating-story-is-very-weird-but-also-true
Adam's Sources:
- Meet the transgender heartthrob of the Wild West - LGBTQ Nation
- Harry Allen (trans man) - Wikipedia
- Jeanne or Jean Bonnet 1849-1876 United States — Ria Brodell
- Jack Bee Garland aka Babe Bean, the Trousered Enigma - HeadStuff
- Jack Bee Garland - Wikipedia
- The Wild and Queer Old West: Race, Gender and Identity in the American West, by Jason Lee – Manchester Historian
- The Forgotten Trans History of the Wild West - Atlas Obscura
- Homo History: Cowboys and Lovers
- Mary Ellen Pleasant - Wikipedia
- 'Out West' at the Autry examines the history of homosexuals and transgender people in the Old West - Los Angeles Times
- Pride Month: The Gay Old West | Bandera Bulletin
- Overlooked No More: Charley Parkhurst, Gold Rush Legend With a Hidden Identity
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Adam (he/him) takes us into the world of cults! Saul B. Newton pretended to start a group based around free love, breaking down the nuclear family structure, and working closely with therapists for personal growth. Like every cult though, it morphed it into something dark to satisfy his own twisted pleasure. The first cult you've ever heard of that moved into a city and started an acting troupe; Saul moves everyone to Manhattan and begins his possessive control over every aspect of his followers lives, especially when they try to leave.
Next Bec (they/them) tells us about how after Spain's basketball team won gold at the 2000 Summer Paralympic games, they were ordered to return their medals. Why? Turns out that 8 out of the 10 members were not disabled at all. Yes, the plot of a Johnny Knoxville movie actually happened in real life.
Adam's Sources:
- The Upper West Side Cult That Hid in Plain Sight | The New Yorker
- Inside the Rise & Fall Of A 1970s Upper West Side Cult - Gothamist
- The Sullivan Institute Was A Psychotherapy Cult Based In New York's West Side That Demonized Nuclear Families
- The Fourth Wall | 2023 Tribeca Festival
- Saul B. Newton - Wikipedia
- About – William Alanson White Institute
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.mamamia.com.au/spanish-basketball-paralympic-team-2000/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20020502094647/http://www.accessibility.com.au/news/sport/para_cheat.htm
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMNBXU1rP9M&t=65s
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2458715/Spanish-basketball-team-pretended-disabled-win-Paralympic-gold.html
- https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-58598677
- https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/sep/16/gilestremlett.features11
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/other-sports/paralympics-disabled-spanish-basketball-sydney-24834683
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod and send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
This is a story about a girl named Lucky...
Well, it's a story about a girl who sang about a girl named Lucky. First, Bec (they/them) gives us the ins and outs of Britney Spears' rise to fame and her eventual conservatorship. After a divorce from Kevin Federline gave her less time with her kids, Britney's mental health was suffering and her horrible father Jamie Spears took the opportunity to become the legal guardian of Britney. And her bank account. Strap in, we get reeeaaaaal into it. #FreeBritney
Next, Adam (he/him) tells us about pharma bro Martin Shkreli. From his beginnings in finance to him infamously raising the prices of life saving medication. We learn all about how he rightfully earned the title of being the most hated man on the internet with the face everyone seems to want to punch.
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/908141-timeline-of-key-events-in-life-of-britney-spears
- https://www.newyorker.com/news/american-chronicles/britney-spears-conservatorship-nightmare
- https://people.com/music/britney-spears-father-jamie-steps-down-as-her-conservator
Adam's Sources:
- What Did Martin Shkreli Do to Make the Internet So Angry? | WIRED.
- Martin Shkreli | AP News
- FTC asks judge to hold 'pharma bro' Martin Shkreli in contempt of court for forming new drug firm
- 'Pharma bro' Martin Shkreli is out of jail and living with his sister in Queens, and now earns $2500 a month as a law firm consultant
- 'Pharma Bro' Shkreli freed from prison for halfway house | AP News
- Advice To Martin Shkreli: 9 Ways To Stop Being The Most Hated Man On The Planet
- Martin Shkreli - Wikipedia
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Bec (they/them) tells us about Mr. Monarch himself, an expert on British royalty who had the distinction of being heavily interviewed during the royal wedding. Unfortunately by the end of the wedding month, his past would be exposed and Thomas James Mace-Archer-Mills had a lot of explaining to do, which he does. With a made-up accent.
Next, Adam (he/him) tells us about Curtis Howe Springer, who took his interest in medicine and made a career out of it. No, not a doctor, but a sort of religious/wellness/medical leader. Come for the natural springs, stay for the cross-shaped pool.
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvaXVV0pDq4
- https://thecrownchronicles.co.uk/royal-news/tell-me-about-the-british-monarchist-society/
- https://www.insider.com/who-is-thomas-mace-archer-mills-thomas-muscatello-2018-5
- https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2018/06/more-on-tommy-from-bolton-landing.html
- Wiki
- https://www.newyorkupstate.com/adirondacks/2018/06/expert_on_british_royal_family_turns_out_to_be_a_guy_from_upstate_ny.html
- https://observer.com/2018/06/fake-british-royals-expert-still-uses-accent-in-video-interview/
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-muscatello-royal-family-expert-thomas-j-mace-archer-mills-esq-italian-american-new-york-a8378576.html
Adam's Sources:
- The Story Of Zzyzx, The Eerie Ghost Town Along A Dead-End Road In The Middle Of The California Desert
- Curtis Springer and Zzyzx - CSU Desert Studies Center | CSUF
- Miracles and Mirages: How Curtis Howe Springer Stole the Desert | Lost LA | Food & Discovery | KCET
- Zzyzx: An Unlikely Home of Hucksterism and Miracle Cures - Los Angeles Times
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Adam (he/him) gives us one of his famous roundup episodes, this time the topic is the liars behind advertising. Adam takes us through several companies that were called out for telling bold face un-truths to their consumers. From brain game apps to yogurt to shoes, let Adam tell you how everything is basically a lie.
Next Bec (they/them) takes us through the events of January 6, more commonly referred to as the insurrection. Bec takes us through the timeline leading up the day and a breakdown of the riot itself.
Adam's Sources:
- The Three Biggest False Advertising Scandals of the Past Decade
- Misleading marketing: Cheerios, 5-Hour Energy drink among products tagged with outrageous claims
- 18 false advertising scandals that cost some brands millions
- Lumosity - Wikipedia
- Forbes - What You Really Need To Know About The Safety Of 5-Hour Energy Drink
- Sensa (diet) - Wikipedia
- Activia - Wikipedia
- Green coffee extract - Wikipedia
- Caffeine Content of Drinks
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.npr.org/2022/01/05/1069977469/a-timeline-of-how-the-jan-6-attack-unfolded-including-who-said-what-and-when
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack#Aftermath
- wiki
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Adam (he/him) tells us about two cousins who, in 1917, shared some photos they took of themselves playing with fairies. Once one of their moms takes the photos to her Theosophical Society meeting the photos become a global story. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle pops up, as he always does in stories like these, to encourage the two to take more photos. Adam takes us through the phenomenon that was the Cottingley Fairies up until the late-in-life (sorta) admission of truth around these famous pictures.
Then Bec (they/them) takes us back to the dawn of television. When people were figuring out how to transition the popularity of quiz shows from radio to TV. After early episodes were filmed producers realized how different the two formats were and realized that they would need to manipulate, or as they put it, "produce" the shows. When contestants began speaking up about what was going on behind the scenes audiences were outraged to find out tv wasn't real, this really was a simpler time folks. This scandal ended up completely changing television and laws around quiz shows as we know them today.
Adam's Sources:
- Cottingley Fairies: How Sherlock Holmes's creator was fooled by hoax - BBC News
- Cottingley Fairies - Wikipedia
- The Cottingley Fairies - Historic UK
- Rose Fyleman - Fairies
- The Coming of the Fairies by Arthur Conan Doyle - Free Ebook
Bec's Sources:
- https://medium.com/@stevechatterton/the-quiz-show-scandal-or-why-jeopardy-is-played-backwards-519f46d1489d
- https://www.americanheritage.com/dr-joyce-brothers-beats-system
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/quiz-show-scandals
- https://theretrospectors.com/on-this-day-joyce-brothers-64000-swot/
- https://www.history.com/news/quiz-show-scandal-fraud-jeopardy
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Bec (they/them) takes us back to a simpler life; a time when ugg boots and Paris Hilton ran supreme. A group of plucky teens break into several celebrity houses to try on their clothes, steal their drugs, and brag to their friends about it. Eventually their reckless behaviour catches up with them, but not before they snort Paris Hilton's cocaine, use Rachel Bilson's bathroom, AND a reality show premiere shows the arrests being made.
Then Adam (he/him) tells us about the time $100 million was taken in less than half an hour. Brinks put a bunch of jewels in a trailer, not the armoured vehicles they're known for, and would you believe it? The jewels were stolen! And in a strange twist of fate, Brinks decides to sue the victims. Adam takes us through the crime itself and the subsequent trial where they really poured salt on the wound.
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/crime-in-the-media/the-bling-ring/
- https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/bling-ring-scandal-timeline-celebrity-heist-hollywood-burglary
- https://www.tiktok.com/@julianburzynski/video/6904399244581506310?lang=en
Adam's Sources:
- $100 Million Gone in 27 Minutes
- Millions of dollars worth of jewelry stolen in California Brinks truck heist | The Hill
- Armored Brink’s Security Truck in California Robbed of Gems and Jewelry Worth Millions - WSJ
- Brink's driver was asleep inside truck during jewelry heist - Los Angeles Times
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Adam (he/him) tells us the incredible story of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, also known as the Ghost Army of World War II. Think of it as allied forces meets art school. In an effort to fool Nazi soldiers, American art students, creators and architects are asked to create a pretend army that can go anywhere, anytime, in an effort to stress out the German soldiers. Including ballon tanks, leaving tracts in the ground and speakers blaring the sounds of soldier life ambience.
Next Bec (they/them) tells us about Lou Blonger, the kingpin of the million dollar bunco ring of the Wild West. Lou grew from his family business in mine's to founding his own gold mine, starting a saloon, and obtaining the top spot in the Denver underworld. For 20-odd years no one so much as sneezed or picked a pocket in Denver without Lou and the Blonger Brother's knowing about it. He re-structured the entire criminal system to conveniently have him at the top.
Adam's Sources:
- The Ghost Army of World War II Used Art to Deceive the Nazis | History| Smithsonian Magazine
- Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans
- The Top-Secret WWII Unit That Fooled the Nazis | HISTORY
- A phantom division played a role in Germany's defeat (image of original 1985 article, with original art by Ghost Army veteran Arthur Shilstone)
- (Watch) Ghost Army Gold Medal Celebration of Bernie Bluestein
- The Ghost Army Legacy Project
- (Watch) "The Ghost Army" trailer
- The Ghost Army (the book and the documentary film)
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-blonger/
- https://original.newsbreak.com/@rick-zand-1602355/2933864897868-lou-blonger-and-denver-s-million-dollar-bunco-ring
- Wiki
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Trigger Warning up top, friends - in Adam's story we discuss some heavy topics like colonialism in Canada (including but not limited to the Residential School System), sexual misconduct in the church, and grim patriarchal bullshit including anti-choice rhetoric, racism and homophobia. But it wouldn't be an episode on the Catholic Church without it!
First Bec (they/them) tells us about the many lives Frèdèric Bourdin tries on. What started as a proclivity to pretend to be someone else, turns into assuming the identity of real missing people. He sets off to America to try and convince a family that he is their missing son. After they discover an actual stranger in their home, Frèdèric returns to Europe continuing to pretend to be different missing boys. Even though he has appeared on tv shows and documentaries where he admitted to his lies, the self proclaimed Chameleon of Nantes can't seem to stop himself. Does the impulse come from bad intentions or is he chasing the childhood he never had?
Next Adam (he/him) finishes PopeTalk™. This week we focus on the lives of Pope John Paul II (later Saint John Paul II), and Pope Benedict XVI as we move into the more modern era of popes and all the hatred they spew, the crimes they ignore, and the atrocities they encourage. They probably wouldn't be happy this episode is the first to come out during pride month. We both get pretty fired up in this ep.
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/08/11/the-chameleon-annals-of-crime-david-grann
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Bourdin
Adam's Sources:
- Saint John Paul II | Biography, Death, Miracles, Feast Day, & Facts | Britannica
- Pope John Paul II - Wikipedia
- Benedict XVI | Biography, Resignation, Legacy, & Facts | Britannica
- Pope Benedict XVI - Wikipedia
- Rules of Law (Regulae Iuris) | Encyclopedia.com
- National Catholic Reporter: Obituary of Pope John Paul II
- [ Footprints ] Pope John Paul II | Ammsa.com
- Pope Benedict XVI discusses condoms and the spread of HIV
- Do condoms work? | aidsmap
- The Role of the Churches | Facing History & Ourselves
- Magdalen laundries: a brief history of the institutions
- How Ireland Turned 'Fallen Women' Into Slaves
- Canadian researcher challenges Vatican's claim that its Indigenous artifacts were gifts | CBC News
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Our first ever multi-parter!
Adam (he/him) proves yet again that he is a nerd for the messed up activities of the church. Adam gives us a list so comprehensive, it needs two episodes to be properly appreciated. In this first part we are introduced to the Vatican and the countless times they've denied any wrongdoing or responsibility, we meet a few of the earlier men who held the title of pope and the horrible things that they either were directly involved in or turned a blind eye to. On our journey we touch on the acts of Pope Stephen VI, Pope Boniface VIII, Pope Leo X, Pope Paul IV, and Pope Pius XII.
Next Bec (they/them) tells us about the infamous Anna Delvey. Many of us know this story already, especially if you've seen the Netflix series Inventing Anna. Turns out, Adam has never seen it! So Bec gets to tell Adam every juicy detail of Anna's crimes and the reckless behaviour that led to a Shonda Rhimes production.
Adam's Sources:
- https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/p/Pope.htm
- https://www.catholic.com/audio/caf/what-popes-are-not
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stephen-VI-or-VII
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Boniface-VIII
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cum_nimis_absurdum
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leo-X
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-IV
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pius-XII
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/rules-law-regulae-iuris
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/who-is-anna-delvey-crime-timeline-schemes-netflix-inventing-anna
- https://www.thecut.com/article/how-anna-delvey-tricked-new-york.html
- Wiki
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Bec (they/them) gives us a history lesson about Charles Ponzi, the namesake of the Ponzi Scheme. Sometimes referred to as a pyramid scheme, either way, it spells financial trouble. We learn all about how this Italian immigrant took America by storm and what exactly makes this scheme illegal.
Then Adam (he/him) tells us about a couple who could very well be reality stars of today. Unfortunately, they were ahead of their time and their dramatics played out in the paper. Andre Riela (one of the many names of Anthony Macaluso) escapes to Paris and ends up meeting someone as dramatic as him, Madame Antoinette Sherri. The two head back to America eager to make waves, getting their name in the papers, becoming broadway legends, building famous party homes; these two live many lives and we are lucky enough to be taken along for the ride.
Bec's sources:
- https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1150332566
- Wiki
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-ponzi-we-trust-64016168/
Adam's Sources:
- The Audacious Tabloid Couple Who Scammed Their Way Into New York's High Society
- The Fascinating Madame Sherri |
- The Tombs - Wikipedia
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Adam (he/him) tells us about a queen of the con, big Bertha Schlesinger. Coming to America for a better life Bertha learns quickly that she has a taste for the finer things, but doesn't really feel like paying for anything. Luckily she can use her feminine charm to get others to foot the bill for her. A life shrouded in mystery, but the bits we do know are incredibly fascinating.
Next Bec (they/them) teaches us the true story behind the Stanford Prison Experiment. Did your psych teacher tell you all about a group of young men who were randomly assigned into roles of prisoners and guards? Today Bec is going to unravel the misinformation we have about this experiment, the steps and missteps of its creator Professor Zimbardo. Oh, and the lasting effects this social experiment has on our society today.
Adam's Sources:
- https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/big-bertha-heyman-the-confidence-queen/article_289d524f-7865-5b03-b344-8a7c6456ec99.html
- https://www.geriwalton.com/bertha-heyman-big-bertha-or-the-confidence-queen/
Bec's Sources:
- https://themindlab.co.uk/academy/epic-fails-what-can-we-learn-from-recently-debunked-psychology-studies/#:~:text=It%20turns%20out%20that%20the,only%20study%20to%20be%20debunked
- https://www.simplypsychology.org/zimbardo.html#:~:text=Because%20the%20guards%20and%20prisoners,study%20has%20low%20ecological%20validity
- Wiki
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Bec (they/them) takes us back to the 90's, and the most famous late night tv psychic Miss Cleo. Equipped with Miss Cleo's melodic invitation to "call me now", the Psychic Readers Network convinced thousands of people to reach out for cosmic support, but they weren't exactly crystal clear with how much they were actually charging callers. Some questions seem to remain unanswered though, like how culpable is Miss Cleo herself? And how much does she believe herself to be an authentic soothe sayer?
Next Adam (he/him) introduces us to Victor Lustig, a man so charismatic he tricked someone into thinking they were buying the Eiffel Tower ... twice. A man so comfortable with his con that he took it to the high seas. Travelling all over the world, and despite incredibly identifiable physical features, he was able to embody anyone he needed to, to get what he wanted from people, which was usually just lots and lots of money.
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/09/fashion/mens-style/hotline-psychic-miss-cleo-commercials.html
- https://people.com/tv/miss-cleo-how-a-tv-reporter-uncovered-psychic-scam/
- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-12-16/call-me-miss-cleo-documentary-takeaways
- https://www.advocate.com/politics/commentary/2006/09/25/miss-cleo-comes-out
- https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-apr-14-mn-37827-story.html
Adam's Sources:
- Smithsonian - The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower. Twice.
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Adam (he/him) tells us the (at first) horrifying story of Robert Smalls, born into slavery. But don't worry - it gets so much better. Listen along to hear about when Robert commandeers a boat in an effort to free himself and his family. Robert is not only a badass, but possibly the most gracious person we've ever covered.
Next Bec (they/them) returns us to the Swingin' 60s to teach us all about the 1972 Montreal Art Heist. The largest art theft in Canadian history? Never been solved? Dreams. Taking place in the middle of a tense time for the city and the world, three men somewhat successfully relieve the gallery of some very valuable pieces. And it turns out they were real chatty afterwards, so how have they never been caught?
Adam's Sources:
- Robert Smalls, from Escaped Slave to House of Representatives | African American History Blog | The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross
- The Robert Smalls House (U.S. National Park Service)
- The Wheel - the memory palace
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.artcrimeresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JAC-Fall-2010-eVersion-Final.pdf
- Wiki
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/trail-cold-50-years-montreal-art-theft-1.6573423
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Bec (they/them) takes us to the swingin' 60s: Rome, 1973. Paul Getty has been kidnapped. And despite coming from ludicrous amounts of money, he's having a hard time getting his ransom paid. Not knowing if he was in on the whole thing or not, his family drags their feet getting that rescue mission sorted. And even though Paul is eventually freed, he is never the same again.
Then Adam (he/him) tells us about the dumbest criminal, who started as an alleged "good" cop. Even though he was working a case that had their own surveillance set up, plus the cameras from a tv show, police officer Gareth Suffling exhibits a lot of questionable behaviour behind and in front of the camera.
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020706089.html
- https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a9173861/ -paul-getty-kidnapping/
- https://allthatsinteresting.com/ -paul-getty-iii-kidnapping
- https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/j-paul-getty-iii-exclusive-1974-interview-with-kidnapped-oil-heir-120637/
Adam's Sources:
- 24 Hours in Police Custody: What happened to corrupt police officer Gareth Suffling - Cambridgeshire Live
- How 24 Hours in Police Custody caught a corrupt copper red-handed
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Adam (he/him) tells us about a coin theft. You read that right: a coin. A group of debatably reckless thieves steals a loonie the size of a tire, and the weight of a panda. Are they giant Canada enthusiasts? Tune in to find out.
Next Bec (they/them) tells us the tale of a devious drag queen, and yes, this is an excuse to talk about Rupaul's Drag Race. Sherry Pie was living a double life, during the day growing and creating their drag persona, at night, pretending to be a casting director whose favourite note to actors is "less clothing".
Adam's Sources:
The Big Coin Heist | Hazlitt Bec's Sources:
- https://www.facebook.com/ben.shimkus/posts/10219364037879356
- https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/rupaul-drag-race-sherry-pie-catfish-joey-gugliemelli
- https://ew.com/tv/rupauls-drag-race-sherry-pie-disqualification-charity/
- https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/sherry-pie-disqualified-drag-race?bfsource=relatedmanual
- https://ew.com/tv/sherry-pie-tamron-hall-interview/
- https://www.vox.com/2020/3/7/21168226/rupaul-drag-race-disqualifies-sherry-pie-catfishing-sexual-harassment
- https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/sherry-pie-disqualified-rupaul-s-drag-race-finale-over-catfishing-n1151826
- https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/siblingrvalry/episodes/The-One-About-Sherry-Pie-ebk4eo
- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ebony-and-irony-danny-marandola/id1550044944?i=1000510735529
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Bec (they/them) tells us all about how John Darwin disappeared on his kayak but somehow became known as canoe man. John and his wife were under financial pressure, so he does the most soap opera thing he can think of; fakes his death to claim the insurance money and use that on even more purchases only to come back claiming amnesia!
Then Adam (he/him) tells us about some shady marketing strategies that are being fed to us without us even knowing! This is another ep where Adam gets real fired up as he bursts every childhood bubble you had about the environmental sciences you learned in school.
Bec's Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Darwin_disappearance_case
- https://web.archive.org/web/20071210151835/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1692989,00.html
- https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvn4zd/john-darwin-canoe-man-true-story
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/jul/23/canoe.ukcrime
Adam's Sources:
- The carbon footprint sham
- Why do oil companies care so much about your carbon footprint? | Grist
- BP popularised “carbon footprint” to greenwash and guilt-trip. Here's how.
- Big oil distracts from their carbon footprint by tricking you to focus on yours
- Big oil coined ‘carbon footprints’ to blame us for their greed. Keep them on the hook | Rebecca Solnit | The Guardian
- Why Are Oil-and-Gas Companies Developing Lesson Plans for Teachers? | The Walrus
- Who Is Making Money From CBP in Your State? – Sludge
- Ad showing black boy being fed like dog faces no action | CNN
- Ogilvy Apologizes for Shooting Malala Yousafzai in Mattress Ad
- This Transcript Shows How Trump's Border Camps Have Thrown A Top Advertising Firm Into Internal Crisis
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Pirates of the open road! Asshole comedians in writers rooms! This was the first episode in a while where we couldn't find a theme!
Adam (he/him) tells us about the deathbed confession of Davy "Robber" Lewis, when you're so good at what you do they make your nickname straight to the point. Davy tried to live a straight life, but the allure of heists and deception was too delicious. Seemingly living a seemingly double life of highwayman and, of course, familyman. At the end of his short life he shares the unbelievable stories from his adventures.
Then Bec (they/them) tells us about Hollywood's biggest asshole, Chevy Chase. From his start as a privileged rich kid, to working at National Lampoon, being on the original cast of Saturday Night Live, an illustrious film career in the 80's, to reinventing himself on Community. Through it all, he stayed true to his roots of being an insufferable, entitled white man.
Adam's Sources:
- The Confession of Davy “Robber” Lewis, 1820 — Abridged — 2020
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/donald-glover-and-dan-harmon-recall-chevy-chase-s-racist-comments-on-community/
- Joel McHale talking about Chevy Chase on Community on Larry King
- Zoom Community Table Read with Pedro Pascal
- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/chevy-chase-what-happened-to-the-funniest-man-in-america/GYTL3FJWXSAEQIQX55NPGUJCQI/#:~:text=He%20was%20diagnosed%20with%20alcohol,he%20decided%20to%20just%20quit.
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/community-chevy-chase_n_1393823
- https://www.gawker.com/5899097/hes-not-chevy-hes-an-asshole-a-history-of-chevy-chases-horrific-behavior
- https://deadline.com/2022/02/chevy-chase-doesnt-care-claims-jerk-community-1234932637/
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Do you like being tickled? Of course you don't, but could you like it for $1500? This is the dilemma Bec (they/them) takes us on as we explore the world of competitive tickling. Going through David Farrier's documentary "Tickled", we are introduced to a group of young boys who were often filming these videos under false pretences, they are desperate for a bit of cash and the people behind the production company Jane O'Brien Media takes advantage. The deeply internalized homophobia in this is nausiating. If anyone asks for the videos of them being tied down and tickled to be taken off of the internet, they are met with a wall of hate, often doxxed, and their personal lives ruined. All over tickling! And if they say it once, they say it a thousand times, it's not gay!
Next Adam (he/him) takes us to the circus! But don't get too excited, because he pulls back that white and red striped curtain and shows us how awful the whole thing really is. Why is P.T. Barnum sometimes remembered fondly? Is it because we now just associate him with Hugh Jackman? Probably. Get ready to have all romantic notions of circus life set straight. From his humble beginnings of using people and animals as objects to get himself money, to his peak popularity, where he used people and animals as objects to get himself money; we learn about possible arson crimes, what people were really saying about his acts and of course you can't forget the part where he used people and animal as objects to get himself money. You have never heard Adam so angry on a topic before!
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tickled-movie-david-farrier-tickling_n_5768203fe4b015db1bca0aa7
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K88xF9mOUjc
- https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/19-06-2017/life-after-the-tickle-kings-death
Adam's Sources:
- Contemporary New York Times article about the fire at Barnum's American Museum in 1865
- 150 Years Ago, a Fire in P.T. Barnum's Museum Boiled Two Whales Alive | Smart News
- P.T. Barnum Isn't the Hero the 'Greatest Showman' Wants You to Think | History| Smithsonian Magazine
- 150 Years Later: Who Burned Down P. T. Barnum’s American Museum? | ASHP/CML
- P. T. Barnum - Wikipedia
- Phineas Taylor Barnum, P.T. Barnum
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Did Meatloaf's ballad speak to you? Would you do anything for love? This is what Julian Buchwald was banking on when he and his young girlfriend Carolynne Watson were kidnapped and left to survive in the Australian outback. Adam (he/him) tells us all about how the pair were left by a supposed Satanic cult with only a backpack to survive. Julian thinks that the solution to their dilemma is to ... get married? Hmmmm this is a real men are going to men tale.
Then Bec (they/them) tells us about the life and crimes of Mother Teresa. Nobel Peace Prize winning Catholic saint. Early in her life Teresa knew she wanted to dedicate her life to the church, but does this perhaps once noble quest lead her to become a money hungry, entitled, hypocrite? You can decide. We seem to think it's a hard yes. Known for helping "the poorest of the poor" (just ask, she'd be the first to tell you) throughout her lifetime, the nun did receive criticism before her death in 1997, but not enough to stop her from becoming a household name and wrongly associated with selflessness, kindness and being pious.
Adam's Sources:
- Teen and Her Boyfriend Were Abducted by a Satanic Cult And Left In The Woods Or Were They?
- Gippsland man appeals kidnap sentence - ABC News
- Missing couple planned marriage at year's end
Bec's Sources:
- https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-dark-side-of-mother-teresa-b8b9f93df835
- https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/27/world/asia/mother-teresa-critic.html
- https://allthatsinteresting.com/mother-teresa-saint
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Wouldn't it be great if someone offered to wave a magic wand to make all of your problems go away? This is pretty much what Rose Marks, sometimes going by Joyce Michaels, offered to her desperate clients and Bec (they/them) tells us all about it. The matriarch of a criminal enterprise of fortune tellers, they somehow didn't foresee the years long investigation the FBI was running.
Then Adam (he/him) makes us super hungry for pastries as he talks about the Collins Street Bakery. We meet boring, bland Sandy Jenkins who decides he and his wife deserves a more lavish lifestyle than that of an accountant at a bakery. He discovers an oversight in the computer system and starts cutting himself quite a large piece of the pie. One car turns into several, frequent trips turn into private jets, flaunting lavish jewellery, and would you know it, none of it made him any more interesting, but it did get him charged with embezzlement.
Bec's Sources:
- Tori Telfer’s book Confident Women and Podcast episode Criminal Broads
- Wiki
Adam's Sources:
- Just Desserts - Texas Monthly
- The Sandy Jenkins Embezzlement Scandal | Collin Street Bakery
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
We inadvertently hit on an incredible theme of women using fake accents.
First Adam (he/him) gives us the timeline of how a Bostonian named Hillary Hayward-Thomas, raised in a home with parents who loved Spanish culture eventually became Hilaria Baldwin; wife to actor Alec Baldwin, and proven fake Spanish person. Adam takes us through every public fact that the world can't decide if they're upset over or not.
Did you know that for a couple of tense weeks mystery author Agatha Christie disappeared? Bec (they/them) tells us the real life tale that sounds like it's right out of the pages of her novels. Leaving in the middle of the night, an abandoned car on the side of the road, letters left behind. And the shocking tie between both stories? An alleged fake foreign accent. Did Agatha pull the original Gone Girl, or did something more sinister happen?
Adam's Sources:
- A complete timeline of Hilaria Baldwin's contradictory and misleading public life, and how it all blew up
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/books/agatha-christie-vanished-11-days-1926.html
- https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Curious-Disappearance-of-Agatha-Christie/
- https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/literary-musings/the-1926-disappearance-of-agatha-christie/
- https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/agatha-christie-disappearance-mystery-facts-poirot-miss-marple-detective/
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
This week Bec (they/them) give us a bit of an epic, which is pretty fitting since it all takes place on one of the most epic tv shows of all time. Elisabeth Finch landed her dream job writing for Grey's Anatomy season ten, she wasn't going to let something like bone cancer stop her from success. But tragedy continues to strike Elisabeth everywhere she goes, is it bad luck or a very vivid imagination and a need for attention?
Next Adam (he/him) teaches us that apparently white people have been pretending to be other races for much longer than you probably thought. Meet Archie Stansfield Belaney, but according to him, you can call him Grey Owl. After finding success in trapping, Archie has a change of heart and becomes an advocate for the wildlife he used to hunt. But what does it mean for all the valuable conservation work that Belaney did while he was in a racist disguise the whole time?
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/greys-anatomy-elisabeth-finch-truth-lies
- https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/greys-anatomy-elisabeth-finch-jennifer-beyer
- https://theankler.com/p/the-greys-anatomy-liar-confesses
Adam's Sources:
- Grey Owl - Wikipedia
- Grey Owl: Canada’s great conservationist and imposter - BBC News
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Adam (he/him) tells us about a woman who would do anything to relive her glory years. And by anything, obviously I mean assuming her teenage daughter's identity to join the cheerleading squad.
Next Bec (they/them) recounts the epic opponents. Nancy Kerrigan and Tony Harding were constantly being compared, and right before the 1994 Olympics an assault against Kerrigan would change both skaters lives forever.
Adam's Resources:
Why One Woman Pretended to Be a High-School Cheerleader - The Atlantic Bec's Resources:
The Price of Gold Documentary - Imdb
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Ever wanted to learn about the Salt Lake City straight edge scene?? Now you get to!
First Bec (they/them) introduces us to the Hipster Grifter, Kari Ferrell. A young girl from SLC who has a penchant for lying; from her health, to her job, to the very existence of bank accounts. Kari uses her feminine wiles to defraud a lot of young men out of a lot of money.
Next Adam (he/him) introduces us to another sort of grifter. Ferdinand Demara is what you may call book-smart, so book-smart in fact, that all he needs is to stay one chapter ahead in order to become a teacher, a doctor and even a surgeon! This story feels very much like Catch Me If You Can, but is status the motivation here? Or just a desire to live the most exciting life possible?
Bec's Sources:
https://observer.com/2009/04/the-hipster-grifter/
https://www.thecut.com/2022/05/kari-ferrell-hipster-grifter-comeback.html#:~:text=In%202008%2C%2021%2Dyear%2D,her%20and%20found%20the%20warrants.
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/hipster-grifter-kari-ferrell-speaks-jail-bad-checks/story?id=8552059
Adam's Sources:
- Fred Demara, the Great Imposter - HeadStuff
- Ferdinand Waldo Demara - Wikipedia
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Adam (he/him) returns us to the high seas. His story takes us to the Medici family in olden times Italy, one of the earliest art heists ever recorded and some piratesssss!!!! Yar might want to pop any seasickness pills yee have at the ready.
Next, Bec (they/them) takes us back to land to share the story or Rita Crundwell; comptroller, equestrian, embezzler. How does one woman steal literal millions of dollars from her work undetected for two decades, only to spend to all on horses? This is a wild story of a woman with brazen entitlement and a desire to live beyond her means. And if it wasn't for one co-worker seeing something they weren't meant to see, who's to say when or if she would've been caught.
Adam's Sources:
- Six of History's Most Incredible Art Heists
- 9 of the Most Brazen Art Thefts
- Paul Beneke - Wikipedia
- Anglo-Hanseatic War - Wikipedia
- Medici Bank - Wikipedia
- Hans Memling's The Last Judgment - the National Museum in Gdańsk
Bec's Sources:
Doc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXSZhKEddxI
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Bec (they/them) tells us about the very first child actor to hit it big in Hollywood! Working hard since he was a baby, Jackie Coogan starred in films with Charlie Chaplin, was the highest paid actor in Hollywood, and was the first to become successful from marketing himself. Unfortunately, his parents had other ideas of where his earnings should go.
Next Adam (he/him) tests his friendship with Bec by telling the scariest story that also happened in their own backyard! Home invasions, sleep watchers, let's just say you're going to want the lights on for this one.
Bec's resources:
https://medium.com/the-dustbin/the-story-of-actor-jackie-coogan-a-millionaire-child-who-was-beaten-to-the-ends-by-his-own-8d319ab9b02c
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/02/obituaries/jackie-coogan-child-star-of-films-dies-at-69.html
Wiki
Adam's resources:
- Encounters with The Sleep Watcher
- Still at large
- Police confirm photos taken in south end of Halifax
- Man acquitted in Halifax ‘sleepwatcher’ case will not have to obey peace bond in St. John’s
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Adam (he/him) starts us off on a real bummer of a tale. A twisted tale of wrongful convictions, forced confessions and a group of students who fancy themselves pretty smart investigators. Spoiler alert: they are not, and they go on to disrupt a lot of lives in the meantime.
Next Bec (they/them) tells us all about Rick Singer and his side door action to get undeserving rich kids into good schools. It's all going so well until it blows up in his face and we have the wire taps to prove e v e r y t h i n g.
Adam's Resources:
- Anthony Porter's Wikipedia
- Alstory Simon, freed from prison after wrongful conviction, spends his time in Greater Cleveland working to free others
Bec's Resources:
- Netflix Documentary "Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal"
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Quit playing games with my heart.
We are diving into Bec's (they/them) totally embarrassing obsession with boybands from the 90s, namely the bands created, managed and exploited by one Lou Perlman. Lou's entire life was a Ponzi scheme it seems, and even while creating culture defining bands, behind the scenes, he was ripping off every single person he came into contact with.
Then Adam (he/him) teaches us about the most petty palaeontologists in history. These two men take "frenemies" to a whole new level. Foiling one another at every turn, paying off locals and even going so far as to hinder the pursuit of scientific discovery all in the name of being able to say they were there first.
Help us reach our goal of 20 reviews on iTunes!!
Bec's Sources:
https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/celebrity-mugshots/lou-pearlman/
Documentary on Youtube
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/09/the-boy-band-con-lou-pearlman-story-youtube-documentary-nsync-backstreet-boys
Adam's Sources:
- The 20-Year Bone Wars That Changed History
- O.C. Marsh and E.D. Cope: A Rivalry
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Twitter fraud! Grand heists!
This week Bec (they/them) introduces us to Ryan Schultz, just an average twitter user and baseball writer with a dark hobby of harassing women online. But when he makes one too many women feel small, they fight back and expose Ryan's deepest secret yet.
Then Adam (he/him) tells us about a Canadian Danny Ocean. We make way too may Ocean's 11 references and giggle ourselves silly with every single one. Gerald Blanchard started his life as a criminal at a young age, starting with bottles of milk, but his ultimate masterpiece was stealing Empress Sisi's beloved jewels under everyone's noses.
Bec's Sources:
Twitter thread
https://deadspin.com/teen-girl-posed-for-8-years-as-married-man-to-write-abo-1820305588
Adam's Sources:
Art of the Steal: On the Trail of the World's Most Ingenious Thief
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
A week of some pretty tricky international ladies!
First Adam (he/him) takes us to beautiful Italy, where we get to meet another clairvoyant! Eusapia travels the world dazzling audiences with her otherworldly talents; how does she make that table levitate? How did she leave a mark on the table with nothing but her touch? Well, if you even so much as take a guess, Eusapia will happily tell you how she does it, and give you a plaster souvenir of her face for your trouble.
Next Bec (they/them) takes us to New Zealand where we meet Amy Bock, or is it Percival Redwood? Or is it the local school teacher who sent an entire family a set of coffins out of nowhere? Either way, the odd behaviour of this Aussie expat disturbed those around her until the day she died.
Help us reach our goal of 20 reviews on iTunes!!!
Adam's Sources:
- Becoming Eusapia: The rise of the “Diva of Scientists”
- Eusapia Palladino - Psi Encyclopedia
Bec's Sources:
https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-case-of-the-female-bridegroom/
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/black-sheep/story/2018670137/con-artist-the-story-of-amy-bock
Wiki
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
First Bec (they/them) takes us to Boston, the day after St. Patrick's Day. Unknown men dressed as cops take the opportunity of the distractions caused by the Irish celebrations to pull off the world's biggest art heist. Was it mastermind by the mob, or a stoned 25 year old?
Next Adam (he/him) tells us the story of the poor family de Védrines - poor only in luck, real rich with money cause they are aristocrats. Somehow average as all hell Thierry Tilly casts them all under a wild spell. Tune in to hear how one devious man uses his power of persuasion to take advantage of an entire family tree.
Bec's Sources:
https://www.gardnermuseum.org/about/theft-story
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Stewart_Gardner_Museum_theft
Adam's Sources:
Aristocrats and Demons | Vanity Fair by Michael Joseph Gross
ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: The Tilly Cult - Noble Blood | iHeart
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
This week Adam (he/him) dives right in and tells us all about the brave Mercy Smugglers. People who are unscrupulous in the good way! They risk everything to bring people life saving medicine, crossing boarders and engaging in truly dangerous activities all out of the goodness of their hearts.
Then Bec (they/them) who is so exhausted they barely remember recording this at all, tell you the tale of Princess Caraboo. A young woman lost, claiming to be a princess from a far off land, but is there a chance this newcomer is too good to be true?
Adam's Sources:
- 'Mercy Smugglers' Help Alleviate AIDS in Mexico - Los Angeles Times
- 'Dying to Survive': How a Leukemia Patient & an Indian Cancer Drug Rocked China
- The Seattle Nurse Who Risked Everything To Smuggle AIDS Drugs
Bec's Sources:
- https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-mysterious-princess-caraboo/
- https://www.geriwalton.com/mary-baker-princess-caraboo/
- Wikipedia
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
Who can you trust if not your own family, right? WRONG! We are here to teach you to trust absolutely no one. Sleep with one eye open, be suspicious of absolutely everyone you come into contact with. Okay, maybe these aren't great lessons, but this week we bring you two tales of some deep deceit that will leave you unsure that you can ever really know anybody.
First Bec (they/them) introduces us to Axton Betz-Hamilton, whose life turns upside down when her entire family becomes victims of identity fraud when she is a young kid. But Axton, being the bad ass she is, dedicates her life to figuring out who did this to them and becomes an award winning professor in the meantime. Truly badass.
Next Adam (he/him) tells us the story of the Bombshell Bandit; a double entendre for a hot lady who threatened explosive results if her demands weren't met. Sandeep Kaur is another incredibly hardworking woman who is willing to do anything to keep up with the life she wants, unfortunately that leads to some questionable, dangerous, and at times illegal decisions.
Sources:
Bec:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/books/review/the-less-people-know-about-us-axton-betz-hamilton.html
https://nypost.com/2019/10/12/i-lived-with-the-identity-thief-who-ruined-my-family-and-didnt-realize-until-it-was-too-late/
https://www.elle.com/culture/books/a29477523/axton-betz-hamilton-identity-theft-less-people-know-about-us-book/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4grClrmKpY
Adam:
The rise and fall of the Bombshell Bandit - BBC News
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
A word of warning for this episode: do not operate heavy machinery while listening because you will swoon HARD at Adam's Irish accent.
First Adam (he/him) takes us to Ireland with his magical lilt when he tells us about Grace O'Malley, The Pirate Queen. She is beyond bad ass; defending her clan on both land and sea, owning multiple castles and popping out several babies, sometimes simultaneously. She was so cool even Queen Elizabeth I wanted to sit with her in the cafeteria.
Next Bec (they/them) takes us to their very own hometown of London, Ontario with the tale of Betty Bigley. The only thing Bec and Betty have in common is that they got out of that town pretty quick. Betty was known by several different monikers, some self appointed, others given to her by the media when her nefarious activities came to light. Find out how she earned titles like "The Lady of the Hypnotic Eye" and "The High Priestess of Financial Fraud".
Adam's sources:
- Grace O'Malley, the Fearless 16th-Century Irish Pirate Queen Who Stood Up to the English | Mental Floss
- Grace O’Malley – Fearless Sea Captain – and Pirate!
- Grace O'Malley: The Pirate Queen Of Ireland – Biography & Facts | HistoryExtra
Bec's sources:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-high-priestess-of-fraudulent-finance-45/
https://www.grunge.com/419030/the-fake-heiress-who-conned-americas-banks-in-the-1800s/
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
We're gonna need you to start imagining bagpipes right about now.
Bec (they/them) starts us off in Scotland, where four Glaswegian students are ready to take back their nations history as they plan to steal the Stone of Scone...of Destiny.
Next Adam (he/him) introduces us to Sherri Papini, a kidnapping victim who is found wounded by the side of the road. Family and friends are thrilled at her return, until some of the details of her disappearance don't quite seem to add up.
Bec's resources:
https://ultimatehistoryproject.com/an-infamous-theft-the-stone-of-scone.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-63130942
Adam's resources:
- Missing California mother feared abducted while jogging - BBC News
- Abducted California woman Sherri Papini found after three weeks - BBC News
- FBI release sketches of Sherri Papini abduction suspects - BBC News
- 'The Vanishing Act': How Sherri Papini fooled investigators, family with phony kidnap plot - ABC News
- Sherri Papini: US woman who staged her own disappearance sentenced to 18 months - BBC News
Make sure to follow us on instagram @unscrupulouspod or send us an email at unscrupulouspod@gmail.com
DOUBLE DIGITS! We made it to episode 10! Pardon us as we scream (internally- so as to not peak the mic, we know terms now!)
First, Adam (he/him) tells us a terrifying and unsolved stalker story. Who is a huge fan of snail mail intimidation tactics. The watcher (self given name) wants the new tenants to know that he is never far and that he isn't happy with their changes to the house. Eeeeek. Solid spooky take for the end of October.
Bec (they/them) then takes us to the high seas, where we meet two women dressed as men who start the sexist and most terrifying gender bending throuple pirate crew you've ever heard of.
Adam's sources:
The Watcher: The True Story of the Haunting of 657 Boulevard by Reeves Wiedeman, republished in The Cut, originally published in New York magazine as “The Haunting of a Dream House,” by Reeves Wiedeman
Bec's sources:
https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-anne-bonny-mary-read-2136281
https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/anne-bonny-mary-read-female-pirates-lives-crimes/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/if-theres-a-man-among-ye-the-tale-of-pirate-queens-anne-bonny-and-mary-read-45576461/
Our last episode in single digits!
This week Bec (they/them) takes us to 18th Century Versailles, where history does Marie Antoinette dirty (once again) and wrongly associates her with in the Diamond Necklace Affair. All she did was say no to an obnoxious diamond necklace originally made for her father-in-law's mistress. Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy did the rest to drag Marie's name through the mud.
But we kinda like her.
Next Adam (he/him) introduces us to a modern day Robin Hood. Eddie Sandifier dedicated his life to his beliefs. Right before his death, he does the ultimate mic drop and admits to committing thefts. But he truly only gave to those in need. We love Eddie so much!!
Bec's Sources:
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1970/affair-of-the-diamond-necklace/
https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2021/02/10328513/confident-women-by-tori-telfer-book-excerpt-jeanne-st-remy
Adam's Sources:
- Mississippi gay rights advocate Eddie Sandifer dies
- Civil rights movement's 'Robin Hood' unmasked
- Sandifier: the Robin Hood of Civil Rights
- Jewel Thief Was The "Robin Hood" Of Gay Liberation - Queerty
- Eddie Sandifer, Jackson Free Press
- For more on the Sandifer House for HIV/AIDS patients, have a read of the 2018 article by Brian Gordon, also writing for the Jackson Free Press: Beyond Stigma: Helping the Jacksonians Others Reject | Jackson Free Press
- A lovely video featuring this lovely man, briefly telling just one of his 8 trillion amazing stories: Eddie Sandifer at the March on Washington FilmFest, 2014
This episode went off the railsssss. See what happens when tech issues cause us to go loopy and can't stop giggling. Jocko Blood!! ifkyk. We accidentally chose to cover very similar men, centuries apart.
First Adam (he/him) introduces us to Col. Thomas Blood, who after a life of bumbling through crime decides to bumble through an attempt of stealing the crown jewels. He befriends an unassuming guard just hoping to marry off his daughter.
Next Bec (they/them) takes us to this century where we meet another deceitful dude. Jeremy Wilson must have the best memory of all time because he has upwards of 27 identities he is operating under. So you think he'd be smarter about a trap left by the cops.
Adam's sources:
Irish adventurer “Colonel Blood” steals crown jewels - HISTORYColonel Blood and the theft of the Crown JewelsAttempt to steal the Crown Jewels - The National Archives
Thomas Blood - Wikipedia
Bec's sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/nyregion/jeremy-wilson-a-compulsive-con-man.html
https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/where-is-jeremy-wilson-from-generation-hustle-now-prison
This week Bec (they/them) tells us a wild story that no one knows but everyone should! Did you know John Lennon and Yoko Ono were flying around the world trying to find Yoko's kidnapped daughter? Well is it kidnapping when the person who took them is their father?! (the answer is yes) Oh, and he made her join a forest cult. Seriously, this story is nuts.
Next Adam (he/him) gives us THREE interesting tales of people who we applaud as heroes today but were technically going against "the man". if that man is a small, evil, moustached hitler.
Welcome to another wonderful week of misdeeds!
Adam (he/him) starts us off in Mexico where he tells us the story of the largest accidental radioactive contamination in the history of North America. And the worst part of this story is truly how easily it could be happening around us and we don't even know. Thanks Adam for unlocking a new fear for us all!
Next Bec (they/them) tells us the story of young Ukrainian student Artur Samarian, who loved America so much he pretended to be a minor and allowed himself to be adopted just to stay.
Adam's Resources:
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/01/science/nuclear-spill-at-juarez-looms-as-one-of-worst.html
https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-54429012
https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2020/07/the-widespread-nuclear-disaster-everyone-promptly-forgot-about/Bec's Resources:
https://www.gq.com/story/the-great-high-school-impostor
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5680329/The-story-high-school-impostor.html
Ooky Spooky season is upon us. So naturally Bec (they/them) had to start us off with a tale of sister's who spoke with spirts. The Fox sister's are credited with creating the Spiritualism movement, for good or for bad. Did they really talk to ghosts or were they just suffering from early arthritis?
Next Adam (he/him) gives us his most recent story to date- Ireland in the 80's. But it's not what you think! There isn't a single mention of Catholic vs Protestant; just a heavily hydrated hijacker who seems to think confusion is the best way to get what he wants. And boy, wait until you hear what it is that he wants.
Bec's Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_sisters
https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2016/11/04/in-the-joints-of-their-toes/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Margaret-Fox-and-Catherine-Fox
Adam's Resources:
Flashback 1981: Hijack of Aer Lingus flight - Independent.ie
RTÉ Archives | War and Conflict | Aer Lingus Flight EI 164 Hijacked
Looking at the 1981 'Fatima' hijacking
What Really Happened When An Ex-Monk Hijacked A Plane
If you feel like learning more about the Trappists - Trappists.org
WOW BONUS READING HOMEWORK THANKS ADAM: An interesting article about just how common these types of hijackings used to be. Written by Libby Nelson - The US once had more than 130 hijackings in 4 years. Here’s why they finally stopped. - Vox
This week Adam (he/him) takes us to sunny California to experience everyone's biggest fear: being buried alive. But this has the added horror of 26 small students and their kindly bus driver being kidnapped and again I say, BURIED ALIVE! oof. I can't breathe just typing it.
Next, Bec (they/them) tells us the story of the Hollywood Con Queen, a con artist so good they swindled hundreds of people from all over the world. All the while pretending to be some of the biggest women in Hollywood.
Adam's resources:
The ballad of the Cowchilla bus kidnapping by Kaleb Horton (https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/22570738/chowchilla-school-bus-kidnapping)
1976 Bus Kidnapping (https://www.cityofchowchilla.org/300/1976-Bus-Kidnapping)
Cowchilla bus kidnapping: Rare photos from one of the largest abductions in U.S. history (https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/chowchilla-bus-kidnapping-frederick-woods-rare-photos-from-one-of-the-largest-kidnappings-in-u-s-history)
Bec's resources:
https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/11/how-we-unmasked-the-hollywood-con-queen-suspect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Con_Queen_scam
Three might be company but for us it's a dream come true!
This week Bec (they/them) starts us off with a story of one mother's over zealous attempts to get her daughter on the cheerleading team. And find out, do we ever answer if the daughter even likes cheerleading to begin with? Wanda Holloway does everything she can to get her daughter on the squad, including considering the ultimate crime.
Then Adam finally tells us a story without death! We meet Forest Tucker, the coolest classiest criminal. We don't deserve him, but boy are we thankful for him. Forest lived such a wild life and we go through the ins and outs of it together.
Bec's resources:
https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/the-cheerleader-murder-plot/
Adam's resources:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/01/27/the-old-man-and-the-gun
https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/old-man-and-the-gun/
We are back for another episode! Don't mind us as we nerd out over our creative dreams coming true.
Join us this week when Adam (he/him) takes us in his way back machine to Massachusetts on the brink of the witch trials in Salem, so basically, real tense. Poor Mary Webster (not of Dictionary fame) is mistreated by everyone in town, even going so far as to beating her to "distract her" from magically making other citizens sick. Eventually the town goes too far, but they learn Mary Webster is a badass who can't be stopped.
Next, Bec (they/them) tells us of the Transy Book Heist, where four students try and steal priceless books from their University library. Big fans of classic caper flicks, the four hatch a plan to get rich quick by cooking up an elaborate scheme of their own. Let's just say, chaos and hi-jinx ensue.
Adam's Resources:
https://www.massreview.org/node/7575
https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/mary-webster-witch-hadley-survives-hanging/
http://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2020/12/mary-webster-half-hanged-witch-of-hadley.html?m=1
https://faculty.uml.edu//bmarshall/Mary%20Webster.htm
https://loadedliteraturepodcast.wordpress.com/2018/08/08/half-hanged-mary-by-margaret-atwood/ - full text of the poem "Half-Hanged Mary"
Bec's Sources:
https://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2015/02/transy-book-heist
It's happening! These two weirdos finally made a podcast and are hoping more than just their friends/family/chosen families will listen.
In episode 1 Bec (they/them) tells the sordid story of Lisa Nowak - or as the media chose to remember her, that lady astronaut who drove across the country wearing diapers. Hear all the details of this story and realize it's so much more than space diapers, but not much more than a love triangle with a man named Billy O.
Next Adam (he/him) takes us to France in the 1700s to a small town where a dude named Martin Guerre decides he's too cool for fatherhood and leaves town. A few years later he returns with his tail between his legs ready to start a new life. It's like a totally new Martin ... or maybe it's not Martin at all.
Sources:
Bec's sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/06/us/06cnd-astronaut.html
https://www.biography.com/news/lisa-nowak-lucy-in-the-sky
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2007-03-06-mnowak06-story.html
https://people.com/crime/astronaut-love-triangle-colleen-shipman-revisits-2007-attack-by-romantic-rival/
A peppering of Wikipedia
Adam's sources:
"The Return of Martin Guerre" by Natalie Zemon Davis