History's Greatest Crimes
🔎 Uncover the crimes that shaped history. From daring heists and political scandals to conspiracies and cover-ups, History’s Greatest Crimes takes you deep into the world’s most infamous criminal events. Hosted by two historians, Dr. Michael and Dr. Alana, each episode dissects a historical crime, revealing its impact on society, the people involved, and the larger forces at play.🎙️ Whether it’s the FBI break-in during the Ali-Frazier fight, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, or the Pentagon Papers, we go beyond the headlines to explore the context, the evidence, and the lasting consequences. With expert analysis, gripping storytelling, and a touch of s...
Episodes
The Gruesome Legend of Sawney Bean: Fact or Fiction?
The episode embarks on a harrowing exploration of the legend of Alexander Sawney Bean, a purported patriarch of a clan of cannibals in 16th century Scotland. This tale, steeped in horror, recounts how Bean and his family allegedly committed…
The Black Sox Scandal: A Betrayal of America's Pastime
The focal point of today's discussion revolves around the infamous Black Sox scandal, which emerged from the 1919 World Series, a pivotal event in the annals of American sports history. We transport our listeners to the electrifying atmosph…
The Rise and Fall of the Knights Templar: A Tale of Power and Betrayal
The narrative of the Knights Templar, an order initially established in the early 12th century to safeguard Christian pilgrims, serves as a poignant exploration of the interplay between piety and power, ultimately leading to their tragic do…
Justice or Political Theater? The Execution of the Rosenbergs
The narrative we explore today revolves around the harrowing tale of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed for espionage in 1953, becoming the first American civilians to face such a fate during peacetime. Their conviction stemmed f…
Barbarossa: The Red-Bearded Terror of the Mediterranean
The narrative of Barbarossa, a figure synonymous with naval supremacy in the 16th-century Mediterranean, unfolds as one of both ruthless ambition and strategic brilliance. Born Hizar in the Ottoman Empire, he rose to infamy as a feared pira…
The Rise and Fall of Machine Gun Kelly: A Crime Legend Unveiled
The narrative surrounding George Machine Gun Kelly, often heralded as a quintessential gangster of the 1930s, reveals a profound examination of myth-making amidst a nation in turmoil. We delve into the intricacies of his life, from his orig…
Inside the Mind of a Killer: John Wayne Gacy's Terrifying Legacy
The narrative of John Wayne Gacy, an American serial killer, encapsulates a profoundly disturbing juxtaposition of charm and malevolence. Gacy, a seemingly upstanding member of society, eluded detection while he orchestrated the abduction a…
Lusitania: A Passenger Ship or a Targeted Weapon?
The catastrophic sinking of the RMS Lusitania on May 7, 1915, serves as a poignant focal point for our discourse, representing not merely an act of war but a complex intersection of hubris, tragedy, and potential conspiracy. This ocean line…
From Tragedy to War: The Maine Incident Explained
The catastrophic explosion of the USS Maine on February 15, 1898, serves as the focal point of our discussion today, as we delve into the intricate circumstances surrounding this monumental event. Initially perceived as a tragic accident, t…
The Great Depression's Outlaws: Understanding Bonnie and Clyde
History's Greatest Crimes 🏛️🔪This episode delves into the intricate and tragic narrative of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, a couple whose exploits during the Great Depression have transcended mere historical documentation to become emble…
The Fiery Trial of Joan of Arc: Heresy or Martyrdom?
History's Greatest Crimes 🏛️🔪The execution of Joan of Arc on May 30, 1431, stands as a harrowing testament to the complexities of justice and power in 15th century France. Accused of heresy, witchcraft, and defying gender norms, this youn…
Democracy Overthrown: The Dark Legacy of Wilmington 1898
History's Greatest Crimes 🏛️🔪Democracy Overthrown: The Dark Legacy of Wilmington 1898The Wilmington coup of 1898 represents a chilling and unprecedented event in American history, characterized as the sole successful overthrow of a domest…
Episode 12: The Chilling Case of Lizzie Borden: Victim or Villain?
History's Greatest Crimes 🏛️🔪The Chilling Case of Lizzie Borden: Victim or Villain?Episode Description:Welcome to History's Greatest Crimes with your hosts, Michael and Alana, professional historians! 👋The episode delves into the infamou…
Episode 11: From Protest to Insurrection: The Story of the Whiskey Rebellion
History's Greatest Crimes 🏛️🔪From Protest to Insurrection: The Story of the Whiskey RebellionEpisode Description:The Whiskey Rebellion represents a significant early challenge to the authority of the fledgling United States government, e…
Episode 10: Oil, Bribes, and Betrayal: The Scandal That Shook America
Send us a textThe glittering facade of America's Roaring Twenties masked a political earthquake brewing beneath. After years of war and progressive reforms, President Warren G. Harding swept into office promising a "return to normalcy" that…
Episode 9: Holy Orders, Royal Rage: Canterbury's Most Notorious Murder
Send us a textA friendship shattered. A cathedral desecrated. A martyrdom that forever changed England.The story of Thomas Becket and King Henry II begins with an extraordinary bond between an ambitious clerk and a powerful monarch who shar…
Episode 8: Madame LaLaurie: New Orleans' Most Notorious Slave Owner
Send us a textThe elegant Royal Street mansion stood as a monument to wealth and sophistication in 1830s New Orleans, its mistress celebrated for lavish parties that drew the city's elite. Behind this veneer of high society refinement lurke…
Episode 7: Blood on Easter Sunday: The Colfax Massacre
Send us a textEaster Sunday 1873 in Colfax, Louisiana became the site of one of America's deadliest acts of racial violence when a white paramilitary group led by Christopher Columbus Nash slaughtered over 150 Black Americans. Armed with ri…
Episode 6: Stolen Identity: The Astonishing Tale of 16th-Century Deception
Send us a textThe astonishing case of Martin Guerre remains one of history's most captivating instances of deception and mistaken identity. When Martin Guerre suddenly abandoned his wife Bertrande and young son in 16th century rural France,…
Episode 5: Dressed to Kill: How a Flashy Suit Sparked The Zoot Suit Riot
Send us a textFashion isn't typically a life-threatening choice, but in the summer of 1943 Los Angeles, wearing a zoot suit could get you assaulted in the street. When military servicemen and civilians began violently stripping Mexican-Amer…
Episode 4: Bootleggers, Tommy Guns, and Bad Timing: The St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Send us a textA Chicago garage. Seven men against a wall. The rat-tat-tat of Thompson submachine guns. By the time the smoke cleared on Valentine's Day 1929, six were dead, one was dying, and America would never view organized crime the sam…
Episode 3: Democracy in the Dark: COINTELRPO and The 1971 Break-In That Changed America
Send us a textWe uncover the shocking story of the 1971 FBI office break-in that exposed COINTELPRO, a secret program that surveilled and disrupted American citizens exercising their constitutional rights.• Eight ordinary citizens formed th…
Episode 2: Secrets and Lies: The Pentagon Papers Scandal
Send us a textThe Pentagon Papers leak stands as one of history's most consequential government exposés – a bombshell revelation that unraveled decades of deception and ultimately contributed to a president's downfall.When Defense Secretary…
Episode 1: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire – A Tragedy That Changed America
History's Greatest Crimes 🏛️🔪Episode 1: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire – A Tragedy That Changed America 🕵️‍♀️🔍Episode Description:On March 25, 1911, flames engulfed the upper floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City. Wit…
Trailer: History's Greatest Crimes
Send us a textTrailer Episode Description for History’s Greatest CrimesWelcome to History’s Greatest Crimes, where professional historians Michael and Alana take you deep into the most fascinating and shocking crimes in history. In this int…