Swindled
Utilizes narrative storytelling, archival audio, and immersive soundscapes to explore true stories of white-collar criminals, con artists, and corporate evil. From corruption and fraud to Ponzi schemes and environmental disasters, these financially motivated crimes have shaped our world in unimaginable ways. All in the name of greed.Become a ValuedListener™ at ValuedListener.com
Episodes
The Death Trap (Ride the Ducks Intl.)
A tourism industry's ugly past is revealed after a "duck boat" sinks on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, during a storm. Prelude: The sinking of Miss Majestic in Hot Springs, Arkansas. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECO…
The Charade (Scott W. Rothstein)
A Fort Lauderdale lawyer's ostentatious lifestyle is supported by the largest Ponzi scheme in Florida history. Prelude: The body of attorney Melissa Britt Lewis is found in a Florida canal. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECO…
Rerun: The Inferno (The Station nightclub fire)
Originally published September 27, 2021. Incompetence and negligence lead to a devastating loss of life at a concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Prelude: A fight in the E2 nightclub in Chicago triggers a deadly stampede. –––-–----------…
The White Knight (eBay)
A bizarre and sinister harassment campaign targeting a married couple in Massachusetts is linked to executives at one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies. Prelude: A content creator orchestrates a grievance-driven attack on YouTube'…
The Baby Heaven (Camp Lejeune)
An estimated one million people are exposed to decades of toxic water contamination at a U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina, leading to serious health issues, cover-ups, and endless legal battles for justice. Prelude: A mysterious le…
The Reporter (Jeff German)
An investigative journalist is murdered in an act of retaliation by a Clark County elected official accused of misconduct. Prelude: The mysterious death of Las Vegas casino heir, Ted Binion. –––-–---------------------------------------- BEC…
Rerun: The Messenger (Kevin Trudeau)
Originally published April 30, 2023. A series of infomercials lands a TV pitchman in federal prison. Prelude: The founder of Hooked on Phonics is criticized over dubious advertising claims before he settles a sexual assault lawsuit with hi…
The Pinto (Ford Motor Company)
An American automotive company is charged with reckless homicide related to the defective design of a popular car.Prelude: Toyota is held responsible for the ghastly deaths of three sisters.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOM…
The Acquisition (Charlie Javice)
The founder of a fintech company is accused of defrauding JPMorgan Chase by falsifying customer data to secure a $175 million acquisition deal.Prelude: Joanna Smith-Griffin's rising startup is built on lies.–––-–----------------------------…
The Warlord (Kony 2012)
A viral video sparks accusations of charity fraud and other improprieties while exposing a potentially much darker truth.Prelude: Efforts to neutralize a brutal warlord in central Africa are unsuccessful.–––-–-------------------------------…
The Derailment (East Palestine, OH)
A train derailment in Ohio caused by corporate greed leads to widespread environmental contamination, conspiracy, and political mudslinging.Prelude: A train derailment in Paulsboro, New Jersey, raises concerns about rail transportation safe…
Bonus: The Fund (Darren Berg)
The Pacific Northwest's "mini Madoff" escapes prison after being convicted of operating a $140 million Ponzi scheme.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyApple PodcastsPatreon–––-–----------------------…
The Descent (OceanGate)
An experimental deep-sea submersible disappears during an expedition to the Titanic shipwreck. Prelude: Legendary explorer Steve Fossett disappears during a casual plane ride.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTE…
The Magic Pill (Fen-Phen)
A trendy new diet drug combination subjects millions of users to serious health effects, resulting in a monumental legal battle. Prelude: Cancer concerns force Belviq, a popular diet drug, to be withdrawn from the marketplace.–––-–---------…
The Prince (Joel Morehu-Barlow)
A government employee posing as a Tahitian prince commits the largest public sector fraud in Queensland history. Prelude: The catastrophic implementation of Queensland Health's new payroll system.–––-–---------------------------------------…
The Airliner (ValuJet)
A budget airline's penny-pinching strategy is examined after one of its planes crashes in the Florida Everglades. Prelude: Allegiant Air's safety history is called into question after a rash of concerning incidents.–––-–--------------------…
The Juggalos (ICP v. FBI)
A "quintessential" civil rights battle ignites when fans of the much-maligned rap group Insane Clown Posse are officially classified as a "street gang" by the federal government. Prelude: Two Juggalos are charged with the murder of a man in…
The Bling Bishop (Lamor Whitehead)
A flashy Brooklyn pastor finds himself in the media spotlight due to his current lifestyle and criminal past. Prelude: An unprovoked murder on the New York subway.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyA…
The Fungus (New England Compounding Center)
A compounding pharmacy's attempt to maximize revenue leads to a devastating public health crisis. Prelude: Pharmakon Pharmaceuticals ships overly-potent medication to hospitals, including a neonatal intensive care unit.–––-–----------------…
Bonus: The Predator (Nate Holzapfel)
A former Shark Tank contestant’s fraud spree leaves a trail of destruction.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyApple PodcastsPatreon–––-–----------------------------------------DONATE: SwindledPodcast…
Bonus: The Studio (Carissa Carpenter)
A proposal to build a massive movie studio in Northern California signals the end of a 17-year-old scheme.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyApple PodcastsPatreon–––-–--------------------------------…
The Satan Seller (Mike Warnke)
A reformed Satanic priest becomes America's most prominent Christian comedian and authority on the occult. Prelude: Cassette recordings of John Todd's conspiratorial seminars spread through Evangelical communities.–––-–---------------------…
The Sugarpit (Indiana State Fair stage collapse)
Dedicated fans of country band Sugarland are crushed when a stage collapses during a storm at the Indiana State Fair. Prelude: A gust of wind destroys the stage at Ottawa Bluesfest while Cheap Trick performs.–––-–---------------------------…
The Embattled (Jasiel Correia)
The arrest of Fall River's 23-year-old mayor ignites a political fiasco. Prelude: A popular Massachusetts State Senator is convicted of bribery.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyApple PodcastsPatreo…
The Mess (Eric C. Conn)
The largest disability fraud case in United States history is linked to a flamboyant lawyer in a small Kentucky town. Prelude: The history and abuse of Social Security Disability Insurance.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME…
The Machine (Tyson Foods)
A multinational meat processing company wreaks havoc on animals and people in pursuit of profits. Prelude: Cody Easterday's $233 million "ghost cattle" scheme.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyApple…
The Commander (Bobby C. Thompson)
The eccentric director of a veterans charity goes on the run after being exposed as a fraud. Prelude: The downfall of a county commissioner in Florida.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyApple Podcast…
The Technology (Real Water)
A Nevada-based alkaline water company owned by a local politician is blamed for an outbreak of serious illnesses. Prelude: The events surrounding a Nevada state senator's resignation.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VAL…
The Tornado (Kim Neiman)
A village clerk in Nebraska leads the charge to rebuild after a catastrophic tornado and becomes the focal point of an international mystery. Prelude: Twin tornadoes devastate Pilger, Nebraska.–––-–----------------------------------------BU…
Rerun: The Ghost Writer (Anthony Godby Johnson)
A critically ill teenager writes a best-selling book about his abusive childhood. Prelude: New Horizons Youth Ministry opens a child reform program overseas.Originally published July 18, 2021.–––-–----------------------------------------PAT…
Rerun: The Brand (Procter & Gamble)
A multinational consumer goods corporation finds itself mired in controversy. Prelude: The Fenholloway River is classified as an "industrial waterway."Originally published June 20, 2021.–––-–----------------------------------------PATREON: …
Rerun: The Treatment (Bayer AG)
A multinational pharmaceutical company with a dark past becomes the central figure of a contaminated blood product crisis. Prelude: Ryan White is banned from school after contracting HIV.Originally published August 16, 2020.–––-–-----------…
The Monopoly (Pacific Gas & Electric)
A utility company's neglected equipment ignites the deadliest wildfire in California history. Prelude: A natural gas leak destroys a neighborhood in San Bruno.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyApple…
The Kepone Shakes (Life Science Products)
The manufacturer of a persistent pesticide endangers the people and environment of Hopewell, Virginia. Prelude: Two islands in the French West Indies are contaminated with chlordecone.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VA…
The Nose Doctor (Mark Weinberger)
A renowned sinus surgeon disappears after malpractice allegations surface. Prelude: Philip and Marcella Gabriele are accused of performing unnecessary eye surgeries.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™Spotif…
The Other Woman (Vicki Morgan)
A mistress' 12-year-long affair with a wealthy department store heir ends in violence and conspiracy. Prelude: The collapse of Bernie Cornfeld's financial empire.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyAp…
Bonus: The Oven (Bumble Bee Foods)
A worker (Jose Melena) at a canned tuna factory becomes trapped in an industrial oven and burns to death. A worker (Alan Catterall) at a plastic kayak company becomes trapped in an industrial oven and burns to death. Two workers (Ian Ericks…
The Missing (Melissa Caddick)
A Sydney-based financial advisor disappears hours after federal agents raided her house. Prelude: $60 million is lost as a result of Brad Sherwin's Ponzi scheme.–––-–----------------------------------------BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™SpotifyApp…
The Side Door (Operation Varsity Blues)
Rick Singer is exposed as the leader of a widespread college admissions bribery conspiracy. Prelude: A digital bank and Swiss asset manager work together to conceal dozens of illegal pump-and-dump stock schemes.–––-–------------------------…
The Skywalks (Hyatt Regency disaster)
More than one hundred people are killed when two overhead walkways collapse in the lobby of a Kansas City hotel. Prelude: The failure of a much-needed pedestrian bridge at Florida International University.–––-–------------------------------…