History

Michael Jackson allegations sit at the centre of his legacy. We all know what we are talking about. In this episode, we examine the Chandler case that first ignited the scrutiny which would come ...

Michael Jackson became the most famous performer on earth, but how was the King of Pop actually made? Today, we trace his journey from family pressure and child stardom to Motown polish and a rel...

In the 1960s, NASA-funded experiments led by neuroscientist John C. Lilly saw researcher Margaret Howe Lovatt live with a bottlenose dolphin named Peter in a flooded house to try to teach him hum...

Julia Child goes from OSS odd-jobs (including shark repellent) to a late-blooming Paris obsession that turns into Le Cordon Bleu, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and TV immortality on The Fr...

The life and crimes of H. H. Holmes, the man who engineered a building into a vessel of murder behind the scenes of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. From fraud to murder, and the myth versus realit...

Biosphere 2 was meant to be a closed ecosystem proving humans could survive under glass, until an oxygen crisis forced secret fixes and triggered a spectacular public meltdown over trust, control...

A young reporter weaponises performance to reveal what happens when society locks people away and calls it care. Then she flips the whole enterprise into a global spectacle, racing the world itse...

A four-year-old vanishes in Louisiana and reappears under suspiciously perfect circumstances, sparking a century-long battle over identity and truth. This episode unravels the contradictions, con...

Two rival palaeontologists wage a reckless scientific arms race that transforms dinosaur history. This episode reveals how sabotage, obsession, and discovery collided in the infamous Bone Wars.

A failed explosion beneath Parliament becomes a national legend of treason, torture, and rebellion. We uncover the real Guy Fawkes and the events that shaped Britain’s enduring Bonfire Night ritu...

A reality show convinces contestants they’ve been launched into space, pulling off the most audacious hoax in British TV history. We explore how producers engineered the illusion—and why the part...

Diana’s final year unfolds under global scrutiny, torn between private love and public myth. This episode explores her relationship with Dodi Fayed, the pressure of the paparazzi, and the fatal n...

A viral campaign promises to stop Joseph Kony but collapses under scandal and backlash. We examine how Kony 2012 captivated the world—and why it ultimately failed to create real change.

Diana’s marriage to Charles unravels amid affairs, bulimia, and royal expectations, transforming her into a global icon of defiance. This episode uncovers the scandals and struggles that shaped h...

A fairy-tale romance begins to crumble as Diana enters a world of scrutiny, isolation, and impossible expectations. We explore her early life, her engagement to Charles, and the hidden struggles ...

In this episode of the Compendium, we’re once again clutching our pearls as I tell Adam all about the tumultuous saga behind the House of Gucci. From the ambitious beginnings of Guccio Gucci to t...

In this episode of the Compendium, we diving back into the audacious tale where eight Belgian nuns orchestrate an unlikely escape from a life of stringent spiritual commitments to chase a dream o...

This episode examines the Chernobyl disaster, focusing on the explosion of Reactor 4, the subsequent containment efforts, and the enduring impact on people and the environment.

An exploration of the 1973 Acali Experiment, where Santiago Genovés's attempt to study human aggression on a raft led to unexpected insights into cooperation and peace.

This episode explores the true story of Stella Liebeck's lawsuit against McDonald's, and the misconceptions surrounding the case and within the broader context of American tort reform and corpora...