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Browse our episodes celebrating the wild history of Pop Cutlure, or search by title or episode number.
Marilyn Monroe: Dark History of How Hollywood Built and Broke an Icon
The story of Marilyn Monroe began unassumingly, with a shy, anxious girl known simply as Norma Jean. Out of a brutal childhood, Hollywood constructed the blonde bombshell: a persona shaped by dam...
Biosphere 2: Weird History of a Sealed World That Ran Out of Oxygen
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...
Space Cadets: Famous Hoaxes and the Reality TV Fake Space Mission
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...
Ed Gein: The True Story Behind Movies, Murder and Hollywood Nightmares
A quiet man from rural Wisconsin becomes the blueprint for Hollywood’s darkest nightmares. We uncover the true story behind Ed Gein’s crimes and the films inspired by his chilling legacy.
OJ Simpson: Famous Trials, Celebrity Scandals and the Trial of the Century
In this episode we dive into the gripping and controversial O.J. Simpson trial, from the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman to the white Bronco chase and the infamous glove. They unp...
The Acali Experiment: Weird History of the Sex Raft Human Behaviour Study
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.
McDonald's Hot Coffee Case: Famous Trials, Corporate Negligence and the Truth
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...
Secret Mall Apartment: Strange True Stories from the Artists Who Lived in a Mall
In this episode of the Compendium we explore the incredibly wholesome story of Michael Townsend, the artist who secretly lived in Mall for four years. After finding himself evicted from his home ...
Balloon Boy Hoax: Famous Hoaxes and the Viral Media Circus That Spiralled
In this episode of The Compendium, we’re unpacking the Balloon Boy Hoax, the bizarre moment in 2009 when the world was glued to their screens, watching a silver helium balloon soar across the Col...
Chaos: Charles Manson, Cult Stories and the True Crime Behind Helter Skelter
In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into one of the most disturbing true crime stories in history—how Helter Skelter, a Beatles song, became the twisted manifesto for Charles Manson and hi...
Tania Head: Hoax Story Behind the 9/11 Survivor Who Wasn’t There
In this episode of The Compendium, we uncover the crazy story of Tania Head: the 9/11 survivor who wasn’t there. Once considered a symbol of resilience, Tania captivated the world with her vivid,...
Anish Kapoor vs Stuart Semple: Art Scandal Behind Vantablack and the Pinkest Pink Feud
In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into the hilarious and dramatic saga of Anish Kapoor vs Stuart Semple: The Art World’s Pettiest Feud. It’s a story about the world’s blackest black, the...
Jerry Springer: Media Scandals, Talk Show Fights and Trash TV History
In this episode of The Compendium, we explore the fascinating and chaotic world of Jerry Springer. From his beginnings as a politician to his rise as the controversial king of daytime television,...
Terminal Man: True Story Behind Sir Alfred the Man from the Movie
In this episode of The Compendium, we uncover the unbelievable story of The Terminal Man, Mehran Karimi Nasseri, the inspiration behind Spielberg’s 2004 movie "The Terminal". Trapped in Charles d...
Roar: The Story of the Most Dangerous Film Ever Made
In this episode of The Compendium, we explore the chaotic legacy of Roar, the most dangerous movie ever made. Find out how Tippi Hedren, Noel Marshall, and a young Melanie Griffith risked life an...
The Challenger Disaster: Christa McAuliffe’s Legacy Beyond the Space Shuttle Explosion
In this episode of the Compendium, we are transporting back to 1986 to explore the Challenger Disaster. learn about Christa McAuliffe and her dream that turned into a heartbreaking space shuttle ...
Milli Vanilli: Music Scandal Behind Pop’s Greatest Lip-Sync Disaster Ever
In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into the story of Milli Vanilli, the duo that captivated the world with their catchy hits like “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” and “Girl You Know It's True". ...
The Exorcism of Roland Doe: True Story Behind the Movie and Catholic Possession
In this episode of The Compendium, we are diving head first into The Exorcism of Roland Doe, the terrifying true story behind The Exorcist movie. That's right, it was real! This real-life exorcis...
Knoedler Gallery Scandal: The Greatest Art Fraud of the Century
In this episode of the Compendium, we explore the Knoedler Gallery Scandal, a tale of deception that rocked the art world. We dive into how Glafira Rosales, Pei-Shen Qian, and Ann Freedman played...
Patty Hearst: From Kidnapped Heiress to America’s Most Wanted Fugitive
In this episode of the Compendium, we unravel the astonishing story of Patty Hearst, the kidnapped heiress who shocked the world by becoming one of America’s most wanted fugitives. Discover how P...