
The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things
A weekly variety podcast giving you just enough information on a topic to stand your ground at any social gathering. We explore stories from the realms of true crime, history, and incredible people.
Episodes
106 episodes
The Pizza Bomber Heist: The Astonishing Story of Brian Wells and the Collar Bomb Conspiracy
In this episode of The Compendium, I tell Adam the horrifying yet intriguing case of the Pizza Bomber Heist. On August 28, 2003, Brian Wells, a pizza delivery driver in Erie, Pennsylvania, was coerced into robbing a PNC Bank with a bom...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 106
•
1:08:15

Sixto Rodriguez: The Story of an Unknown Musician who Inspired a Revolution
Today we uncover the incredible true story of Sixto Rodriguez, the Detroit musician who unknowingly became a South African icon who helped spark a revolution. His album, Cold Fact, flopped in the U.S. but became a protest anthem agains...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 105
•
1:14:07

Chris Watts: Inside the Mind of a Family Annihilator and the Depth of Betrayal
In this episode of the Compendium, Chris Watts stands at the center of a chilling American Murder that captivated the world in 2018. We’ll find out how the Watt Family Murders Unfolded, from Shanann Watts’ life in Frederick, Colorado, to the ap...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 104
•
1:08:38

The Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi Pt. 2
In this second part of The Compendium's exploration of Emanuela Orlandi's mysterious disappearance, we uncover even darker secrets surrounding the Vatican, Pope John Paul II, and the Mafia. From shocking testimonies of key witnesses to the reve...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 103
•
58:45

The Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi Pt. 1
In this part 1 episode of The Compendium, we unravel the mystery of the strange and mysterious disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi. Todays story takes us into the heart of Vatican City, where 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi disappeared with...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 102
•
1:00:40

Chaos: Charles Manson and the Manson Murders
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 his cult of devoted followers. With his de...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 101
•
1:17:38

Last Breath: The True Story of Chris Lemons' Near-Death Experience in the North Sea
In this episode of The Compendium, we uncover the true story of Chris Lemmon’s near-death experience in the North Sea—a survival tale that defies belief. In 2012, Chris, a seasoned saturation diver, was carrying out routine maintenance work 300...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 100
•
43:03

Gabby Petito: The Van Life Dream That Ended in Tragedy
In this episode of The Compendium, we explore the heartbreaking story of Gabby Petito, a young woman whose dream of van life with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, turned into a nightmare. What started as an idyllic road trip across America quickly s...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 99
•
1:09:42

Survival at Sea: The Harrowing Tale of the Trashman Yacht Sinking
In this episode of The Compendium, we’re telling you guys about the The Harrowing Tale of the Trashman Yacht Sinking. What began as a routine yacht delivery across the Atlantic turned into an unthinkable nightmare. Today you’ll hear ab...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 98
•
58:36

Belle Gibson: The Fake Cancer Survivor Who Built a Wellness Empire
In this episode of The Compendium, we tell you about the jaw-dropping true story behind Netflix’s new mini series Apple Cider Vinegar. Belle Gibson’s real-life scandal is dubbed the woman who fooled the world and shook up the entire wellness in...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 97
•
1:14:46

Tania Head: 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, heartbreaking details of her escape fro...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 96
•
1:04:24

Anish Kapoor vs Stuart Semple: The Art World’s Pettiest 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 brightest pink, and a feud that rocked ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 95
•
46:27

Billion Dollar Banquet: How One Extravagant Party Sparked the Iranian Revolution
In this episode of The Compendium, we explore the Billion-Dollar Banquet, the Shah of Iran's lavish event that celebrated the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire. Dive into the opulence of the world's most expensive party, hosted in Perse...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 94
•
1:10:56

Jerry Springer: Behind the Scenes of TV’s Most Famous Fights
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, we uncover the untold stories behind th...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 93
•
1:06:40

Terminal Man: The Refugee who waited at an Airport for 18 Years
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 de Gaulle Airport for 18 years, Mehran, k...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 92
•
51:27

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 and limb filming a "ferocious comedy" star...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 91
•
1:06:44

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 tragedy. Learn how a flawed O-ring caused the spa...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 90
•
1:15:11

The Shark Arm Murder: When a Tiger Shark Spilled a Killer’s Secret
In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into imfamous The Shark Arm Murder, one of Australia’s most bizarre and unsolved mysteries. When a tiger shark at Coogee Aquarium vomited up a human arm in 1935, it set off a true cri...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 89
•
46:55

Milli Vanilli: The Real Story Behind Greatest Lip-Sync Scandal in Music History
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". Their stunning looks captivated a genera...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 88
•
1:03:44

Imelda Marcos: Corruption, Power, & 6,000 Pairs of Shoes
In this episode of the Compendium, it's shoes, glorious shoes, the astonishing life of Imelda Marcos, the first lady of the Philippines known for her opulent lifestyle and a staggering number of shoes. But there's also a dark side to Imelda. We...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 87
•
1:14:40

Sex Cult: The Story of Bhagwan Rajneesh and His Sex Cult’s Bioterror Plot to Take Over Oregon
In this episode of the Compendium, we uncover how the Sex Cult led by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, also known as the Osho movement, nearly took over Antelope, Oregon. We explore the rise of Rajneeshpuram, the Rajneeshee cult's transformation, and Ma...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 86
•
1:17:15

Inside Scientology: David Miscavige and The Vanishing of Shelly Miscavige
In this episode of the Compendium, we go Inside Scientology to explore the mysterious vanishing of Shelly Miscavige, wife of David Miscavige, and the ongoing speculation surrounding her disappearance. We discuss the power dynamics at p...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 85
•
1:22:37

The Monica Lewinsky Scandal: A “Vast Right Wing Conspiracy” of Secrets, Lies, and Political Agendas
In this episode of The Compendium, we explore how the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal extended beyond a private affair between President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. It became part of a broader effort, with some suggesting it was a "vast...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 84
•
1:48:51

The Exorcism of Roland Doe: The True Story Behind The Exorcist
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 exorcism story recounts the c...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 83
•
1:18:27

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 key roles in the infamous art forgery scandal th...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 82
•
1:17:45
