Stephen Weinberg: The Man With So Many A...

<p>Frédéric Bourdin, nicknamed "The Chameleon" by the media, began his impersonations as a child, and claimed to have assumed between 40 to 500 false identities, some of which were actual missing people children and teens.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href=" ... Show More

<p>It was unlikely she would rule England, but she Elizabeth Tudor did ascend to the throne, and became Queen Elizabeth I. There are often conspiracy theories when you're talking about royalty. But, was Queen Elizabeth I swapped with a boy when she was a child? Holly and Maria ta ... Show More

<p>A False Dmitry refers to all the individuals who claimed to be Dmitry Ivanovich, son of Tsar Ivan IV, and heir to the Russian throne. Between 1605 and 1612, three men made the claim. Only one made it to the throne, but all met violent ends.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad ... Show More

He wanted a life of opulence and success as a doctor, but failed his way through three different residency programs. So Anthony Pignataro did the next best thing. He took on plastic surgery as an unqualified surgeon... and the results would be deadly. Learn more about your ad cho ... Show More

He was not a real rock star but Robb TaLLLLL University played one in his fantasies. In reality, Mr. University lacked star power or musical talent. Kinda a shame, but he was one helluva bank scammer. He made millions as a pretend rock star. Too bad no one really dreams of growin ... Show More

Prestige, profit, and private practice were the three things that Dr. Anthony Pignataro wanted most. When he couldn't obtain it on his own merit, he forged documents to help achieve his dreams. But not even a patient's death or a jail sentence was enough to reform this con man. L ... Show More

Born in Germany in the 1960s, Christian Gerhartsreiter had dreams of going to America...conning his way when necessary to get there. He would assume a number of identities, including an exchange student and a long-lost relative of European nobility. But his greatest deception was ... Show More

The Tony Award-winning actor, director, and podcaster goes deep with TWIHI about everything from his traumatic childhood and dashed dreams of becoming a magician to the Broadway show that made him want to act and his recollections of Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince. 

In the late 1970s, Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter leaves his small Bavarian village in pursuit of the American dream. He enrolls in high school in Connecticut and tries to impress his classmates with fake accents, fancy suits, and grandiose stories. Over the years, he spins even b ... Show More

Edgar Laplante tried it all: pretending to be a Native American chief, pretending to be a famous athlete, pretending to be a war hero, pretending to be in love with a noblewoman. While not always a very convincing imposter, he was weirdly successful in his relentless career of co ... Show More

Michael Sabo was a classic con man. He posed as a respectable doctor, he wrote phony checks, he stole coins, and he misled trusting people. And what does a classic con man do after getting caught? Turn that grifter knowledge into another con: consulting.See omnystudio.com/listene ... Show More

Gerald Barnbaum was a conman who spent decades posing as a medical doctor despite never being one. Born in 1933 in Chicago, he was originally a licensed pharmacist, but his license was revoked. Rather than reform, Barnbaum found a new and more dangerous way to exploit the medical ... Show More