logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
38m 49s

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker: The God Fraud...

Wondery
About this episode

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker get their start in Christian broadcasting in the early 1960s and quickly become television superstars. As their fame explodes, they build an empire complete with their own network, a theme park, and a super-sized luxury lifestyle for themselves. But when their spending – and their scandals – get out of control, they’ll face their own kind of judgment day.  

This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault. If you or someone you know is a survivor looking for resources, call the U.S. National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-H-O-P-E.


Need more Scamfluencers? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.app.link/tgjpc8ryfSb now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Aug 18
ENCORE: George Santos: Putting the "Con" in Congress | 173
We’ll be back in two weeks with all-new Scamfluencers episodes. In the meantime, we’re returning to one of our favorites. It’s hard to know what to believe about George Santos’ wild origin story. Since being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022, almost every facet ... Show More
50m 1s
Aug 13
ENCORE: The Pop Star and the Power Broker: Part 2 | 172
As Erika Jayne’s pop star career blossoms, questions continue to mount about her husband Tom Girardi’s finances and his legal practice. His clients have been waiting in limbo to receive the settlement money owed to them, and they’re not the only ones getting angry with Tom. In th ... Show More
43m 51s
Aug 12
Business Wars Presents: The AOL-Time Warner Disaster
Think business is boring? What about when your streaming bill goes up, or your favorite restaurant files for bankruptcy? Do you ever wonder what’s going on behind the scenes? Business Wars gives you a front row seat to the biggest moments in business, to explain how they shape ou ... Show More
7m 15s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
281: Scandal, Power, and Abuse: RFK Jr., Sean Combs, and Muhammad Al-Fayed
What happens when high-profile figures like RFK Jr., Sean Combs, and Muhammad Al-Fayed find themselves at the center of public scandals? This episode unpacks the unsettling truths behind RFK Jr.'s sexting affair with political reporter Olivia Nuzzi, exploring how his wife Ch ... Show More
26m 39s
Jul 2024
Clout Goblins and Ass Eaters
In this episode, we dive into the world of clout goblins and ass eaters—those who pretend to be your friends but are really just after followers. Ken shares the juicy details of the drama with "Babe Ruth," a girl who started out as a friend. What began as an accident turned into ... Show More
36m 18s
Apr 2025
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Host Nikki Boyer sits down with Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass, who bring depth and humanity to the male characters in FX's 'Dying for Sex.' Delaney opens up about playing the enigmatic 'neighbor guy,' finding vulnerability in comedy, and creating chemistry with Michelle Williams. T ... Show More
50m 44s
Jul 16
How to Keep Love Alive, With Rob Delaney of ‘Dying for Sex’
When we meet Rob Delaney’s character, “Neighbor Guy,” in FX’s limited series “Dying for Sex,” he’s scarfing down a burrito in an elevator, dripping food on his face and the floor. But Delaney’s performance reveals that under Neighbor Guy’s messy exterior is a man capable of deep ... Show More
37m 4s
Apr 2025
The Voice | 3
Growing up in Brazil, Kat Torres was a shy kid who loved to learn the latest dance routines on TV. But a promising future as a model took a surprising turn. It led her to tabloid gossip columns, the glitz of Hollywood and claims of supernatural powers.If you or someone you know i ... Show More
38m 22s
Feb 2025
Utah Looks to Remove Fluoride of Public Water | Why Thousands Convert to Islam in Prison Each Year | Helen Mirren on Returning to "1923" and Legendary Career
Former President Trump is pushing for a deal that would grant the U.S. a major stake in Ukraine's natural resources, including its vast titanium reserves, in exchange for post-war reconstruction. CEO Andriy Brodsky questions Trump's estimates, while experts say U.S. investment co ... Show More
37 m
Sep 2023
Big egos and big drama in The Newsreader and Morning Wars
It's a great week for anyone who loves a scandal, especially a media one. The return of The Newsreader and Morning Wars within days of each other means we're well served when it comes to fictional high-drama in newsrooms. All that shouting and backstabbing!The Newsreader's Sam Re ... Show More
53m 10s
Oct 2024
Scandal Season: Why September Sparks Media, Celebrity, and Political Firestorms
September marks the beginning of scandal season, when politicians, celebrities, and the media heat up with controversy. In this episode, we break down the crisis communication tactics used by high-profile figures, focusing on New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his response to fed ... Show More
31m 26s
Apr 2024
Diss and Tell | Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan | 218
Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan were the it-girls of the iconic Y2K era, photographed on just about every tabloid cover as a pair of party-girl best friends. But in 2006, a video of Paris mocking Lindsay with a derogatory nickname took the internet by storm, and the two would soon ... Show More
42m 51s
Mar 2024
Finding Out We Dated The Same People
Anneliese and Christy are flying solo today on Big Name B*tches for another spicy episode. The girls dish about dating the same men, plastic surgery regrets, and having nothing to lose in your 40s. They also talk about which Sex and the City characters they are, and Christy revea ... Show More
36m 4s