Following his split with the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, Lou Pearlman finds it increasingly difficult to keep up appearances around his rapidly crumbling empire. Soon, investors begin demanding their money back, and an accountant turned whistleblower threatens to expose Pearlman’s lies. Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your po ... Show More
Dec 2024
Challenger Disaster | Bigger, Faster, Cheaper | 1
In January 1986, the Challenger Space Shuttle was poised to make history, carrying seven astronauts, including Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher and civilian selected for space travel. The launch was part of a decade-long effort by NASA to make flights cheaper and more frequen ... Show More
37m 14s
Dec 2024
Challenger Disaster | Acceptable Risk | 2
As NASA struggles to keep its ambitious launch schedule on track, engineers at contractor Morton Thiokol raise concerns about a key component of the space shuttle’s rocket boosters: O-Rings, which are designed to prevent fuel leaks. Amid this tension, the Teacher in Space program ... Show More
36m 37s
Jun 2020
Lou Pearlman Pt. 1: “Entertainment Mogul”
He sparked the rise of the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC in the 1990s. But a decade earlier, wannabe-mogul, Lou Pearlman, made his start in the world of aviation. With a dream, a penny stock scheme, and a single makeshift blimp, Pearlman built an empire defrauding investors. Learn m ... Show More
39m 15s
Aug 2024
Dirty Pop doc and the fraud behind your favourite 90s boy bands
Music journalist Maura Johnston joins guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about 'Dirty Pop,' a Netflix documentary that explores Lou Pearlman's life, the mastermind and con man behind boy bands like N'Sync and Backstreet Boys. Plus, Stephen Yan from ‘Wok with Yan’ is making his fi ... Show More
25m 11s
Jul 2022
Hitler Diaries | Hoaxed | 3
The stories around the diaries and their authenticity begin to unravel. For all the people who have their reputations and their livelihoods on the line, who will survive this humiliating scandal? And who, when the dust settles, will still come out on top?Listen early and ad free ... Show More
47m 15s