logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
35m 25s

Lou Pearlman: Pop Music Con Man | Behind...

Wondery
About this episode
Journalist Tyler Gray was working in Orlando when he first heard about Lou Pearlman and his growing business empire. But it wasn’t until authorities apprehended Pearlman in Bali in 2007 that Gray began to investigate the story behind the man who created the boy bands NSYNC and Backstreet Boys. Today, Tyler Gray joins Lindsay to talk about his book, The Hit C ... Show More
Up next
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
Dec 2024
Challenger Disaster | Launch Day | 3
In the tense hours leading up to the Challenger launch, engineers and managers at NASA and its contractor Morton Thiokol heatedly argue over whether to move forward, despite freezing temperatures that threaten to compromise the rocket boosters’ O-Rings. Be the first to know about ... Show More
36m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2025
NSYNC Got Scammed - The Lou Pearlman Story
Lou Pearlman was a music producer and manager who rose to prominence in the 1990s by creating and managing successful boy bands such as the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. However, behind his musical empire lay one of the largest and longest-running Ponzi schemes in U.S. history. 
9m 3s
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
Apr 2023
So Many Strings Attached | Part I | 49
In the early 1980s, Lou Pearlman is riding high… literally. He rakes in millions of dollars from his blimp company — thanks to an insurance scam — and his private jet company is taking off, too. But Lou really starts to make the big bucks when he discovers the next big craze: boy ... Show More
39m 11s
Dec 2022
How Music Industry Snake Lou Pearlman Conned *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys
Lou Perlman was a successful record producer in the 90s, but much of his success was gained in an underhanded way that took advantage of his clients, both monetarily and personally.Shop my charity merch! https://milehighermerch.com/ All profits from this charity merch will be don ... Show More
52m 27s
Dec 2020
Boy Bands | 38
Every generation seems to have its own version of an iconic boy band but the 90s was the first-time boy bands essentially took over pop music.On this episode of History of the 90s were looking back at the magical era of 90s boy bands as we dive deep into two of the biggest boy ba ... Show More
40m 28s
Jul 2025
A Deep Dive: P Diddy’s Lore
Sean “Diddy” Combs built an empire on success… and secrecy. In this episode, we dive deep into the myths, whispers, and receipts surrounding Diddy — the glamorous white parties, the rise of Bad Boy, and the long list of tragedies and lawsuits that seem to follow his name. This is ... Show More
37m 44s
May 2022
45: Making the Band: Dark History of Boybands
Boy Bands. Don’t act like you don’t love them. Every generation has their boy band. But when did it all start? How did it all start? Who came up with the magic sauce that make us all so addicted to 5 boys who can sing and dance? Well babe, we’re gonna get into that and so much mo ... Show More
49m 35s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami