logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
31m 32s

Ep. 81 | Unraveling Bolero/Crossing Over

Wondery | Ballen Studios
About this episode

“Unraveling Bolero”: When a middle-aged scientist experiences unexpected success as an artist, it seems like little more than a surprising career change. But then, she becomes obsessed with interpreting a repetitive orchestral piece called “Bolero.” As her obsession deepens, her health takes a turn for the worse – and the cause has a surprising connection to her favorite piece of music.

“Crossing Over”: A few days after arriving in Boston, an immigrant from Mexico starts coughing up blood and experiencing horrible stomach pain. As doctors scramble to save his life, they have to contend with their patients’ reluctance to share his background. But when they finally learn the truth, it unlocks the key to everything.

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter


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 5
Ep. 96 | A Redacted Medical Mystery: Red Menace/Weather Warriors
In this special MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries and Redacted crossover episode, MrBallen and Luke Lamana join forces to bring you two shocking stories of the military testing bizarre, deadly weapons of war in secret. In “Red Menace,” a 75-year-old pipe fitter in San Francisco wakes ... Show More
38m 10s
Jul 29
Ep. 95 | Two Hearts Beat As One
After sitting down for a nice meal with her husband, a woman becomes violently ill and has to be hospitalized. But the problem isn’t her stomach – it’s her heart. Making things even stranger, her husband ends up in the ER too. And if their doctors can’t find the common denominato ... Show More
25m 59s
Jul 28
Listen Now: Lawless Planet
It’s not that hard to kill a planet. All it takes is a little drilling, some mining, a generous helping of pollution and voila! Earth over. When you take stock of what’s left, it starts to look like a crime scene: decapitated mountains, poisoned rivers, oil-soaked pelicans, maybe ... Show More
5m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Phil Spector: Music, Madness, and Murder
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong delves into the case of Phil Spector. Once a legendary music producer known for his unique use of sound, Spector slowly became a figure of mystery – and controversy. Years of erratic behavior and isolation culminated into Spe ... Show More
49m 28s
Jul 31
Medical Mysteries - "No Reservations/The Bitter End"
This story is a fan favorite from MrBallen's Medical Mysteries.No Reservations:A Spanish marathon runner develops a mysterious obsession with gourmet food. But what seems like an innocent new passion may be more dangerous than he thinks.The Game:After going through her normal mor ... Show More
33m 12s
Jul 7
MURDEROUS MINDS: The College Crush Murder Pt. 1
When Prosenjit Poddar moved from India to California, he hoped to build a better life. Instead, he became obsessed with a girl who didn’t love him back. In Part 1, we trace how cultural isolation, rejection, and delusion turned a one-sided romance into a deadly obsession—and how ... Show More
49m 46s
Feb 2024
Bitter Almonds & Betrayal by PNW Haunts and Homicides
Follow PNW Haunts & Homicides on iHeartRadio - https://ihr.fm/3Bfo3UMFollow on Apple Podcast - https://apple.co/3Rm0TlsFollow Everywhere else - https://bit.ly/3IpHRqlChilling as it sounds, the reality is, that danger can lurk in the most mundane places. We've all felt that twinge ... Show More
1h 24m
Jul 16
SERIAL KILLER: Amy Archer-Gilligan
She ran a cozy nursing home and was beloved by her Connecticut town, but Amy Archer-Gilligan was hiding deadly secrets. Morgan and Kaelyn unpack the chilling story of a serial killer who poisoned her residents for profit, leaving behind clues like a pharmacist’s sales ledger, sus ... Show More
1h 30m
Jan 2025
Affaire Frédéric Péchier (1/2) : médecin héroïque ou docteur empoisonneur ?
L'affaire des mystérieux empoisonnements débute en 2017 lorsque Jean-Claude Gandon, 70 ans, fait successivement deux arrêts cardiaques lors d'une simple intervention chirurgicale. S'il parvient à être réanimé, c'est grâce à l'anesthésiste Frédéric Péchier qui lui administre un re ... Show More
27m 52s
Jun 24
Gertrude Baniszewski: The "Torture Mom"
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the chilling case of Gertrude Baniszewski. In the fall of 1965, behind the walls of her modest Indiana home, Gertrude masterminded the systematic torture and murder of teenage Sylvia Likens – encouraging her own chil ... Show More
48m 13s
Aug 2024
333: The Murder of Haruka Weiser
In April of 2016, UT Austin freshman Haruka Weiser left an evening dance practice to head back to her dorm. She called her roommate to let her know she was on the way, but she never made it. When she failed to show up the next morning and missed her early classes, a missing perso ... Show More
52m 27s
Aug 2024
[1/2] Saint-Maur : qui a exécuté les deux amants ?
(Premier épisode) Le mercredi 29 juillet 2020, Aurélie, 43 ans, et Christophe, 42 ans, sont retrouvés morts, criblés de balles, au domicile d’Aurélie en région parisienne, à Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. Les deux amants se sont rencontrés quelques jours plus tôt sur le site de rencontre ... Show More
13m 6s