In the early 1800s, Mary Willcocks was a young, restless woman struggling in poverty. Drifting around England as a beggar, she eventually donned a disguise and spoke in a made-up language, hoping to lure more charity. The ruse worked, and her bizarre alias was born.
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Oct 2020
Herbalife Pt. 2: “Diet Shake Scam”
In 2012, investor Bill Ackman made it his mission to bring Herbalife down, citing unethical business practices. But the string of lawsuits, investigations, and news segments that followed did little to oust the billion dollar brand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast ... Show More
46m 50s
Oct 2022
Mary Ellen Pleasant, the Millionaire Murderess
She was a singular woman in Gold Rush-era San Francisco: an entrepreneur, an abolitionist, and extraordinarily wealthy. But Mary Ellen Pleasant’s mere presence was enough to rattle her neighbors, and the accusations levied against her were enough to shock: she practiced black mag ... Show More
40m 27s
Oct 2022
Mary Ellen Pleasant, the Millionaire Murderess
She was a singular woman in Gold Rush-era San Francisco: an entrepreneur, an abolitionist, and extraordinarily wealthy. But Mary Ellen Pleasant’s mere presence was enough to rattle her neighbors, and the accusations levied against her were enough to shock: she practiced black mag ... Show More
40m 27s
Jan 2025
Final Days of Mary Queen of Scots
The moment Mary Queen of Scots set foot in England, she became Elizabeth I's prisoner. Mary was fleeing from war and misogyny, hoping for help from her fellow queen. What lay ahead was twenty years of increasingly desperate imprisonment and, eventually, her death.
Maddy Pelling a ... Show More
47m 30s
Aug 2022
Sante Kimes Pt. 1: Trading Up
In her early childhood, she didn't have much. So as Sante Kimes got older, she was motivated by one idea: enough is never enough. And even after she moved in with millionaire real-estate investor Kenneth Kimes, she continued to take what she wanted, even if it meant breaking the ... Show More
43m 23s
Jan 2025
The Yorkshire Killer Witch Pt. 1
Mary Bateman was an accomplished liar from a young age, and when she grew up, she started using that talent as a way of making money. Passing herself off as a witch, she tricked paranoid and gullible customers into handing over their hard-earned money in exchange for predictions ... Show More
40m 3s
Oct 2022
Goody Cole, the Gruff Witch of New Hampshire
In the 17th century, a middle-aged woman remakes her life in New England. But her fresh start turns sour after her neighbors decide she’s a witch. Jailed several times over, Goody Cole is never quite able to reclaim her reputation... so a new crop of townspeople do it for her, hu ... Show More
38m 9s