Madame Rachel Pt. 1: “The Beauty of Lies...

In the late 1840s in Western New York, two preteen girls tricked their parents into thinking their house was haunted. Their trick grew to include their hometown, and eventually the world, as their little prank became a religious movement known as Modern Spiritualism. Learn more a ... Show More

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

Mark Hughes founded Herbalife in 1980, with the stated goal of helping people lose weight the healthy way. The multi-level marketing company achieved astronomical success before a series of controversies put the spotlight on questionable business practices and toxic products. Lea ... Show More

She was a young barmaid who rose to be the ruthless matriarch of a Melbourne crime family in the 1980s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

After a disastrous break-up with a rich older man in 1989, 22-year-old Heidi Fleiss wasn’t ready to give up the luxuries she's grown accustomed to. Instead, she joined the underground world of high-class Los Angeles escorts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices. ... Show More

Real-life vampire or expert sadist? Elizabeth Báthory was allegedly responsible for killing hundreds of young women in 16th century Hungary. Her story is steeped in the kind of hearsay and legend befitting a cruel, untouchable noblewoman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p ... Show More

This week we explore the incredible story of Elizabeth Keckly, an enslaved woman who bought her freedom and went on to become the premiere dressmaker in Washington D.C. during the Civil War era. Her best friend and client? Mary Todd Lincoln.  Learn more about your ad-choices at h ... Show More

A billionaire. An ex-spy. A lot of women. Too many lies. Cover Story, Season Two: Seed Money. Hosted by Hanna Rosin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

The only question bigger than “Who is the Isdal Woman?” is “Who’s keeping her identity secret?” Found in 1970, her body was burned beyond recognition. And what started as a murder case quickly led to a web of international crime rings, espionage, and conspiracy. Learn more about ... Show More

From an early age, Katie Sandwina wowed crowds, first as a wrestling act and then exclusively as professional strongwoman. During a time when women's suffrage was a hot button issue, she cultivated an image of a perfectly feminine powerhouse. Learn more about your ad-choices at h ... Show More

Wanting fame and fortune as a dancer, Melissa James took Craig up on his offer to introduce her to his A-list friends and moved in with him and Kelly. But the growing conflict between the two women became strained — and turned deadly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca ... Show More

In the summer of 1980, Carol Bundy helped Douglas Clark sexually assault a young girl and murder over a half-dozen women. Her extreme desire to please Clark evolved into a murderous partnership, and finally a killer in her own right.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca ... Show More

Amy Archer-Gilligan opened a nursing home in Connecticut in 1907. By portraying herself as a kind and religious woman, she was able to recruit new residents. She was beloved in her neighborhood which is exactly why nobody suspected that she was a cold, calculated killer.  Learn m ... Show More