How Bertha Heyman Conned Her Way Into Sh...

In this week's Classic episode: When George S. Patton decided to found a tank training school in the tiny French village of Bourg, the mayor approached him in tears. "An American soldier has died here," said the mayor, "and I would like to lead you to his grave." Patton followed ... Show More

While history often relegates Martha Gellhorn to a single role -- one of Ernest Hemingway's four wives -- this lauded journalist, fiction writer, and war correspondent was an absolute badass. She was on the ground during D-Day, reported during the Vietnam War, and traveled to Pan ... Show More

Located in the southeastern US just off the coast of Georgia, Cumberland Island is a hidden treasure with deep -- and, at times, disturbing -- lore. In today's episode, Ben, Noel, and Max explore some of the more ridiculous stories from the island's past, from Thomas Carnegie's p ... Show More

A tale as old as crime. Phony wealthy widow seeks dupe to front her cash until her non-existent inheritance comes through. The queen of the hill, top of the heap when it came to these cons? Bertha Heyman aka Big Bertha. Derided by newspapers, besmitten by suitors, no one ran a co ... Show More

A con artist storms New York’s social scene in the 2010s, cementing her place in high society as a German heiress worth millions. Anna Delvey masterfully swindled banks, hotels, airlines, even her own friends out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Her past was murky, but her pe ... Show More

Get rich quick schemes have been around forever. But one con man not only made history, but became a household name. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Born in 1920 to poor, Jewish immigrants, Leona Helsley spent the first 30 years of her life doing whatever it took to rise above her humble origins. She changed her name, bullied her competitors, and, if necessary, skirted the corners of the law, engaging in blackmail and fraud. ... Show More

<p>America has a soft spot for scoundrels. From the (evil) genius who kept selling the Brooklyn Bridge to foreigners to the original snake oil salesman, we race through history's most legendary cons and discover why Denver was the Florence of the Con-Man Renaissance. Featuring Ma ... Show More

Among the bearded ladies of the Sideshow, Julia Pastrana’s story is the longest: it spans her short life and long death, revealing the lengths some will go to make a buck. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for priv ... Show More

Today's classic from 2014 features Hetty Green. She was the wealthiest woman in the U.S., skilled when it came to amassing a fortune. But her eccentric behavior and miserly ways led to bad press and a less-than-flaterring nickname.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www ... Show More

While Peggy Ann Fulford claimed to be a financial advisor, she was actually a con woman making a living by scamming professional athletes out of their money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

She climbed to the top of New York City’s real estate scene by bullying and blackmailing, earning her the moniker "The Queen of Mean." In the late 1980s, when Leona Helmsley was put on trial for fraud and tax evasion, all the little people she'd stepped on over the years lined up ... Show More