Best IHeartRadio & Shondaland Podcasts (2024)

1
‘Where Sick Folks Get Well’: Norman Baker Couldn’t Cure Cancer. Period. 33:20

17h ago33:20

33:20

Norman Baker was an entrepreneur, a pioneering radio personality, and a fake doctor. He was a masterful propagandist, and through his radio station and multiple tabloid publications, he manipulated American anxieties about everything from politics to alleged ills of vaccinations. But his biggest claim was that he could cure cancer, in just six week…

1
Spoiler! Dr. Williams Pink Pills for Pale People … May Have Worked 26:40

8d ago26:40

26:40

Though the Pink Pills couldn't stand up to the wild advertising claims that the product was a cure-all, the pills were actually potentially medically beneficial to some people with a certain -- common -- condition; in theory. Maybe. Hey, we're not doctors. Let's talk about, how despite that, why this potentially potent patent medicine was under fir…

1
Radioactive Quackery: 'Doctor' Bailey and His Jaw-Dissolving ‘Energy Drink’ 32:20

15d ago32:20

32:20

William Bailey called himself a doctor, but his career was as a shady businessman, not a medical professional. In the early 20th century, he launched a series of start-up companies, capitalizing on the new discoveries of radioactive elements, and sold patent medicine products with lethal radioactive substances with unproven promises to cure everyth…

1
How Perkins Tractors Taught Us the Placebo Effect 27:36

22d ago27:36

27:36

Today, if you’re asked to think of a tractor, most of us probably imagine farm equipment. But in the late 18th century, a physician named Elisha Perkins made and sold a different kind of tractor – a device consisting of small metal rods that could cure what ails you simply through touch. And for several years, people were mad for the Perkins Patent…

1
Madame Yale Made a Fortune as America’s 19th-century ‘Wellness Guru’ 28:46

29d ago28:46

28:46

When Maude Mayberg was 38 years old, this was back in 1890, she 'discovered' an elixir that transformed her life. It was called Fruitcura, she said, and it cured her ailments when medical doctors could not. Two years later, she was a patent medicine entrepreneur and saleswoman going by the name, Madame Yale. Let’s talk about how that’s code for, sn…

1
How ‘Rattlesnake King’ Clark Stanley Became King of Snake Oil Sales 23:49

1M ago23:49

23:49

Clark Stanley was a silver-tongued Texas cowboy who called himself the ‘Rattlesnake King’. Back in the late 19th century, he wasn’t the first charlatan going from town to town in the American West, hawking quack products -- during this time when patent medicines were gaining popularity, American consumers could buy all sorts of fraudulent snake oil…

1
Welcome to the Season Finale of Criminalia's 'BLACKMAILERS' 38:28

1M ago38:28

38:28

From illicit love letters to political bribes, everyone has a secret, and it’s the threat of exposure that’s key to this crime -- and we discovered a whole lot of surprising examples along the way -- including a man who built his own submarine, hoping to escape with his payout under Lake Michigan; it sounds made up, but we speak the truth. We have …

1
Welcome to a New Season of Criminalia: 'THE SNAKE OIL SALESMEN' 2:28

1M ago2:28

2:28

Snake oil. Today the term describes any worthless remedy that's promoted as a cure-all. And, by extension, snake oil salesmen are considered a bunch of rip-off artists who peddle fraudulent goods. We’re rolling straight from the criminal world of blackmail and extortion into a new season -- we’ll see you there, not only with some very real stories …

1
When Blackmail Accidentally Uncovers Political Corruption 27:40

2M ago27:40

27:40

This is a story of a Texas oil tycoon, a congressman from Idaho, and a financial commodities broker in Oklahoma City. It’s a story of blackmail, yes. But it’s also a story of political corruption and ethics uncovered by that blackmail. There’s a lot going on here, and pretty much everyone’s guilty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio…

1
Duke of York and Mary Anne Clarke 23:24

2M ago23:24

23:24

Mary Ann Clarke attempted to blackmail her ex-lover, the Duke of York — who led the British army — by threatening to publish his letters. Sounds similar to Wellington but it takes a turn: His political enemies took notice, and they discovered that Mary Ann was selling army commissions (meaning, men who wanted a military rank or promotion would pay …

1
The Story of Walter Minx, the Sears Extortionist and His Homemade Submarine 28:45

2M ago28:45

28:45

Milwaukee Magazine once described Walter Minx as slender and fidgety, with, "the kind of sharp-featured handsomeness that the movies had taught people not to trust." He was German-born, and immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his parents, his brother, and his sister in 1925. He aspired to be a successful American businessman; he wanted to make…

1
Blackmail Fail: What Happened When George Ratterman Reformed 'Sin City of the South' 26:26

2M ago26:26

26:26

When All-American footballer George Ratterman announced his candidacy for sheriff of Campbell County, Kentucky, in April of 1961, he said, “I am told that if I run for sheriff, I will be the victim of all sorts of personal slanderous attacks, but I say to our opponents, let the attacks start now, if they must.” And, well, the attacks did start – cu…

1
Inheritance Lost: The Murder of Captain Joseph White 35:11

3M ago35:11

35:11

Joseph Jenkins Knapp, Jr. was expecting to receive a sizable inheritance upon the death of his 82-year-old great uncle, wealthy retired shipmaster and trader Captain Joseph White. But with debts piling up, Knapp decided he couldn’t wait for natural causes; in April of 1830, he and his brother, John Francis Knapp, hired a hitman to murder him, faked…

1
‘Acid Burns’: That Time Mae West Was Blackmailed, Know What I Mean? See? 21:59

3M ago21:59

21:59

It started just after Labor Day, with an envelope postmarked September 13, 1935, sent special delivery, addressed to Miss Mae West of 570 N. Rossmore, Ravenswood Apartments, Hollywood, California. There was nothing unusual about the envelope, but its contents were a different matter. It was the first of what would become a series of extortion lette…

1
Why Charles Augustus Howell Was Called the Worst Man in Victorian London 24:27

3M ago24:27

24:27

Described by some as a, “charming rogue,” Charles Augustus Howell was a dodgy figure in Victorian art circles, in particular London’s Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood movement. There was extortion. There was forgery. And just a whole lot of unsavory bits. Howell was an art dealer by trade who was also known to manipulate those around him so he could acqu…

1
A Murder, a Letter, and the Questions Surrounding King Edward II’s Death 30:48

3M ago30:48

30:48

This is a story of controversy; actually, more than one controversy. It’s a story of medieval kings and queens, of revenge, and of a letter that challenges the circumstances historians thought they knew surrounding King Edward II’s death – including possible blackmail. Or maybe not blackmail. Stick with us while we try to sort it out. See omnystudi…

1
How Emily Posts' Philandering Husband Was the Catalyst for Her Career Success 24:18

4M ago24:18

24:18

Philandering husband Edwin Main Post found himself blackmailed by a scorned mistress who threatened to go public with their affair unless he paid her and her publisher to stay silent. This is a story about blackmail, yes, but it isn't actually a story about Edwin, not really; this is the story about how his wife, Emily Price Post, suffered the humi…

1
‘Publish and Be Damned!’; and, Harriette Wilson Did 19:00

4M ago19:00

19:00

Regency courtesan Harriette Wilson exposed in her memoirs the names of royal, aristocratic, and political men, whom she then blackmailed to keep their names out of those memoirs. Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, was, famously, one of those influential names. Arthur was a national hero and wasn’t the kind of man who was easily intimidated; and …

1
Horrific Murderer and Half-Hearted Blackmailer: Meet Dr. Cream 24:21

4M ago24:21

24:21

Thomas Neill Cream graduated with honors from Montreal's McGill medical school in 1876. His thesis had been about the effects of chloroform; and he would soon demonstrate just how devastating he could be with toxic compounds. Several people died under his 'care.' But we’re not here to talk about Dr. Cream the murderer; we’re here to talk about his …

1
How Constance Kopp Become New Jersey's First 'Plucky Girl Sheriff' 20:33

4M ago20:33

20:33

“I got a revolver to protect us, and I soon had use for it,” stated Constance Kopp when interviewed about the intruders intimidating her family under the cover of darkness at her home. Her assistance with solving the case led to her role as the first female appointed deputy sheriff of Bergen County, New Jersey. Let's talk about how Constance got th…

1
Welcome to the Season Finale of Criminalia's 'FORGERS' 30:12

4M ago30:12

30:12

Welcome to the final episode of our season of forgers, where we've been exploring the stories of some of the most amazing forgeries – and those behind them -- throughout history. But it wasn't all about fakes and forgeries. There were plenty of cocktails and mocktails to go around, too. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Welcome to a New Season of Criminalia: THE BLACKMAILERS 3:53

4M ago3:53

3:53

Welcome to a brand new season of Criminalia, where we'll be talking about blackmail throughout history. We’re rolling straight from the criminal world of forgers to one of blackmailers -- we’ll see you there, not only with some very real stories about some very shady things, but also with the cocktails and mocktails made to go with them. See omnyst…

1
The Mechanical 'Turk': Wouldn't You Prefer a Good Game Of Chess? 24:25

5M ago24:25

24:25

During the 18th century, early animatronics were hot. They were featured in circuses, carnivals, and other touring exhibitions, and were usually built and operated with various parts like axles, chains, cogs, gears, levers, pulleys, wheels, wind-up keys – you get the point. For Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, in 1769, Hungarian inventor Wolfgang vo…

1
The Calaveras Skull: The Practical Joke That Almost Changed Human Evolution 22:09

5M ago22:09

22:09

When a group of miners uncovered a skull deep in a mine shaft on the western slopes of Bald Mountain in Calaveras County, California, it was believed, at least initially, to be a history-changing discovery. The owner of the mine didn't know at first what it was that he'd dug up that day in 1866. And when he shared it with those who might, including…

1
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Truth Behind the 'Cottingley Fairies' 28:36

5M ago28:36

28:36

In the summer of 1917, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths convinced a whole lot of people, including the famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, they'd seen fairies neat their home -- and they had photographic evidence to prove it. After decades of keeping their ruse a secret, they admitted their "joke was to last two hours, and it has lasted 70 years. Exec…

1
André Leon Talley: A Tribute w/ Norma Kamali & Robin Givhan (Season Finale) 1:26:34

5M ago1:26:34

1:26:34

Larger than life fashion journalist, stylist, creative director and editor André Leon Talley passed away unexpectedly on January 18, 2022. In this episode of love, respect, admiration and reflection, Laverne and her exceptional guests remind us why the world, the fashion world in particular, will miss the late great André Leon Talley. Iconic fashio…

1
Fake! The Story of Clifford Irving and the Howard Hughes Literary Hoax 32:13

5M ago32:13

32:13

In the early 1970s, McGraw-Hill Book Company landed what could have been the literary scoop of the 20th century: A writer named Clifford Irving pitched them that he'd obtained the permission of the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes to write a tell-all memoir of the mogul. That manuscript, though, turned out to be one of the biggest literary hoaxe…

1
No Notes for Broadway Star Alex Newell 49:33

6M ago49:33

49:33

**Be sure to hear ALEX NEWELL'S 2023 TONY AWARD ACCEPTANCE SPEECH (X or TikTok) Laverne has a fun catch-up sesh with her good friend Broadway supertalent Alex Newell. This year, Alex was one of the two gender nonconforming actors to ever win a Tony. They got theirs for their show-stopping performance as Lulu in the hit new musical Shucked. They wal…

1
The Tiara of Saitaphernes: How Much Art in Museums Is Not What It Seems? 23:23

6M ago23:23

23:23

In April of 1896, the Louvre announced it had purchased a tiara they believed must have been from the treasure house of a great Scythian king -- and that it had the exciting potential to rewrite ancient history. But only a few days after putting it on display, there were questions about its authenticity. The tiara, they would come to learn, was a f…

1
Anti-Trans Troll Legislation w/ Alejandra Caraballo 53:38

6M ago53:38

53:38

The legislative war against the LGBTQ+ community has been relentless and according to powerhouse civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo it may get even worse next year. Conservative republicans have introduced over 500 state bills this year alone to deny healthcare, threaten businesses and allies, and to try to force LGBTQ+ folks back into close…

1
False Impressions: Frederic Spitzer and His Master Forgers 25:58

6M ago25:58

25:58

A 19th-century German goldsmith famous for his forgeries of Renaissance objects, including jewelry and vessels. His fakery was discovered after his death, during a major archive by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly Frey Producer & Editor: Casby Bias See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor…

1
Diary: Where Fashion Meets Art 23:04

6M ago23:04

23:04

Some fashion rises above normal clothing and becomes at some point art. Laverne shares her passion for fashion and the thrill of the chase. Her vintage designer collection is not only a resource for joy but the thrill of owning seminal pieces and seeing the development of a brilliant designer over time is just fun. Then there’s SEAM RIPPING! Please…

1
To Be or Not to Be Shakespeare: The Forgeries of William-Henry Ireland 26:36

6M ago26:36

26:36

"Done to death by slanderous tongues," wrote William Shakespeare in his play, 'Much Ado About Nothing'. Shakespeare may be a renowned English playwright, poet, and actor, but, he has a bit of a credibility problem among some circles, and he has for quite a long time. It's known as the 'Shakespeare Authorship Question', and we're going to talk about…

1
The Voice of the Operatic Angel Blue 1:03:29

6M ago1:03:29

1:03:29

*Please note the opera glossary and links to audio below! Laverne has a passion for divas - from Beyonce to Leontyne Price, and closer to home, Angel Blue, the history-making operatic soprano who has become a dear friend as well. Angel shares her road to the spotlight including her early years of artistic difficulty and personal tragedy. Angel is a…

1
Eugène Boban and the Real Story of the Crystal Skulls 30:58

6M ago30:58

30:58

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. has a fake crystal skull. And so does the British Museum in London, as does Paris's Quai Branly Museum. As of 2019, it was estimated there are more than a dozen crystal skulls known to exist. Long considered pre-Columbian relics, they've also inspired theories about the occult, aliens, and psychic abi…

1
Becoming a Good Sexual Citizen w/ Ellen Friedrichs 49:48

7M ago49:48

49:48

Content Warning: this important episode contains talk about sexual situations, assault and rape. Resources for survivors are below. It may not be anyone’s favorite topic, but taking care of business is empowering and this is the business, educating ourselves and, importantly, our kids and younger generations on how to be safe and considerate with o…

1
Alceo Dossena: The Forger Who Sued the Men Who Sold His Forgeries 24:22

7M ago24:22

24:22

Sculptor Alceo Dossena was an impactful figure in the art world of the early 20th century because he created forged masterpieces capable of fooling even the most expert of experts. Critics attributed his pieces to famous classical and Renaissance artists, and his works were sold through dealers and purchased by museums and collectors. But in an une…

1
Diary: My Voice, Mia Voce 23:06

7M ago23:06

23:06

There are few things more vulnerable than singing, unless you’re Leontyne Price, of course. For the rest of us, though, it can be fraught. Laverne shares with us her journey through developing her voice as a transgender woman and as a lover of singing. And while the road, she says, has had some traumatic moments, she knows she will never stop. In f…

1
Violin Virtuoso Fritz Kreisler's Great Musical Hoax 21:28

7M ago21:28

21:28

Virtuoso Fritz Kreisler was known and is remembered for his artistry as a violinist and composer -- and, also, as an unashamed showman. He was one of the most beloved and best known of the early recording-era artists, and a household name in his day. In fact, he was so adored by his audiences that when he revealed some of the pieces he'd performed …

1
The Legendary Life of Connie Fleming, Part II: No Club For You! 51:05

7M ago51:05

51:05

Connie Fleming. In this two-part episode honoring the legendary runway model, cabaret performer and NYC “door bitch”, Laverne gets allll the tea about Connie’s life then and now. These episodes are bursting with history, HERSTORY and fun, juicy details of incredible stories from back in the glorious (and terrifying) day. Part II: The 90’s to Today …

1
The Legendary Life of Connie Fleming, Part I: Too Funky! 48:59

7M ago48:59

48:59

Connie Fleming. In this two-part episode honoring the legendary runway model, cabaret performer and NYC “door bitch”, Laverne gets allll the tea about Connie’s life then and now. These episodes are bursting with history, HERSTORY and fun, juicy details of incredible stories from back in the glorious (and terrifying) day. Part I: The 80’s and 90’s I…

1
League of Lady Poisoners: Interview with author Lisa Perrin 29:34

7M ago29:34

29:34

Things are a little different on today's episode of our show. Today we're talking to Lisa Perrin, an award-winning illustrator, designer and entrepreneur. Lisa stops by to chat about her new book, “League of Lady Poisoners.” Enjoy! Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly Frey Producer & Editor: Casby Bias See omnystudio.com/listener for priv…

1
Copaganda and the Criminal System w/ Olayemi Olurin 48:21

7M ago48:21

48:21

Movement lawyer and political commentator, or “professional loudmouth”, Olayemi Olurin sheds light on what she knows about the American criminal “justice" system - which is a ton. Having come from The Bahamas as a young woman, she had seen plenty of poor Black folks. But she says America has a very different way of treating Black and brown people, …

1
Giovanni (Jean) de Sperati: Legendary Philatelic 'Artist' 25:47

7M ago25:47

25:47

Millions of people around the world collect, preserve, and trade or sell postage stamps; the hobby, or investment, is known as, philately. The first stamp forgeries began to show up, well, when the first stamps showed up. The Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive stamp, was issued in 1840, and the world’s first forged stamps followed later that y…

1
Diary: Thinking About Privilege 18:48

7M ago18:48

18:48

The recent episode honoring bell hooks with Darnell Moore and Imani Perry got Laverne thinking even more about ideas around privilege. Just because you have it, doesn’t make you bad. Just because someone else has it doesn’t make them an oppressor. Privilege is relative. You can be the most privileged person in one room and the least privileged pers…

1
The Nicotra Forgeries 25:13

8M ago25:13

25:13

Some historians believe Italian forger Tobia Nicotra may have produced hundreds of document and signature forgeries attributed to names like Mozart and Galileo, before he was caught in the 1930s. He faded into obscurity, but his forgeries didn't. And for more than 80 years the University of Michigan housed a Galileo manuscript they didn't know was …

1
The Spirituality of Club Culture w/ Honey Dijon 52:59

8M ago52:59

52:59

Laverne reunites with her long-time friend world-renowned DJ and record producer Honey Dijon to talk about her legendary career, their early days of New York City nightlife, and the universal energy shared on a dancefloor that can be a deeply profound spiritual experience. Honey is committed to sharing her club culture history and she’s got some na…

1
'Lincoln the Lover': The Wilma Frances Minor Collection 36:41

8M ago36:41

36:41

Wilma Minor's 'Lincoln the Lover' forgery has been called one of the most audacious literary hoaxes of all time, and involves an alleged love story between a young Abraham Lincoln and a woman named Ann Rutledge. There was never any conclusive evidence the two had a romantic relationship; there was nothing in the historical record – no letters or no…

1
Transitioning as a Child and Beyond w/ Nicole Maines 56:26

8M ago56:26

56:26

With all of the misinformation and laws taking rights away from trans youth and their parents who want to support them through a tricky childhood, it’s time to hear from someone who lived it. Transgender actress and activist Nicole Maines first rose to prominence as a teenager fighting for her civil rights. Not long after winning a groundbreaking l…

1
Joseph Cosey: 'Yrs. Truly, A. Lincoln' 39:57

8M ago39:57

39:57

It's said his own handwriting was a neat and graceful script, not unlike Abraham Lincoln’s. He could fake the hand of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Baker Eddy, and dozens of other historical figures. In fact, experts believe that a large number of the documents he produced in the early 20th century are still circulating today -- and inaccurately regarded a…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

IHeartRadio & Shondaland Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide