In 2017, a little-known consulting firm called NXIVM became the center of an international scandal. One day, no one had heard of the group at all. The next, people were calling it a cult. There were accusations of a secret society, psychological manipulation, imprisonment, occult sexual abuse. Then there was the group’s founder, Keith Raniere – a self-styled genius whose followers worshipped him and called him “Vanguard.” Suddenly, everyone wanted to know: where had this group come from? Who was Keith Raniere? And how had he hoodwinked so many people in this day and age?

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After her daughter Shanna was disqualified from the cheerleading tryouts, Wanda Holloway was seeing red. In her mind, there were two people responsible for Shanna not being a cheerleader: Verna Heath and her daughter Amber. And there was only one thing she could do. Both of them had to go, so it was time for Wanda to find a hitman.

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As Wanda Holloway married, divorced, and remarried, one thing in her life remained constant: her obsession with making her daughter a cheerleader. But when it came time for tryouts, Wanda discovered that the path to glory would be rockier than she expected.

To listen to all three episodes of 'To Kill a Cheerleader' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ⁠⁠AmericanCriminal.com⁠⁠

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It was a case that made headlines around the world: Texas mother hires hitman to kill her neighbor -- over cheerleading. But how did it get to that point? What was it that drove Wanda Holloway to believe that killing the mother of her daughter's rival would get her what she wanted?

To listen to all three episodes of 'To Kill A Cheerleader' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ⁠⁠AmericanCriminal.com⁠⁠

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It's hard to remember that we're all living through history every day, and that some of the people who lived through the turbulent periods we learn about through books and podcasts are still alive to tell the story. Now that you've heard about the Weather Underground, listen to the tale from one of its founding members. This is an interview with Bill Ayers from Parthenon Podcast Network's 'Eyewitness History'.

To listen to all four episodes of 'The Weather Underground' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com

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In 1991, a small Texas town just outside of Houston was shocked to discover just how far one mother was determined to go to ensure her child’s success. When Wanda Holloway’s teenage daughter failed to make the cheerleading team, she became obsessed with the girl she felt stood in the way. In her mind, this other girl and her mother were cheats, and suck-ups. That meant they had to go.

Listen to American Criminal: To Kill A Cheerleader wherever you get your podcasts. To get early, ad-free access to the entire season first, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com

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With their numbers dwindling, the remaining members of the Weather Underground took stock of what they had left. The Vietnam War was still raging, and America felt no closer to all-out revolution than it did when the Weathermen first came together. But they weren't giving up the fight -- not yet. In fact, they doubled down by targeting some of the most iconic landmarks at the heart of American power.

To listen to all four episodes of 'The Weather Underground' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ⁠AmericanCriminal.com⁠

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In the aftermath of the devastating explosion in New York that killed three of their comrades, the members of the Weather Underground scattered. Suddenly, everyone was terrified that the authorities would escalate their efforts to find them, and they'd never get the chance to ignite their revolution.

To listen to all four episodes of 'The Weather Underground' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ⁠AmericanCriminal.com⁠

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In their first major act since forming, the Weathermen gathered in Chicago for several days of planned protests and brawls with the police. The hope is that their actions will be the spark that ignites the flames of revolution. But when their Days of Rage don't go exactly to plan, the group is forced to rethink its entire philosophy, and transforms into the Weather Underground.

To listen to all four episodes of 'The Weather Underground' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ⁠AmericanCriminal.com⁠

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The Unsolved Histories podcast team was pleased to get a phone call letting them know a U.S. senator not only listened to Season 1, but wanted to address a problem raised by their recounting of the tragic story of Flight 293. Military men and women who go missing, but not in action, are not remembered or memorialized and the families left without the support that is given to other MIA families. If passed, the Flight 293 Remembrance Act will change that. Host Feliks Banel researched this and other accidents involving service members who seemed to be forgotten by the government they served.

Here’s a clip from episode one of Unsolved Histories: What Happened to Flight 293?

 

For more information, including pictures and all episodes, see our website, unsolvedhistoriespod.com

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