Con Artists

For over 20 years, music mogul Lou Pearlman perpetrated one of the longest-running Ponzi schemes in history, scamming investors out of more than $300 million. His years spent bankrolling his pricy lifestyle and promising premium profits came to a crashing halt in the 2000s, shortly after his former boyband *NSYNC told him "Bye, Bye, Bye." 

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In addition to new episodes of Con Artists each week, you’ll now also hear Crime Bites every Friday. Each Crime Bites episode gives you a deeper, yet brief look into true-crime topics covered at Parcast.

Today we’re discussing political crimes. What types of political crimes are there, and what is their impact on society and governments as a whole?

Clips featured: Political Scandals: Jack Abramoff, Espionage: The Rosenbergs Pt. 2, Assassinations: Pancho Villa Pt. 1

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He sparked the rise of the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC in the 1990s. But a decade earlier, wannabe-mogul, Lou Pearlman, made his start in the world of aviation. With a dream, a penny stock scheme, and a single makeshift blimp, Pearlman built an empire defrauding investors. 

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In addition to new episodes of Con Artists each week, you’ll now also hear Crime Bites every Friday. Each Crime Bites episode gives you a deeper, yet brief look into true-crime topics covered at Parcast.

Today we’re discussing cases in which a criminal tortured their victim. What would compel someone to torture another person, and what are the lasting effects on a victim who was tortured?

Clips featured: Female Criminals: Gertrude Banisewski Pt. 1, Serial Killers: David Parker Ray Pt. 2, Hostage: Colleen Stan Pt. 2

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In 1995, Steven Russell met and fell madly in love with Phillip Morris, a man who inspired his most ingenious cons and audacious prison breaks. Before his final arrest, Russell upped the ante, embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep his paramour in luxury.

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In addition to new episodes of Con Artists each week, you’ll now also hear Crime Bites every Friday. Each Crime Bites episode gives you a deeper, yet brief look into true-crime topics covered at Parcast.

Today we’ll focus on wealthy criminals. We’ll discuss what leads high-status individuals to commit crimes, as well as the consequences they face once captured.

Clips featured: Kingpins: Pablo Escobar Pt. 1, Con Artists: Bernie Madoff Pt. 1, Female Criminals: Leona Helmsley Pt. 2

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After cutting his teeth on his family's illegal bid-rigging scheme, Steven Russell branched out into his own criminal enterprises, scamming corporations in Texas out of tens of thousands of dollars. Russell's escapades throughout the ‘90s landed him in prison, but he executed a cunning escape to reunite with the man he loved.

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If you love the controversies explored in Con Artists, you’ll definitely want to check out the new Spotify Original podcast, Son of a Hitman. Although it’s not a Parcast production, Son of a Hitman features all the twists and turns you love in a true crime series. Follows the present day investigation into the murders, crimes, and conspiracies involving Charles V. Harrelson—the father of Jordan, Brett, and famous actor Woody Harrelson, with details never shared in the media before.

Enjoy this exclusive clip from the first episode of Son of a Hitman, where you’ll meet Brett Harrelson, one of Charles’ sons, and hear what he really thinks about his father. If you like what you hear, search for Son of a Hitman and listen to the rest for free, only on Spotify.

Son of a Hitman investigates the murders, crimes, and conspiracies of convicted hitman, Charles Harrelson-- father to Jordan, Brett, and famous actor Woody Harrelson. Listen now at spotify.com/hitman.

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In addition to new episodes of Con Artists each week, you’ll now also hear Crime Bites every Friday. Each Crime Bites episode gives you a deeper, yet brief look into true-crime topics covered at Parcast.

What makes someone so vengeful, they’re willing to take a human life? Using clips from across the Parcast Network, we’ll search for clues by taking a closer look at some of history’s most infamous revenge killings.

Clips featured: Crimes of Passion: Marty and Michelle Theer Pt. 1, Female Criminals: Valerie Solanas Pt. 2, Assassinations: Phoolan Devi Pt. 1

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In the late 1800s, notorious outlaw and con artist Jefferson “Soapy” Smith had created a criminal empire in Denver. But when a "law and order" league threatened to shutter his businesses, Soapy decided to expand his operations—resulting in a violent end.

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