Controversial Figures

Oscar Pistorius was an inspiration to many. Born without his lower legs, Oscar would later in life become the tenth athlete in history to compete at both the Paralympic Games and Olympic Games in the same year. Oscar was honored in Time Magazine's 100 list of most influential people, appeared on Jay Leno's Tonight Show, and had sponsorship deals worth $2 million. So how would it come to be that only months later, Oscar Pistorius would be on trial for murder, with that trial ultimately going to the Supreme Court? Find out today on the Controversial Figures Podcast.

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Episode Sources:

• Amazon Prime Pistorius https://www.amazon.com/Pistorius-Season-1/dp/B07G1Y3R1C
• BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29777703
• Wikipedia Oscar Pistorius https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Pistoriushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Pistorius 
• Music: The 6 is Silent by Skyjelly

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In 2015, Forbes magazine named Elizabeth Holmes the youngest self-made female billionaire in America. She was the enigmatic founder and majority owner of consumer healthcare technology company Theranos; a company valued at near $10 billion and backed by distinguished figures such as Henry Kissinger. So, how did it come to be that Elizabeth and her company would be worth essentially nothing only 1 year later and facing criminal charges? Find out today on the Controversial Figures Podcast.

Connect with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FiguresPodcast

Episode Sources:

• Business Insider https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-founder-ceo-elizabeth-holmes-life-story-bio-2018-4
• HBO Documentary The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley  https://play.hbogo.com/feature/urn:hbo:feature:GXGWJ8wyZ-K2uAwEAAAAK?camp=Search&play=true
• USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/07/05/theranos-elizabeth-holmes-lawsuits-patients-harm-arizona/742008002/
• Wikipedia Elizabeth Holmes  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Holmes
• Wikipedia Theranos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theranos
• Music: The 6 is Silent by Skyjelly

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Tania Head was known for widely sharing her harrowing September 11, 2001 survival story. As she'd explain it, she was on the 78th floor of the south tower when the World Trade Center building was hit by the second plane, making her one of only nineteen people at or above the point of plane impact to have survived. Tania was also known for her tireless efforts running the World Trade Center Survivor's Network, supporting  others affected by the attacks. So, why after only a few years of leading the group, would an anonymous email from Spain be sent to the Survivor's Network claiming Tania had committed suicide? And where was Tania, was she ok? Find out more today on the Controversial Figures Podcast.


Connect with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FiguresPodcast

Episode Sources

• Michael Daly (September 7, 2006). "An Amazing Woman & Her Smile". New York Daily News. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1696977/posts
• The Woman Who Wasn't There, 2012 Film and Book
• Wikipedia Alicia Esteve Head https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Esteve_Head
• Music: The 6 is Silent by Skyjelly

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Young Gypsy Blanchard was very ill. According to her mother Dee Dee, Gypsy suffered from leukemia, asthma, muscular dystrophy,  and had the "mental capacity of a 7-year-old". Gypsy was restricted to a wheelchair with a feeding tube providing her nourishment. Gypsy's prognosis was so grim, she and her mother received life changing help from notable charities. So, how did Gypsy Rose end up walking on her own 2 legs into jail after aiding in the savage killing of her own mother?  Find out today on the Controversial Figures Podcast.

Connect with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FiguresPodcast

Episode Sources

• ABC network 20/20 episode "The Story of Gypsy Blanchard"
• Biography article https://www.biography.com/news/gypsy-rose-blanchard-mother-dee-dee-murder
• Movie HBO Mommy Dead and Dearest, 2017
• Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Dee_Dee_Blanchard
• Music: The 6 is Silent by Skyjelly

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American Edward Snowden has been living on the lam for over 7 years in foreign countries, attempting to escape international and domestic espionage and property theft charges filed against him in 2013 by the United States of America. How did a professed patriot at heart and former Army private with the highest levels of security clearance end up as America's Number 1 Enemy? Find out today on the Controversial Figures Podcast.

Connect with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FiguresPodcast

Episode Sources:

• Permanent Record, Author Edward Snowden, New York : Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt and Company, 2019
• Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Snowden
• Music: The 6 is Silent by Skyjelly

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Welcome to Controversial Figures; a podcast about intriguing figures in the media. Created by Tammy Hawkins. This is the introduction for the first episode of Controversial Figures in which we will cover Edward Snowden. The full episode will be released in coming days.

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