In our first ever western episode, we dive into the legend behind Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) – the classic film starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford that turned the two outlaws into folk heroes. How close did Hollywood get to the real story of Robert LeRoy Parker (Butch Cassidy) and Harry Longabaugh (Sundance Kid), and where did the truth get lost? We’ll unpack the infamous train robberies, the Wild Bunch gang, their mysterious escape into South America, and how the film’s charm reshaped their legacy. Was the ending as romantic as it seemed, or did history write a grittier final chapter? Tune in for the truth behind the myth of the old west’s most iconic duo.

Primary Source:

• Leerhsen, Charles. Butch Cassidy: The True Story of an American Outlaw. Simon & Schuster (2020).

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This week we conclude our Halloween bonus series on Ed Gein by talking about episodes five through eight of Monster: The Ed Gein Story. How did this season compare to the last two and what creative liberties were taken to bring Ed Gein’s story to our TV screens? Listen now to find out.

You can stream the full season of Monster: The Ed Gein Story on Netflix.

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This week we continue our Halloween bonus series on Ed Gein by diving into the first four episodes of season three of Netflix’s horror anthology series Monster. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the series explores real-life infamous crimes through a dramatized lens. Season three focuses on convicted murder and graverobber Ed Gein, played by Charlie Hunnam. How will this season compare to the last two and what creative liberties were taken to bring Ed Gein’s story to our TV screens? Listen now to find out.

You can stream the full season of Monster: The Ed Gein Story on Netflix.

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In this Halloween inspired bonus episode, we dig into the real-life monster who changed horror forever – Ed Gein, the “Butcher of Plainfield.” His gruesome crimes shocked America in the 1950s and went on to inspire some of cinema’s most iconic villains. After going over Gein’s life and crimes, we explore how Norman Bates in Psycho (1960), Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and Jame Gumb (Buffalo Bill) in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) each borrowed pieces of Gein’s disturbing psyche – from his obsession with his mother to his skin-crafting horrors. Along the way, we separate fact from fiction to uncover how Hollywood transformed true crime into urban legend.

Primary Source:

• Schechter, Harold. Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, the Original “Psycho.” Pocket Books (1989).
• Ed Gein Documentary

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In this episode, we dive into Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder (2003), the haunting crime thriller based on South Korea’s first confirmed serial killings. We unpack how the film portrays the Hwaseong murders of the 1980s and early 1990s, what details were dramatized for the screen, and how the real investigation unfolded. From the frustrations of a police force unprepared for such crimes, to the decades-long mystery that finally, after the wrongful conviction of Yoon Sung-yeo, ended with the real killer’s confession in 2019. 

 Primary Sources:

• CNN (2020)
• CNN (2020)
• The Dankook Herald (2020)
• Catching a Killer: The Hwaseong Murders Part 1 (2021)
• Catching a Killer: The Hwaseong Murders Part 2 (2021)
• Channel News Asia (2021)
• Ranker (2022)
• The Korea Herald (2023)

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In this episode, we dive into the true story behind one of the most infamous trials in Australian history: the Lindy Chamberlain case. We compare the real events surrounding the disappearance of baby Azaria Chamberlain in 1980 with the Hollywood Adaptation, Fred Schepisi’s A Cry in the Dark (1988; also known as Evil Angels), starring Meryl Streep. How accurately did the film portray Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, the media frenzy, and the controversial trial that followed? Join us as we explore the facts, myths, and lasting cultural significance of a story that shocked the world and still sparks debate today.

 Primary Sources:

• Bryson, John. Evil Angels: The Case of Lindy Chamberlain. Summit Books (1987).
• The Guardian (2012)
• The Guardian (2017)
• BBC (2023)

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In this episode, we peel back the layers of Gus Van Sant’s darkly satirical To Die For (1995) and the true story that inspired it: The 1990 murder of Greg Smart, orchestrated by his wife, Pamela Smart. Nicole Kidman’s icy portrayal of Suzanne Stone – an ambitious small-town woman willing to kill for fame – captivated audiences, but how closely does it mirror Pamela herself? We explore the real case: Pamela’s relationship with teenager Billy Flynn, the media circus that surrounded the trial, and how the coverage shaped public perception. We also look at what the movie gets right, what it dramatizes, and how Pamela Smart continues to make headlines decades later. Was To Die For a biting commentary on media obsession, or a Hollywood distortion of a tragedy that still divides opinions today? That’s up for you to decide.

Primary Sources:

• Sawicki, Stephen. Teach Me to Kill: The Shocking True Story of the Pamela Smart Murder Case. (2019). 
• NBC News (2006)
• Seacoast Online (2021)

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In our season five premiere, we put Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can (2002) under the microscope and compare it to the real-life story of Frank Abagnale Jr., the infamous con man whose wild exploits inspired the film. How much of Leonardo DiCaprio’s slick, globe-trotting portrayal matches reality, and how much is pure Hollywood invention? We dive into Abagnale’s early scams, his claims of passing as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer, and the FBI’s pursuit led by agent Joe Shea – the real counterpart to Tom Hanks’s character Carl Hanratty. We also examine how Abagnale reinvented himself after prison, becoming a security consultant, and question how reliable his own version of events really is. Was Frank Abagnale truly the “greatest con man of all time,” or has he been conning us all along?

Primary Sources:

• Logan, Alan. The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching the Truth While We Can. (2020).
• Frank Abagnale’s Website

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In part two of our season four finale, we unpack Spike Lee’s Malcolm X (1992), starring Denzel Washington, and examine how it compares to the real-life story of one of American’s most influential and controversial civil rights leaders. We break down the key moments from the film – Malcolm’s childhood, time in prison, conversion to Islam, rise in the Nation of Islam, and eventual split – and weigh them against the historical record. What did the film get right? What was left out or dramatized? And how do these creative choices affect our understanding of Malcolm’s legacy? Join us as we explore the man, the myth, and the movie.

Primary Source:

• Payne, Les & Payne, Tamara. The Dead are Rising: The Life of Malcolm X. Liveright Publishing Corporation (2020).

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In part one of our two-part season four finale, we dive deep into the chilling parallels between the critically acclaimed film American History X (1998) and the real-life story of Frank Meeink, a former Neo-Nazi turned spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). While American History X explores the violent world of white supremacy through the fictional character Derek Vinyard, played by Edward Norton, Frank Meeink’s Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead offers a raw, firsthand account of indoctrination, violence, and ultimately, transformation. We explore how both stories depict the seductive pull of hate, the brutal consequences of extremist ideology, and the long, painful road to redemption. What parts of American History X mirror Frank’s own life? Where do the stories diverge? And what can these narratives teach us about the roots of radicalization—and the hope for change?

Primary Sources:

• Meeink, Frank & Roy, Jody. Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead: The Frank Meeink Story. Hawthorne Books (2010).
• The Times of Israel (2024)
• The Independent (2025)

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