In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into the chaotic story of Fyre Festival, the so-called “greatest party that never happened.” What began as Billy McFarland’s glossy vision of a luxury music festival in the Bahamas quickly unraveled into a full-scale disaster involving Ja Rule, celebrity influencers, and one infamous cheese sandwich. We explore how this viral catastrophe became a modern parable of greed, Ponzi schemes, and social media delusion, and what happened to Billy McFarland after the fallout.

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In this episode of The Compendium, we hand over the mic to our friends at Horrifying History for a crossover episode. Its a tale so bizarre, it sounds made up, but absolutely isn’t.

In 1876, a woman in rural Kentucky stepped outside to find chunks of raw meat falling from the sky. Yes, actual meat!  What followed was a media frenzy, scientific confusion, and some truly stomach-churning theories — including one involving vulture vomit.

Horrifying History explores this forgotten slice of weird America and why it’s exactly the kind of story we love: unsettling, unexplained, and just plausible enough to make you question everything.

And find more episodes of Horrifying History wherever you get your podcasts.

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In this episode of The Compendium, we explore the Mushroom Murders the shocking case of Erin Patterson and the deadly family lunch poisoned with death cap mushrooms. Three relatives died, one barely survived, and the trial revealed her deep web of lies. This episode has it all, deception, courtroom drama and of course that imfamous poisoned Beef Wellington. Join us as we uncover how this bizarre story became Australia’s most infamous mushroom murder trial.

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In this episode of The Compendium, we revisit Space Cadets: How A British Reality Show Convinced Contestants They Were In Space. In 2005, Channel 4 and Endemol staged the most ambitious TV hoax in British history, tricking contestants into believing they had been launched into orbit. Hosted by Johnny Vaughan, the show combined fake cosmonaut training, a shuttle simulator, and an elaborate Ipswich “Russian base” to sell the illusion. Nearly twenty years later, we unpack how Space Cadets blurred entertainment and deception, why it remains reality TV’s strangest moment, and how contestants truly believed they were in space.

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In this episode of The Compendium, Adam walks us through the tragic and terrifying story of Aileen Wuornos. Aileen was the Florida sex worker whose life of abuse, rage, and survival turned her into one of America’s most infamous female serial killers. We’ll tell you about her violent childhood to the murders that inspired Monster, we explore the woman behind the headlines, her fractured mind, and the haunting question at the heart of her story: was Aileen a monster, or a victim who never stood a chance?

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In this episode of The Compendium, we revisit the tragic story of Reeva Steenkamp and the night she was killed by Oscar Pistorius. From the rise of the Blade Runner to the shocking Valentine’s Day shooting in Pretoria, we examine the trial, the verdict, and the controversy that followed. Exploring themes of manslaughter, parole, and South Africa’s crime culture, this episode asks: who was Reeva, and what does her story reveal about justice and violence?

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In this episode of The Compendium, we delve into the terrifying true story of the Monster of Florence — the Italian serial killer who stalked lovers in the Tuscan hills for nearly two decades. Blending fact, obsession, and myth, we uncover how the unsolved case inspired Hannibal Lecter, entangled the Amanda Knox investigation, and haunted generations of Florence locals. This chilling journey through Italy’s darkest legend exposes a mystery that still grips the world today.

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In this episode of The Compendium, we trace the final year of Diana’s life — from her private relationship with Hasnat Khan to her whirlwind summer with Dodi Fayed. As the Royal Family watched from a distance, Diana found herself caught between love, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of the paparazzi. Princess Diana Part 3 explores the crash, the conspiracies, and the myth that followed her final goodbye.

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In this episode of The Compendium, we revisit the explosive rise and spectacular fall of Kony 2012 — the viral video that promised to stop Joseph Kony and his LRA army, but became a cautionary tale about social media activism. From the $30 action kits to celebrity endorsements, evangelical funding, and a public meltdown, we unravel how a glossy campaign captured the world’s attention… and why it ultimately failed to do anything… at all.

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In this episode of The Compendium, we uncover the disturbing story of Ed Gein, the Wisconsin serial killer whose gruesome crimes shocked a nation and inspired Hollywood’s darkest legends. From the murder of Bernice Worden to the horrifying discoveries inside his farmhouse, we explore the truth behind the Ed Gein murders and how his life shaped films like Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs. With the upcoming Ryan Murphy Monster: The Ed Gein Story Netflix series on the horizon, we reveal the chilling reality behind the myth.

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