TRUE

From the 1920s to the 1950s, nothing was more fashionable for the rich and famous than adopting a child. Unlike the Hollywood fairytale endings, thousands of children during that time were bought and sold in a real-life baby black market. For decades, the undisputed boss of that underworld was a charming and pleasant woman from Tennessee named Georgia Tann. To this day, she remains the most prolific child predator in US history.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When neighbors disagree, it can often be the start of some pretty serious passive aggressiveness. Anonymous notes, dirty looks, and all-around juvenile behavior often ensues. But if that’s the most it escalates, consider yourself lucky. You could have a neighbor who decides to build a spite house. This is a structure designed with one purpose in mind, to annoy one’s neighbor by blocking daylight, views, and access to other areas. From Boston’s famous Skinny House to the Richardson Spite House in New York City, it’s amazing how far some people will go to show their frustration!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who doesn’t love a good movie? Whether it’s a romcom or an action adventure, sometimes there’s no better escape from reality. Behind the scenes, however, the reality is that movie making is a pretty risky business. From crewmembers being eaten by sharks to actors literally losing their heads for the perfect shot, the industry is not for everyone.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, sometimes making it out in one piece comes down to good old-fashioned luck. In maritime history, the award for luckiest person goes to a woman named Violet Jessop. She not only survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, but she also survived the sinking of another famous ocean liner, Britannic, four years later. Incredibly, Violet Jessop was aboard the RMS Olympic when it almost sank years earlier after colliding with a military vessel. The Queen of Sinking Ships eventually earned the nickname Miss Unsinkable.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you've ever been in the North End of Boston on a hot day, you might have noticed the sweet smell of molasses. That’s because in January 1919, over 2 million gallons of the sticky liquid burst from a massive holding tank killing 21 people and injuring more than 150 others. Over 100 years later, the smell lingers.

Or how about in 1914, when a beer tsunami killed several people in London? The wave was 15 feet high and contained enough beer to fill millions of pint glasses. And then there’s the burning river of whiskey that set fire to homes and businesses as it flowed through Dublin.

Not all deadly floods are made of water!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2010, the body of 55 year-old Greg Fleniken was found inside a hotel room in Beaumont, Texas. It was initially assumed that he died of a heart attack. After all, he tended to enjoy life to the fullest, and there was no sign of foul play. When the medical examiner started the autopsy, he expected no surprises. So, it came as a shock that the body’s internal damage was so severe that it had to be from blunt force trauma. It wasn’t. A private investigator and the lead detective teamed up to uncover what really happened in the curious murder of Greg Fleniken.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Olympic games have always been the ultimate competition. It showcases the very best of human athletic achievement. But what happens when scandal overshadows epic performances? From a marathon runner who rode as a passenger in a car for most of the race to a skier who made the Olympics by switching countries 3 times. Usually, legends are forged in the heat of competition, but not in these cases!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1974, police in Iceland were dealing with two separate disappearances in just the span of months. In a country where violent crime was almost unheard of, the pressure was on to solve both cases. With no bodies, eyewitnesses, or forensic evidence, authorities were getting desperate for a lead. When a suspect in an unrelated case said she had a nightmare about one of the missing people, police seized the opportunity. That nightmare turned into confessions from six people. The only problem was, none of them had any idea what they were talking about.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices