~ cueing up the show ~
~ pulling every episode ~
Ridiculous Crime — Every episode — OmList
om
list
Swipe
Tournament
Lists
Friends
All
Movies
TV
Books
Games
Music
Podcasts
People
▾
Sign in
Every episode
Ridiculous Crime
30 episodes
Ridiculous Crime Interviews: Matthew Campbell and The Man Who Stole the Gods, Part 2
Aug 13, 2026 · 60 min
For part two of this special edition, Zaron continues his interview with author Matthew Campbell about his book The Man Who Stole the Gods. In the second half of the interview, Matthew Campbell examines the other half of the art crime, the metaphorical detectives and police tasked with investigating and seeking justice for the Cambodian people. There's also discussion of redemption, righting of wrongs, and the role and responsibillities of museums and auction houses in this global tale of art cr…
Ridiculous Crime Interviews: Matthew Campbell and The Man Who Stole the Gods
Aug 11, 2026 · 48 min
For part one of this special edition, Zaron interviews author Matthew Campbell about his book The Man Who Stole the Gods. The incredible tale documents a truly global art crime. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and Cambodian Civil War and the rise of the Khmer Rouge, this story explores the theft of statues and bas reliefs from religious sites like Angkor Wat and how through a shadowy network of looters, middlemen, auction houses, museums and art collectors the cultural inheritance of…
I'll Stop the World and Melt with You: Joe Colombo Jr.
Aug 6, 2026 · 53 min
Joe Colombo Jr. was the son of a powerful, ruthless, flashy, publicity-loving mob boss. Joe Sr. was larger than life and as audacious as they come. One would expect his namesake to follow in his criming footsteps, which he did. In his own way. Junior joined in on a half-baked criminal plan, only for the whole thing to go south. The impact of his arrest, though, would go on to change the culture and even one of Hollywood's biggest films. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
God Wants You...To Make Me Rich!: The Crimes of John Alexander Dowie
Aug 4, 2026 · 1 hr
He was America's first super-wealthy faith healer. You could also say he was America's first religious robber baron. His name is John Alexander Dowie. After many arrests, lawsuits, and court fights, Dowie decided it would be best if he and his thousands of followers started their own town. And he named it Zion City. He ran his spiritual utopia like a company town in coal country. Things worked well for the wannabe Old Testament-style patriarch, right up until Dowie decided to lead a holy crusade…
Full of (John) Bull: Horatio Bottomley
Jul 30, 2026 · 56 min
A prototype for generations of crooked politicians and media figures to come, Horatio Bottomley knew how to work the public. Whether defrauding them with fake sweepstakes or holding boisterous hate rallies, Bottomley was a pro at making a name for himself while making plenty of coin, as long as there was plenty of the right champagne on hand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Rebel With A Cause: Rodney Wilkinson
Jul 28, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
In the days of apartheid South Africa, no one expected a young white man who was a former South African soldier to turn rebel and to then help Nelson Mandela and the ANC conduct a super-secret sabotage operation. But that's exactly what Rodney Wilkinson did. And his target? The new Koeberg nuclear facility. With the help of a lot of luck and his steely nerves, he planned to blow it all up. The question is: can a dope-smoking, bike-riding, commune-dwelling hippie turned fencing instructor get the…
Terrible, But Charming: Arthur Barry
Jul 23, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
If you're going to break the law, you might as well do it in style. And be polite, too! Arthur Barry robbed from the rich while pretending to be one of their own. In a bespoke suit with a martini in hand, he scoped out mansions and returned later to relieve the swells of their precious jewels. A truly ridiculous way to live! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
To Thine Own Self Do Crime
Jul 21, 2026 · 56 min
Sometimes in this world you're confronted with a choice. One that, years later, you'll look back at and recognize that choice was a key moment in your life. Because that choice catapaulted you forward where you eventually get slammed into the consequences of your actions. Whenever that moment comes, hope you don't look back and think: I should not have chosen the stupidest crime or the dumbest lie I could think of... because that's what the crimers in this episode did. Just one ridiculously crim…
We Didn't Start the Fyre: Fabulous Festival Failures
Jul 16, 2026 · 56 min
We all need escapes from this crazy world, and one way to do that is to meet up with like-minded folks and enjoy your shared, niche interests. Whether it's a magical world of candy, the finery of the Gilded Age, or the fantasy realm of dragons and otherkin, getting together and reveling in a breakaway from dismal reality is pretty satisfying. But what happens when the ones who are meant to facilitate flights of fancy drop the ball? Listen and find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf…
Shonk This Way: The 1935 Croydon Aerodrome Robbery
Jul 14, 2026 · 56 min
Once upon a time, some British hard men decided to steal some gold. They went out to an airport, worked their way into a bullion room, and lifted the gold. It was a classic heist for the ages. Here's the thing: they took a taxi home. The black cab was a cool ride, but it also left a witness in the form of the driver, a man chock full of "The Knowledge" and then some. The driver became the key to this case, but also somehow the lock. Figure that one out. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv…
The Good Bootlegger: Roy Olmstead
Jul 9, 2026 · 49 min
Using the nooks and crannies of Puget Sound as cover, Roy Olmstead ran a massive bootlegging empire during Prohibition. He was nonviolent, creative, and a whole lotta fun. And on top of that, he managed to have a lasting impact on the US legal system. Not bad for a former cop. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You Get an "A" For Effort: Beautiful Plans, Become Ridiculous Crimes
Jul 7, 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Often times the crimers on this show come up with audacious plans for their capers, heists and cons. But far too often they forget the other half of the equation: how to get away with their crimes. That's the theme of this episode! It features a single mother who tries to dig a tunnel to her child in prison, a techno DJ who sells phony airplane engine parts to major airlines, and a French academic who makes up an academy to give himself an award. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati…
Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect: LEGO theft
Jul 2, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
LEGO sets. Everybody loves them, crimers love to steal them. They're light, valuable, in demand, and untraceable. Perfect for illicit maneuvers! There are many ways to steal LEGOs; here are some of our favorites. This episode approved for listeners ages 4 - 99. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sebastian Marset: the Cocaine Kingpin and Professional Footballer
Jun 30, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
When he was a kid in Uruguay, playing football in the streets he always dreamed that one day he would grow up to be a professional soccer star. Instead, he grew up to be a cocaine cartel kingpin. And then, using his illicit power and untold illegal wealth he made his original dream come true. Along the way, he became an outlaw folk hero. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Strong Like Iron: Sophie Lyons
Jun 25, 2026 · 57 min
Sophie Lyons was an iconic criminal. From shoplifting to pickpocketing to scams to bank robbery, she could do it all. She knew what it was to break the law…and to pay the price. As her last act, she did her best to keep others from her fate. We love a good redemption story, don't we folks? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
I'm Gonna Steal Your Bird: the Strange World of Pigeon Theft
Jun 23, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Have you ever wanted to race a pigeon? No? Well, have you ever wanted to steal a pigeon? Still, no? Well, that doesn't matter! You'll still have your mind blown and your heart strings tugged by the weird and wonderful world of pigeon theft. The eye-popping prices for prized pigeons, the curious pigeon breeders and pigeon keepers, and of course the international criminals who take advantage of it all to fuel the black market. One thing is certain: this story says a lot about more about us than it…
The Likker King of Appalachia: Popcorn Sutton
Jun 18, 2026 · 52 min
To borrow from the late, great Waylon Jennings, Popcorn Sutton was just'a good ol' boy, never meanin' no harm. A modern day moonshiner, he was pretty much in trouble with the law since the day he was born. He was making his way the only way he knew how. Which was a little bit more than the law would allow. You get it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Billion Dollar 1MDB Heist: Jho Low Meets Leo and Marty
Jun 16, 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Jho Low was a well-connected money man for the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, created to foster green energy investment and better jobs for the people of Malaysia. But instead of doing any of that, Jho Low used the ill-gotten billions to finance a multi-year long orgy of parties and pleasure cruises. He eventually found his way to Hollywood, where he wooed Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese by financing Leo's dream project The Wolf of Wall Street. Oh the irony, that a film about financial crimes…
The Moment You've Been Waiting For: 2025 Louvre Museum Heist
Jun 11, 2026 · 58 min
Hot diggity dog, we love a good heist. And an art heist? Get outta here! And in the Louvre Museum? In Paris? Pinch us because we've got to be dreaming. In 2025, an audacious crew broke into the Louvre in broad daylight and stole glittering, historical jewelry. Then they made a run for it. The perps were eventually caught, but the loot has yet to be recovered. But the best part? A kid in a fedora who doesn't steal art...he steals our hearts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati…
Julie D'Aubigny: the Opera-Singing, Sword-Swinging, Gender-Bending Badass of 17th Century France
Jun 9, 2026 · 57 min
Julie D'Aubigny was truly a rare one. She could sword fight with the best of them. She could sing opera like a song bird. She wore men's clothing, she wore women's clothing, she wore whatever she wanted. And as a great lover, she'd also steal your girl. There was almost nothing she couldn't do. She also was a shameless outlaw who lived by the sword and nearly died by the executioner's ax. But she was cool with the Sun King, Louis XIV. Basically, she lived, she loved, and her life begs the questi…
Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Charles Ponzi
Jun 4, 2026 · 56 min
It's the American Dream to reach these golden shores, work hard, make your fortune, and see your name go down in history. Charles Ponzi did all that, just not in the way the law intended. He perfected the pyramid scheme to such a degree, they just named the whole thing after him. Not the legacy you want in life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
True Crime by A True Crimer: Mary Carole McDonnell, the Fake Aerospace Heiress
Jun 2, 2026 · 51 min
She made a name for herself in the world of True Crime TV. But it was not a good name. Mary Carole McDonnell was known to run a fly-by-night TV production company that paid poorly and paid late. But that was only a part of the story. She was also a faux nepo baby posing as an aerospace heiress. Which she leveraged into bank fraud to the tune of millions and millions. Further proof, in Hollywood, nothing is ever at it seems. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
I Was Just the Weed Guy: George Martorano
May 28, 2026 · 52 min
Born into a mob family, "Cowboy" George Martorano was pretty much destined to run afoul of the law. A non-violent guy in a roiling sea of brutality, he sold a whole lotta weed (and an even greater quantity of quaaludes). Like many drug smugglers, he wound up behind bars. But a life sentence for a first time, non-violent offense? Ridiculous. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Last True Outlaw of the Lonesome West: Roddy Dean Pippin
May 26, 2026 · 57 min
He always wanted to be a cowboy, ever since he first read about 'em in Louis L'Amour novels and watched them in John Wayne westerns. The only trouble was: he wanted to be the outlaw. And when he grew up, he did. Transcending the flow of time, Roddy Dean Pippin chose to become the last great cattle rustler. But being an outlaw –– son, that's against the law in Texas. And that would be a problem for Roddy Dean Pippin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thus Spoke the Lady Bandit: Pearl Hart
May 21, 2026 · 44 min
A woman with a muddled biography and a life of clever and not so clever endeavors, Pearl Hart was dubbed by the press as the Girl Bandit, the Last Stagecoach Robber, the Bandit Queen. Except she really wasn't. But she kind of was. Like her personal history, it's complicated. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Bit of a Sticky Wicket: the Crimes of Allen Stanford
May 19, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
He was the man at the heart of a Texas-sized Ponzi scheme that amassed billions in fraudulent profits via offshore banking. Despite his huge donations in Antigua and US politics and his investment in international cricket and polo tournaments, Allen Stanford’s empire of lies came undone when his literal blood brother turned state’s evidence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Too Mean to Swab Hell's Kitchen: The Battle Row Ladies' Social and Athletic Club
May 14, 2026 · 56 min
When you find yourself in a real pickle, a tight spot, a dangerous proposition in 1800s Hell's Kitchen, just ask yourself: what would Stumpy Malarkey do? What would Battle Annie do? What would Mallet Murphy do? How will I get out of this? Am I a time traveler? And what's my special nickname? No time to worry about all that. Start throwin' bricks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Great Chinese Lottery Heist
May 12, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Ren Xiaofeng thought he had a good life –– married, blessed with two twins, a good job at a bank. But it wasn't enough. He needed more. So he came up with a plan: what if he robbed the bank where he worked and then plowed that ill-gotten capital into his quick-cash investment strategy? He thought with all that newfound money he'd be a shoo-in to win a huge lottery prize. His plan had obvious flaws, but you can't win if you don't play. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in…
You Dirty Fish-peddlin' Bums: Celia Cooney, the Bobbed Hair Bandit
May 7, 2026 · 49 min
When a young feisty gal with nothing to lose met a young tough fella with nothing to lose, the only thing they could possibly lose was the spark between them. And there was no stopping that. They made no money, but they lived lives of wild luxury and excitement. How? Robbery! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Competition Crimes II: A Slight Return
May 5, 2026 · 59 min
Wherever you find people competing for a prize, if the number of them grows large enough, eventually, you will have cheaters. In the niche worlds of competitive stone-skippers, hog hunters, and British trivia shows, Zaron and Elizabeth ferret out some ridiculous examples. Let the games... and the crimes... begin! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
← Back to the show
