49 episodes
Scamfluencers Wondery
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- Society & Culture
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4.4 • 646 Ratings
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You never really know someone…especially online. In today’s world, the power of influence can be the quickest path to money and fame, and it often ends in ruin. These are the stories of the world’s most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. On Wondery’s new weekly series, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? From Black Swan Murder to a fake social media influencer to an audacious Hollywood Ponzi schemer, each season will take the listener along the twists and turns, the impact on victims, and what’s left when the facade falls away.
New episodes come out every Monday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. Listen ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.
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Three Weddings and a Funeral | Part I
In the late 1970s, Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter leaves his small Bavarian village in pursuit of the American dream. He enrolls in high school in Connecticut and tries to impress his classmates with fake accents, fancy suits, and grandiose stories. Over the years, he spins even bigger lies and creates fake names and new identities all over the country, winning over unsuspecting women along the way. By the time his victims figure out he’s been hiding a gruesome secret, it’ll be too late.
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Three Weddings and a Funeral | Part II
By the late 1980s, Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter is now known as New York City bond trader Christopher Crowe. But even the Wall Street lifestyle is not quite glamorous enough for him. So he decides to transform once again, this time into a billionaire heir: a Rockefeller. With his new last name, he meets the woman of his dreams and settles into the leisurely life he’s always wanted. But when his past catches up with him — skeletons and all — it’ll all go up in flames.
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The Great Escape
Carlos Ghosn gets an early start in the auto industry and works his way up the corporate ladder at companies like Michelin and Renault. By the time he’s in charge of Nissan in the early 2000s, he’s become a celebrity CEO. Businessmen copy his style and fans swoon when he enters a room. But behind the scenes, Carlos is playing dirty. And when he gets caught, he’ll decide to do the unthinkable.
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The Memory Maker | Part I
After surviving a difficult childhood, Teal Swan starts a family and reinvents herself as a spiritual leader for the Internet age. She gains a huge following by talking openly about a wide-range of topics, including taboo mental health issues. In her videos, she’s warm, candid, and relatable. But her unconventional approach may have some dark consequences.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. The U.S. National Alliance on Mental Illness is available at 1-800-950-6264. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline in the US by calling 1-800-656-4673. That's 1-800-656-4673.
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The Memory Maker | Part II
Teal Swan’s self-help empire is on the rise, and so is the backlash to some of her most controversial techniques. Teal fights back against her critics, releasing long rebuttals and detailed explainers on YouTube. She even invites a film crew to document her life and hires a private investigator to prove she’s got nothing to hide. But when the findings come out, things will get even more complicated.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. The U.S. National Alliance on Mental Illness is available at 1-800-950-6264. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline in the US by calling 1-800-656-4673. That's 1-800-656-4673.
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
Wine Crime
Rudy Kurniawan is what’s known as a super-taster: He’s able to identify any wine simply by tasting it. He uses this extraordinary talent to gain influence and rake in serious cash, hosting extravagant tastings and auctioning off collectible bottles. But when wine aficionados start to suspect Rudy’s been lying, they’ll blow the cork off one of the industry’s juiciest scandals.
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Customer Reviews
Subscription
I love this podcast but I’m not paying that much to hear the end of stories I can look up. I’m disappointed they went this route. The queens of true crime at MFM never went this way. They found other ways to make money without holding their fans hostage to a fee.
Witty, well written, and smart
Love this podcast! Sarah and Saachi are such good hosts. It’s very well written, intelligent, and funny. Love listening to them while I work. Keep the episodes coming! (Also, I’m a White woman- any negative reviews complaining about discussions of racism and sexism is White fragility at its best). Listen and enjoy, folks!
Sorry
I’m sorry but I just can’t handle the way the story is being told. It’s insufferable. I’m sorry I had to stop half way thru my first episode. I wish you all the best