137 episodes

Badlands is a true crime podcast that explores the real life stories of the famous at their most infamous. Badlands is voiced by Jake Brennan, host of the award-winning podcast DISGRACELAND. In Badlands, each episode digs into the crimes and scandals of our most beloved cultural figures. How did Marilyn Monroe really die? What caused Heath Ledger to end up on the bad side of revenge-seeking paparazzi? How did Winona Ryder help solve a kidnapping case in her adoptive hometown? New scripted episodes of Badlands are released every Wednesday while bonus episodes are released every Friday. Badlands is not a journalistic podcast. It is an entertainment podcast inspired by true events. Certain dialogue and scenes are sometimes fictionalized for dramatic purposes as they are in most scripted entertainment based on true events. Sources and credits for each episode are available at disgracelandpod.com/badlands. Badlands is available wherever you get your podcasts.

BADLANDS Double Elvis

    • History
    • 4.2 • 72 Ratings

Badlands is a true crime podcast that explores the real life stories of the famous at their most infamous. Badlands is voiced by Jake Brennan, host of the award-winning podcast DISGRACELAND. In Badlands, each episode digs into the crimes and scandals of our most beloved cultural figures. How did Marilyn Monroe really die? What caused Heath Ledger to end up on the bad side of revenge-seeking paparazzi? How did Winona Ryder help solve a kidnapping case in her adoptive hometown? New scripted episodes of Badlands are released every Wednesday while bonus episodes are released every Friday. Badlands is not a journalistic podcast. It is an entertainment podcast inspired by true events. Certain dialogue and scenes are sometimes fictionalized for dramatic purposes as they are in most scripted entertainment based on true events. Sources and credits for each episode are available at disgracelandpod.com/badlands. Badlands is available wherever you get your podcasts.

    REWIND - Lana Turner: The Preeminent Pinup Girl, the King of Los Angeles, and the Death of Johnny Stompanato

    REWIND - Lana Turner: The Preeminent Pinup Girl, the King of Los Angeles, and the Death of Johnny Stompanato

    As captivating as actress Lana Turner was on screen, her personal life off screen was more dramatic than any movie could hope to be. Her father, turning up dead over a poker pot. Her co-star, Sean Connery, throwing down with pre-Bond panache when her boyfriend threatened to beat her up. And that same boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, winding up dead in her Hollywood home after another of their infamous arguments.
    To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com/badlands.
    This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including domestic violence and child sexual assault.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 39 min
    REWIND = Sonny Liston: Managed by the Mob, Heavyweight Champ of the Prison and then the World, and What It Takes to Be the Baddest of Them All

    REWIND = Sonny Liston: Managed by the Mob, Heavyweight Champ of the Prison and then the World, and What It Takes to Be the Baddest of Them All

    Sonny Liston transcended a life of petty crime, police busts, and prison time to become the heavyweight champion of the world. He was so feared as a fighter, however, that he made it to the big time with the financial backing of a rogue’s gallery of infamous underworld figures. That dubious association would win him some fights, lose him some fights, and ultimately, lead to more than a few suspicious asterisks next to his boxing record. And it may have even killed him.
    To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com/badlands.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 42 min
    Presenting DISGRACELAND: Steve McQueen: Mustangs, Magnums, and Manson's Hit List

    Presenting DISGRACELAND: Steve McQueen: Mustangs, Magnums, and Manson's Hit List

    Hustling on the streets of New York. Wagering with a U.S. president over who could sleep with more women. Knocking back beers with Elvis. Waving his gun around at the funeral of Jay Sebring, one of the victims of Charles Manson’s murderous family. The same family that had their sights now set on the King of Cool, Steve McQueen, who needed the speed of a Mustang or the power of a Magnum to keep Charlie’s crazy cult at bay.

    To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 39 min
    REWIND - Danny Trejo: A Prison Riot, the Gas Chamber, and Becoming Fear

    REWIND - Danny Trejo: A Prison Riot, the Gas Chamber, and Becoming Fear

    Danny Trejo holds the record for most on-screen deaths by an actor. His go-to role is the bad guy – the baddest guy. The guy you do not mess with. And for the first 25 years of his life, he was that guy for real. He led a life of violence and drugs that landed him in just about every hardcore prison in California, including Folsom and San Quentin. On the inside, he ran the gym, the drugs, and protection rackets. And then one day, the tables turned and Danny Trejo was the one who needed protection. After the dust settled on a bloody prison riot, Trejo found himself staring down the death penalty.
    To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com/badlands.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 37 min
    REWIND - Sal Mineo: Street Gangs, Ouija Boards, and Unabashed Pride

    REWIND - Sal Mineo: Street Gangs, Ouija Boards, and Unabashed Pride

    James Dean’s co-star in Rebel Without a Cause was an early trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community in Hollywood. Over the years he was harassed, heckled, and had his life threatened – just for being himself. When he was mysteriously murdered at the age of 37, the 15-month investigation exposed just how deep intolerance ran in the hearts and minds of many, despite Sal’s efforts to the contrary.
    To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com/badlands.
    This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual assault.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 46 min
    REWIND - The Dating Game Killer: Persuasion, Charm, and a Depraved Murderer at Large

    REWIND - The Dating Game Killer: Persuasion, Charm, and a Depraved Murderer at Large

    Rodney Alcala, AKA The Dating Game Killer, was a depraved murderer who eluded authorities for years. He hid his true identity behind charm and persuasion. He worked as a summer camp counselor while on the lam for the savage assault of an eight-year-old girl. He convinced his parole officer to let him take a vacation to the other side of the country, where he proceeded to commit another of his many murders. While New Yorkers were watching their backs for the Son of Sam in the summer of ’77, he killed again. And at the height of his killing spree, he managed to star in one of the creepiest moments in Hollywood history as a contestant on a popular television game show.
    To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com/badlands.
    This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and graphic descriptions of violence.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 42 min

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5
72 Ratings

72 Ratings

Clairej03 ,

Interesting stories

Found this podcast by accident, interesting stories and a lot of stuff I didn’t know about well-known stories!!
Is very annoying though how every single episode the narrator reminds us he can’t afford rights to the music he wants. I think mentioning it once would be enough.

yournightmxre__ ,

Absolute

Garbage pod with the most annoying narrator.

AR3942 ,

Excellent

Been listening to Jake for a while across all his podcasts. He takes it to the next level. Thoroughly entertaining and a joy to listen to. Keep it up Jake.

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