The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things

A quiz show champion reaches the million-pound question, only for suspicious coughs to spark a scandal that grips the nation.

This episode revisits the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire coughing scandal, tracing how Charles Ingram, his wife Diana, and Tecwen Whittock became the centre of a media storm and courtroom battle. We explore the evidence, the trial, the role of Chris Tarrant, and the twists that inspired ITV’s Quiz, all while asking whether the Coughing Major was truly guilty.

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A failed explosion beneath Parliament ignites a chain of treason, torture, and myth-making that still echoes every Bonfire Night.

This episode traces the real story of Guy Fawkes, from Robert Catesby’s radical plot to the brutal aftermath that shaped Britain’s most famous annual ritual. We explore whether Fawkes was the mastermind or the perfect scapegoat, and how a botched act of rebellion became a national night of fire, memory, and political symbolism.

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A young artist survives unimaginable pain and transforms it into paintings so bold and intimate they redefine what art can be.

This episode explores Frida Kahlo’s turbulent life, from the accident that reshaped her body to the politics, passion, and creative defiance that fuelled her work. We trace her self-portraits, her fractured relationship with Diego Rivera, and the way she turned personal suffering into a visual language that made her an icon of rebellion and self-expression.

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A luxury music festival in the Bahamas collapses into chaos, leaving celebrity hype, empty promises, and bewildered guests in its wake.

This episode unpacks the rise and ruin of Fyre Festival, from Billy McFarland’s glossy vision of a VIP paradise to the cascading failures that exposed a web of lies. We follow the influencers, the investors, the infamous cheese sandwich, and the fallout that turned a marketing fantasy into a modern lesson in greed and delusion.

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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 p...

A family lunch ends in three deaths, one near miss, and a swirl of suspicion as police uncover a tale stranger than fiction.

This episode examines the Mushroom Murders, where Erin Patterson’s Beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms triggered one of Australia’s most sensational criminal cases. We trace the shifting stories, the courtroom revelations, and the web of deception that turned a family meal into an international headline.

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A reality show convinces its contestants they’ve been launched into space, creating one of the strangest deceptions in British television history.

This episode revisits Space Cadets, the 2005 Channel 4 hoax that used fake cosmonaut training, a shuttle simulator, and an entire “Russian base” built in Ipswich to sell an impossible illusion. We explore how the production pulled it off, why the contestants believed it, and how this bizarre stunt still stands as reality TV’s most audacious experiment.

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A troubled drifter becomes one of America’s most notorious female serial killers, leaving behind a trail of violence and a life shaped by cruelty.

This episode explores the tragic and brutal story of Aileen Wuornos, from her abusive childhood to the murders that later inspired the film Monster. We look at the forces that shaped her, the rage and trauma that defined her choices, and the unsettling debate over whether she was a cold-blooded killer or a woman pushed past the edge by a lifetime of suffering.

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A rising sports icon shoots his girlfriend through a locked bathroom door, leaving a nation divided over intent, truth, and justice.

This episode revisits the killing of Reeva Steenkamp, tracing Oscar Pistorius’s rapid ascent, the events of that Valentine’s Day in Pretoria, and the trial that gripped South Africa. We explore the legal twists, the cultural context around crime and fear, and the lingering question of who Reeva was beyond the headlines and courtroom arguments.

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A serial killer stalks couples in the Tuscan hills for nearly twenty years, leaving Italy gripped by fear, rumours, and a mystery that refuses to die.

This episode unpacks the chilling case of the Monster of Florence, tracing how a series of lover’s lane murders spiralled into one of Europe’s most notorious unsolved investigations. We explore the myths, the obsession, the links to pop culture, and the tangled theories that pulled in everyone from local investigators to writers and even the Amanda Knox case.

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A princess spends her final year hunted by cameras, torn between private love and public myth, before a fatal chase changes the world forever.

This episode follows the last chapter of Diana’s life, from her quiet relationship with Hasnat Khan to her intense summer with Dodi Fayed under the glare of global scrutiny. We explore the pressures surrounding her, the chaotic night in Paris, and the swirl of conspiracy, grief, and legacy that shaped how the world remembers her.

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A viral video promises to stop a warlord, igniting global frenzy before collapsing into scandal, backlash, and one very public unraveling.

This episode revisits Kony 2012, charting how a polished campaign about Joseph Kony and the LRA captured worldwide attention through emotional storytelling and social media hype. We explore the action kits, the celebrity endorsements, the evangelical funding, and the rapid shift from praise to ridicule as the movement fell apart and achieved almost nothing on the ground.

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A quiet Midwestern town uncovers horrors inside a farmhouse, revealing the man who would become Hollywood’s most disturbing inspiration.

This episode examines the real story of Ed Gein, from the murder of Bernice Worden to the macabre discoveries that exposed a life shaped by isolation, obsession, and violence. We trace how his crimes fuelled some of cinema’s darkest creations and why his legacy continues to haunt true crime and pop culture ahead of the new Ryan Murphy series.

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A princess fights for autonomy as her marriage collapses, navigating scandal, heartbreak, and a public image she could no longer control.

This episode traces the turbulent years leading to Diana’s divorce from Charles, exploring her struggle with bulimia, the emotional fallout of their separation, and the affairs that ignited tabloid frenzy. We unpack the James Hewitt relationship, the shockwaves inside the Royal Family, the symbolic power of the Revenge Dress, and how her AIDS advocacy reshaped her public legacy during one of the most tumultuous chapters of her life.

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A honeymoon turns deadly in Cape Town, triggering a case of murder, corruption, and conflicting testimonies that still divides South Africa.

This episode retraces the killing of Anni Dewani, from the staged hijacking in Gugulethu to the international media storm that followed. We examine Shrien Dewani’s trial and acquittal, the plea bargains that shaped the narrative, and the CCTV and forensic battles that left the truth contested and the public fiercely divided.

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A woman is kidnapped, dismissed as a liar, and compared to a fictional villain before the truth finally forces the world to listen.

This episode revisits Denise Huskins’s ordeal in Vallejo, where a terrifying abduction was written off as a hoax until evidence proved otherwise. We trace the police missteps, the media frenzy, the impact of Gone Girl comparisons, and how Denise and Aaron reclaimed their story through the American Nightmare docuseries and their memoir Victim F.

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A fairy-tale romance unravels almost instantly, leaving a young woman trapped between duty, loneliness, and a love story that was never built to survive.

This episode traces Diana’s early life and whirlwind engagement to Charles, revealing how Royal expectations, emotional distance, and the presence of Camilla Parker Bowles shattered the illusion of a perfect match. We explore her childhood influences, the pressures of palace life, and how isolation and bulimia emerged as the hidden cost of becoming the People’s Princess.

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What if Rome never truly folded into history, but instead, quietly reinvented itself behind the scenes? In this spine-tingling episode of Fringe Beyond Limits, we unveil the hidden continuities of Roman power, from the clandestine corridors of the Vatican to the global networks of modern finance, government, and secret societies.
Join hosts Frank, Breanna, and Lynette as they trace a trail from the Holy Roman Empire to the European Union, explore ancient Roman law beneath international banking, and seek chilling reflections of Rome in today’s superpowers. Could the Vatican still pulse with imperial essence? Are wor...

In this episode of the Compendium, we're re-exploring the wild rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos scandal that rocked Silicon Valley. Discover how Holmes, decieved investors with false promises and turned Theranos into a culture of secrets and fear. We'll look at the key roles of Sunny Balwani and whistleblower Tyler Shultz in this tale of ambition and deception, painting a vivid picture of one of the most infamous startup frauds in history.

Resources and Further Reading

In this episode of the Compendium, we’re clutching our pearls as I tell Adam all about the tumultuous saga behind the House of Gucci. From the ambitious beginnings of Guccio Gucci to the tragic murder of Maurizio Gucci. We’re not hitting play on an old run of ‘Days of our Lives’, because this is the real story of legacy, scandals and murder.

We are recounting the pivotal roles played by Aldo and Rodolfo Gucci, the transformative under Tom Ford, and how the murder orchestrated by Patrizia Reggiani marked a turning point for the luxury brand. The stor...

In this episode of the Compendium, we diving back into the audacious tale where eight Belgian nuns orchestrate an unlikely escape from a life of stringent spiritual commitments to chase a dream of freedom in the sun-drenched South of France. Explore how Sister Anna and her cohort leveraged a surprising Belgian nuns legal loophole exploitation to sell their ancient convent and fund their new lavish lifestyle. This scandalous nun story, wrapped in secrecy and drama, challenges the expected norms of the Order of Saint Clare and highlights profound Catholic Church scandals.

We'll take you through the planning...

In this episode of The Compendium, we're jumping back onboard the highly requested Titanic! This is the first episode of our two-part series, where we delve into the ambitious conception of the RMS Titanic and the enduring stories of its passengers and crew that make this Titanic story unforgettable.

Today, you'll learn about key figures like J.P. Morgan and Bruce Ismay, whose dreams and ambitions led to the construction of what was then the largest and most luxurious ship ever built. We'll explore the history and timeline of the Titanic, from its launch in Southampton to...

In this episode of The Compendium, we revisit the tragic story of the Menendez Brothers Lyle and Erik. Unraveling the shocking truth behind why they killed their parents. We'll dive into their infamous trial, the abuse claims that surfaced, and how it captivated the nation. What really happened during the Menendez Brothers trial? Did the Netflix documentary do their story justice? From the chilling 911 call to the courtroom drama, we break down the events that led to this notorious crime and the lasting legacy of Lyle and Erik Menendez.

Resources and Further Reading