Ridiculous Crime

A man loves rare books. A lot. But the man doesn't have any money and those rare books are pricey. So he steals books. A lot. There was one man, though, who couldn't let this happen. One man standing for truth, justice, and the literary way. So began a cat and mouse game that exists to this day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hippie nudist drug dealer in Hawaii. Check. Father of three who faked his death. Check. Crimes done under hypnosis. Check. Pablo Escobar. Check. The CIA and the Iran-Contra Affair. Check? Wait, what. Yes, this story has... everything, and then some!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The best cat burglar in the world, a guitar player with IBS, the Genovese Crime Family, and a child bride walk into a bar. Actually, they walk into a posh dinner party. Actually, they sneak past a posh dinner party. Trust us, the punchline is ridiculous.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did we get cokeheads? Who would put cocaine in wine? Why do young men feel compelled to hang Scarface posters on their walls? Thanks for asking. We can lay the blame squarely at the feet of a soda, a psychiatrist, and a fictional detective. From there, it was just a hop, skip, and a bump to mayhem and racial panic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Classical music, it's so fancy! Did you know that classical and modern composers were also sort of a crimey bunch? Elizabeth gets loose sharing the antics of these highfalutin geniuses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This one is a trip through midcentury America and all its paranoias, moral panics, and witchhunts. In particular, we focus on two men, Senator Joseph McCarthy and Harry J Anslinger. One was responsible for the Red Scare and the other started the War on Drugs. But also one was a daily morphine junkie and the other was his plug. Yes...this is 100% a true story! And it's guaranteed ridiculousness!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's an excellent idea -- hijack a poorly-guarded mail truck. But what if it's just full of junk mail and postcards? Then it wouldn't merit a mention on Ridiculous Crime, now would it? It was full of cash, baby! In response, the police rounded up the usual suspects…and even went after their cats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A story about hundreds of rare birds, some British naturalists, one of the wealthiest families in the world, and the young American musician who planned to steal the rare collection and sell them on the black market, so he could buy himself a golden flute. It sounds like a fairy tale for felons!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've heard this name. You may have even used it. The name makes you think of relaxation, luxury, cheesiness, and sexy times. And if we do our job right, every time you hear this word from now on, you'll think of crime. Come with us as we follow the story of an immigrant family dead set on making a name for themselves. And oh, how they did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The name Milli Vanilli is now synonmous with a hoax –– but at one time, their heavily-accented pop stardom fooled the whole world. That is, until the truth won out, and when it did it wrecked their money-making illusion. But who were Milli Vanilli, which one was Milli and which one was Vanilli, why did they think they could con the world with well-produced pop songs, and why can't Zaron do a French accent? Learn the answers to all these questions and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.