In this episode of The Compendium, we unravel the jaw-dropping story of Belle Gibson, the wellness influencer who built an empire on deception. She captivated the world with her inspirational journey of “beating” terminal brain cancer through Gerson Therapy and a clean-living lifestyle—only for the truth to come crashing down.

How did a single Instagram account lead to a bestselling cookbook, a major tech deal with Apple, and a global following? And more importantly, how did she manage to fool the world for so long? We break down the rise, the lies, and the fallout of one of the biggest scams in wellness history.

We give you just The Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:

• The Woman Who Fooled The World – by Beau Donnelly & Nick Toscano
• 60 Minutes: The Belle Gibson Interview – Hosted by Tara Brown
• What we know about Belle Gibson – Elle
• Bad Influencer: The Great Insta Con - BBC
• An honest account of our experience with Belle Gibson - Cosmo

Message Kyle and Adam

Connect with Us:

• 🌐 Our Website: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• 💬 Connect: Send us a voice note
• 📸 Our Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast

Support the show:

• 🍎 Review us on Apple Podcasts
• 🟢 Review us on Spotify
• ❤️ Get Early Access to Episodes on Patreon

Credits:

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• Intro and Outro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin
• All the Latest Things Intro: Clowns by Giulio Fazio

In this episode of The Compendium, we uncover the crazy story of Tania Head: the 9/11 survivor who wasn’t there. Once considered a symbol of resilience, Tania captivated the world with her vivid, heartbreaking details of her escape from the South Tower and the tragic loss of her fiancé. But years later, the shocking truth emerged that Tania was lying.

Today we will share how her lies deceived survivors, brought her fame, and raised questions about pathological liars and the need for connection. From the man in the red bandana to her rise as a leader of a 9/11 support group, this story is as baffling as it is heartbreaking.

We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:

• The Woman Who Wasn’t There (2012) - by Angelo Guglielmo
• The 9/11 Faker Documentary - by Angelo Guglielmo
• David Dunlap Exposé - The Times
• Welles Crowther and the Red Bandana - Website
• Psychology of Pseudologia Fantastica - Wikipedia

Message Kyle and Adam

Connect with Us:

• 🌐 Our Website: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• 💬 Connect: Send us a voice note
• 📸 Our Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast

Support the show:

• 🍎 Review us on Apple Podcasts
• 🟢 Review us on Spotify
• ❤️ Get Early Access to Episodes on Patreon

Credits:

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• Intro and Outro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin
• All the Latest Things Intro: Clowns by Giulio Fazio

In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into the hilarious and dramatic saga of Anish Kapoor vs Stuart Semple: The Art World’s Pettiest Feud. It’s a story about the world’s blackest black, the brightest pink, and a feud that rocked the art world. Discover how exclusivity and artistic activism collided when Kapoor claimed the rights to Vantablack, sparking Semple’s colourful counterattack with Pinkest Pink. From petty antics to groundbreaking art innovation, this episode explores the ongoing battle for inclusivity, creativity, and, of course, the blackest black paint.

We give you the Compendium, but if you want more, then check out these great resources:

1. The Pinkest Pink Paint – Culture Hustle
2. Vantablack Explained – Surrey NanoSystems
3. Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate – Art Institute Chicago
4. The Story of Black 4.0 – Stuart Semple’s YouTube Channel
5. The Feud That Shaped Modern Art Activism – ArtNet

Message Kyle and Adam

Connect with Us:

• 🌐 Our Website: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• 💬 Connect: Send us a voice note
• 📸 Our Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast

Support the show:

• 🍎 Review us on Apple Podcasts
• 🟢 Review us on Spotify
• ❤️ Get Early Access to Episodes on Patreon

Credits:

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• Intro and Outro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin
• All the Latest Things Intro: Clowns by Giulio Fazio