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
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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

In this episode of The Compendium, we explore the Billion-Dollar Banquet, the Shah of Iran's lavish event that celebrated the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire. Dive into the opulence of the world's most expensive party, hosted in Persepolis, and uncover how this extravagant display of power contributed to the downfall of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and ignited the Iranian Revolution.

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

1. The Shah of Iran - Documentary narrated by Orson Welles.
2. Persepolis: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Persian Empire’s Capital City
3. Barbara Walters’ Interview with the Shah - Youtube
4. Decadence and Downfall In Iran: - Youtube

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 explore the fascinating and chaotic world of Jerry Springer. From his beginnings as a politician to his rise as the controversial king of daytime television, we uncover the untold stories behind the Jerry Springer Show. Using our focus keyphrase "Jerry Springer," we delve into the history of the show, why it was so controversial, and how it redefined sensationalist TV. Discover the most infamous TV fights, the cultural impact of this infamous talk show, and even its transformation into an opera. Tune in for a wild ride through television history that will leave you questioning how far entertainment should go.

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

1. Jerry Springer: The Opera (2003) - Wikipedia
2. The Rise and Fall of Jerry Springer - The Guardian
3. Netflix Documentry Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action - Netflix

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 unbelievable story of The Terminal Man, Mehran Karimi Nasseri, the inspiration behind Spielberg’s 2004 movie "The Terminal". Trapped in Charles de Gaulle Airport for 18 years, Mehran, known as Sir Alfred, survived extraordinary circumstances, from bureaucratic nightmares to emotional isolation. Discover the true story behind The Terminal movie, how one man adapted to life in an airport, and why his tragic journey captivated the world. This is a tale of resilience, identity, and the human spirit that defies all odds.

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

1. The Terminal (2004) - Imbd
2. Here to Where (2002) - Youtube Full Mocumentry
3. The 15 Year Layover - by Michael Paterniti (GQ)
4. The Terminal Man - by Alfred Merhan

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 explore the chaotic legacy of Roar, the most dangerous movie ever made. Find out how Tippi Hedren, Noel Marshall, and a young Melanie Griffith risked life and limb filming a "ferocious comedy" starring 150 “untamed” lions and tigers. From real injuries on set to an 11-year production nightmare, we uncover the shocking truth behind a cult classic that redefined Hollywood disaster. If you’ve ever wondered how Roar became the most dangerous film ever made, this is the story you’ve been waiting for.

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

1. Shambala Preserve - Tippi Hedren’s Big Cat Sanctuary
2. Interview with John Marshall on the making of Roar - Grantland
3. Roar: The most Dangerous Movie Ever Made - YouTube
4. Roar Production details - IMDB

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 are transporting back to 1986 to explore the Challenger Disaster. learn about Christa McAuliffe and her dream that turned into a heartbreaking space shuttle tragedy. Learn how a flawed O-ring caused the space shuttle explosion and changed NASA forever. We’ll discuss Richard Feynman’s critical role in uncovering the truth and the lasting impact of the Challenger Disaster on space exploration. and we’ll examine how this tragedy happened, what lessons were learned, and its ripple effects on the world of science and beyond.

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

1. Challenger: The Final Flight (Netflix series)
2. NASA’s Official Challenger Disaster - Archives
3. The Rogers Commission Report - pdf
4. Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion - Youtube
5. Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning

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