109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

The largest disability fraud case in United States history is linked to a flamboyant lawyer in a small Kentucky town. Prelude: The history and abuse of Social Security Disability Insurance. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram Twitter.com TikTok Facebook Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A multinational meat processing company wreaks havoc on animals and people in pursuit of profits. Prelude: Cody Easterday's $233 million "ghost cattle" scheme. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram Twitter.com TikTok Facebook Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The eccentric director of a veterans charity goes on the run after being exposed as a fraud. Prelude: The downfall of a county commissioner in Florida. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram Twitter.com TikTok Facebook Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Nevada-based alkaline water company owned by a local politician is blamed for an outbreak of serious illnesses. Prelude: The events surrounding a Nevada state senator's resignation. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram Twitter.com TikTok Facebook Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A village clerk in Nebraska leads the charge to rebuild after a catastrophic tornado and becomes the focal point of an international mystery. Prelude: Twin tornadoes devastate Pilger, Nebraska. –––-–---------------------------------------- BUY THE SWINDLED SOUNDTRACK ON VINYL –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram Twitter.com TikTok Facebook Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A critically ill teenager writes a best-selling book about his abusive childhood. Prelude: New Horizons Youth Ministry opens a child reform program overseas. Originally published July 18, 2021. –––-–---------------------------------------- PATREON: Patreon.com/Swindled DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr.black –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram.com/SwindledPodcast Twitter.com/SwindledPodcast Facebook.com/SwindledPodcast Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A multinational consumer goods corporation finds itself mired in controversy. Prelude: The Fenholloway River is classified as an "industrial waterway." Originally published June 20, 2021. –––-–---------------------------------------- PATREON: Patreon.com/Swindled DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr.black –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram.com/SwindledPodcast Twitter.com/SwindledPodcast Facebook.com/SwindledPodcast Additional writing and research on this episode by Jordan Rozansky. Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A multinational pharmaceutical company with a dark past becomes the central figure of a contaminated blood product crisis. Prelude: Ryan White is banned from school after contracting HIV. Originally published August 16, 2020. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop WATCH: SwindledVideo.com –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram Twitter.com TikTok Facebook Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A utility company's neglected equipment ignites the deadliest wildfire in California history. Prelude: A natural gas leak destroys a neighborhood in San Bruno. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop WATCH: SwindledVideo.com –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram Twitter.com TikTok Facebook Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The manufacturer of a persistent pesticide endangers the people and environment of Hopewell, Virginia. Prelude: Two islands in the French West Indies are contaminated with chlordecone. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop WATCH: SwindledVideo.com –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram Twitter.com TikTok Facebook Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices