Aileen Wuornos: Queen of the Serial Killers

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. Topics include The Gunpowder Plot’s origins Guy Fawkes’s role and interrogation Robert Catesby’s leadership King James I’s response The making of Bonfire Night tradition Resources and Further Reading The Gunpowder Plot - Wikipedia The Gunpowder Plot: Terror and Faith in 1605 – by Antonia Fraser Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot – Tower of London Guy Fawkes night - Wikipedia Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Topics include Frida Kahlo’s life-changing accident Her most influential self-portraits Politics, identity, and artistic rebellion The complexities of her relationship with Diego Rivera Her legacy from La Casa Azul to global recognition Resources and Further Reading Frida (2002) – Directed by Julie Taymor Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo – by Hayden Herrera Complete Works – Frida Kahlo – Frida Kahlo Foundation Frida: The Making of an Icon – Exhibition at Tate Modern Host & Show Info Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox Topic Suggested by: Samantha Bingley Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin Trailer Music: Stealy Move by Soundroll Community & Calls to Action  Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts  Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast  Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com ️ Early access episodes: Patreon  Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway. Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Topics include Billy McFarland’s festival concept Celebrity influencer promotion Logistics failures in the Bahamas Financial misconduct and Ponzi scheme tactics The aftermath and McFarland’s consequences Resources and Further Reading Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019) – by Chris Smith Fyre Festival – Wikipedia Hype: Inside the Fyre Festival and the Golden Age of Grift – by Gabrielle Bluestone Billy McFarland – Wikipedia Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 plausible enough to make you question everything. We give you just The Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources: And find more episodes of Horrifying History wherever you get your podcasts. Host & Show Info Host: Brenda Ganske  Listen on: Spotify  Listen on: Apple  Visit at: https://bleav.com/shows/horrifying-history Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Topics include The fatal lunch and death cap poisoning Erin Patterson’s conflicting accounts Key forensic and medical details Courtroom twists and revelations Australia’s most infamous mushroom murder trial Resources and Further Reading Inside the Family Lunch That Killed Three (2025) — Youtube Leongatha Mushroom Murders — Wikipedia Key Facts in Australia’s Mushroom Murder Trial — Reuters Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Topics include The setup behind the Space Cadets hoax Fake cosmonaut training and shuttle simulation The Ipswich “Russian base” Contestant reactions and belief The legacy of TV’s strangest reality stunt Resources and Further Reading Space Cadets (2005) – Wikipedia Space Cadets TV Series - Youtube Ipswich, we have a problem - The Guardian Capricorn One (1978) – by Peter Hyams Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Topics include Aileen Wuornos’s childhood and early trauma Her life as a sex worker in Florida The sequence of murders Psychological and emotional breakdowns The lasting legacy of her case and its portrayal in Monster Resources and Further Reading  Aileen Wuornos – Wikipedia Monster (2003) – directed by Patty Jenkins Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003) – directed by Nick Broomfield & Joan Churchill Monster: My True Story - by Aileen Wuornos & Christopher Berry-Dee Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Topics include The rise of Oscar Pistorius The Valentine’s Day shooting Key trial evidence and testimony Manslaughter vs murder debates Reeva Steenkamp’s life and legacy Resources and Further Reading Oscar Pistorius: Behind the Door – by Mandy Wiener One Tragic Night: The Shooting of Reeva Steenkamp – by Barry Bateman & Mandy Wiener Oscar Pistorius: The Trial of the Blade Runner (2018) – by BBC Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Topics include The lover’s lane murders in Tuscany Key suspects and shifting theories Cultural myths surrounding the case Connections to Hannibal Lecter The case’s impact on the Amanda Knox investigation Resources and Further Reading The Monster of Florence (2025) – Netflix limited series Monster of Florence – Wikipedia Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Topics include Diana’s relationship with Hasnat Khan Her summer with Dodi Fayed Paparazzi pressure and public fascination The crash in Paris The conspiracies and legacy that followed Resources and Further Reading Diana’s childhood and family background - Britannica Diana’s struggles with bulimia and mental health - Vogue Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words - by Andre Morton The Diana Chronicles - by Tina Brown Host & Show InfoHosts: Kyle Risi & Adam CoxIntro Music:Alice in dark WonderlandCommunity & Calls to ActionReview & follow on:Spotify & Apple PodcastsInstagram:@theCompendiumPodcastWebsite:TheCompendiumPodcast.comSupport usPatreonShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.