Episodes

  • I'll Buy that for a Dollar: Emerich Juettner
    Nov 21 2024

    A upright citizen living in "genteel poverty" loses everything — except his dog — and instead of going broke decides to go for broke. When life gives you lemons, make dollar bills, dagnabbit!

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    42 mins
  • The "Break–In of the Century": The Citizens Committee to Investigate the FBI
    Nov 19 2024

    In 1971, Muhammad Ali fights Smokin' Joe Frazier in The Fight of the Century. The huge media event is the perfect distraction for a group of Catholic hippie antiwar activists to stage a break-in at an FBI field office in Media, Pennsylvania. This story has everything –– J. Edgar Hoover, Deep Throat, and the Washington Post, all show up in this tale that predates Watergate. Not bad for some amateur break-in artists!

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    51 mins
  • Make it Bahrain: Russell King
    Nov 14 2024

    Conning your way into ownership of a professional sports team is one thing, but playing two countries off each other for phony mineral rights is the pinnacle of scamming. Russell King did them both! Hooray!

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    52 mins
  • The Criminal King of Parkour: Vjeran Tomic
    Nov 12 2024

    A Bosnian boy with a poet's soul grows up to a pioneer of parkour in Paris. Up there on the rooftops of the City of Lights, he turns to crime. He has a taste for jewels and fine art... and suction cups. That's why they call him: The Spiderman of Paris.

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Put it on my Tab: The Crown Casino Heist
    Nov 7 2024

    Who's up for some silliness? We got us a crazy, high-end, hard boiled casino Down Under that just can't seem to avoid trouble. But when a dude takes the place for multiple millions, they aren't so tough after all. With a special appearance by Ridiculous Crime barkeep Rascal Jack!

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    58 mins
  • The General, The Viper, and the Rose of Dugdale: Who Wants to Burgle the Russborough House?
    Nov 5 2024

    Ireland's world famous Russborough House belonged to Lord Alfred and Lady Clementine –– two 'violently wealthy' British aristocrats with the families to match. Their palatial manor home seemed to attract crime and intrigue. There was the British heiress turned IRA radical who busted in for a robbery. And her success inspired two IRA-adjacent gangsters –– The General and the Viper –– to see what they could pull in art heists of their own.

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    59 mins
  • Another Brick in the Chest: Thérèse Humbert
    Oct 31 2024

    Owing people millions is a big deal, unless you have hundreds of millions and can pay it off. And if you don't and can't, then you just have to act like you can and will. But you can't. And won't. So you don't and…well, you get it.

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    51 mins
  • Eugene Bullard: Freedom in the Skies
    Oct 31 2024

    Eugene Bullard would not let America diminish him. So he left to find a place that would let him live free — and found freedom in the skies.

    On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Stranger-than-fiction tales about normal people in extraordinary situations. Stories that make you say, “this should be a movie!” Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

    VERY SPECIAL CREDITS
    Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English
    Special Thanks to Zaron's Pops
    Written by Zaron Burnett
    Produced by Josh Fisher
    Story Editors are Marisa Brown and Ryan Murdock
    Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs and Josh Fisher
    Additional Editing by Emily Marinoff
    Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier
    Voice Actors are Jonathan Washington and Chris Childs
    Original Music by Elise McCoy
    Research and Fact Checking by Zaron Burnett and Austin Thompson
    Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
    Executive Producer is Jason English

    Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

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    1 hr and 9 mins