Beggars Belief
BeggarsBeliefPodcast
1 Creator
5.0
(12)
1 Creator
2 Listeners
5.0
(12)
1 Comment
What is Beggars Belief about?
True stories where someone is lying. Enjoy some nonviolent true crime, with weird history, crazy characters, and unbelievable cons. Join hosts Mellie and Chris as they take a lighthearted dive into these cases. Hoaxes, pranks, scams, shams, and charalatans!
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Top 10 Beggars Belief Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Beggars Belief episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Beggars Belief for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Beggars Belief episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Disney Hoaxes and Scams
Beggars Belief
05/27/24 • 22 min
Today we turn our eyes to Disney, looking at how a Texan scammed investors by promising a brand new park, and how ghost videos played into viral marketing in the 2010s. Meanwhile other stories, Chris's Goofy impersonation, and a review of Disneyland's opening day back in 1955.
2 Listeners
The (Fake) Autobiography of Howard Hughes
Beggars Belief
05/13/24 • 43 min
Clifford Irving and Robert Suskind wanted to write an autobiography of notable reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, based on one on one interviews and personal papers. So they did. Too bad they never actually met Hughes.
This story is a rollercoaster that somehow got further than anyone could have ever imagined, with fact and fiction becoming intertwined.
The Hoax https://amzn.to/4a4BsNj
The (fake) autobiography https://amzn.to/3ULqQ1k
The Hoax movie starring Richard Gere https://amzn.to/3UNVmIe
Music by Roger A. Martinez
2 Listeners
Weekly World News and the Bat Boy Xtravaganza
Beggars Belief
05/06/24 • 29 min
On this week's episode, we delve into the history of the most fake publication to grace store shelves in the 90s, the Weekly World News, and the history of its unofficial mascot, BatBoy. How did this tabloid get started, how did it stop publication, where did they get their ideas from. Also, we discuss 80s snack foods and Chris exposes his love of Bigfoot.
1 Listener
MishMash Episode
Beggars Belief
04/29/24 • 25 min
In a fun break, we are going to explore three small tales. With these stories of treasure hunts, misinformation, and internet, we chat about our thoughts on treasure hunts, ARGs, AI, and internet culture.
Music by Roger A Martinez
1 Listener
The Return of Martin Guerre
Beggars Belief
04/22/24 • 32 min
Back in medieval France, a family is full of drama. Martin had left his wife and newborn son and disappears. When he returns, he has questions about how his inheritance was spent by his uncle. It ends with the two in court with some outrageous claims that had no legal precedence. The entire village becomes embroiled in the intrigue, in this well documented historic case.
Join us as we explore the story, unravel the truth, do a terrible job with the French language and mispronounce "Martin" in several different ways.
Sources mentioned:
book, The Return of Martin Guerre https://amzn.to/3W906Jl
The Movie, https://amzn.to/3xExjlD
1 Listener
How To Buy a Hockey Team
Beggars Belief
06/10/24 • 29 min
We all have our dreams. For John Spano, that dream was to own a national hockey team. And he wasn't going to let little facts like not having money get in the way of those dreams. We discuss how he scammed his way into owning the New York Islanders, who at the time had an unfortunate redesign on their logo.
Mellie and Chris aren't sports fans, but you don't have to be to be interested in this weird rabbit hole!
1 Listener
How Lenin Became A Mushroom-A Soviet Prank
Beggars Belief
09/16/24 • 25 min
Just before the fall of the Soviet Union, a musician and a journalist got together to pull an absurd and confusing prank--convincing people that Vladimir Lenin was a mushroom. How did they get people to believe the former Bolshevik leader was actually fungus? What role did world events play into this hoax being successful? And most importantly, how many mushroom related puns can Chris fit into a half hour?
Join us this week as we explore this weird hoax.
Music by Roger Martinez.
1 Listener
The Strange Tale of the McNally Family
Beggars Belief
04/01/24 • 21 min
Welcome to the first captivating episode of Beggar's Belief, the podcast of hoaxes, pranks, scams, shams and charlatans. The home of stories that are beyond belief because someone is lying. Join hosts Mellie and Chris as they take you back to the year 1921, located in the quaint town of Hammond, Indiana, where an uncanny story revolving around a couple named Frank and Hazel McNally unfolds.
After their marriage, the townsfolk are taken aback when Hazel gives birth to twins, Lauren and Laurene. However, the neighborhood joy soon transforms into bewilderment and apprehension as queries about the infants' wellbeing and Hazel's overprotective behavior lead to unsettling revelations. Tune in as we dissect this perplexing tale that is stranger than any fictitious narrative. Mellie and Chris add their distinctive humor and sharp commentary to this offbeat story, promising an engrossing listen.
Unravel a richly woven tale of calculated deceit, hidden domestic violence, and conforming societal norms which feels like a storyline out of a dark comedy movie, but is actually a little-known slice of history.
Music by Roger A. Martinez
1 Listener
The Cardiff Giant Hoax
Beggars Belief
04/15/24 • 25 min
Join Mellie and Chris in this fascinating episode of Beggar's Belief as they unravel the intriguing tale of the Cardiff Giant, a 19th-century hoax that had an unexpected ripple effect.
From the conception of the idea by George Hull and his cousin, William 'Stubb' Newell, to the meticulous planning and execution of the hoax, this episode covers it all. It offers an insight into the societal beliefs of the period, including the fascination with petrified beings and prehistoric creatures, and sheds light on the large sums of money invested in this elaborate ruse. It further draws parallels with other notable societal trends and beliefs of the time.
The hosts conclude the episode with an insightful reflection on the public's reception of the hoax, provoking thought on how easily one can fall for such a monumental deception.
Listen to the captivating narrative of 'Old Hoaxy', a simple hoax that transformed into a major attraction, and examine its lasting impact on popular folklore, mainstream media and even legal debates. Get ready to dive deep into the extraordinary narrative of the Cardiff Giant, an enduring tale that truly beggars belief.
Music by Roger A. Martinez
1 Listener
The Great Moon Hoax
Beggars Belief
04/08/24 • 25 min
In this riveting episode of Beggar's Belief, join your hosts, Mellie and Chris, as they dive deep into a peculiar tale that set the world aflutter with tales of lunar discoveries, including 'man-bats' and more.
Step back to 1835 with us and revisit the series of shocking articles published by The Sun newspaper. The supposedly groundbreaking discoveries, attributed to the fantastic telescope said to be used by astronomer Sir John Herschell stirred up a whirlwind of international excitement and curiosity.
The rabbit hole for this tale goes to some strange places, from Edgar Allen Poe to scholars at Yale. Examine the facts, separate truth from fiction, and try to work out what could be real or a lie
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FAQ
How many episodes does Beggars Belief have?
Beggars Belief currently has 11 episodes available.
What topics does Beggars Belief cover?
The podcast is about History, Comedy and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on Beggars Belief?
The episode title 'The (Fake) Autobiography of Howard Hughes' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Beggars Belief?
The average episode length on Beggars Belief is 27 minutes.
How often are episodes of Beggars Belief released?
Episodes of Beggars Belief are typically released every 7 days, 7 hours.
When was the first episode of Beggars Belief?
The first episode of Beggars Belief was released on Apr 1, 2024.
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Comments
@Waywardginger
Jun 6
Well researched but with a sense of humor. Good variety of topics
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