Beggars Belief

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!

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.

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

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

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