Podcasts · History · Society & Culture

American Scandal

Audible

171 episodes · in order

Every scandal begins with a lie. But the truth will come out. And then comes the fallout and the outrage.

More about the show

Scandals have shaped America since its founding. From business and politics to sports and society, we look on aghast as corruption, deceit and ambition bring down heroes and celebrities, politicians and moguls. And when the dust finally settles, we’re left to wonder: how did this happen? Where did they trip up, and who is to blame? From the creators of American History Tellers, Business Wars and Tides of History comes American Scandal, where we take you deep into the heart of America’s dark side to look at what drives someone to break the rules and what happens when they’re caught. Hosted by Lindsay Graham.

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Episodes page 1 of 4

  1. BALCO: Steroids and Snake Oil | 1

    · 36 min · S1 E1

    A college dropout with no background in science turns himself into an expert on performance enhancing drugs. Soon he attracts some of the world’s best athletes—along with the attention of a determined federal agent.…

  2. New York State of Crime: Three Men in a Room | 1

    · 39 min · S2 E1

    In 2006 Eliot Spitzer is elected governor on a promise to tackle corruption in the most dysfunctional state capital in the country--Albany, NY. He is quickly challenged by one of the most powerful men in the state.…

  3. Iran Contra: Bud | 1

    · 47 min · S3 E1

    In July of 1985, the National Security Advisor to President Reagan, Robert “Bud” McFarlane puts a plan in motion that could change the course of history and turn the Reagan administration upside down. Want to listen…

  4. Exxon Valdez: Oil Meets Water | 1

    · 37 min · S4 E1

    A supertanker carrying 53 million gallons of crude oil runs aground in Prince William Sound sparking the worst man-made ecological catastrophe in the country’s history at the time. As Exxon struggles to get the cleanup…

  5. The Hare Krishna Murders: Go West, Old Man | 1

    · 41 min · S5 E1

    An elderly swami from India captures the zeitgeist of 1960s counterculture in America with his message of peace and love. But his western disciples are hungry for power, and one of his most trusted devotees betrays…

  6. Payola - The $50 Handshake | 1

    · 40 min · S6 E1

    The delicate system of secret bribes and kickbacks used to transform a mediocre record into a hit -- that’s payola. And on the eve of rock ‘n’ roll, it’s consuming the music industry. As the public catches wind of the…

  7. Tuskegee Syphilis Study - First, Do No Harm | 1

    · 39 min · S8 E1

    In early 1930s America, segregation is the law of the land, and syphilis remains a grave public health concern. A handful of white government doctors aims to treat African Americans in a rural Alabama county where…

  8. The Standoff at Wounded Knee - The Trail of Broken Treaties | 1

    · 38 min · S9 E1

    In early 1973, the militant civil rights group the American Indian Movement (AIM) takes control of the town of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The action launches a 71-day standoff…

  9. Enron - A Sense of Urgency | 1

    · 44 min · S10 E1

    In the mid 1990s, Enron Corporation solidifies its position as the number one energy company in America. Investment manager Sherron Watkins lands a dream job there, but quickly learns that Enron's office culture and…

  10. The Plame Affair - Exposed | 1

    · 34 min · S11 E1

    In 2003, America is at war with Iraq, as part of its global campaign on terror. Former diplomat Joe Wilson sharply criticizes the war, making him an enemy of the White House. Payback is swift, but the crosshairs are…

  11. Volkswagen Diesel Scandal - Whatever It Takes | 1

    · 35 min · S12 E1

    In 2006, Volkswagen executive Martin Winterkorn hatches a plan to boost auto sales in America. The way to do it? Clean diesel cars. But VW's engineers run into a wall, and so they take a troubling shortcut—one that a…

  12. The Lenny Bruce Obscenity Trial - The Obscenity Circus | 1

    · 39 min · S13 E1 · Explicit

    In the 1960s, Lenny Bruce was a trailblazing standup comedian who took aim at American culture. Bruce clashed frequently with law enforcement, but his decisive legal battle began in 1964. Bruce faced obscenity charges…

  13. Waco - The New Messiah | 1

    · 40 min · S14 E1 · Explicit

    In 1993, a massive conflict erupts in rural Texas. The federal government launches a siege against the Branch Davidians, a religious group based in the outskirts of Waco. What follows is the longest firefight in the…

  14. Boston College Gambling Scheme | Against the Odds | 1

    · 39 min · S15 E1

    Criminals in Pittsburgh have a plan. It involves gambling and manipulating the scores of college basketball games. But to pull it off, they'll first need some help from the basketball players themselves. Want to…

  15. Big Tobacco | Smoking Guns | 1

    · 37 min · S16 E1

    Merrell Williams stumbles on a terrible secret, one that's been hidden for decades. Jeffrey Wigand starts a new job with the tobacco industry, only to come face to face with a bitter truth. Soon, both will have to make…

  16. The Breakup of Big Oil | Rise of Rockefeller | 1

    · 38 min · S17 E1

    John D. Rockefeller is a poor boy with a dream. He's going to become a businessman. And he's going to be wildly rich. Soon, he stumbles on the product that will seal his fate: oil. Thick, crude oil is gushing from the…

  17. Three Mile Island | The Domino Effect | 1

    · 37 min · S18 E1

    On March 28, 1979, Bill Zewe hears an alarm at Three Mile Island. Something has gone terribly wrong at the nuclear power plant, in southern Pennsylvania. And now, the operators at the plant must move fast—before a…

  18. The Feds vs. the Activists | Billie Holiday | 1

    · 40 min · S19 E1

    Billie Holiday makes a decision. The jazz singer will perform "Strange Fruit," the protest song about lynchings, no matter what happens to her—and no matter how many times law enforcement tells her to stay quiet. But…

  19. Bernie Madoff | Sins of the Father | 1

    · 41 min · S20 E1

    Bernie Madoff is young and broke. And he's hungry for a big paycheck. So he sets out for Wall Street. But a market crash forces him to make a difficult decision, one that will haunt him for years. Want to listen to…

  20. The Red Scare | Tail Gunner Joe | 1

    · 41 min · S21 E1

    Joseph McCarthy dreams of a bigger life. He wants something beyond the farms of Wisconsin, something more important than cornfields and local disputes. He wants political power in Washington, D.C. And he has a plan to…

  21. Lance Armstrong | The Boy from North Texas | 1

    · 40 min · S22 E1

    Lance Armstrong enters the cutthroat world of professional cycling. But after a string of humiliating losses, he's left searching for a new way to win. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Lance Armstrong?…

  22. The Ice Pick Surgeon | Search for a Cure | 1

    · 41 min · S23 E1

    Walter Freeman is devastated when he learns the truth about mental asylums. The medical care is barbaric, and for patients, everyday life is a nightmare. So Freeman begins searching for an alternative. It's a quest…

  23. The Osage Murders | A Shrinking Family | 1

    · 42 min · S24 E1

    A woman's body is found at the bottom of a gorge. It belongs to a member of the Osage Nation, a tribe that's grown incredibly wealthy from oil. When the victim's sister goes looking for answers, she begins to uncover a…

  24. Attica Prison Uprising | Liberation | 1

    · 39 min · S25 E1

    The Attica Correctional Facility is a notoriously brutal prison, where beatings are commonplace, and prisoners work for pennies. Tensions have begun to boil over, and after a guard and inmate get into a fight, the…

  25. LA Steals Its Water | The Biggest Problem | 1

    · 43 min · S26 E1

    William Mulholland climbs to the top of the water department. But once he's there, he learns that Los Angeles has a terrible secret, one that could destroy the city. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of LA…

  26. The Clinton-Lewinsky Affair | Forbidden Love | 1

    · 46 min · S27 E1

    Monica Lewinsky struggles to build a life on the West Coast. But soon, she gets a chance to start over, and takes a prestigious internship at the White House. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Clinton-…

  27. The Pentagon Papers | The Cold Warrior | 1

    · 42 min · S28 E1

    A war in Vietnam is on the horizon, as Daniel Ellsberg begins a new job at the Department of Defense. But after seeing the conflict in person, Ellsberg learns a terrible truth—one that forces him to take drastic…

  28. Fraud in a Drug Lab | A Superstar | 1

    · 38 min · S29 E1

    Annie Dookhan lands a dream job, testing illegal drugs at a government lab. But facing intense pressure, Dookhan soon wades into criminal territory herself. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Fraud in a Drug…

  29. The FBI vs. the Hedge Fund | A Game of Poker | 1

    · 39 min · S30 E1

    Steven Cohen wants to escape his small life on Long Island. The destination in sight: Wall Street. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The FBI vs. the Hedge Fund? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and…

  30. Watergate | The Break-In | 1

    · 40 min · S31 E1

    President Nixon’s reelection campaign hatches a plan. It's dangerous and risky. But it could secure a victory in the upcoming election. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Watergate? Episodes 2-6 are available…

  31. The Midnight Crew | War Zone | 1

    · 42 min · S32 E1 · Explicit

    Jon Burge is a star detective in the Chicago Police Department. He's known as a man who can crack the most difficult cases, and send the worst criminals to jail. But underneath his success is a dark secret—one that…

  32. DuPont Chemical Cover-Up | Dry Run Creek | 1

    · 41 min · S33 E1

    A devastating plague strikes a cattle farm in West Virginia. As he investigates the mystery, an attorney uncovers a secret that threatens a corporate empire. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of DuPont Chemical…

  33. Edward Snowden | Meet the Press | 1

    · 41 min · S34 E1

    Filmmaker Laura Poitras gets a tip from a mysterious informant. Despite the enormous risks, Poitras pursues the story, and teams up with reporter Glenn Greenwald. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Edward…

  34. The Cuban Missile Crisis | Bay of Pigs | 1

    · 43 min · S35 E1

    Fidel Castro seizes power in Cuba. President Kennedy authorizes a coup, but sets in motion an unexpected chain of events. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Cuban Missile Crisis? Episodes 2-6 are…

  35. The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst | The Plot | 1

    · 44 min · S36 E1 · Explicit

    Media heiress Patricia Hearst moves to Berkeley, intent on building a new life. In Oakland, a group of political radicals plot a deadly attack. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Kidnapping of Patty…

  36. Oklahoma City Bombing | April 19 | 1

    · 42 min · S37 E1

    An explosion rips through downtown Oklahoma City. The FBI launches a nationwide manhunt. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Oklahoma City Bombing? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on…

  37. America's Coup in Iran | The Nationalist | 1

    · 43 min · S38 E1

    Iran elects a new prime minister, one promising to reclaim the country’s oil industry. Sensing a threat to Western power, the U.K. and the U.S. launch a secret operation. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of…

  38. The Chicago Seven | The Battle of Michigan Avenue | 1

    · 40 min · S39 E1

    Protesters descend on Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. Their goal: pressure the Democrats to stop supporting the Vietnam War. But as the activists begin their rally, Chicago police mount an aggressive…

  39. The "Kids for Cash" Kickback Scheme | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | 1

    · 38 min · S40 E1

    Two Pennsylvania judges hatch a plan. If they pull it off, they'll score nearly a million dollars. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The "Kids for Cash" Kickback Scheme? Episodes 2-4 are available…

  40. Opioids in America | Cure for Pain | 1

    · 42 min · S41 E1

    Richard Sackler charts a new course for his family’s company, Purdue Pharma. At the center of the plan: a painkiller that could be the next blockbuster drug. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Opioids in…

  41. Spiro Agnew: Downfall of a Vice President | How Things Are Done in Baltimore | 1

    · 39 min · S42 E1

    Spiro Agnew is trapped in a dead-end job. But Agnew has large ambitions, and with the urging of his mentor, the future vice president decides to take a risk. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Spiro Agnew:…

  42. Abscam | Money Talks | 1

    · 44 min · S43 E1

    The FBI launches an operation to catch white-collar criminals. To pull off the sting, agents partner with a lifelong conman—who offers an unusual plan. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Abscam? Episodes 2…

  43. Jonestown | Reverend Jim Jones | 1

    · 41 min · S44 E1

    In Indiana, a young preacher forms his own church. The goal: to spread a radical political message. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Jonestown? Episodes 2-6 are available exclusively and ad-free on…

  44. The Dust Bowl | The Land of Opportunity | 1

    · 36 min · S45 E1

    American farmers flock to the Southern Plains, lured by the promise of riches. Soon, a strange storm appears on the horizon. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Dust Bowl? Episodes 2-4 are available…

  45. Aaron Hernandez: A Football Tragedy | The Vow | 1

    · 40 min · S46 E1

    The sports world was shocked in 2013 when Aaron Hernandez, star tight end for the New England Patriots, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. But dating back to his days as a heavily recruited college…

  46. Encore: The Unabomber | Atomic Pearl | 1

    · 40 min · S47 E1

    Ted Kaczynski faces a painful rejection in high school. Then he endures an abusive psychology experiment at Harvard. Kaczynski may be an academic prodigy, but he feels lonely and out of place. His solution? He's going…

  47. Police Corruption in Baltimore | Zero Tolerance | 1

    · 40 min · S48 E1

    In 2017, seven members of an elite Baltimore police unit called the Gun Trace Task Force were arrested and charged with robbery, extortion, fraud, and selling drugs seized during police operations. While some were…

  48. Rod Blagojevich | Making of a Congressman | 1

    · 39 min · S49 E1

    Two decades before he was arrested in 2008 on corruption charges while still serving as Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich got his start in the dog-eat-dog world of Chicago politics under the tutelage of his mentor and…

  49. FBI Agent Turned Russian Spy | World of Secrets | 1

    · 41 min · S50 E1

    In 1976, at the height of the Cold War, Robert Hanssen joins the FBI to work in their counterintelligence division. Hanssen is valued for his technical skills, and put in charge of databases containing some of the…

  50. Love Canal | The Education of Lois Gibbs | 1

    · 41 min · S51 E1

    In the spring of 1978, reporter Mike Brown begins publishing a series of articles in the Niagara Gazette about potentially harmful chemicals leaking into the soil and water in Love Canal, a neighborhood built around…

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