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American Scandal

Audible

172 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.

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of American Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

Episodes page 2 of 4

  1. Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker | Faith Not Fact | 1

    · 38 min · S52 E1

    After marrying and dropping out of bible college in the early 1960s, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker launch a traveling evangelical show with puppets, which catches the attention of televangelist Pat Robertson. Robertson…

  2. Teapot Dome | A Mammoth Deal | 1

    · 39 min · S53 E1

    Warren G. Harding is elected president in 1920, thanks in part to a backroom deal between Republican Party power brokers and influential oil men. To make good on that deal, Harding’s Secretary of the Interior, Albert…

  3. Boeing | Impact | 1

    · 38 min · S54 E1

    On October 29, 2018, Lion Air Flight 610 crashes just minutes after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board. At first, the cause of the crash is a mystery, especially since the plane was a…

  4. Encore: Theranos | Startup | 1

    · 41 min · S55 E1

    Elizabeth Holmes has an idea that could revolutionize medicine—and make her very rich. But first, she'll need to find investors and put together a company. Need more American Scandal? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive…

  5. Encore: Theranos | The Walgreens Deal | 2

    · 37 min · S55 E2

    Theranos prepares to go public with its blood-testing devices. But the company faces increased scrutiny, as problems with its technology—and its leadership—add up. Need more American Scandal? With Wondery+, enjoy…

  6. Encore: Theranos | The Race to Publish | 3

    · 41 min · S55 E3

    An investigative journalist looks into Theranos, and is shocked by his discoveries. Elizabeth Holmes tries to fend off the potentially devastating story. Need more American Scandal? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive…

  7. Encore: Theranos | Are Venture Capitalists to Blame? | 4

    · 35 min · S55 E4

    Lindsay sits down with Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who covers the tech industry. The two explore why venture capitalists work to create monopolies, and whether these powerful investors bear…

  8. Houston Astros: Caught Stealing | Radical Methods | 1

    · 41 min · S56 E1

    When Jeff Luhnow takes over as general manager of the Houston Astros in 2011, he promises owner Jim Crane he can do the seemingly impossible: propel the team from last place to the playoffs in just five years. But his…

  9. Houston Astros: Caught Stealing | The Game Within the Game | 2

    · 36 min · S56 E2

    As Jeff Luhnow and the Houston Astros work towards rebuilding the team, they hire veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran and bench coach Alex Cora to help guide their roster of younger, less experienced players. Both…

  10. Houston Astros: Caught Stealing | Dark Arts | 3

    · 36 min · S56 E3

    By 2017, the Houston Astros are one of the most dominant teams in Major League Baseball. But the team also takes sign stealing to new heights when they discover a unique – and illegal – way to signal those signs to…

  11. Houston Astros: Caught Stealing | Bottom of the Ninth | 4

    · 38 min · S56 E4

    Following their 2017 World Series win, the Astros cannot escape rumors that they cheated. They aren’t the only team accused of illegally stealing signs, but they become the focal point after their victory and continued…

  12. Houston Astros: Caught Stealing | Uncovering the Scheme | 5

    · 38 min · S56 E5

    Rumors were already swirling about the Astros and sign-stealing when people on the inside tipped off reporter Evan Drellich with damning details of the scheme. What he and his colleague Ken Rosenthal published in The…

  13. Lou Pearlman: The Con Man of Pop | I Want It That Way | 1

    · 41 min · S57 E1

    Lou Pearlman rises from humble beginnings in Queens, New York to launch a successful blimp and charter plane company called Trans Continental. In the ‘90s, he cements his reputation as a risk-taking entrepreneur when…

  14. Lou Pearlman: The Con Man of Pop | Tearin’ Up My Heart | 2

    · 41 min · S57 E2

    Lou Pearlman is eager to replicate his success with the Backstreet Boys and secretly forms a second boy band, NSYNC. But as he continues to fund his extravagant lifestyle and recruit new investors for his other…

  15. Lou Pearlman: The Con Man of Pop | Bye, Bye, Bye | 3

    · 39 min · S57 E3

    Following his split with the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, Lou Pearlman finds it increasingly difficult to keep up appearances around his rapidly crumbling empire. Soon, investors begin demanding their money back, and an…

  16. Lou Pearlman: Pop Music Con Man | Behind the Hit Charade | 4

    · 35 min · S57 E4

    Journalist Tyler Gray was working in Orlando when he first heard about Lou Pearlman and his growing business empire. But it wasn’t until authorities apprehended Pearlman in Bali in 2007 that Gray began to investigate…

  17. Challenger Disaster | Bigger, Faster, Cheaper | 1

    · 37 min · S58 E1

    In January 1986, the Challenger Space Shuttle was poised to make history, carrying seven astronauts, including Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher and civilian selected for space travel. The launch was part of a…

  18. Challenger Disaster | Acceptable Risk | 2

    · 37 min · S58 E2

    As NASA struggles to keep its ambitious launch schedule on track, engineers at contractor Morton Thiokol raise concerns about a key component of the space shuttle’s rocket boosters: O-Rings, which are designed to…

  19. Challenger Disaster | Launch Day | 3

    · 37 min · S58 E3

    In the tense hours leading up to the Challenger launch, engineers and managers at NASA and its contractor Morton Thiokol heatedly argue over whether to move forward, despite freezing temperatures that threaten to…

  20. Challenger Disaster | What Really Happened | 4

    · 41 min · S58 E4

    Following the Challenger disaster, engineers grapple with guilt and the consequences of raising concerns about the space shuttle’s flaws. Amidst public outcry, the Rogers Commission’s inquiry, including Richard…

  21. Challenger Disaster | Revisiting the Tragedy | 5

    · 37 min · S58 E5

    Like most people who were alive in 1986, filmmaker Steven Leckart remembers the Challenger disaster. He was a kid in elementary school at the time. But as an adult, Leckart set out to explore the aftermath of what…

  22. Station Nightclub Fire | Pyrotechnics | 1

    · 33 min · S59 E1

    In February 2003, a small nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island called the Station gets set to host a performance by ‘80s rock band Great White. But unbeknownst to the club’s patrons, owners Michael and Jeffrey…

  23. Station Nightclub Fire | No Exit | 2

    · 34 min · S59 E2

    On the night of February 20, 2003, excitement fills the Station as the crowd eagerly awaits a performance by Jack Russell and Great White. But seconds into the show, sparks from a pyrotechnic display ignite the walls,…

  24. Station Nightclub Fire | Lives Lost | 3

    · 39 min · S59 E3

    After learning about the fire, the community of West Warwick is horrified at the devastation the tragedy caused. Victims and their families demand answers, and soon Rhode Island’s Attorney General launches a grand jury…

  25. Station Nightclub Fire | Ninety Seconds to Get Out | 4

    · 37 min · S59 E4

    On February 20th, 2003, the rock band Great White took the stage at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. But when they began their set by igniting pyrotechnic sparklers, a fire broke out and ripped up…

  26. Muhammad Ali vs. The Draft | Heavyweight | 1

    · 42 min · S60 E1

    As a young boxer in Louisville, Kentucky, Cassius Clay begins to hone his brash, flamboyant persona while climbing the ranks. After winning the heavyweight championship and embracing the Nation of Islam in 1964, he…

  27. Muhammad Ali vs. The Draft | What’s My Name? | 2

    · 40 min · S60 E2

    In 1967, Muhammad Ali officially refuses induction into the U.S. military, standing firm in his religious objection to the Vietnam War. He is stripped of his heavyweight title, barred from boxing, and sentenced to five…

  28. Muhammad Ali vs. The Draft | The Final Round | 3

    · 41 min · S60 E3

    By 1969, Muhammad Ali is at a crossroads, his career and freedom hanging in the balance as his draft evasion case reaches the Supreme Court. Behind closed doors, justices clash over his fate, and an unexpected voice…

  29. Muhammad Ali vs. The Draft | Black Athletes and Activism | 4

    · 36 min · S60 E4

    Muhammad Ali risked his career and even his freedom to take a stand against the Vietnam War. He followed in the footsteps of men like baseball great Jackie Robinson and singer Paul Robeson, who started out playing…

  30. Quiz Show Rigging | All the Answers | 1

    · 38 min · S61 E1

    In the 1950s, America was captivated by high-stakes television quiz shows like The $64,000 Question and Twenty-One, which promised everyday Americans a shot at life-changing winnings. But behind the scenes, producers…

  31. Quiz Show Rigging | The Perfect Contestant | 2

    · 36 min · S61 E2

    Herbert Stempel is given the opportunity of a lifetime when television producer Dan Enright offers him a guaranteed winning streak on the quiz show Twenty-One — so long as he follows the script. Stempel enjoys his…

  32. Quiz Show Rigging | Consolation Prize | 3

    · 38 min · S61 E3

    As former quiz show champion Herbert Stempel watches Charles Van Doren continue his staged winning streak on Twenty-One, he threatens to go public with what he knows. Meanwhile, another contestant quietly takes steps…

  33. Quiz Show Rigging | Deception | 4

    · 39 min · S61 E4

    Twenty-One producer Dan Enright takes drastic action to keep the rigging scandal under wraps by discrediting his accuser, Herbert Stempel. But investigators with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office uncover…

  34. Quiz Show Rigging | The Pressure Cooker | 5

    · 35 min · S61 E5

    Television producers Howard Blumenthal and Bob Boden weren’t old enough to experience the quiz show scandal of the 1950s firsthand, but it had a major impact on their lives and careers. Blumenthal’s father helped…

  35. ENCORE: Edward Snowden | Meet the Press | 1

    · 41 min · S62 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. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts,…

  36. ENCORE: Edward Snowden | Read, Write, Execute | 2

    · 40 min · S62 E2

    Edward Snowden lands a job with the NSA. But when he stumbles on a shocking government secret, Snowden has to face a moral dilemma. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and…

  37. ENCORE: Edward Snowden | Going Public | 3

    · 39 min · S62 E3

    Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald prepare to break their story. Edward Snowden goes on the run. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at…

  38. ENCORE: Edward Snowden | Exile | 4

    · 37 min · S62 E4

    Edward Snowden tries to flee to Ecuador. But the Obama administration counters with a surprise move, leaving Snowden trapped in Russia. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations,…

  39. The Woman Who Sold Babies | The Judge's Daughter | 1

    · 39 min · S63 E1

    In the early 20th century, a young woman named Georgia Tann begins her career in social work and becomes determined to change adoption in America—even if it means destroying lives and tearing families apart. Be the…

  40. The Woman Who Sold Babies | Supply and Demand | 2

    · 38 min · S63 E2

    Georgia Tann tightens her grip on adoption in the city of Memphis, with the help of a growing network of accomplices. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up…

  41. The Woman Who Sold Babies | Sitting on a Goldmine | 3

    · 38 min · S63 E3

    Georgia Tann turns her illegal adoption ring into a lucrative business, but questions start to be asked about the high number of children dying in Memphis. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated…

  42. The Woman Who Sold Babies | The Cold Hard Hand | 4

    · 37 min · S63 E4

    As the 1940s draws to a close, Georgia Tann is still making thousands from her black-market baby ring. But although she’s been untouchable for the last two decades, a shift in Memphis’s political climate signals…

  43. Georgia Tann Interview | Guest T.J. Raphael "Liberty Lost" Podcast Host | 5

    · 43 min · S63 E5

    Decades after Georgia Tann’s black market adoption ring was exposed, similar patterns of coercion and control are still unfolding across the U.S. At the Liberty Godparent Home in Lynchburg, Virginia, young pregnant…

  44. ENCORE: Watergate | The Break In | 1

    · 40 min · S64 E1

    President Nixon’s reelection campaign hatches a plan. It's dangerous and risky. But it could secure a victory in the upcoming election. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations,…

  45. ENCORE: Watergate | The President's Decision | 2

    · 41 min · S64 E2

    The Washington Post begins investigating a mysterious crime. President Nixon confronts a crisis. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at…

  46. ENCORE: Watergate | The Fifth Man | 3

    · 42 min · S64 E3

    Woodward and Bernstein uncover a shocking revelation about President Nixon's chief of staff. But when their story is published, the reporters find themselves backed into a corner. Be the first to know about Wondery’s…

  47. ENCORE: Watergate | The Cancer Within | 4

    · 41 min · S64 E4

    Senate hearing sets in motion a new crisis. With the cover-up unraveling, White House counsel John Dean takes matters into his own hands. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations,…

  48. ENCORE Watergate | The Smoking Gun | 5

    · 44 min · S64 E5

    President Nixon fights the release of his secret tapes. But with the country thrust into a constitutional crisis, Nixon has to make a gut-wrenching decision. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts,…

  49. Ruby Ridge Standoff | Visions of Armageddon | 1

    · 38 min · S65 E1

    Radical Christian survivalist Randy Weaver moves his family into the remote mountains of Idaho to wait out the Apocalypse. But his growing involvement in a local neo-Nazi group draws the attention of federal…

  50. Ruby Ridge Standoff | Northern Exposure | 2

    · 34 min · S65 E2

    Randy Weaver is arrested on gun-related charges, but a mix-up over the trial date deepens the Weaver family’s extreme beliefs and sets the scene for a disastrous confrontation with law enforcement Be the first to know…

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