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True Crime is more than blood, guts, mayhem, and murder. Zaron Burnett and Elizabeth Dutton share outlandish tales of capers, heists, and cons that shine a light on the absurd and outrageous side of criminality. Always 99% murder-free and 100% ridiculous, this is Ridiculous Crime, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

iHeartPodcasts


    • May 21, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 51m AVG DURATION
    • 241 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Ridiculous Crime podcast is an absolute gem in the world of crime podcasts. As an 11-year-old, it may be surprising to some that this is my favorite podcast in the genre, but it truly captivates me with its engaging storytelling and hilarious banter between the hosts. In fact, it's not just my favorite crime podcast, but also the only one I listen to. Every episode is a delight, making it impossible for me to choose a favorite.

    One of the best aspects of The Ridiculous Crime podcast is the banter between the hosts. It feels like sitting with good friends over beers and simply shooting the breeze. The chemistry between Elizabeth and Zaron is palpable and their witty exchanges keep me laughing throughout each episode. Additionally, they have a shared sense of humor that resonates with me and makes listening to them feel like a fun conversation with friends.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is its family-friendly nature. As someone who listens to podcasts with my family, I appreciate that The Ridiculous Crime keeps things clean and suitable for all ages. This makes it a great option when looking for entertaining content that can be enjoyed by everyone.

    However, one downside I've noticed is the frequency of advertisements in some episodes. Although I understand the need for ads to support the podcast, it can sometimes interrupt the flow of storytelling when there are multiple pauses for ads throughout an episode. While this doesn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the podcast, it can be slightly annoying at times.

    In conclusion, The Ridiculous Crime podcast is a fantastic addition to anyone's podcast library. Its engaging storytelling, hilarious banter between hosts Elizabeth and Zaron, and family-friendly nature make it a standout in the true crime genre. Despite occasional interruptions due to advertisements, this podcast never fails to brighten my day and keep me entertained from start to finish. Whether you're looking for light-hearted crime stories or simply a good laugh, The Ridiculous Crime is the perfect podcast for you.



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    Latest episodes from Ridiculous Crime

    Rainfurrest 2015: Send In the Furries!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 63:34 Transcription Available


    In 2015, a convention descended on the Seattle–Tacoma Airport Hilton Hotel. The 3-day gathering of Furries was meant to be a fun place to let your fur down... but some let the fur go too low. Public nudity, diaper fights, drugs, booze, cops, firefighters, ambulances, emergency plumbers –– this story has everything. And then some! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    public furries rainfurrest
    Operation Lunar Eclipse

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2024 46:31 Transcription Available


    When a teenage astronomy fan is gifted a piece of the moon by NASA, he's inadvertently pulled into the seedy underground moonrock trade. But don't worry. With help from H. Ross Perot, NASA secret agents are on the case. * Very Special Episodes is a new podcast where we tell one incredible story every week. Stranger-than-fiction tales about normal people in extraordinary situations. Stories that make you say, “this should be a movie!” Follow Zaron, Dana, and Jason down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten by Jake RossenProduced, Edited and Sound Designed by Josh FisherAdditional Editing by John WashingtonMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierOriginal Music by Elise McCoyStory Editing by Marisa BrownResearch and Fact-Checking by Marisa Brown, Austin Thompson, and Jake RossenShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason EnglishSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    None of Your Byzantium: Prince Henri

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 54:05


    A guy born in Italy moves to France and says he's the heir to the throne in Constantinople, then he heads to the United States to peddle fake titles. You know what that is? Ridiculous. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Jeffrey Alan Manchester: The Roofman Cometh

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2024 57:47


    Paratrooper Jeff Manchester used his skills to burgle Corporate America as The Roofman. First, he'd focused on McDonalds and other fast food. Then, like a criminal butterfly, he morphed into a Toys 'R' Us Man who built a secret apartment in an open store –– it was the ultimate inside job. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tonight There's Gonna Be a Jail Break: Two Escaper Boys

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 51:53 Transcription Available


    Jack Shepherd was a petty, pretty thief. He wasn't very good at it, so he got caught a lot. And he escaped a lot. Just like Henry More Smith. He, too, couldn't stop stealing and couldn't stop freeing himself from prison life. These guys prove that you can't keep a good (well, at least non-violent) man down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Who Stole Our Big Boy?!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 56:31 Transcription Available


    He is an icon of midcentury America. He's cherubic. He's beloved. He's starred in Hollywood movies. And he's often stolen as a prank, but sometimes things turn darker –– but they always stay ridiculous.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    My Psychic, She Wrote Me a Letter: Maria Duval

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 51:29 Transcription Available


    If you have psychic powers, you should see a scam coming a mile away. Not so for Maria Duval. The French psychic only wanted to use her powers for good, but three shady dealers used her name to create one of the world's longest-running cons. Just because a letter has a coffee stain on it doesn't mean it's real. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    I Say, I Say, This Here Beauty Pageant Is Rigged!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 60:11 Transcription Available


    For many folks, beauty pageants feel like part of a bygone era of 'big hair, don't care' femininity. But Zaron is here to set you straight on that score. Beauty pageants are still very much a thing... and they've got crime a-plenty! Allegations of bribery and hijinks! And also, Steve Harvey! So you know it's bound to get loose. This week it's a bubbly bevy of beauty pageant scandals!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Coming to You Live from Ashtar Galactic Command: More Signal Interruptions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 48:47 Transcription Available


    Elizabeth may not watch tv, but that doesn't stop her from regaling Zaron with tales of television signal hijacking. From porn to zombies to aliens to more porn, no broadcast is safe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Point Bleak: The Flesh-Masked Bandit

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2024 55:02 Transcription Available


    In the early '90s, the Chicagoland area was home to a bank robber known for wearing very specific masks –– masks of former US presidents. Notably, he wasn't inspired by the classic bank-robbing surfers film, and Point Break wasn't inspired by him, it was all just a...ridiculous crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    It Was a Kayak: John Darwin aka Canoe Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 51:01 Transcription Available


    With debt mounting and no relief in sight, John Darwin figured his only option was to fake his own death. One sunken kayak and a complicit spouse later, he found himself in Panama with no clothes on. But that didn't last. Nothing ridiculous ever does. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Frank Zappa Makes a $1,000 Sex Tape, and Bob Dylan Is a Peeping Tom?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2024 53:40 Transcription Available


    Musicians get arrested... a lot. These singers, songwriters and superstars were busted in some of the dumbest, weirdest, silliest ways possible. Johnny Cash. Amy Winehouse. Ol' Dirty Bastard. Bob Dylan. Frank Zappa. All of them got popped for some... ridiculous crimes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tehama's Most Wanted: Razzlekhan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 55:26 Transcription Available


    As if the whole cryptocurrency thing wasn't ridiculous enough, enter Heather Morgan aka Razzlekhan. An entrepreneur and amateur rapper, she and her husband, Dutch, lived large. The source? Hacked bitcoin. Can't get enough of these clowns and their techno criming? Fear not, there are plenty of film and tv adaptations in the works. The grift lives on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Phil Johnson: The Great Loomis–Fargo Heist

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2024 54:01 Transcription Available


    "Have you seen this man? Single, lonely, grouchy, rumpled and very possibly. the richest thief who ever lived..." so wrote the Washington Post in 1997 after one man ripped off his employer, the Loomis–Fargo armored car company. Phil Johnson stole 21 cubic feet of cash –– and he had a plan to get away with it. But a man's ego is a helluva thing!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Introducing: Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2024 3:20 Transcription Available


    Creating a Con is a true crime anthology podcast that goes inside the minds of the most prolific modern-day con artist. Their schemes may be new, but their tactics are tried and true. In Season One, you'll meet Ray Trapani – a 26-year-old whose schemes targeted pharmacies and a payment app before he created his biggest con yet: a tech startup endorsed by DJ Khaled and Floyd Mayweather that was built on empty promises, fake executives, and millions of dollars from unsuspecting investors. Listen here and subscribe to Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    A Cut Above: William Smarto

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 48:05


    What do hairdressing and bank heists have in common? Precision...and a man named William Smarto. A clever bank burglar, Smarto managed to pull of a bank job almost as big as Dolly Parton's wig budget. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Martin McNally: Last of the Skyjackers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 60:21 Transcription Available


    His hero was DB Cooper. So he imitated his skyjacking ransom down to the letter. Only Martin McNally had never used a parachute before he became a skyjacker. And he never expected someone to play the hero with a '71 Cadillac Eldorado.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    db cooper cadillac eldorado martin mcnally
    Diamonds are a Gaul's Best Friend: The Affair of the Diamond Necklace

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 49:21 Transcription Available


    As Orson Welles would say, "Ah, the French." Here, in a lead up to the French Revolution, we consider the tale of one randy Cardinal, one social climbing almost-noble, one doomed queen, and one hideous diamond necklace. C'est ridicule (especially Elizabeth butchering all French pronunciation)!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Tiger King of Harlem

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024 58:37 Transcription Available


    Meet Antoine Yates, the man who raised a tiger in a fifth-floor public housing apartment in Harlem. Until, one day, the tiger remembered that it was a tiger. But Antoine didn't just live with a tiger, he also had a lion and a full-grown alligator. Naturally, this one is both wild...and ridiculous!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Charity Cheat: Aaron Tonken

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 56:50 Transcription Available


    Aaron Tonken was celebrity obsessed from a young age, so naturally he made his way to Hollywood. He also made his way into the good graces and wallets of many entertainment icons. With phony or plain chaotic charity galas, Tonken fleeced the rich and famous in one whirlwind fever dream of a conning career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Narco-Baron and The Rubber-Faced Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 51:27 Transcription Available


    An ultra-wealthy British son of a Royal Naval officer partnered with a Danish master of disguise to become major players in the international drug-smuggling scene. And they would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those pesky... Welsh lobstermen and farmers' daughters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Old Man and the Gun...on the Run: Forrest Tucker

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 52:03 Transcription Available


    With a love of robbing banks and the love of a good woman, Forrest Tucker pulled off heists with no violence involved. Plenty of arrests ensued, but so did plenty of prison escapes. He was a man with a life so extraordinary, Robert Redford played him in a movie...that put Zaron to sleep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Outlaw Dora Cox and the Highwaywoman Barbara Danelia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 54:34 Transcription Available


    At the end of the 19th century, two outlaws made names for themselves around the world, but over time both have been forgotten. This week, we resurrect the tales of these outlaw folk heroes. Lady outlaws.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    More Like TrafiCAN: James Traficant

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 52:29 Transcription Available


    He ran for sheriff, saying he'd take on the mob. Instead, he lined his pockets with their cash. He ran for Congress, saying he'd fight for working Americans. Instead, he had people work for him for free. All the while, James Traficant made a name for himself with his denim suits and a hideous hairpiece. In the words of ol' Jimbo himself, beam me up!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Long Con of Lady Wonder, the Psychic Horse

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 54:19 Transcription Available


    Imagine a horse. Now imagine if that horse could read your mind. And imagine you paid for this experience. You would be in good company –– even the President of the USA listened to the prophecies of Lady Wonder, the psychic horse. Of course, it was all a long con. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Big Scam on Campus: Diploma Mills

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 55:42 Transcription Available


    Getting a degree is tough work. Or at least it should be. There are some out there, though, who want to get or give a college diploma the easy way: hot off the presses, no questions asked. From fake high school diplomas to phony medical degrees, come browse the college catalog of bogus academic achievement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Flying Bandit: Ken Leishman

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 52:44 Transcription Available


    Known locally as the Robin Hood of the Great White North, Ken Leishman was a gentlemen thief who pulled off the greatest Canadian gold heist ever. But he really made his name and criminal fame when he took to the skies and became... The Flying Bandit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Are You Experienced... With Kidnapping?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 52:36 Transcription Available


    What do Fats Waller and Jimi Hendrix have in common –– other than both being brilliant musicians who changed the course of American music? The answer is: they were both kidnapped... by the mafia! But it's cool, it's cool... who would ever wanna hurt them?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 Ridiculous Questions: Historical Flex Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2024 64:56 Transcription Available


    The Ridiculous crews, both History and Crime, join forces to play everyone's favorite guessing game: 20 Questions. There were questions. There were answers. There were half court shots at the buzzer. Join the gang for some puzzling good fun!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Where The Streets Have No Shame: Marianne Andle

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 54:22 Transcription Available


    Like MLK and Biggie Smalls, Marianne Andle also had a dream. Her dream? That one day she could become Irish. After that plan failed and Marianne had to flee Northern Ireland with the cops hot on her trail, and after a quick name change and return to the US, she found a new dream. That new dream? Conning the semi-rich and gullible of Los Angeles, California, by posing as an Irish heiress. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    It was in the Stars: Nancy Reagan's White House

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2024 53:25 Transcription Available


    The president's wife. Hers is an interesting position, Really just window dressing. Or not. Almost criminal in nature, Trusting the stars to Guide foreign policy is Overly woo-woo. Astrology ran the White House in the 80s and This is the story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    You Gotta Fast Eddie: Edward Davenport

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 53:58 Transcription Available


    Money (or the appearance of it) attracts money. Lord Edward Ormus Sharrington Davenport knew this and capitalized on it. With posh mansions, lavish parties, and celebrity pals, Edward Davenport used the appearance of wealth to gain actual wealth by amassing other people's money. Welcome to the lifestyles of the rich and famous...and felonious.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Agatha Christie: I Want To Get Away!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2024 53:49 Transcription Available


    Like Lenny Kravitz, sometimes you want to get away. That was Agatha Christie in 1926. Why did the most famous mystery novelist in the world want to disappear? Hint: her husband. But there's so much more. And it all gets... ridiculous!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Fix is In: Competition Crimes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 52:41 Transcription Available


    Competition is human nature. And sometimes crime is, too. And sometimes these two come together to give us total ridiculousness. Fat bear ballot box stuffing, cheating Irish dancers, crooked fishermen — this episode has it all. And then some!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Wedding Bandits

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024 48:33 Transcription Available


    They say a person's wedding day is one of the most magical and memorable days of one's life. Now imagine if you used that extra-special day to pull off... an epic crime. Get ready for tales of wedding bandits!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Nixon's Millions: The United California Bank Burglary

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 47:51 Transcription Available


    A crack team of seasoned bank burglars strikes in a tony enclave in Southern California. A tale as old as time. Only they are from Ohio. And the money in the vault might belong to Richard Nixon. And that money may have been extorted from Jimmy Hoffa. And Jimmy Hoffa may have hired this crack team of seasoned bank burglars to steal his money back. There's a lot to get your head around on this one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Detroit Dream-maker: the John DeLorean Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2024 60:07 Transcription Available


    You know the car from Back to the Future. But John DeLorean was so much more than his stainless steel car. He was also the father of the "Muscle Car Era." He was a maverick, an egotist, and very much a man of his times. DeLorean risked it all to build his eponymous car, and he did so powered by shady coke deals and briefcases of cash. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Sing Blue Silver: Blane Nordahl

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 49:04 Transcription Available


    A burglar hits fancy estates and steals just one thing: silver. Silver salt and pepper shakers. Silver serving spoons. Silver everything. Blane Nordahl was sneaky, he was bold, and eventually, he was caught. And all that silver? Who knows and, frankly, who cares.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Livin' My Live Like It's Rollin': Let's Take to the Sea!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2024 53:54 Transcription Available


    Sometimes you just need to get away. For a Chinese dissident that meant making a daring escape on a jet ski. For a former cyclist turned "ocean jogger," it meant building himself a human-powered hamster wheel so he could run across the sea. In both cases, these men's choices were crimes, but their methods were... ridiculous!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Wigging Out: JT Leroy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 52:28 Transcription Available


    Ah, the late 1990s. Gritty realism ruled the day in film, music, and literature. And wunderkind JT Leroy took the book world by storm. A kid who survived the streets and HIV, he became the literary darling of the indie set. JT Leroy touched hearts and minds across the globe. Except JT Leroy wasn't all that he seemed. In fact, he wasn't anything he seemed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Fellowship of the Bling: The Bling Ring

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 59:44 Transcription Available


    It was 2009, a different time to say the least. The stars of the era known as Young Hollywood were the targets of a ring of break-in burglars, working the Hollywood Hills. Guns, jewelry, designer handbags, artwork, and "jeans made to fit my body" were stolen from the stars. What band of professional thieves had set up shop in LA? Turns out, it was local teens, AKA the Bling Ring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ridiculous Crime Podcast's Biggest Night: The Second Annual Perpies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 49:07 Transcription Available


    It's award season, Rude Dudes! We gather now for the 2nd year of the Perpies, a chance to recognize the best capers, heists, and cons from the last year. And listen, sister, they do not disappoint. With categories like Best Drug Crime, Best Rivalry, and Best Song, you know you are in for a real thrill ride. See you on the red carpet!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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