In this episode, we dive into the true story behind one of the most infamous trials in Australian history: the Lindy Chamberlain case. We compare the real events surrounding the disappearance of baby Azaria Chamberlain in 1980 with the Hollywood Adaptation, Fred Schepisi’s A Cry in the Dark (1988; also known as Evil Angels), starring Meryl Streep. How accurately did the film portray Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, the media frenzy, and the controversial trial that followed? Join us as we explore the facts, myths, and lasting cultural significance of a story that shocked the world and still sparks debate today.

Primary Sources:

• Bryson, John. Evil Angels: The Case of Lindy Chamberlain. Summit Books (1987).
• The Guardian (2012)
• The Guardian (2017)
• BBC (2023)

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In this episode, we peel back the layers of Gus Van Sant’s darkly satirical To Die For (1995) and the true story that inspired it: The 1990 murder of Greg Smart, orchestrated by his wife, Pamela Smart. Nicole Kidman’s icy portrayal of Suzanne Stone – an ambitious small-town woman willing to kill for fame – captivated audiences, but how closely does it mirror Pamela herself? We explore the real case: Pamela’s relationship with teenager Billy Flynn, the media circus that surrounded the trial, and how the coverage shaped public perception. We also look at what the movie gets right, what it dramatizes, and how Pamela Smart continues to make headlines decades later. Was To Die For a biting commentary on media obsession, or a Hollywood distortion of a tragedy that still divides opinions today? That’s up for you to decide.

Primary Sources:

• Sawicki, Stephen. Teach Me to Kill: The Shocking True Story of the Pamela Smart Murder Case. (2019).
• NBC News (2006)
• Seacoast Online (2021)

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In our season five premiere, we put Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can (2002) under the microscope and compare it to the real-life story of Frank Abagnale Jr., the infamous con man whose wild exploits inspired the film. How much of Leonardo DiCaprio’s slick, globe-trotting portrayal matches reality, and how much is pure Hollywood invention? We dive into Abagnale’s early scams, his claims of passing as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer, and the FBI’s pursuit led by agent Joe Shea – the real counterpart to Tom Hanks’s character Carl Hanratty. We also examine how Abagnale reinvented himself after prison, becoming a security consultant, and question how reliable his own version of events really is. Was Frank Abagnale truly the “greatest con man of all time,” or has he been conning us all along?

Primary Sources:

• Logan, Alan. The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching the Truth While We Can. (2020).
• Frank Abagnale’s Website

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In part two of our season four finale, we unpack Spike Lee’s Malcolm X (1992), starring Denzel Washington, and examine how it compares to the real-life story of one of American’s most influential and controversial civil rights leaders. We break down the key moments from the film – Malcolm’s childhood, time in prison, conversion to Islam, rise in the Nation of Islam, and eventual split – and weigh them against the historical record. What did the film get right? What was left out or dramatized? And how do these creative choices affect our understanding of Malcolm’s legacy? Join us as we explore the man, the myth, and the movie.

Primary Source:

• Payne, Les & Payne, Tamara. The Dead are Rising: The Life of Malcolm X. Liveright Publishing Corporation (2020).

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In part one of our two-part season four finale, we dive deep into the chilling parallels between the critically acclaimed film American History X (1998) and the real-life story of Frank Meeink, a former Neo-Nazi turned spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). While American History X explores the violent world of white supremacy through the fictional character Derek Vinyard, played by Edward Norton, Frank Meeink’s Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead offers a raw, firsthand account of indoctrination, violence, and ultimately, transformation. We explore how both stories depict the seductive pull of hate, the brutal consequences of extremist ideology, and the long, painful road to redemption. What parts of American History X mirror Frank’s own life? Where do the stories diverge? And what can these narratives teach us about the roots of radicalization—and the hope for change?

Primary Sources:

• Meeink, Frank & Roy, Jody. Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead: The Frank Meeink Story. Hawthorne Books (2010).
• The Times of Israel (2024)
• The Independent (2025)

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In this episode, we dive into the chilling “Kurim case,” the twisted true tale that inspired Jaume Collet-Serra’s Orphan(2009). After dissecting the movie, which includes a clever nod to Leonardo DiCaprio and Titanic (1997), we compare it to the life of Barbora Skrlova, a woman in her 30s who posed as two 13-year-old children, infiltrated unsuspecting families, and participated in one of the worst child abuse cases in Czechia’s history.

Primary Source:

• Green, Ryan. The Kurim Case: A Terrifying True Story of Child Abuse, Cults & Cannibalism (2016).

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In this gripping episode we drive deep into the chilling true store behind Bully (2001), directed by Larry Clark and based on the murder of 20-year-old Bobby Kent. We explore the disturbing dynamics between Bobby and his so-called friends who orchestrated and carried out this brutal crime. Through a detailed comparison of the movie and the actual case, we uncover what the film got right, what it changed, the impact this shocking crime had on those involved. We also unpack the sordid production and the trail of tragedy that followed nearly ever teen actor involved.

Primary Sources:

• Schutze, Jim. Bully: A True Story of High School Revenge. Avon Books (1997).
• Forensic Files (2018)
• CrimeJuicy Cocktail Hour (2021)

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If you were living in Texas and looking for a hit man in the 1990s, Gary Johnson was your man. He was willing to take jobs from just about anyone. From scorned lovers to teens seeking revenge, no request was off limits. The catch? He wasn’t a professional killer at all. In fact, he was an undercover investigator for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. In this episode we dive into the wild and stranger than fiction story behind Hit Man (2023), the Netflix romantic crime comedy directed by Richard Linklater and staring Glen Powell. We compare the film’s charismatic, identity-shifting antihero to the actual man behind the legend and discuss some of his high-profile cases. Join us as we separate fact from fiction in one of the most bizarre true crime stories to hit the big screen.

Primary Sources:

• Texas Monthly (2001)
• Lone Star College (2024)

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