swindled

19. The Fyre Festival (Billy McFarland)

A technology entrepreneur defrauds investors in order to build a luxury music festival in the Bahamas.

Prelude: The Lapland New Forest Christmas Festival delivers an underwhelming experience.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

Scolded :(

Bad news: Just found out that the monthly merchandise giveaways are against Patreon's Terms of Service. This reward has been discontinued.

Good news: New rewards will be introduced very, very soon.

Thanks for understanding. 

18. The Tycoon (Allen Stanford)

The financial empire built by Allen Stanford, a mysterious man from Texas, is revealed to be a massive Ponzi scheme.

Prelude: The highs-and-lows of American financier, Michael Marin.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

Congrats to the Class of April 2018

Thank you for six months of support. Keep an eye out for your pin if you're one of the following people:

• Cat B.
• Christina B.
• Hannah H.
• Jonathan R.
• Kelley F.
• luckyjeane
• Nancy B.
• Ranae S.
• Randy W.
• Roseanne S.
• Sara C.
• Sarah R.
• Vanessa S.

New Posters & Other Updates!

Hope you all are doing well!

I've been working on new posters (pictured above), magnets, koozies, key chains, and something else very special!

Season 02 Episode 03 will be made available to you later this week!

New bonus episode next week!

A new website in the works!

I'm tired!

Thanks for all of your patience and support!

<3

17. The Lawsuit (McDonald's Hot Coffee)

An elderly woman suffers severe burns after spilling McDonald's coffee into her lap.

Prelude: A California janitor's case against the owners of a phone booth is labeled as a "frivolous" lawsuit by President Ronald Reagan.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

September Donation

This month's donation will go to the World Resources Institute. WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

WRI only spends 9% of its cash budget on overhead and has an A+ rating by CharityWatch.org.

Happy Six Month Anniversary!

The first batch of flag lapel pins began shipping last week. Congratulations and THANK YOU to the true OG patrons who have been with us for 6 months:

• Andrea M
• Carmel P
• Christine H
• Matthew N
• David N
• Eric H
• Erin D
• Iain S
• Jasmine C
• Jennifer B
• Jess H
• John M
• Johnathan W
• Julia B
• Karen W
• Danielle V
• Melinda V
• Shauna N
• T...
  2018-09-10 13:20:26 +0000 UTC View Post

16. The Canoe Man (John Darwin)

An English man is presumed dead after he disappears while canoeing in the North Sea.

Prelude: A New Jersey State Senator starts a new life on the Maldives Islands.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

Q&A w/ A Concerned Citizen #01

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop

More flag posters!

Got a whole new batch for those that didn't get one last time. Simply like this post within the next week and a poster will magically arrive in your mailbox.

Help Us Help You

While trying to decide what to do next for all of you wonderful patrons, I realized I don't know what you want because I've never asked. Silly me.

So here we go...

What kind of bonus content would you like to see?

Comments are welcome too.

Season 2 Teaser

Hi. Thanks for sticking around. Here's a little teaser for Season 2. For your eyes only. Please do not share. Date is subject to change.

BONUS 07: The Refugee (Wyclef Jean)

A hip-hop superstar establishes a charitable foundation to benefit his homeland, the Republic of Haiti.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

A Token of Our Appreciation

Patrons that reach SIX months of consecutive support will be receiving these presidential lapel flag pins. There's plenty to go around. Hang in there, Comrade!

July Donation

Five-percent of our Patreon proceeds this month will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); a nonpartisan organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States."

Flag posters on the way!

Recent Patreon supporters will be receiving their posters in the mail soon! Thanks to A Concerned Canine for accepting belly rubs and head scratches in exchange for her help.

Old school patrons who reach 6-months of support will be receiving a special gift soon, as well. Details will follow.

End of Season 1

We are taking a short break but will be back very soon. All Patreon rewards will continue, so don't go anywhere just yet! Look for a new bonus episode next week. :)

15. The Gigolo (Richard Bailey)

A smooth-talking con man who preys on wealthy widows and divorcees becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of Helen Brach, a multimillionaire candy heiress.

Prelude: Horse owners summon "The Sandman" to assist them in recovering a portion of their investments.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast....

Swindled Gives Back!

Starting this month, we will begin donating 5% of our Patreon proceeds to a different charity each month. For the month of June, we have chosen a local nonprofit Austin Pets Alive!
that’s “dedicated to stopping the killing of Austin’s adoptable dogs and cats". Feel free to suggest other charities for future donations in the comments!

14. The Association (FIFA)

A culture of corruption at FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, has plagued the world's most popular sport for decades.

Prelude: Colin Fowles, a local football star, is remembered by his community.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

BONUS 06: The Pole Saw (Gerald Hardin)

A South Carolina man takes advantage of his mentally disabled friend in a get rich quick scheme.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

Join us.

All new members of Swindled's Committee of Concerned Citizens will receive this free poster (until we run out)! Join todayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

13. The Pharma Bro (Martin Shkreli)

A young pharmaceutical company CEO raises the price of a drug for a rare disease and becomes the "most hated man in America".

Prelude: Valeant Pharmaceuticals pioneers a new business model for the pharmaceutical industry.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

12. The Televangelist (Jim Bakker)

Reverend Jim Bakker's financial and sexual scandals topple his Christian entertainment empire.

Prelude: The secrets of faith healer Peter Popoff are revealed.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

BONUS 05: The Homemaker (Martha Stewart)

The first self-made, female billionaire, is accused of using insider knowledge to sell stock of a cancer treatment drug.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop 

11. The Hitman (Frank Howard)

A quintessential family man steals millions of dollars from his employer to fund a love affair and the attempted murder of his wife.

Prelude: Jeffrey Locker, a multi-millionaire motivational speaker, solicits help from Kenneth Minor, a down-and-out man from Harlem, in a plot to collect insurance proceeds.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at 2018-04-21 17:06:37 +0000 UTC View Post

10. The Judges (Kids for Cash)

Two Luzerne County judges, Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan, are accused of accepting over $2 million in kickbacks in exchange for imposing harsh sentences on juveniles to increase occupancy at for-profit detention centers.

Prelude: Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak is involved in a pay-to-play corruption scandal.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at 2018-04-14 14:56:53 +0000 UTC View Post

09. The Leak (Bhopal Gas Disaster)

An American company avoids accountability for its role in an accident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. The effects of the tragedy have lasted decades, accounting for over 20,000 deaths and half a million injured.

Prelude: A cloud of gas sweeps over the Chemical Valley region in West Virginia.

Thanks for being a ValuedListener™!  :-)

Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at 2018-03-25 20:19:21 +0000 UTC View Post

08. The Impostor (Jimmy Sabatino)

A serial con man uses multiple aliases and his gift of gab to bilk his victims out of millions of dollars worth of hotel rooms, jewelry, clothes, and electronics. Best known for a Super Bowl ticket heist, Jimmy Sabatino's criminal resume also includes a presidential death threat and dubious connections to the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls.

Prelude: William Douglas Street Jr., a notorious impostor, assumes many different roles and professions in an attempt shortcut his way to...