Space Cadets - Britain’s Biggest TV Hoax
Space Cadets is Channel 4’s audacious 2005 reality TV hoax, engineered by Endemol and billed as Britain’s biggest televised prank. A full-scale shuttl...
The Compendium Podcast
An Assembly of Fascinating Things!
True Crime | Historical Events | Incredible PeopleA weekly variety podcast that gives you everything you need to know on a topic to help stand your ground at a social gathering. We explore stories from the darker corners of true crime, forgotten historical events, and incredible people.
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Latest Episode
Space Cadets: The British Reality Show That Convinced Contestants They Were In Space
In 2005, Channel 4’s Space Cadets convinced contestants they had been blasted into orbit. This episode unpacks the elaborate hoax, from Ipswich airbases to fake shuttles, and asks why they believed.
Recent Episodes
Aileen Wuornos: Queen of the Serial Killers
The life and crimes of Aileen Wuornos, from a childhood of abuse to the highway murders, trial, and execution. Today we're asking whether she was the most notorious female serial killer in American history, a survivor, or something far more complicated.
Reeva Steenkamp: The Night Oscar Pistorius Pulled the Trigger
In this episode of The Compendium, we revisit the tragic story of Reeva Steenkamp and the night she was killed by Oscar Pistorius. From the rise of the Blade Runner to the shocking Valentine’s Day shooting in Pretoria, we examine the trial, the verdict, and the controversy that followed. Exploring t...
Monster of Florence: The Real-Life Horror Behind an Italian Legend
In this episode of The Compendium , we delve into the terrifying true story of the Monster of Florence — the Italian serial killer who stalked lovers in the Tuscan hills for nearly two decades. Blending fact, obsession, and myth, we uncover how the unsolved case inspired Hannibal Lecter , entangled ...
Princess Diana Part 3: The Final Year, The Fatal Chase, The Last Goodbye
In this episode of The Compendium, we trace the final year of Diana’s life — from her private relationship with Hasnat Khan to her whirlwind summer with Dodi Fayed. As the Royal Family watched from a distance, Diana found herself caught between love, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of the paparaz...
Kony 2012: How Social Media Tried to Stop a War
In this episode of The Compendium , we revisit the explosive rise and spectacular fall of Kony 2012 — the viral video that promised to stop Joseph Kony and his LRA army, but became a cautionary tale about social media activism. From the $30 action kits to celebrity endorsements, evangelical fu...
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Patreon Episodes Include:
![[PREVIEW] Fyre Festival: The Greatest Party That Never Happened](https://images.beamly.com/fetch/https%3A%2F%2Fc10.patreonusercontent.com%2F4%2Fpatreon-media%2Fp%2Fpost%2F141352443%2Fec41c67959c54b7381d29df2a2b51e01%2FeyJkIjo3MiwiaCI6MzAwMCwic3RyaXBfYWxwaGEiOjEsInciOjMwMDAsIndlYnAiOjB9%2F1.png%3Ftoken-hash%3D0w8lXGM10uYozoeVe6QbG7Ko5r35eQj1VCWXopvTM9c%253D?w=275)
[PREVIEW] Fyre Festival: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into the chaotic story of Fyre Festival, the so-called “greatest party that never happened.” What began as Billy McFarland’s glos...
![[PREVIEW] The Mushroom Murderer: Erin Patterson’s Deadly Family Lunch and the Trial that Shocked the World.](https://images.beamly.com/fetch/https%3A%2F%2Fc10.patreonusercontent.com%2F4%2Fpatreon-media%2Fp%2Fpost%2F140737459%2F3282679bba064ca8a31740eeb10bbf10%2FeyJkIjo3MiwiaCI6MzAwMCwic3RyaXBfYWxwaGEiOjEsInciOjMwMDAsIndlYnAiOjB9%2F1.png%3Ftoken-hash%3DEKtW7OAdv5Tt2i0tR_9iYpm74yxx12AnPixPE0I1P6k%253D?w=275)
[PREVIEW] The Mushroom Murderer: Erin Patterson’s Deadly Family Lunch and the Trial that Shocked the World.
In this episode of The Compendium, we explore the Mushroom Murders the shocking case of Erin Patterson and the deadly family lunch poisoned with death cap mushrooms. Three ...
![[PREVIEW] Space Cadets: How A British Reality Show Convinced Contestants They Were In Space](https://images.beamly.com/fetch/https%3A%2F%2Fc10.patreonusercontent.com%2F4%2Fpatreon-media%2Fp%2Fpost%2F139481485%2F0cd1860b36664c00879ffb625fd0fa1e%2FeyJkIjo3MiwiaCI6MzAwMCwic3RyaXBfYWxwaGEiOjEsInciOjMwMDAsIndlYnAiOjB9%2F1.png%3Ftoken-hash%3D2GAUyBH7bDIxYCRqZNFRkFXsOdCZZSLwaZ3N5sNaFig%253D?w=275)
[PREVIEW] Space Cadets: How A British Reality Show Convinced Contestants They Were In Space
In this episode of The Compendium, we revisit Space Cadets: How A British Reality Show Convinced Contestants They Were In Space . In 2005, Channel 4 and Endemol staged the ...
![[PREVIEW] Reeva Steenkamp: The Night Oscar Pistorius Pulled the Trigger](https://images.beamly.com/fetch/https%3A%2F%2Fc10.patreonusercontent.com%2F4%2Fpatreon-media%2Fp%2Fpost%2F138937994%2Fec2a1a1f04ab419b90f67e2b8b530a7b%2FeyJkIjo3MiwiaCI6MzAwMCwic3RyaXBfYWxwaGEiOjEsInciOjMwMDAsIndlYnAiOjB9%2F1.png%3Ftoken-hash%3DsNnO39V8P1zuC0oKFBcs0RnvHpKKzb4-1Eso6JnhZOI%253D?w=275)
[PREVIEW] Reeva Steenkamp: The Night Oscar Pistorius Pulled the Trigger
In this episode of The Compendium, we revisit the tragic story of Reeva Steenkamp and the night she was killed by Oscar Pistorius. From the rise of the Blade Runner to the ...
![[PREVIEW] Monster of Florence: The Real-Life Horror Behind an Italian Legend](https://images.beamly.com/fetch/https%3A%2F%2Fc10.patreonusercontent.com%2F4%2Fpatreon-media%2Fp%2Fpost%2F140731571%2F012675c28aaa4633b90ecfceec971d7c%2FeyJkIjo3MiwiaCI6MzAwMCwic3RyaXBfYWxwaGEiOjEsInciOjMwMDAsIndlYnAiOjB9%2F1.png%3Ftoken-hash%3DsA_0R1zbHVaEtfALfm5s5Z11OiYCW0COgzxW-rklzX0%253D?w=275)
[PREVIEW] Monster of Florence: The Real-Life Horror Behind an Italian Legend
In this episode of The Compendium , we delve into the terrifying true story of the Monster of Florence — the Italian serial killer who stalked lovers in the Tuscan hills fo...
![[PREVIEW] Princess Diana Part 3: The Final Year, The Fatal Chase, The Last Goodbye](https://images.beamly.com/fetch/https%3A%2F%2Fc10.patreonusercontent.com%2F4%2Fpatreon-media%2Fp%2Fpost%2F136023928%2Fc018943e3b504520a52a93f4f63d31c6%2FeyJkIjo3MiwiaCI6MzAwMCwic3RyaXBfYWxwaGEiOjEsInciOjMwMDAsIndlYnAiOjB9%2F1.png%3Ftoken-hash%3DXOb5eHLpGQJoD5TXPNCvXtKvpGShRUw3YfhM5hCB9EY%253D?w=275)
[PREVIEW] Princess Diana Part 3: The Final Year, The Fatal Chase, The Last Goodbye
In this final chapter, we follow Diana’s last year — her relationships, her legacy, and the crash that stunned the world. In this episode of The Compendium, we trace the fi...
More Episodes
Ed Gein: Monster, Murderer, and the Real Story Behind Hollywood’s Nightmares
In this episode of The Compendium, we uncover the disturbing story of Ed Gein, the Wisconsin serial killer whose gruesome crimes shocked a nation and inspired Hollywood’s darkest legends. From the murder of Bernice Worden to the horrifying discoveries inside his farmhouse, we explore the truth behin...
Princess Diana Part 2: The Truth Behind Her Divorce from Charles and the Royal Fallout
In this episode of the Compendium, we are diving into part 2 of our Princess Diana series where we reveals the deeper story behind her divorce from Charles and the shockwaves it sent through the British royal family. From her battle with bulimia and mental health to the taboo-shattering Pr...
Anni Dewani: Honeymoon Murder and the Corruption at the Heart of South Africa
In this episode of The Compendium, we uncover the haunting story of Anni Dewani’s honeymoon murder — a crime that spiralled into South Africa’s most notorious scandal. From the staged hijacking in Gugulethu to Shrien Dewani’s dramatic trial and acquittal, the case exposed corruption, plea bargains, ...
The Real-Life Gone Girl: Denise Huskins Vallejo Kidnapping Story
In this episode of the Compendium, Real Life Gone Girl takes you deep into Denise Huskins’ harrowing Vallejo kidnapping story—where the victim was blamed before the abductor was even caught. From being dubbed a “hoax” and compared to Gone Girl , to the Netflix American Nightm...
Princess Diana Part 1: The Royal Romance That Was Over Before It Began
In this episode of The Compendium, we kick off our three-part series on Princess Diana, Part 1. We start with Diana’s early years and whirlwind engagement to Prince Charles, then uncover how royal life’s pressures shattered the fairy tale. You'll hear how her childhood, a strained marriage, Royal Fa...
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The Hosts
YOUR RINGMASTER
Kyle Risi
Hey, I'm Kyle, your host on The Compendium podcast. I believe you don't need to commit to a 10-part series to learn about a story. That's why I'm committed to providing easily digestible stories wrapped up in a neat little one-hour-ish package.
CO-HOST
Adam Cox
I'm Adam Cox, your side show freak co-pilot on The Compendium. Think of me as your voice. Whether on your commute, at the gym, or during quiet moments. Join Kyle and me as we dive into mysterious, fascinating, and oddball topics.
Listener Reviews
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Perfect for long walks!
As a mother of a toddler, my quiet moments are precious. I’m always looking for something to keep me engaged during long walks. With The Compendium I love that I dont have to commit to a 10 part documentary just to learn about interesting things, Kyle & Adam serve it up in 60 min.
My husband loves how I can now regale him with fascinating stories over dinner. This podcast makes me curious about the world again. Highly recommend.
Pheobe, UK
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
One of my favourite podcasts!
The chemistry between Kyle and Adam is so cute. Kyle's the bringer of all the fascinating information, and Adam, the one constantly being schooled, they make such a perfect pair.
I could listen to Adam’s voice all day, and Kyle’s constant need to shock has me laughing out loud. These boys are my absolute favourite—it genuinely feels like they’re my sons! Their banter and bond make every episode a joy to listen to, and I can’t recommend it enough.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Constantly Fascinated and Intrigued
You guys are 100% my secret weapon for capturing everyone’s attention when I’m out socialising with my friends!
Because I have so many different interests, I love that you guys cover such a wide range of different topics and stories, with just the right amount of detail. Your format is perfect and you guys are hillarious. No matter my mood there's always an episode to suit, and your'e the perfect travel companion on the morning commute
All The Latest Things
The Honeymoon Murder of Anni Dewani: Love, Lies, and South African Corruption
The post recounts the 2010 honeymoon murder of Anni Dewani in Cape Town and the subsequent trial of Shrien Dewani, a saga built on CCTV, plea bargains...
The Balloon Boy Hoax : How Media Sensationalism Shaped a National Spectacle
The post explores the infamous Balloon Boy hoax, which captivated the nation in 2009 and serves as a case study in media sensationalism. It details ho...
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