In 2015, Australian con woman Belle Gibson was living the dream. Her app The Whole Pantry was hugely popular and she was about to launch a book of the same name. With hundreds of thousands of followers online, Belle had become a celebrated wellness influencer who'd overcome terminal cancer and had cured herself with healthy eating and holistic therapies. But it was all a lie. The truth came to light when her friend, Chanelle McAuliffe, noticed gaps in Belle's story. The moment she exposed her de...
Feb 19, 2025•53 min
Belle Gibson fooled not only her hundreds of thousands of followers, but the most prestigious book publishers in Australia, the tech giants of silicon valley and even her family and friends into believing she was something she was not: sick. If today, her name is synonymous with the weighty infamy of a notorious scam, there was a time before that, when she was celebrated as an inspiration. On this episode of Extraordinary Stories, we look at the rise of Belle Gibson. From tall tales in school dr...
Feb 05, 2025•32 min
[Part 3 of 3] A month before Amy Winehouse’s death, her performance at a music festival in Serbia was resoundly panned. She was intoxicated for the whole world to see, but the silver lining of what would be labelled 'the worst gig of her career' meant she didn’t have to go on tour. It meant Amy, and those who loved her, had their hopes pinned on a chance for Amy to get better again. On this episode we’ll explore the final years in the life of Amy Winehouse. After her closest friends were convinc...
May 26, 2022•34 min•Season 12Ep. 3
[Part 2 of 3] After a celebrated album with her debut, Frank, and with that distinct voice and sound, Amy Winehouse got very famous, very fast. Everyone wanted a second album, but Amy had entered a whole new world. On this episode, we’ll hear how Amy’s very private struggles with mental health and addiction became headlines for a relentless tabloid culture. And, in one of the most volatile love affairs in pop culture history, how would the story of Amy and Blake become a cautionary tale about th...
May 19, 2022•29 min•Season 12Ep. 2
[Part 1 of 3] You can recognise it in an instant, that iconic voice and a candid style of songwriting beyond her years. The sound of Amy Winehouse was a sound unheard of since the days of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. But the name ‘Amy Winehouse’ seems to be as synonymous with talent as it is tragedy. On this season we’ll dive deep into the life of Amy. From her rise to fame, her artistry, to her pain, her loves, and her losses. Could she have been saved? What does her death tell us about the ...
May 12, 2022•29 min•Season 12Ep. 1
[Part 3 of 3] In the lead-up to the Beijing Winter Olympics, the world began to wonder how and if Peng Shuai would be used in the games, and whether the IOC was going to have anything to say to the Chinese Government about their silencing of the tennis star. So how did the Chinese propaganda juggernaut shift its attention to the global sporting stage? And what happens when the international community’s peak sporting body is accused of silencing a sexual assault survivor? Plus, we investigate Chi...
May 05, 2022•35 min•Season 11Ep. 3
[Part 2 of 3] For three long weeks in November 2021, the tennis community, news organisations, and human rights advocates the world over had one question; Where Is Peng Shuai? In the aftermath of a Weibo post detailing allegations of sexual assault against one of China’s top political figures, concerns for Peng Shuai's freedom were escalating swiftly. Then suddenly, proof of life. In this episode, we’ll learn more about the Chinese propaganda machine, and how it’s working to convince the world o...
Apr 29, 2022•30 min•Season 11Ep. 2
[Part 1 of 3] It was after 10 pm, on November 2nd, 2021 when 35-year-old Peng Shuai - China’s beloved global tennis star - sat down and began typing. Truncated sentences of an open letter, detailing an affair and sexual assault involving one of China’s highest-ranking political figures. It took only a few minutes before the post had amassed thousands of shares, likes, and comments. But within half an hour, it vanished. And moments later, so too did Peng Shuai. CREDITS: Host: Emma Gillespie Write...
Apr 21, 2022•28 min•Season 11Ep. 1
[Part 2 of 2] From 2013 until just a few weeks ago, Amanda’s Bynes life was controlled by a conservatorship, governed primarily by her mum, Lynn. In the wake of Britney Spears’ bombshell revelations about her own conservatorship, the #freebritney movement turned its attention to Amanda. Knowing what we now know about conservatorships and how they can be manipulated, why did it take more than eight years for Amanda to regain control of her own life? CREDITS Host: Emma Gillespie Written and Produc...
Apr 12, 2022•38 min•Season 10Ep. 2
[Part 1 of 2] She was the queen of Nickelodeon, beloved by teens of the noughties. But just as her movie career was taking off, something happened to Amanda Bynes. In this two-part series, we’re looking back on the life and career of Amanda Bynes before, during and after things got out of control. We’ll dive into the paparazzi culture that hounded and taunted young Hollywood starlets, and question our historic understanding of the mental health issues at play. What caused Amanda Bynes to crumble...
Apr 12, 2022•40 min•Season 10Ep. 1
[Part 3 of 3] Charlene Wittstock had made it through years of tabloid speculation about her marriage to the Prince of Monaco, but in 2020, just as she found some peace, a new, yet very familiar scandal involving her husband rattled the palace. Then, in a matter of weeks Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene left the country and wouldn’t return for almost a year. Had a serious illness kept her away from her children and her husband’s new paternity battle? Or did Charlene not want to come home? CR...
Apr 08, 2022•31 min•Season 9Ep. 3
[Part 2 of 3] To lock down the future of the Grimaldi dynasty, Prince Albert II needed to marry and produce a legitimate heir. So when he met South African olympian Charlene Wittstock, the palace breathed a sigh of relief. Beautiful and elegant, Charlene would make the perfect princess. But when Albert’s past life as “The Playboy Prince” caught up with him, the star-studded princely wedding in Monaco almost had everything except a bride. The tabloids were reporting Albert had a new love child, a...
Apr 08, 2022•32 min•Season 9Ep. 2
[Part 1 of 3] Seven hundred years ago a woman betrayed by the ruler of Monaco cursed the future of his family: no descendant of the House of Grimaldi would ever find happiness in marriage. On this season of Extraordinary Stories our host Emma Gillespie dives into the modern-day impact of that curse. Did it play a part in the tragic demise of the Hollywood star turned princess Grace Kelly? CREDITS Host: Emma Gillespie Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie Audio Production: Made...
Apr 08, 2022•31 min•Season 9Ep. 1
[Part 3 of 3] In trying to put an end to the legal quagmire they found themselves in, Pamela and Tommy Lee signed away the rights to their stolen sex tape, and to any future profits it would make. It was an insult to injury, after the viral home movie saw the couple become some of the first victims of a crime often misnamed as ‘revenge porn.’ A crime so pervasive it forces many of us to ask ourselves “who else has seen my nudes?” CREDITS Host: Emma Gillespie Written and Produced by Sydney Pead &...
Apr 04, 2022•30 min•Season 8Ep. 3
[Part 2 of 3] Pamela and Tommy’s most personal possession, a home video taken on their honeymoon was stolen. Within six months, it was everywhere. And everyone wanted to watch it. But in 1996, before Youtube or PornHub were invented, how did this home movie go from a stolen piece of property to the most profitable piece of pornography in the world? CREDITS Host: Emma Gillespie Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie Audio Production: Madeline Joannou Executive Producer: Sydney P...
Apr 04, 2022•33 min•Season 8Ep. 2
[Part 1 of 3] When Tommy Lee licked Pam Anderson’s face from chin to temple at a New Year's Eve party in 1995, it was the beginning of one of Hollywood’s most intense and frenzied romances. Less than two months later the bad-boy Mötley Crüe drummer and sex-symbol Baywatch actor were married on a beach in Mexico. But wedded bliss for the 90s glam couple was short-lived, after a disgruntled electrician broke into their house to steal their most prized possessions. Little did he, or the couple know...
Apr 04, 2022•28 min•Season 8Ep. 1
[Part 4 of 4] Why Linda Evangelista disappeared from public life in 2016, while her peers were still ruling runways, gracing magazine covers and spearheading beauty campaigns was a mystery. Until an Instagram post in September 2021, where she revealed herself as the victim of a rare side effect from a cosmetic procedure. Instead of freezing fat cells, Linda claims she experienced the opposite. In her quest to remain one of the most beautiful women in the world Linda, in her own words felt "defor...
Apr 01, 2022•42 min•Season 7Ep. 4
[Part 3 of 4] Professionally, Linda Evangelista was unparalleled, achieving more success than almost anyone else in the fashion industry. But her personal life was not so straight-forward. From leaving a marriage plagued with allegations of abuse, to an ill-fated relationship with a curious film star; in this episode we delve into the supermodel's loves and losses, and a scandal followed by a secret that would change Linda's life forever. With thanks to Richard Reid - Entertainment Reporter @the...
Apr 01, 2022•31 min•Season 7Ep. 3
[Part 2 of 4] At the very top of her game, Linda Evangelista met and married one of the most powerful men in the fashion industry. Gerald Marie represented all the top supermodels and held the careers of hundreds of up-and-comers in his hand. What she didn't know was that her husband was allegedly part of a dark underbelly in the fashion industry where powerful figures sexually exploited and abused young models with chilling regularity. Warning: This episode contains descriptions of sexual assau...
Apr 01, 2022•35 min•Season 7Ep. 2
[Part 1 of 4] She was one of the most photographed women in the world, now even the paparazzi are struggling to snap a photo of Linda Evangelista. The original 90s supermodel has become a recluse, while her contemporaries continue with lucrative careers, claiming a cosmetic procedure left her permanently disfigured. But before her greatest downfall, how did this Canadian-born beauty queen become the most super of The Supermodels? With Thanks to: Kirstie Clements Nicole Bonython-Hines Jayson Brun...
Apr 01, 2022•32 min•Season 7Ep. 1
Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories Having reached national fame, the cast of Young Talent Time split off in countless directions when their time on the show ended. Some finished their schooling and led relatively normal lives, while other soared into international fame. But with the shock cancellation of the show in 1988, some team mates lost their stepping-stone into show business altogether. This episode we find out why the show was suddenly axed, and what happene...
Mar 29, 2022•47 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories The Young Talent Team were as famous as it gets in 1970-80s Australia. Mobbed at shopping centre concerts, packing stadiums on tour, chased down city streets during on school trips; the cast soared to heights most performers could only dream of reaching. But each knew the wild ride of YTT would have to end once they turned sixteen. Some thrived and continued performing, but others came face-to-face with the cut-throat realities of ...
Mar 29, 2022•46 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories Under the bright lights of the TV studio in Melbourne, the Young Talent Time crew were the shiny, happy and wholesome stars of a hit music show. But in reality they were kids with full-time jobs, trying to balance school with the crazy demands of show business. Add the rollercoaster of teenage hormones and avoiding getting beaten up at school for the whacky costume you wore on TV last week — being a teenage pop idol was hard work. ...
Mar 29, 2022•40 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories In 1971, Australian TV changed forever when a brand new show called 'Young Talent Time' burst onto screens in lounge rooms across the country. For 18 years, it held a place in the hearts of Australians at a time when family entertainment was king and "mullet" hairstyles reigned supreme. A unique mix of pop hits, flashy dance routines and wholesome performances by a team of talented children and teens catapulted the show into enormo...
Mar 29, 2022•37 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories Demonised by the press. Vilified by the country. The subject of gossip and innuendo. From today's viewpoint, the story of Lindy Chamberlain is a brutal reflection of 1980s Australia. Beneath the layers of lies and injustice, it’s a story of a mother who didn’t behave, look, speak or grieve the way we wanted her to after the incomprehensible loss of a child. It’s also the story of one woman, strong enough to endure it all. In this s...
Mar 24, 2022•35 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories Released from a Darwin jail after the shock discovery of fresh evidence in the desert, Lindy Chamberlain finds herself at the centre of a media circus once again. But now, her story is going global, immortalised in a Hollywood film starring Oscar-winning actor Meryl Streep. Amid the intense media attention, the breakdown of her marriage and the public’s lingering suspicion, Lindy must continue her fight to clear her name. THE END B...
Mar 24, 2022•34 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories Alice Lynn Chamberlain went from living a quiet, family-focused life to being Australia’s most despised woman. For two years, the press had vilified Lindy and the hatred of the public only made the prosecutor's job easier; to convince a jury that Lindy, not a dingo, had killed Azaria Chamberlain. On this episode of The Demonisation Of Lindy Chamberlain, we’ll learn what happened when Lindy had her day in court, what put an innocent...
Mar 24, 2022•34 min•Season 5Ep. 2
[Part 3 of 3] On this episode of Extraordinary Stories: The Life & Death Of Charlotte Dawson, we’ll learn about the aftermath of Charlotte’s death. From the immediate aftershocks to her long-term legacy. What have we learned from the death of Charlotte Dawson? Has anything changed for the better? And, the question that torments everyone who loved Charlotte, could she have been saved? CREDITS: Host: Emma Gillespie Writers: Emma Gillespie, Tia Ucich & Holly Wainwright Producers: Emma Gille...
Mar 17, 2022•41 min•Season 4Ep. 3
[Part 2 of 3] On our last episode, we learnt about Charlotte’s early years and a coming of age that included a love affair with fashion. We heard how a teenager from New Zealand made it big on the Australian modelling scene, and how her reputation was destroyed in the wake of a public and messy marriage breakdown. On this episode, we’ll hear how Charlotte Dawson rebranded herself to become a television star, a mentor and an advocate. You’ll hear from the people who were with her in the wonderful...
Mar 10, 2022•37 min•Season 4Ep. 2
[Part 1 of 3] There are many chapters in the book of Charlotte Dawson. Charlotte Dawson the adopted young girl, Charlotte Dawson the Fire Horse, Charlotte Dawson the life of the party, Charlotte Dawson the Model, Charlotte Dawson the wife of Olympic hero Scott Miller, Charlotte Dawson the Brave, Charlotte Dawson the paparazzi obsession, Charlotte Dawson the homebody, Charlotte Dawson the Mentor. And; Charlotte Dawson, the misunderstood. On the first episode of The Life & Death Of Charlotte D...
Mar 03, 2022•33 min•Season 4Ep. 1
