If the Walls Could Talk - podcast cover

If the Walls Could Talk

Todd Ganz and Stephani Youngwww.ifthewallscouldtalkpodcast.com

A struggling Chicago hospital did just about anything to admit patients. During the '90s and 2000s, Edgewater Hospital performed hundreds of unnecessary heart surgeries on patients just to pad its bottom line. Multiple patients died. Hear what lengths the government went in order to stop the fraud and why many believe the owner got away with it. Former employees, patients, investigators, and urban explorers recount the tangled history of what happened within the walls of Chicago's Edgewater Hospital.

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Episodes

BONUS: Chicago History Podcast Talks Edgewater Hospital

It's not a coincidence that many celebrities who performed at Edgewater Beach Hotel wound up in the "private suites" at Edgewater Hospital. Todd recently joined Tommy Henry on the Chicago History Podcast to explain why and shared a few other similarities between the two buildings. Hear the full episode about Chicago's famed Edgewater Beach Hotel in Episode 503 Episode 306 of the Chicago History Podcast features Todd Ganz and Stephani Young talking about the making of If the Walls Could Talk . Ep...

Oct 27, 20227 min

BONUS: Teresita Basa, Part 3 "Q&A"

There were other suspects in the mysterious murder investigation of Edgewater Hospital's Teresita Basa. In this special Q&A, learn about them and whether Reme Chua was considered a person of interest. Hear why one of Allan Showery's lawyers was later disbarred and find out about the odd connection to Edgewater Hospital's Peter Rogan and Roger Ehmen. If the Walls Could Talk Podcast shares the true crimes that destroyed Chicago's Edgewater Hospital. The complete series is now available. Additi...

Dec 02, 202127 min

BONUS: Teresita Basa, Part 2 "The Trial"

Accused of murdering Teresita Basa, Allan Showery's trial began in 1979. Given the unusual circumstances of the case -- namely that police were tipped off by a ghost -- lawyers on both sides were challenged to convince 12 indecisive jurors. But it's what happened after the trial that still remains a mystery. See pictures and learn more about the Teresita Basa case on our website: IftheWallsCouldTalkPodcast.com , Instagram and Facebook Group . Hear bonus content, additional stories, interviews an...

Nov 07, 202130 min

BONUS: Teresita Basa, Part 1 "The Murder"

Teresita Basa was found dead in her Chicago apartment with a knife in chest. The beloved Edgewater Hospital employee had been murdered and set on fire in 1977. With few leads, the case went cold...until Teresita's ghost returned from the grave to identify her killer: another Edgewater Hospital employee named Allan Showery. Hear the shocking true story of one the most unusual murder investigations in Part 1 of this Bonus Episode. See pictures and learn more about the unusual murder of Teresita Ba...

Oct 31, 202133 min

Ep 11: If the Walls Could Talk: Q & A Wrap Up

Is one of Edgewater Hospital's doctors sitting on death row? Why did Peter Rogan get such a short prison sentence? What happened to the hyperbaric chamber? In this jam-packed Q & A episode, we'll answer those questions and a dozen others about the Edgewater Hospital saga. A panel of experts also discuss whether there could be another Edgewater Hospital. Find additional photos and articles on the episode page of our website: IftheWallsCouldTalkPodcast.com Unlock bonus content on Patreon: http...

Mar 28, 202154 minSeason 1Ep. 11

BONUS: Edgewater Hospital History

Dr. Maurice Mazel was Edgewater Hospital's temperamental leader who treated Hollywood's elite and turned his tiny neighborhood hospital into Chicago's premiere medical facility. For 51 years, he ran the hospital at 5700 N. Ashland Avenue like a hotel -- complete with bellhops, private suites and celebrity sightings. Learn why he collected urine from employees and whether the Chicago Paranormal Investigators found any ghosts in this special bonus episode about the hospital's better days. Find add...

Mar 21, 202136 min

Ep 10: Second Season of Life

Roger Ehmen served 6 years in prison for his role in Edgewater Hospital's fraud scheme. He shares how he managed to turn that darkness into an opportunity and, in the process, found his calling. Plus hear the shocking updates about Peter Rogan, Dr. Andrew Cubria and other players in the scheme in this tell-all "where are they now" episode. Learn more about Westside Health Authority and how you can support the non-profit organization. Additional "where are they now" information is available on th...

Mar 14, 202141 minSeason 1Ep. 10

Ep 9: Parade of Lies

Peter Rogan abruptly ended his extradition fight and returned to the United States. He faced up to 50 years in prison and a $1 million fine for obstruction and perjury charges. Meanwhile the long-awaited redevelopment of Edgewater Hospital finally commenced and unearthed plenty of surprises. Learn more about how Peter's sentencing hearing finally made headlines -- for different reasons -- on the episode page of If the Walls Could Talk Podcast website . Access hours of bonus content, interviews a...

Mar 07, 202135 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Ep 8: Leave Only Footsteps

Edgewater Hospital closed in 2001, but the hospital still saw dozens of people come and go. Some of the many visitors were Urban Explorers who photographed the abandoned hospital during the 15 years it sat idle. One person actually went to the abandoned Edgewater Hospital to receive treatment. Much to his surprise -- he found it. See the numerous photos we referenced in this episode on our website: IftheWallsCouldTalkPodcast.com Hear bonus content, additional stories, interviews and behind-the-s...

Feb 28, 202147 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Ep 7: Fringe Benefit

After losing a $64 million civil suit to the government, Peter Rogan fled to Canada and lived in a swanky Vancouver penthouse. Even after the feds filed criminal charges, they struggled to bring him back back to Chicago. Meanwhile, the Edgewater Hospital campus crumbled and became a magnet for crime. The neighborhood demanded it be torn down. See photos of Peter Rogan's yacht and haunting images of the abandoned hospital on the episode page of our website: IftheWallsCouldTalkPodcast.com Hear bon...

Feb 21, 202135 minSeason 1Ep. 7

Ep 6: Day of Reckoning

As a handful of Edgewater Hospital doctors and Roger Ehmen headed to prison, Peter Rogan walked away a free man. While not charged criminally, Peter was sued in civil court. The United States vs Peter Rogan went to trial in 2006 and featured plenty of explosive testimony. At stake were tens of millions of Peter's dollars. See the photos that attorney Wes Johnson took in the abandoned hospital on our website: IftheWallsCouldTalkPodcast.com Hear bonus content, additional stories, interviews and be...

Feb 14, 202135 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Ep 5: Something We Had to Do

Edgewater Hospital management feared someone might be cooperating with the FBI and wearing a wire. That led to staff meetings conducted in unusual places. And then the investigation came to a screeching halt leaving everyone asking: "Now what?". Read the 58-count indictment on the episode page of our website: IftheWallsCouldTalkPodcast.com Hear bonus content, additional stories, interviews and behind-the-scenes content by supporting us on Patreon . Additional photos are on our website , Instagra...

Feb 07, 202130 minSeason 1Ep. 5

Ep 4: Dr. Andrew Cubria

Dr. Andrew Cubria was Edgewater Hospital's Cardiologist who performed hundreds of medically unnecessary procedures on patients. The FBI learned two of those patients died as a result. Equally shocking was what Dr. Cubria did to cover up what happened. See pictures of Dr. Cubria and learn more about the "heartless heart doctor" on the episode page of our website: IftheWallsCouldTalkPodcast.com Unlock hours of bonus interviews, stories and behind-the-scenes content by supporting us on Patreon . Ad...

Jan 31, 202127 minSeason 1Ep. 4

Ep 3: Bad Apples

Multiple Edgewater Hospital doctors secretly recorded conversations for the FBI. This provided the feds with the gory details on how the hospital lured in patients...including offering cash and cigarettes. Most alarming were the invasive tests and procedures doctors performed on these patients...whether they needed them or not. Watch the cringeworthy TV news clip of Dr. Monty McClellan on the episode page of our website: IftheWallsCouldTalkPodcast.com Hear bonus content, additional stories, inte...

Jan 24, 202126 minSeason 1Ep. 3

Ep 2: The Second Floor

Patients who were not sick were being admitted to Edgewater Hospital and placed on a second floor unit. This mysterious section of the hospital was off-limits to most staff...leaving them wondering what was happening. Before long, the FBI opened an investigation. See pictures of Edgewater's infamous patient: John Wayne Gacy and more on the episode page of our website: IftheWallsCouldTalkPodcast.com Backdraft was one of the handful of movies filmed at Edgewater Hospital. Hear an in-depth intervie...

Jan 17, 202132 minSeason 1Ep. 2

Ep 1: The Marvelous Dr. Mazel

Edgewater Hospital is the birthplace of Hillary Clinton, John Wayne Gacy and tens of thousands of Chicagoans. It was Chicago's premier hospital for 50 years -- but that changed when a man named Peter Rogan purchased it. The fraud that followed quickly overshadowed the hospital's once-sterling reputation. In this true crime series, former Edgewater Hospital staff, patients and investigators recount the horrors that happened and why many believe Peter Rogan got away with it. See photos of Dr. Maze...

Jan 10, 202133 minSeason 1Ep. 1

Introducing: If the Walls Could Talk

A struggling Chicago hospital did just about anything to stay afloat including performing hundreds of unnecessary tests and procedures on patients. In the end, multiple patients were dead and its former owner fled the country. Left behind was an abandoned hospital that became a magnet for crime and a symbol of egregious insurance fraud. If the Walls Could Talk recounts the true crimes and tangled history of Chicago's Edgewater Hospital as told by former staff, patients, lawyers, and investigator...

Jan 08, 20201 min
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