The Conspiracy Tapes - podcast cover

The Conspiracy Tapes

Sony Music Entertainment
In the mid-1970s, a man burst onto the evangelical scene with a shocking tale: claiming to be a former witch involved in human sacrifices among elite circles. After converting to Christianity, he toured the nation warning of hidden Satanists and spoke about a secret organization known as the Illuminati. John Todd preached salvation to frightened congregations, urging them to prepare for a world takeover by stockpiling weapons and retreating to remote areas. But John Todd was no saint; he was not the good, honest Christian he claimed to be. He was running from his past. As his influence peaked and his teachings spread through countless tapes, his facade crumbled, and he vanished. Yet, his legacy endured, inspiring acts of extreme violence from Ruby Ridge, Waco, PizzaGate, QAnon right through to the steps of the Capitol on January 6th. The Conspiracy Tapes is part of The Binge - subscribe to listen to all episodes, all at once, ad-free right now. From serial killer nurses to psychic scammers – The Binge is your home for true crime stories that pull you in and never let go. Follow The Binge Crimes and The Binge Cases to get new stories on the first of the month, every month. Hit ‘Subscribe’ at the top of the The Conspiracy Tapes show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com. The Binge – feed your true crime obsession. A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts.

Episodes

*Crime Waves: Cold Truth*

How far would you go to save the world from itself? Dr. Eugene Mallove believed that a new form of world-changing free energy — cold fusion — was just around the corner. Even when his work was pushed to the fringes, he dreamed of a brighter future. But before Dr. Mallove could usher in that future, he was found dead in the driveway of his childhood home. Everyone had their own ideas of who killed him, and investigators were looking in all the wrong places. From QCODE and Faceplant, in associatio...

Nov 08, 20233 min

Who is 'The Horse Queen'? The Secrets Behind the Scammer That Ruined Dixon, IL

It's the 1990's and in the world of show horses, Rita Crundwell was the name on everyone's lips. Known as "The Horse Queen," she was the proud owner of hundreds of champion quarter horses on her ranch outside the small city of Dixon, Illinois. But something wasn't adding up with Crundwell's equestrian empire. A shocking FBI investigation revealed a decades long scam that Rita was running from inside the halls of Dixon City Hall, a scam that drained the town completely dry. How did this horse-cra...

Oct 02, 20238 min

Plumping Profits?: The Kylie Jenner Lip Kit Scandal

When Kylie Jenner launches her lip kits of matching lipsticks and lip liners, it appears the youngest Kardashian-Jenner is suddenly at the helm of a sky-rocketing makeup company — one that catches the interest of Forbes magazine. But what's really happening behind the scenes? Listen to never-before-heard recordings of Kris and Kylie from the journalist who found herself at the center of a scandal. Behind every infamous news story is a journalist trying to hold power to account. Join reporters Va...

Aug 16, 20232 min

The Pill Plot | 7. New Horizons

After decades of strategy, plotting, and planning, anti-abortion forces score a major victory when Roe V. Wade was overturned in 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. We see Linci grapple with decades of work having a very different ending than she had hoped, and Randall not yet content with the success in Dobbs. While a Texas case has the FDA approval in peril — unraveling all of the work done by activists in the 1990s—the punk spirit that once drove the pill plot is still alive and well. U...

Aug 14, 202349 minSeason 2Ep. 7

The Pill Plot | 6. Hush-Hush

The pros at the Population Council try to take over, with patent rights finally coming in from Europe, but Larry won’t be sidelined that easily. We hear from women who have taken the pill—something that hasn’t really happened before—and then some drama involving the developers and a corrupt land deal stalls things badly. After years of delays, as the 2000 presidential election nears, FDA approval might finally be at hand. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, ad-free, right now by subs...

Aug 07, 202348 minSeason 2Ep. 6

The Pill Plot | 5. Blood in The Streets

With Bill Clinton’s election, it feels like the pill might finally come to the U.S. But anti-abortion forces are on the defensive, and a period of extreme violence ensues. We follow the trail of Shelley Shannon as she goes on a campaign of terror across the country and makes her mark as an icon for anti-abortionists. In this moment of despair, the pill plotters realize they’re not out of the woods yet. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge...

Jul 31, 202349 minSeason 2Ep. 5

The Pill Plot | 4. Irons in The Fire

The Supreme Court makes its decision, and even though not everyone is happy, Larry is ready for it. He has another trick up his sleeve. Turns out, he has some extra pills, and he establishes a secret lab to replicate the pills. As the pressure mounts amid anti-abortion attacks, Lader’s allies — feminists Ellie Smeal and Patricia Ireland — are fighting their own battle as they head to Europe to convince the makers of the pill to bring it to America. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: The Pill Plot,...

Jul 24, 202347 minSeason 2Ep. 4

The Pill Plot | 3. Showtime

The pill plotters fly to London and secretly obtain a dose of RU486. They break British and American laws as they travel back to New York City with the medication—which is immediately taken into custody by U.S. Customs. The stunt makes headlines all over the country. Will Leona be able to get the pills in time? Will the ban stand? Her fate is in the hands of the courts, and one very particular justice. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge...

Jul 17, 202350 minSeason 2Ep. 3

The Pill Plot | 2: The Blueprint

We meet the mastermind behind the pill plot, a wealthy gadfly named Larry Lader. He builds a team of fixers who will help search for the “Jane Roe for the 1990s.” A wild goose chase ensues as the team scrambles to find the right person—a pregnant woman who is willing to put herself, and her freedom, on the line. They almost give up hope, when a Bay Area anarchist punk comes forward. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge ac...

Jul 10, 202338 minSeason 2Ep. 2

The Pill Plot | 1. Light a Fuse

It’s 1991. All over America, clinics face aggressive attacks from a militant anti-abortion movement. A solution is on the horizon — the abortion pill, also known as mifepristone — but it’s banned in the United States. And by the end of the year, it’s clear that abortion supporters cannot wait any longer for RU486. So, they hatch a plan. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first...

Jul 03, 202343 minSeason 2Ep. 1

Introducing Cover Up Season 2: The Pill Plot

Back in the ‘90s, a ragtag group plotted an international drug smuggling scheme and set up a secretive lab to cook up tablets. But they weren’t trafficking narcotics—they were fighting to bring the abortion pill America. The new season of Cover Up—The Pill Plot—will take you inside the epic struggle facing activists who battled presidents, the Supreme Court, militant anti-abortionists, would-be assassins and murders. Subscribe now to unlock all shows on The Binge and you’ll be the first to acces...

Jun 14, 20233 min

Ministry of Secrets | 9. Bonus

In this special bonus episode of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets, join presenter Giles Milton and producer Sarah Peters as they discuss some of their favourite moments from the show, including behind-the-scenes highlights that didn’t make it into the final edit. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets ad-free right now. Click "Subscribe" at the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. ...

Apr 26, 202326 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Ministry of Secrets | 8. And Then We Met Mary

Giles and Sarah reveal who - today - is blocking the truth about Lionel Crabb. And why. Ministry of Secrets reaches its dramatic climax as a Royal Navy widow gives her testimony and reveals the sensational, sinister and uncomfortable truth of what really happened to Lionel Crabb. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets ad-free right now. Click "Subscribe" at the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you...

Apr 19, 202350 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Ministry of Secrets | 7. Dodgy Dickie Strikes Again

Who ordered Lionel Crabb’s final dive? And why? Giles and Sarah investigate the possible role of MI6. Was the CIA also involved? Revelations from a former spy and a royal expert implicate some very important figures in Crabb’s disappearance. Who are they? And is this why the affair is still being kept secret? Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets ad-free right now. Click "Subscribe" at the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge....

Apr 12, 202339 minSeason 1Ep. 7

Ministry of Secrets | 6. Fisherman John's Catch of the Day

Fourteen months after Lionel Crabb’s disappearance, in 1957, a corpse is found in Chichester Harbour, eight miles from Portsmouth. Is it Crabb? When Giles and Sarah discover a long-lost autopsy file in West Sussex archives, they seek help from Britain’s leading forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets ad-free right now. Click "Subscribe" at the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to...

Apr 05, 202344 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Ministry of Secrets | 5. The Confession of Eduard Koltsov

Giles and Sarah’s Russian fixer, Masha, finds a remarkable video interview with a former KGB diver, Eduard Koltsov – the last person to see Lionel Crabb on the day of his secret dive. His deathbed confession is graphic, shocking and believable. But can he be trusted? Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets ad-free right now. Click "Subscribe" at the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your pod...

Mar 29, 202335 minSeason 1Ep. 5

Ministry of Secrets | 4. Detective Lamport and the Missing Page

Giles and Sarah investigate the first few days that followed Crabb’s disappearance with the help of Peter Marshall, the 90-year-old journalist who first broke the story. As they piece together what might have happened, they discover a sinister 1950s cover-up – one that extends to the very centre of power. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets ad-free right now. Click "Subscribe" at the top of the Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets show page on Apple Podcasts or v...

Mar 22, 202336 minSeason 1Ep. 4

Ministry of Secrets | 3. A Toast to Uncle Joe

Giles and Sarah find a 2007 video interview made by Crabb’s oldest friend, Sydney Knowles. This explosive interview is full of sensational revelations that will take the Lionel Crabb mystery in a whole new direction. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets ad-free right now. Click "Subscribe" at the top of the Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Sony Music Entertainm...

Mar 15, 202340 minSeason 1Ep. 3

Ministry of Secrets | 2. A Letter from Mrs Crabb

Lionel Crabb was a celebrated wartime hero, feted in blockbuster films, and was even believed to be the model for James Bond. But when Giles and Sarah look through the Crabb files at the National Archives, a far more complex person starts to emerge. Those files also suggest that a sinister cover-up is at play. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets ad-free right now. Click "Subscribe" at the top of the Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets show page on Apple Podcasts...

Mar 08, 202335 minSeason 1Ep. 2

Ministry of Secrets | 1. A Man Named Malec

Giles and Sarah set off on their quest to discover what happened to Lionel Crabb. A chance encounter leads them to ex-diver, Commander Julian Malec, the last living link to the Crabb mystery. He tells them of a story cloaked in secrecy. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets ad-free right now. Click "Subscribe" at the top of the Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A S...

Mar 01, 202337 minSeason 1Ep. 1

Introducing... Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets

MINISTRY OF SECRETS is one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Cold War. At its heart is a missing person — a wartime hero and international celebrity. But that’s just the starting point. It involves the royal family, MI6, the CIA and the KGB. There’s conspiracies. And lies. This story is so sensitive, so secret - that the truth is being withheld for 100 years, until 2057. Presenter Giles Milton and producer Sarah Peters are on a quest to find out why… Subscribe now to unlock all shows on The...

Feb 23, 20231 min