The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things

• Space Cadets: The British Reality Show That 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 most ambitious TV hoax in British history, tricking contestants into believing they had been launched into orbit. Hosted by Johnny Vaughan, the show combined fake cosmonaut training, a shuttle simulator, and an elaborate Ipswich “Russian base” to sell the illusion. Nearly twenty years later, we unpack how Space Cadets blurred entertainment and deception, why it remains reality TV’s strangest moment, and how contestants truly believed they were in space. We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:   Space Cadets (2005) – Wikipedia Space Cadets TV Series - Youtube Ipswich, we have a problem - The Guardian Capricorn One (1978) – by Peter Hyams Host & Show Info Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people. Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin Trailer Music: Stealy Move by Soundroll Community & Calls to Action  Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts  Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast  Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com ️ Early access episodes: Patreon  Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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• Aileen Wuornos: Queen of the Serial Killers

  In this episode of The Compendium, Adam walks us through the tragic and terrifying story of Aileen Wuornos. Aileen was the Florida sex worker whose life of abuse, rage, and survival turned her into one of America’s most infamous female serial killers. We’ll tell you about her violent childhood to the murders that inspired Monster, we explore the woman behind the headlines, her fractured mind, and the haunting question at the heart of her story: was Aileen a monster, or a victim who never stood a chance? We give you just The Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:   Aileen Wuornos – Wikipedia Monster (2003) – directed by Patty Jenkins Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003) – directed by Nick Broomfield & Joan Churchill Monster: My True Story - by Aileen Wuornos & Christopher Berry-Dee Host & Show Info Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox Suggested by:  Shannon Pearce Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin Trailer Music: Stealy Move by Soundroll Community & Calls to Action  Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts  Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast  Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com ️ Early access episodes: Patreon Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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• 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 themes of manslaughter, parole, and South Africa’s crime culture, this episode asks: who was Reeva, and what does her story reveal about justice and violence? We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources: Oscar Pistorius: Behind the Door – by Mandy Wiener One Tragic Night: The Shooting of Reeva Steenkamp – by Barry Bateman & Mandy Wiener Oscar Pistorius: The Trial of the Blade Runner (2018) – by BBC Host & Show Info Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people. Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin Trailer Music: Stealy Move by Soundroll Community & Calls to Action ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon 📤 Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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• 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 the Amanda Knox investigation, and haunted generations of Florence locals. This chilling journey through Italy’s darkest legend exposes a mystery that still grips the world today. We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources: The Monster of Florence (2025) – Netflix limited series Monster of Florence – Wikipedia Host & Show Info Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people. Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin Trailer Music: Stealy Move by Soundroll Community & Calls to Action ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon 📤 Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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• 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 paparazzi. Princess Diana Part 3 explores the crash, the conspiracies, and the myth that followed her final goodbye. We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources: Diana’s childhood and family background - Britannica Diana’s struggles with bulimia and mental health - Vogue Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words - by Andre Morton The Diana Chronicles - by Tina Brown Host & Show Info Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people. Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin Trailer Music: Stealy Move by Soundroll Community & Calls to Action ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon 📤 Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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