In this episode of The Compendium, we hand over the mic to our friends at Horrifying History for a crossover episode. Its a tale so bizarre, it sounds made up, but absolutely isn’t.
In 1876, a woman in rural Kentucky stepped outside to find chunks of raw meat falling from the sky. Yes, actual meat! What followed was a media frenzy, scientific confusion, and some truly stomach-churning theories — including one involving vulture vomit.
Horrifying History explores this forgotten slice of weird America and why it’s exactly the kind of story we love: unsettling, unexplained, and just plausible enough to make you question everything.
We give you just The Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:
And find more episodes of Horrifying History wherever you get your podcasts.
Host & Show Info
Host: Brenda Ganske
Listen on: Spotify
Listen on: Apple
Visit at: https://bleav.com/shows/horrifying-history
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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31:46
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31:46
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 relatives died, one barely survived, and the trial revealed her deep web of lies. This episode has it all, deception, courtroom drama and of course that imfamous poisoned Beef Wellington. Join us as we uncover how this bizarre story became Australia’s most infamous mushroom murder trial.
We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:
Inside the Family Lunch That Killed Three (2025) — Youtube
Leongatha Mushroom Murders — Wikipedia
Key Facts in Australia’s Mushroom Murder Trial — Reuters
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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1:34:21
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1:34:21
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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1:19:06
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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1:20:17
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1:20:17
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.
About The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things
A weekly variety podcast giving you just enough information on a topic to stand your ground at any social gathering. We explore stories from the realms of true crime, history, and incredible people.