EP. 117 — The Santa Claus Con w/ Larry Owens

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, we have Larry Owens discussing John Duval Gluck, the conman who popularized writing letters to Santa Claus in the beginning of the 20th century. Plus, investors in an NFT project titled “Evolved Apes” learn that the world of NFTs isn’t immune to scams. Stay Schemin’!

Research By Kaelyn Brandt

SOURCES:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3dyem/investors-spent-millions-on-evolved-apes-nfts-then-they-got-scammed

https://nypost.com/2015/09/20/meet-the-con-artist-who-popularized-writing-to-santa-claus/

https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/the-con-man-who-saved-christmas/

https://ny.curbed.com/2015/11/30/9895926/the-strange-story-of-nycs-santa-claus-building-that-never-was

Recent Episodes

See All

December 19, 2024

EP. 273.5 — Fraud Friday: A Whole Life Ruiner (w/ Jon Gabrus)

Guest Jon Gabrus

This week, Jon Gabrus (High and Mighty) joins the CONgregation to discuss Albert Rosenberg, the man who married the heir to the Ovaltine fortune and charmed woman across continents.

Listen

December 16, 2024

EP. 273 — Eric Adams: The Miscreant Mayor of NYC (w/ Sydnee Washington & Marie Faustin)

Guest Sydnee Washington Marie Faustin

It’s time to dish the dirt on disgraced NYC Mayor Eric Adams and we couldn’t do it without CONgregation VIPs Sydnee Washington & Marie Faustin (hosts of the new iHeartPodcast “MESS”).

Listen

December 12, 2024

EP. 272.5 — Fraud Friday: The Crooked Car Executive (w/ Bryan Safi)

Guest Bryan Safi

Bryan Safi (ABC’s 911) is here to discuss LGBTQI Icon Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael, a car executive who attempted to sell the Dale, a fuel-efficient three-wheeled car in response to the 1974 oil crisis.

Listen