Lana Del Rey: Three Dark Stories Inspired by an American Risk Taker

Summary

DISGRACELAND – Lana Del Rey: Three Dark Stories Inspired by an American Risk Taker

Host: Jake Brennan
Date: August 27, 2024
Episode Theme:
This episode explores Lana Del Rey’s artistic vision by untangling three real-life dark stories that echo the provocative, melancholic, Americana-noir that define her music and persona. Host Jake Brennan delves into tales from the lives of Lana Turner, Catherine the Great, and Megan Stammers—three women whose complicated, scandalous histories could have been ripped straight from a Lana Del Rey lyric. Through these stories, Brennan examines themes of risk, female agency, sexuality, and the societal punishment of women who refuse to fit prescribed molds, ultimately tying them back to Del Rey's art and the backlash she’s weathered.

---

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lana Del Rey’s Artistic Myth-Building and Inspirations

• Mystery, Melancholia, and Agency:

  • Brennan frames Lana Del Rey (born Elizabeth Grant) as an artist shaped by "20th century Americana, classic noir melancholia, Romanticism, and the enduring legacy of the American risk-taker" (05:35).
  • He highlights her recurring literary references—especially Nabokov's Lolita—and her penchant for weaving dark, complicated women into her music and image, noting, "The mystery compels us to dream...Lana Del Rey’s music has a certain dreamlike quality to it" (07:55).

• Lolita and Female Agency in Lana’s Work:

  • Brennan dissects the frequent Lolita motif, pointing to lyrics like, “He loves my heart-shaped sunglasses. He loves the shape my heart-shaped ass is” from unreleased tracks, asserting that versus Nabokov’s victimized Lolita, Del Rey crafts “knowing, willing participants…not without agency" (09:05).
  • Lana’s own coming-of-age includes a formative friendship with an older teacher, Gene Campbell, at Kent School—a story tinged with ambiguity and literary influence: "We read Lolita and it changed my world" (11:08, quoting Del Rey).

---

2. Story One: Megan Stammers and the Modern-Day Lolita

• Overview of the Case:
  • Jake recounts the real-life 2012 case of 14-year-old Megan Stammers, who entered into an illicit romance with her 30-year-old math teacher—mirroring the kind of forbidden obsession and risk present in Del Rey’s lyrics and visuals (13:10).
• The Escapism and Downfall:
  • Their relationship evolves into secrecy, “car rides, kisses and out-of-town cinema trips...a romantic blur” (15:25). When discovered, the pair flee to France, sparking an international manhunt; the ordeal ends in arrest and prison for the teacher.
  • Megan’s obsession persists, writing love letters and blaming herself—illustrating, as Brennan notes, how "As young adults, we see ourselves in the songs and books that we listen to and read. It’s fantasy. It’s escapism" (16:45).

Notable Quote:

"Car rides, kisses, and cinema—sounds like images from a Lana Del Rey video." (15:30, Jake Brennan)

Key Timestamps:

• Megan’s story introduction: 10:48
• Escape with her teacher: 14:15
• Aftermath and parallels to Del Rey: 16:30

---

3. Story Two: Catherine the Great – Myth, Power & Sexual Liberation

• Catherine’s Real and Mythic Legacy:

  • Pivoting from a sexually charged Lana music video, Brennan launches into the legend of Russian Empress Catherine the Great—famed for her lovers, political acumen, and a salacious (and apocryphal) rumor of death by horse sex (22:00).
  • He details Catherine’s true historical achievements: overthrowing her husband, expanding and modernizing the Russian empire, championing smallpox vaccination, and influencing European intellectuals, all while maintaining a string of lovers (24:58).

• Myth vs. Reality:

  • Brennan asserts the most scandalous stories—especially the myth of Catherine’s death—are “nothing more than a historical smear campaign by jealous and petty men…aimed at discrediting one of the most accomplished women of all time” (29:20).
  • The section ends by drawing a line from Catherine’s independence and rumor-plagued legend to the public’s treatment of Lana Del Rey: "Catherine the Great wasn't deranged. Unlike the men who ruled before her, she was measured, thoughtful, and strategic." (28:56)

Notable Quote:

"Catherine the Great’s reign should not be fodder for discrediting myths. The Empress’s illustrious reign should instead inspire free-thinking women everywhere." (30:17, Jake Brennan)

Key Timestamps:

• Catherine’s myth and reputation: 22:00
• Historical accomplishments: 24:58
• Rumor debunking and legacy: 29:00

---

4. Story Three: Lana Turner, Sex Symbol & True Crime Icon

• Hollywood Starlet, Tabloid Tragedy:
  • The story of 1940s-50s movie star Lana Turner, for whom Del Rey partly named herself, intertwines beauty, risk, and real violence (36:02).
  • Turner, called "so hot that men literally walked into walls," was involved with notorious figures—including abusive gangster Johnny Stompanato, whose threats to Turner and her daughter Cheryl escalated to a fatal confrontation (38:00).
• Crime, Survival, and Scandal:
  • Turner’s daughter Cheryl, at 14, stabs and kills Stompanato while defending her mother during a violent episode—a story blending noir, glamour, and trauma.
  • Brennan positions Turner as an early template for the dangerous power of female allure, as well as its costs:

Notable Quote:

"Pick your modern day A-list sex symbol…and none of them have their grip on the collective male libido like Lana Turner did back in the ‘40s and ‘50s." (36:42, Jake Brennan)
"Cheryl gripped tighter the knife…her mother burst through the door, her psychopathic boyfriend lunged after Lana and into the outstretched, knife-wielding hand of 14-year-old Cheryl Turner." (42:38)

Key Timestamps:

• Lana Turner’s story introduction: 36:02
• Relationship with Stompanato: 38:15
• Stompanato’s death: 42:38

---

5. Lana Del Rey and the Cultural Judgment of Female Artists

• Critical Backlash and Media Hypocrisy:
  • Brennan addresses the strikingly vicious criticism of Lana’s music and image, especially after her Born to Die release and infamously panned SNL performance (43:30).
  • He accuses media and critics of misogyny and hypocrisy, asking why Del Rey—a “21st century female artist with such a strong point of view and such obvious mass appeal”—is so pilloried despite the industry’s apparent celebration of female power (45:22).
• The Artist as Risk-Taker:
  • “Lana Del Rey was a dream you never knew you wanted to have…a boardwalk bad girl, a Catholic school slut, a Lolita with AP English smarts…” (44:17)
  • Brennan values risk and “messiness” in art, citing icons like Bob Dylan and Prince, and asserts that Del Rey’s refusal to fit into anyone’s box is precisely what makes her—and the women whose stories he’s told—important.

Notable Quote:

"Whether these stories...were inspired by Lana Del Rey, or whether they inspired Lana Del Rey herself, the powerful female subjects at the center of them all share a common element...they broke the mold. Criticizing an artist for doing so would be a disgrace." (48:20, Jake Brennan)

Key Timestamps:

• Criticism of Lana and cultural context: 43:30
• Broader commentary on female agency: 45:22
• Closing reflections: 48:20

---

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "Lana Del Rey has always had her own vision of who Lana Del Rey is. She creates from her own playbook....That type of creator has always been hard for simple-minded critics to understand." (46:10)
• "Catherine the Great may have been insatiable, but...was measured, thoughtful, and strategic—all qualities that contravene derangement." (28:56)
• On the Lana Turner case: “Cheryl gripped tighter the knife...her psychopathic boyfriend...lunged after Lana and into the outstretched, knife-wielding hand of 14-year-old Cheryl Turner. The knife pierced the gangster's stomach. Blood spilled out, drenching his silk shirt.” (42:38)

---

Overall Episode Flow

• [03:15] Introduction — Framing the episode, Lana’s role as risk-taker and mythmaker
• [07:55] Lana’s fascination with Lolita and depiction of young women with agency
• [10:48] Megan Stammers’ real-life Lolita narrative—obsession, escape, and consequences
• [21:53] Parallels to Catherine the Great—real power and the myth of her sexual excesses
• [36:02] Lana Turner’s blend of glamour and violence; the Hollywood starlet as cautionary and inspiring figure
• [43:30] Summing up Lana’s critical drubbing, media hypocrisy, and the cost—and necessity—of artistic risk
• [48:20] Closing message: All these women, like Lana Del Rey, “broke the mold.”

---

Final Thoughts & Audience Question

• Brennan closes by asking listeners to reflect on which entertainers have been unfairly treated by critics and why the media holds some—especially women—to impossible standards (48:50).
• Listeners are invited to respond via voicemail, text, or social media to join the ongoing conversation.

---

Takeaway

In this episode, Jake Brennan places Lana Del Rey in a lineage of history-shaping, risk-taking women—real and mythologized—whose audacity and refusal to abide by societal expectations made them iconic, but also targets. Through storytelling and sharp cultural critique, listeners get a richly layered look at the intersection of music, scandal, agency, and media double standards, seen through the lens of Del Rey’s darkly captivating artistry.

Transcript

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock up Savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals that earn four times a points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Post, Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

[Public Investing Representative]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back tested against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com Disclosures this

[Danielle Robe]

week on a special episode of WebMD's Health Discovered podcast, we're taking a closer look at a common form of lung cancer that accounts for 85% of all cases. When I first heard the words you have lung cancer, I was in shock. It's a diagnosis that changes everything. So what does it really mean to advocate for yourself when you're living with non small cell lung cancer? Listen to Health discovered on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

We all have different styles.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

I may be into Levi's and you may be into Fendi or Miu Miu.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

But we all should be into poshmark.com right?

[Poshmark Female Voice]

Because we can all find exactly what we want to fit our style.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

Poshmark has millions of new and pre

[Poshmark Female Voice]

lived pieces, vintage luxury, men's, women's, children's,

[Poshmark Male Voice]

everything from Carhartt to coach.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

Download the Poshmark app and sign up with Code podcast and get $10 off your first purchase.

[Jake Brennan]

This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up and it gets complicated and confusing. Odoo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odoo is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on the features you need.

[Public Investing Representative]

Check out odoo@o d o o.com that's

[Capella University Narrator]

o

[Ryan Seacrest]

d o o.com this episode contains content that may be disturbing to some listeners. Please check the show notes for more information.

[Jake Brennan]

Disgraceland is a production of Double El. This is a story about one of the most compelling musical artists in modern times. It's also a story about an illicit underage romance, an abduction, and an international manhunt about sexual liberation in a scandalous story that is almost too scandalous to talk about. It's a story about a starlet, sex appeal, and psychopaths. And it's also about an artist who doesn't fit into a box. Lana Del Rey, a musician who makes great music. Unlike that music I played for you at the top of the show. That wasn't great music. That was a preset lute from my melotron called Yachtfunk MK2. I played you that loot because I can't afford the rights to We Found Love by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris. And why would I play you that specific slice of hopeless cheese? Could I afford it? Because that was the number one song in America on January 31, 2012. And that was the day that Lana Del Rey released her debut studio album, an album that announced a new artist who wasn't afraid to risk it to create her own playbook and do it her own way. Not how anyone else expected or told her to on this episode. Illicit Romance, an international manhunt, Starlets, psychopaths, Three Dark Stories and Lana Del Rey I'm Jake Brennan, and this is Disgrace. The title of this episode is Three Dark Stories Inspired by Lana Del Rey because Lana's music and image are as evocative and compelling as the myth that she's built around her. While researching Lana Del Rey the artist or Elizabeth Grant, that's Lana's birth name, the person I naturally learned more about what inspired her 20th century Americana classic noir melancholia Romanticism and the enduring legacy of the American risk taker. Throughout this discovery, I found myself continually prompted to explore the stories of other fascinating women whose histories I may not have otherwise been interested in were it not for Lana Del Rey's powerful songs and visual imagery. These things inspired me, drove my curiosity in Unearthed 3 incredibly scandalous and true stories about three incredibly scandalous and truly fascinating women. Lana Turner, Catherine the Great and Megan's Stammers. Each of their stories seemed to me to be ripped straight from the lyrics of a Lana Del Rey's song. Now this episode might have been titled Three Dark Stories that Inspired Lana Del Rey because given how well read and history minded Lana Del Rey is, it's easy to see how the songwriter could have heard these stories I'm about to tell you and then inspired herself to weave them into her songs. But I can't say that with any certainty because Lana Del Rey, like all great artists, isn't particularly forthcoming regarding her lyrics. She keeps it mysterious, which I appreciate because it allows us to sit back and consider the artist, her music, and her image more deeply. The mystery compels us to dream. And let's be honest, Lana Del Rey's music has a certain dreamlike quality to it. On January 31, 2012, Lana Del Rey released her debut major label album Born to Die. As part of the recording of this album there is an unreleased track entitled Lolita, which is of course a reference to the famous Vladimir nabokov novel from 1955 of the same name and the inspiration behind the Stanley Kubrick film adaptation, the one with the iconic imagery of actress Sue Lyon in those cherry red heart shaped sunglasses on the movie poster, the same heart shaped sunglasses Lana Del Rey sang about on another unreleased song, the demo Every Man Gets His Wish, which contains the lyrics he loves my heart shaped sunglasses. He loves the shape my heart shaped ass is. The Lolita theme is one that Lana has played with numerous times in numerous songs and videos throughout her career. It's also the subject of many think pieces and message board threads throughout Reddit and the Lanaverse. Nabokov's Lolita character is very much the victim. She's a 12 year old girl who is taken advantage of by an obsessed out of work male teacher. But the Lolita characters Lana Del Rey depicts are knowing willing participants in the illicit romances they're entangled in. And at least in Lana's depictions, these young women are not without agency. In yet another unreleased Lana Del Rey song, prom song gone Wrong, the lyrics go I knew you loved me by the way you looked in second period I'd see you in the hall like hello, hello. Up against the wall like let's go, let's go. And then in another song entitled Boarding School, Lana sings, let's do drugs, make love with our teachers. Boarding school was Kent School in Connecticut where if we're to believe the myth, Lana Del Rey was sent to attend as a 14 year old in in part to overcome her alcoholism and bad girl behavioral issues. Lana graduated in 2003. Of her time there, she has spoken about an older man, a teacher who had an outsized influence on her. A man by the name of Gene Campbell, whom Lana says was her only friend in school. A time when she was excessively lonely. He was 22, she was 15. He'd drive her around in his car and turn her on to music and literature. She'd never heard or heard of Tupac, Biggie Whitman and Nabokov. Lana has said about this teacher quote, we read Lolita and it changed my world. Neither Lana nor her teacher has confirmed or denied any inappropriate relationship. But Lana's quotes don't exactly depict a helpless Lolita. They describe a curious, literary minded young girl, perhaps dangerously infatuated, much like another young girl, a 14 year old student from East Sussex, England named Megan Stammers. There's no way for me to know whether Lana Del Rey is aware of the incredible story of Megan Stammers or if Megan's story inspired Lana in any way, or whether Megan was inspired inspired by Lana's Lolita fascination. But you can be the judge. In 2012, 14 year old Megan Stammers was a normal sophomore at the Bishop Bell School in coastal England. She listened to music, kept up with her studies and exchanged crushes with boys her own age. Then she got caught up in an obsessive and illicit romance with her 30 year old math professor, Jeremy Forrest. Jeremy was, by 14 year old girl standards, the cool professor. He had a tattoo. He was into Nirvana. He fumbled through the chords of Heart Shaped box on acoustic guitar and he even got up on stage locally for the occasional gig where he mumbled what we can only assume he believed to be witty lyrics for songs titled All My Friends are Astronauts and Arrows and Hearts. Megan was smitten. Jeremy showed her extra attention on the school trip. Megan couldn't believe that this older, mature, seemingly worldly man would be interested in her. She was obsessed. She needed to know everything about him. She followed him on Twitter and he followed her back. And soon through direct messages, they had a separate line of communication outside of the classroom. And it was through that separate and direct line of communication that Megan received an invitation from Jeremy to go on a drive. And that drive led to deep conversations. Well, as deep as a 14 year old and a 30 year old can get, I guess. But Megan felt seen. Now, up to this point, Megan had developed an eating disorder and hadn't told anyone but Jeremy. And Jeremy apparently knew just what to say to Megan to make her feel better about her situation. The drive turned into subsequent drives which turned into long walks by the ocean in the seaside town where Megan went to school. And those walks eventually led to a first kiss just after Megan's 15th birthday. To her teacher, a man twice her age. Jeremy somehow convinced his wife that it was okay for Megan, his student, to hang around the house to watch tv, do her homework and listen to music. Jeremy convinced Megan that he was on the outs with his wife and that his marriage would soon be over. It was in Jeremy and his wife's spare bedroom where the teacher first had sex with the 15 year old student. That act in the subsequent times they had sex only increased Megan's obsession with her teacher as she recounted the story. That time in her life was a romantic blur of quote, car rides, kisses and out of town cinema trips. Car rides, kisses and cinema sounds like images from Alana del Reyvidia. Megan described this point in her relationship with Jeremy as the point at which their escape fantasy took hold. They dreamed lovingly of a life outside of the town where they lived and worked and where everyone knew them. To a place where they could live and love anonymously, despite their age difference. And they settled on France. Back in school, of course, the rumors started to fly. And then the police took an interest. Then they questioned Megan and her mother. And then they questioned Jeremy and his wife. The writing was on the wall. The pieces started to click into place for Megan's friends and family. And the same went for Jeremy's colleagues. All that time that the teacher was spending with that young girl. Of course, how had they not seen it? Judgment would be swift. From Megan's point of view. The fact that she loved Jeremy would have nothing to do with how authorities treated the situation. Jeremy would go to jail and Jeremy couldn't have that. So Jeremy and Megan went on the run like some modern day Bonnie and Clyde inspired not by bank vault riches, but by the illicit romance of Nabokos Lolita. Megan and Jeremy raced through the night away from that dreary English town and off to France. The trajectory of Meghan's young love life begins with her on an East Sussex beach like Lana Del Rey in the music video for her song west coast, twirling on that beach with an age appropriate crush and then off into the dark, fleeing in the passenger seat of a vampiric older man's car like Lana Del Rey in her shades of cool video, Megan being driven off toward an uncertain future, the romance of it all compelling her, the missing schoolgirl and the 30 year old teacher who abducted her triggered an international manhunt in September of 2012. It took only seven days for authorities to find Megan and Jeremy in the French city of Bordeaux. Their short lived life on the run ended with Jeremy's arrest and Megan's return to her parents. Jeremy got five and a half years in prison, but the sentencing didn't quell Megan's romance. She wrote Jeremy multiple love letters that were intercepted by prison authorities and Megan even attempted to visit Jeremy in jail, but she was denied. Megan blamed herself for Jeremy's incarceration, saying that she initiated the relationship and suggested they run away together. It's funny what inspiration will do. As young adults we see ourselves in the songs and in the books that we listen to and read. It's fantasy, it's escapism, Megan stammers Obsession was inspired and was definitely misplaced regardless of where it came from, be it Nirvana's heart shaped box or Lana Del Rey and Lolita's heart shaped sunglasses.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock up Savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for store wide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Hunts, Nerds, Pillsbury, Lowry's, Breyers, Quaker and Culture Pop. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pickup or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

[Public Investing Representative]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures let's

[Poshmark Female Voice]

talk personal Style Are you a classic jeans and tee minimalist? A Louis Vuitton lover? Or do you like a little bit of both? Depending on the vibe?

[Poshmark Male Voice]

Whatever your fashion mood, you can find what feels like you on Poshmark.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

With no millions of new and pre loved pieces, Poshmark is your one stop style destination. From everyday wardrobe staples to vintage gems and luxury labels. Inter Reformation? Got it. Carhartt Got that too. From designer bags to streetwear, it's all there.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

Men's?

[Poshmark Female Voice]

Yes.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

Women's? Absolutely.

[Danielle Robe]

Kids?

[Poshmark Male Voice]

You bet.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

And the best part? You're shopping real closets from real people with real style. It's like braiding your most fashionable friends

[Poshmark Male Voice]

wardrobe if you had thousands of fashionable friends. Plus, every item over $500 goes through Poshmark's authentication process so you can shop high end with total confidence. Ready to refresh your closet? Download the Poshmark app and sign up with code podcast10 and get $10 off your first purchase.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

Go ahead, find your next favorite thing.

[LifeLock Narrator]

It's tax season and by now I know we're all a bit tired of numbers. But here's an important one you need to $16 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud. Here's another one in four honest, hard working, taxpaying Americans has been a victim of identity theft. But it's not all grim news. LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second for your personal information and alerts you to threats you could easily miss on your own. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's US based restoration specialist will fix it, backed by another good number, the million dollar protection package. In fact, restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't face identity theft and financial losses alone. There's strength in numbers with Lifelock Identity theft Protection for tax season and beyond. Visit lifelock.com iheart and save up to 40% your first year. That's 40% [e-mail] iheart terms of supply

[Capella University Narrator]

You've never been one to settle. Stand down or stand still. You're a lifelong learner, energized by excellence. There's a fire inside you you can't ignore. You've got competition to outrun, momentum to build on, and your own high standards to meet. Stop now. Not a chance. At Capella University, we help you catch what you're chasing because you've always had the drive. Now go earn the degree Capella University. What can't you do? Visit Capella. Edu to learn more.

[Jake Brennan]

Lana Del Rey enters the pool in slow motion in a retro one piece bathing suit. It's a sexually charged moment in a music video filled with sexually charged moments. Llama's video for her 2012 single Blue Jeans there's her lover. Tall, thin cut, fully illustrated in the flesh, with tattoos everywhere over his hands and face. He strips down to his underwear before taking to the pool himself. His tattooed hand reaches for Lana's neck, but then she takes his fingers into her mouth. The couple acts as though they're all alone in that pool. But they aren't. There's an alligator swimming below them. Lana is unfazed. Great sex, like great art, is sometimes a risk. As the video continues, Lana breaks from her lover and swims with the alligator. Beneath surface, she writhes in her bathing suit, pressing her flesh against the animal's long, jagged tail. The interpretation is that the violent looking illustrated man is enough. Only the savage man eating beast can satiate Lana Del Rey is myth building the symbolism of the hinted bestiality. That power dynamic inspired me to wonder what Lana Del Rey's thoughts, if any, might have been during the making of this video about one of the most powerful women of all time, Catherine the Great, and the mythology surrounding that particular royal sexual appetite. And one of the most scandalous rumors of all time it was July and it was hot, a rare early summer heat wave in St. Petersburg, the seat of the Russian Empire in 1796. The young man waited in the apartment located inside the palace. He was unsure what to do with himself in his new home. He was even unsure about how long this would be his new home. All he knew was that he could live here indefinitely and he could do whatever he wanted so long as he made himself available at all times sexually to the empress, who lived in the adjacent apartment. The young man had not yet met the empress, known as Catherine the Great. He'd only met her countess, an encounter he enjoyed very much. Despite the Countess's age She put the young man through his sexual paces. It was thrilling being with an older woman who knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. The countess wasn't as old as the empress, though the Empress Empress was 67. The Countess's job was to give the young man a trial run to see if he was up to satisfying the empress. And that meant two things, size and stamina. The young man passed his royal audition on both counts. So here sat this virile young man in his new apartment, powdering the rumors he'd heard about his new lover, the Empress of Russia, whom he'd never met. The rumors that she was insatiable. That she demanded sex up to seven times a day. That the empress, if it pleased her, would make a cast of his elephantine penis and use that to satisfy her on occasion as well, on those days when he, her young lover, wasn't able to keep up with her. What was true about the empress and what was myth wasn't all that hard for the young man to sort out. Much of what Catherine the Great had accomplished in her 67 years was already part of the modern historical record. She married into the royal family and outsmarted and some say overthrew her dim witted, sexually inadequate and sadistic animal torturing husband, Peter iii. Peter couldn't perform sexually. Every time he got hard, he experienced excruciating pain. He took that pain out on helpless animals, dogs and cats, dismembering them for fun, Relishing the pain he inflicted. Catherine mercilessly deposed him and set about to remake the Russian empire in her own image. She conquered new lands in the south. She annexed Crimea and colonized large swaths of land for strategic outposts to fend off the Ottomans. She partitioned Poland and moved as far east as Alaska. She modernized much of Russia in lockstep with Western European progress. She was an early advocate of the smallpox vaccine, which saved countless lives. She was a patron of the arts, a correspondent and a confidant of Voltaire, one of the great writers and thinkers of the day. And Catherine the Great acquired and wielded this great power while tearing through an extensive line of lovers, beautiful and sometimes powerful men whom she bedded not only for sexual conquest, but sometimes for strategic purposes as well. Generals and nobles who help quell palace coups and put down regional uprisings. The older Catherine got, the younger her lovers got. As a young man waiting dutifully in his new apartment, well knew she was insatiable. Youthful vigor was necessary to satisfy the aging empress and her satisfaction didn't go unrewarded. Many, upon being discarded after fulfilling their duties, were rewarded handsomely for their efforts. But always materially. Never with any real power. Cash, servants, homes. But never with anything that would diminish Catherine's reign in any way. From where the young man sat, it was tough to judge the sexual rumors surrounding Catherine. They called her a deviant. But really, was any of her behavior worse than what was whispered about the men who'd reigned previously here in Russia or elsewhere? The Ottoman emperor Ibrahim the Mad was said to have had a harem of 280 women. On a whim one day he decided he was bored, so he had them all executed. Then he took their skin and sewed them into sacks. Rome's Emperor Caligula was said to have been infatuated with all three of his sisters, each of whom he slept with. And King Herod. That story was possibly the most disturbing. As it goes, he was supposedly driven so mad with jealousy by his wife Miriam that he had her killed, then preserved her dead body in honey and proceeded to have sex with it for seven more years after his wife died. So what if Catherine the Great made her armed guards erect and paraded them past her for an expensive thrill? So what if she had replications of her favorite past lover's cocks carved into her wood furniture? So what if the Empress found herself dissatisfied with all of her lovers after a lifetime of sex on demand numerous times per day, every day. And so what if Catherine the Great eventually turned away from men for satisfaction in favor of a horse? The 67 year old Empress lay there on the bed, fully exhilarated. The bed had been brought down from one of the royal apartments into the barn adjacent to the stables and the horse suspended above her on straps was being carefully lowered by a group of muscular royal guards. The horse's member was larger than. I can't do it. I won't do it. As much as I want to do it, I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to dramatize the death of Catherine the Great, crushed by the horse she was attempting to copulate with. But that is the story, or rather the Myth that this 67 year old woman, one of the most powerful women the world has ever known, died in one of the most scandalous ways possible. I don't believe it. It's too lurid and honestly, too out of character. Catherine the Great may have been insatiable, but unlike King Herod, Caligula and Emperor Ibrahim the Mad, Catherine wasn't deranged. Her actions indicate quite the opposite. She may have been ruthless at times, but she was measured, thoughtful and strategic, all qualities that contravene derangement. Catherine the Great was not just a powerful woman. In an age when powerful women were few and far between, she was a beacon of independence, standing tall and strong in a world designed to suppress women beyond her power, she was truly independent and sexually liberated, a testament to her strength and resilience. Catherine the Great died of a stroke, likely on her toilet, but that story wasn't scandalous enough. The rumors of her shocking demise with the horse and of her so called sexual deviancy are, in my opinion, nothing more than a historical smear campaign by jealous and petty men from that era aimed at discrediting one of the most accomplished women of all time. Catherine the Great's reign should not be fodder for discrediting myths. The Empress's illustrious reign should instead inspire free thinking women everywhere, as I believe it did. Lana Del Rey, A woman who has been hell bent on making her own myth since bursting on the scene with a borrowed name from another powerful woman. A woman with ties to another incredible story, this one also very scandalous, but this time very true.

[Public Investing Representative]

We'll be right back after this word.

[Jake Brennan]

Word, word.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's stock up savings time now through March 31st spring in for storewide deals that earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Hunts, Nerds, Pillsbury, Lowry's, Breyers, Quaker and Culture Pop. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

[Public Investing Representative]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs is which with infinite possibilities completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosure is available at public.com disclosures

[Poshmark Male Voice]

let's Talk Personal style.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

Are you a classic jeans and tee minimalist? A Louis Vuitton lover? Or do you like a little bit of both?

[Poshmark Male Voice]

Depending on the vibe, whatever your fashion mood, you can find what feels like you on Poshmark.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

With millions of new and pre loved pieces, Poshmark is your one stop style destination. From everyday wardrobe staples to vintage gems and luxury labels into reformation. Got it. Carhartt got that too. From designer bags to streetwear, it's all all there.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

Men's?

[Poshmark Female Voice]

Yes.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

Women's? Absolutely. Kids? You bet.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

And the best part? You're shopping real closets from real people with real style. It's like rating your most fashionable friend's

[Poshmark Male Voice]

wardrobe if you had thousands of fashionable friends. Plus, every item over $500 goes through Poshmark's authentication process so you can shop high end with total confidence. Ready to refresh your closet? Download the Poshmark app and sign up with code podcast10 and get $10 off your first purchase.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

Go ahead, find your next favorite thing.

[Capella University Narrator]

You've never been one to settle. Stand down or stand still. You're a lifelong learner, energized by excellence. There's a fire inside you you can't ignore. You've got competition to outrun, momentum to build on, and your own high standards to meet. Stop now. Not a chance. At Capella University, we help you catch what you're chasing because you've always had the drive. Now go earn the degree. Capella University. What can't you do? Visit capella.edu to learn more.

[Danielle Robe]

This is Danielle Robe from Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. Nothing compares to the anticipation of something new. A new start, a new year, a new home, or a new car. When it's time to get a new car, where do you start? Car shopping can honestly be a little overwhelming, but it should be fun. Buying your next car should be exciting. And it can be if you remember one thing. Cars.com cars.com has the tools and expert advice to help you figure out what vehicle is right for you. Their advanced search filters allow you to explore 2 million new and used cars so that you can find the perfect car. The site is so easy to use. Looking for an electric vehicle with a third row and leather seats for easy cleanup? Cars.com has you covered. A variety of tools and badges are used to help shoppers understand the price of a vehicle and find the best deal. And every review is written by a real person reflecting a real life experience, so don't take any chances. Do car shopping the easy way. Start your search with cars.com where to next?

[Jake Brennan]

Lana Turner was so hot that men literally walked into walls when they saw her walking down Hollywood Boulevard. They drove off of the boulevard and crashed their cars into walls and they flocked to movie theaters in droves to gawk at the curvy blonde starlet and imagine themselves alone with her for only a few seconds. This was due to Lana Turner's natural beauty and how director Mervyn leroy chose to capture her her with his camera in her first appearance on screen in his 1937 film they Won't Forget. The director filmed the actress very deliberately in a way that accentuated her body, which seems so obvious these days that it's not even worth mentioning. But in 1937 it was revolutionary. Sydney Sweeney, Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian. Hell, even Lana Del. Alright, pick your modern day a list sex symbol. And believe me, when it comes to their impact, none of them have their grip on the collective male libido like Lana Turner did back in the 40s and 50s. And this is the woman Lana Del Rey chose to take her stage name from. When choosing a stage name, Lana Del Rey had a vision. She said she wanted a name she could shape the music towards. Del Rey is taken from the name of a car. Two cars actually, but that's not important. The point is that Del Rey sounds American and Lana sounds, well, hot. Lana Turner's hotness was a magnet for a long line of suitors. Tarzan's Lex Barker, one of the most famous men of the era, who ended up being Lana's second husband, Howard Hughes. Frank Sinatra, allegedly a married Clark Gable, and most infamously, the gangster Johnny Stompanato. Johnny Stompanato was a killer. A killer who worked for LA crime boss Mickey Cohen. If you've seen the Academy Award winning film LA Confidential, you'll see Johnny Stompanato depicted on screen getting his balls squeezed, literally by Russell Crowe's Bud White character. Johnny is seated across from a woman playing none other than Lana Turner. Johnny was a bad guy, and not just on the street. At home, behind closed Doors, he beat on his beautiful girlfriend. Lana had a hard time finding her way out of the relationship. So in 1957 she took an acting gig all the way over in London, starring opposite a handsome young actor named Sean Connery. It's long been rumored that the two quickly became involved romantically on the set of that film. Another time, another Place. And those rumors started way back in 1957. And Johnny Stompanato heard them all the way across the pond back in Hollywood. Incensed, he grabbed his gun and boarded a flight for London. He arrived on set, pulled out his gun and went straight for Sean Connery. Stompanato was a hard man, but Connery was a different type of tough. He'd grown up fighting off violent street gangs in Edinburgh. He was a truck driver, a lifeguard, a boxing instructor, a bodybuilder, a gym instructor in the British army and a tattooed fighter in the Royal Navy. Skinny Hollywood hoods with greasy pompadours and tiny pistols did not intimidate Sean Connery. Sean Connery was in the middle of filming a scene with Lana Turner and they were embracing on a couch. Johnny Stompanato walked right into the chute with his gun drawn straight at Connery, telling him to get his hands off his girl. Connery quickly grabbed Stompanato's wrist and twisted it hard until he dropped his gun. He walloped him with a right hook and escorted him off the set and into the custody of Scotland Yard, which wasted no time and deporting Johnny Stompanato back to Los Angeles. When Lana returned home, the real fighting began. As her relationship with the gangster progressed, so too did the volatility and violence. It was too much to handle. For Lana's 14 year old daughter Cheryl, who lived with her, the fighting was endless and Cheryl heard it all. When the beating ceased to have the effect he was looking for, Johnny would resort to threats. He told Lana he would cut her face to ribbons with a knife if she didn't do what she was told. The point being, he'd disfigure her so badly she'd never work in Hollywood again. Lana fought back and Johnny took a razor blade to her cheek and held it there still. Lana was obstinate. Cheryl heard everything. She was living in constant fear. When Lana left her second husband, Tarzan's Lex Barker, Sheryl had been relieved by her mother's choice of the gangster, Johnny Sampanato. Anything would be better than Lex, who repeatedly raped Cheryl as a young girl. But Stompanato's presence proved to be its Own type of hell. Fear ever present. Violence. The constant threat of an anvil hanging over her head. Johnny Stompanato was a 247 problem. When he wasn't beating on Cheryl's mother, he was threatening to slice her to pieces. And when Stompanata wasn't threatening Lana Turner, he was threatening Cheryl. Lana wouldn't listen. Lana wouldn't respond to the beatings. Lana wouldn't respond to the threats. Then Stompanata would threaten to cut up Lana's daughter as well. Cheryl couldn't believe what she was hearing behind closed doors. I'll cut you so bad that no one will be able to tell it's you anymore. You'll never work again. Your daughter's next. It was unhinged, depraved, horrifying to the young girl who crept up to the door that separated her from the war going on on the other side between her mother, the movie star, and her mother's boy boyfriend, the gangster. Cheryl gripped tighter the knife she'd grabbed as she passed through the kitchen. It was just for protection, she thought, a last resort. As the screaming raged on the other side of the door, Cheryl stood there helpless, squeezing the knife. She couldn't open the door. She couldn't help her mother. She was paralyzed. But then the door burst open and Cheryl's mom, Lana burst through it and passed by her. Her psychopathic boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato lunged after Lana and into the outstretched knife wielding hand of 14 year old Cheryl Turner. The knife pierced the gangster's stomach. Blood spilled out, drenching his silk shirt. His eyes went wide. Cheryl's mouth fell open with a near silent gasp. And behind her, Lana Turner screamed as

[Poshmark Female Voice]

her lover Johnny Stompanato fell dead to the floor.

[Jake Brennan]

Immature, Shallow, Messy. The worst concert experience of my life. A bad mashup of John Mellencamp and Ke$ha. All these criticisms and more have been hurled at Lana Del Rey. Pitchfork called her debut major label album Born to Die, quote the album equivalent of a fake orgasm. Actress and musician Juliet Lewis, after watching Lana Del Rey's infamous debut Saturday Night Live performance, tweeted out, wow. Watching this quote singer on SNL is like watching a 12 year old in their bedroom when they are pretending to sing and perform. Sign of our times. Ouch. Some of this criticism was warranted, namely the bad reviews of Lana's SNL performance. But most of it is ridiculous. All art is subjective, but not all art needs to fit neatly into a box, which is what our critics want for our pop stars. But when Lana Del Rey first burst into the mainstream with Born to Die. There was no obvious box. In fact, to the extent that there was a figurative box, it wasn't one that many critics wanted to touch. Lana Del Rey was a dream you never knew you wanted to have. A Tumblr account come to life in the form of a pop star, a boardwalk bad girl, a Catholic school slut, a Lolita with AP English smarts who swam with alligators and walked over beets in Nancy Sinatra's boots. Lana Del Rey is the best kind of an artist. The kind who takes chances. The kind who isn't afraid to risk it. More importantly, she's unafraid to risk it in public, in front of us, for us. Failure, falling down, creatively. It's an unfortunate but inevitable outcome for this type of artist. Yes, it is, as NPR said of Lana, messy. But an artist shouldn't be criticized for being messy. Quite the opposite. The best examples of that include Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain and Prince. I could go on and on. I believe that for all their pro feminism, the future is female. Trendy claims of girl power. The mainstream press, at least when it comes to Lana Del Rey. An artist playing with a nostalgic vision of America that the coastal elite media these days sees as reductive. The media's criticism of this female artist is, well, hypocritical and kind of misogynistic. It strikes me as weird that a 21st century female artist with such a strong point of view and such obvious mass appeal would be so viciously criticized by a media that typically champions strong women. But Lana Del Rey doesn't fit into anyone's box. Lana Del Del Rey doesn't fit anyone else's vision of what a female pop singer should be. Lana Del Rey has always had her own vision of who Lana Del Rey is. She creates from her own playbook. And that type of creator, that type of artist has always been hard for simple minded critics to understand. Nabokov's Lolita was panned. Shipments of the book were seized upon entering the United Kingdom. In France, critics called the book sheer unrestrained pornography. Yet the novel has lived on as one of the most enduring and consequential works of fiction ever written. We are still talking about it and referencing it and arguing about it to this day. Catherine the Great was such an effective female leader that her legacy was subjected to a centuries long smear campaign. And Lana Turner, her star power, her sexuality, the men in her life simply could not handle it. To the point where she was almost murdered. To the point where her 14 year old daughter had to kill a man for the two women to survive. Whether these stories that I just told you were inspired by Lana Del Rey or whether they inspired Lana Del Rey herself, the powerful female subjects at the center of them all share a common element with Lana Del Rey. They broke the mold. Criticizing an artist for doing so would be a disgrace. I'm Jake Brennan and this is Disgraceland. Thanks for listening to this week's episode on Lana Del Rey. A one of a kind artist who, as you can hear from this episode, was unfairly, in my estimation, treated by the press. This week's Question of the week to you guys is which entertainers, artists, rock stars, actors, athletes do you think have been unfairly treated by the media, by the critics? And why does the media seem to judge some entertainers differently than others, particularly particularly female entertainers? 617-906-6638 Leave me a voicemail, send me a text and let me know. You can also reach me his gracelandpod as well on Instagram X and Facebook. Leave a review for the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and win some free merch. All right, here comes some credits. Disgraceland was created by yours truly and is produced in partnership with Double Elvis. Credits for this episode can be found on the show notes [e-mail] if you're listening as a Disgraceland All Access member, thank you for supporting the show. We really appreciate it. And if not, you can become a member right now by going to Disgracelandpod.com membership members can listen to every episode of Disgraceland Ad Free. Plus you'll get one brand new exclusive episode every month. Weekly unscripted bonus episodes, special audio collections, and early access to merchandise and events. Visit disgracelandpod.com membership for details, rate and review the show and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook Disgracelandpod and on [e-mail] Disgracelandpod Rocka Rolla

[Capella University Narrator]

He's a bad bad man.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on ele eligible items from Hunts, Nerds, Pillsbury, Lowry's, Breyers, Quaker and Culture Pop. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply See website for full terms and conditions.

[Public Investing Representative]

With Bali from iShares, you get access to to both monthly income and growth potential in one simple ETF. It's the best of both worlds. Discover Bali iShares Large Cap Premium Income Active ETF iShares the market is yours. Visit www.ishares.com to view perspectives for investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses and other information that you should read and consider carefully before investing. Risks include principal loss and the use of derivatives, which could increase risks and volatility. Monthly income is not guaranteed. Prepared by BlackRock Investments, LLC.

[LifeLock Narrator]

It's tax season and by now we're all a bit tired of numbers. But here's an important one you need to $16 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud. But it's not all grim news. LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second and alerts you to threats you could easily miss on your own. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it. Guaranteed. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com iheart Terms apply.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

We all have different styles.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

I may be into Levi's and you may be into Fendi or Miu Miu.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

But we all should be into poshmark.com right?

[Poshmark Female Voice]

Because we can all find exactly what we want to fit our style.

[Poshmark Male Voice]

Poshmark has millions of new and pre lived pieces. Vintage, luxury, men's, women's, children's, everything from Carhartt to coach.

[Poshmark Female Voice]

Download the Poshmark app and sign up with code podcast10 and get $10 off the your first purchase.

[Public Investing Representative]

This episode is brought to you by Choiceology, an original podcast from Charles Schwab. Hosted by Katie Milkman, an award winning behavioral scientist and author of the best

[Ryan Seacrest]

selling book how to Change. Choiceology is a show about the psychology

[Public Investing Representative]

and economics behind our decisions. Hear true stories from Nobel laureates, authors, athletes and everyday people about why we make the choices we do and how to make better ones.

[Ryan Seacrest]

To help avoid costly mistakes, Listen to

[Public Investing Representative]

[e-mail] podcast or wherever you listen to.