The Scamfluencers Holiday Special

Summary

Scamfluencers Holiday Special – Detailed Summary

Released on November 25, 2024, "The Scamfluencers Holiday Special" episode of Wondery’s popular podcast, "Scamfluencers," hosted by Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi, delves into the festive season with a humorous and insightful exploration of some of the most notorious scammers of the year. This special edition not only reflects on past scams but also introduces unique scam-themed awards, updates on ongoing cases, and engages with listener feedback.

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1. Embracing the Holiday Spirit

The episode kicks off with hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi setting a cozy scene at the J Peak Resort in Vermont. Despite the winter snowfall outside, the duo warms up by a roaring fire, clad in thick knit sweaters, indulging in cookies, and enjoying festive beverages.

Notable Quote:

• Sachi Cole [00:42]: "We're coming for the crown of the ultimate cozy influencer."

The hosts acknowledge their non-traditional approach to holidays but embrace the theme to bring a festive twist to their discussion on scammers.

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2. Scamfluencers' Humorous Awards

In the spirit of the holidays, Scaachi and Sarah introduce a series of tongue-in-cheek awards dedicated to various scammers, highlighting their audacity and the absurdity of their schemes.

a. Scammer Who Just Keeps on Giving

• Contenders: Martin Shkreli for distributing rare Wu Tang albums, Martha Stewart’s dubious collaborations, and the Chrisley family's continuous media presence.

Notable Quote:

• Sarah Hagie [05:35]: "This is outrageous."

Winner: The Chrisley Family

• Details: The Chrisleys, known from "Chrisley Knows Best," were convicted for financial fraud, including lying to banks and tax evasion. Their daughter Savannah continues the family's controversial legacy by launching her own podcast and making a brief stint on "The Masked Singer."

b. Sam Bankman-Fried Award for Most Obvious Scam

• Winner: Rick Singer and the College Admission Scandal
• Details: The scandal involved fraudulent college admissions, with cash incentives and deceitful applications. Olivia Jade, implicated in the scandal, faced public scrutiny for her misleading rowing photos.

Notable Quote:

• Sachi Cole [14:18]: "It is a blurred out photo of Olivia on a rowing machine."

c. Most Classic Guy Scammer

• Winner: Brian Johnson, AKA the Liver King
• Details: Promoted extreme masculinity through dubious health practices, including eating raw meat and excessive steroid use. Exposed by online sleuths, he has slightly softened his tone but remains a controversial figure.

Notable Quote:

• Sarah Hagie [18:33]: "With Livers King, it's still consuming some very weird organs."

d. Best Post-Scam Pivot

• Winner: Spiro Agnew
• Details: After resigning from his VP position amid corruption charges, Agnew transitioned to writing romance novels, attempting to reinvent his tarnished legacy.

Notable Quote:

• Sachi Cole [16:42]: "This is actually torture."

e. Scammer We’re Most Grateful For

• Winner: Rita Crundwell
• Details: Responsible for the largest municipal fraud in U.S. history, siphoning over $50 million from the city of Dixon, Illinois, to fund a lavish lifestyle.

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3. Updates on Infamous Scammers

The episode provides updates on ongoing cases, shedding light on the latest developments and their implications.

a. Black Swan Case – Ashley Benefield

• Details: Ashley Benefield, convicted of manslaughter for killing her husband Doug, faces up to 30 years in prison. Her sentencing is postponed due to an investigation into jury misconduct, causing distress to Doug’s daughter Eva.

Notable Quote:

• Eva Benefield [28:34]: "This whole trial broke my heart..."

b. Erika Jayne’s Ex-Lawyer Tom Girardi

• Details: Tom Girardi was found guilty of embezzling millions from clients. Facing up to 80 years in prison, his actions have severely impacted Erika Jayne’s reputation and personal life.

Notable Quote:

• Juror [30:15]: "Everyone can tell how evil he is."

c. George Santos – Disgraced Congress Member

• Details: George Santos, expelled from Congress for multiple fraudulent activities, including false claims about his background and campaign finances. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft, agreeing to repay $370,000 to his victims.

Notable Quote:

• George Santos [31:59]: "It's occurred to me now that I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment..."

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4. Listener Reviews and Podcast Reception

Scaachi and Sarah engage with listener feedback, addressing both positive comments and critical reviews. They defend their content against accusations of bias and explain the reasons behind certain production choices, such as encore episodes.

Notable Quotes:

• Negative Review [35:35]: "Please stop repeating Saatchi's name. This show kills a show and makes me cringe."
• Positive Review [38:32]: "These ladies have me laughing out loud with their commentary."

The hosts emphasize their commitment to delivering engaging and well-researched scam stories while acknowledging the diverse reactions from their audience.

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5. Fun Segments: Fruitcake Tasting

In a playful segment, the hosts taste a traditional Corsicana fruitcake, adding humor to the episode. Their reactions to the dense and overly sweet dessert provide a light-hearted break amidst the serious discussion of scams.

Notable Quotes:

• Sarah Hagie [22:54]: "It's actually pretty good, but there's one specific flavor in it that I don't really like."
• Sachi Cole [23:02]: "This smells like the inside of a cupboard that's been abandoned."

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6. Looking Ahead: Resolutions and Future Topics

As the episode nears its end, Scaachi and Sarah share their personal resolutions and tease upcoming stories for the next year. They express interest in covering new scams and encourage listeners to stay tuned for more intriguing content.

Notable Quotes:

• Sachi Cole [48:14]: "I want to see more women scammers or non-binary or trans people."
• Sarah Hagie [49:05]: "So, that is our show, folks. I guess it's time for us to finish up our fruitcake and toast to the most American thing of all—scamming. Cheers."

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7. Concluding Remarks

The hosts wrap up the holiday special by reinforcing their commitment to uncovering and discussing scams, thanking their listeners, and promoting membership benefits for early and ad-free access to episodes.

Notable Quotes:

• Sachi Cole [49:19]: "If you like Scamfluencers, you can listen to every episode early and ad free right now by joining Wondery Plus."

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Episode Highlights:

• Introduction of themed scam awards with humorous insights.
• In-depth updates on high-profile scam cases, including legal outcomes and personal impacts.
• Engagement with listener feedback, balancing criticism and praise.
• Interactive and entertaining segments like fruitcake tasting.
• Forward-looking statements on upcoming content and personal goals of the hosts.

Conclusion: "The Scamfluencers Holiday Special" masterfully blends humor, detailed scam narratives, and personal anecdotes to create an engaging and informative episode. Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi effectively celebrate the holiday season while shedding light on the dark world of scams, making the episode both entertaining and enlightening for listeners.

Transcript

[Sachi Cole]

Wondery subscribers can listen to Scamfluencers early and ad free right now. Join Wondery plus in the Wondery app or Apple Podcasts.

[Sarah Hagie]

Saatchi. It's that time of the year again when American holidays overwhelm all media, including our show.

[Sachi Cole]

Well, that makes perfect sense for us, two people who don't really celebrate any holidays right now.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, if you can't beat em, join em. We're doing doing something a little different today. This is the first ever Scamfluencers holiday special. It's just like the ones hosted by noted scamfluencer alum Martha Stewart.

[Sachi Cole]

That's right. We're coming for the crown of the ultimate cozy influencer. We're here at the J Peak Resort in Vermont. It's snowing outside, but we're sitting in front of a roaring fire. We're wearing thick knit sweaters, eating cookies, and we're drinking. Actually, what are you drinking, Sarah?

[Sarah Hagie]

I have a classic hot chocolate with lots of of whipped cream and a candy cane, of course. And it's going to make my teeth hurt.

[Sachi Cole]

Oh, lovely. Well, I have spiked my own eggnog, which after this year I deserve.

[Sarah Hagie]

Okay, if you and I were starring in a Hallmark movie about our show, what hometown would we go to? And which hotties would finally convince us we should settle into trad wife life and stop working so damn hard?

[Sachi Cole]

Ooh. Unfortunately, I don't think either of us would get to be the lead of a Hallmark movie. I think you and I are the types to be like the funny and ambiguously ethnic best friends who own a bakery that's the site of like a thousand meet cutes.

[Sarah Hagie]

Yeah, you're right. We are one dimensional support.

[Sachi Cole]

Yes.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, I actually watched Martha's 1995 holiday special to prepare for this episode, and it is everything you'd expect. Here's a clip so you can really get the vibe. Well, now I know it's Christmas. There's a wreath on my front door, and plum puddings are steaming in the oven. Welcome to my home for the holidays. I'll be home. I feel so soothed by this. Like she's really selling the cozy holiday vibe with her turtleneck. To recap the special, she makes a wreath and then she turns her studio into a Christmas workshop, and it's full of children. It seems Martha does not give a shit about child labor laws. And then she makes her mom and sister stand in the kitchen all day making tons of plum pudding to hand out as gifts. Also, Miss Piggy, Julia Child, and Hillary Clinton stopped by.

[Sachi Cole]

I feel like the Scamflinter's version is that our nieces and nephews explain TikTok trends to us and then my dad updates us on whether our recent episodes have been any good surprise. He doesn't like them. And our guest would definitely be Abby Lee Miller, who would teach us how to dance just like the Rockettes.

[Sarah Hagie]

We are not insured for that, but when it comes to Scamfluencers, you never know what you're gonna get, so stay tuned and learn about the holiday spirit. The Scamfluencer's.

[Sachi Cole]

All right, audible's best of 2024 picks are here, so discover the year's top audiobooks, podcasts and originals in all your favorite genres.

[Sarah Hagie]

That's right. From memoirs and sci fi to mysteries and thrillers, Audible's curated list in every category is the best way to hear 2024's best in audio entertainment.

[Sachi Cole]

Exactly like a stunning new full cast production of George Orwell's 1984 or heartfelt memoirs like Supreme Court Justice Katan Angie Brown Jackson's Lovely One.

[Sarah Hagie]

There's also the year's best fiction, like the Women by Kristin Hannah and Percival Everett's brilliantly subversive James. I would love to listen to Sally Rooney's Intermezzo. It just came out this year and I think it was one of my favorite 24 releases.

[Sachi Cole]

Go to audible.comscampod and discover all the years best waiting for you. Ever wondered how industry giants like ALO and skims dominate the online retail space? The answer is simpler than you think. It's Shopify.

[Sarah Hagie]

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[Sachi Cole]

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[Sarah Hagie]

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[Sachi Cole]

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[Sarah Hagie]

Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.comscampod all lowercase go to shopify.comscampod to upgrade your selling today.

[Sachi Cole]

Shopify.comscampod.

[Sarah Hagie]

From wondery I'm Sarah Hagie. And I'm Saatchi Cole and this is Scamfluencers.

[C]

Legend.

[Sarah Hagie]

With the holidays coming up, we wanted to take the time to reflect, celebrate and rehash some of our favorite scams. We're cheersing to another year of scammers who don't know how to shut up and those who are actually having to face consequences. And of course, no Scamfluencer Special is complete without some very legitimate and serious awards. So get cozy and pour yourself a drink of some expensive fake wine and let's get celebrating. This is the Scamfluencers Holiday Special. Saatchi, we bring this up a lot. We're both Canadians. We don't celebrate American Thanksgiving. But that doesn't mean we can't pause to reflect on all that we're thankful for. Have you ever been to a Thanksgiving dinner in the us?

[Sachi Cole]

Yeah, it's basically the same thing as the Canadian version, except it happens needlessly late in the harvest season.

[Sarah Hagie]

It should happen in October.

[Sachi Cole]

Isn't it crazy that they do it, like, in the winter?

[Sarah Hagie]

I don't understand the point of a holiday that happens a month before Christmas. Yeah, it's a waste anyway. We're all on the same page about eating ungodly amounts of turkey, stuffing and pie and then going around the table and talking about what we're grateful for. But that's a little too cheesy for our show. So instead, we're going to pass out some very ridiculous awards to our even more ridiculous scammers who we just love to make fun of. So let's get into it in the spirit of the holiday. Our first award is for the scammer who just keeps on giving. We have some truly great contenders who just will not stop blowing up our Google alerts with stupid little updates like Martin Shkreli having to give back that rare Wu Tang album after making copies of it and giving them to, quote, like 50 different chicks. And of course, Martha Stewart giving us stoner energy with her Snoop Dogg collabs, though she says she only gets high secondhand, which is not real. But we at SCAM are still obsessed with the Chrisleys and all their spinoff podcasts. Saatchi, doesn't your dad also love this bonkers family?

[Sachi Cole]

Yeah, he only listens to half of our episodes for this show, but he did manage to watch several full episodes of Chrisley Knows Best and now he thinks he is a part of their family.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, then I think this award should go to the Chrisleys. Quick reminder, this family of uppity Southern blondes seemed to live a life of luxury on their TV show Chrisley Knows Best. But really, they were lying to banks to take out millions in loans while also not paying their taxes. The couple was sent to prison in January 2023. They kept releasing their podcast Chrisley Confessions right up to when they reported to prison. Then their daughter Savannah picked up the slack, launching her own podcast and in March she also appeared on the Masked Singer as an Afghan hound. She sang the Lion Sleeps Tonight by the tokens and was voted off immediately. Here's why she said she decided to humiliate herself in front of millions My.

[C]

Life over the past year has changed drastically. Lost both my parents to the federal system and now I have custody of my 15 year old brother and 10 year old sister. So if I can teach them anything, it's take every opportunity that comes your way and don't back down.

[Sarah Hagie]

Yeah, that's great.

[Sachi Cole]

I mean, there aren't a lot of good reasons to be on the Masked Singer, but I think perhaps the best reason is that you need to provide for your siblings who now don't have parents because your parents are in legal trouble.

[Sarah Hagie]

God forbid we ever be without Chrisley Content. But the matriarch of the family, Julie, was in the news recently. Her seven year sentence was vacated in June because an appeals court found a technical error in how her sentence was calculated. This gave her and her family hope she would get released early, but no. At a re sentencing hearing in September, the judge upheld her original sentence. She's expected to be released in April 2028. And to add insult to injury, Julie appeared in court as a brunette. Apparently she isn't able to get a hold of bleach in prison. People reported that she was, quote, unrecognizable. Julie's lawyers asked the judge to take into account her two younger children who Savannah has custody of. The judge said she hoped the children's well being was a priority, not television ratings and podcasts. Well, Savannah took issue with that. Here she is outside of the courtroom after the resentencing.

[C]

To say that it is for TV ratings or for podcast ratings is laughable because both of my parents are sitting in federal prison. So this has nothing to do with ratings.

[Sarah Hagie]

Savannah is also upset about how federal prosecutors handled her parents situation. She actually seems to think that her parents having to pay consequences after ripping off the government for years was politically motivated. So much so that she ranted about it at the Republican National Convention earlier this year.

[C]

I'll never forget what the prosecutor said in the most heavily Democrat county in the state before an Obama appointed judge. He called us the Trumps of the South. Yeah. Hey, it's fun. He meant it as an insult, but let me tell you, boy, do I wear it as a badge of honor.

[Sachi Cole]

Well, you know who famously has never had any legal trouble is Donald Trump.

[Sarah Hagie]

Yeah, she's really hoping she can get her parents pardoned by Trump.

[Sachi Cole]

Well, you know what? If Trump pardoned Rod Blagojevich, I don't see why he wouldn't pardon the Chrisleys.

[Sarah Hagie]

Why not pardon anyone? Right?

[Sachi Cole]

Everybody, in fact.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, for now, Todd is still serving his 12 year sentence, which has already been shortened by two years. He's currently expected to be released in July 2032.

[Sachi Cole]

All right, enough about the Chrisleys. Our next category is scam. We think we'd fall for Sarah. We've learned a lot about scammers and their ways while doing this show, and we're pretty skeptical people. You will not find me sending all of my money to a bank in Antigua. However, I am not immune to being scammed.

[Sarah Hagie]

Have you ever been scammed, Saatchi? Last month, I wanted to order pizza. I googled the place I wanted to order pizza from, clicked on the Google search results of the pizza website, looked exactly normal, ordered the pizza, and then I got a notification saying my credit card was trying to charge me $2,500. And it turns out I clicked on a sponsored result that was like a fake shadow website of pizza yolo.

[Sachi Cole]

All right, well, I do hope eventually you got your pizza.

[Sarah Hagie]

It actually scarred me. I'm so scared of googling anything now.

[Sachi Cole]

I actually think you should never look anything up. So this might actually work in your favor. Well, we have some notable contenders for this award. Like, if a bunch of soccer moms told me they were legit investigators and crime solvers, I would trust them. But this is a scam that we've actually fallen for, and pretty much every young girl has fallen for it. To this award goes to Ruth Handler, the girl boss behind Barbie. As we talked about in our episode on her, she was inspired by a German sex doll. She then went on to rebrand and refine the doll to become Barbie. Ruth ended up having to settle a lawsuit out of court for stealing the design. But she didn't stop there. A few years later, she pleaded no contest to charges of conspiracy and fraud for cooking the book at Mattel.

[Sarah Hagie]

Listen, all she was trying to do was sell toys and give girls unrealistic beauty standards for years to come.

[Sachi Cole]

But what I personally found the most inspiring was her whole reinvention of herself. Ruth's golden years were spent selling silicone prosthetic breasts to people who had gotten mastectomies oh, and using herself as a model for the ad campaigns. I too hope to avoid prison and then pose on a boat. It all feels like a real scammy way of rewriting her legacy. But yes, I did watch the Barbie movie, and I did really enjoy the nostalgia of it.

[Sarah Hagie]

What's so funny about this show is that there are so many scams that feel way too simple. Like there are some people who just straight up lie and don't even try that hard to make it believable. That's why we have a very special award, the Sam Bankman Fried Award for Most obvious scam. Because we all know the most obvious scam out there is cryptocurrency.

[Sachi Cole]

In fact, we did an entire episode where I talked to a former teen heartthrob about how crypto sucks. It's called service journalism. And you're welcome.

[Sarah Hagie]

Okay, so the winner for the SBF Award is Rick Singer and the College Admission Scandal. I mean, come on. Olivia Jade is clearly not a rower. Please never forget that staged photo of Olivia where she's supposed to look like she's been rowing for years. Once again, can you please describe this?

[Sachi Cole]

It is a blurred out photo of Olivia on a rowing machine. And it appears that this is the first time she has ever gone near a rowing machine. She's approaching it the way Sleeping Beauty approaches a poison spindle.

[Sarah Hagie]

For the record, Olivia Jade is still vlogging and she is still very much dating Jacob Elordi. Maybe someday you'll get your chance, Saatchi.

[Sachi Cole]

Please don't worry about me. I have a new white Boy of the month and it's a guy at my local coffee shop who doesn't know I exist. Sorry, Jacob.

[Sarah Hagie]

Anyway, this scam, like so many others we cover, is more than just one person. Because let's be real, Rick Singer, the mastermind behind it all, is boring. What this really shows us is that the whole American university system is a scam. These families who worked with Rick went through all this trouble and spent loads of money for what? Shitty dining hall food and gross frat parties. College really can't be worth that much. Also, it was so obvious how little the parents believed in their kids. Like they were convinced the only way they'd get into an elite school was by cheating. That, to me, was actually pretty sad. And I truly hope these kids get counseling. I mean, they'll probably be fine because they went to Yale or whatever.

[Sachi Cole]

Yeah, people who go to Yale famously turn out fine. And they never run for vice president. Well, Sarah, on this Show. We love a rebrand. I mean, we just talked about Ruth Handler's pivot. From toys to bras. We also saw Lance Armstrong go from absolute dominance on the racetrack to stupid reality TV show competitions. But the award for the scammer with the best post scam pivot goes to. Spiro Agnew. From Richard Nixon's VP to political slash romance novelist, that is quite a turn. Quick reminder. Spiro was accused of extortion and bribery and eventually resigned from his VP post after being convicted of tax evasion. In 1976, a few years after leaving office in disgrace, Spiro published a novel called the Canfield Decision. It's about a hot, rich vice president mowing through mad babes. And, Sarah, I have another passage from the Canfield Decision that I need you to read. In this scene, a vice presidential advisor meets up with a secret agent. And I just love to imagine Spiro Agnew, who was once the second most powerful guy in America, writing steamy moments just like this.

[Sarah Hagie]

Um, this is actually torture. And you've already made me do it once.

[Sachi Cole]

Yeah, but this is how you get paid the big bucks that you eventually lose through some fake pizza website.

[Sarah Hagie]

Okay. Too soon. Okay, I'll read it. His arms went around her slim waist, and he felt the soft pressure of her breasts when she leaned into him. Then she lifted her. Then she lifted her lips in an unmistakable invitation. He kissed her gently, and her arms reached around his neck. She pressed the full length of her body against him. Suddenly free of the uncharacteristic schoolboy like timidity he had felt with her, Zach now began to respond with passion. He opened his lips, and the kiss became an expression of fundamental need. So she hugged him and they kissed. This was just as painful as the last time you made me do this. But at least it wasn't about a guy named Newt.

[Sachi Cole]

Well, maybe if Spero had put more effort into his craft instead of all of the politics and corruption, he would be Nora Rob Roberts by now.

[Sarah Hagie]

Okay, so our next award is for the most classic guy scammer. And honestly, we have so many dudes to consider. There's a lot of masculine scammer energy on this show, much to the chagrin of some of our listeners. I'm sorry, they just commit the majority of scammy crimes. We know. We've done the research. But this award can really only go to one person. Brian Johnson, AKA the Liver King. The dude who's trying to sell extreme masculinity by eating raw meat and taking a shit ton of steroids.

[Sachi Cole]

I love that extreme masculinity is just eating a lot of protein and taking drugs.

[Sarah Hagie]

Yeah, and also hating women.

[Sachi Cole]

Oh, that's assumed, you know.

[Sarah Hagie]

To recap, Liver King gained tons of followers for posting about what he called ancestral living, which to him meant eating mostly raw meat, doing insane workouts, and making loads of money off supplements. He claimed his gains were au naturel, but he was eventually exposed by swole Internet sleuths. He then owned up to it and apologized. Liver King's latest content still features him doing insane workouts and his whole body is almost always a concerning shade of red. But the Liver King also seems to be eating some vegetables and has taken a slightly softer tone in recent videos. He's also definitely still consuming some very weird organs, like in this TikTok video from September. I don't know how to prepare you for this Saatchi and I'm gonna have.

[Sachi Cole]

Testicle ceviche on Seafood Wednesday as I think about the great beauty and love there is in family and the support we should give one another to apologize. Leverkin 3.0 the Holy Trinity the truth. That's what I do not tell the truth. I too am often eating ball ceviche thinking about the beauty of family.

[Sarah Hagie]

He's so disgusting. Apparently Netflix is working on a documentary about him and you better watch because every annoying guy you go on a first date with will be all over that. Well, onto our final award for the scammer we are most grateful for. Saatchi, who's your pick?

[Sachi Cole]

I for one am grateful for Steve Madden. He's the iconic shoemaker of the 90s and 2000s who was influenced by the king of scams, Jordan Belfort. Steve got involved with the Wolf of Wall street to help his fledgling shoe business and it landed him in prison. He's out now and his brand is just as big as ever. You know, I owned and actually still do own several pairs of shoes from Steve Madden and I also see them everywhere on the street in New York City. Honestly, a classic. Mary Jane will always have a special place in my heart. Who are you most grateful for, Sarah?

[Sarah Hagie]

I think I'm most grateful for Rita Crundwell, who was responsible for the biggest municipal fraud scheme in US history. She was such a unique and outrageous scammer. Rita was the one who bred and showed quarter horses and seemed to make a lot from her winnings. Like a lot. She spent millions on expensive RVs, top tier horses, and lots of tacky jewelry. Never forget that diamond encrusted SpongeBob pendant Saatchi in reality, it was all being funded by the taxpayers of Dixon, Illinois. She managed the city's finances and stole more than $50 million over two decades. Gratitude is complicated on scamfluencers because our greatest stories can also lead to a lot of trouble for others. And you could say that's the moral of scamsgiving.

[Sachi Cole]

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, before we move on to our scamsgiving feast, there's one scammer I'm sad we didn't get to talk about. But any scam involving a fruitcake is worth at least an honorable mention this time of year. Sandy Jenkins was the accountant at the Collins street bakery who quietly squirreled away More than $16 million from the fruitcake company. He and his wife bought new cars and flew private jets, all in an effort to keep up with the Joneses in Corsicana, Texas. Once the bakery and the FBI caught on, he tried to hide all his expensive belongings. He was caught and sentenced to 10 years in prison. I haven't been able to stop thinking about the fact that all his wealth came from a fruitcake company. Saatchi, have you ever tried fruitcake?

[Sachi Cole]

I don't think so, and I don't know that I want to.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, today is our lucky day. As the French say, let them eat fruitcake.

[Sachi Cole]

Oh, no.

[Sarah Hagie]

Thanks. I think. Oh, damn.

[Sachi Cole]

Sarah, we have in front of us the very same Corsicana fruitcake. I see that you've already started eating yours. Would you like to tell us what it tastes like while I try it?

[Sarah Hagie]

It's actually pretty good, but there's one specific flavor in it that I don't really like. I don't know what dried fruit that is. Honestly, it's good. I like it. It's dense.

[Sachi Cole]

This smells like the inside of a cupboard that's been abandoned. Okay, first of all, this looks like a brain is not good, guys. It's not good.

[Sarah Hagie]

You know what it is? I don't like raisins in that way.

[Sachi Cole]

It's all raisin.

[D]

Mmm.

[Sarah Hagie]

That's what it is. I'll eat anything.

[Sachi Cole]

I know. What fruit do you think this is?

[Sarah Hagie]

This looks like pineapple that. That's turned red.

[Sachi Cole]

Oh, it's pineapple. It's dyed pineapple. Oh, it's dyed. It's dyed pineapple.

[Sarah Hagie]

Oh, my God. That makes so much sense. Here's the thing. Like, I understand this being something people really loved when cakes weren't everywhere.

[Sachi Cole]

I think this is a fine dessert. If for some reason, you live in pioneer times and you don't have a fridge.

[Sarah Hagie]

I don't wanna hate on this cake because it has like a really storied history. I respect.

[Sachi Cole]

Yeah, I mean, I respect the history. I do not respect the taste.

[Sarah Hagie]

You know, I can see why Sandy Jenkins was like really pissed off because it's like crazy to be rich off this.

[Sachi Cole]

Yeah. This is outrageous.

[Sarah Hagie]

Let's take a break for us to ponder what this is doing to our digestive tracts and our blood sugar. When we come back, we're going to look back on some major updates to the biggest scammers we've ever covered and hear from you, our listeners. Stay tuned.

[Sachi Cole]

What's your favorite way to embrace the cozy autumn vibes? Curling up with a good book, sipping hot apple cider, or maybe wrapping yourself in a luxuriously soft sweater?

[Sarah Hagie]

Probably all of the above for me. Speaking of cozy sweaters, have you heard about Quince's Mongolian cashmere sweaters that start at just $50? It's like wrapping yourself in a warm hug on a chilly fall day. All their Items are priced 50 to 80% less than comparable luxury brands because they partner directly with top factories to eliminate the cost of the middleman.

[Sachi Cole]

I just bought a bunch of things from Quince as I do every season. Basically I am very excited about the sweaters. But Sarah, I can't stop wearing the bodysuits. They are so comfortable. They make me look very hot.

[Sarah Hagie]

Get cozy in Quince's high quality wardrobe essentials. Go to quince.comscampod for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns.

[Sachi Cole]

That's Q U I N C E dot com scampod for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comscampod if your TV experience is feeling.

[Sarah Hagie]

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[Sachi Cole]

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[Sarah Hagie]

There's classics like the Office, Martin and Friends and all of the incredible, incredible originals on amc from Mad Men to Orphan Black.

[Sachi Cole]

Their library actually has more than 75,000 movies and shows which you can save and re watch anytime for a whole year. You'll never miss a minute of binge worthy shows like Yellowstone.

[Sarah Hagie]

Best of all, with Philo you get all this for just $28 a month. No contracts, no hassles, just one subscription and a world of entertainment.

[Sachi Cole]

So go to Philo TV and Check it out for a free seven day trial. That's P H I L O TV to start watching.

[Sarah Hagie]

I feel like a la da la da la la la la la sachi. Neither of us celebrate Christmas, as we've mentioned many times, but I know we've watched a thousand holiday specials and one tradition people have is listening to a classic Christmas story. When I think of what kind of story we'd read to our scam listeners, it would probably be how the Grinch Stole Christmas. There's literally a scam in the title of it. And also some of our Apple podcast reviews think our hearts are three sizes too small when it comes to how we talk about white guys. But more on that later.

[Sachi Cole]

Oh my God, I can't wait.

[Sarah Hagie]

Here at Scamfluencers, we're all about making a list and checking it twice. And you might think that means all of our scammers are on the naughty list, but I'm not so sure. Some of them are kind of endearing. Like I will never hate Teresa Giudice. I'm sorry, but we have updates on some actual villains who are only getting coal in their stockings this year. We'll start by going way back to the very beginning of Scamfluencers. Saatchi, what do you remember about our Black Swan?

[Sachi Cole]

Oh, what don't I remember? Black Swan is about a couple, Doug and Ashley Benefield. They get married within two weeks of meeting. They start a ballet company that's an absolute shit show from beginning to end. They get all these dancers to show up and it's clear that they have nothing prepared from the programming to their housing. And meanwhile their marriage is in shambles. And at the very end of the story, Ashley shoots and kills Doug.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, we have huge news in this case. Ashley Benefield was found guilty of manslaughter in July. She faces up to 30 years in prison, but as of this recording, her sentencing has been indefinitely postponed. The judge is investigating possible jury misconduct because nothing about this case can ever be normal. Ashley's lawyers had tried to argue that the case should be thrown out based on Florida's stand you'd ground laws. But the judge wasn't buying it. Doug's daughter Eva has been posting on TikTok all about the case. The day the verdict was read, Eva said her dad got the justice he deserved after four years of waiting. The following day she said this on TikTok.

[C]

This whole trial broke my heart being reminded that the last few years of his life, my dad was manipulated and eventually lost. His life. As for me, what feels like having the entire world watch your every move is very overwhelming. I'm excited to have this chapter closed so I can allow both of my parents to rest peacefully.

[Sachi Cole]

Oh, man. I'm glad that she's able to get some closure now.

[Sarah Hagie]

Yeah, I mean, she is only 23, and she says she'll be working on a memoir about everything she's experienced in her life. That is going to be quite the reading.

[Sachi Cole]

Sarah, you and I aren't always aligned, but the moment we were 100% on the same page is when we were talking about Erika Jayne's iconic monologue. Do you remember it?

[Sarah Hagie]

It goes, tom's house was broken into and he confronted the burglar, and then he had to go have eye surgery, and then my son had to go over and help. And then my son, he rolled his car five times on the way home. So, yeah, I'm under a lot of stress.

[Sachi Cole]

Great job. I say it four to five times a day, mostly to myself. Well, I have an update on Erica's ex skeezy lawyer, Tom Girardi. In August, he was found guilty of embezzling millions of dollars from his clients. You know, the people who trusted him with their settlements from things like plane crashes and gas explosions. Pretty nasty work and definitely top of the naughty list. Tom will be sentenced in December and faces up to 80 years in prison. Leading up to the trial, there were questions about Tom's mental health and if he was competent to take the standard. The 85 year old was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago. On the stand, Tom said, quote, the last thing I would do would be to take someone's money. Well, the jury decided otherwise. Sara, can you read what one juror told the LA Times after the trial?

[Sarah Hagie]

Yeah, the juror said all the evidence was there and it wasn't a hard decision. Everyone can tell how evil he is.

[Sachi Cole]

As for Erika Jayne, she's single as she waits for her divorce to be finalized. And there is a bit of a hiccup in that too, given Tom's mental state. She's also still dealing with the fallout from Tom's bankruptcy filings. So I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the court finally decides to do with her infamous $750,000 diamond earrings.

[Sarah Hagie]

I hate to say this, Saatchi, but the next person on our naughty list may not actually be that naughty, but I've got some mixed feelings about the biggest diva to ever serve in the U.S. congress. I mean, Jorge Santos definitely doesn't deserve to be on the nice list, but maybe we can make a not as naughty list for him.

[Sachi Cole]

Well, we do talk about this sometimes, how we get Stockholm syndrome for certain scammers, and I do think this is one of them.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, here's a quick refresher on everyone's favorite disgraced Congress. George is a serial liar who fibbed about everything from his job history and being Jewish to his mom dying in 9 11. In December 2023, he was kicked out of Congress, and since stepping down from public office, he has been making videos on Cameo. In August, he pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for lying about his campaign donors and finances. He was also previously charged with unemployment fraud and using campaign finances for luxury purchases. Those crimes will be considered as part of his sentencing. In a very unscamfluencer turn of events, George kind of accepted responsibility for his actions. Here's what he said to reporters outside of the courtroom after pleading guilty.

[E]

It's occurred to me now that I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical. Pleading guilty is a step I never imagined I take.

[Sachi Cole]

I also can never predict when I'm going to have to admit having done something wrong.

[Sarah Hagie]

Yeah, it's honestly a little bit of a shame his case didn't go to trial. Apparently, prosecutors had collected over 500 exhibits of evidence, including financial, financial, and phone records. I want to know what Tea George was spilling about. Members of Congress. George will be sentenced early next year and could serve up to six to eight years in prison. He's also agreed to pay over $370,000 back to his victims. I wonder if his Cameo earnings will ever cover that. Speaking of cameo, we have a truly great scamfluencers crossover here. Stay with me, Saatchi. So John Fetterman is the poorly dressed former Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania who beat the very scammy TV doctor, Dr. Oz in a Senate race. Well, John had Jorge Santos record a cameo about Bob Menendez. You know, the Keebler ELF guy we just covered who loves bribes from foreign countries and throwing his wife under the bus. Sachi, this is actually pretty good. And we have to watch it again.

[E]

Hey, Bobby, look, I don't think I need to tell you, but these people that want to make you get in trouble and want to kick you out and make you run away, you make him put up or shut up. You stand your ground, sir. And don't get bogged down by all the haters out there. Stay strong. Merry Christmas.

[Sachi Cole]

That is some really Beautiful holiday spirit. Well, I've got another diva to add to our not so naughty list. But, but first, to be clear, the scamming done by Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shaw was horrible. For years she was part of a telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable people and she was sentenced to six and a half years for her crimes. But I also think she's just a really great reality TV character. She's even keeping us entertained from prison. Besides befriending another girl boss scammer Theranos founder and medical scammer Elizabeth Holmes. Jen is really putting in the work. And by work, I mean participating in a Barbie hair show competition. Sarah, can you describe her look and read what she told people about it?

[Sarah Hagie]

She's, you know, somehow tailored her prison outfit to be these cute shorts and like a top that's, you know, tied at the front. And she's with her friend who's wearing pink and they, you know, she has a high ponytail. She looks very good. And if I saw this photo, I wouldn't necessarily think this was taken in a prison. And here's what she told people. I found the courage to smile, find genuine joy and laughter by participating in a Barbie hair show competition as Adventure Barbie. My Barbie team and I razzle dazzled the real hair updo category with a fully choreographed routine to Latto's big energy. It brought me so much joy to put smiles on my fellow inmates faces. And yes, we won our category. That is something. She really is seeing the glass half full here, Sarah.

[Sachi Cole]

These updates really made my heart grow three full sizes.

[Sarah Hagie]

Let's really embody our true Christmas spirit and take another page from the Grinch or maybe Ebenezer Scrooge and read some reviews from our haters.

[Sachi Cole]

Why leave a shitty review if you don't want to be recognized for it? Here you go, losers. Here's that attention you ordered.

[Sarah Hagie]

Okay, this review is titled Two's a crowd and it's one star and it says this had potential. But another podcast where there is zero reason for two people went downhill quickly. What is the deal with the laughing and giggling? Awful. I don't know. Listen to an audiobook then like no laughing.

[Sachi Cole]

That's only.

[Sarah Hagie]

Go listen to some democracy now. Okay?

[Sachi Cole]

Go listen to the Young Turks and leave us alone. All right, this One is from August 2024. The headline is White Men Hate. It's a two star review and it says the content of the podcast is great. I love the stories. Unfortunately, as a white man, I feel targeted by the Hosts. It's unfortunate, as I would have loved to keep listening. Luckily, the Scamtown podcast exists now and doesn't have hosts who take cheap shots and discriminate against people who had no choice of who they were born to or of their gender.

[Sarah Hagie]

You know what? I agree. You were born this way.

[Sachi Cole]

You were born this way, and you will never change and you will never get fixed. That's unfortunate. Next.

[Sarah Hagie]

Oh, wow. One star.

[Sachi Cole]

This one's my favorite.

[Sarah Hagie]

This one I actually did send to you, I think. Good stories, annoying tic. Please stop repeating Saatchi's name. This show. Please stop repeating Saatchi's name. This kills a show and makes me cringe. The stories are well told, which is a reason I listen. Update like other comments, I find your judgmental hatred towards white men and multiple other groups of people to be frustrating and disappointing. I'll keep looking for other podcasts with similar material, but I'm done with this one.

[Sachi Cole]

Why do you think they have a problem hearing my name, Sarah?

[Sarah Hagie]

Because they're like, I can't spell that in my head so hard. I want to say one thing. I genuinely do not think we are too judgmental towards white men and other groups.

[Sachi Cole]

No, we're appropriately judgmental. It's an appropriate word.

[Sarah Hagie]

I think we're pretty judgmental of everyone.

[Sachi Cole]

Yeah, this is a podcast where everyone's bad.

[Sarah Hagie]

People really like being mad for absolutely no reason at all, as we know. So let's talk about encores. There are a lot of comments about them. Here's one. Lazy content, one star. Regurgitated content. We have heard before and so many encores. You'd think with all of the ads, they would have plenty of support to write new shows. I can replay old episodes myself. On following. Okay, I need to say something like, sorry. We have a show that puts out nearly 40 episodes a year and we have a few reruns. And also we always give you new information at the top.

[Sachi Cole]

I would also add there are a bunch of people who work on this show, and part of why we have encores is so that people can have lives and take a vacation and not grind themselves into a thin powder. So before you leave us a shitty review about how we have encore weeks, please consider that people deserve some time off.

[Sarah Hagie]

I also feel like, do these people.

[Sachi Cole]

Not recognize that this podcast is free? Like, you get this for free.

[Sarah Hagie]

We actually do have some really nice people leaving reviews for us. And please keep doing that. This one is. I'm obsessed with this podcast. Not only do I love a good scam story, but Saatchi and Sarah tell each story with lots of detail and enough humor to make them feel not so dark. It's my number one and I've shared it with several people. Keep going ladies.

[Sachi Cole]

Hell yeah, I love that they call us ladies. There's actually another one also calling us ladies. It's another five star review. Intriguing and relevant topics presented with well researched information. I'm not easily entertained by podcasts, but these ladies have me laughing out loud with their commentary. There seems to be a pattern with the negative reviews this podcast has received, and it's coming from a specific demographic that's known for being widely offensive to others, so the whining is pretty ironic. Did I write this?

[Sarah Hagie]

You'll notice a pattern if you see the bad reviews. For those who keep listening, don't mind hearing our names said aloud and enjoy laughter. Thank you so much. Stay tuned for a couple of stories. We desperately wanted to be scams in 2024, but they didn't quite make it and we set some scam centered resolutions. Stay tuned. Unexpected expenses that pop up, especially during the holidays, are truly the worst. Life doesn't wait for payday.

[Sachi Cole]

You got that right. But luckily there's Chime, the financial app that's changing the game. With Chime's My Pay feature, you can get up to $500 of your paycheck early. No credit check, no interest, and no mandatory fees. Plus you'll get access to over 50,000 fee free ATMs. That's incredibly convenient, especially if you're traveling.

[Sarah Hagie]

Don't wait for payday to make this holiday season merry and bright. Open your Chime checking account in [e-mail] scampod that's chime.com scampod Chime feels like progress.

[Sachi Cole]

Banking services and debit card provided by the Bancorp Bank N A or Stride Bank N A MyPay line of credit provided by the Bancorp Bank N A or stride bank na MyPay eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all states. MyPay credit limits range $20 to $500, a $2 fee to get funds instantly. SpotMe eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Fees apply at out of network ATMs and for OTC withdrawals.

[Sarah Hagie]

I feel like we're getting near the end of our holiday special. We've had a great time rehashing our favorite scammers and giving out our very legit awards. Heading into the new year, we have a lot to look forward to. There's one scam we've been dying to cover. And it looks like we may get our wish. We finally have a Mayor Eric Adams indictment. He already gifted us with an appearance in our Bling Bishop, AKA Lamour Whitehead episode. Saatchi, you're the New Yorker here. What the hell is going on?

[Sachi Cole]

Oh, my God. Sarah. So much. To recap, Lamour Whitehead was the bishop from Brooklyn who lied, committed fraud, and even stole from his parishioners to fund his very bougie lifestyle. He was also close with Eric Adams. But shortly after lamora's arrest in December 2022, Eric Adams distanced himself from Lamar publicly. His office told the New Yorker in January 2023 that he hadn't spoken to Lamour much since becoming mayor. More than a year later, in March 2024, Lamour was convicted of fraud, attempted extortion, and making false statements to the feds. And that very day, Lamour went on Instagram to claim that he was innocent and explained why he believed he was being unfairly persecuted.

[D]

Why was Bishop Whitehead on trial? This was politically driven. This was about Mayor Eric Adams. Everybody knows that me and the mayor were close, and I was targeted. The FBI came to my house, and what they said to me was, we don't want you. We want the mayor of New York. And just because I was not going to be a federal informant against the mayor of New York, the FBI said they was going to make my life a living hell. And that's what you guys are seeing.

[Sarah Hagie]

I mean, listen, I think he can be guilty and Eric Adams can be guilty at the same time.

[Sachi Cole]

Yes, a few things can be true at once.

[Sarah Hagie]

I mean, allegedly. Who knows? Who knows?

[Sachi Cole]

Allegedly. Allegedly. For now. Well, in June 2024, Lamour was sentenced to nine years in prison. And with or without Lamour's cooperation, the feds kept circling Eric Adams. All year, there's been a steady drip of news about the FBI raiding the homes of some of Eric's top officials, several staffers resigning, and the Fed seizing lots and lots of phones. And in September, he was indicted. As of this recording, Eric's been charged with bribery, fraud, and soliciting foreign campaign donations. For years, he's been cozy with Turkish officials, who allegedly bought him off with free flights, luxurious hotels, and meals. If you're a fan of the show, you know that these are ingredients for a great episode. Eric Adams is a true scanflancer. He's absolutely ridiculous, and he's friends with tons of horrible people. Like, look at this photo of Eric giving Sean Combs the key to the city last year.

[Sarah Hagie]

Oh, my God. This is so evil. Yikes. Yeah, they're in Times Square and they're doing, like, heart hands with each other. Like, each hand is a half of a heart. And they're smiling, not knowing what will happen to them in a year.

[Sachi Cole]

Aging really well. Well, Eric hasn't given in yet. Here he is at a press conference right after the indictment dropped at the end of September.

[D]

This did not surprise us that we reached this day. And I asked New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments.

[Sachi Cole]

It's so wild to me that he's asking New Yorkers not to judge. Like we already hate him.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, in Toronto, as you know, we had a mayor who smoked crack.

[Sachi Cole]

That's true. That feels so quaint right now. Well, I'm just glad that Eric may finally be reunited with his friend Lamour in prison. Going into the new year, we're sure there'll be other even more outrageous scams to cover. Like Will Twitter and Elon Musk Musk's sanity finally implode? Will we see another Bravo Liberty behind bars? We can only hope.

[Sarah Hagie]

Unfortunately, Saatchi, not all of our scamfluencers dreams can come true. Eric Adams came through in a big way. But one story we hoped would turn into something didn't quite pan out. I'm of course talking about our favorite Australian. No, not Belle Gibson. I'm talking about Raegun Saatchi. Did you see all the videos of her flopping and rolling around on the floor at the Olympics? I'm going to show you a clip and I want you to describe what you're seeing.

[Sachi Cole]

I have obviously watched this so many times. It is Raegun performing at the Olympics, the first ever breakdancing competition they had. And she is doing the worm a lot, it seems. Doing something called kangaroo pose. It's super bad. She does the sprinkler at one point. This is how I dance when I do drugs.

[Sarah Hagie]

Well, after Rachel Gunn, AKA Ray Gunn, absolutely bombed during the breakdance competition, there were rumors spreading online about her appearance at the Games being part of a big conspiracy. And honestly, fair, because it was just that bad. People claimed Raegun rigged the qualifying competitions and maybe even the entire system to land her spot in the Olympics. There was even an online petition with 50,000 signatures asking for her to apologize. And to be clear, none of it is true. She qualified for her sport among a small pool of Australian breakdancers. Rae Gunn gave an interview to an Australian TV show called the Project about a month after the Olympics. Yeah, I knew my chances were Slim. As soon as I qualified, I was like, oh, my gosh, what have I done? Because I knew that I was going to get beaten and I knew that people were not going to understand my style and what I was going to do. She told the project she tried to play to her strengths of using a range of movements and musicality in the performance. She also apologized about the backlash the breaking community has had to experience and advocated for more resources for it. In Australia, Rae Gun is a white woman with a PhD in cultural studies. And some say that having her represent a sport created by black and brown people and doing horribly felt like she was making a mockery of it. Even after scoring zero points at the Olympics in September, the World Dance Sport Federation ranked Raegun as the number one breakdancer in the world. This was so controversial that the federation had to come out with an explanation. They said she got to the top because of the weird ranking system, which only counted a few competitions outside of the Olympics and qualifying events. So one performance gave her enough points to earn that top seat.

[Sachi Cole]

I don't know, Sarah. This still sounds fishy to me.

[Sarah Hagie]

Yeah, I mean, there were some very amazing women competing that day. Shout out to Nika from Lithuania. I loved her. And in early November, Rae Gunn came out and announced she would no longer compete in breakdancing. That's probably for the best. I mean, are there some very interesting aspects of the story? Definitely. Is this a scam? Looks like unfortunately, no. Okay, Saatchi, as we're looking ahead to the new year, what do you want to see in 2025? Do you have any resolutions?

[Sachi Cole]

I want to see more women scammers or non binary or trans people. Like, why should the scamming be left to the boys? I want to see more diversity in crime. As for personal resolutions, you can check out my book, Sucker Punch, which will be out in March and is available for pre. Sarah, what are your resolutions? Do you want to see another scammer pivot to romance novels? Maybe I do.

[Sarah Hagie]

Think Jorge Santos could write something incredible? I mean, will I read it? Probably not. Will it be written by AI? Definitely. But seriously, I'm trying to aim for something doable, like, you know, cleaning my room. Yeah, I don't know.

[Sachi Cole]

I mean, every year I resolve to learn how to juggle, and every year I don't do it, I'm going to.

[Sarah Hagie]

Learn how to juggle with you this year.

[Sachi Cole]

Okay. We're going to do it together.

[Sarah Hagie]

So that is our show, folks. I guess it's time for us to finish up our fruitcake and toast to the most American thing of all. Scamming Cheers.

[Sachi Cole]

If you like Scamfluencers, you can listen to every episode early and ad free right now by joining Wondery plus in the Wondry app or on Apple Podcast Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. Before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey.

[Sarah Hagie]

This is the Scamfluencers Holiday Special. I'm Sarah Hagie.

[Sachi Cole]

And I'm Sachi Cole.

[Sarah Hagie]

Our associate producer, Lexi Peery wrote this episode. Additional writing by us, Sarah Haggie and Sachi Cole. Olivia, Julia Briley and Eric Thurm are our story editors. Fact checking by Lexi Peery Sound design by Sam Ada. Our managing producer is Desi Blaylock. Our senior managing producer is Callum Plews. Janine Cornelo and Stephanie Jens are our development producers. Our other associate producer is Charlotte Miller. Our producers are Julie Magruder and John Reed. Our senior producers are Sarah Enny and Ginny Bloom. Our executive producer are Jenny Lauer, Beckman, Marshall Louie and Erin O'Flaherty for Wondery.

[F]

My name is Graham Isidore. I have a progressive eye disease called Keratoconus. Admitting I'm losing my vision has been hard, but explaining it to other people has been hard. Lately I've been trying to talk about it. Short Sighted is an attempt to explain what vision loss feels like by exploring how it sounds. By sharing my story, we get into all the things you don't see about hidden disabilities. Short sighted from CBC's personally available now.