American Scandal
Audible
Every scandal begins with a lie. But the truth will come out. And then comes the fallout and the outrage.Scandals have shaped America since its founding. From business and politics to sports and society, we look on aghast as corruption, deceit and ambition bring down heroes and celebrities, politicians and moguls. And when the dust finally settles, we’re left to wonder: how did this happen? Where did they trip up, and who is to blame? From the creators of American History Tellers, Business Wars and Tides of History comes American Scandal, where we take you deep into the heart of America’s dark side to look at what drives someone to break the rules and what happens when they’re caught. Hosted by Lindsay Graham.Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of American Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 24, 2026 • 35min
Titan Sub Disaster | 12,000 Leagues Under the Sea | 1
A multinational hunt for a missing deep-sea submersible and the frantic race against dwindling oxygen. The logistical scramble to fly and deploy rescue robots across continents. Tense moments from intermittent pings to hopeful sonar bangs. The final seabed discovery revealing a catastrophic failure and the start of an investigation.
23 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 40min
Twilight Zone Accident | Shoot to Kill | 5
Lizzie Bassett Boman, film-set safety commentator, and Chris Winterbauer, researcher of behind-the-scenes production disasters, unpack the Twilight Zone on-set tragedy. They trace patterns of reckless filmmaking, compare high-profile accidents, and probe industry pressures, power dynamics, and the limited safety changes that followed.
38 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 39min
Twilight Zone Accident | The Final Cut | 4
A fatal helicopter crash on a film set and the long investigations that followed. Intense courtroom battles over indictments, missing evidence, and scandal among prosecutors. Technical testimony and expert disputes about what caused the accident. Legal fallout, acquittals, and the industry's safety reforms that followed.
22 snips
Mar 3, 2026 • 34min
Twilight Zone Accident | Night for Night | 3
A dramatic on-set disaster unfolds during a risky night shoot with low-flying helicopters and live pyrotechnics. Illegal child performers are hidden amid mounting safety warnings. Communication breakdowns and last-minute decisions lead to a catastrophic crash and a fast-moving investigation.
23 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 35min
Twilight Zone Accident | It's Going to be Big | 2
A tense reconstruction of the Twilight Zone film shoot, focusing on the climactic Vietnam village sequence. It covers illegal casting of two children, hidden paperwork and California labor law violations. The story explores live ammunition on set, night reconnaissance with a Huey helicopter, and growing safety concerns around the final night of filming.
43 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 36min
Twilight Zone Accident | The Baby Mogul | 1
A Hollywood director's rapid rise and big ambitions collide with a risky Twilight Zone shoot. Nighttime stunts, hidden child actors, and tense production decisions create mounting danger. The story traces casting struggles, secret recruitment, and a desperate rush to stage a dramatic rescue scene.
30 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 31min
Lehman Brothers | Too Big, Still Failing | 5
Anat Admati, Stanford professor and financial regulation expert who wrote The Banker's New Clothes. She takes on banking complexity and dangerous leverage. She explains capital requirements, why bailouts and weak enforcement persist, and how corporate power erodes democracy. Short, sharp conversation about accountability, corporate influence, and ideas to rebuild trust.
46 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 35min
Lehman Brothers | The Reckoning | 4
A fast-paced retelling of Lehman's collapse and the immediate scramble to prevent a wider financial meltdown. Intense decision-making at the Treasury and Fed as leaders weigh rescuing AIG and stabilizing markets. The birth of TARP and the political firestorm that nearly derailed it. The human toll of bank failures, foreclosures, and the long debate over who should be held accountable.
28 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 35min
Lehman Brothers | The Wolf at The Door | 3
A tense weekend unfolds as Wall Street scrambles to prevent a catastrophic bank collapse. Heavy real estate bets, frantic late-night negotiations, and a high-stakes plan to pool private funds take center stage. International legal and regulatory roadblocks derail a last-minute rescue. The fallout sparks panic, swift board decisions, and a shift toward a broader financial crisis.
50 snips
Jan 20, 2026 • 37min
Lehman Brothers | Lehman is Different | 2
The podcast dives into the frantic days following Bear Stearns' collapse, revealing Lehman Brothers' struggle to maintain confidence in a shaky market. It discusses the dirty secret of repo 105 transactions used to hide billions in debt, and the mounting skepticism from hedge-fund manager David Einhorn. Tensions rise as Lehman scrambles for investors and faces pressure from Treasury Secretary Paulson. Notable moments include an earnings call meant to calm nerves and dramatic shifts in leadership as confidence wanes. This gripping account highlights the chaos of a financial giant on the brink.
