December 5, 2022

EP. 167 — The Liar in Literature w/ Atsuko Okatsuka

What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, Atsuko Okatsuka joins the show to discuss how Dan Mallory, the author of the best-selling novel “The Woman in the Window,” took many of the plot points from deception and fraud in his own life of publishing. Plus, Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison. Stay Schemin’!

Research by Kaelyn Brandt

Sources: 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/02/11/a-suspense-novelists-trail-of-deceptions#main-content

https://www.nj.com/news/2022/05/nj-man-stole-150k-in-10-state-unemployment-fraud-feds-say.html

https://www.nj.com/news/2022/11/unemployment-scammer-who-stole-400k-bragged-on-instagram-pleads-guilty.html?outputType=amp

https://www.thecut.com/2019/02/the-best-character-in-the-dan-mallory-scammer-story.html#:~:text=Mallory%2C%20the%20author%20of%20the,to%20faking%20a%20British%20accent.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47144368

Recent Episodes

See All

June 5, 2023

What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? This week Franchesca Ramsey is back on the show to regale the dangerous diet plans of former fitness influencer Brittany Dawn, who was sued by the state of Texas over harmful claims of her online fitness brand.

May 29, 2023

What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? Run the World actress Bresha Webb joins the show to discuss Jan Lewandowski, a polka star during the 80’s and 90’s who ran a Ponzi scheme robbing over 400 people of millions of dollars. 

May 22, 2023

What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? Brittani Nichols, producer and writer on Abbott Elementary joins us to discuss the fraud surrounding the WGA writers strike.