Frédéric Bourdin, nicknamed "The Chameleon" by the media, began his impersonations as a child, and claimed to have assumed between 40 to 500 false identities, some of which were actual missing people children and teens.

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Frédéric Bourdin, nicknamed "The Chameleon" by the media, began his impersonations as a child, and claimed to have assumed between 40 to 500 false identities, some of which were actual missing people children and teens. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Humans have always committed crimes. What can we learn from the criminals and crimes of the past, and have humans gotten better or worse over time?

Criminalia

Frédéric Bourdin claims to have assumed between 40 to 500 false identities. But his only goal, as he always claimed, was to have a home where he could be loved.

Frédéric Bourdin:  The Chameleon from Nantes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4065f481-41d0-4ef8-931c-ae2d01766d74/transcript

John Healy wasn’t a real doctor. Charles Bigelow was never a scout in the United States Army. And, the products they sold weren’t actually based on healing secrets of the Kickapoo people. Yet, the two men made a fortune from their Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company patent medicines – which, while named for them, not a single Kickapoo was involved with the company or its remedies. The story of Healy and Bigelow is one of quackery, lies, native cultural appropriation, and ... wait, did we call out the cultural appropriation? Yes? Well, then, let's talk about this. 

John Healy wasn’t a real doctor. Charles Bigelow was never a scout in the United States Army. And, the products they sold weren’t actually based on healing secrets of the Kickapoo people. Yet, the two men made a fortune from their Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company patent medicines – which, while named for them, not a single Kickapoo was involved with the company or its remedies. The story of Healy and Bigelow is one of quackery, lies, native cultural appropriation, and ... wait, did we call out the cultural appropriation? Yes? Well, then, let's talk about this.

How the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company Had Nothing to Do With 'American Indians' or 'Medicine'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b5a24240-8334-4a2e-b7d2-b1620044e76e/transcript

Norman Baker was an entrepreneur, a pioneering radio personality, and a fake doctor. He was a masterful propagandist, and through his radio station and multiple tabloid publications, he manipulated American anxieties about everything from politics to alleged ills of vaccinations. But his biggest claim was that he could cure cancer, in just six weeks, with his own elixir -- and your money.

Norman Baker was an entrepreneur, a pioneering radio personality, and a fake doctor. He was a masterful propagandist, and through his radio station and multiple tabloid publications, he manipulated American anxieties about everything from politics to alleged ills of vaccinations. But his biggest claim was that he could cure cancer, in just six weeks, with his own elixir -- and your money.

‘Where Sick Folks Get Well’: Norman Baker Couldn’t Cure Cancer. Period.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d4fb58af-e4d8-4966-bf17-b15b00414b2e/transcript

Though the Pink Pills couldn't stand up to the wild advertising claims that the product was a cure-all, the pills were actually potentially medically beneficial to some people with a certain -- common -- condition; in theory. Maybe. Hey, we're not doctors. Let's talk about, how despite that, why this potentially potent patent medicine was under fire from the U.S. government.

Though the Pink Pills couldn't stand up to the wild advertising claims that the product was a cure-all, the pills were actually potentially medically beneficial to some people with a certain -- common -- condition; in theory. Maybe. Hey, we're not doctors. Let's talk about, how despite that, why this potentially potent patent medicine was under fire from the U.S. government.

Spoiler! Dr. Williams Pink Pills for Pale People … May Have Worked

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fcac4e44-ac68-4609-89f3-b15400493989/transcript

Frédéric Bourdin: The Chameleon from Nantes

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