Intrigue Podcast
Ben Lewis unravels the tangled story of a Christian billionaire family, stolen relics, fake treasures and the scholar turned sleuth who exposed the scandal of biblical proportions
'Jaw dropping', 'gripping', 'bingeable,' 'thrilling' - dramatic true stories and investigations that reveal how the world really works.
Word of God: A billionaire family's mission to amass ancient biblical treasures leads to them getting caught up in an international web of looted artefacts, forgeries and criminal networks.
Art sleuth Ben Lewis uncovers how the Green family - owners of America's Hobby Lobby craft stores - spent millions racing to gather biblical manuscripts and artefacts. Their unprecedented collecting spree - 40,000 items in just three years - triggers a government investigation and alarms biblical scholars worldwide.
When papyrologist Roberta Mazza begins questioning the collection's origins, she finds herself drawn into an investigation stretching from the Vatican City through Istanbul to Oxford University's hallowed halls. Through exclusive access to key players, Lewis reveals how thousands of allegedly looted treasures were smuggled into America labelled as "ceramic tiles", whilst priceless items like ancient Babylonian tablets and early Christian manuscripts were acquired through suspicious means.
As investigators close in and scholars expose forgeries, the story expands beyond looted antiquities to raise profound questions about faith, power and cultural heritage. A respected Oxford professor stands accused of betrayal, federal agents demand the return of prized possessions, and the museum's ambitious mission becomes entangled in the dark world of international antiquities trafficking.
From Washington D.C. to the Vatican City, this is a story about what happens when religious certainty meets the dangerous world of ancient treasures.
Episodes to download
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Million Dollar Lover: 2. A Lady Never Tells—Million Dollar Lover
Sun 19 Nov 2023
With Carolyn and Dave at odds with her daughters, a battle over inheritance takes shape.
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Million Dollar Lover: 1. Stranger in Town—Million Dollar Lover
Sat 18 Nov 2023
When a homeless man moves in with a rich widow is it true love or something much darker?
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Introducing... Million Dollar Lover—Million Dollar Lover
Fri 17 Nov 2023
When a homeless man moves in with a rich widow is it true love or something much darker?
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The Immortals: 10. After the Dragon—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
Immortality - does anyone other than Silicon Valley billionaires want it?
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The Immortals: 9. Nerd Rapture—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
An immortalist is excommunicated for speaking out against the techno-utopian movement.
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The Immortals: 8. The Prophet—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
Will our immortal future only come if we merge with machines and become 鈥減ost-human鈥?
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The Immortals: 7. Vitalik—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
A cryptocurrency billionaire鈥檚 experiment to loosen laws and create a longevity paradise.
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The Immortals: 6. Longevity Escape Velocity—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
Why settle for an additional 20 healthy years when you might eliminate death entirely?
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The Immortals: 5. The Trial—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
Aging is just something that happens. Isn鈥檛 it? There鈥檚 no cure for it. Is there?
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The Immortals: 4. The Hype Cycle—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
The hype around young blood backfires for a US entrepreneur who courted tech billionaires.
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The Immortals: 3. The Plasma Clinic—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
Inside the US plasma clinic promising to reverse ageing with the blood of the young.
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The Immortals: 2. The Experiment—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
Does injecting the blood plasma from young people really reverse aging?
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The Immortals: 1. Dracula—The Immortals
Mon 4 Sep 2023
Aleks Krotoski tracks the imminent cure for aging and the push by Silicon Valley to own it
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Introducing... The Immortals—The Immortals
Tue 29 Aug 2023
Investing in immortality 鈥 the tech pioneers who want to live forever.
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Burning Sun: 5. An Extreme Decision—Burning Sun
Mon 26 Jun 2023
Journalist Kang receives a surprising call from K-pop royalty Goo-Hara who wants to help.
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Burning Sun: 4. Consent—Burning Sun
Mon 26 Jun 2023
The sex scandals make headlines around the world. K-pop fans, like Jung's superfan, react.
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Burning Sun: 3. The Nightclub—Burning Sun
Mon 26 Jun 2023
A shocking scandal is uncovered at a nightclub co-owned by Big Bang K-pop star Seungri.
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Burning Sun: 2. Kakao Talk—Burning Sun
Mon 26 Jun 2023
Someone is holding popstar Jung鈥檚 phone in their hands.
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Burning Sun: 1. The Phone Call—Burning Sun
Mon 26 Jun 2023
The sex scandals that shook the world of K-pop.
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Introducing... Burning Sun—Burning Sun
Mon 19 Jun 2023
The sex scandals that brought down some of the world鈥檚 biggest K-pop Stars.
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Mayday: The Evidence Gatherers—Mayday
Wed 7 Apr 2021
More than a million documents have been taken out of Syria by a Western-funded NGO.
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Mayday: 7. Managed Massacres—Mayday
Mon 9 Nov 2020
Could the rescuers be involved in staging chemical attacks?
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