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Artwork for The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things

The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things

Strange True Stories with Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
True Crime
California
Serial Killers
Murder
Sixto Rodriguez
Titanic
Abuse
DB Cooper
Aileen Wuornos
Los Angeles
Cassie Chadwick
Cleveland
New York City
Lucy Letby
O.J. Simpson
Billionaire Boys Club
Shelly Miscavige
Charles Manson
Chippendales
Steve Banerjee

Love strange true stories, true crime, dark history and real-life mysteries, but not ten-part series that turn listening into homework? The Compendium is a weekly documentary-style podcast that gives you one complete, thoroughly researched story from beginning to end in a single listen. Each week, Kyle Risi takes co-host Adam Cox inside one remarkable real-life story that Adam has not heard before... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes172Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & CultureTrue Crime

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Artwork for The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things

Latest Episodes

On the morning of 31 October 1938, a sleepless 23-year-old walked into a room full of reporters who all wanted the same answer: had Orson Welles deliberately terrified America? The night before, his Mercury Theatre on the Air had performed The War of... more

YouTube

An entire colony of 117 men, women and children vanished without leaving behind a single body. There was no blood, no sign of an attack and no ruined settlement. Their homes had been carefully dismantled and taken away. All they left behind was one w... more

YouTube

In 1692, an enslaved woman named Tituba told a Salem courtroom that the Devil had come to her and bid her serve him. Her confession lit the fuse that would become known as the infamous Salem witch trials, the deadliest witch hunt in American history.... more

YouTube

On the last morning before half term, 240 children walked into Pantglas Junior School beneath a mountain of coal waste. Minutes after lessons began, Tip 7 collapsed above Aberfan, sending liquefied spoil through homes and classrooms and killing 116 c... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Josh Spiegel
Host of Lunatic in the Newsroom, guest on this episode
Lunatic in the Newsroom
Episode: H. H. Holmes: The Murder Castle True Story
Shannon Pearce
Listener who suggested the episode topic
Episode: Aileen Wuornos: Queen of the Serial Killers
Richard Stockton Rush Jr.
CEO of OceanGate and visionary behind the Titan submersible
OceanGate
Episode: Oceangate Titan Disaster: A Billionaire’s Dive into Hubris, History, and Horror
Hamish Harding
British billionaire and adventurer
Episode: Oceangate Titan Disaster: A Billionaire’s Dive into Hubris, History, and Horror
Paul Henry Nagellet
Titanic expert accompanying the mission
Episode: Oceangate Titan Disaster: A Billionaire’s Dive into Hubris, History, and Horror
Shahzad Darwood
British Pakistani businessman
Episode: Oceangate Titan Disaster: A Billionaire’s Dive into Hubris, History, and Horror
Solomon Darwood
19-year-old son of Shahzad Darwood
Episode: Oceangate Titan Disaster: A Billionaire’s Dive into Hubris, History, and Horror
Christine Darwood
Wife of Shahzad Darwood, originally scheduled for the dive
Episode: Oceangate Titan Disaster: A Billionaire’s Dive into Hubris, History, and Horror

Hosts

Adam Cox
Host of The Compendium and related iterations; co-host; audience engagement analyst in some appearances.
Kyle Risi
Co-host; host of multiple show formats; known for guiding narrative arcs and banter.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Very entertaining story-telling; one of my favorite podcasts.

    Great podcast. I love listening while at the gym late nights. Their story-telling style is top notch: they are careful to tell each story in a sequence that tends to maximize surprise and entertainment, and they put emphasis on the right bits of the story.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoPy31
    United States23 days ago
  • Can’t get enough

    This podcast is the perfect mix of informative and hilarious. Their quick wit, easy banter, and solid storytelling is top-notch. I wait for new episodes to be released, and that’s rare for me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HayHeyHeiiiii
    United States2 months ago
  • Great job!

    I found you via the Erin Patterson episode. Great job!! 🙌

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ShaleneJohnson
    United States3 months ago
  • Fun

    But seriously- the ads are SO LOUD and intrusive. I know they don’t have control over the actual ads but how about a bumper so we know when to hit the advance button.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ke’elikolani
    United States4 months ago
  • A Fun Listen!

    I recently discovered The Compendium after seeing Maternal Instinct on Netflix and looked for a podcast on the topic to learn more. Kyle and Adam’s telling had some things left out of the Netflix show and it was enjoyable to listen to (must be the accents!). I then checked out past episodes and I’m hooked in to check them all out.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    StackableL
    Mexico4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The hosts are funny, engaging and well-researched, with great chemistry.
Fans appreciate the breadth of topics and the hosts' respectful handling of serious subjects.
Listener feedback highlights the show's banter balance and detailed storytelling.
Listeners enjoy the depth of research and the complete, single-episode stories.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Salem Witch Trials: The Dark History of America's Deadliest Witch Hunt
Q: Why would Tituba say this? Because does she just want out? Is she had enough, I think?
Kyle says Tituba may have confessed because confession could be treated as repentance and help her avoid execution. He suggests she may have named the two Sarahs hoping they would confess too, but says her motives cannot be known with certainty.
Salem Witch Trials: The Dark History of America's Deadliest Witch Hunt
Q: So if it wasn't the bread, then what was it?
Kyle argues that the trials grew from human nature and a community primed by religious beliefs, fear, social surveillance and grudges, rather than ergot poisoning.
The Aberfan Disaster: The Day the Mountain Came Down
Q: Why did the Queen come under such scrutiny for not visiting Aberfan immediately?
Prime Minister Harold Wilson visited soon after the disaster, while the Queen waited several days. Her concern was that a royal visit would draw crowds and attention away from rescue work, but the delay looked poor in the media.
The Aberfan Disaster: The Day the Mountain Came Down
Q: Why did water beneath Tip 7 make it unstable?
The tip was built over natural springs and streams. As coal waste accumulated, it blocked drainage, allowing water to saturate the bottom layer until it became slippery slurry.
Body in Room 348: The Locked Room Death Explained
Q: What were the circumstances leading to Greg Flanagan's death?
Greg was found dead in a hotel room with severe internal injuries and no visible signs of struggle, prompting an autopsy that revealed shocking evidence of trauma.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly documentary-style show that delivers one thoroughly researched real-life story per episode, presented as a complete, standalone narrative. The hosts explore a wide range of topics—from infamous crimes and dark histories to mysterious disappearances and cultural curiosities—with a focus on context, characters, and the pivotal details that shape outcomes. The dynamic between the two hosts—one guiding the arc and the other asking the questions listeners would have—creates a engaging, conversational storytelling experience that aims to be informative, entertaining, and accessible in a single listen. Noteworthy elements include a blend of serious subject matter with light banter, deep background research, and a penchant for stories that... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Not Another Crime Podcast
2. Morbid
3. Casefile True Crime
4. True Crime Obsessed
5. Murder In America

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 172 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Josh Spiegel
2. Shannon Pearce
3. Richard Stockton Rush Jr.
4. Hamish Harding
5. Paul Henry Nagellet
6. Shahzad Darwood
7. Solomon Darwood
8. Christine Darwood

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