Episodes

  • The Art Thief Who Saved Paris (And Other Convenient Lies)

    The Art Thief Who Saved Paris (And Other Convenient Lies)
    May 12 2026
    In 1911, the Mona Lisa vanished from the Louvre, making headlines worldwide and turning a minor Renaissance portrait into the most famous painting on Earth. But the real story behind the theft—involving Italian nationalism, dodgy dealers, and a maintenance worker with a grudge—reveals how art scandal creates art history. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    17 mins
  • The Forger Who Fooled Everyone (Including Himself)

    The Forger Who Fooled Everyone (Including Himself)
    May 11 2026
    Meet Han van Meegeren, the failed artist who became history's most successful art forger by painting 'lost' Vermeers so convincing that Nazi leaders and respected museums fought over them. When he was finally caught after WWII, his confession was so unbelievable that he had to forge another painting in prison to prove he wasn't lying. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    15 mins
  • The Painting That Caused a Riot: When Art Became a Weapon

    The Painting That Caused a Riot: When Art Became a Weapon
    May 10 2026
    In 1913, a single painting at the Armory Show didn't just shock New York—it literally caused riots in the streets and changed American culture forever. We're diving into how Marcel Duchamp's 'Nude Descending a Staircase' became the most hated artwork in America and why that hatred was exactly the point. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    18 mins
  • The Forger Who Fooled the Nazis: Van Meegeren's Perfect Crime

    The Forger Who Fooled the Nazis: Van Meegeren's Perfect Crime
    May 9 2026
    Meet Han van Meegeren, the mediocre Dutch painter who became history's most successful art forger by creating fake Vermeers so convincing he sold them to Hermann Göring himself. When the Nazis fell and van Meegeren faced execution as a collaborator, he had to prove his innocence by confessing to an even bigger crime—one that made him a national hero overnight. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    17 mins
  • Stealing Beauty: The Great Museum Heist That Changed Art Forever

    Stealing Beauty: The Great Museum Heist That Changed Art Forever
    May 8 2026
    In 1911, the Mona Lisa vanished from the Louvre—and suddenly became the most famous painting in the world. We're diving into how this audacious theft turned a relatively obscure Renaissance portrait into a global icon, and why sometimes the best thing for art is a really good scandal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    17 mins
  • The Starving Artist is a Marketing Scam: When Painters Were Rich as Hell

    The Starving Artist is a Marketing Scam: When Painters Were Rich as Hell
    May 7 2026
    Before the Romantic era convinced everyone that suffering equals authenticity, artists were basically medieval CEOs—running workshops, playing politics, and getting filthy rich. We're talking about when painters had more clout than nobles and commissioned palaces for themselves, not garrets to die in. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    15 mins
  • Blood, Sweat, and Ultramarine: The Pigment Wars That Changed Art Forever

    Blood, Sweat, and Ultramarine: The Pigment Wars That Changed Art Forever
    May 6 2026
    Before artists worried about gallery pranks, they were literally going to war over paint. We're diving into the brutal history of pigments—from the monopolized blues that cost more than gold to the toxic greens that killed their makers. Turns out the most beautiful colors have the ugliest stories. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    15 mins
  • The Great Banana Heist: When Art Becomes a Joke Worth $120,000

    The Great Banana Heist: When Art Becomes a Joke Worth $120,000
    May 5 2026
    From Maurizio Cattelan's duct-taped banana to Banksy's self-destructing Girl with Balloon, we're diving into the wild world of conceptual art pranks that somehow became million-dollar masterpieces. Spoiler alert: the art world takes itself way too seriously, and some artists are having way too much fun with that fact. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    18 mins