Today we uncover the incredible true story of Sixto Rodriguez, the Detroit musician who unknowingly became a South African icon who helped spark a revolution. His album, Cold Fact, flopped in the U.S. but became a protest anthem against apartheid, inspiring a generation.

While Rodriguez lived in obscurity, believing his music had faded into history, he was secretly outselling Elvis in South Africa. It wasn’t until the documentary Searching for Sugar Man that the world finally learned the truth.

How did Rodriguez’s music make it to South Africa? Why was his story hidden for so long? And what happened when he finally discovered his own fame? This is the rise, the fall, and the miraculous rediscovery of a lost legend.

Listen to the musical version – Experience this episode with the full music as intended.

We give you the Compendium, but if you want more, then check out these great resources:

1. "Searching for Sugar Man" - Documentary
2. "Cold Fact" - Album by Sixto Rodriguez
3. "Coming From Reality" - Album by Sixto Rodriguez
4. "The History of Apartheid in South Africa" - Educational Resource
5. "The Power of Protest Music in Social Movements" - Article
6. "Sixto Rodriguez: Biography and Discography" - Music Resource

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin

Community & Calls to Action

• ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
• 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
• 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon

In this episode of the Compendium, Chris Watts stands at the center of a chilling American Murder that captivated the world in 2018. We’ll find out how the Watt Family Murders Unfolded, from Shanann Watts’ life in Frederick, Colorado, to the appalling truths behind a Family Annihilator. Throughout our investigation, one question looms: Why Did Chris Watts Kill His Family?

We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:

1. American Murder: The Family Next Door [2020] - by Jenny Popplewell
2. Chris Watts Body Cam Footage - by Colorado Bureau of Investigation
3. Letters from Christopher - by Cheryln Cadle
4. Chris Watts Interrogation Video - by Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin

Community & Calls to Action

• ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
• 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
• 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon

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In this second part of The Compendium's exploration of Emanuela Orlandi's mysterious disappearance, we uncover even darker secrets surrounding the Vatican, Pope John Paul II, and the Mafia. From shocking testimonies of key witnesses to the revelation hidden within stolen vatican documents. This second part of the Emanuela Orlandi Story takes even more dark twists and turns as we edge closer to the truth of what happened to Emanuela Orlandi over 40 years ago. As new evidence emerges, could the answers finally be within reach?

We give you the Compendium, but if you want more, then check out these great resources:

1. The Vatican Girl [2022] - Netflix Documentary
2. Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi - Wikipedia
3. God’s Banker: The Life and Death of Roberto Calvi - by Rupert Cornwell
4. Three Secrets of Fátima - Wikipedia
5. Attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II - Wikipedia
6. Who killed Robert Calvi, Gods banker? - the Gaurdian

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin

Community & Calls to Action

• ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
• 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
• 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon

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In this part 1 episode of The Compendium, we unravel the mystery of the strange and mysterious disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi. Todays story takes us into the heart of Vatican City, where 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi disappeared without a trace. Todays story intertwines with chilling secrets of the Catholic Church, the Fatima prophecy, and the shadowy connections between Pope John Paul II, international terrorist, the KGB and the italian Mafia. From whispers of corruption to unspoken truths, this is a story of betrayal, power, and unanswered questions that continues to haunt the Vatican to this day.

We give you The Compendium, but if you want more, then check out these great resources:

1. The Vatican Girl [2022] - Netflix Documentary
2. Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi - Wikipedia
3. God’s Banker: The Life and Death of Roberto Calvi - by Rupert Cornwell
4. Three Secrets of Fátima - Wikipedia
5. Attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II - Wikipedia
6. Who killed Robert Calvi, Gods banker? - the Gaurdian

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin

Community & Calls to Action

• ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
• 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
• 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon

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In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into one of the most disturbing true crime stories in history—how Helter Skelter, a Beatles song, became the twisted manifesto for Charles Manson and his cult of devoted followers. With his delusional vision of an apocalyptic race war, Manson manipulated the young and lost into committing some of the most infamous murders of the 20th century. From the counterculture movement of the 1960s to the tragic deaths of Sharon Tate and the LaBianca family, we unravel the disturbing intersection of music, crime, and cult psychology. How did a song about a slide become a call to violence? Let’s find out.

We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:

• Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders – by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry.
• Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties – by Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring.
• The Manson Family – Wikipedia
• Chaos the Manson Murders Netflix Documentry – Errol Morris

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin

Community & Calls to Action

• ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
• 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
• 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon

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In this episode of The Compendium, we uncover the true story of Chris Lemmon’s near-death experience in the North Sea—a survival tale that defies belief. In 2012, Chris, a seasoned saturation diver, was carrying out routine maintenance work 300 feet beneath the surface when disaster struck. His lifeline—the umbilical cord supplying air, warmth, and communication—suddenly snapped, leaving him stranded in total darkness, with no oxygen and no way to escape.

What followed was an unthinkable fight for survival in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. How did Chris Lemmon beat the odds? What happens when a diver loses their air supply? And why do some call this story nothing short of a miracle?

We give you just The Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:

1. Last Breath (2019) - Directed by Alex Parkinson and Richard da Costa
2. Last Breath - The True Story - BBC

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin

Community & Calls to Action

• ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
• 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
• 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon

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In this episode of The Compendium, we explore the heartbreaking story of Gabby Petito, a young woman whose dream of van life with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, turned into a nightmare. What started as an idyllic road trip across America quickly spiraled into one of the most publicized missing persons cases in recent history, with social media sleuths, police bodycam footage, and a nationwide search gripping the world.

With exclusive insights into the Gabby Petito disappearance timeline, the infamous police bodycam footage, and the Moab police handling of the case, we uncover the tragic missteps that may have cost Gabby her life. As Netflix prepares to release the Gabby Petito 2025 documentary, we look back at the investigation, the role of social media, and the lasting impact this case has had on domestic violence awareness.

We give you just The Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:

1. American Murder: Gabby Petito (2025) – Netflix
2. 60 Minutes Australia Interview with Gabby’s Family – Youtube
3. Gabby Petito Foundation – Supporting victims of domestic violence
4. Moab Police Bodycam Footage – Youtube

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin

Community & Calls to Action

• ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
• 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
• 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon

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In this episode of The Compendium, we’re telling you guys about the The Harrowing Tale of the Trashman Yacht Sinking. What began as a routine yacht delivery across the Atlantic turned into an unthinkable nightmare. Today you’ll hear about the incredible true story of Deborah Scaling Kiley and her crewmates as they face starvation, brutal storms, and relentless shark attacks. With nothing but sheer willpower and a fragile lifeboat, this is a tale of survival against all odds. Gripping, heart-stopping, and haunting—this story will leave you questioning just how far you’d go to stay alive.

We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:

• Albatross: The True Story of a Woman's Survival at Sea - by Deborah Scaling Kiley
• Two Came Back (1997) - IMDb
• I Shouldn’t Be Alive: Shark Survivor - Discovery Channel
• The True Story of the Trashman Yacht Sinking - Survival Stories

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin

Community & Calls to Action

• ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
• 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
• 🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• ❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon

📤 Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.