Crimes That Made History: Power, Deception & Change
Crime doesn’t just make headlines, it makes history
Hosted by 2 expert guides
𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀. 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.
Investigate how high-stakes crimes—heists, cons, disappearances, and scandals—expose the hidden forces shaping the modern world. Each week features a gripping case study, sparking discussion about 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, and 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲.
This isn’t about glorifying criminals. It’s about understanding how crime and justice intersect with economics, politics, and society. Through layered storytelling, thoughtful debate, and real-world connections, we will sharpen 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 while gaining a deeper perspective on the forces that shaped the 20th and 21st centuries.
This course is flexible and welcoming:
Drop in anytime — each week is a self-contained topic, no prior weeks required.
🗓 Quarterly Breakdown:
(Please note some topics may be added or removed, but this is a general idea of the types of conversations we will have.)
Quarter 1: Female Masterminds & Media Myths
- Griselda Blanco: The "Black Widow" of the Drug Trade
- Elizabeth Holmes & The Theranos Scandal
- Belle Gunness: Insurance Fraud & Murder
- Mata Hari: Spy, Seductress, or Scapegoat?
- Bonnie & Clyde: Outlaws of the Depression
- The Papin Sisters: Class Struggles & Murder
- Sante Kimes: The Killer Con Artist
- How Female Criminals Are Portrayed in Media
Quarter 2: Organized Crime Syndicates
- Al Capone & Prohibition-Era Crime
- John Gotti & The Five Families
- Pablo Escobar & The Global Cocaine Trade
- The Fall of the Italian-American Mafia
- The Yakuza: Japan’s Organized Crime Syndicate
- The Russian Mafia & Post-Soviet Crime
- The Chicago Outfit & the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
- How Organized Crime Still Operates Today
Quarter 3: Unsolved Crimes & Lasting Mysteries
- Jack the Ripper & Victorian London
- DB Cooper: The Skyjacker Who Vanished
- The Zodiac Killer: Codes, Ciphers & Fear
- The Black Dahlia Murder
- The Disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa
- The Dyatlov Pass Incident
- The Mystery of the Somerton Man
- Why Some Crimes Stay Unsolved
Quarter 4: Financial Crimes & Major Heists
- How Financial Crimes Shape the Economy
- The Great Train Robbery
- The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist
- Bernie Madoff & The Ponzi Scheme
- The Brinks Job: America’s Biggest Cash Heist
- Frank Abagnale & “Catch Me If You Can”
- The Antwerp Diamond Heist
- Course Reflection & Modern Parallels
Pick a time
Age ranges are just suggestions! You can register for any cohort.
Meet the guides
Expert guides leading this course
Course updates
Updates from guides of this course
Sep 19 @ 8:15 PM
Good afternoon,
This week we learned about the cocaine wars in the 1970s and 1980s and our "case study" was ******** *****.
I enjoyed meeting ****** and ********! Both asked really good questions and were attentive the whole time.
Next week, we are moving on to the ris...
Nov 21 @ 7:50 PM
It was great to talk to you today *****.
Great class today!
Today, we talked about the War on Drugs and how they tried to fight the drug problems during the 1980s/1990s through law enforcement and education.
As a kid growing up during this time frame, we talked about how comm...
Nov 28 @ 6:44 PM
Good afternoon!
I just wanted to send a quick email to you. Next week I will not be able to teach. I have ** ******** for court for cases that I helped work. It is the end of the year and courts tend to want as many cases closed as they can fit in.
I will be around other than ...
Sep 27 @ 12:24 AM
Good evening,
Today, we learned about the rise of the Silicon Valley & Corporate Fraud. Our case study was ************* and the ************ Scandal.
It was great to see ********** and ****** giving their opinions in class today. They stayed attentive even when talking about ...
Sep 19 @ 7:53 PM
Today we learned about the Silicon Valley and Corporate fraud. Our "case study" was about ******** ***** and The ******** Scandal. I enjoyed seeing you guys in class! Next week we are moving on to Life Insurance Fraud and forensic advancements and our "case study" is ***** ******...
Sep 22 @ 2:12 PM
Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend!
This week we’ll explore the real story of ********—a health-tech company that promised to test many illnesses from just a tiny drop of blood. We’ll see how big claims can fall apart when the science doesn’t work, and how reporters an...
Oct 3 @ 4:51 PM
Great work today ***** and ******!
You examined how WWI intelligence really worked, the vital roles of women in networks like La Dame Blanche, and the story of Mata Hari. Together we looked at her life, trial, and execution, and weighed whether she was truly a spy, a seductre...
Oct 31 @ 4:56 PM
Great choice today ******! ** ***** was a really bad man. He did a lot of things that were not good like the St. Valentine's Day Massacre (He wasn't there but he knew!). He did have a hard life as mentioned. His dad died and he was really poor, growing up in a really bad neighbor...
Oct 24 @ 8:42 PM
Today was an interesting class! We talked about the Louvre Heist and the "priceless" jewels that were stolen and about the planning for it. They were in and out 3 minutes and 57 seconds. That is really fast!
Remember, next week come with a topic (a crime) that happened in histor...
Oct 6 @ 5:02 PM
Happy Monday!
This week we’ll meet ***** ***** & ***** ***** and learn how the Great Depression turned fast cars, small banks, and big headlines into a perfect storm for famous outlaws. You’ll see how the early FBI leveled up with new laws, fingerprints, a crime lab, and coast-t...
Nov 28 @ 7:47 PM
Good afternoon!
I hope all of you are having a great Thanksgiving break. I missed you in class today!
Next week, I will be gone due to ** ********* ** ****, (a drug case and a homicide case I helped work.) I hate that I won't be able to see you!
If you guys need anything, ple...
Sep 19 @ 8:02 PM
2 days ago
Good afternoon ***** and ******,
I am so sorry about class today. I was trying to get in and it was not showing me your class! If you guys still want to jump on for a few minutes, I am here!
If not I do understand. I think we got all the bugs fixed now. Next week we will be ...
Nov 21 @ 6:13 PM
Great class today!
Today, we started talking about *****'s idea, ** *****, who was actually the Mexican Cartel, but came to fame after ***** ********. He escaped just like ******** but was finally captured and is still in prison.
We talked about the War on Drugs and how they ...
Oct 3 @ 6:57 PM
Great work today! You uncovered how ***** ***** used insurance fraud and her “lonely hearts” scheme to target victims, and how investigators pieced the case together using early forensic clues. We ended with the mystery that still divides historians: did she really die in the fir...
Sep 29 @ 8:43 PM
Happy Monday!
This week we’ll learn about ***** ******, an immigrant who became known as a “black widow” for using lies and life-insurance tricks to get money. We’ll see how detectives followed clues like letters, bank records, and dental evidence to investigate her farm. We’ll ...
Oct 24 @ 11:34 PM
Good evening! It was a great class today. Today we talked about the Louvre Heist and The Alcatraz escape. Love the way all of you think. Next week we will start talking about ********'s lady! ****** make sure you bring your topic Friday as well.
I hope you have a great weekend!...
Sep 27 @ 12:00 AM
Good evening!
Today we learned about insurance fraud. Today our "case study" was ***** ******. She was known as the Black Widow.
I was so excited to see ****** engaging and excited about learning. It was so great watching his expression and his reactions. He figured it out befo...
Sep 29 @ 8:41 PM
Happy Monday ****** and ******!
This week we will learn who Mata Hari was and why her 1917 espionage trial sits at the intersection of gender, myth, and wartime politics—evaluating what evidence actually shows versus what panic and propaganda claimed. We’ll also see how WWI inte...
Oct 20 @ 3:16 PM
Happy Monday!
This week we’re learning about the shocking 1933 Papin sisters case in France. ******** and *** were live-in maids whose daily stress, strict rules, and total isolation built up until tragedy struck. You’ll see how class oppression, harsh working conditions, and m...
Sep 26 @ 11:54 PM
Great work today! You uncovered how ***** ***** used insurance fraud and her “lonely hearts” scheme to target victims, and how investigators pieced the case together using early forensic clues. We ended with the mystery that still divides historians: did she really die in the fir...
Oct 10 @ 4:56 PM
It was good to see you guys today!
Today, you explored the world of ***** & *****—how the Great Depression fueled crime, how the *** adapted with new tools and laws, and how myths turned ***** into a legend. Together we separated fact from fiction and examined the ***’s pursuit...
Oct 13 @ 1:33 PM
Good morning!
I just wanted to send a remind that we will not have class this week. I will be traveling to attend a Special Agent Academy graduation that I teach in each academy class cycle.
I hope you have a great week and I will see you next week!
****
Oct 20 @ 3:14 PM
Happy Monday!
This week we’re learning how some 1990s criminals tried to trick people with fake names, pretend break-ins, and phony papers—and how smart detectives caught them using clues like timelines, fingerprints, DNA, and money trails. We’ll meet ***** *****, a master con a...
Oct 5 @ 11:06 PM
Sep 19 @ 8:02 PM
Nov 28 @ 6:45 PM
Good afternoon!
I just wanted to send a quick email to you. Next week I will not be able to teach. I have ** ******** for court for cases that I helped work. It is the end of the year and courts tend to want as many cases closed as they can fit in.
I will be around other than ...
Oct 13 @ 1:32 PM
Good morning!
I just wanted to send a remind that we will not have class this week. I will be traveling to attend a Special Agent Academy graduation that I teach in each academy class cycle.
I hope you have a great week and I will see you next week!
****
Sep 28 @ 10:04 PM
Oct 6 @ 5:05 PM
Happy Monday!
This week we will learn who ***** ***** was and why her **** espionage trial sits at the intersection of gender, myth, and wartime politics—evaluating what evidence actually shows versus what panic and propaganda claimed. We’ll also see how WWI intelligence really ...
Nov 28 @ 6:41 PM
It was good to see you ****** and ********!
Today we talked about The Boy in the Box or America's Unknown Child. The case happen in 1957 when a child was found in a box in a wooded area. 65 years after finding the child, through DNA advancements, the child was identified. Unfort...
Sep 22 @ 2:10 PM
Happy Monday! I hope you guys had a great weekend!
This week we’ll learn about ***** ******, an immigrant who became known as a “black widow” for using lies and life-insurance tricks to get money. We’ll see how detectives followed clues like letters, bank records, and dental evi...
Sep 27 @ 12:05 AM
Great work today! You explored the rise and fall of Theranos and how ******** ***** went from celebrated founder to convicted fraudster. Together we looked at Silicon Valley’s culture, the pressure to innovate, and the role of whistleblowers and journalists.
Now it’s your turn ...
Oct 10 @ 6:56 PM
It was great meeting with you ******** and ********!
Today, you examined how WWI intelligence really worked, the vital roles of women in networks like La Dame Blanche, and the story of Mata Hari. Together we looked at her life, trial, and execution, and weighed whether she was t...
Sep 28 @ 10:03 PM
Sep 15 @ 12:05 PM
Great class this past week! I will see you guys on Friday!
