Episode Show Notes

In the criminal justice system, sometimes you have to do it yourself! This week Grant tells us two stories! The first covers the legal history of Robert Lee Brock. A man who saw opportunity around every corner to try to break the criminal justice system. If there was a “get out of jail free” card, he was going to find it! Even if that meant he became “the man who sued himself”. Next we learn about Warren Demesme, who asked for a lawyer, or a dog, but probably not a dog who is

One of the most famous pair of outlaws in American history. Mythologized as a pair of tragic lovers. Outlaws. Infamous for their crime spree and their furious driving style. This week, Maia leads Grant through the back story of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. From Clyde’s rough childhood to Bonnie’s concerned mother, the back story before their criminal records provide interesting clues and more than a few laughs. Donkeys get involved, birds are harassed, and the notorious Bo

Be a girl, do crime! This week Maia takes us to the streets of London and snitches on a girl gang with sticky fingers. The Forty Elephants gang was notorious for the crimes they pulled off. Using their wits, charm, and a eye for the most valuable merchandise in the store this all-girl group had no problem slipping out whatever they liked most. We also take a closer look at a few of the leading Queens like Mary Carr (subject of A Thousand Blows on Disney/Hulu), Alice Diamond,

If you could be anyone in the world, who would you be? For one French peasant that question wasn't theoretical. When Martin Guerre left his village, wife, and child behind he was not missed. When he returned he was a changed man and suddenly beloved. But how much can one man change? Turns out, a whole lot. We ask the question that befuddled the village: who are you? This week on Well, I Laughed. Chapters 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:31:50 Who are You? 00:36:42 Marriage? It's Good. 00

To catch a criminal, sometimes you have to pretend to be a criminal. That was the thought process behind "Operation Sting" the very first organized sting operation in the United States lead by Lt Detective Bob Arscott of the DC Metro Police. The operation was "successful" at capturing criminals, less successful at coming up with their fake names. But in the aftermath of the operation some sticky questions remain. Did the operation catch criminals, or create them? This week's

A percentage of the profits from Well, I Laughed in March of 2026 will be going to The National Center for Victims of Crime and the National Compassion Fund The case is infamous, but the details and the controversy surrounding the OJ Simpson trial are less well known. This week, Maia unpacks the horrific murder of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. We build a timeline of both the crime and the subsequent investigation and trial. There will be blood, a hero dog, a surprisingly slo

Have you ever looked someone up online to get a better sense of who they are? What data did you use? Americans have thousands of data points about themselves floating online, and some companies are more than happy to collect that data and use it however they see fit. Cambridge Analytica used it to try to influence elections all over the world. The scandal shocked the world when it came to light, but how illegal was their data collection? And how effective were they at influen

What are the forces that make us who we are? Many people with hard childhoods grow up into adults with fulfilling lives and careers. Others... get kicked out of a sex cult. Charles Guiteau is the latter. A man destined for greatness if he was not so consistently bad at everything. And a liar. And crazed. But in America, even a loser can hit it big. This week on Well, I Laughed the incredible forgettable life of a man who changed the course of American history. A Life Long Los

For more than two decades you had a better chance of winning the lottery than the McDonalds Monopoly Millions. Unless... you knew the right guy, who knew a guy, a shadowy figure named "Uncle Jerry." What started as one of McDonalds most successful promotional campaigns in it's history also managed to fund organize crime, exotic vacations, and at least one strip club/church in South Carolina. Burgers are sold, lives are ruined, any yet we have to ask... do you want to be a Mil

Would you commit a crime if you thought you would never get caught? If you thought everyone was doing it? If there were no victims, just some light corruption? Maybe not, but what if the government compelled you to do it? This week, Maia dives into the anti-corruption operation the Federal government ran known as ABSCAM with the help of known con artist Melvin Weinberg. Dozens of politicians get swept up in corruption charges, and some were clearly better at committing crime