In this first of two parts, we examine the lives, public and private, of Coco Chanel in the wake of the France's fall in WW2. Though all had to make due with the new conditions, Coco fared better than others in this new life.

• Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram
• Explore more: diversionaudio.com

This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.

This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayer

Developed by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein

Associate Producer is Leo Culp
Produced by Antonio Enriquez
Theme Music by Tyler Cash
Executive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth

Special thanks to:
Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.

Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here

Check out more on 'Devil's Rooming House' by Hal Vaughn at Penguin Random House

SOURCES

• Albanesi, Melanie. “Coco Chanel: Fashion Designer, Nazi Informant.” PBS. January 3, 2022.
• Pinnock, Olivia. “Do Coco Chanel’s Nazi Connections Matter For Fashion Today?” Forbes.
• James, Caryn. “The truth about Coco Chanel and the Nazis.” BBC. 2024.
• Mazzeo, Tilar J. The Secret of Chanel No. 5. Harper. Nov 9, 2010.
• McAuley, James. “The Exchange: Coco Chanel and the Nazi Party.” The New Yorker. August 31, 2011.
• Vaughan, Hal. Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War. Vintage. 2011.
• Wars of Coco Chanel documentary.
• Becoming Chanel documentary.
• Thomas, Dana. “The Power Behind the Cologne.” The New York Times Magazine. Feb 24, 2002.
• Villani, Anna. “WHO OWNS CHANEL? The Wertheimer family. But, who are they?” The Vintage Bar. Jan 7, 2021.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus episode, we look into the mysterious lore behind Shakespeare's 'Weyward Sisters" from Macbeth. Did you know those three women, the weird sisters, the three witches who prophesied Macbeth’s ascendance… did you know those women really existed?

• Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram
• Explore more: diversionaudio.com

This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.

This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayer

Developed by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein

Associate Producer is Leo Culp
Produced by Antonio Enriquez
Theme Music by Tyler Cash
Executive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth

Special thanks to:
Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.

Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here

Check out 'Sleeping With the Enemy' by William Phillips here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we dive into the infamous Gold Club, Atlanta's premiere strip club in the 1990s. It’s the story of some of the most beautiful and clever women in the world, and the men who manipulated them to become accomplices in wide scale, mafia-funded fraud.

• Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram
• Explore more: diversionaudio.com

This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.

This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayer

Developed by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein

Associate Producer is Leo Culp
Produced by Antonio Enriquez
Theme Music by Tyler Cash
Executive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth

Special thanks to:
Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.

Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here

Check out 'Investigating America's Most Notorious Strip Club: The FBI, The Gold Club, and The Mafia' by Mark Sewell at Rowman and Littlefield

Dive into the documentary 'Sex in the Champagne Room' at VICE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we look at the story of a Family Business, the Lamb Family Funeral Home… which wanted to be a booming business so badly that they allegedly circumvented a lot of laws, and even more ethics, for their profits.

• Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram
• Explore more: diversionaudio.com

This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.

This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayer

Developed by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein

Associate Producer is Leo Culp
Produced by Antonio Enriquez
Theme Music by Tyler Cash
Executive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth

Special thanks to:
Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.

Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here

Check out Ken Englade's "A Family Business" at Diversion Books for a deeper dive on today's subject

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two of two, we dive further into the tales of Cassie Chadwick. She ended up pulling one of the most elaborate cons in American history, securing her legacy alongside the upper-class she so coveted. Stay tuned until the end of the episode for an interview with author of 'The Impostor Heiress: Cassie Chadwick, The Greatest Grifter of the Gilded Age', Annie Reed!

• Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram
• Explore more: diversionaudio.com

This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.

This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayer

Developed by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein

Associate Producer is Leo Culp
Produced by Antonio Enriquez
Theme Music by Tyler Cash
Executive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth

Special thanks to:
Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.

Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here

Check out Annie Reed's book, 'The Impostor Heiress: Cassie Chadwick, The Greatest Grifter of the Gilded Age' at Diversion Books for a deeper look at Cassie Chadwick.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part one of two, we take a look at the story of a woman who wanted into east coast high society… and got there. Cassie Chadwick went by many names to cover her tracks, but ended up pulling one of the greatest cons in American history, securing her legacy alongside the upper-class she so coveted.

• Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram
• Explore more: diversionaudio.com

This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.

This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayer

Developed by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein

Associate Producer is Leo Culp
Produced by Antonio Enriquez
Theme Music by Tyler Cash
Executive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth

Special thanks to:
Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.

Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here

Check out Annie Reed's book, 'The Impostor Heiress: Cassie Chadwick, The Greatest Grifter of the Gilded Age' at Diversion Books for a deeper look at Cassie Chadwick.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we take a look at Letitzia Batagliga, an acclaimed photojournalist from Palermo, whose stories and art helped legislators end the Cosa Nostra as we know it.

• Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram
• Explore more: diversionaudio.com

This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.

This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayer

Developed by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein

Associate Producer is Leo Culp
Produced by Antonio Enriquez
Theme Music by Tyler Cash
Executive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth

Special thanks to:
Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.

Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we examine the lesser told story of Agatha Christie: that of her sudden disappearance. The beloved crime fiction writer, whose works are still being adapted, starred in her own real-live mystery, a true story of love, loss, and betrayal.

• Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram
• Explore more: diversionaudio.com

This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.

This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayer

Developed by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein

Associate Producer is Leo Culp
Produced by Antonio Enriquez
Theme Music by Tyler Cash
Executive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth

Special thanks to:
Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.

Order Lucy Worsley's biography 'Agatha Christie, An Elusive Woman' at Pegasus Books

Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.