Podcast
The Slippery
THE SLIPPERY
The con artists think they're untouchable. The fraudsters believe their schemes are foolproof. The scammers assume they'll never be caught. They're all dead wrong.
Welcome to The Slippery, where the most audacious scammers, mind-bending scandals, and elaborate schemes meet their match. Hosted by Nancy Moscatiello and Scott Eldridge—the investigative duo behind the explosive hit "Scamanda" podcast and acclaimed documentary series—this true crime podcast takes you inside the twisted minds of master manipulators and the devastating aftermath they leave behind.
Every case gets the deep-dive treatment across two episodes that reveal every angle of deception:
THE SLIPPERY: Nancy and Scott dissect each case from first lie to final reckoning, with one host pitching why this story deserves the Hollywood treatment—documentary series, limited series, or feature film.
THE SLIPPERY DEBRIEF: Raw, unscripted conversations with special guests who lived these schemes firsthand—victims, investigators, journalists, and insiders sharing revelations that never made official reports.
From elaborate Ponzi schemes to fake cancer fundraisers, from romance scams to corporate fraud, The Slippery exposes the schemes that prove truth is more shocking than any fiction Hollywood could create.
Because when it comes to deception, everyone thinks they're too smart to fall for it. Until they do.
New episodes every week. Subscribe now and prepare to question everything you thought you knew about trust, manipulation, and the art of the con.
- True Crime chart
- #24
- Episodes
- 56
- Releases
- Twice a week
- Typical length
- 57 min
- On air since
- 2026
- Latest episode
- 1 day ago
Episodes
56 episodes, newest first
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49 min
THE LEXI CON EP 4 | Center of Attention
Show notes
As Lexi Thomas pivots from private patient to public cancer influencer, her life becomes an endless highlight reel of VIP experiences, luxury getaways, and speaking engagements before captivated audiences. But behind the perfectly curated social posts lies a trail of stolen photos and fabricated medical milestones. While Gavin plans a fairytale proposal and family prepares for a wedding, the mounting contradictions—from high-energy bachelorette parties to missing port scars—leave those closest to her wondering who is really at the center of the story.
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1 hr 6 min
The Lexi CON DEBRIEF: Episode 3
Show notes
In this episode, Scott and Nancy pull back the curtain to deliver explosive behind-the-scenes details and dissect the visual receipts surrounding Lexi’s ongoing controversies.
What We Cover in This Episode:
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The Gabrielle’s Angel Ball Receipts: A deep dive into exclusive photos from the event, featuring Lexi proudly flaunting what appears to be a completely fabricated award.
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The Photoshop Breakdown: Side-by-side evidence exposing the cancer scammer group photo where Lexi clumsily inserted herself—analyzing the pixel-level handywork that unravels the narrative.
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Q&A with the Community: Scott and Nancy tackle the most pressing questions, theories, and inconsistencies flagged by listeners.
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The Tipster Files: Fresh, verifiable revelations from insiders and whistleblowers who continue to reach out daily as the story develops.
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52 min
The Lexi CON EP 3 | Welcome To The Lexi-Verse
Show notes
In Episode 3, "Welcome To The Lexi Verse,"
Scott and Nancy pull back the curtain on the sprawling, multi-layered alternate reality Lexi has meticulously engineered to manipulate everyone in her orbit. What begins as an examination of her unquenchable thirst for validation quickly spirals into a chilling case study of digital deception and emotional sabotage. Through interviews with those caught in the crosshairs, Scott and Nancy expose how Lexi weaponized human empathy—invading sacred spaces meant for genuine cancer survivors and systematically poisoning her closest friend’s romantic relationship from behind the safety of anonymous texts. Just as the sheer scale of her audacity seems to peak, Scott and Nancy uncover a shocking final revelation that proves Lexi’s calculated cruelty has crossed an even darker, more dangerous line than anyone thought possible.
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1 hr 10 min
The Lexi CON DEBRIEF: Episodes 1 & 2
Show notes
In this inaugural debrief episode, co-hosts Scott Eldridge and Nancy Moscatiello pull back the curtain on the opening chapters of The Lexi CON. Joined by the two tipsters whose relentless digging blew the case wide open—Ally Lifsey (a Nashville nurse) and her friend Sarah (also a nurse)—Scott and Nancy explore how a decade-long medical fabrication began to unravel.
Together, they detail the painstaking investigative process, the brilliant detective work, and the psychological mechanisms that made Lexi’s con so convincing to her family, community, and followers for so many years.
Some of the highlights include:
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Ally and Sarah reveal the initial "wait a minute" moments from Lexi’s social media and blog that triggered red flags, including photos that didn't align with clinical reality.
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The Dr. Sullivan Discovery: Nancy walks through contacting Dr. Keith M. Sullivan, a world-renowned hematologist at Duke University.
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Uncovering the Plagiarism: Nancy and Ally share the breakthrough moment when they tracked down a specific photo Lexi posted (placing a crown on a fellow cancer fighter). Identifying the real subject as author and advocate Suleika Jaouad unlocked a key thread, proving Lexi was lifting photos, columns, and experiences directly from real cancer patients.
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Building the "Lexi Encyclopedia": The team discusses organizing years of blog posts, social media updates, and medical claims into a massive, meticulous spreadsheet to cross-reference dates, photos, and storylines.
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The Emotional Toll: Scott, Nancy, and the tipsters reflect on the bizarre peripheral victims—including Lexi's former landlord (who was supplied fake letters from "Dr. Sullivan") and long-time friends like Lauretta, who were manipulated and emotionally discarded throughout the scam.
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50 min
The Lexi CON EP 2 | Pulling The Strings
Show notes
Lexi Thomas doesn’t just tell stories—she controls them. As her alleged illness morphs into an all-out cancer battle, her emotional blog posts rally an entire community, launching massive fundraisers, charity games, and tens of thousands of dollars in donations.
In Episode 2, hosts Nancy Moscatiello and Scott Eldridge examine how Lexi leveraged her growing influence to manipulate those around her. When a bizarre invasion at her apartment triggers a high-stakes police investigation, law enforcement hits a wall of unbelievable excuses—including a convenient doctor's note that shields Lexi from scrutiny.
As the community rallies behind a high-risk experimental treatment and a $58,000 GoFundMe campaign, Lexi’s dramatic narrative reaches a whole new extreme.
The LexiCON is a production of The Slippery. Search for The Slippery or The LexiCON wherever you get your podcasts. https://linktr.ee/TheSlippery
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41 min
The Lexi CON EP 1 | Faith and Fabrication
Show notes
To her tight-knit Maryland community, Lexi Thomas was the picture of devout resilience. She was a courageous young woman facing a sudden medical crisis in 2012. Anchored by her blog—where every post opened with Romans 8:28—Lexi shaped a story of suffering, divine trust, and cutting-edge treatments that inspired an entire community to rally around her and donate thousands of dollars.
In the premiere of this multi-part investigative series, hosts Nancy Moscatiello and Scott Eldridge trace how a deeply trusted backstory was built layer by layer. From her initial mystery hospitalization to the launch of her online updates, Episode 1 reveals how genuine community faith was weaponized to mask a growing web of fabrications—including plagiarized cancer memoirs and a world-renowned Duke specialist who claims he never even knew her name.
The LexiCON is a production of The Slippery. Search for The Slippery or The LexiCON wherever you get your podcasts. https://linktr.ee/TheSlippery
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54 min
EP 46 | DEBRIEF: Jen Shah: Real Housewife, Real Criminal
Show notes
In this episode, Scott and Nancy check in on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alum Jen Shah before taking a sharp turn into one of the wilder sports-and-faith financial controversies: the high-pressure wealth seminars fronted by former Heisman winner Tim Tebow. Later in the episode, the hosts answer viewer feedback and drop an exclusive sizzle reel for their upcoming project, The Lexi CON.
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3 min
The Lexi CON - PREVIEW Trailer
Show notes
The Lexi CON is a new limited series from hosts Nancy Moscatiello and Scott Eldridge. The audio only, Tru Con series debuts October 19 wherever you get your podcasts.
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1 hr
EP 45 | Jen Shah: Real Housewife & Real Criminal
Show notes
From 2012 to 2021, Jen Shah orchestrated a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable, elderly, and working-class victims under the guise of selling legitimate online business management services. Publicly presenting herself as a self-made tech entrepreneur while starring on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Shah generated millions of dollars by selling worthless lead lists and bogus services—such as coaching, website building, and tax preparation—that drove thousands of victims into severe financial distress. In the episode, co-hosts Scott and Nancy break down the mechanics of the scheme, illustrating how Shah's operation systematically systematically stripped victims of their life savings.
Federal court records, law enforcement investigations, and internal communications established that Shah was a mastermind at the top of the fraudulent pyramid. Her dramatic scandal unfolded directly in front of reality television cameras, capturing the moment federal agents descended on the set to arrest her. Highlighting the human cost, Scott and Nancy detail the trail of destruction through a series of devastating victim statements submitted to the court—exposing how targets lost their retirement funds, lost their homes, and suffered severe emotional trauma. Faced with overwhelming evidence compiled by Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Justice, Shah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She's already out of prison, but will justice ever really be served?
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1 hr
EP 44 | DEBRIEF: Produced, Directed and Defrauded by Mary Carole McDonnell
Show notes
In this debrief episode, Josh Koffman, a former co-executive producer at Bellum Entertainment pulls back the curtain on what it was truly like working under owner Mary Carole McDonnell. While Bellum publicly presented itself as a thriving syndication powerhouse, the guest reveals a high-pressure environment built on operational shortcuts, extreme cost-cutting, and continuous misdirection to keep high-volume television churning out. Over time, subtle red flags escalated into systemic financial exploitation, as employees were routinely persuaded to work on credit through promises of future payouts and false assurances that delayed paychecks were on their way.
Koffman details the company's unraveling and the ultimate betrayal: McDonnell’s sudden departure, which left her dedicated staff, producers, and crew stranded without millions of dollars in earned wages and contractually owed compensation. Reflecting on the aftermath, the former producer breaks down the personal and professional toll this deception took on the team, highlighting how loyalty was weaponized right up until the final exit, and examining the lasting industry fallout surrounding Bellum Entertainment's collapse.
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53 min
EP 43 | Produced, Directed and Defrauded by Mary Carole McDonnell
Show notes
What do you do when your low-budget true crime production company is hemorrhaging cash, your employee paychecks are bouncing higher than a trampoline, and lenders start knocking on the door? If you’re Bellum Entertainment CEO Mary Carole McDonnell, you don't file for bankruptcy or try to salvage the business—you simply invent a brand-new persona as a high-flying aerospace heiress. Armed with nothing but unearned confidence, forged documents, and a fictional lineage linking her to the massive McDonnell Douglas fortune, Mary turned fake inheritance into a full-time financing model, using her imaginary millions as collateral to secure loan after astronomical loan.
While Mary was out collecting over $30 million from gullible lenders, the reality on the ground at Bellum Entertainment was considerably less glamorous. Her staff was left scrounging and praying that their paychecks wouldn't bounce yet again, completely oblivious to the fact that the company’s entire balance sheet was built on a delusion. As the financial house of cards grew taller and the walls began closing in, Mary started looking for an exit strategy, setting the stage for a desperate final act that would shock her staff, her lenders, and even her own family.
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1 hr 6 min
EP 42 | DEBRIEF: The Ponzi Killer Mom
Show notes
In this episode of The Slippery Debrief, Nancy and Scott welcome former FBI profiler Julia Cowley to dissect the mind of wannabe master criminal Natalie Cochran.
From childhood sweetheart to the "Ponzi Killer Mom," Cochran spun a web of government contracts, fake tactical gear deals, and stolen millions—before taking the ultimate step to protect her secrets. Julia Cowley breaks down the behavioral psychology behind high-stakes fraudsters, highlighting the subtle red flags and telltale signs of a scammer. Together, they explore what drives someone to escalate from financial fraud to murder, the chilling dynamics of greed and control, and how a seemingly normal life collapsed into a lethal cover-up.
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1 hr
EP 41 | The Ponzi Killer Mom
Show notes
They had the life everyone in town envied: high school sweethearts turned local royalty. She was a trusted pharmacist; he was a beloved baseball coach and local businessman. But behind the suburban perfection, an obsession with fast wealth took root—sparking a high-stakes pivot into defense contracts, millions in military tactical gear, and lavish spending.
As the money rolled in, so did the lies. When the fake empire began to crumble, the secrets didn't just unravel—they turned lethal.
In this episode, we chart the rise and terrifying fall of Natalie Cochran, exploring how a picture-perfect family fell down a rabbit hole of greed, betrayal, and a cover-up that ultimately cost a life.
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57 min
EP 40 | DEBRIEF: Adva Lavie: Love , Lies and the Ankle Monitor
Show notes
In this episode of The Slippery Debrief, Scott and Nancy sit down with veteran Los Angeles Times investigative reporter Richard Winton, who has been embedded inside the Los Angeles courtroom covering the high-stakes legal battles surrounding former OnlyFans model and influencer Adva Lavie. She's known as "Mia Ventura," to many, but Lavie faces a web of felony charges tied to an alleged high-end dating app theft spree across Southern California.
Winton breaks down the bizarre, fast-evolving courtroom dynamics, detailing Lavie's dramatic appearances—from outbursts and limping in court to her re-arrest after allegedly cutting off her electronic ankle monitor.
The episode dives into the swirling questions surrounding who is funding Lavie's top-tier legal team. Winton weighs in on the complex dynamics between Lavie and her former billionaire fiancé, Stephen Cloobeck—who was himself charged with witness intimidation—and explores whether anonymous backers or former benefactors are footing her hefty legal bills.
The trio also unpacks the defense's strategy to secure a mental health diversion program. Winton offers expert analysis on why a judge recently denied the initial diversion request, how a subsequent declaration of doubt regarding her mental competency has temporarily halted proceedings, and whether this legal maneuver has any realistic chance of keeping her out of prison.
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1 hr 1 min
EP 39 | Adva Lavie: Love, Lies, and the Ankle Monitor
Show notes
Scott and Nancy dig into the wild, heavily filtered saga of Adva Lavie—the stunning Israeli ex-soldier turned El Al flight attendant turned high-end menace to society. Leveraging her mile-high glam on social media, Adva built a massive online following that opened the doors to LA’s most exclusive zip codes. But as it turns out, serving drinks at 30,000 feet was just a warm-up for her real passion: serving up major doses of charm to vulnerable, ultra-wealthy older men. Using alias after alias, she swiped her way into the lives—and multi-million-dollar mansions—of unsuspecting dates, routinely making off with cash, luxury designer gear, and high-end watches while her victims were left wondering what hit them.
Just when it seemed like her luck was running out amid a string of felony burglary charges and Los Angeles Sheriff's Department warrants, Adva pulled off the ultimate play: securing a Valentine’s Day proposal from 64-year-old timeshare billionaire Stephen Cloobeck. Yet, true to the Slippery rulebook, the higher you fly, the harder you crash land.
Buckle up folks—this is the tale of a master seductress whose ambition knew no bounds, right up until the exact moment the law caught up with her baggage.
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1 hr 3 min
EP 38 | DEBRIEF: Welcome to Sweetie Pies: Fame, Greed, and a Fatal Scheme
Show notes
In this exclusive debrief episode of The Slippery, Scott and Nancy welcome defense attorney Gloria Rodriguez, who represented Tim Norman during his high-profile, federal, murder-for-hire trial. While the public and prosecutors viewed Norman as the mastermind behind his nephew's murder, Rodriguez breaks down the defense’s perspective, why she firmly maintains her client's innocence, and the crucial turning points in the courtroom that ultimately tipped the scales toward a guilty verdict.
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41 min
EP 37 | Welcome to Sweetie Pies: Fame, Greed, and a Fatal Scheme
Show notes
In this episode, The Slippery examines the dark reality behind Welcome to Sweetie Pies, the hit OWN reality show where Tim Norman reigned as a central star. Charismatic and larger-than-life, Norman positioned himself as an aspiring restaurant mogul, musician, and talent manager trying to scale his family’s soul food empire. But as the cameras rolled, a desperate greed took hold—leading Norman to orchestrate a murder for hire scheme that no one saw coming, targeting his own 21-year-old nephew, Andre. A complex, multi-year investigation involving federal agencies—including the FBI, ATF, and local police departments untangled a sprawling web of burner phones, cell tower ping records, fraudulent insurance filings, and paid accomplices across multiple states.
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36 min
The Slippery UPDATES Edition Bonus
Show notes
Scott and Nancy reveal multiple updates on Slippery stories they've covered so far. They also take the audience behind the scenes to reveal what's being worked on...including a new cancer scammer series debuting this Fall. The team also takes a look inside the mailbag to address some of the comments the audience has delivered about the show
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57 min
EP 36 | DEBRIEF: The Golden Years Ghouls
Show notes
Just when you thought the story of Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt couldn't get any darker, the paper trail leads even deeper into the shadows. In this debrief, we uncover the mysterious story of another elderly man who stayed in Helen’s apartment—only for Helen and her daughter to wind up in his will and pocket $280,000 in home equity cash before his sudden death.
Plus, Scott and Nancy pit a brand-new slate of outrageous insurance scam pitches against each other to see if there’s enough juice for a whole new TV series. From desperate husbands and killer wives to downright evil dads, we’re riding a shocking wave of greed, betrayal, and deadly motives.
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1 hr 1 min
EP 35 | The Golden Years Ghouls
Show notes
To their neighbors in Los Angeles, Olga Rutterschmidt and Helen Golay seemed like two kindly elderly women devoted to helping the city’s unhoused population. But behind their acts of charity lay a cold-blooded financial enterprise—and a trail of mysterious alleyway deaths initial law enforcement brushed off as routine hit-and-runs.
For years, the pair operated beneath suspicion, taking meticulous measures to cover their tracks and stay one step ahead of the law. But when a persistent detective overheard a passing comment about a duplicate case file, a massive joint task force began pulling at the threads of their facade. What followed was a tense, high-stakes battle of wits between seasoned investigators, insurance fraud agents, and two master manipulators who refused to crack.
This week, we examine the subtle red flags, the undercover sting operation, and the tiny investigative slip-up that finally unraveled an unbelievable web of deceit.
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