BADLANDS

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Badlands is a true crime podcast that dives deep into the real stories of the famous at their most infamous. Hosted by Jake Brennan, each episode explores the real life crimes and scandals of the world’s most popular cultural figures. In this brand new season discover the wild true stories behind Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s stint as a teenage jewelry theft ringleader, Armie Hammer’s scandalous cannibalism kink, Drew Barrymore’s tragically early introduction to drugs, and many more.

Listen to all 10 episodes of Badlands Season 5: Hollywoodland on Amazon Music at amazon.com/badlands

Our Editor's Take

In BADLANDS, host Jake Brennan narrates a graphic, no-holds-barred true crime podcast. Episodes offer new perspectives and unique retellings of shocking celebrity scandals and crimes. Brennan digs into the timeless stories and real-life mysteries of the rich and infamous. His storytelling entertains, but also reveals the troubling and sometimes traumatic side of fame. Consider this a trigger warning—this series does not hold back on the gory details.

This podcast is a true crime docuseries for adults, offering potent narration and vivid sound effects. From athletes to actors, no one’s scandal or crime is off limits. Each episode investigates a single story, with some historic events spanning several episodes. The detail Brennan provides is impressive, even if the information is unsettling.

As narrator and host, Jake Brennan takes listeners on a journey through sordid tales of fame gone sour. His narrative style adds depth to these stories. Brennan deftly examines the despair, addictions, trials, convictions, and deaths of infamous celebrities. Many know of the questions around Marilyn Monroe's mysterious death, but Brennan excels at uncovering unique views and exploring new narratives.

BADLANDS spotlights the secrets of the world's biggest stars, and listeners are in for a shock. Join Jake as he focuses his true crime lens on what celebrities try to hide — everything from Armie Hammer's bizarre cannibalism and abuse claims to O.J. Simpson's lead role in one of Las Vegas's most unbelievable armed robberies.

These protagonists may be familiar, but not the intricacies of their unsavory pasts. Learn the details behind celebrities' personal calamities. Listen to BADLANDS on Amazon Music to hear scandalous celebrity crime stories that stick around well after the credits roll.

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Introducing BADLANDS Season 5: HOLLYWOODLAND

Introducing BADLANDS Season 5: HOLLYWOODLAND

Which muscled action star ran a jewelry theft ring as a teenager in Hawaii? How did a critically-acclaimed actor get chewed out by the public and the police for a scandalous cannibalism kink? And which heiress turned actress found herself firing a submachine gun when she was kidnapped and brainwashed by a terrorist organization?Discover the details behind these unbelievable but true stories in an all-new season of Badlands: Hollywoodland. This season of Badlands dives deeper into the shady characters of Tinseltown than ever before, featuring the insane true stories of Drew Barrymore, Charlie Sheen, Danny Trejo, John Belushi, Armie Hammer, Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, Bob Crane of Hogan’s Heroes, Patty Hearst, and Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a The Rock.Listen to new episodes of Badlands beginning August 3 wherever you get your podcasts, or binge the entire new season exclusively on Amazon Music at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: A Teenage Jewel Thief, a Heel Turn Betrayal, and Raising the People’s Eyebrow

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: A Teenage Jewel Thief, a Heel Turn Betrayal, and Raising the People’s Eyebrow

Long before he raised the People’s Eyebrow, dropped the People’s Elbow, and laid the smackdown on the candyass world of Hollywood, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson ran a jewelry theft ring in Waikiki. He and his peers worked the posh shopping district, snatching and grabbing whatever they could get their hands on and then pawning their haul for cold, hard cash. As a result, he was arrested nearly ten times before he turned 17 years old. But perhaps the only thing more insane than that story is the tale of how Dwayne Johnson transcended a life of petty street crime to become one of the biggest cultural icons of the 21st century.Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Patty Hearst: Brainwashing, Cyanide Bullets, and an Heiress-Turned-Terrorist

Patty Hearst: Brainwashing, Cyanide Bullets, and an Heiress-Turned-Terrorist

Before Patty Hearst appeared as an actress in John Waters' movies, she captivated America on the silver screen as a hostage terrorized by the Symbionese Liberation Army. When the newspaper heiress was kidnapped by the radical organization in 1974, the country sympathized with her plight. But after just a few months, the SLA’s guns weren’t pointing at Patty anymore; suddenly, Patty was firing her own weapons during fistfights and bank robberies as a member of the same terrorist group that once kept her locked in a closet. In court, Patty claimed she was brainwashed and that she played along for her own safety. It’s true that Patty Hearst gave the performance of a lifetime — but we still don’t know which part of her life was the performance.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including graphic depictions of violence.Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Charlie Chaplin: Japanese Assassins, Murder on a Yacht, and a Stolen Corpse

Charlie Chaplin: Japanese Assassins, Murder on a Yacht, and a Stolen Corpse

Charlie Chaplin was a wanted man. Not just by moviegoing audiences that made him one of the biggest stars of the silent and talkie eras. And not just by governments who questioned his politics. He was nearly murdered by a jealous lover, and was likely the intended target of a homicide aboard the yacht of the wealthiest man in America. He survived numerous attempts on his life, only to be targeted by a cabal of Japanese assassins who wanted him dead. And when he did die, Charlie Chaplin remained in high demand. Just ask the guy who dug up his corpse and held it for ransom.Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

John Belushi: Punk Rock Riots, Chicago Street Brawls, and Missions from God

John Belushi: Punk Rock Riots, Chicago Street Brawls, and Missions from God

John Belushi may have been one of the funniest comedians of his generation, but he wasn’t just a funny guy. He was a rock star. He partied with the Stones, fronted a world-class band of R&B legends, and was responsible for a punk rock riot in Rockefeller Center. He drew the ire of street gangs in Chicago, attempted to steal a boat with his blues brother, and performed one of his final episodes of Saturday Night Live on death’s door. Everything was heightened. The stakes. The laughs. The sensory overload of lights, camera, action. He worked hard, and played harder. And when it all came to a crashing halt in a Hollywood bungalow, one question remained: Was John Belushi’s death the result of foul play?Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Bob Crane of Hogan’s Heroes: Sex, Lies, Videotape, and Murder

Bob Crane of Hogan’s Heroes: Sex, Lies, Videotape, and Murder

On the surface, the star of one of the most popular television series of the 1960s was a squeaky-clean symbol of America’s innocence. But Hogan’s Heroes’ Bob Crane lived a secret double life that very few people knew about. His custom-built pornographic paradises were hidden behind the closed doors of his dressing room and apartment. He was obsessed with extra-marital sexual exploits, and he documented them with cutting-edge technology. The joy he received from making people smile was matched only by his need to fulfill his darkest desires…a need that would end in murder.Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Danny Trejo: A Prison Riot, the Gas Chamber, and Becoming Fear

Danny Trejo: A Prison Riot, the Gas Chamber, and Becoming Fear

Danny Trejo holds the record for most on-screen deaths by an actor. His go-to role is the bad guy – the baddest guy. The guy you do not mess with. And for the first 25 years of his life, he was that guy for real. He led a life of violence and drugs that landed him in just about every hardcore prison in California, including Folsom and San Quentin. On the inside, he ran the gym, the drugs, and protection rackets. And then one day, the tables turned and Danny Trejo was the one who needed protection. After the dust settled on a bloody prison riot, Trejo found himself staring down the death penalty.Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Lucille Ball: Gun Wounds, Refugees, and the Redhead Who Survived the Red Scare

Lucille Ball: Gun Wounds, Refugees, and the Redhead Who Survived the Red Scare

Lucille Ball might have been a natural boundary-pusher, but America's top TV comedienne had some ‘splaining to do when a damning news broadcast unveiled her former ties to the Communist Party. The hysteria of the Red Scare threatened to bury this redhead at the bottom of the Hollywood blacklist overnight. Even when America put rampant McCarthyism to rest, the United States government kept watching Lucille Ball – and we’re not talking about I Love Lucy reruns.Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Drew Barrymore: Curses, Corpses, and a Coked-Up Child Star in the Club

Drew Barrymore: Curses, Corpses, and a Coked-Up Child Star in the Club

Drew Barrymore spent her childhood charming audiences on movie screens and cramming cocaine up her nose at the most exclusive clubs in the country. Her breakout role as Gertie in E.T.: The Extraterrestrial rocketed her to such far-reaching fame that she became a regular at Studio 54 when she was only 7 years old. Her early taste for unchaperoned nightlife would lure her into other exceptionally adult addictions, nearly extinguishing her flourishing film career before Drew reached high school. As Drew’s grandfather and father before her already proved, no one acts – or parties – quite like a Barrymore. No one crashes and burns quite like a Barrymore, either. Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Charlie Sheen: Tiger Blood, Porn Stars, and the High-Priest Vatican Assassin Warlock

Charlie Sheen: Tiger Blood, Porn Stars, and the High-Priest Vatican Assassin Warlock

Not one but two of Charlie Sheen’s Mercedes were found crashed into a ravine off Mulholland Drive on separate occasions. By that point, he was working on running his career off the road for a second or third time, in a haze of alcohol, cocaine, $30,000 one-night stands, awkward dinner dates with porn stars and his ex-wife, livestream rants, LAPD house raids, and a triumphant ascent to a Beverly Hills rooftop with a machete and a bottle of red liquid labeled “Tiger Blood.” And that’s only part of the story.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including domestic violence.Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Armie Hammer: Dirty Texts, Bloodthirsty Fetishes, and a Cannibal Kink

Armie Hammer: Dirty Texts, Bloodthirsty Fetishes, and a Cannibal Kink

With his chiseled jawline and matinee idol good looks, Armie Hammer could have been another leading man like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt. But Armie Hammer was not most movie stars. He wasn't even most people. On the surface, his life was perfectly curated and appeared picture-perfect, with no major public scandals or dirt-digging by the press. But his increasingly bizarre appearances in interviews and on social media, not to mention leaked videos and texts, led to shocking revelations about what was really going on behind closed doors. And what was going on was wilder than the untamed dreams of a Hollywood screenwriter.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual assault and graphic descriptions of violence.Follow Badlands wherever you get your podcasts to hear new episodes of Hollywoodland each Wednesday. As a bonus, Amazon Music listeners can hear all 10 episodes of Badlands: Hollywoodland on-demand right now at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Introducing BADLANDS Season 5: HOLLYWOODLAND

Introducing BADLANDS Season 5: HOLLYWOODLAND

Which muscled action star ran a jewelry theft ring as a teenager in Hawaii? How did a critically-acclaimed actor get chewed out by the public and the police for a scandalous cannibalism kink? And which heiress turned actress found herself firing a submachine gun when she was kidnapped and brainwashed by a terrorist organization?Discover the details behind these unbelievable but true stories in an all-new season of Badlands: Hollywoodland. This season of Badlands dives deeper into the shady characters of Tinseltown than ever before, featuring the insane true stories of Drew Barrymore, Charlie Sheen, Danny Trejo, John Belushi, Armie Hammer, Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, Bob Crane of Hogan’s Heroes, Patty Hearst, and Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a The Rock.Listen to new episodes of Badlands beginning August 3 wherever you get your podcasts, or binge the entire new season exclusively on Amazon Music at amazon.com/badlands.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Introducing DISGRACELAND’S Newest Season

Introducing DISGRACELAND’S Newest Season

Introducing the Disgraceland podcast - a show that tells the insane true crime stories of music’s most famous… on their darkest days.Host Jake Brennan, tells the jaw dropping stories of musicians behaving very badly… and some even getting away with murder. In an all new season, he tells the unbelievable histories of the world’s most famous musical artists. Like the story of Britney Spears…locked into an unconventional conservatorship. Or Chris Brown’s gutted reputation and downward spiral. Or the Beatles' own Ringo Star being targeted by trigger happy extremists…These and many more.Follow Disgraceland wherever you get your podcasts. Or you can listen to all 10 seasons exclusively on Amazon Music. Listen here: wondery.fm/Badlands_D10. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Robin Williams: A Manic Mind at Breakneck Speed, an Addiction to Laughter, and the Devil’s Dandruff

Robin Williams: A Manic Mind at Breakneck Speed, an Addiction to Laughter, and the Devil’s Dandruff

Robin Williams’ manic mind moved at such a breakneck speed that cocaine had the opposite effect than it had on most other people: it slowed him down. Robin’s primary addiction, however, wasn’t cocaine. He was addicted to the dopamine rush of being on a stage, where he could let his mind run wild with free association, and be rewarded with uproarious laughter. He was addicted to proving himself as a dramatic actor, even if that meant attempting to trigger his own mental breakdown by running in place for hours. And when he died tragically at the age of 63, the cause of his death was surprisingly not what anyone suspected. It still isn’t.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including suicide. If you're thinking about suicide or are worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

The Dating Game Killer: Persuasion, Charm, and a Depraved Murderer at Large

The Dating Game Killer: Persuasion, Charm, and a Depraved Murderer at Large

Rodney Alcala, AKA The Dating Game Killer, was a depraved murderer who eluded authorities for years. He hid his true identity behind charm and persuasion. He worked as a summer camp counselor while on the lam for the savage assault of an eight-year-old girl. He convinced his parole officer to let him take a vacation to the other side of the country, where he proceeded to commit another of his many murders. While New Yorkers were watching their backs for the Son of Sam in the summer of ’77, he killed again. And at the height of his killing spree, he managed to star in one of the creepiest moments in Hollywood history as a contestant on a popular television game show.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and graphic descriptions of violence.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Sharon Tate Pt 2: Rape, Drugs, and Murdering New Hollywood

Sharon Tate Pt 2: Rape, Drugs, and Murdering New Hollywood

Sharon Tate’s entanglement with Charles Manson and her husband, filmmaker Roman Polanski, as well as her involvement in some of the long-rumored hedonistic events at her home on Cielo Drive put her at the center of a counter-narrative that explosively disrupts the supposed motive for the Manson family murders. Was Sharon Tate blissfully ignorant of the darkness that had been bubbling beneath Hollywood’s shiny veneer for years? Or is there more to this story than we’ve been told in the past?This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual assault.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Sharon Tate Pt 1: Wild Parties and Dangerous Company

Sharon Tate Pt 1: Wild Parties and Dangerous Company

Sharon Tate was a sophisticated beauty who literally stopped traffic when she walked down the street. She began her movie career when America was becoming sexually liberated, and despite the ease with which she was made a sex symbol, she aspired to be respected as a serious actress. Decades later, however, she is perhaps best-remembered as one of the victims found brutally murdered at her Cielo Drive home, the one she shared with her husband, director Roman Polanski. Sharon and Roman welcomed regular guests to that home, including Sharon’s friend, Mama Cass Elliot, who was at the center of the Manson murders and whose actions may be why the motive for the murders that America has come to accept as fact is actually false.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual assault and suicide. If you're thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Mickey Rourke: Organized Crime, the IRA, and Method Acting into Oblivion

Mickey Rourke: Organized Crime, the IRA, and Method Acting into Oblivion

Acting came easy to Mickey Rourke. He was admitted to the prestigious Actors Studio after one audition, which is nuts when you consider that it took Jack Nicholson five auditions and six for Dustin Hoffman. But just because something came easy to Mickey Rourke didn’t mean he did things the easy way. His relationships with organizations like the Gambino crime family and the IRA became more talked about than the promising acting career he was busy tanking. He seriously considered carrying out a bloody revenge/suicide plot. And then he turned his back on the silver screen for a new life in the boxing ring. When he returned to Hollywood, his face was so pulverized and surgically altered that he was unrecognizable. So unrecognizable that he had to begin his journey all over again. And at the end of the line was either one of two things waiting for him: redemption or purgatory.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including domestic violence, suicide, and graphic descriptions of violence. If you're thinking about suicide or are worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Woody Harrelson: Contract Killers, JFK Conspiracies, and Fathers & Sons

Woody Harrelson: Contract Killers, JFK Conspiracies, and Fathers & Sons

One of Hollywood’s most eclectic and unpredictable actors, Woody Harrelson has played a hayseed barback, a streetball hustler, a natural born killer, a true detective, and so many more. But his most profound and difficult role might be his real-life role: the son of an infamous contract killer. Woody’s father, Charles Harrelson, was sent to prison for the assassination of a federal judge, only after he had been the subject of one of the largest federal manhunts in U.S. history – a manhunt that ended with a six-hour standoff with authorities during which he confessed to the assassination of JFK.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including domestic violence.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Judy Garland: Seconals, Benzedrine, and Dexedrine…Oh My

Judy Garland: Seconals, Benzedrine, and Dexedrine…Oh My

With a few clicks of their ruby slippers, MGM made 16-year-old Judy Garland a box office giant, but their strict rules nearly killed the budding starlet in the process. The studio’s strict diet of chicken soup, uppers, and downers set up teenage Judy for a life fraught with addiction, malnutrition, extreme health complications, and regular visits to rehab. Even years after Judy severed ties with the MGM, the effects of her highly-regulated adolescence creeped into her career, literally poisoning her life — and her liver. A star was born when Judy filmed The Wizard of Oz, but by her late forties, that same star was in rapid decline.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including child abuse and eating disorders.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Sean Penn: A Prison Escape, The Night Stalker, and Madonna’s True Blue Bad Boy

Sean Penn: A Prison Escape, The Night Stalker, and Madonna’s True Blue Bad Boy

In the summer of 1985, Sean Penn’s marriage to preeminent material girl Madonna was an epochal moment for ‘80s-era Hollywood. The bad boy from Bad Boys and the boy-toy pop superstar blissfully brought together the worlds of movies and music on a Malibu bluff overlooking the Pacific. But their subsequent attempt to make a movie together was anything but blissful. A wild film shoot in China would lead to even wilder things, like the time Sean dangled a photographer upside-down from a ninth-story balcony. Or the time he escaped a prison in Macau and had to have a pardon from the government negotiated by a former member of the Beatles. Or the time he spent in an American prison, where he found himself passing notes with a fellow inmate down the hall…one who happened to be one of the most notorious serial killers in history.This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including domestic violence and sexual assault.See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at