Documentaries have seemingly risen in popularity over recent years, with Tiger King releasing in 2020 during the first (UK) lockdown and keeping everyone entertained.
Now, Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler has released onto the platform, and this month (February, 2022) will offer a behind-the-scenes look into the series...
Bernadette Higgins and Felicity Morris, the hosts of You Can't Make This Up / Picture Credit:Raw
The Making of a Swindler is a brand new podcast to be released by Netflix; it is a companion audio mini-series which will be published within the feed of its popular documentary podcast, You Can’t Make This Up.
Produced by the same team that made the film (RAW), the upcoming podcast aims to dig a little deeper into both the lives and ways of the ill-famed Tinder Swindler.
Every episode will tear away at the lies told by the Swindler, as well as taking a closer look at those who actively, or unknowingly, supported him.
Audiences will learn about the mistakes the Swindler made along the way, and the lessons he learned, tracing the many years back to his childhood.
Felicity Morris and Bernadette Higgins will host three episodes of the podcast, each aiming to shed some light on the Tinder Swindler himself.
The Tinder Swindler showcases the entourage that surrounds Simon, the Swindler himself. The documentary looks into who these people are, if they were in on the scam, or if they really are the victims they claim themselves to be.
In the first episode of the podcast, titled The Theatre of the Con, listeners will learn more about the identity of Peter, Simon’s bodyguard. Audiences will also hear directly from Jamal, Simon’s driver in London who, three years later, feel deep guilt for his involvement in the ordeal.
With Episode 2, titled Who is the real Simon?, the hosts focus on the fact that Simon is clearly a criminal mastermind, with a level of skill that calls for practice and patience, and a particular amount of pathology.
Felicity and Bernie aim to understand the mind and methods of the Swindler; they meet with a forensic psychologist who specialises in con artists, to better understand the psychology behind what is known as “the love con”.
Finally, the last episode, titled The Rabbi’s Son, tells of how Simon was, before his playboy adventures, Shimon, the son of a rabbi. His father was well-respected and the chief rabbi of El Al Airlines for 15 years.
Felicity speaks with an Israeli police officer who has been chasing the Swindler since 2011; he discusses the criminal’s earlier cons, when he worked as a babysitter; then we are introduced to Rabbi Badush from Brooklyn, whose haunting story will make you wonder if the apple didn’t fall very far from the tree...
The first two episodes of The Making of a Swindler is available on You Can’t Make This Up (via Spotify or the Podcasts app) on February 9th, 2022, while the final episode releases on February 16th, 2022.
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
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