If you wanted to speak to the dead in 1960’s America, there was one man who was ready to help. A showman with big ambitions. A man who before your very eyes could bring back the dead.
Vicky Baker investigates the story of Lamar Keene, a renowned psychic who confessed to being part of an underground network that he called the "psychic mafia".
From the team who brought you Fake Heiress, this is a story about the art of the con, belief, retribution, and possibly atonement.
If you wanted to speak with the dead in 1960s America, there was one man who was ready to help. For more than a decade, Lamar Keene was at the top of his game, becoming known as the Prince of Spiritualists. Then, quite suddenly, he turned his back on it all.
Lamar Keene went public and revealed his whole operation had been one big con. He not only implicated himself but claimed that he had been part of an underground network, which had conspired to defraud the unsuspecting public. He called it the “psychic mafia”, and said that his confession made him a marked man.
In a series that mixes documentary with drama, Vicky Baker (Fake Heiress) takes a deep dive into Lamar Keene’s stranger-than-fiction life story.
Episode 6 Cast:
Lamar . . . . . Edward Hogg
Lona . . . . . Jasmine Hyde
Florence . . . . . Barbara Barnes
Ruthie . . . . . Tillie Murray
Stranger . . . . . Shaun Mason
Cop . . . . . Nathan Osgood
Reporter . . . . . Neil McCaul
Zoologist . . . . . Christine Kavanagh
Written and reported by Vicky Baker
Drama written by Nick Perry
Sound design by Peter Ringrose
Produced by Sasha Yevtushenko
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 4
1 Feb 2022
5. The Devil's Carousel
If you wanted to speak with the dead in 1960s America, there was one man who was ready to help. For more than a decade, Lamar Keene was at the top of his game, becoming known as the Prince of Spiritualists. Then, quite suddenly, he turned his back on it all.
Lamar Keene went public and revealed his whole operation had been one big con. He not only implicated himself but claimed that he had been part of an underground network, which had conspired to defraud the unsuspecting public. He called it the “psychic mafia”, and said that his confession made him a marked man.
In a series that mixes documentary with drama, Vicky Baker (Fake Heiress) takes a deep dive into Lamar Keene’s stranger-than-fiction life story.
Episode 5 Cast:
Lamar . . . . . Edward Hogg
Raoul . . . . . Tom Mothersdale
Florence . . . . . Barbara Barnes
Kate . . . . . Susan Brown
Betty . . . . . Christine Kavanagh
Adam . . . . . Nathan Osgood
Written and reported by Vicky Baker
Drama written by Nick Perry
Sound design by Peter Ringrose
Produced by Sasha Yevtushenko
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 4
1 Feb 2022
4. The Cathedral
If you wanted to speak with the dead in 1960s America, there was one man who was ready to help. For more than a decade, Lamar Keene was at the top of his game, becoming known as the Prince of Spiritualists. Then, quite suddenly, he turned his back on it all.
Lamar Keene went public and revealed his whole operation had been one big con. He not only implicated himself but claimed that he had been part of an underground network, which had conspired to defraud the unsuspecting public. He called it the “psychic mafia”, and said that his confession made him a marked man.
In a series that mixes documentary with drama, Vicky Baker (Fake Heiress) takes a deep dive into Lamar Keene’s stranger-than-fiction life story.
Episode 4 Cast:
Lamar . . . . . Edward Hogg
Raoul . . . . . Tom Mothersdale
Mable . . . . . Susan Brown
Daisy . . . . . Barbara Barnes
Joe . . . . . Nathan Osgood
Stirling . . . . . Shaun Mason
Don . . . . . Michael Begley
Realtor . . . . . Neil McCaul
Written and reported by Vicky Baker
Drama written by Nick Perry
Sound design by Peter Ringrose
Produced by Sasha Yevtushenko
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 4
1 Feb 2022
3. True Believers
If you wanted to speak with the dead in 1960s America, there was one man who was ready to help. For more than a decade, Lamar Keene was at the top of his game, becoming known as the Prince of Spiritualists. Then, quite suddenly, he turned his back on it all.
But Lamar Keene didn't go quietly. He published a tell-all expose in which he confessed that he was little more than a conman, a psychic fraudster, who manipulated people in their most vulnerable moments. And in doing so, he catalogued the many physical and psychological tricks he used to separate his followers from their money.
It wasn’t just his own carefully-crafted reputation that Lamar Keene sought to destroy. He wanted to blow the whistle on the whole industry. He claimed that he had been part of a national underground network that included many other psychics, clairvoyants and mediums, who combined forces to fleece the unsuspecting public. He called it the “psychic mafia,” and said that his confession made him a marked man.
But how much can we trust the revelations of a self-confessed conman? How much of Lamar Keene’s extraordinary story is really true? And what can it tell us about how our emotions affect belief and our susceptibility to misinformation?
In a series that mixes documentary with drama, Vicky Baker (Fake Heiress) takes a deep dive into Lamar Keene’s stranger-than-fiction life story.
Episode 3 Cast:
Lamar . . . . . Edward Hogg
Raoul . . . . . Tom Mothersdale
Tom . . . . . Neil McCaul
Andrija . . . . . Michael Begley
Lona . . . . . Jasmine Hyde
Warden . . . . . Chris Jack
Mrs Moseley . . . . . Christine Kavanagh
Written and reported by Vicky Baker
Drama written by Nick Perry
Sound design by Peter Ringrose
Produced by Sasha Yevtushenko
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 4
1 Feb 2022
2. Eyes Wide Open
If you wanted to speak with the dead in 1960s America, there was one man who was ready to help. For more than a decade, Lamar Keene was at the top of his game, becoming known as the Prince of Spiritualists. Then, quite suddenly, he turned his back on it all.
But Lamar Keene didn't go quietly. He published a tell-all expose in which he confessed that he was little more than a conman, a psychic fraudster, who manipulated people in their most vulnerable moments. And in doing so, he catalogued the many physical and psychological tricks he used to separate his followers from their money.
It wasn’t just his own carefully-crafted reputation that Lamar Keene sought to destroy. He wanted to blow the whistle on the whole industry. He claimed that he had been part of a national underground network that included many other psychics, clairvoyants and mediums, who combined forces to fleece the unsuspecting public. He called it the “psychic mafia,” and said that his confession made him a marked man.
But how much can we trust the revelations of a self-confessed conman? How much of Lamar Keene’s extraordinary story is really true? And what can it tell us about how our emotions affect belief and our susceptibility to misinformation?
In a series that mixes documentary with drama, Vicky Baker (Fake Heiress) takes a deep dive into Lamar Keene’s stranger-than-fiction life story.
Episode 2 Cast:
Lamar . . . . . Edward Hogg
Raoul . . . . . Tom Mothersdale
Kate . . . . . Tillie Murray
Mrs Phillips . . . . . Jasmine Hyde
Dorothy . . . . . Lorelei King
Lillian . . . . . Christine Kavanagh
Written and reported by Vicky Baker
Drama written by Nick Perry
Sound design by Peter Ringrose
Produced by Sasha Yevtushenko
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 4
1 Feb 2022
1. The Showman
If you wanted to speak with the dead in 1960s America, there was one man who was ready to help. For more than a decade, Lamar Keene was at the top of his game, becoming known as the Prince of Spiritualists. Then, quite suddenly, he turned his back on it all.
But Lamar Keene didn't go quietly. He published a tell-all exposé in which he confessed that he was little more than a conman, a psychic fraudster, who manipulated people in their most vulnerable moments. And in doing so, he catalogued the many physical and psychological tricks he used to separate his followers from their money.
It wasn’t just his own carefully crafted reputation that Lamar Keene sought to destroy. He wanted to blow the whistle on the whole industry. He claimed that he had been part of a national underground network that included many other psychics, clairvoyants and mediums, who combined forces to fleece the unsuspecting public. He called it the “psychic mafia,” and said that his confession made him a marked man.
But how much can we trust the revelations of a self-confessed conman? How much of Lamar Keene’s extraordinary story is really true? And what can it tell us about how our emotions affect belief and our susceptibility to misinformation?
In a series that mixes documentary with drama, Vicky Baker (Fake Heiress) takes a deep dive into Lamar Keene’s stranger-than-fiction life story.
Episode 1 Cast:
Lamar . . . . . Edward Hogg
Bill . . . . . Michael Begley
Ken . . . . . Neil McCaul
Waitress . . . . . Jasmine Hyde
Ruthie . . . . . Tillie Murray
Written and reported by Vicky Baker
Drama written by Nick Perry
Sound design by Peter Ringrose
Produced by Sasha Yevtushenko
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 4
25 Jan 2022
Introducing Fake Psychic
From the team who brought you Fake Heiress, this is a story about the art of the con, belief, retribution, and possibly atonement.
Vicky Baker investigates the story of Lamar Keene, a renowned psychic who confessed to being part of an underground network that he called the "psychic mafia".
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Apple Podcasts (US)
3.3 / 5
42 ratings
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