Wildcide is a hybrid true crime podcast comprised of the wildest, most bizarre true crime cases mixed with interviews from filmmakers, authors, survivors, researchers, criminal investigators, psychiatrists, therapists and more. Your hosts Chelsea (an allied health professional) and Bailey (a therapist) are sisters who aren’t afraid to dive deep into concepts from systemic issues in the legal field to the pathology of offenders. So come hang out with us while we sing, cry and analyze the wildcides of the world together. Welcome home, besties and baddies!
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Wildcide is a hybrid true crime podcast comprised of the wildest, most bizarre true crime cases mixed with interviews from filmmakers, authors, survivors, researchers, criminal investigators, psychiatrists, therapists and more. Your hosts Chelsea (an allied health professional) and Bailey (a therapist) are sisters who aren’t afraid to dive deep into concepts from systemic issues in the legal field to the pathology of offenders. So come hang out with us while we sing, cry and analyze the wildcides of the world together. Welcome home, besties and baddies!
For years, the name Wolfgang Beltracchi meant nothing to the art world. And yet, his fingerprints were everywhere—on canvases attributed to long-dead masters, hanging in prestigious galleries, and sitting in private collections worth millions. He didn’t just forge art—he forged history itself.
But this isn’t your typical forgery tale. This is the story of a man who studied the flaws of the elite and turned them into his canvas. Alongside his wife Helene, Wolfgang created an empire of lies so seductive, it didn’t just fool the experts—it made them complicit. With charm, chemistry, and unsettling precision, the couple orchestrated one of the most audacious art frauds in modern memory.
In this episode of Wildcide, we unravel the scandal that blurred the line between brilliance and betrayal. From psychological manipulation to the sociological blind spots of wealth and prestige, we explore how one man exposed the vulnerabilities of an entire industry—just by telling the story it wanted to hear. What does it take to fool the gatekeepers of culture? And why did they want to be fooled?
Tune in on Friday 6/6/25 for our interview with director, producer and author Barry Avrich.
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Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.
WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
References:
CBS News. (2014, February 23). Art forger Wolfgang Beltracchi's multimillion dollar scam. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/art-forger-wolfgang-beltracchis-multimillion-dollar-scam/
Deutsche Welle. (2015, August 19). How Beltracchi, the world's most famous art forger, plays with the market. https://www.dw.com/en/how-beltracchi-the-worlds-most-famous-art-forger-plays-with-the-market/a-18436266
Frickel, C. (2015, May 8). Wolfgang Beltracchi: Porträt des genialen Kunstfälschers. WEB.DE. https://web.de/magazine/unterhaltung/kultur/wolfgang-beltracchi-portraet-genialen-kunstfaelschers-30625452
Hammer, J. (2012, October 10). The greatest fake-art scam in history? Vanity Fair. https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/10/wolfgang-beltracchi-helene-art-scam
Levesque, D. (2014, February 22). Wolfgang Beltracchi and the biggest art scandal. Guardian Liberty Voice. https://guardianlv.com/2014/02/wolfgang-beltracchi-and-the-biggest-art-scandal/
Röbel, S., & Sontheimer, M. (2011, June 13). The $7 million fake: Forgery scandal embarrasses international art world. Der Spiegel. https://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/the-7-million-fake-forgery-scandal-embarrasses-international-art-world-a-768195.html:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Roxborough, S. (2014, August 29). Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery ('Beltracchi: Die Kunst der Fälschung'): Montreal Review. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/beltracchi-art-forgery-beltracchi-die-729140/
Gladwell, M. (2013). The statue that didn't look right. In Blink: The power of thinking without thinking (Adapted handout). TOK Topics. https://
WILDCIDE
Wildcide is a hybrid true crime podcast comprised of the wildest, most bizarre true crime cases mixed with interviews from filmmakers, authors, survivors, researchers, criminal investigators, psychiatrists, therapists and more. Your hosts Chelsea (an allied health professional) and Bailey (a therapist) are sisters who aren’t afraid to dive deep into concepts from systemic issues in the legal field to the pathology of offenders. So come hang out with us while we sing, cry and analyze the wildcides of the world together. Welcome home, besties and baddies!
