MFM Presents… Royal Swindle

This is exactly right. Welcome aboard season six of the Girlfriends. Flight or fight, which takes place 30,000 feet in the sky. A beautiful woman smiles and hands you a scotch. But you have no idea just how messed up her job actually is. It was the most sexist job I think you could have. Until one day, a group of stewardesses spark a revolution that reshapes America. Listen to the Girlfriends, flight or fight on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, everybody. Amy Robock and TJ Holmes here from the Amy and TJ podcast. We are your one stop shop for the biggest news making headlines of the day. We've got you covered. There's a lot of news happening these days and some of it's breaking. We are on top of it every single day. There's a bunch of true crime going on out there as well and so much of it dominating on social media. We have our eye on it all. Listen to the Amy and TJ podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you're a bookshelf and you're for you page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. Pro society is a weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for anyone who thinks pride and prejudice and love island deserve the same level of discourse. Each week we're connecting the dots between books, the internet and pop culture. With your favorite writers, book talk creators, and plenty of over thought opinions. Yeah, I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. Listen to Pro Society on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello! We're so excited to share the first episode of Royal Swindle, our brand new limited series from exactly right media, Blanchard House, and USG audio. Royal Swindle tells the story of two larger than life Australian women who arrive in England in the 1990s and charm their way into the world of old money, high society, and of course, horses. In fact, episode one is entitled The Horses Set, and it follows Evelyn Burton and her lover Leila Andre as they blow into town promising rich British investors spectacular returns. They're welcomed into rarefied social circles and even make plans to buy a massive country house with a full staff. But behind this rich facade, these women are hiding a dark past and some seriously diabolical intentions. So listen to Royal Swindle right now, episode one, The Horses Set, and then you can go see photos from the story at exactly right on Instagram. New episodes of Royal Swindle drop every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And while you're there, don't forget to like, subscribe, and review Royal Swindle. And now here's episode one of Royal Swindle. Goodbye! Welcome aboard season six of The Girlfriends, Flight or Fight, which takes place 30,000 feet in the sky. There's great food, comfortable chairs, and attentive stewardesses. The stewardesses were so beautiful. But in reality, the stewardess job is far less glamorous than it appears. In this era, the airlines told these stewardesses they have to be single. They had no good excuse for why they wouldn't let women be married. They have to be skinny. We were starving ourselves. And they have to be young. You would retire at age 32. But one day, a group of stewardesses said, "This has got to stop." They risked it all, turning a fight for fairness into a revolution. Listen to The Girlfriends, Flight or Fight, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Quick warning, this story contains adult themes and strong language. 1997, England. The Royal Windsor Horseshoe. An absolute must for the cream of British high society. But this is no ordinary year. In fact, it'll be remembered for a very long time. There's show jumping, carriage driving, dressage. And at this prestigious event, nowhere is more prestigious than the Royal Inclosure. And this year, guess who's been spotted chatting to the Queen, talking and laughing with Queen Elizabeth the second to Australian women? Now, these Aussies are very charismatic. And here they are, gossiping away to her majesty about the huge country house they're about to buy. So, it's all very jolly. But there's something the Queen doesn't know about this pair. Something none of the role on tarage nose. Something no one in the whole of England knows. This Aussie couple are a pair of crooks. They're cunning. They're smart. And they're up to no good. They want what these people have. Money. And they'll do anything to get it. If the blue bloods and the landed gentry and this whole champagne-coffing crowd had any idea what's really going on, they'd run like wild horses. Now, nearly 30 years later, one of those crooks is ready to talk. I've upgraded a lot of things I've done. A lot of things. I sold my soul to the devil. Look, I would say, I'm the restory. But whether I've been meaning or not, I don't know. From USG audio, Blanchard House, and exactly right media, this is Royal Swindle. I'm Becky Mehlagard. Episode 1. The horsey set. September 1996. England's green and pleasant countryside, where the upper crust live in ancient country houses, set in lush pastures, passed down from generation to generation. Here, the aristocracy entertain friends on a grand scale and enjoy their country pursuits. And there's one past time they prize above all others. Horses. Sophia Money Coots is an author and journalist. A lot of British people are really obsessed with horses. They live, eat, breathe horses. Breeding, riding, showing and racing horses. And the people who move in these circles have a name, the horsey set. These people really can't live without their horses. And there's a sense of permanence to it all. Year in, year out, same people, same shows, bloodlines that can be traced back centuries. Continuity, a reassuring rhythm, a natural order. And the cost of maintaining this natural order is phenomenal. We're talking into the millions. But there's one thing you need to know about this world of old money. There's not always that much actual money knocking around. It's not all like downtown Abbey. There is that expression asset rich cash poor, which applies to a lot of posh people in this country. The money's tied up in all those crumbling old stately homes, which cost a fortune to run. So when someone new turns up, someone who's really wealthy, people can get quite excited. Even if that someone doesn't quite fit in. And that's what happens in autumn 1996, when two charismatic outsiders blow in with plenty of spare cash. Two Australian millionaires, Lila Andre and Evelyn Burton, have arrived in the UK. Now if the horsey set aren't in their jobpers and riding boots caked in mud in the saddle, they dress a bit like the late Queen. Rather conservative, pearls, headscarps, tweed skirts and padded jealais, their body warmers. And let's just say, Evelyn and Lila looked rather different and they both had rather contrasting styles. Well, Evelyn Burton was a very large lady, not very feminine, dressed in a pair of very baggy jeans and a bomber jacket and some boots, I think, and this short haircut. And Lila was the complete opposite. Red hair, Lila, masses and masses and masses of red hair, and fingernails, everyone painted a different colour. The clothes were so very colourful, she wore these flamboyant hats and the makeup and everything else like that. And it was the lipstick. She almost looked like a pantomime dame. She's a bit of odd looking. They're flamboyant and larger than life. Hello, everybody. That's Lila Andre. Of course it flowed, it was champagne flowed, absolutely flowed. You know, I just would spoil myself. And the thing about these millionaires, Lila and Evelyn, they're not just business partners, they're much more than that. Lila remembers the first time they met, 20 years earlier. In walks Evelyn, love at first sight. I saw this woman and that was it. She had this aura around her. And I just could not believe what I was seeing. And I'm saying to myself, this is the woman that I want to live with. This is the woman that I want. The attraction was intoxicating. She was just beautiful. Everything about her was just beautiful, her voice. The way she talked, her face, her eyes, her mouth. Look, she was stunning. She was the woman that I wanted. And I'd wanted for a long, long time. Lila is bold over by Evelyn. And now the horsey set of rural England is about to be bold over by Evelyn and Lila. The appeal is, well, there's only one way to describe it. It was intoxicating stuff. That's Marjorie Ramsay. If any couple embodies the horsey set, it's got to be the Ramsay's. Marjorie and Richard know everyone and everyone knows them. Now our Australian millionaire Evelyn is some kind of financial wizard and has turned thousands into millions, seemingly overnight. Evelyn's got investors all over the place, Ireland, Sweden, and now the rural shyers of England. She had this man that she was always on the phone to in America and she talked in millions of dollars and millions of pounds. Marjorie has never met anyone like Evelyn before. Even the way Evelyn says the word "millions" feels exotic? Means. She didn't pronounce the elves. That's weird. Yes. But she was Australian. Lila and Evelyn have just entered Marjorie and Richard's world. Or should that be the other way round? Anyway, their lives are going to change forever. You know, all this business of I can turn any money you hand over to me. I can make it double treble what it is. And the thing about Evelyn and Lila is that they don't just talk the talk. They walk the walk, too. They may not have the bloodline, but they definitely have the credit line. It's only the very best of everything. First-class travel, chauffeur-driven Rolls-Roses, top notch restaurants, and the very finest wines. Shetel-a-feet, shetel-a-tour. I mean, everyone had all this money. So Lila and Evelyn have made quite the entrance. But these two Aussies aren't just here on their summer vacation. They're here to stay. And they have a plan, an ambitious plan. Part one. Buy a property? Not an ordinary property. Oh, no. Or like a country estate or a stately home in the rolling English countryside. And the place will need to be big because of part two of their big plan. Evelyn and Lila want to start a stud farm. They want to breed horses. If you're a bookshelf and you're a for-you-page or equally important to your personality, welcome home. Each week, we're connecting the dots between books, the internet, and pop culture. With your favorite writers, book talk creators, and plenty of overthought opinions. A lot of times, the story of the day is what we're all talking about and buzzing about. And yes, sometimes it's love island, and sometimes it's serena ropes. Coming back to the US Open, sometimes it's obsession, and Spider-Man making box office history. Hopefully, Rose, people get our point. Listen to Amy and TJ on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. A big house takes a while to find, and then of course it takes a while for the sale to go through. So in the meantime, they've taken up residents in one of London's finest hotels. The Barclay, in the heart of Belgravia, and they've not just booked any old room here. Whole suite of rooms then. Absolutely yes, everyone wanted everything. They pay up front in cash, and it's perfect. The boys there love to. And whenever anyone delivered anything to the room, they were given a £5 note. Whenever she went out in the car, she'd flick a £1 coin it was to one of the boys, the staff loved her. Did they? Yes. The thing about London's posh hotels is that they might be in the hustle and bustle of the big city, but they're like an extension of the English countryside. Everyone knows everyone, especially if there's money to be made. I've said to the dormant at the Barclay, if you have anybody who appears, who might want to buy a property in country, give us a shout. Art market real estate agent Jonathan Harrington gets the tip off from the dormant. That's how it started. He's round at the Barclay before you can blink. Meeting the two women in their suite. He isn't disappointed. They don't make any secret of just how loaded they are. You know, it's sort of a big talk. He means they're boasting. We have racehorse, we have private jets, we have cars and we need a wonderful country house. A property with all the trimmings. 2030 acres of cottage, stables, garaging. 18 bedrooms, lounge, sitting room, breakfast, pantry, seven stoves, you name it. A tree-lined drive, large gardens, the list goes on. A lovely country home in the British countryside, where I might know one or two of the neighbours that not very well, but if I needed a cup of sugar, I could bust them. So the real estate agent, Jonathan, is looking for Evelyn and Lila's dream home. But every big country house needs a household staff. They're pretty specific about their requirements. And when it comes to mail staff, there's one non-negotiable. They've got to be gay, guys. They usually clean. You can talk to them. I'd had a lot to do with them. And they were what I wanted. Lila and Evelyn need someone who recruits high-end staff for high-end clients. Enter Frances Hutchinson. She's worked for a whole host of VIPs. From pop star to footballer to king or queen. They're very wealthy and they're people who can pay for the best. And so you introduce them to the best. Perfect. Just what our two millionaires require. Lila organizes a meeting. But she and Evelyn aren't quite what Frances is expecting. Certainly not the normal kind of client that I've dealt with. But that isn't a problem. Frances has been brought up not to judge a book by its cover. And what are couple lack, saying class? They make up for with their enormous bank balance. So when these ideas came along, they wanted everything. Nice car with a driver. A state manager, a head gardener and junior gardeners. Housekeeping stuff. There was the butler. There was the underbutler. There was a twiny. It's a little personal maid. No, a twiny. Oh, a twiny is a little person who works between everybody else. Everyone else cleans. And she follows them and just tides up what they haven't. And Evelyn clearly has the cash to pay for it. At all. She would keep her stash of £50 notes down her bra. Down her what? Her bra. She would put her hand down her shirt and pull out a £50 note. And there was somebody sleeping rough outside of Harrods. And she had the driver pull over and she got out of the car and just pulled this £50 note out. That's about $150 today. So Evelyn likes to look after people and likes to look after one person, above all. She really took care of Lila. And she actually said to me one day, "Everybody's job is to take care of Lila. I want Lila to be happy." And that means a lot of beauty appointments and probably quite a lot of hair appointments to keep that colour I would imagine. Frances opens her contact book, picks up the phone and starts recruiting the butlers, the gardeners and the tweenies, 15 staff in total. And she's thrilled to be helping this Aussie couple make England their home. She takes them as she finds them, honest, eccentric, but extremely charming millionaires. But there's rather more to them than that because Evelyn and Lila have a history. Quite a history. Back in Australia in the 1970s, well, I'll let Lila tell you. Well, I was working. I was a working girl. Yes, she was a sex worker. In fact, both Evelyn and Lila were sex workers for many, many years. The best clients in the world are trodys and tractors. They really are. Why? Because they polite, they courteous, they kind, they friendly, they usually come in duty that go out clean because they wash, and they're talkative. And Lila knew all the tricks of the trade. So the longer you spend on the massage, the less you spent on the screwing. Right. And you only gave them three pumps anyway. It got by its only last three minutes. Lila had one rule that she left by, swore by. You never ever go with anyone with a tie and a collar? Because they're usually bastards. Actually, Evelyn and Lila met through the sex trade in the 1980s. By then, Lila was running a brothel and Evelyn was running a whole chain of brothels, eventually 16 of them. And let's just say Evelyn's approach to abuse was zero tolerance. If the man had some trouble, she would arrange for someone to go and, you know, break a leg, which arm would slig, that sort of thing. Now, as we've heard, when Lila first crossed paths with Evelyn, the attraction was instant. She was wearing a mallet. And it suited her beautifully, really dark hair. And the curls in it were just brilliant. I just couldn't take my eyes off her. But Evelyn, on the other hand, took far longer to come round. She just didn't have a clue. Did not have a clue. I'm thinking, what doesn't you bloody wake up? What is the matter with her? But Lila was patient and persistent. I just waited and waited and waited until I got my shot. Like a spider. Collecting something in its web. And when Lila finally snared her prey, it was passionate, intense. I was walking through the door and she was walking through the door as well. And she slammed the door shut and grabbed me. And kissed me. And she said, "And that's when I say I'm in love with you." It's as if Evelyn and Lila were made for each other. They have so much in common. They both had tough childhoods and cash was always tight. Now they've found each other. Evelyn vows that money will never be a problem ever again. That poverty is well and truly behind them. And what lies ahead is a life of luxury and comfort. A life well lived. She promised and promised and promised me the world. The only thing is the path Evelyn and Lila go down in order to live the good life means that they're always just one step away from losing it all. Because none of it is really theirs. As Lila says of Evelyn, quite simply, she was terrible. Oh, she was a little thief. She was a little thief. Not a little thief, a bad elf, you know? The really bad elf. And Evelyn was a bad elf with a bad habit, a very bad habit. I always said that to Evelyn. From the very first day I met her. You talk too much. It's Evelyn's Achilles heel. And it makes their already perilous position even more perilous. Our duo know their good life can be snatched away at any moment. And that's exactly what happens in 1996. Lila and Evelyn are living in Melbourne and have all the luxury and comfort they ever wished for. But suddenly, they start to feel the heat on multiple fronts. And they need to escape fast. And that's how they end up in the UK. Yes, they're on the run. But one day, a group of stewardesses said, this has got to stop. They risked it all, turning a fight for fairness into a revolution. Dancing With The Stars is looking for a new pro, and since last season, I came in eighth place. I'm basically an expert. I'm Daniel Fischel. And I'm Valch Merkowski. And we have a new podcast called Stepping On Toes with Danielle and Val. Every week, we're breaking down Dancing With The Stars the next pro, to find out who I'll be sharing the born with next season. Listen to Stepping On Toes on America's number one podcast network, I Heart. Follow Stepping On Toes and start listening on the Free I Heart Radio app today. I'm Nancy Glass, host of the Burden of Guild Season 3 podcast. This is a story about a horrendous situation that destroyed two families. It's a scorched earth war that shows just how far someone will go to get what they want. Cindy said I had to choose between the truth and my family, and I had to choose the truth. Listen to Season 3 of Burden of Guild on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. For Lila and Evelyn, it's a blank slate, a new page, a chance to have another shot at the Good Life, at other people's expense. All of this, of course, is lost on the horsey set. They're blissfully unaware. No, to them, Evelyn and Lila are just a slightly eccentric Aussie couple who want to buy a big house, fill it with staff, and start a stud farm. In other words, breed horses, for show jumping as it happens. The couple are driven all around rural England for viewings of vast country estates. The only one that stood out was one in new market. A town a couple of hours away from London, and the home of horse racing. It was gorgeous, there was a pool and there was absolutely everything it wanted. Now this wasn't just one property, it was virtually a small village. It was very pretty, it had about six or eight other little cottages, and they all had names of flowers which were lovely. So they've chosen the house, now they need to find horses for their stud, and it's only the very best breed for Evelyn, the revered Arabian horse. That's when they hear about Lucille and Larry, who apparently have just what Evelyn and Lila are after, a young Arab filly for sale. I thought they were going to be really horsey people. They would anything like I expected. Lucille Clark Smith and her husband, Larry, invite the Aussies over. Lila coming down with a pair of stiletto heels on, and dressed like very flamboyant leaves with all this colour, with loads of makeup on and she wore these outrageous hats. I mean they were quite pleasant, I mean Lila was a real lady. But the other one looked like a stable lad. Lucille and Larry show them their filly, and Evelyn falls in love. The horse is magnificent and perfect for her new stud. A deal is done, 15,000 pounds, that's about 45,000 US dollars today. Now no money actually changes hands on the day. The funds are on their way though, Evelyn says. Now Lucille and Larry are completely charmed by Evelyn and Lila. But things don't quite hurt up. These Aussie millionaires who've just blown in to set up a stud farm. New nothing about horses, that was quite clear. They knew nothing about horses. So if Lila and Evelyn are going to make a go of their stud farm, they'd better find someone who knows about horses and show jumping, fast. Well, remember Richard and Marjorie, who were intrigued by the way Evelyn said the word 'millions'. 'Meyons', she didn't pronounce the 'ells'. Well they know a lot about show jumping. In fact, they're two of the most respected people in the show jumping world. And they're very good friends with Francis Hutchinson, who's busy finding staff for Lila and Evelyn's massive new house. Before long, Richard and Marjorie are invited to a business meeting at a very smart hotel in London. There was this not very tall, but very wide lady in a grey pinstripe suit with slightly curly grey hair. Lila's memory of Richard, on the other hand, is a little more hazy. I don't remember him. Wouldn't remember him from a toothpick. Haven't got a clue. Coffee and biscuits are served, and Evelyn gets straight down to business. She said, "I want to buy this huge property and start up a show jumping stud, and I really want to go into this big time." Richard is impressed. Evelyn then offers Marjorie the job of a lifetime stud manager on Evelyn's new estate. It's very wonderful to be offered something that you would really, really like to do and could never afford to do it on your own. She was offering me exactly what I would like. In fact, this is Marjorie's dream job. Evelyn doesn't stop there. She tells Richard, "If Marjorie's going to be the stud manager, we need her on the premises." Richard frowns, but Evelyn nods and throws him one of her charming smiles. It's okay, because. There are cottages on the estate. You will have a lovely house, dotted out of your own. Richard and Marjorie are impressed by Evelyn and Lyla's generosity. And their generosity doesn't end there. Evelyn starts to tell them about her lucrative investments. You would talk about bonds and banking and overnight money markets. To be honest, Lyla says she's a bit bamboozled by it all. Evelyn looks after all this stuff, apparently. But basically, it involves complicated financial instruments called prime bank guarantees and bonds. It's all managed by her American investment company. And judging by their lifestyle, it's been hugely successful. And Evelyn has a bright idea. If Richard and Marjorie are coming to live in one of her cottages, well, they won't need their own house anymore. Will they? Now, the thing you need to do is to sell your house. And obviously, if you sell your house, that money, if you give it to me, I will turn it into mega money. Mega money. So things are really coming together. They're gorgeous house with those lovely little cottages. The household staff, a manager for their stud farm and their first beautiful Arab horse. Evelyn and Lyla have truly joined the horsey set. Except, well, you may have worked this out by now. But all of it, and I mean all of it, is an illusion. Evelyn and Lyla will never buy their English-stately home. There won't be a stud farm. There won't be lovely little cottages for the staff. And there won't be any dream jobs. And those prime bank guarantees, the ones Evelyn is persuading Richard and Marjorie to pour their life savings into the proceeds of their house sale. Those prime bank guarantees aren't worth the paper they're printed on. But the real question is this. Why on earth does everyone take these two Aussies? Totally out of place in the Shires of England. So very seriously. And continue to take them seriously. Well, Lyla thinks it's very simple. Evelyn needs to work on greed. She understood human nature. But this is just the beginning. In her bid to give Lyla the life she's always dreamed of, Evelyn is aiming high. Very high. She's warmed her way into the horsey set. Now she's got her sights set on the royal set. You've been listening to Royal Swindle, a Blanchardhouse production for USG Audio, in partnership with exactly right media, hosted by me Becky Milligan. It's written and produced by me Becky Milligan and Seren Jones. Original music is by Daniel Lloyd Evans, Louis Knight Manel and Toby Matamall. Design and Mix Engineering is by Vulcan Kiseltuk, Toby Matamall and Daniel Lloyd Evans. Story Development by Duncan Barber. The managing producer is Amika Shautino-Nolan, production support from Joff La Longie at USG Audio. The creative director at Blanchardhouse is Rosie Pie. The executive producer and head of content at Blanchardhouse is Lawrence Grisel. Our executive producer from USG Audio is Josh Block. Welcome aboard season 6 of The Girlfriends, Flight or Fight, which takes place 30,000 feet in the sky. Until one day, a group of stewardesses spark a revolution that reshapes Amika. Listen to The Girlfriends, Flight or Fight, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to season 3 of Burden of Guild on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey Portlandia fans. Very brown scene in Fred Armason here. We're launching Podlandia AO reWatch, our brand new podcast where we revisit every episode of Portlandia together, breaking down sketches, going deep on our iconic characters, and pulling back the curtain on how it all got made. And we'll also be joined by the people who helped bring it all to life. Guest stars, collaborators, and friends, including director Jonathan Kreisel, the mayor himself, Kyle McLaughlin, legendary musician Amy Mann, and many more. Kyle is going for it here. You fully improvised not just words, but a song about it. I thought you were all going to write a song. I remember you thinking that. Listen to Podlandia AO reWatch on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.