A Most Audacious Heist
by Curiouscast / Blanchard House
Introducing "Hostile History"
About this podcast
A 19th-century empress chases eternal beauty, while a 20th-century thief risks everything to steal her crown jewel. Their fates are fixed to the same dazzling treasure: a perfect cluster of diamonds, the Sisi Star.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria loves that star. She uses it to defy the rules of her time and carve out her own legacy of beauty and power. Its pursuit drives her to her very limits.
And when petty crook Daniel Blanchard spies the jewel, it's the challenge he's been waiting for. His plan to steal it is high-stakes: a daring night-time parachute jump. If he can get his hands on the star, he knows it will launch him into the criminal big-leagues.
His exploits unleash a relentless game of cat-and-mouse, as a determined police team tracks Daniel across continents – even as time and again he vanishes from their grasp. But how long can Sisi’s star stay lucky for Daniel?
A Most Audacious Heist is a gripping tale of ambition, risk and obsession, as host Seren Jones tracks the empress and the thief across two centuries, to find out just how far they'll go to get what they desire.
New episodes every Tuesday, starting January 28, 2025
Episodes
- Introducing "Hostile History" · 43 minSince the dawn of time, humanity has been at war. Conflict in one form or another has been part of our existence since we first walked the earth. In this first episode of a…
- All That Glitters | 10 · 42 min · Season 1 Episode 10A century apart, the Empress and the thief each reached for the stars. But at what cost? Sisi’s dreams of immortality face the test of time. And as Daniel stands trial and the…
- Catch A Falling Star | 09 · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 9It’s dangerous to believe your own myth. Daniel gets a rude awakening as his past catches up with him. And a run in with a stranger makes Sisi see that nothing lasts forever. As…
- Burn Out | 08 · 31 min · Season 1 Episode 8Daniel takes a job that leads him deep into the shadows and into grave danger. And Sisi’s fairytale world is shattered when devastating news arrives from home. As Sisi realizes…
- Count Your Lucky Stars | 07 · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 7How long can anyone stay at the height of their powers? The hunt for Daniel hots up and he gets himself a lawyer. But he’s not ready to throw in the towel yet. And perfectionist…
- Feet On The Ground | 06 · 31 min · Season 1 Episode 6Daniel successfully carries out his biggest heist to date but fails to realize he’s made a schoolboy error. And things start to spiral for Sisi as she tries to fend off time…
- Bigger and Brighter | 05 · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 5With the star in their possession, Sisi and Daniel are both at the top of their game. Daniel finds his new signature trick and hones his craft. And Sisi uses her powers to get…
- A Star Is Born | 04 · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 4Sisi receives a glittering birthday present from her husband which will change her life – and Daniel’s – forever. In her diamond stars Sisi sees the vision of who she can become…
- A Glittering Future | 03 · 38 min · Season 1 Episode 3Daniel pulls off a baffling disappearing act. He loves to taunt and outsmart the police – but there are only so many times he can escape. Meanwhile poor Sisi is trapped in the…
- The Only Way Is Up | 02 · 42 min · Season 1 Episode 2Everyone’s gotta start somewhere. Daniel enjoys his first taste of crime and the thrill of getting away with it. And a privileged young Sisi takes her freedom for granted not…
- Shoot For The Moon | 01 · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 1It’s 1998 and petty thief Daniel Blanchard is on honeymoon in Vienna, Austria, when something catches his eye. A sparkling jewel. It’s the last Sisi star. Daniel knows instantly…
- A Most Audacious Heist begins January 28, 2025 · 3 min · Season 1It’s a summer night in 1998. Vienna, Austria. And petty thief Daniel Blanchard is about to carry out the heist of a lifetime. Stealing a crown jewel. The last remaining diamond…
