Tortoise Investigates
Tortoise Media
Welcome to the Tortoise Investigates feed. It’s the home for the best of our podcast series, where you can find all our chart-topping, award-winning stories in one place. We’ve covered everything from extraordinary tales of deception to suspicious deaths to one mother’s decades-long fight against the police. Our journalists cover a wide range of stories but there is a thread that ties them all together – in every series, you’ll hear us going deep on a story, taking our time to investigate, guided by the public interest and the truths that, as journalists, we think need to be uncovered...
Introducing... Rogue Russia: Agents of mayhem
Introducing... Rogue Russia: Agents of mayhemLast October, the head of MI5 said Russia was on a mission to cause "sustained mayhem" on European streets. It might be hard to spot at first, but it is there in plain sight. This is the unpredictable, violent world of the modern Russian intelligence services. You can listen to the episode on the Slow Newscast here.Be the first to hear episodes of the Slow Newscast ad-free by subscribing to Tortoise+ or by becoming a Tortoise member. To find out more
Introducing..Crime Junkie - MURDERED: JonBenet Ramsay
We are partnering with Audiochuck, so that we can continue to bring our listeners brilliant investigations like Elon's Spies. You can join Tortoise as a member to get early and ad-free access to new series and support our investigations at www.tortoisemedia.com/invite.Introducing...Crime Junkie - MURDERED: JonBenet Ramsay The morning after Christmas Day 1996, six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was reported missing... only for her body to be discovered hours later in her family’s home. Nearly thre
A star is born | Elon's Spies Ep4
When Donald Trump declared victory in the US presidential election, he told an adoring crowd that "a star is born". He was referring to Elon Musk.After months of reporting on the billionaire's use of private investigators, Alexi asks whether the insights he gained from that investigation reveal how Musk will operate in his new political era, and what that means for everything in his orbit.You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our j
Amber | Elon's Spies Ep3
To his surprise, Alexi finds himself speaking to a local reporter at the Gold Coast Bulletin in Australia. It’s not where he thought the story would take him but it reveals a new case involving Elon and his spies. You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf
Horrible human being | Elon's Spies Ep2
When Martin Tripp worked at Tesla, he took the advice of his boss Elon Musk - if you discover a problem, tell me about it. But when Martin shares his concerns, his world begins to spiral out of control. You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want t
Pedo guy | Elon's Spies Ep1
In 2018, Vernon Unsworth is at the centre of a global news story. He plays a crucial role in rescuing a young football team who became trapped in a flooded cave system. Overnight, he is a hero. But there’s a darker side of his story that’s less well known. That’s where Elon Musk and his private investigators come in. You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access
Return to...Sweet Bobby
Three years ago, we released our chart-topping investigative podcast Sweet Bobby. And now, Netflix are releasing the documentary Sweet Bobby on 16th October. Catch up with the original story across all 6 episodes by searching for Sweet Bobby wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to the exclusive ad-free and bonus episode with Kirat, the woman at the heart of this catfishing story, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or become a Tortoise member.You can find out more about Torto
Introducing...Elon's Spies
Elon Musk is one of the most powerful men in the world. He's a billionaire, the founder of SpaceX, Tesla and more. To his followers, he's a hero; to his critics, a far-right rabble rouser. But for someone so public, there’s one part of his life that’s less well known.Elon’s Spies investigates how this free-speech champion uses private investigators and surveillance to target everyone from whistleblowers at his companies, to online critics and people in his own life. Episode 1 is availa
The lawsuit | Master Ep 7
Neil Gaiman faces a lawsuit in the United States. The first woman to come forward and accuse the best-selling author of sexual assault has filed a complaint against him and his estranged wife, Amanda Palmer. In this episode she explains why she’s taking action. Neil Gaiman denies the allegations and says he has ‘never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.’Reporter: Rachel JohnsonProducer: Katie GunningSound Design: Dominic DelargyArtwork: Lola WilliamsEditor: Jasper Corbet
The phone calls | Master Ep 6
A fifth woman comes forward with allegations against the author Neil Gaiman.Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel JohnsonProducer: Matt RussellAdditional reporting: Jess SwinburneOriginal music and sound design: Tom KinsellaSeries editor: Matt RussellEditor: Jasper CorbettTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to
The NDAs | Master Ep 5
Almost a month since the investigation where two women came forward with allegations that the author Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted them - allegations he strenuously denied - more women have come forward. Including another woman made to sign a non-disclosure agreement.Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel JohnsonProducer: Katie Gunning and Matt RussellAdditional reporting: Jess SwinburneOriginal music and sound design: Tom KinsellaSeries editor: Matt RussellEditor: Jasper CorbettTo find out
The fan | Master Ep 4
The second woman to allege Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted her first met him as an 18-year-old fan. They began a consensual sexual relationship two years later. She alleges he was abusive and once penetrated her without her consent. He strenuously denies any unlawful behaviour and maintains all their sex was consensual.Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel JohnsonProducer: Katie GunningAdditional reporting: Jess SwinburneOriginal music and sound design: Tom KinsellaSeries editor: Matt Russell
The pond | Master Ep 3
New Zealand police tell the former nanny there isn’t enough evidence to actively pursue her sexual assault complaint against Neil Gaiman. He says he offered himself up for an interview with the police. But the facts may indicate otherwise.Clip: 1968 interview with Neil Gaiman - BBC Clip: Big Bang Theory, series 11, episode 21 - CBS/Warner BrosClip: Newsnight - BBC Clip: William Morrow 2014Clip: Politics and Prose bookstore 2013Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel JohnsonProducer:
The Whatsapps | Master Ep 2
The former nanny who alleges Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted her shares her WhatsApp messages with him. The messages appear friendly and affectionate. He says they’re evidence that she consented to sex with him. But is there another way of reading them?Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel JohnsonProducer: Katie GunningAdditional reporting: Jess SwinburneOriginal music and sound design: Tom KinsellaSeries editor: Matt RussellEditor: Jasper CorbettTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the T
The bath | Master Ep 1
Neil Gaiman is one of the world’s most successful authors. And one of the most loved. His works have been adapted for film, TV and the stage. Now two women, a former nanny and a fan, allege he sexually assaulted and abused them while they were in consensual relationships with him. He strenuously denies all the allegations.Clip: The Sandman trailer - DDC comics / Netflix Clip: The Ocean at the End of the Lane trailer - National theatre Clip: The Simpsons - DisneyReporter: Paul Caruana G
Introducing...What's Wrong With Democracy?
Introducing...What's Wrong With Democracy?By the end of this year, countries making up half the world’s population will have held elections. But not all of them will have been free and fair. In ‘What’s Wrong with Democracy?’ Professor Ben Ansell of Oxford University will, with the help of academics, journalists, activists and writers, figure out whether democracy is working and how best to preserve democratic freedoms, equality and rights. What’s Wrong with Democracy? is produced by Tortois
We want to hear from you | Dangerous Memories
We are publishing a bonus Q&A episode, and we want to hear from you. It has been brilliant to hear how Dangerous Memories has resonated with people. Thank you for getting in touch with us about your similar experiences, and your questions so far. Huey and her mum Sarah have agreed to come back into the podcast studio. If you would like to ask them about their experiences, please send in your questions to dangerousmemories@tortoisemedia.com by Tuesday 14th of August. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c
Lightbulbs | Dangerous Memories Ep 6
After years of failed attempts, an expert flies over from America to help guide the parents on how to get their children back. But getting them home is not the end of the journey, for anyone caught up in Anne’s web.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and mor
Who is Anne? | Dangerous Memories Ep 5
What motivated Anne in her work with the young women and did she believe what she was leading them to believe? In the search for answers, Grace turns to one of the only people who has heard Anne’s side of the story directly from her.This is episode 5 of 6. To binge-listen to all 6 episodes ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+
The ‘other person' | Dangerous Memories Ep 4
As Huey’s dependence on Anne grows, she becomes increasingly isolated from the outside world. Until, after a series of events over the summer of 2014, the police turn up and start to investigate. This is episode 4 of 6. To binge-listen to all 6 episodes ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify fo
Do not say my name | Dangerous Memories Ep 3
After Huey cycled off into the distance, her mother had no idea what caused her to leave or why. She was in the dark about the extraordinary things Huey had come to believe about her own family. So she finds someone who can help track her down.This is episode 3 of 6. To binge-listen to all episodes of Dangerous Memories ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our jou
The Seagull | Dangerous Memories Ep 2
Fipsi starts to question what really happened in the soft pink room, and how to help her friends who are still on their journeys with Anne Craig. But for one of them it’s already too late, as she makes a series of life altering decisions.This is episode 2 of 6 of Dangerous Memories. To binge-listen to all 6 episodes ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.If you'd like to get in touch with us about your own experience, contact: dangerousmemories@tortoisemedia.com
That amazing healer lady | Dangerous Memories Ep 1
A group of well-heeled young English women hear about an intriguing therapist figure, who describes herself as a ‘teacher of personal development’. One by one they start to visit her for sessions and, for some, it will lead to disastrous consequences. This is episode 1 of 6 of Dangerous Memories. To binge-listen to all 6 episodes ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.If you'd like to get in touch with us about your own experience, contact: dangerousmemorie
Introducing...Dangerous Memories
Introducing...Dangerous MemoriesWhen Sarah watched her 23 year old daughter cycle away from her in Chelsea - a well-off corner of London - she had no idea it would be the last time they’d see each other for 6 years. What would make a loving child from a life of privilege sever ties with friends and family, and disappear? It turns out, Sarah wasn’t alone in losing a daughter. Something strange was happening to other young women, too.And they all had one thing in common: a kind of therapist f
Devil's breath | The Gas Man Ep 6
In the final episode of the series, is the 40-year game of cat-and-mouse nearly over?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoiseme
Truth serum | The Gas Man Ep 5
In this episode, Chloe looks into what happened to The Gas Man when he arrived back in Germany as a fugitive – and investigates whether his trade with Iran ever really endedTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a
The other Gas Man | The Gas Man Ep 4
Chloe makes a startling discovery about another chemical trafficker that has consequences for her investigation. A Kurdish survivor of mustard gas shares her story.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or
The escape | The Gas Man Ep 3
The team persuades The Gas Man to step out from the shadows. He reveals the first big clue in the investigation to how he got away with it – and makes a surprising claim about his role in the caseTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch wi
The sting | The Gas Man Ep 2
Special Agent Bass has his target in his sights but he’s on another continent. If he wants him to talk he’ll need a clever plan – and maybe a bit of luckTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us mo
The special agent | The Gas Man Ep 1
In the 1980s Special Agent Dennis Bass received a tip-off that changed the course of his career. 30 years on reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou sets out to solve the mystery of how an international fugitive got away with his crimes – and why he's still on the run.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's p
Introducing...The Gas Man
Introducing...The Gas Man It starts with a tip-off. It’s the late 1980s and US Special Agent Dennis Bass is warned about a shipment of suspicious chemicals headed to a secret destination. So he follows the lead – and ends up stumbling into a global plot helping fuel a war. The main suspect? The Gas Man. In the decades since, Special Agent Bass has been locked in an international game of cat and mouse with the man who supplied a dangerous regime with the chemicals to make weapons. Every
Who Trolled Amber: Live
"Misinformation, disinformation, and trolling campaigns are not just a celebrity story. They are everywhere. They affect how we see reality online."In a year when four billion people are heading to the polls, and with the World Economic Forum warning that online misinformation is the most severe risk the world faces, Who Trolled Amber? shines a light on the shady industry of social media manipulation. It reveals how bots and trolls can sway opinions from celebrity trials to general elections.On
Introducing...The White Devil
We are partnering with Campside Media, so that we can continue to bring our listeners brilliant investigations like Who Trolled Amber. You can join Tortoise as a member to get early and ad-free access to new series and support our investigations at www.tortoisemedia.com/invite.Introducing...The White DevilSharing something special this week: A show from our friends at Campside Media, called White Devil.Late at night in May of 2021, a single gunshot shattered the silence along the beach at B
Introducing...The Price of Paradise
We are partnering with Wondery, so that we can continue to bring our listeners brilliant investigations like Who Trolled Amber. You can join Tortoise as a member to get early and ad-free access to new series and support our investigations at www.tortoisemedia.com/inviteIntroducing...The Price of ParadiseWhen ex-Bunny girl Jayne Gaskin spots the desert island of her dreams for sale online, she decides to risk it all. Trading in their English village home, Jayne and her family relocate t
Public enemy | Who Trolled Amber Ep 6
Johnny Depp’s maverick lawyer Adam Waldman finally comes under scrutiny. Alexi uncovers Waldman’s links to powerful figures and investigates his role in feeding online abuse. Can the team get to the truth about who trolled Amber?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and m
The special relationship | Who Trolled Amber Ep 5
Could a nation state have deployed an online army to fight for Johnny Depp? Alexi discovers the curious relationship between the Hollywood star and an authoritarian world leader.All six episodes of Who Trolled Amber are now available to binge-listen. To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium
Through the looking glass | Who Trolled Amber Ep 4
The astonishing case of a teenage killer helps lift the lid on how bot campaigns work – and offers the team a new path forward in the investigation.All six episodes of Who Trolled Amber are now available to binge-listen. To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf yo
Into the dark | Who Trolled Amber Ep 3
Disinformation experts come back with some startling results. The story begins to cross continents as the team find evidence of a global campaign.All six episodes of Who Trolled Amber are now available to binge-listen. To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you
Gold dust | Who Trolled Amber Ep 2
The team talk to a Hollywood insider and travel to Florida in search of their first big clue: a treasure trove of data that might show what happened to Amber Heard online – and who was behind it.All six episodes of Who Trolled Amber are now available to binge-listen. To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to al
Missing evidence | Who Trolled Amber Ep 1
Depp v Heard was the celebrity trial of the century. He won, she lost. But was Amber Heard the target of an organised trolling campaign?All six episodes of Who Trolled Amber are now available to binge-listen. Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise
Introducing: Who Trolled Amber?
Introducing… Who Trolled Amber?What comes to mind when you think of Amber Heard? Liar? Survivor? Narcissist? Millions of us watched the celebrity trial of the century, Depp v Heard, in 2022. Amber Heard lost and Johnny Depp was vindicated. But what if Amber was actually the victim of an organised trolling campaign? What if the online hate against her was manufactured?Alexi Mostrous, the reporter who brought you Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed, investigates what happened to Amber and who might have been r
The confidence game | Walter's War Ep 4
Things begin to fall apart. Only a few years after Rebellion Defense’s rapid rise, it appears to be in trouble. The rebellion has failed to take off. In the secretive world of the military and big tech, Basia is met with a wall of silence as she tries to see inside the company… until a few former staffers agree to speak to her, revealing what happened behind closed doors. You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journali
The rebellion | Walter's War Ep 3
Oliver’s company, Rebellion Defense, is on the rise. In 2019, it is full of promise and pumped with cash, trading on the hype around what’s possible with AI in war. It attracts influential backers and goes after big government contracts. And it becomes even harder to sort fact from fiction – where is the scrutiny, and who is checking that any of this stuff is… real? As Basia delves deeper into the world of artificial intelligence, she hears from another former girlfriend of Oliver’s who kno
The secret life of Walter Mitty | Walter's War Ep 2
Basia begins unravelling the ‘tissue of lies’, but it becomes clear that some of Oliver’s claims exist in the grey area, and in the secretive world in which he works, it’s hard to sift fact from fiction. Did he serve in the military? Is he an aristocrat? And as she traces his rise in national security, she is pulled into a bigger story – about a company, and a threat that is facing us all. The first three episodes are available to Tortoise members on the free Tortoise audio app, and subscri
An English gentleman | Walter's War Ep 1
This story starts in 2012. Oliver is a dashing young diplomat, working in Afghanistan. Charlie is a graduate newly arrived in London, trying to find her feet in the world. The pair meet online and she falls in love. But only a few months later, she discovers that the story Oliver has told her about his life is not what it seems. A decade later, this man has climbed to the top of academia, the civil service, and into the world of national security, eventually founding a billion-dollar compan
Introducing: Walter's War
It’s London, 2012. Oliver is a dashing diplomat. Charlie is a young graduate trying to find her feet in the world. They meet online and she falls in love. With his encouragement, Charlie applies for a job in British intelligence. Then, she receives a text message that turns her life - and her relationship - upside down, and 10 years later, a mystery is still hanging over her. Walter's War is an investigation into what happened next – a journey through big tech and national security, hype and huc
The movement | Dr Anti-vax Ep 3
Radicalised by Covid, the anti-vax movement goes mainstream – and RFK Jr emerges as a new figurehead.You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise audio app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a Tortoise member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The rock star | Dr Anti-vax Ep 2
Andrew Wakefield becomes a superstar thanks to the support of celebrities and an army of mothers – and establishes anti-vax as a moneymaker.This is part 2 of a 3-part series - to listen exclusively to episode 3 today subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or become a member and listen on Tortoise's audio app. You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise audio app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access
The fall | Dr Anti-vax Ep 1
A British doctor sparks a global health panic about the safety of vaccines. But even though his work is discredited, he lights a fire that becomes the modern anti-vax movement. Hosted by Alexi Mostrous. This is part 1 of a 3-part series - to listen exclusively to episodes 2 and 3 today subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or become a member and listen on Tortoise's audio app. You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise audio app - for a listening experience curated b
Introducing: Dr Anti-vax
Introducing Dr Anti-vax: the making of a modern panicHow did the anti-vax movement become so mainstream?25 years ago, a British doctor Dr Andrew Wakefield sparked a global vaccine panic. Today, Alexi Mostrous, the reporter behind chart-topping hit podcasts Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed investigates how anti-vaxxers have gone from the fringes of public life to the centre of the culture wars that divide America and so many other countries, and the beguiling fall and rise of the man who started it all.Epi
Trump and Rudy | Ep 3
Twenty years ago, Rudy Giuliani was “America’s mayor”. Now he’s been indicted, along with Donald Trump, for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Will Rudy die in jail for The Don?Listen to the three part series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on App
Trump and Rudy | Ep 2
Twenty years ago, Rudy Giuliani was “America’s mayor”. Now he’s been indicted, along with Donald Trump, for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Will Rudy die in jail for The Don?Listen to the three part series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on App
Trump and Rudy | Ep 1
Twenty years ago, Rudy Giuliani was “America’s mayor”. Now he’s been indicted, along with Donald Trump, for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Will Rudy die in jail for The Don?Listen to the three part series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Ap
Inquiry | Three Doors Down Ep 5
The police say they are not looking for any more victims of David Boyd but we met other women who were confronted by the killer. This episode contains descriptions of child sexual abuse.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If
Conviction | Three Doors Down Ep 4
Sharon's case should be extraordinary but it isn't. A few miles away from Sharon another mother was left to solve her own daughter's murder after being let down by police. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to
Confession | Three Doors Down Ep 3
The number one suspect is interrogated by police until he confesses but it's not until 30 years later that the right man is put on trial.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help
Rumours | Three Doors Down Ep 2
Rumours choke the case and a vulnerable suspect is arrested. The first 48 hours after a crime are crucial: what did the police get so wrong in the days after Nikki went missing?Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’
Missing | Three Doors Down Ep 1
In 1992 on a council estate in Sunderland a seven year old girl is murdered. It took the police 30 years to find the killer, a convicted child sex offender who lived three doors away from where Nikki Allan went missing. What happened on the night of her disappearance?Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series
Introducing: Three doors down
Introducing Three doors down: a murder, a mother and a thirty year investigationIn May in a packed room at Newcastle Crown Court, David Boyd, was found guilty of the brutal murder in 1992 of seven year-old Nikki Allan. Sharon Henderson, Nikki’s mother, called for a public inquiry into why it had taken the police so long to find and convict her daughter’s murderer. When Nikki was murdered, Sharon was a single mother of four living in Wear Garth, a rundown housing estate in Sunderland. D
The whole truth | Into the Dirt Ep 6
In the final episode, Ceri travels to meet Rob in a peaceful garden in rural Wiltshire. What unfolds is a heated exchange about what Rob's story really is and what adds up to the whole truth. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcas
The verge | Into the Dirt Ep 5
When Global Witness out Rob in 2015, things quickly fall apart. He loses everything that matters to him but to this day he believes that if his voice had been heard, it would have all worked out differently. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on A
Chicken feed | Into the Dirt Ep 4
Rob is adamant that in all the years he was undercover, he never sent information back to his spymasters that harmed the campaigners. But when you're the only one in control of the decisions, can you always get it right? Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to T
Poison into medicine | Into the Dirt Ep 3
Rob Moore says he can justify going undercover among anti-asbestos campaigners because he was following a Buddhist principle, turning poison into medicine. To this day he believes that if the people he infiltrated would really listen to his story they'd understand him differently. But does his story really stand up to scrutiny?Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and a
Project Spring | Into the Dirt Ep 2
It’s 2012 and Rob Moore goes 'into the dirt', undercover, to infiltrate a group of campaigners fighting for a ban on deadly asbestos. None of them knew they had a private spy in the camp. But it's hard to stay hidden forever.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe
The truth | Into the Dirt Ep 1
Three years ago a former private spy came to our newsroom at Tortoise. He told an incredible story about infiltrating a campaign group, deceiving people for years but all the while being a 'double agent', before his world fell apart. And it all played out in the opaque world of corporate intelligence. Since then, journalist Ceri Thomas has been asking who Rob Moore really is and what his motivations were. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experien
Introducing: Into the Dirt
Over three years in the making, Tortoise introduces Into The Dirt – investigating the extraordinary story of private spy, Rob Moore and the shadowy world of corporate intelligence. Rob was tasked with working undercover to extract information from an environmental campaign group but he ended up turning on his employers and supporting the group he was meant to be infiltrating. Only it wasn’t that straightforward. Neither side knew the whole truth. Was Rob a misunderstood whistleblower or a t
Gender GP | The Tavistock Ep 7
Polly Curtis returns to investigate the world of private trans healthcare, and speaks to Gender GP and its founder Helen Webberley, labelled by one newspaper as one of Britain’s most controversial doctors. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on App
The real scandal | The Tavistock Ep 6
Polly Curtis investigates why NHS England accelerated the closure of GIDS and what the future of the service could look like for children and young people. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support
The noise | The Tavistock Ep 5
The public debate around the work of the Tavistock is getting louder. Kiera Bell wins a landmark ruling at the High Court which halts all new referrals for puberty blockers for under 18s on the NHS in England and Wales. She was prescribed puberty blockers at 16 but later decided she wants to detransition. The Tavistock appeals and the ruling is overturned. But for many people the narrative of the Gender Identity Development Service is now set in stone. Listen to the full series today. For t
The enemy within | The Tavistock Ep 4
The internal divisions at GIDS and the wider Tavistock centre spill out into the open. Whistleblowers are publicly critical of GIDS. One accuses the service of fast tracking young people onto puberty blockers after just one meeting with clinicians. The senior leadership team at GIDS desperately tries to hold the team together. Meanwhile the numbers on the waiting list tick up and up. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journali
Thin ice | The Tavistock Ep 3
As the increase in referrals to the Gender Identity Development Service increases, the profile of the young people seeking treatment changes too. There are now two natal girls for every natal boy, a complete reversal of what it had been a decade before. Polly Curtis tries to make sense of this change and goes to Blackpool which has the highest referral rate of anywhere in England. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists
The broom cupboard | The Tavistock Ep 2
Polly Carmichael became the director of the Gender Identity Development Service at the Tavistock in 2009. “I remember our office was literally a room that had probably been a broom cupboard at one stage”, she recalls. But the decision in 2011 to start offering puberty blockers to under-16s, and in 2016 to widen the professionals who could refer a child to GIDS had a major impact. The numbers of people on the waiting list ticked inexorably up, until the clinic felt it could barely cope. 
A verdict | The Tavistock Ep 1
In the summer of 2022 the NHS announced it was winding up the Gender Identity Development Service for children and young people at the Tavistock. Critics of the service celebrated, its supporters were left in despair. Journalist Polly Curtis has spent months trying to understand what happened. Why has it attracted such criticism and what is the best way going forward of treating young people with gender dysphoria? Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening expe
Introducing: The Tavistock
This is the story of the Gender Identity Development Service for children and young people at the Tavistock. The Tavi, as it’s known is the only clinic in England and Wales which has treated children suffering from body dysphoria. Its critics have accused it of fast-tracking young people into changing gender. Its supporters argue it has provided help and support, even a lifeline. Now, the clinic will close. This is the story of what happened.Listen to the full series today. For the premium
Out there | Pig Iron Ep 7
In the last episode of the series, the team finally hears from a man they’ve been chasing for months. And they return to Maine, to tell Christopher’s parents what they have discovered about their son's life and death.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+
The rope | Pig Iron Ep 6
The team tries to understand the connection between Chris's trip to South Sudan, and one taken by a group of American fighters just weeks before. Could this explain why Chris was called a white rebel? And after months investigating, Basia finally speaks to the fighter who fascinated Chris, and she asks – how close really were you? Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For ea
Kaya | Pig Iron Ep 5
Months after Jeremy first approached Basia, the team fly to Nairobi to sit down with the mysterious essay writer. And it turns out that he is not the only person ready to share what he knows about who killed Christopher Allen.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to T
The kaleidoscope | Pig Iron Ep 4
There is a new layer of horror to Chris's story – and in trying to understand it, Basia investigates the evidence that Chris was killed on purpose. The team figures out how to get to South Sudan – and how to finally meet the essay-writer.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscri
The lonely impulse | Pig Iron Ep 3
Basia traces Chris's career as a young freelancer. By now, it's clear his death is tied to his life as a reporter. But who was he trying to be? Just how close was he to a group of fighters? And after years in Ukraine, how did he end up in a remote corner of South Sudan?Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and dail
Spring break | Pig Iron Ep 2
At just 22 years old, Chris travels to Ukraine for his spring break, keen to see war up close. For the first time, he experiences the thrill and horror of the frontline. He's hooked. Five years later, Basia, along with Chris's cousin, Jeremy, visit Chris's parents in America to piece together who he really was. There they learn a troubling new detail about Chris's time in Ukraine.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, 
White rebel | Pig Iron Ep 1
Five years after his death on a distant frontline in South Sudan, the truth about what happened to Christopher Allen is still a mystery. Was he a reckless freelancer? A mercenary? Or a young and ambitious reporter, caught in the crossfire? Approached by a family member looking for answers, journalist Basia Cummings begins investigating.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For ea
Introducing: Pig Iron
Christopher Allen was trying to make it as a war reporter when, aged just 26, he was shot and killed on the frontline in South Sudan. But as news of his death began to spread, suspicion grew. Some claimed he was really there as a mercenary, a fighter. Others said he was a reckless freelancer, in over his head. And there was another question: was he killed on purpose, or was this another accident of war? From Tortoise and the team behind Sweet Bobby, Pig Iron is a dark adventure in war and journa
Bonnie and Clyde | Hoaxed Ep 6
In the final episode of Hoaxed, Alexi confronts Abraham and Ella. about what they. did in Hampstead - and why. And the police give Alexi some surprising news.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slo
The Healer | Hoaxed Ep 5
Alexi and his producer fly to Morocco to confront Abraham Christie - and learn dark secrets about his past.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of
Infiltration | Hoaxed Ep 4
For a conspiracy to spread, important people need to be listening. Alexi discovers that the perpetrators of the Hampstead hoax have friends in high places, while he and the team close in on Abraham's location. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on
The Avengers | Hoaxed Ep 3
The perpetrators of the Hampstead hoax meet their match in an unassuming mystery novelist, who is determined to expose their lies and bring them to justice.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further sup
Ella's list | Hoaxed Ep 2
Seized upon by conspiracy theorists, Ella’s list of alleged cult members spreads like wildfire across the Internet. Hampstead parents start receiving death threats and lives are torn apart.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If yo
Secrets and lies | Hoaxed Ep 1
Two young children make horrific allegations in a London police station, lighting the fuse on the most serious British conspiracy theories in decades.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journa
Introducing: Hoaxed
In 2014, two children told police a shocking story: that they were being abused by a Satanic cult; a cult headed by their father and by parents and teachers at their school in the wealthy London suburb of Hampstead. The story was a lie. But on the internet, that didn't matter. From the team who brought you Sweet Bobby, Hoaxed is an investigation into one of Britain's most serious-ever conspiracy theories. A story about a modern-day Satanic panic; about the victims whose lives were dest
Introducing ... Tortoise Investigates
Welcome to Tortoise Investigates, where we curate the best of our chart-topping investigative series in one place. Over the last three years we’ve covered everything from extraordinary tales of deception to suspicious deaths to one mother’s decades-long fight against the police. There's Sweet Bobby, Hoaxed, Pig Iron and more. Keep an eye on the feed, we’ll be updating it regularly with all of our best and most ambitious stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Introducing... Three Doors Down
Nikki Allan was 7 years old when she was brutally murdered. Her mother never gave up the hunt to find her killer. David Boyd was a convicted child sex offender who lived three doors down from where Nikki first went missing. So how did it take the police thirty years to find him? This is a story of class prejudice, police corruption and a shocking miscarriage of justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Introducing... Suspect: "Five Shots in the Dark"
We are partnering with Wondery, so that we can continue to bring our listeners brilliant investigations like Sweet Bobby. You can join Tortoise as a member to get early and ad-free access to new series and support our investigations at www.tortoisemedia.com/inviteIntroducing... Suspect: "Five Shots in the Dark"Leon Benson spent 24 years in an Indiana state prison for the 1998 murder of a young man named Kasey Schoen. His conviction hinged on the testimony of two eyewitnesses – but what if their
Introducing... Into The Dirt
From the team that brought you Sweet Bobby, and over three years in the making, Tortoise introduces Into The Dirt – a story about truth, spies and the stories we tell ourselves.Misunderstood whistleblower or traitor to a cause? Our latest six-part podcast series explores the extraordinary story of private spy, Rob Moore.Listen today. Follow Into The Dirt wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Introducing...Hoaxed: all episodes out now
If you haven't listened already, Hoaxed is the new series from Alexi Mostrous and Tortoise. All 6 episodes are now available to listen for free. Hoaxed is an investigation into one of Britain's most serious-ever conspiracy theories. A story about a modern-day Satanic panic; about the victims whose lives were destroyed and about the conspiracists who spread the lie around the world. Search for Hoaxed or follow the link: https://podfollow.com/hoaxed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more
Introducing...Amazon Music Presents COLD: The Search for Sheree
We are partnering with Amazon Music, so that we can continue to bring our listeners brilliant investigations like Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed. You can join Tortoise as a member to get access to more of our stories, support our investigations and get invites to exclusive newsroom events, using the code Sweet50 at www.tortoisemedia.com/invite Introducing COLD: The Search for Sheree:Sheree Warren left her job in Salt Lake City on a mild October evening in 1985. She told a coworker she was headed to meet
Introducing ... Pig Iron
Introducing...Pig Iron. A story about the mysterious death – and life – of a young war reporter on the frontline. At first, it looked like another tragedy of war… a young journalist caught in the crossfire. Until, just hours after his death, his story splintered. The government claimed he wasn’t a journalist at all, but a foreign fighter – a legitimate target. Other evidence suggested he was killed on purpose for being a reporter. In this new series from Tortoise and the team behind Sweet Bobby,
Introducing... Hoaxed: a sneak preview
Introducing... Hoaxed, the new series from Alexi Mostrous and Tortoise.In 2014, two children told police a shocking story: that they were being abused by a Satanic cult; a cult headed by their father and by parents and teachers at their school in the wealthy London suburb of Hampstead. The story was a lie. But on the internet, that didn't matter. Hoaxed is an investigation into one of Britain's most serious-ever conspiracy theories. A story about a modern-day Satanic panic; about the victims who
Introducing... Hoaxed.
Introducing... Hoaxed, the new series from Alexi Mostrous and Tortoise. It's the story of a lie and how far it can spread. It's about a modern day crusade, a Holy War - online and off, and our search for the perpetrators of one of Britain's worst-ever conspiracy theories.Launching on 15th September, but you can listen to the full length trailer today. Search for Hoaxed wherever you get your podcasts and follow the feed to get an alert when the first episode drops.Link here: https://podfollow.com
Introducing... Scamfluencers from Wondery
We are partnering with Wondery, so that we can continue to bring our listeners brilliant investigations like Sweet Bobby. Tortoise is built for and with our members, and you can join us to get access to more of our stories, contribute to our investigations and join us for exclusive newsroom events, using the code Sweet50 at www.tortoisemedia.com/invite Introducing Scamfluencers:You never really know someone…especially online. In today’s world, the power of influence can be the quickest path to m
Introducing... Left to Die
From the makers of Sweet Bobby comes Left to Die. When Islamist insurgents attacked a town in Mozambique in March 2021, civilians and foreign contractors raced to a local hotel for safety. Over three agonising days, they waited for a rescue. But no one came. In this extraordinary story of extremism, corruption and bravery, Tortoise journalist Basia Cummings investigates what happened at the Amarula Hotel, and speaks to the people who were trapped inside – and made it out alive. See acast.co
Motive | Sweet Bobby Ep 6
In the final episode of Sweet Bobby, Kirat’s case against the catfisher takes an unexpected turn. As Alexi is putting the finishing touches to the series, he gets a phone call that changes everything.To get exclusive access to the bonus episode, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for early access and ad-free contentBecome a me
(In)justice | Sweet Bobby Ep 5
After the confession, Kirat goes to the police. But their reaction to her case isn’t what she’s expecting. Plus: Alexi tries a new approach with the catfisher...All 6 episodes are available to listen now.To get exclusive access to the bonus episode, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for early access and ad-free contentBecome
Dark triads | Sweet Bobby Ep 4
Kirat deals with the fallout from the confession. Alexi’s investigation reveals the startling true beginnings of the scam, as he tries to unravel the catfisher's motivation.All 6 episodes are available to listen now.To get exclusive access to the bonus episode, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for early access and
Confession | Sweet Bobby Ep 3
Bobby is now closer than ever – and yet he keeps slipping through Kirat's grasp. After being pushed to breaking point, she makes the life changing decision to confront him – and discovers the truth...All 6 episodes are available to listen now.To get exclusive access to the bonus episode, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Witness protection | Sweet Bobby Ep 2
Bobby finds his way back into Kirat's life, and their relationship grows closer – with devastating consequences. Meanwhile, Alexi investigates the sophistication of the catfishing scam. All 6 episodes are available to listen now.To get exclusive access to the bonus episode, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for early acc
Sliding doors | Sweet Bobby Ep 1
Kirat is a successful marketer and radio presenter. Online, she’s contacted by a man she vaguely knows called Bobby, and they start chatting. Slowly, they become close… and she’s reeled in to a scam of epic proportions. All 6 episodes are available to listen now.To get exclusive access to the bonus episode, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podca
Introducing: Sweet Bobby
How much do you know about the person you love? Sweet Bobby is the #1 award-winning investigative series in search of the world's most sophisticated catfishers. All 6 episodes are available to listen now.To get exclusive access to the bonus episode, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for early access and ad-free contentBecome