The Binge Cases: Baby Broker
Sony Music Entertainment
Imagine if you were about to become a parent and someone ripped away your dream. Tara Lee ran an adoption company called Always Hope and matched families with babies in record time. But what these adoptive parents didn’t know was how she was manipulating their lives for her gain. This is a shocking tale about a criminal with a cold heart who pulled off an unimaginable scheme, and the parents who banded together to take her down.
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Baby Broker | 3. The Birth Mothers
When the family from Chicago meets their daughter’s birth mom, Sarah, they discover she’s living in horrifying conditions. Why haven’t the thousands they’ve paid Tara Lee for Sarah’s expenses trickled down to her?
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Baby Broker | 2. Three Babies
A family from Chicago working with Tara Lee has agreed to adopt two babies when Tara Lee tries to rope them into adopting a third. They’re cornered, and they don’t feel like they have a choice.
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Baby Broker | 1. You Cannot Tell Anyone
In 2018, Tara Lee matches Teresa and Mike Matheny of Atlanta with a pregnant woman in Detroit who is due in just two weeks. But hours before the couple drives to Detroit to adopt their son, they make a horrifying discovery.
Binge all episodes of Baby Broker, ad-free today by subscribing to The Binge. Visit The Binge Crimes on Apple Podcasts and hit ‘subscribe’ or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access.
The Binge – feed your true crime obsession.
A Sony Music Entertainment & Perfect Cadence pro
Introducing… Baby Broker
Imagine if you were about to become a parent and someone ripped away your dream. Tara Lee ran an adoption company called Always Hope and matched families with babies in record time. But what these adoptive parents didn’t know was how she was manipulating their lives for her gain. This is a shocking tale about a criminal with a cold heart who pulled off an unimaginable scheme, and the parents who banded together to take her down.
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Scary Terri | 5. The White Pill
Terri’s manipulation is evolving with horrible consequences. She’s now telling her followers that death isn’t final and that another chapter awaits.
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Scary Terri | 4. Becoming Mrs. Hoffman
Terri didn’t just convince people to take their own lives. She was a cancer on whole families. The Hoffmans filed a wrongful death suit trying to hold her accountable.
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Scary Terri | 1. The Mysterious Death of Devereaux Cleaver
In 1979, 14-year-old Devereaux Cleaver vanished at sea. Was it an accident? Or part of a sick and deadly conspiracy? After her death, something suspicious happens that points the finger at Terri Hoffman.
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Scary Terri | 2. The Last Will
Two more women, under Terri’s influence, die. But, how can you hold her accountable, if they die by suicide, not homicide?
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Scary Terri | 3. Marital Issues
In the early days of Conscious Development of Body, Mind and Soul, if you dared to question Terri, she’d target you without implicating herself. So when Terri’s own husband Glenn becomes skeptical of her teachings, his days are numbered.
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Introducing: Scary Terri
Coming soon to The Binge, it's Scary Terri. A tragic double suicide. A teenager suspiciously drowned. A mother and her childhood nanny drove off a cliff. Between 1979 and 1989, a dozen people died under mysterious circumstances, with one thing in common: a connection to a spiritual leader in Dallas, Texas named Terri Hoffman. In Scary Terri, investigative reporter Jonathan Hirsch unravels the web of lies, manipulation, and dubious deeds that surround Hoffman. A dark Texas Gothic about
Scary Terri | 6. “I need some money, honey.”
Facing pressure from wrongful death suits, Terri filed for bankruptcy, claiming she had no money. But, what if Terri pulled a fast one on the Feds?
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Denise Didn't Come Home | 8. The Truth Is Good
Host Anthony Scalia finally gets his hands on Denise’s case file, and starts to question the person he trusted most…Karen.
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1. Stay With Me
For almost 50 years, Karen Falasca searched for the man who killed her sister, Denise. Host Anthony Scalia joins Karen in her search for the truth.
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Denise Didn't Come Home | 2. The Memory Palace
Karen remembers the bizarre events leading up to her sister’s murder, and all the people she never suspected, until she took a second look.
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Denise Didn't Come Home | 3. The Torso Killer
Host Anthony Scalia looks into the unsolved murders of young women in Bergen County. Could their deaths be the work of a gruesome serial killer?
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Denise Didn't Come Home | 4. The Girl On Old Hook Road
Karen pressures Bergen County detectives to look into who she believes murdered her sister. But they have their own suspect - a notorious serial killer.
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Denise Didn't Come Home | 5. The Broken Road
A serial killer’s confession leaves Karen with more questions than answers.
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Denise Didn't Come Home | 6. A Word That Starts With C
Karen writes to a notorious serial killer in prison, hoping to finally come to terms with what happened to her sister.
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Denise Didn't Come Home | 7. Evil Nice Guy
Host Anthony Scalia builds a relationship with a notorious serial killer and finally hears the full story about what happened to Denise Falasca the night she died.
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Introducing: Denise Didn't Come Home
Smoke Screen is now The Binge Cases - new name, same home for thrilling true crime stories. Catch the new season, Denise Didn’t Come Home, on October 1st.
Karen Falasca last saw her 15 year old sister Denise on July 14, 1969, when they parted ways not far from their Bergen County home. The next day, Denise’s body was found strangled next to a cemetery. For almost 50 years, Karen searched for her sister's killer. In Denise Didn’t Come Home, host Anthony Scalia gets pulled into the sea
The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 8. The Last Letter
The defense attorneys for the man behind the scam argue the Duval scheme is no more deceptive than a magic show. But prosecutors make a strong case for fraud. In a last ditch effort to save himself, the mastermind submits a 17 page letter to the judge trying to explain what happened. But will his letter convince her?
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The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 7. Call Me Blade
Our host writes a handwritten letter to the mastermind behind the Duval letters in 2023. He’s impressed and reaches out. He’s never spoken to a journalist before. They start exchanging emails and calls. Eventually she visits him behind bars. Soon, a jury will decide his fate. What will he reveal to her? And how can Rachel be sure it’s the truth?
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The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 6. DNA of a Scammer
The mastermind behind the Maria Duval scam is revealed. Who is he and how did he operate one of the biggest scams in U.S. history? Investigative reporter Rachel Browne discovers this wasn’t his first mail-order operation and that Terry Polevoy, an amateur scam-buster, had helped expose that scheme. Rachel discovers the mastermind’s M.O.
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The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 5. The Runner
U.S. Postal Inspector Clayton Gerber discovers that the letters are entering the country via Albany, NY, and that they’re originating from a company in Montreal. Locating criminals across the border for extradition is no simple task, but eventually Clayton finds two of the scam’s top lieutenants. Can he get them to give up the name of their boss, the true mastermind of the scheme?
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The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 4. The Swiss Swindlers
To find out how the scheme is operating in the present, we go back to how it all started. We know that two Swiss businessmen had bought Maria’s name and image to add legitimacy to their mailing scheme and launch letters across Europe. But who were these men? What motivated them to cheat hundreds of thousands of people out of their life savings? And where are they today?
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The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 3. One Man's Trash
The Maria Duval letter scam began in Europe—so how did it make its way to America? U.S. Postal Inspector Clayton Gerber begins to unravel the threads of the scam when he discovers an address on Long Island, where victims are sending their replies to Duval. They also send intimate items like locks of their hair, hoping for the psychic’s help. Clayton’s team goes dumpster diving on Long Island and finds bags of return letters – proof Duval herself wasn’t getting the replies. Why were thei
The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 2. Psychic to the Stars
Who was Maria Duval? Her son says she had a gift, an ability to see people’s futures. She helped locate missing people and worked with the French elite, befriending Jacques Chirac and Brigitte Bardot. In the late 80s, when two businessmen approached Maria Duval with a life-changing deal, her name becomes synonymous with one of the greatest scams ever written.
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The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 1. Your Devoted Friend
What would you do if you got a mysterious letter promising to restore your health and vitality? Doreen Robinson wrote back and sent money to the French psychic named Maria Duval who’d written to her. As their relationship deepened, Doreen had no idea that she wasn’t the only one. In fact, hundreds of thousands of people had gotten a Duval letter, and gave an estimated $175m. How was this possible?
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Introducing: The Greatest Scam Ever Written
What would you do if one handwritten letter promised to change your life forever?
All of us want magic, to feel like there is some sort of exterior force guiding our next steps, to believe our fate is written in the stars. This is the story of 1 million hopeful Americans, the global scam that took $200m from them, and the mastermind who managed it all by sending out thousands of letters a week.
Investigative journalist Rachel Browne takes us through the facts of the fraud, from its brillia
My Friend, the Serial Killer | 6. Unfinished Business
Despite promises made by the police, the killer faces the death penalty for his crimes. Donna confesses that she is terrified her father will find a way to avoid the death penalty, get out of prison, and come after her. As time goes on, Donna and Steve reckon with the aftershocks of her father’s crimes, the mistakes Steve made as a young journalist, and the damage the killer inflicted on his victims… both living and dead.
This episode will be released for free on July 8th.
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 5. Donna
In the present day, Steve tracks down Donna, the killer’s daughter, who he first met when she was 12. Nearly fifty years later, Donna describes the harsh reality of growing up the daughter of a serial killer who she loved.
This episode will be released for free on July 1st.
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 4. The Exclusive
Steve secures his exclusive interview with the killer, who reveals what he considers the “real reasons” his victims died. While digging into this investigative lead, Steve tracks down a former social worker, who has a stunning revelation for Steve that will completely change his understanding of the case.
This episode will be released for free on June 24th.
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 3. Take Us To The Bodies
On the strangest road trip ever, the confessed killer leads detectives, a prosecutor, and a medical examiner on a grim quest to unearth the bodies he claims to have buried in remote parts Louisiana and Mississippi.
This episode will be released for free on June 17th.
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 2. Confessions
Steve dives deeper into the details of the killer’s life, reaching out to his wife and daughter in an attempt to secure an exclusive interview with the killer in prison. Meanwhile, the Florida police dig into the grisly details of the killer’s crimes… but if they want to hold the killer accountable, they are going to need evidence.
This episode will be released for free on June 10th.
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 1. Local Man
Steve Fishman is an intern at his local Connecticut newspaper and a regular hitchhiker. When one of his hitched rides comes to an unnerving conclusion, Steve shrugs it off—until weeks later, when the news breaks that the driver he rode with has confessed to being a serial killer who preys on hitchhikers. Steve sees the chance to get the scoop of a lifetime: a killer’s story, Who better to tell it than someone who almost became one of his victims?
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Introducing: My Friend, the Serial Killer
What would you do if someone you knew turned out to be a serial killer?
In the 1970s, Steve Fishman was an intern at his local newspaper, when one day he hitched a ride back from Boston with Robert Carr III, better known as “Red.” Red seemed trustworthy enough, but he was hiding a secret: by the time he had picked up Steve, he had already killed three people—and all of his prior victims were hitchhikers themselves.
This narrow brush with death is only the beginning of Steve’s rela
The Most Dangerous Man You've Never Heard Of - Who is John Todd?
In the 1970s, John Todd exploded onto the evangelical scene with a shocking claim: a secret group of devil-worshiping elites called the Illuminati were planning a violent world takeover, and Christians needed to arm themselves against them to protect their families and way of life. But none of it was true—so why did the idea spread so quickly?
Dive into John Todd’s dark and distorted world with journalist Paul Murphy on Cover Up: The Conspiracy Tapes. Featuring sensational tales of witchcraft
Behind Poisoned Letters - The Untold Story of the Anthrax Attacks
In 2001, a series of letters laced with a deadly powder called anthrax appeared on the desks of prominent journalists and politicians in New York City and Washington D.C causing a national panic. But what started as an unprecedented case soon turned into an unsettling mystery. Who had sent these letters? And why? Join us as we trace the FBI’s costly investigation into the attacks, all with an eye toward the question that remains today: Did the FBI identify the true killer, or is this case still
Introducing The Runaway Princesses from In The Dark and The New Yorker
The wives and daughters of Dubai’s ruler live in unbelievable luxury. So why do the women in Sheikh Mohammed’s family keep trying to run away? The New Yorker staff writer Heidi Blake joins In the Dark’s Madeleine Baran to tell the story of the royal women who risked everything to flee the brutality of one of the world’s most powerful men. In four episodes, drawing on thousands of pages of secret correspondence and never-before-heard audio recordings, “The Runaway Princesses” takes liste
My Fugitive Dad | 6. Settling Accounts
Tom’s identity is discovered by the world. The press mobs their home. And the U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott ends up on Ashley’s doorstep. Their fathers spent their lives at odds with one another. But once Pete shows up, the unexpected happens. Why Ashley’s Dad stole the money and left Cleveland is revealed and Ashley and her Mum discover one last surprise.
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My Fugitive Dad | 5. Tom's Very Last Round
Ashley realizes her Dad has been hiding a diagnosis from her and her mother. Time is running out for him to tell the truth. Hosts Jonathan and Ashley go back to the house on Carter Road, her childhood home - where her Dad dropped the bombshell that changed everything. And Pete Elliott helps his father face the fact that he may never catch Ted Conrad.
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My Fugitive Dad | 4. The Ringer
Tom was a scratch golfer. Good enough he could have gone pro. So why didn’t he? How did being a wanted man shape the seemingly perfect life he had? He ended up in the car business with a posse of car guys who adored him but could see he was a bit of fish out of water. When tragedy strikes, Tom makes a decision that will come back to haunt him.
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My Fugitive Dad | 3. The Last Randele
At a social security office in Boston, Ted Conrad is reborn as Thomas Randele. It was the first time this surname was ever recorded. Then he went about making friends and making excuses for why he didn’t have to work. Ashley sifts through her Dad’s past trying to figure out what he told her is actually true and what isn’t. She interviews her Mum, Kathy, who reveals that her Dad hadn’t wanted kids when they first met.
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My Fugitive Dad | 2. The Hunt
Introducing the Elliotts, the father-son pair who spent the better part of their lives with the singular mission of finding Ted Conrad. From the very start of this case, John Elliott made Ted his nemesis. It turns out the Deputy Marshal had his reasons to despise him. Hosts Jonathan and Ashley discover a letter her Dad wrote in the weeks after the heist.
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My Fugitive Dad | 1. Becoming Thomas Crown
The summer of 1968 one of the most iconic heist movies ever made came out. The Thomas Crown Affair starred Steve McQueen as a clever businessman who pulls off an elaborate robbery. Ted Conrad, a kid from Cleveland, admired this film so much he walked out of Society National Bank with hundreds of thousands of dollars in a paper bag. Some say he stole the money for the same reasons Crown did: to see if he could get away with it. But Ashley wonders, what was his real motive?
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Introducing: My Fugitive Dad
Ashley’s Dad was her favorite person in the world. He drove fast cars and sold them for a living. He was a scratch golfer and the love of her Mum’s life. Ashley thought she knew him better than anyone. But at 38, she found out he wasn’t who he said he was. Inspired by his favorite movie the Thomas Crown Affair, he had pulled off a robbery in Cleveland then disappeared. It turns out he evaded the authorities for half a century, living in their sleepy Massachusetts town.
His secret upend
Introducing *Crime Waves: Cold Truth*
How far would you go to save the world from itself?
Dr. Eugene Mallove believed that a new form of world-changing free energy — cold fusion — was just around the corner. Even when his work was pushed to the fringes, he dreamed of a brighter future. But before Dr. Mallove could usher in that future, he was found dead in the driveway of his childhood home. Everyone had their own ideas of who killed him, and investigators were looking in all the wrong places.
From QCODE and Faceplant, in asso
'Betrayal in Dixon, IL - Secrets Behind "The Horse Queen" Scammer That Ruined Her Hometown
It's the 1990's and in the world of show horses - Rita Crundwell was the name on everyone's lips. Known as "The Horse Queen," she was the proud owner of hundreds of champion quarter horses on her ranch outside the small city of Dixon, Illinois. But something wasn't adding up with Crundwell's equestrian empire. A shocking FBI investigation revealed a decades long scam that Rita was running from inside the halls of Dixon City Hall, a scam that drained the town completely dry. How did this horse cr
Betrayal on the Bayou | 8. Approximation of Justice
Chad is charged on a long list of counts related to corruption. He isn’t just going to plead guilty. He’s going to trial. In court, he’ll face his informants and his right-hand men who betrayed him. But whether or not Chad gets what he deserved remains an open question. Is Chad a bad apple or is the DEA a rotten orchard?
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 7. Inside the War Room
FBI Agent Chip Hardgrave and Chad Scott have a lot in common – they even went to the same high school in Baton Rouge – but now it’s Chip’s job to investigate the DEA’s star agent. This time, Chad’s misconduct isn’t going to get swept under the rug. His powerful allies can’t protect him. The FBI will take down Chad and anybody they catch along with him.
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 6. Cops to Canaries
This is the story of how Chad’s team gets caught. Rose Graham is a grandmother who becomes Johnny’s unlikely peddler for the drugs he’s been stealing from evidence. One fateful night, Rose goes to a lakeside restaurant and tries to sell cocaine to an undercover State Trooper. Soon, Chad’s team turns on him.
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 5. Deal at the DoubleTree
Boobie is an informant for Chad but all the while he’s making over $300,000 a month dealing cocaine. Some people say Chad lets him get away with it. When Boobie meets Chad at a Houston Doubletree, Chad puts Boobie on notice: he wants contacts, or Boobie’s freedom is over.
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 4. A Sign of Good Faith
Chad’s luck is finally running out. The beginning of Chad’s downfall centers around Frederick “Boobie” Brown. He’s a high level drug trafficker who drives a $240,000 Bentley and provides dope to dealers all over the South. Chad says he’ll let Boobie walk free… if Boobie does exactly what Chad wants.
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 3. Kid Gloves
Ron Woods is a Black DEA supervisor who landed in New Orleans and found himself in the perils of the swamp. He’s the agent who could have stopped Chad Scott before things got out of hand. Chad has always courted controversy. In fact, for his first big assignment for the DEA, Chad was toe-to-toe with none other than hip-hop legend James Prince.
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 2. The A-Team
Meet the A-Team, that’s what Chad called his ragtag group, also known as a DEA Task Force. Karl Newman is a real likable country dude with no moral quandaries. Johnny Domingue is the protege, fresh out of college, with a knack for making drug busts. Chad handpicked this team, and commanded them during operations. But little did he know that they were far out of his control.
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 1. The White Devil
Chad Scott made an incredible number of cases by getting drug dealers to work for him as informants. His phone number was written on jailhouse walls because Chad was the guy who could get you out of a tough situation – if you give him what he wants. That if is what this whole story is about. We hear from Virgil Ard, a former drug dealer who navigated streets riddled with Chad’s snitches. Virgil would face a choice: a long prison sentence, or work for Chad.
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Introducing: Betrayal on the Bayou
For almost two decades, DEA Special Agent Chad Scott ruled the streets just North of New Orleans. He controlled a network of snitches by convincing people he arrested to work for him as informants. Chad would stop at nothing to put drug dealers behind bars. His successes won awards at the DEA, but his willingness to bend the rules earned him a terrifying reputation on the streets. Some called him the Golden Boy. Others called him the White Devil. But when one of guys on Chad's team is c
Assassins, Heists, & Nazis: The Untold Story of the Abortion Pill in America
You may have heard of the abortion pill, especially in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. But the story of how the pill became legal in America is closer to an action film than to a courtroom drama—with covert operations, heists, and even murder. On the new season of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, travel back to the ‘90s and join the ragtag group that plotted an international drug smuggling scheme and set up a secret lab to get the abortion pill to America. Get a front row seat
Assassins, Heists, & Nazis - The Untold Story of the Abortion Pill in America
You may have heard of the abortion pill, especially in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. But the story of how the pill became legal in America is closer to an action film than to a courtroom drama—with covert operations, heists, and even murder. On the new season of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, travel back to the ‘90s and join the ragtag group that plotted an international drug smuggling scheme and set up a secret lab to get the abortion pill to America. Get a front row seat
Murder, Drugs, & Chemical Warfare: The Untold Story of the Abortion Pill in America
You may have heard of the abortion pill, especially in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. But the story of how the pill became legal in America is closer to an action film than to a courtroom drama—with covert operations, heists, and even murder. On the new season of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, travel back to the ‘90s and join the ragtag group that plotted an international drug smuggling scheme and set up a secret lab to get the abortion pill to America. Get a front row seat
Assassins, Heists, & Nazis: The Untold Story of the Abortion Pill in America
You may have heard of the abortion pill, especially in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. But the story of how the pill became legal in America is closer to an action film than to a courtroom drama—with covert operations, heists, and even murder. On the new season of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, travel back to the ‘90s and join the ragtag group that plotted an international drug smuggling scheme and set up a secret lab to get the abortion pill to America. Get a front row seat
Assassins, Heists, & Nazis: The Untold Story of the Abortion Pill in America
You may have heard of the abortion pill, especially in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. But the story of how the pill became legal in America is closer to an action film than to a courtroom drama—with covert operations, heists, and even murder. On the new season of Cover Up: The Pill Plot, travel back to the ‘90s and join the ragtag group that plotted an international drug smuggling scheme and set up a secret lab to get the abortion pill to America. Get a front row seat
Just Say You’re Sorry | 6. Closure Doesn’t Exist
Driskill’s lawyers discover that he is theoretically eligible for parole after serving seven years of his sentence. But this is a long shot — it's notoriously difficult to get released whilst still maintaining your innocence.
Chammah talks to a leading cold case prosecutor to ask how interrogations like Holland’s can be justified. And he seeks to understand the pain that Bobbie Sue Hill’s family will be confronted with if Driskill is cleared.
Everyone is waiting for the parole board’s
Just Say You’re Sorry | 5. The Serial Killer Whisperer
A young law student called Ashely is the first to read Driskill’s letter and becomes obsessed with his story. The Innocence Project of Texas take his case and begin working to find evidence that could clear his name.
Chammah hunts down crucial leads throwing serious doubt on the informant’s story and on the forensic sketch that led Holland to Driskill in the first place.
Holland's star, though, is still rising. He takes on a case that will make him famous, drawing dozens of confession
Just Say You’re Sorry | 4. Memory, Taste and Odor
Driskill is in jail ahead of a potential court case when an informant comes forward with information that seems to blow a hole in his claims of innocence.
Meanwhile James Holland moves on to his next case. It’s a story with eerie similarities to Driskill’s. Another veteran, Christopher Ax, is being investigated for the murder of a woman. But this time, things turn out very differently for Holland, and the first cracks start to appear in his legend. Driskill is desperate for help and wr
Just Say You’re Sorry | 3. The Grand Canyon
It's Day 2 of Holland’s interrogation of Driskill. Over the course of several hours Holland uses a variety of extreme but legal tactics as he chases a confession. He lies to Driskill about the evidence they have against him and feeds the veteran a story to explain how he might have come to murder Bobbie Sue Hill. Holland is relentless and the interrogation stretches on, with no lawyer present. How long can Driskill resist?
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Just Say You’re Sorry | 2. The Word of God
Chammah investigates the cop at the centre of the story – James Holland is so celebrated as an interrogator that he’s known in the media as ‘the serial killer whisperer.’ He’s a leading member of that legendary and storied police force, the Texas Rangers. Chammah traces Holland’s steps as he starts trying to close a cold case which has gone unsolved for more than a decade: the murder of a woman named Bobbie Sue Hill.
The trail is faint but Holland follows it doggedly: a dead-end suspec
Just Say You’re Sorry | 1. Not That I Recall
Texas Ranger James Holland approaches Air Force veteran Larry Driskill and asks him for help with a murder case. These are the first moments in a psychological battle that will end in Driskill confessing to a brutal killing. All while swearing he doesn’t remember the crime.
Incredibly, the whole thing is caught on tape. Through Holland's recordings, journalist Maurice Chammah follows the men into the interrogation room...
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Introducing: Just Say You're Sorry
Texas Ranger James Holland is celebrated as the ‘serial killer whisperer’, solving dozens of murders through his legendary interrogation skills. But how far does he go to get confessions? And has he put innocent people in prison along the way? Smoke Screen: Just Say You're Sorry uses shocking police tapes to reveal the psychological drama behind one murder case, and uncovers something rotten at the heart of the justice system.
Subscribe now to unlock all shows on The Binge — All Episod
Deadly Cure | 8. The Rattlesnake King
Genesis II has recently gained a significant following in some South American countries, according to local reports. Hundreds of buyers have been lining up outside makeshift MMS distribution centers in poor rural communities as the pace of Covid vaccination falls behind that of major cities.
What does the story of MMS tell us about the future of public health in the U.S. and abroad? How we can foster informed, trusted dialogue around science and health globally?
Want the full story? U
Deadly Cure | 7. Doing Time
From prison in Colombia, to a detention facility in Texas to federal detention in Florida, the Grenons continue to fight for their freedom, and promote their product.
Meanwhile, Mark Grenon remains defiant. MMS, he insists, will never stop.
Want the full story? Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.
Just click
Deadly Cure | 6. The Raid
In the summer of 2020, the government raided Grenon's compound and arrested two of Mark Grenon’s sons. But where in the world were Mark and his other son?
This episode traces the Grenons’ moves around the world, and examines both how they rose to international stardom … and how they were ultimately brought down.
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Deadly Cure | 5. Operation Quack Hack
As MMS continued its rise, so did the Federal Drug Administration’s attention on the so-called cure.
But MMS would prove difficult to clamp down on. Between eBay and Amazon, sales of the vials were reaching the millions. In 2019, a special agent with the FDA began buying MMS, gaining information on the church and its founders.
But the Genesis II Church would receive a major boost in March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic rattled the world. Unapproved Covid cures were rampant, leading
Deadly Cure | 4. The Limelight
Self-appointed archbishops Jim Humble and Mark Grenon begin hosting seminars around the world, and charging $450 per person to attend. But it wasn’t just locals expressing interest in the so-called cure: now, national media was catching wind of the group, thrusting the Genesis II Church further into the limelight.
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Deadly Cure | 3. The Martyr
What starts for Daniel Smith as an attempt to regain trust in medicine quickly becomes "Project Green Life" – a top distributor of MMS. Then, the feds catch wind of his operation, hoping to take him down.
The Grenons use Daniel's prosecution as a rallying cry for the Genesis II church, claiming that their church status is what would insulate them from future attempts by the feds to shut them down.
Want the full story? Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free, right now by subscribi
Deadly Cure | 2. The Bleach Hunters
Fiona O'Leary is a fearless firebrand, and mother of four autistic children. She is also an online vigilante who will stop at nothing to take down proponents of MMS. She's part of a loosely affiliated group of keyboard warriors known as "The Bleach Hunters.” Her Nemesis is Kerri Rivera, a former real estate agent who created something called "The Autism Protocols", which promote using MMS as a "cure" for autism. Meanwhile, a tragic death in the South Pacific of someone using MMS alerts
Deadly Cure | 1. Genesis
Meet Mark Grenon, Jim Humble, and the Genesis II church. Mark Grenon, a missionary in the Dominican Republic, contracts MRSA. He discovers the Miracle Mineral Solution, and claims that it has miraculously cured him of numerous ailments.
This takes him to the founder of MMS, Jim Humble, a man who claims to be a billion-year-old god from the Andromeda galaxy, and has treated thousands of people with what he calls "my malaria solution.” Together, they start the Genesis II Church of Health
Introducing: Deadly Cure
Smoke Screen: Deadly Cure is a podcast about a family on the fringe who convinced tens of thousands of people across the globe to buy a miracle liquid made of poison, the international conspiracy they ignited, and the people who fought to take them down.
Want the full story? Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.
A New Investigation: The Last Days of the NXIVM Sex Cult
Behind every infamous news story is a journalist trying to hold power to account. Join reporters Vanessa Grigoriadis and Gabriel Sherman as they take an in-depth look at the most explosive scandals of this century. From high-profile divorces to sex cults to the lies that started a war, they’ll guide you through the juiciest, most outrageous, celeb-filled stories of the last two decades, and give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to shine an unflattering light on the world’s
Introducing The Sunshine Place
Once called “the miracle on the beach,” Synanon began in the 1960s as an experimental rehab facility in Santa Monica, California with a radical claim: It could cure heroin addiction. Before long, it would make an even bolder claim: It could cure any of your problems. All you had to do was move in. What started in a house on the beach, soon spread to compounds across the country. The man who made the miracle happen, Charles E. Dederich, aka “Chuck,” would be the one to destroy it all, along with
GOING UNDERCOVER
Alex Schuman, host of Puppy Kingpin, spoke to Deborah Howard, the president of CAPS, the Companion Animal Protection Society, and an undercover investigator who goes by the pseudonym Pete Paxton. In this bonus episode, they discuss the patterns they see breeders using to skirt laws, why the USDA falls short, and Deborah and Pete defend their use of undercover videos to expose what's happening on the ground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A New Case: The Criminal Empire of Scam Calls
Chameleon: Scam Likely host, Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, sits down with Alex Schuman to chat about the newest season of the blockbuster Chameleon franchise. The duo dig into another scam you should be wary of - telefraud. Ordinary citizens all around the U.S. have lost their life savings to scam callers, many originating from India. These fraudsters often target especially vulnerable populations, including immigrants and the elderly. Listen as Yudhijit shares the jaw-dropping story of how a
A Q&A with Smoke Screen host Alex Schuman
Spectacle: True Crime host, Mariah Smith, sits down with Alex Schuman to chat all things about the newest season of Smoke Screen, Puppy Kingpin. She puts host Alex Schuman in the hot seat and they dig into true crime – how we report these stories, why we’re so fascinated with them and what this fascination says about us. Mariah gets juicy behind-the-scenes bits from Alex about reporting Smoke Screen: Fake Priest and Puppy Kingpin. Plus, Mariah tells Alex about the new season of Spectacl
Puppy Kingpin | 7. Consequences
Jolyn Noethe faces a class action lawsuit that accuses her of a federal crime and might cost her up to 5 million. The puppy pipeline isn’t going to change overnight, but Alex meets with a breeder who has nothing to hide and hears about a movement among breeders to go above and beyond USDA requirements.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories
Puppy Kingpin | 6. License to Sell
The Iowa AG’s lawsuit against Jolyn comes to a conclusion as she faces challenges from multiple sides. Alex looks more closely at the USDA as a growing number of breeders and animal rights activists think a USDA license doesn’t mean much anymore.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episod
Puppy Kingpin | 5. Small Town Secrets
Alex heads to Britt, Iowa where Jolyn Noethe grew up and her for-profit enterprise, J.A.K.’s Puppies, is headquartered. He discovers that a family dispute is part of the reason she started her own brokering business.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.
Puppy Kingpin | 4. A Kind of Identity Theft
Multiple lawsuits now accuse Jolyn Noethe of creating rescues to sell commercially-bred puppies where they’ve been outlawed. Alex learns how the scheme reaches beyond the Midwest and meets Lizette Chanock. She claims her rescue’s name is being used to sell unhealthy puppies.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of ev
Puppy Kingpin | 3. Hobo K9
Authorities learn of unusual “rescue puppies” starting to turn up in Chicago and begin an investigation. Soon, they are on the trail of the secretive businesswoman responsible.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.
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Puppy Kingpin | 2. Inside a Puppy Mill
Alex sets out to learn more about Jolyn Noethe, but ends up getting an inside look at a puppy mill and how they operate legally. We’ll hear audio of the day authorities descended on the farm of Barbara Kavars, an Iowan breeder who got in way over her head.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s
Puppy Kingpin | 1. Follow the Puppies
When Mindi Callison finds out a local pet shop might be selling puppies from a puppy mill, she takes action. Soon, she’s tracking dogs being transported from state to state and stumbles onto a company that hides the source of puppies.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at
Introducing A New Investigation: Explaining the Unexplainable
Publicly, the government once called UFOs a “waste of time”, but new evidence and uncovered documents prove that the U.S. government is, and for decades has been, very interested in the UFO phenomenon. Who are these people coming forward with these government secrets?
From Somethin' Else and Sony Music Entertainment.
Fringe Network: Alien State is part of The Binge, a new podcast channel from Sony Music Entertainment.
The Binge: All Episodes, All at Once. Coming June 6th.
Learn more about y
Coming Soon: Puppy Kingpin
Americans are used to being on the lookout for a scam, but authorities are warning of a new kind of fraud. Puppy Kingpin shines a spotlight on Jolyn Noethe, a secretive businesswoman from Iowa who is accused of laundering puppies like drug money. Over the course of 7 episodes, investigative reporter and host Alex Schuman exposes the scheme and an underground part of the industry bringing us the pets we love.
From Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment. Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin
Bonus episode: Where's my money?
Last year, as the final episodes of The Sellout aired, LA TACO got a tip from a listener: for years, Jose Huizar had been awarding flashy scholarships to college-bound students from Boyle Heights and East LA. But some of those students say they never got the scholarship money promised to them. Was Huizar really stiffing high school students from his own neighborhood? After months of investigating, we're ready to share what we found out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho
Introducing: Will Be Wild
From critically acclaimed podcast studios Pineapple Street and Wondery comes a new 8-part series called Will Be Wild that shines a light on the human stories left out of the headlines. It goes deep into the lives of people who took part in that day. People who saw it coming. And people who fear that January 6th was just the beginning of something, not the end.
Follow Will Be Wild wherever you get your podcasts, or you can listen early on Amazon Music or early and ad-free by subscribing to Wonde
Introducing: Harsh Reality – The Story of Miriam Rivera
It was supposed to be a reality show with a twist. In a sun-drenched villa in Ibiza, six hot guys compete for a cash prize and for the love of the beautiful and mysterious Miriam. It’s meant to be her big break: the moment she becomes the superstar she was born to be. But this is the era of “cruel reality TV” and the show producers have a different goal: they want to surprise the men with the fact that Miriam is trans. A new six-episode investigative series from Wondery, the makers of The Shrink
The Sellout | 9: There's A Fire
Mariah talks to the Boyle Heights residents who watched as FBI agents raided Huizar’s home and offices. Three months into the pandemic, he’s arrested and pleads not guilty. The residents of CD14 are left in limbo. We look at what the FBI investigation reveals about Los Angeles’s housing and homelessness crisis.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more grea
The Sellout | 8: The Downfall
Huizar’s carelessness starts to catch up with him. After more than a dozen all-expenses paid trips to Vegas with plenty of perks, Huizar gets played by one of his own. A businessman turned FBI informant gives Huizar an envelope with $15,000 in cash, and then tells the Feds all about it.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Musi
The Sellout | 7: The Coverup
Huizar’s downfall started with a sexual harassment lawsuit. He didn’t have the hundreds of thousands of dollars to settle the suit on his own... so the Feds say he relied on a new friend. A developer who had plans to build a 77-story hotel in downtown LA.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com
The Sellout | 6: The Heyday
Gentrification comes in waves. Over years, a piece of downtown LA transformed from Skid Row, to a bastion for young artists, to a hipster neighborhood with some of the highest rents in the city. By 2018, Huizar was allegedly collecting bribes from developers planning a luxury high rise just a couple blocks from where some of his constituents were getting evicted.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen w
The Sellout | 5: How Downtown Was Won
No man is an island. Huizar couldn’t have pulled off the alleged corruption scheme without help. Host Mariah Castañeda tells the story of how Huizar allegedly built the criminal enterprise the FBI would eventually arrest him for. It all started when downtown was reassigned to his district.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
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The Sellout | 4. Progress Over People
When fancy new developments like The Gold Line expansion get proposed, residents of Boyle Heights wonder if it’s actually for them, or if these new new things are meant to attract future residents... a.k.a. gentrifiers. A mechanic is harassed by the city of Los Angeles after he refuses to sell his land to make way for construction. And Huizar's re-election campaign against Rudy Martinez gets petty.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts t
The Sellout | 3. Red Flags
Alvin Parra worked for Huizar when he first got elected. He saw early warning signs that Huizar wasn’t the man of the people he made himself out to be. Parra tried to warn people about what he saw behind closed doors, but most of them weren’t ready to listen. He ends up doing something drastic to try to expose Huizar.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find mo
The Sellout | 2. Gentrification is Warfare
A militant organization called Defend Boyle Heights protests encroaching gentrification, by any means necessary. We dig into two origin stories: how Huizar emigrated at the age of 4 and ended up at Berkeley and Princeton, and how Boyle Heights has had a history of resistance and displacement.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Son
The Sellout | 1. The Gem of Boyle Heights
As a working-class Latinx neighborhood in Los Angeles faces gentrification, residents are ready to fight to defend their turf. Mariachis lead a rent strike and ask their councilman Jose Huizar for help. But what they don’t realize is that he’s allegedly been taking bribes from developers building luxury housing right across the river, in downtown LA.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly whereve
Introducing The Sellout and Smoke Screen Plus
Jonathan Hirsch, Neon Hum CEO and host of I Am Rama, introduces this season of Smoke Screen (it's called The Sellout!) and our new paid subscription service, Smoke Screen Plus.
If you buy a paid subscription on Apple Podcasts, you’ll get three episodes of bonus content throughout the season. You’ll also get each episode without ads, and 24 hours early. And, if you don’t subscribe… that’s fine! You’ll still get access to all the episodes, free.
The first two episodes of The Sellout dro
Coming Soon: The Sellout
Jose Huizar grew up in Boyle Heights – a working-class Latinx neighborhood in L.A. Eventually, he became their councilperson.
And, for the most part, people trusted Huizar... until the day the FBI raided his home and offices, looking for evidence of corruption. The Feds would go on to say that Huizar led a criminal enterprise based in city hall. He stands accused of taking bribes from luxury developers as his constituents were displaced from their homes.
This season of Smoke Screen is
Introducing Bad Blood: The Final Chapter
She was once the world's youngest self-made female billionaire. Now Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the blood-testing startup Theranos, stands accused of leading a massive fraud, and lying to investors, doctors, and patients about the capabilities of her technology. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison. But Elizabeth may be able to sway a jury with her charisma, highly unusual defense strategy and the fact that key evidence has gone missing. John Carreyrou broke the Theranos scandal. No
I Am Rama | 10. Legacy
In this episode, we explore all that Rama left behind: students, a charitable foundation, music, books, and a complicated legacy.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I Am Rama | 9. Conscience Bay
Power trips to paradise and never-before shared knowledge -- were these golden times, or Rama’s way of saying goodbye? This episode explores the final years leading of Rama's life.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch
I Am Rama | 8. Public Opinion
As Rama’s image took a hit in the public sphere, his students circled the wagons around their teacher. In something of a last ditch effort to win over the media, Rama accepts an invitation to appear on Dateline.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices.
I Am Rama | 7. Accused
Multiple women accuse Rama of sexual misconduct and emotional manipulation. Many of Rama’s students defend their teacher.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I Am Rama | 6. Deprogramming
Rama finds himself in the crosshairs of the Cult Awareness Network, a group dedicated to extricating people from what they consider to be cults by “deprogramming” them. But Rama’s students tell a much different story.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
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I Am Rama | 5. Brenda
A young woman follows Rama to New York, and mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind many to wonder what happened. In this episode, people who knew and loved Brenda Kerber piece her story back together.
If you have any information about the death of Brenda Kerber that wasn’t reflected in this episode, please contact the White Plains Police Department in New York at https://whiteplainspublicsafety.com/submit-a-tip/ or 914-422-6111.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment productio
I Am Rama | 4. Spiritual Contract
Will Arntz is a man of many talents, from filmmaker to laser physicist. In this episode, Will relives the time he spent studying with Rama and how it changed his life.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I Am Rama | 3. California Dreaming
Rama’s growth as a spiritual teacher in the mid-80s starts in California but takes him and his students all over the country. Rama defines his doctrine, turning his attention to the potential of the computer industry. But for his students, it’s not always easy to keep up with their teacher, or stay in his good graces.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
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I Am Rama | 2. Becoming
This episode follows Frederick Lenz III from his early days and education through his introduction to spiritualism with his mentor, Sri Chinmoy, at the dawn of the New Age. Young Freddie becomes “Atmananda,” a recruiter for his mentor, until it becomes time to strike out on his own, as Zen Master Rama.
If you want to know more about Rama’s early years, you can read more from the people who we interviewed for this episode. Liz Lewinson’s book is called “American Buddhist Rebel The Sto
I Am Rama | 1. Golden Light
Rama was a man of many faces: teacher, tech entrepreneur, friend - and to some, a scam artist. This episode introduces Rama, examining the world from which he came, the way he shaped those who entered his orbit for better and for worse, and the mysterious circumstances around his demise.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Mu
Coming Soon: I Am Rama
Rama was a spiritual teacher in the 80s and 90s who inspired many of his students while helming what many of his detractors would describe as a cult. He defied society’s archetypal vision of a New Age leader, eschewing minimalism for wealth and celebrity. He was also a man ahead of his time, encouraging his students to develop careers in computer science before that was mainstream.
For some, following Rama's lead worked out spiritually, and financially too. But for others, Rama's actio
Introducing: Cheat!
Have you ever wondered about those people in life who don’t play by the rules? Maybe it was the person who looked over your shoulder in that exam. The person who got the job instead of you because they lied on their application or the nice fella on the phone who said he was from the bank and ended up taking all your money. We have a name for these people. We call them cheats. People who cheat the system, largescale cheats, social media cheats. We are fascinated by them. We read about them in pap
Introducing: The Vaping Fix
Two young Silicon Valley entrepreneurs set out to rid the world of smoking with an incredible new product. The device stands to disrupt the tobacco industry and make them rich, until it falls into the wrong hands and lives are ruined. From classrooms to hospitals, boardrooms to the Oval Office, what can be done to protect teenagers? And is it too late?
From Laura Beil, the reporter behind Dr Death and Bad Batch, comes The Vaping Fix, the inside story of the rise of Juul and the making of a cri
Introducing Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen
For the past 6 years, someone — or some group — has been terrorizing a certain class of Hollywood workers. Strivers — day players and physical trainers and make-up artists and security guards — receive a phone call or email offering the job of a lifetime. A key role on a major film, or TV show. This offer comes from a powerful woman — one of the biggest producers or studio executives in the industry. All these strivers have to do is get on a plane, for Jakarta, immediately. But when they land, t
Fake Priest | 9. How To Get Away With Fraud
Until now, Father Ryan has mostly escaped punishment for stealing money from followers under false pretenses. What would it take for him to face a jury of his peers?
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Fake Priest | 8. Origin Story
Alex Schuman finally has his showdown with Father Ryan. But things don't go as planned because Father Ryan has something to confess about his past that sheds light on why he wanted to become a "priest" in the first place.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
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Fake Priest | 7. Two Dead Priests
In his autobiography, Father Ryan connects himself to two priests who died suspiciously. One he accuses of molesting children. The other? He says he teamed up with to publicly shame pedophile priests. What's the truth?
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
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Fake Priest | 6. No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
The father-daughter investigator team discovers the cop who arrested Father Ryan may have an ulterior motive. They defend Father Ryan tooth and nail - until they get a troubling surprise of their own.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
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Introducing BROKEN: Seeking Justice
Investigative Reporter Julie K. Brown exposed Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes to the world. Now his survivors are fighting for the truth. This season, host Tara Palmeri follows the women who are making their own justice.
Fake Priest | 5. Meet The Browns
A sheriff deputy arrests Father Ryan for taking more than $70,000 from an elderly follower. It's looking like he might get 7 years in prison, but then he meets a father-daughter pair of private investigators who change everything.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
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Fake Priest | 4. Llama Drama
After Father Ryan steals a follower's money, her property and even her husband's ashes, she hires a lawyer. A legal battle ensues over unpaid loans and a herd of llamas that Father Ryan leaves high and dry.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
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Fake Priest | 3. The Teacher
Even con artists need mentors. Meet the false prophet who teaches Father Ryan how to perfect his con. Father Ryan evades criminal charges again and Alex learns about an unspoken reason prosecutors could let many criminals go free.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
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Fake Priest | 2. Coming Home
Alex tracks down Father Ryan’s son, Jonathan Brady, and discovers Father Ryan was a scammer and manipulator long before he wore a priestly robe. Turns out he had plenty of practice committing fraud before he opened his first church in Wisconsin.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
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Fake Priest | 1. An Unholy Priest
Investigative reporter Alex Schuman hears about a guy accused of swindling millions who has travelled the Midwest for decades pretending to be a priest. Alex starts his journey talking to two people who have long tried to expose the truth. Alex is hoping to finally figure out why anyone would try to pull off such an elaborate con.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
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Introducing Smoke Screen: Fake Priest
For 30 years, a man claimed to be a priest. He performed baptisms and took confession. Every time he ran into trouble, Father Ryan would move on to another small Midwestern town and start his scheme all over again. Followers who once worshiped him, now accuse him of exploitation, fraud and abuse. In season one of Smoke Screen, join Alex Schuman as he unravels this con and gets answers from this white-collar criminal himself.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
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