Bribe, Swindle or Steal
by Alexandra Wrage
Alexandra Addison-Wrage, president of TRACE, interviews luminaries in the field of financial crime, including bribery, fraud, money-laundering, insider trading and sanctions. Each week, Alexandra and her guests will discuss who commits "white collar crime", how it works and what is being done to stop it.
Episodes
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Rigging the Rules: Unfair Housing Practices
Lisa Rice, president and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, provides some historical context for discriminatory housing practices, describes how uneven progress has been and, most importantly, the extraordinary and lasting impact it has. Where we live shapes almost every aspect of our...
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Where's the Cavalry: Global Anti-Corruption Efforts
At the 2025 TRACE Annapolis Forum, Nicola Bonucci, Associate Professor at Paris Cité and former General Counsel of the OECD, reflects on 25 years of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and the evolving challenges of global enforcement. From uncertainties around FCPA guidance, political influence…
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1MDB
Bradley Hope, co-founder of Project Brazen, describes his team's in-depth research into Malaysia's 1MDB scandal- and where Leonardo DiCaprio fits in. This episode was originally published on 18 October 2017.
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Dirty Entanglements: Corruption, Crime and Terrorism
Louise Shelley, founder of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center, discusses her book about the links between the three international scourges. This episode was originally published on 17 January 2018.
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Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
Carrie Cohen of Morrison Foerster explains the regulatory and compliance implications of blockchain-enabled technology, including cryptocurrency. This episode was originally published on 31 October 2018.
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"On Corruption in America"
Sarah Chayes discusses her book: On Corruption in America and What is at Stake. She takes us from the myth of King Midas through to the present in a lively history of corruption and then leaves listeners with a detailed call to action. This episode was originally published on 25 November 2020.
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"Promoting Integrity in the Work of International Organisations"
Duncan Smith of the European Investment Bank joins the podcast to discuss his book: Promoting Integrity in the Work of International Organisations: Minimising Fraud and Corruption in Projects. He discusses the unique role of multinational development banks, the progress that remains and the cost…
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The Last Pirate of New York
Bestselling author, Rich Cohen, describes the "missing link" between American pirates and gangsters: underworld legend and notorious criminal, Albert Hicks. Rich also makes clear how far law enforcement has come since the days of Hicks' many gruesome crimes. This episode was originally published…
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Hockey Canada's Governance Review
Retired Canadian Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell joins the podcast to describe the review he was commissioned to undertake of Hockey Canada's organizational structure in the aftermath of a sexual assault scandal that shook confidence in the sport in 2018. This episode was originally…
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Football Dreams
Sebastian Abbot, author of "The Away Game; The Epic Search for Soccer's Next Superstars," talks about Qatar and the biggest soccer talent search in history, as well as the darker side of recruiting for the sport. This episode was originally published on 4 June 2018.
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Whistleblower Protections
Leah Ambler, Director, Corruption Prevention at the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity and former Legal Analyst at the OECD, joins the podcast—in her personal capacity—to discuss her excellent chapter on Whistleblower Protections. Leah discusses the importance of whistleblower...
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"Very Bad People"
Patrick Alley, co-founder of Global Witness and author of Very Bad People: The Inside Story of the Fight Against the World's Network of Corruption, joins the podcast to discuss the early days of his Global Witness investigations, how their efforts gained momentum and where we should be focusing…
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Promoting Facts and Countering Disinformation
Melissa Goldin, a NY-based News Verification Reporter and Editor with The Associated Press analyzes and debunks fake news. This episode was originally published on 24 July 2024.
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After You Pay a Bribe: Lindsey Mitchell
Listen to the riveting first-hand story of a Unaoil executive who found himself at the center of a bribery scheme. This episode was originally published in 16 August 2017.
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Diana Henriques on Reputation Laundering
Diana Henriques, award-winning journalist and author, discusses the traits of fraudsters and the menace of reputation laundering. This episode was originally published on 3 August 2024.
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How Criminals Justify Their Conduct
Shaul Shalvi, Professor of Behavioral Ethics at the University of Amsterdam, describes how people convince themselves that their misconduct is okay. This episode was originally published on 21 June 2017.
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The Unaoil Story
Nick McKenzie, award-winning Australian investigative journalist, shares the inside story of his role in exposing the Unaoil scandal. This episode was originally published on 12 July 2017.
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"Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How it Changes Us"
Brian Klaas, Associate Professor at University College London and host of the award-winning podcast "Power Corrupts," joins us to discuss his book "Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us". Brian describes research on who is drawn to positions of power and how power impacts us…
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Brass Tacks: Would You Call the Government to Make a Disclosure Today? If So, Why?
At the 2025 TRACE Annapolis Forum, Chuck Duross, Global Co-Chair of the FCPA and Global Anti-Corruption Practice at Morrison Foerster, discusses the DOJ's evolving voluntary self-disclosure policies and the balance of risks and rewards for companies. From increased incentives under the 2025...
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The New Corporation: How Good Corporations are Bad for Democracy
Joel Bakan joins the podcast to discuss his books, and the films based on them. He outlines the fundamental conflict inherent in companies ostensibly committed to ESG principles while simultaneously driven by a legal requirement to maximize shareholder value. This episode was originally published...
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"When McKinsey Comes to Town"
Michael Forsythe, co-author with Walt Bogdanich of "When McKinsey Comes to Town", joins the podcast to talk about McKinsey's work in support of autocratic regimes, its rampant conflicts of interest and the distance between its stated values and its work on the ground. This episode was originally...
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Oliver Bullough at the TRACE London Forum
Speaking at the 2022 TRACE London Forum, Oliver Bullough, author of Butler to the World, discusses the UK's role as an enabler of financial crime, efforts toward accountability, the balance between transparency and privacy, and the weaponization of lawsuits in British courts to silence…
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Doping at the Olympics
Richard Conway, Managing Partner at SPECTACLE, and former BBC Sport correspondent, describes the vast state-sponsored Russian doping scandal and how the credibility of global sports is being undermined. This episode was originally published on 7 February 2018.
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The Corrupt Underbelly of Sport
Declan Hill discusses the pervasive and sinister nature of match-fixing and how we can prevent sport from being turned into theater. This episode was originally published on 2 August 2017.
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Corruption, Sanctions and Putin's War Regime
In this episode, we hear from Leonid Volkov, who spoke at the 2022 TRACE London Forum. Leonid, former Chief of Staff to Alexei Navalny and current Political Director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF), discussed the role of corruption in Putin's Russia, as well as the impact of sanctions and...
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Bill Browder at the TRACE London Forum
Here's our conversation with Bill Browder from the 2022 TRACE London Forum. Bill discusses his book Freezing Order and his ongoing quest for accountability and justice following the abuse and murder of his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. This episode was originally published on 28 September 2022.
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Rugby, Amateur Sports and the Paris Olympics!
Sally Dennis, former President of Rugby Canada and current Canadian representative on the Council of World Rugby, describes her role in the professionalization of sports governance, where challenges remain— and rugby's arguably unique invulnerability to match fixing! This episode was originally...
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FIFA's Red Card: Ken Bensinger
Ken Bensinger, award-winning investigative reporter, author and Pulitzer Prize finalist, discusses his fascinating book, Red Card, and the decades of misconduct by FIFA eventually uncovered by the FBI. We play "violation bingo" as Ken describes the bribery, self-dealing, conflicts of interest and...
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DEI: Navigating the Semantic Minefield
At the 2025 TRACE Forum, Misti Mukherjee, Partner at Extensio Law, and Debra Joy Pérez, Chief Equity Officer at United States Pharmacopeia (USP), explore the evolving expectations for diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations. They share recommendations for implementing evidence-based...
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U.S.-Canada Relations: Undefended Border or Deepening Divide?
At the 2025 TRACE Annapolis Forum, Gordon McKechnie, Executive President of Canadian Bank Note, explores the evolving dynamics between the U.S. and Canada. As Canada's focus shifts toward Europe and Asia, Gordon discusses changing trade priorities, diverging foreign policies, and the impact of...
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Redrawing the Risk Map: Evolving Business Threats and Due Diligence in Uncertain Markets
At the 2025 TRACE Forum, Kirk Foster, Assistant General Counsel and Director of Compliance at HII Mission Technologies, explores how organizations can use Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) alongside compliance to proactively address emerging risks. By leveraging ERM, Kirk discusses how companies…
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DOJ's FCPA Docket: What's Been Closed, What Continues and What Might That Tell Us for the Next Several Years?
At the 2025 TRACE Annapolis Forum, Billy Jacobson, Partner at Jacobson Lopez, explores the DOJ's shifting FCPA priorities—from a focus on "grand corruption" and the costs of investigations to prosecutorial uncertainty and statutes of limitation. In today's unpredictable environment, companies…
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Corruption, Sanctions and Putin's War Regime
This is a powerful session from the 2022 TRACE London Forum featuring Leonid Volkov, former Chief of Staff to Alexei Navalny and Political Director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF). Leonid discusses the role of corruption in Putin's Russia as well as the impact of sanctions and the toll…
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"Why They Do It"
Eugene Soltes, Author, and Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, describes his fascinating research into what motivates white collar criminals and how distance from their victims makes it easier. This episode was originally published on 30 August 2017.
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Effective Compliance Training
Karen Benson, Senior Counsel, Legal, at Energizer Holdings, shares a broad range of tips on how to build a targeted, innovative training program that keeps employs interested and engaged. This episode was originally published on 15 May 2019.
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DEI Progress and Setbacks: What Compliance Professionals Need to Know
This week's podcast features an excellent presentation by Misti Mukherjee, founder and managing member of Extensio Law. Misti addresses the shifting field of diversity, equity and inclusion—including recent changes to the law—and emphasizes the critical importance of this work alongside the need…
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How Companies Get Caught
Chuck Duross, Global Co-Chair of the FCPA and Global Anti-Corruption Practice at Morrison Foerster, and former head of the DOJ's FCPA unit, discusses lures, stings, wiretaps and INTERPOL Red Notices. This episode was originally published on 7 March 2018.
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Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World
Author, academic and former compliance professional, Alison Taylor joins the podcast to talk about her compelling book, "Higher Ground". She describes the contradictions inherent in companies that talk about "doing well by doing good" and explains why corporate reputation management can't be an…
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Encouraging and Protecting Whistleblowers
This week, we're listening in on Alexandra Wrage's keynote presentation at a Whistleblowers and Public Integrity conference hosted by the Vancouver Anti-Corruption Institute (VACI). She addresses the incredible personal price that whistleblowers pay when they're driven to expose misconduct,...
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Daphne Caruana Galizia: Her Work, Her Murder and the Chance for Justice
Paul Caruana Galizia, an investigative journalist at the Financial Times and Author of "A Death in Malta", joins the podcast to talk about the work of his mother, Daphne, the growing danger she perceived as her investigations reached the highest circles of power in Malta, and now the criminal...
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Collaborative Investigative Journalism Without Borders
At the TRACE Prize for Investigative Reporting award ceremony last month, former prosecutor and National Observer columnist Sandy Garossino led a conversation with ICIJ's Spencer Woodman, Bellingcat's Aric Toler, and 2022 Prize winners Hans Peterson Hammer of Göteborgs-Posten and Lilia Saúl...
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Maria Ressa on Holding the Line
Nobel Peace Prize winning journalist Maria Ressa joins the podcast to talk about corruption, disinformation and how to stand up to a dictator. This podcast was originally published on February 22, 2023.
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How Corruption Undermines Elections
Dr. Magnus Ohman of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) joins the podcast to discuss how corruption undermines free and fair elections. He discusses his recent publication "Vote for Free: A Global Guide for Citizen Monitoring of Campaign Finance," which provides an…
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Shattered Families, a Refugee Crisis and the United States' Diminished Reputation as a Beacon to Newcomers
Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody describe with passion their work with the International Rescue Committee. They tell us what America as a haven means to them and mourn the news that 545 children separated from their parents on the US southern border cannot be restored to their parents. They...
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A Syrian-Libyan Human Smuggling Scheme
As Syria struggles to get on its feet after decades under the tyrannical father-son Assad regime, we're revisiting a story from 2024 when those desperate to leave Syria were preyed upon by a human smuggling ring. The story was brought to light by Mahmoud Elsobky, one of the two winners of the…
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"Rigged: America, Russia and One Hundred Years of Covert Electoral Interference"
We are revisiting an episode from 2020 with David Shimer. David discusses his book that reviews the century of covert election interference by Russia and the U.S., the known impact of Russian meddling in 2016, and their growing capacity to interfere in future elections. This episode was…
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FCPA Year in Review (2024)
This podcast is based on TRACE's recent Year in Review webinar with Kate Atkinson. Kate is a Member and the Chair of Miller & Chevalier, based in their DC office, and she reviews for us the FCPA highlights for 2024.
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Trump Hotel - Baku: Adam Davidson
We're reposting our 2017 podcast with Adam Davidson of the New Yorker who joined the podcast to talk about his research into the baffling Trump Hotel deal in Baku. This episode was originally published on 14 June 2017.
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"White House Inc.: How Donald Trump Turned the Presidency Into a Business" (Last Time)
In light of last week's inauguration, we're revisiting a 2020 podcast episode with Dan Alexander, author and senior editor at Forbes, discussing his book about Trump's business deals with foreign entities, including one very strange deal with the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar. This episode was...
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Understanding Trump's Executive Order on the Civil Service (It's Much More Serious Than It Sounds)
This inauguration week, we're revisiting a 2020 podcast on President Trump's assault on the civil service. In this episode, Harvard law professor, Matthew Stephenson, provides some context for understanding Trump's executive order on the civil service and then lists the three primary threats it...
Topics in this show
About this show
Alexandra Addison-Wrage, president of TRACE, interviews luminaries in the field of financial crime, including bribery, fraud, money-laundering, insider trading and sanctions. Each week, Alexandra and her guests will discuss who commits "white collar crime", how it works and what is being done to stop it.
Hosted by
Alexandra Wrage