The Burden

Today we hear from Bernie Madoff, mastermind of the largest Ponzi scheme ever. Bernie made $65 billion disappear. Billion with a B. Madoff had been a Wall Street star, innovative, rich, honored. He was chairman of the NASDAQ. Also, he was quietly managing other people's money, or said he was. But in fact, he never invested. He paid returns to his clients with the money coming in from new investors. In 2008, Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in federal prison. That's when Steve Fishman launched a campaign to get him to talk. It took a year, but he finally spoke. Lives of Crime is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Today's episode is the story of Mike Yard. Mike is now a successful comedian headlining shows around the country. But before that, he spent some time as a stickup man, toting around a big ass gun. Mike chose crime for very specific reasons. Some might call them laudable. Those reasons involved….his dad. Lives of Crime is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's episode is a first person account from Jeff Turner. He was one of the best counterfeiters of his generation. He was persistent, resourceful and very skilled. US Treasury agents couldn't believe how inventive he was. And he did it all for love. Lives of Crime is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two of  Education of an Assassin, young Larry Mazza comes of age.  Killers may be born, they're also made.  In this episode, the Grim Reaper takes Larry under his wing. Spoiler alert, it ends with a bang. For more on Larry's story, read his book, The Life, A True story about a Brooklyn Boy seduced into the Dark World of the Mafia. Lives of Crime is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 In this episode we feature Richard Stratton. The government called him a drug kingpin. But Richard preferred to be called, King of the Hippie Mafia, a band of counter-cultural cannabis lovers turned criminals.  In this episode, there's another person you need to know, Norman Mailer, literary heavyweight of his generation who liked to think of himself as an outlaw. He was a vociferous critic of the government and a proselytizer for the joys of marijuana. The government hated Mailer.  But Stratton? He loved Mailer, and Mailer loved him back. In the end, one would do for the other what no person should ever be asked to do.  Lives of Crime is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Ian Bick. Ian was just 16 years old when the roots of his criminal enterprise were set. You might say he led a double life. A teenager sleeping in a twin bed in his parents' suburban house under his favorite music poster, and also, according to the FBI, a cunning criminal conducting a nefarious Ponzi scheme. Ian maintains he didn't even know what a Ponzi scheme was until the FBI charged him with running one. Lives of Crime is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part one of this two-part story, we meet Larry Mazza, a teenage delivery boy at the local supermarket; his customer, a beautiful older woman; and her husband, a mobster known as the Grim Reaper. Listen and find out why we call this episode the Education of an Assassin Part One? Lives of Crime is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered what it’s like to live on the edge? To not follow the rules? To live outside of the law? On Lives of Crime you'll hear true stories from criminals themselves, narrating moments from their lives and expounding upon the crimes they’ve committed. This first person narrative podcast series creates an intimate connection between criminal and listener. It’s true crime without intermediaries. Presented without judgment, each episode features a single voice - a person with a criminal past - telling us the deeply personal details of their lives. We hear about their crimes, sure, but Lives of Crime goes beyond that. We hear the stories that shaped them, the moments that made them, the details that changed the direction of their lives for good or for ill.True Crime Told by true criminals.  Lives of Crime is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sharing a special episode this week from a new podcast called Blood Will Tell. When a birthday party in suburban San Jose turns deadly, 18-year-old identical twins are arrested for suspected murder. One brother spends nearly two years in jail before the truth comes out: authorities locked up the wrong twin. How could one brother let his twin take the fall? And why would the other sacrifice his freedom for a crime he didn’t commit? Blood Will Tell is a modern-day saga of Shakespearean proportions, following Vietnamese-American brothers whose unbreakable bond is tested by silence, sacrifice, and an unthinkable choice.  In this episode, after a drunken fight at a birthday party turns deadly, police narrow in on two suspects — identical twin brothers, Trung and Anh. But when an eye witness mistakes the brothers for each other in a lineup, one brother must make a heartbreaking sacrifice.  Listen to more episodes of Blood Will Tell at https://wondery.com/shows/blood-will-tell/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we bring you the first episode of the new miniseries - Robert Pickton: The Final Chapter, from Canadian True Crime.Everyone knows about the Canadian pig farmer who confessed to murdering 49 women on his farm near Vancouver – many of them sex workers and Indigenous women.  What you might not know is that Robert Pickton was recently murdered in prison in an act of vigilante justice. His final chapter may now be closed, but the story is far from over. The evidence suggests he did not act alone.  In this special miniseries from Canadian True Crime, Aussie-Canadian host Kristi Lee traces a disturbing childhood on the Pickton family farm where cruelty was normalized, and morality optional. Moving past the caricature of a lone monster in buddy boots, this series restores the humanity of the women targeted and examines the systems that failed them for so long — leaving their loved ones with many unanswered questions. This miniseries draws primarily from court records, historical news archives, investigative journalism, personal interviews and the Missing Women Inquiry final report. This mini-series comes from Canada’s leading independent podcast Canadian True Crime. From the snowy streets of small-town Canada to the darkest corners of the big cities, join Aussie-Canadian host Kristi Lee as she unearths chilling true crime stories that shook the nation. With meticulous research and a trauma-informed approach, Kristi takes listeners beyond the headlines for a thoughtful deep dive into compelling true crime stories, unraveling some of Canada's most compelling criminal cases and justice system failures.  You can listen to the second part of Robert Pickton: The Final Chapter now, just find Canadian True Crime wherever you get your podcasts or visit www.canadiantruecrime.ca   CONTENT WARNING: This series includes graphic details that will be distressing for many listeners to hear, including mention of sexual assault, residential schools, Indigenous issues, child abuse and suicide. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is exclusive access to Earwitness: Chapter 1 | Behind the Crown Beth Shelburne dives into the shocking conviction of Toforest Johnson for the murder of Deputy William Hardy, following a case that never stopped bleeding questions. With former Attorney General Bill Baxley as her guide, she moves through a justice system wired for punishment over truth, uncovering a story built on fear, assumption, and a man who may not belong at its center. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.toforestjohnson.com Toforest on Instagram Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is exclusive access to The Binge Cases: Killer Story. In this episode, Seventeen-year-old Sabrina Kidd goes missing, four years later reporter Lyndal Marks, decides to find her.Binge all episodes of Killer Story ad-free today by subscribing to The Binge. Visit The Binge Cases on Apple Podcasts and hit ‘subscribe’ or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access.Killer Story is brought to you by Sony Music Entertainment and Orbit Media. Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dax-Devlon Ross returns to the Orbit fold to drop the first episode of his new true crime series, Crying Wolf. Dax, a co-founder of Orbit, co-hosted Orbit's hit true crime series, The Burden. His new show is a gripping series about a man who claims to have been wrongfully convicted, and his best friend, his former cellmate who spent a lifetime trying to prove his innocence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special preview of The Jordan Harbinger Show, former bank robber Joe Loya reveals how childhood trauma transformed him into a prolific criminal — and how he found his way back. We first met Joe in Season 4 of The Burden, Get the Money and Run. You can hear Part 2 of this interview at:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/joe-loya-confessions-of-a-bank-robber-part-two/And you can listen to Joe's life story in the acclaimed 7-episode podcast Get the Money and Run: https://omny.fm/shows/the-burden/get-the-money-and-run-first-time-out  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maggie Freleng, Pulitzer prize winning producer, journalist and host of Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng sits down for a Q&A with Steve Fishman to chat about Death & Deceit in Alliance. In this special episode, Maggie is joined by private investigator Danny Wexler. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the season finale, Maggie gives David a chance to explain what happened when Danny and John visited and the guys make a decision on whether or not to take David's case. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The team finally gets to speak with David Thorne himself and ask him about everything they've learned. However, the answers were not what they were looking for. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After speaking with Joe Wilkes, the team reckons with the possibility that David could have been involved after all. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maggie, John, and Danny search for Joe Wilkes' best friend who he allegedly confessed to that he killed Yvonne. Things take a turn to where no one thought the investigation would go. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In order to understand a murder like this, you have to understand the victim. Maggie, John and Danny talk to some of the people closest to Yvonne to try to find out what was going on in her life in the months leading up to her murder. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maggie, John and Danny set out in Ohio to speak with some top people of interest who have been named in the case. Jim, the allegedly creepy neighbor who was spying on Yvonne and Jeremy, someone close to the family and who the Psychic described as the perpetrator. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Baldwin from the West Memphis 3 and his team of private investigators from Proclaim Justice team up with Maggie to look into David's case.  They hit the ground in Ohio to find out: who really did kill Yvonne Layne? New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Months into the investigation of Yvonne Layne's murder, police felt stuck, so they did something controversial: they went to a psychic. And the audio recordings we obtained from the visit give an incredible amount of insight into who may have killed Yvonne. However, it wasn't what the psychic said to detectives, but what they told her that is truly shocking. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 1, 1999, the day Yvonne was found murdered in her home, a neighbor stopped by and told police he saw someone leaving her home, unbeknownst to him, after Yvonne was already dead. But this witness's statement was never turned over to the defense. Why? And who was the man he saw leaving Yvonne's home after her murder? New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Thorne has spent over 20 years in prison for a murder he says he did not commit. Although he says his case is "Dead in the Water", he hasn't been alone. Sue Thorne, a retired postal worker turned amateur investigator, has kept his case alive all these years and uncovered new evidence that could point to David's innocence. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After David Thorne and Joe Wilkes were arrested for the murder of Yvonne Layne in April 1999, they went to trial in January 2000. What evidence was used to convict them? What kind of defense did David have in the face of Joe's confession? New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the morning of April Fools Day 1999, Tawnia Layne went to pick up her grandkids at Yvonne's home. But instead, she stumbled upon a brutal crime scene, her daughter nearly decapitated in a pool of her own blood. Who could have done this to Yvonne? In this episode we look at the first hours and days of the investigation. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we learn about Yvonne, David and how the two came together and had their son, Brandon. But we also learn about the problems the couple had and issues in Yvonne's life ultimately causing the two to break up before her murder. Who was Yvonne Layne? What brought the young lovers together and ultimately caused their split? New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Ohio home while her children slept. Her ex-boyfriend, David Thorne, was instantly a suspect as the father of one of her children, but he had a solid alibi. So the police found Joe Wilkes, a friend of David’s, who said David hired him to kill Yvonne. In 2000 with Joe’s testimony, David was sentenced to life without parole. But, our investigation has shown that almost everyone in Yvonne's life had a motive to kill her – like her own family, a creepy neighbor and even police officers. New episodes of Death & Deceit in Alliance are available every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death & Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder,  and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.”  David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? New episodes of Death and Deceit in Alliance will be available every Tuesday and Friday starting on December 2 wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts. Death and Deceit in Alliance is a production of Orbit Media Inc. in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Bone Valley Season 3 | GRAVES COUNTY,  Maggie Freleng takes us to a small town in Graves County, Kentucky, where a terrible discovery on the front lawn of a middle school invites a string of amateur and professional investigators to try to solve a murder. Maggie is the latest investigator to get pulled in. And she’ll take all of us along as she teases out this complicated web of rumors and lies, and perhaps even the truth. In this special preview of Episode 1, we hear from Victoria Caldwell. Her account of the killing of Jessica Currin would become the driving force in the conviction of Quincy Cross and others for the murder of Jessica Currin.  To hear this chapter in its entirety, visit Lava for Good/Graves County Graves County is hosted by Maggie Freleng, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the hosts of Lava For Good’s Wrongful Conviction, and is executive produced by Gilbert King.  New episodes of Bone Valley Season 3 | Graves County are available every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Graves County is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Fishman sits down for a Q&A with Joe Loya, the star of the new podcast Get the Money and Run. Listen in as Joe shares with Steve the answers to many questions from listeners and reveals some of the details that went into creating one of the finest podcasts of 2025. Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound and aCast Studios in association with Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15-year-old Barbara Louise Cotton vanished from the streets of Williston, North Dakota, on April11, 1981, five blocks from her home. What happened to Barbara Cotton?  In episode 1, while others called Barbara a 'runaway', a frustrated yet unyielding Sandee Evanson refuses to stop looking for her childhood friend. A Better Search for Barbara is a deep, investigative dive into one of North Dakota's longestrunning cold cases. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS:https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlightInstagram: @dakotaspotlightTikTok: @dakotaspotlightBluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.socialYouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of SixHorse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without theexpress written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries,please contact [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once out of prison, Joe is insulted by a stranger. His rage mounts. Will he lash out and spend the rest of his days in prison? Or will he find comfort in his once violent family? It’s his moment of fatal peril.  Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound and aCast Studios in association with Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe is sent to solitary confinement. Alone he starts to hear voices in  his head and to hallucinate. He struggles with a question: Can he be a good person?  Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound and aCast Studios in association with Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe is on a spree, and even arrest won’t stop him. He hires a body double to do his bidding, but things backfire. He thinks he’s blending in on a college campus when students turn on him.  Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound and aCast Studios in association with Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank robbery is easy, profitable and…fun! But then Joe hears from a victim.  Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound and aCast Studios in association with Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe’s floundering  until a thought occurs to him:  Murder! With that, Joe changes the arc of his life.  Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound and aCast Studios in association with Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting started as a bank robber isn’t easy for Joe Loya. It takes courage … and rage. But Joe does the math. Thousands of dollars gained for a few minutes work. That’s what he figures he deserves. Meanwhile at home, losses mount. Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound and aCast Studios in association with Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young Joe was cute as a bug.  The rising bank robber was also a protector of the weak though he couldn't always protect the weak who he loved most. And then he picked up a knife. Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound and aCast Studios in association with Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Joe was one of California’s most daring bank robbers. He used disguises, body doubles, speeding getaway cars…and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars,  even as the FBI was closing in. Joe was also a soul searcher, driven by a dark rage he set out to understand. To do that he must understand why trying to murder his father felt so good. Get the Money and Run immerses you, the listener, into the world of Joe Loya. This podcast is a fast-moving and entertaining listen that keeps you locked in from start to finish. Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound, aCast Studios and Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father.  Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound, aCast Studios and Orbit Media Inc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noreen Boyle goes missing, and her 11-year-old son is determined to find her. He teams up with a homicide cop to investigate his mother’s murder. In a shocking turn of events, together, they uncover evidence that brings the killer to justice. A killer who the son knows all too well.  Finding Mom's Killer is the latest series from The Binge - subscribe to listen to all episodes, all at once, ad-free right now.  Finding Mom's Killer is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sony Music Entertainment. https://apple.co/4igi2diSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We know that after you listened to Empire on Blood: The Director's Cut, you immediately thought: Why isn't this a TV show?  Remember, Malcolm Gladwell said the podcast was “The Wire” meets Shakespeare. Well, a prestigious production company thought the same thing, optioned the podcast and hired a writer to pen a pilot. In this episode we talk to the writer and his partner about the joys and heartbreak of turning a podcast into a TV pilot.Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christine Harron, a book-loving teenager from Hanover, Ontario, leaves for school in the spring of 1993 and is never seen again. A suspect emerges, confessing to her murder, but the case falls apart and Christine's family are left without answers. In Season 9 of the award winning podcast Someone Knows Something, David Ridgen, along with Christine's mother, reopen the investigation and come face to face with the man who said he killed Chrissy. Someone Knows Something is the investigative true crime series by award-winning documentarian David Ridgen. Each season tackles an unsolved case, uncovering details and bringing closure to families.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Avenger, which takes place in Argentina, we recorded all interviews in Spanish, translated them into English and had them voiced by actors. Miriam, the "disappeared" who becomes a journalist and tracks down the pilots of the death flights, is voiced by Alexis Bledel, the Emmy-winning actor known for her role in Gilmore Girls and Handmaid's Tale. Her father is Argentine. Alexis is directed by Oscar-winner Fisher Stevens. Fisher has directed Al Pacino and Justin Timberlake, among others. In this bonus episode, we learn how a skilled director gets a great performance out of a talented actor. If you've ever wanted to see how a great performance comes together, this is a master class. An intimate peek into the process of acting and directing.  To ask Miriam Lewis and Fisher Stevens questions about Avenger, send an email to:[email protected] Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After thirty years of government impunity, the amnesty laws that helped bury Argentina’s horrific past are overturned. The trials against the junta commanders are reopened, and slowly, one after another, they are brought to justice. The trial against the pilots begins with Miriam and Enrique Piñeyro as key witnesses. It is the moment Miriam had been waiting for. The culmination of the investigation to avenge the deaths of her friends. And to answer the question that has plagued her: Why did I survive? Maybe to bring justice to the fallen. To ask Miriam Lewis and Fisher Stevens questions about Avenger, send an email to:[email protected] Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s 1979, Miriam is free, but living in exile in New York City where she is surveilled by the junta. She’s among the few to survive imprisonment. In the years that follow, unidentified bodies start to wash up on the shores of Argentina. The bodies are swollen and bloated, but the perpetrators are unknown. Years later, democracy returns to Argentina, but still no one is held to account for the crimes against the disappeared. In 1985, the new president promises a historic trial against the junta commanders. Miriam bravely returns to Argentina to testify, but the judicial process drags on. Eventually, the forensic team examining the flight logs Miriam and Giancarlo found, link them to the bloated bodies that washed ashore during the dictatorship. The pilots of the death flights could finally face justice.  To ask Miriam Lewis and Fisher Stevens questions about Avenger, send an email to:[email protected] Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lack of media attention on the TV story is disheartening, but Miriam has a bigger plan up her sleeve and redirects all her energy to the courts. With the help of Nobel Laureate Adolfo Pérez Equivel, who himself survived a death flight, they file a formal accusation against the pilots at the federal prosecutor’s office. The evidence is mounting, the Argentine Navy hands over thousands of pages from the original flight logs to the prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor assigns a special unit to investigate crimes against humanity, and it includes an elite forensic team that links Miriam and Giancarlo’s investigation to a long unsolved crime. To ask Miriam Lewis and Fisher Stevens questions about Avenger, send an email to:[email protected] Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One day, Miriam sits in her office when she gets a call from the stringer she hired to go look at one of the Skyvan planes which had been sold to a Florida businessman. The owner reveals that he has the flight logs dating back to the dictatorship. Those logs are a break. They could lead to the pilots of the death flights. With Enrique Pineyro’s help, who now joins the investigation, they decode the log’s cryptic notes. Flights that should have only taken 45 minutes were logged in at four hours. With the green light from the TV station, Miriam and her crew put the final touches on her report. She’s ready to expose everyone and maybe, finally see some justice. What follows comes as a complete surprise. To ask Miriam Lewis and Fisher Stevens questions about Avenger, send an email to:[email protected] Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.