By 2012, undercover DEA agents had cracked holes in an underground criminal conspiracy. It was the “Amazon.com of Drugs” – the Silk Road. But to take down its shadowy founder, they’d have to team up with a surprising number of federal agencies – and go to criminal lengths themselves.
The audiobook edition of American Kingpin by Nick Bilton is available for ... Show More
May 6
Salem Witch Trials: The Dark Forces That Divided a Town
The injustice and hysteria that defined the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 is so shocking, historians have spent centuries looking for an explanation. In reality, it was a perfect storm of tensions that led to the deaths of at least 24 innocent people. But in all of that confusion, w ... Show More
50m 12s
Apr 29
The Superman Curse and the Death of George Reeves
In the 1950s, Adventures of Superman dominated TV screens thanks to its star George Reeves. However, while the world loved him as Superman, George reportedly felt trapped in the role. According to the Hollywood rumor mill, the resulting depression drove him to die by suicide. But ... Show More
45m 39s
Apr 22
The Colorado Cannibal: Alfred Packer
A man stumbles out of the Colorado wilderness in 1873. After his traveling party ran out of food in the dead of winter, he’s the only survivor. Except he looks surprisingly well-fed. Alfred Packer’s story of what became of his companions changes not once, but twice. In the end, w ... Show More
39m 30s
Jun 2024
Silk Road: Murder, Drugs & Crypto
In this RE-RELEASE episode, Tess takes us through the journey of Ross Ulbricht’s founding of Silk Road, the dark web known as “the Amazon for drugs.” Meant to be a place for buyers and sellers to conduct marijuana transactions using Bitcoin, it quickly escalated to offering hard ... Show More
1h 27m
Mar 2023
Episode 291 - The Silk Road: Drugs, Data & The Dread Pirate Roberts
For some, the end of the world's most infamous online marketplace was a major victory in the never ending war on drugs. But for others, the global, multi-agency investigation into the Silk Road set a dangerous precedent for law enforcement – who rifled through the personal data o ... Show More
53m 4s