Podcasts · True Crime · History

Deep Cover

Pushkin Industries

85 episodes · in order · Explicit

Deep Cover is a show about people who lead double lives. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Halpern reveals webs of deception and dark underworlds, through interviews with federal agents and convicted criminals.

More about the show

Deep Cover: The Family Man: Elise and Marissa grew up in a seemingly normal house in the suburbs of St. Louis, but it was a house built on secrets. There were things their father never told them—like how he really made his money. One night, the police showed up, raided their house, and seized boxes of evidence. Hours later, the sisters turned on the TV and saw something surreal: their father’s car, in the aftermath of a police chase. The local news identified him as “The Boonie Hat Bandit.” The girls were stunned. They struggled to accept the truth: Dad had been living a double life. How long had he been lying to them? What had he done? And who, exactly, was their father? Deep Cover: The Family Man is a story about the way parents deceive their children and the crimes a desperate father will commit to save his family. It’s also a story about justice—and the question of what punishment these crimes deserve.

Deep Cover Presents: Snowball. A special limited series from the Unravel Podcast team at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Ollie Wards' family lost everything after their brush with a charming Californian con woman. As he embarks on a quest to find out how she did it, why she did it, and where she is now, he opens the door on a mystery that spans decades and across continents.

In the sixth season of Deep Cover: The Truth About Sarah, Jake Halpern and acclaimed investigative journalist Jess McHugh unravel an epic six-year deception that upended lives of countless people. Sarah Cavanaugh was many things: A decorated veteran. A Marine who saved her comrades. A young woman fighting cancer. She was stoic, humble, tough. In short: a hero. Sarah was everything people wanted her to be—until she wasn’t. Turns out, no one knew the real Sarah. Not her comrades. Not her wife. No one. Jake and Jess interview all of the key sources—including Sarah, herself—to tell this sprawling tale.

Season five covers the rise and fall of George Santos, the former Republican Congressman from New York, and the stories—many of which were not true—he told about his life and credentials.

Season four, The Nameless Man, tells the epic tale of two federal agents who investigate a rumor about a murder that supposedly took place 15 years prior. It is also the story of a family searching for answers about why their brother was killed. These two storylines collide in a courtroom in Philadelphia, where murder, memory, and morality go on trial.

Season three, Never Seen Again, tells the story of two women living on opposite sides of the country, who went missing in the summer of 1999. Seven years later, their stories collided when a small town detective got a tip and became convinced that if he could solve one mystery, he’d solve the other.

Season two, Mob…

Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. Introducing Deep Cover

    · 3:19 · Trailer · Explicit

    Marijuana, motorcycles, and mayhem. Deep Cover is the true story of an FBI agent in Detroit who goes undercover in an outlaw motorcycle gang and makes a series of bizarre discoveries that inadvertently lead to the US…

  2. Episode 1: The Masked Man

    · 39 min · S1 E1 · Explicit

    Detroit FBI agent Ned Timmons busts Toby Anderson, a violent criminal who also fancies himself a budding country music star. Ned flips Toby and goes undercover as a biker, but Toby quickly goes out of control. He uses…

  3. Episode 2: What Will the Neighbors Think?

    · 33 min · S1 E2 · Explicit

    As Ned goes deeper undercover with Toby, making busts and infiltrating biker gangs, his wife Kathy begins to worry that things are going too far. But Ned is hooked, hearing chatter about a smuggling syndicate, a…

  4. Episode 3: El Dorado

    · 35 min · S1 E3 · Explicit

    Ned makes his move on Shine by baiting him into a chili cook-off. It turns out Shine is also looking for an out, as he’s come under suspicion from his boss, a massive drug distributor named Mike Vogel. Shine runs…

  5. Episode 4: The Gentleman Smuggler

    · 39 min · S1 E4 · Explicit

    Shine takes Ned to Beaufort, North Carolina, where an abandoned boat full of marijuana had been discovered years prior. Locally, that case had gone cold, but Shine knows all about it. It was the work of an activist…

  6. Episode 5: A Different Kind of Animal

    · 35 min · S1 E5 · Explicit

    The kingpin of the smuggling syndicate – Leigh Ritch – is safely out of reach in the Cayman Islands. But he’s worried. One of his partners, the Gentleman Smuggler, is in custody. Leigh’s network may soon be exposed. He…

  7. Episode 6: The Silent Partner

    · 37 min · S1 E6 · Explicit

    As Ned is in Grand Cayman working undercover to investigate Leigh Ritch, he hears talk about a “general” sometimes called “Pineapple Face.” That can only be the Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who, it turns out,…

  8. Episode 7: The Honeymoon is Over

    · 32 min · S1 E7 · Explicit

    This is the story of Leigh Ritch’s escape. It begins with his friends, Tommy Lee and Heather Locklear, visiting the Cayman Islands on their honeymoon. They start fighting, make a ruckus, and Leigh eventually takes them…

  9. Episode 8: The Political Shitstorm

    · 31 min · S1 E8 · Explicit

    Word gets out that the smugglers have a silent partner who is none other than Manuel Noriega – the ruler of Panama, a close ally, and a top CIA asset. The three kingpins (Leigh Ritch, Mike Vogel, and Steven Kalish) all…

  10. Episode 9: 1989

    · 44 min · S1 E9 · Explicit

    Ned gets too close with a female source, a dangerous move that stands to end his marriage and perhaps even his career at the FBI. Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Noriega ramp up. President Bush calls for an…

  11. The Supply Side

    · 28 min · Bonus · Explicit

    Jake delves into one piece of the puzzle that he didn’t quite get into in season one but has continued to intrigue him: the source. In this episode, you’ll meet Tommy Powell, a former smuggler who guides us through the…

  12. The Origin of Ned’s Novel, Plus a Sneak Peek of Deep Cover Season Two

    · 27 min · Bonus · Explicit

    The launch of Deep Cover Season 2 is just a month away. Until then, we bring you a conversation between host Jake Halpern and screenwriter/author James Coyne about the genesis of Ned’s novel and the role it played in…

  13. Deep Cover Season Two Trailer

    · 3:18 · Trailer

    Who was Bob Cooley? Deep Cover Season Two launches on January 24th. Listen to the whole season early and ad-free by subscribing to Pushkin+. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com…

  14. Episode 1: The Walk-In

    · 38 min · S2 E1 · Explicit

    March 1986. A high-rolling lawyer named Bob Cooley walks into a federal prosecutor’s office and says that he has information that could bring down the mob. Learn more about your ad-choices at…

  15. Episode 2: The Murder

    · 46 min · S2 E2 · Explicit

    September 1972. A teamster named William Logan is gunned down outside his home, in what’s widely thought to be a mob hit. The Logan family is determined to get justice, but it may not be so easy. Learn more about your…

  16. Episode 3: The Fix

    · 46 min · S2 E3 · Explicit

    May 1977. After a witness decides to speak out, a hitman named Harry Aleman stands trial for the murder of William Logan. Bob Cooley is asked to “handle it.” The case is make-or-break for Cooley’s career, and possibly…

  17. Episode 4: The Favorite Son

    · 39 min · S2 E4 · Explicit

    July 1942. How did Bob Cooley, an Irish ex-cop from a family of cops and lawyers, become Bob Cooley, criminal defense lawyer and fixer for the Chicago Outfit? This episode comes out for free on January 31st and is…

  18. Episode 5: The Babe in the Woods

    · 30 min · S2 E5 · Explicit

    July 1973. Who can stem the tide of corruption in Chicago? In this episode: two attempts to clean up the courts. And where they fell short. This episode comes out for free on February 7th and is available now for…

  19. Episode 6: The Breaking Point

    · 32 min · S2 E6 · Explicit

    February 1986. Bob Cooley represents a bodybuilder who brutally assaulted a female police officer. Then Bob makes a decision that will change his life forever. This episode comes out for free on February 14th and is…

  20. Episode 7: The Philosopher King ft. Michael Imperioli

    · 38 min · S2 E7 · Explicit

    December 1988. Bob wires up. He and the FBI set their sights on three targets: a mobbed-up car salesman, a bookie, and… a poet. Voice acting in this episode by Michael Imperioli. Learn more about your ad-choices at…

  21. Episode 8: The Big Fish

    · 35 min · S2 E8 · Explicit

    April 1989. Bob goes after his most important target: Pat Marcy. But as he works his way up the criminal ladder, he risks being discovered. Tickets to my upcoming digital experience on true crime storytelling are on…

  22. Episode 9: The Vanishing

    · 38 min · S2 E9 · Explicit

    November 1989. Bob’s undercover work has some serious consequences for an old friend. His days as an operative end suddenly when he flees Chicago. Tickets to my upcoming digital experience on true crime storytelling…

  23. Episode 10: The Witness

    · 49 min · S2 E10 · Explicit

    September 1997. Bob’s wiretap evidence culminates in two major trials and the downfall of a mafia kingpin. But was it all worth it for Bob? Tickets to my upcoming digital experience on true crime storytelling are on…

  24. Camouflage Bias: Part 1

    · 24 min · S2 E11

    1978. A few months after the Aleman trial wraps up, the presiding judge, Frank Wilson, sentences a young man named Ronnie Carrasquillo to 200-600 years in prison for murder. But Ronnie’s lawyer claims there's much more…

  25. Camouflage Bias: Part 2

    · 27 min · S2 E12

    2022. After Ronnie Carrasquillo exhausts his appeals, he faces the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. But it seems each time Ronnie comes up for parole, he can’t escape the notoriety of his past. See…

  26. Never Seen Again: Deep Cover Season 3

    · 3:03 · Trailer

    A small town detective gets a tip that leads him on an epic search. He believes he's uncovered an imposter. A fraud. A highly-trained chameleon. A foreign spy. The federal government gets involved. A nationwide manhunt…

  27. Episode 1: The Dark Corner

    · 34 min · S3 E1 · Explicit

    Brooke Henson disappears from her home in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. No one can find her. She’s presumed dead. Then, seven years later, police receive a startling tip. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear all of Deep…

  28. Episode 2: The Star Man

    · 36 min · S3 E2 · Explicit

    Detective Jon Campbell wants more information about the woman – at Columbia University – claiming to be Brooke Henson. He enlists the help of the Secret Service to get his hands on a treasure trove of documents. More…

  29. Episode 3: The Imposter

    · 39 min · S3 E3 · Explicit

    A woman named Esther Reed has been living in New York, but attending college under a different identity: Brooke Henson. When the NYPD tries to learn more, she flees. In this episode, Esther starts to tell her side of…

  30. Episode 4: A Very Sophisticated Gal

    · 28 min · S3 E4 · Explicit

    When Esther flees New York, she inadvertently ignites a media firestorm. Reporters and TV producers rush to tell the story of the Ivy League imposter: the so-called “brazen brunette beauty” and “klepto brainiac.”…

  31. Episode 5: The Searchers

    · 38 min · S3 E5 · Explicit

    Esther’s sister has been looking for her for nearly a decade without any luck. A US Marshal is brought in to track Esther down. One of them will eventually find her. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear all of Deep Cover…

  32. Episode 6: A Shared Name

    · 41 min · S3 E6 · Explicit

    Esther's past catches up with her, as investigators in South Carolina seek answers about what happened to Brooke Henson. In our season finale, we bring you the latest details on the fates of both women. See…

  33. Deep Cover Live with Emily Bazelon

    · 52 min · S3 E7

    In this special episode of Deep Cover, recorded live at Littlefield in Brooklyn, host Jake Halpern and his friend and fellow journalist Emily Bazelon (of New York Times Magazine and Political Gabfest) talk all things…

  34. The Search for Brooke Henson

    · 33 min · S3 E8

    In July of 1999, a young woman named Brooke Henson went missing from Travelers Rest, South Carolina. In this follow up episode to Deep Cover: Never Seen Again, Jake Halpern talks to Ben Ford, the chief of police in…

  35. Camouflage Bias: Part 1

    · 24 min · Bonus

    This episode originally ran in 2022. We’re rereleasing it today along with an update on Ronnie’s story. 1978. A few months after the Aleman trial wraps up, the presiding judge, Frank Wilson, sentences a young man…

  36. Camouflage Bias: Part 2

    · 27 min · Bonus

    This episode originally ran in 2022. We’re rereleasing it today along with an update on Ronnie’s story. 2022. After Ronnie Carrasquillo exhausts his appeals, he faces the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. But it seems…

  37. Camouflage Bias: Part 3

    · 21 min · Bonus

    In 2022, we released a series called Camouflage Bias that told the story of Ronnie Carrasquillo– a man who was loosely connected to a trial we covered in Deep Cover Season Two: Mob Land. At 18 years old, Ronnie was…

  38. The Nameless Man: Deep Cover Season 4

    · 3:47 · Trailer

    How do you solve a murder case when you don’t know who the victim is? Deep Cover: The Nameless Man launches April 22, with new episodes weekly. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the whole season at once. Find Pushkin+ on…

  39. Episode 1: The Rumor

    · 40 min · S4 E1

    Two federal agents investigate a rumor about a decades old murder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  40. Episode 2: The Confession

    · 30 min · S4 E2

    The alleged accomplice confesses. Investigators try to piece together who the victim might be from the scant details he remembers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  41. Episode 3: The Yearning

    · 30 min · S4 E3

    After nearly 20 years with no answers, the Wood family learns that police are investigating a new lead in Aaron’s death. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  42. Episode 4: The Grand Jury

    · 33 min · S4 E4

    An assistant prosecutor in Philadelphia prepares the case to be heard by a grand jury. Is there enough evidence to make an arrest, and bring the case to trial? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  43. Episode 5: The Trial

    · 32 min · S4 E5

    Witnesses testify. A vigorous defense is mounted. What will the jury decide? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  44. Episode 6: The Verdict

    · 39 min · S4 E6

    Our season finale. What the jury decided and how the verdict sits with the federal agents, jurors, and Wood family today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  45. Behind the Scenes of The Nameless Man

    · 37 min · Bonus · Explicit

    Jake Halpern speaks with James Forman Jr., story consultant on Deep Cover’s fourth season, The Nameless Man. James Forman Jr. is the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law at Yale Law School, and the author of Locking Up…

  46. Unpacking the Verdict

    · 36 min · Bonus

    Jake Halpern speaks with Jerri Williams, former FBI agent and host of the podcast, FBI Retired Case File Review about the case at the center of our series, The Nameless Man. Then, Beth Wilson Devlin, a founding partner…

  47. Deep Cover: George Santos

    · 2:00 · Trailer

    George Santos, the former Republican Congressman from New York, told a lot of stories about his life and his credentials. Many of which, it turns out, were not true. And now–in just a few weeks–Santos is scheduled to…

  48. Episode 1: The Campaign

    · 35 min · S5 E1

    George Santos runs for Congress and wins. Then the stories he told on the campaign trail start to fall apart. Semafor’s Kadia Goba wants to figure out where his money is coming from. Saurav Ghosh, of the Campaign Legal…

  49. Episode 2: The Congressman

    · 37 min · S5 E2

    George Santos takes office. His communications director, Naysa Woomer, walks us through her five months with Congressman Santos as she tries to manage the chaos and sort fact from fiction. Author Mark Chiusano unpacks…

  50. Episode 3: The Plea

    · 17 min · S5 E3

    George Santos pleaded guilty in federal court this week. Amy Gaines McQuade was in the courtroom. Amy and Jake discuss the proceeding and where things go from here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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