Smoke Screen is an investigative documentary series on people with complex motives and morals. Follow characters on the fringes of society — con artists, cult leaders, corrupt politicians — as they seduce their marks and bend communities to their will. Join us as we unravel their stories and bring justice to the people they’ve deceived. SEASON 10: The Greatest Scam Ever Written - Coming August 1st What would you do if one handwritten letter promised to change your life forever? All of us wan ...
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Producer Jonathan Hirsch had a childhood much like yours -- except his family had a secret. They were followers of a controversial spiritual leader named Franklin Jones. To Jonathan’s parents, Franklin Jones was a god, but to people outside the group, Jones was a cult leader. Now, Jonathan is going back, trying to find out what happened -- and whether the group really did become a cult.
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To some he was an enlightened master, and to others a dangerous cult leader. One thing’s for sure, the spiritual leader Rama was a product of the 80s: designer clothes, a rock band, sports cars and a modern message were only some of the things that made Rama a fascinating and complex teacher. Host Jonathan Hirsch explores his life and untimely death. Smoke Screen is an investigative documentary series on people with complex motives and morals. Follow characters on the fringes of society - co ...
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Smoke Screen is an investigative documentary series on people with complex motives and morals. Follow characters on the fringes of society — con artists, cult leaders, corrupt politicians — as they seduce their marks and bend communities to their will. Join us as we unravel their stories and bring justice to the people they’ve deceived. SEASON 10: The Greatest Scam Ever Written - Coming August 1st What would you do if one handwritten letter promised to change your life forever? All of us wan ...
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“The History of the World’s Greatest Nightclubs.” From London Audio, iHeartRadio, and executive producer Paris Hilton. Hosted by Ultra Naté, this is a 12-part podcast exploring how different clubs around the world revolutionized the way we party. How they ushered in the birth of new genres and became hotspots for political activism. But above all how they created space for people to escape the world around them, to lose themselves in the music and leave it all on the dance floor. Nightclubs ...
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Let's Cover That is a podcast about filling the gaps in healthcare and beyond. Hosted by Will Sullivan & Antonina Agrusa. Sponsored by CM&F Group.
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The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 3. One Man's Trash
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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. Clayto…
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The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 2. Psychic to the Stars
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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 ev…
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The Greatest Scam Ever Written | 1. Your Devoted Friend
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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, a…
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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 th…
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 2. Confessions
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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. Subscribe to The…
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 1. Local Man
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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 …
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Introducing: The Greatest Scam Ever Written
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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 …
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 6. Unfinished Business
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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…
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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. Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen: My Friend, the Serial Killer, ad-free,…
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 4. The Exclusive
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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 J…
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 3. Take Us To The Bodies
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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. Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen: My Friend, the Serial Killer, ad-free, right …
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 2. Confessions
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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 wil…
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Smoke Screen Returns: Meet My Friend, the Serial Killer
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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. One day, he hitched a ride back home from Boston with a kind stranger who graciously picked him up and dropped him off at his destination. What Steve didn’t know however, was that this stranger was hiding a dark …
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My Friend, the Serial Killer | 1. Local Man
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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 …
…
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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 th…
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The Most Dangerous Man You've Never Heard Of - Who is John Todd?
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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…
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Cults, Conspiracies and The Illuminati - The Hidden Story of John Todd
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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…
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Introducing The Runaway Princesses from In The Dark and The New Yorker
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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 e…
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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 surpr…
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My Fugitive Dad | 5. Tom's Very Last Round
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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 Conra…
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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. Subs…
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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, K…
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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 …
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My Fugitive Dad | 1. Becoming Thomas Crown
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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 stol…
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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 Clevel…
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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…
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When WOMB opened in 2000, Japan’s nightlife scene was still in its infancy with a strict ban on dancing after midnight that made it almost impossible to run a regular nightclub. But over the past two decades, the revolutionary club has transformed the way people in Tokyo party. This is the story of how the club went from an idea born on the dancefl…
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 8. Approximation of Justice
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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? Subscribe to The Binge to g…
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Fela Kuti was a musician and activist who pioneered the jazzy, uniquely West African genre of Afrobeat. His musical testing ground, political pulpit and spiritual home was a nightclub he created in Lagos, The Afrika Shrine. A venue at the heart of his community that would welcome legends, be burnt to the ground by the military, set the stage for so…
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 7. Inside the War Room
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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 …
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Ibiza is no ordinary island and Space was no ordinary club. The open-air party which lasted 22 hours every day, revolutionized the international clubbing scene and transformed the people who flocked to its dance floor every summer. Space was the blueprint for all-day outdoor Terrace parties, became one of the most awarded clubs in history, and help…
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 6. Cops to Canaries
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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. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episode…
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Special Edition - Let's Cover That - AAPA Micro Session w/ Randy Danielsen on PA malpractice claims
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For a special release this week, we are jumping back to the AAPA conference in Nashville, where we will hear our mirco session with Randy Danielsen, to discuss PA malpractice claims. You'll also get some incredible insights from WIll Sullivan, co-host of the Let's Cover That podcast as well as the EVP and Chief Underwriting officer at CM&F Group. S…
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After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, a new counter-culture emerged as the city came together to form a new identity. That cultural shift inspired the birth of Berghain, an iconic but ultra-private techno hotspot and sex club. Berghain ushered in a new era of hedonism, excess, and freeing secrecy that gave the city’s queer community a space to…
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 5. Deal at the DoubleTree
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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. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Smoke Screen ad-free right now.…
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New York was the epicenter of the 90s Hip Hop Renaissance and Funk Master Flex’s legendary Sunday night parties at The Tunnel, gave Hip Hop fans a home. From the phenomenal performances it hosted to the iconic songs it premiered, each night at The Tunnel was filled with cinematic scenes starring hip-hop royalty, making the club a vital cultural tou…
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 4. A Sign of Good Faith
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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. Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Smo…
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#59 - Empowering Clinic Owners: Expert Insights from Daniel Hirsch of Risk and Compliance Analytics
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In a recent episode of the "Let's Cover That" podcast, we welcome Daniel Hirsch CEO of Risk and Compliance Analytics. Our guest: Daniel Hirsch CEO of Risk and Compliance Analytics In this episode we discuss: Daniel's story of how he got to where he is today Compliance challenges for clinic owners and need to embrace technology What is Risk Complian…
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Under the musical influence of the one and only Larry Levan, Paradise Garage became a vibrant musical space for Queer, Black, and Latino people in New York, to dance, and reclaim a sound that they had created. With a DJ who knew how to energize a crowd and a killer sound system that pulled people out onto the dancefloor, Paradise Garage would go on…
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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. Subs…
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#58 - Nicole Chrysler, Principal Owner of Achieve Health LLC
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In a recent episode of the "Let's Cover That" podcast, we welcome Nicole Chrysler, Principal Owner of Achieve Health LLC with services out of Hawaii and California. Our guest: Nicole Chrysler, Principal Owner of Achieve Health LLC In this episode we discuss: - Nicole's personal journey to where she is today - Achieve Health LLC's unique approach to…
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Les Bains Douches was a glamorous nightclub in the center of Paris that’s parties attracted some of the most famous and influential stars in the world. Housed in what was once Paris’s first and most decadent bathhouse, Les Bains Douches was a magical, musical experience that gave musicians like Mick Jagger, Diana Ross, and Prince a space to unwind,…
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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 we…
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#57 – Omar Nava, VP Of Advanced Practice Provider Services At Ivy Clinicians
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In a recent episode of the "Let's Cover That" podcast, we welcome Omar Nava, a seasoned emergency medicine physician assistant and VP of Advanced Practice provider services at Ivy Clinicians. Our guest: Omar Nava, VP of Advanced Practice Provider Services, Ivy Clinicians In this episode we discuss: - Veteran emergency medicine PA Omar Nava emphasiz…
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The Haçienda, a nightclub run by the record label behind Joy Division and New Order, was a once-in-a-generation club that came to define British northern youth culture. It belonged to the young people of Manchester and during the rise of ecstasy, it pioneered acid-house music and inspired a generation of musicians, designers and artists in the mids…
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Betrayal on the Bayou | 1. The White Devil
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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 navigat…
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#56 - Sara Gallo, Consultant, Clinical Insighters Consulting
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In a recent episode of the "Let's Cover That" podcast, Sara Gallo, a visionary Physician Assistant and founder of Clinical Insighters Consulting, shares with us her journey from practicing PA to consultant. Our guest: Sara Gallo, Consultant, Clinical Insighters Consulting In this episode we discuss: Tell us about yourself and how you found yourself…
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The Warehouse and The Music Box were incredibly influential Chicago clubs that became ground zero for the rise of House Music. Under the supervision of Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy, these two house clubs cultivated a new genre of music created by people of color that would go on to form the very foundations of modern dance music as we know it. Se…
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Trade at Turnmills was a legendary London Queer nightclub that's unapologetically hedonistic late-night parties transformed the way we party. Opened in the wake of the AIDS crisis and a decade of conservatism under Margaret Thatcher’s rule, Trade gave LGBTQ+ people a space to celebrate and explore their identity, carving out a revolutionary space f…
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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 terr…
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