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The Burden

The Burden

Orbit Media 93 Episodes Jun 30, 2026

The Burden is a documentary series that explores hidden places where justice is done and undone, focusing on heroes and villains. Season 7, 'Bad Cops,' investigates a Baltimore police sergeant leading a double life, involving armed robbery allegations and FBI wiretaps. Season 6, 'Lives of Crime,' examines what it's like to live on the edge and break the rules.

Episodes

Bad Cops | 2. The Wiretap Jun 30, 2026 1409 One name stands out as the FBI gets to work. Why does a member of the Gun Trace Task Force have links to a major heroin ring? A whole new level of criminality is revealed. A podcast from Orbit Media reported and produced by the BBC and hosted by Jessica Lussenhop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bad Cops | 1. The Tracker Jun 30, 2026 1449 Civil unrest spreads across Baltimore after 25-year-old Freddie Gray dies in police custody. Meanwhile, a detective makes a troubling discovery when he arrests a major heroin dealer. It’s time to call in the FBI. Presenter: Jessica LussenhopProducer: Ben Crighton A podcast from Orbit Media reported and produced by the BBC and hosted by Jessica Lussenhop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privac
Introducing - Bad Cops Jun 24, 2026 99 Baltimore, Maryland likes to call itself Charm City. But you have to wonder: Is the nickname ironic?  Consider one of the city's star cops, a sergeant so accomplished that he earned his own nickname, the Golden Boy.  But Golden Boy led a double life. Said one of those who encountered him in the street.  "I was robbed by the Baltimore City Police….with a gun … armed rob
Lives of Crime | 7. Frauds & Sons May 5, 2026 1236 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
Lives of Crime | 4. Then You Get Got Apr 14, 2026 1186  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.S
Lives of Crime | 3. Making Money Apr 7, 2026 1440 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.
Lives of Crime | 2. Education of an Assassin Part 2 Mar 31, 2026 1602 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 Medi
Lives of Crime | 6. King of the Hippie Mafia Mar 24, 2026 1590  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
Lives of Crime | 5. Bad Business Kid Mar 24, 2026 1319 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 w
Lives of Crime | 1. Education of an Assassin Part 1 Mar 24, 2026 1591 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
Introducing - Lives of Crime Mar 17, 2026 138 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
Introducing - Blood Will Tell Mar 16, 2026 711 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 fre

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