Deep Cover

Deep Cover

Pushkin Industries

Episodes 78
Avg. Duration 35m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.2 (4,471)
Since Jun 2020
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Serial
Consistency
26%
Hosting
rss.pdrl.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

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. 

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 Land, is about a high-rolling lawyer who joins forces with the feds to try to bring down one of the most powerful criminal syndicates in the country.

Season one, The Drug Wars, tells the story of an FBI agent who goes undercover with a biker gang, and follows a trail of clues that eventually leads to the US invasion of a foreign country.

Deep Cover drops on Mondays. To hear episodes early and ad-free, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.

iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

Podcasting 2.0 Features

transcript

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

S7E5 The Trial | Episode 5

Jun 08, 2026 37m Transcript

Federal and county prosecutors all want to hold Keith accountable for his crimes. Against the advice of his counsel, Keith takes his case to trial, hoping a jury will show him and his family some…

S7E4 The Downfall | Episode 4

Jun 01, 2026 30m Transcript

Keith’s arrest makes national news, forcing Elise and Marissa to defend their dad to the world. Their mother makes a surprise reappearance, moving in and bringing new troubles along with her.…

S7E3 The Confession | Episode 3

May 25, 2026 33m Transcript

The Boonie Hat Bandit robs a 12th bank. And things don’t go according to his plan. His teenage daughters, Elise and Marissa, are left to pick up the pieces. They wonder: how had he managed such an…

S7E2 The Gamble | Episode 2

May 18, 2026 40m Transcript

In 2008, Keith Giammanco, also known as the Boonie Hat Bandit, went on a crime spree. Today, he lives in a remote cabin somewhere in the Ozarks. What choices led him here? And what was the original…

S7E1 The Raid | Episode 1

May 18, 2026 36m Transcript

One night in 2008, Elise and Marissa Giammanco were home, wondering where their dad was and why he hadn’t answered any of their texts. Then the police showed up. Suddenly, the seventeen-year-old…

S7 Deep Cover: The Family Man

May 11, 2026 4m Trailer Transcript

Every family has its secrets. On the new season of Deep Cover, Jake Halpern tells the story of the crimes one man committed in the name of fatherhood–and what happened when his daughters discovered…

S7 From The Kink Machine: The Secret Power Behind Porn

Feb 10, 2026 31m Bonus Transcript

Streamed by millions every day, porn is everywhere. It shapes our culture, our relationships, and even technology. Yet, nobody seems to know who really controls the business. The power brokers tend…

S7 Introducing Valley of Shadows: Corruption in California’s Mojave Desert

Jan 12, 2026 46m Bonus Transcript

Valley of Shadows is a new Pushkin true crime podcast that digs into a nearly 30-year old secret buried in the California desert. On June 11, 1998, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy Jon…

S6E9 The Truth About Sarah Revisited (LIVE at WBUR)

Dec 29, 2025 52m Transcript

Jake sits down with his Season 6 co-host Jess McHugh at WBUR CitySpace for a live conversation. They discuss the value of trust, share some never-before-heard tape, and give an update on what’s…

S6E17 Shame, Scams, and The Stories We Tell Ourselves (with Ollie Wards)

Dec 22, 2025 44m Transcript

Jake sits down with Snowball creator Ollie Wards to discuss how a family mystery became an international hit. They trace Ollie’s journey from the first recorded conversation with his dad – recorded…

S6E16 Snowball - Episode 7: The Morning After

Dec 15, 2025 23m Transcript

After the confrontation in the supermarket carpark, Ollie is left feeling confused — has he beencharmed just like everyone else in this story? Lezlie left promising Ollie she would meet for a proper…

S6E15 Snowball - Episode 6: Stakeout

Dec 08, 2025 42m Transcript

Ollie and Simon have criss-crossed California to find themselves parked in their American muscle carstaking out exits from a supermarket they think Lezlie works in. They may only have one shot to…

S6E14 Snowball - Episode 5: Black Widow

Dec 01, 2025 45m Transcript

Ollie and Simon follow the trail of broken dreams and failed restaurants to Paso Robles, California. Ollie discovers his former sister-in-law has manufactured an image of a successful restauranteur…

S6E13 Snowball - Episode 4: Charmed

Nov 24, 2025 41m Transcript

Ollie turns to Lezlie's emails for clues of her whereabouts. Here, he uncovers a bizarre story involving a book deal, a ghost writer and a famous actress. Could this web of lies reveal Lezlie's…

S6E12 Snowball - Episode 3: The Coconut Wireless

Nov 17, 2025 42m Transcript

The stories Lezlie Manukian has told people about her time in Hawaii usually end with murderous local mobsters running her off the island. But this is also coming from the tall tale telling…

S6E11 Snowball - Episode 2: The Great Houdini

Nov 10, 2025 44m Transcript

What looks like a dream marriage for Ollie Wards' brother Greg soon morphs into a nightmare. With the whole family drawn into the mess, his parents go from a comfortable retirement to being homeless…

S6E10 Snowball - Episode 1: The Girl With the Dragonfly Tattoo

Nov 03, 2025 51m Transcript

Ollie Wards was MC at his brother's wedding. "It was a fun party," he recalls, "kind of rowdy. But inside I had a sense of unease. I couldn't explain it." He ignored the feeling. Greg met his bride…

S6 Deep Cover Presents: Snowball

Oct 27, 2025 6m Trailer Transcript

In 2006, Greg Wards was your average Kiwi backpacker on an overseas adventure in the UK, working hard, playing harder — and falling head-over-heels in love. After a whirlwind international romance,…

S5E5 Episode 5: Santos Released From Prison

Oct 24, 2025 23m Transcript

Last week, President Trump commuted George Santos’ prison sentence — a decision that’s prompted both surprise and reflection. Producer Amy Gaines McQuade walks Jake Halpern through the news and…

S6 Deep Cover Live in Boston on December 19

Oct 23, 2025 0m Bonus Transcript

If you've ever wondered what goes into making an episode of Deep Cover, now's your chance. Join Jake Halpern and Jess McHugh for a live bonus taping of Deep Cover: The Truth About Sarah at WBUR's…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Deep Cover have?

Deep Cover has published 78 episodes since June 2020, covering topics in History, True Crime.

Is Deep Cover still active?

Deep Cover is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 35m.

How do I contact Deep Cover for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Deep Cover, including email and social media links.

Similar Podcasts