76 episodes

The Opportunist tells true stories of regular people who turn sinister by embracing opportunity. How does an everyday person turn into a thief, a scammer or a cult leader? Perhaps the most dangerous person is the one who appears the most normal. Perhaps there is a dark potential lurking inside all of us that is just waiting for the right opportunity to emerge. The Opportunist is an original podcast hosted by Hannah Smith.

The Opportunist Opportunist

    • True Crime
    • 5.0 • 18 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

The Opportunist tells true stories of regular people who turn sinister by embracing opportunity. How does an everyday person turn into a thief, a scammer or a cult leader? Perhaps the most dangerous person is the one who appears the most normal. Perhaps there is a dark potential lurking inside all of us that is just waiting for the right opportunity to emerge. The Opportunist is an original podcast hosted by Hannah Smith.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Vault Release: CHRIS BATHUM Part 3 of 5: Rumors

    Vault Release: CHRIS BATHUM Part 3 of 5: Rumors

    More rumors circulate around Chris Bathum, especially over the death of a beloved client named Mo. Meanwhile, a devoted employee named Jill is skeptical of CRLA's insurance billing and Rose sets out to find the truth behind the biggest rumor of them all.

    • 54 min
    Vault Release: CHRIS BATHUM Part 2 of 5: Hypnotist

    Vault Release: CHRIS BATHUM Part 2 of 5: Hypnotist

    Chris tells Rose that all the rumors about him are because of Cliff Brodsky, a former investor in CRLA's predecessor, Walking Miracles. Chris paints Brodsky as his nemesis, an unhinged wild card who wants to destroy their community. But his battle against Brodsky gets out of hand when he suggests desperate measures to stop him. 

    • 50 min
    Vault Release: CHRIS BATHUM Part 1 of 5: Rehab Mogul

    Vault Release: CHRIS BATHUM Part 1 of 5: Rehab Mogul

    In 2013, Rose Stahl sought the help of Christopher Bathum, a therapist and CEO of a burgeoning recovery organization called Community Recovery Los Angeles. Chris would eventually offer Rose a job at CRLA. But after a while, she started hearing unsettling rumors surrounding Chris' behavior, especially towards female clients.

    Find the episode transcript here: tinyurl.com/opppodcast

    • 55 min
    Welcome To Varnamtown! Available now!

    Welcome To Varnamtown! Available now!

    Two years ago, Kyle MacLachlan, the star of Twin Peaks, called investigative journalist Joshua Davis with a strange story. Kyle had heard a rumor that Pablo Escobar did a deal in the early 1980s with a remote, coastal Southern town of 300 people. In exchange for vast wealth and limitless cocaine, Escobar would be allowed to land planes and ships in the area. Over the last 24 months, Josh and Kyle investigated the rumor, journeying to Varnamtown to knock on doors and find out what really happens when a firehose of money and cocaine is turned on a small, tight knit community.

    Listen to and follow Varnamtown at Apple Podcasts now! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/varnamtown/id1725195343

    • 3 min
    End of Year Wrap Up 2023

    End of Year Wrap Up 2023

    In this wrap up episode for 2023, Hannah revisits some of your favorite episodes and seasons and gives updates! She also takes questions and voicemails from listeners, including one listener who writes in with a bizarre mystery that she wants your help to solve. 
    Hannah checks back in with people she interviewed years ago as well as gives an update on Sherry Shriner's followers and speaks with someone who has a very personal relationship with Orgone.
    Links from the episode:
    Check out C.C.’s plant-urns at boycestudio.com  
    If you want to stay up-to-date with Nora's project on her father, you can find her on Instagram @Noracroftcutsmyhair 
    Visit the Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association at bluefaery.org 
    You can reach out to Hannah on Instagram or X @hannahpodcasts 

    • 1 hr 3 min
    MARC ST-ONGE Part 1 of 1: The Mudman

    MARC ST-ONGE Part 1 of 1: The Mudman

    In early 2021, a new product went viral in health and wellness spaces on Facebook. Black Oxygen Organics (or BOO) was an MLM selling what was touted as the "miracle cure." What was it? It was mud. Actual mud that people were eating, drinking, bathing in and giving to their babies and pets. Many claimed it cured their COVID symptoms. But this product was not what it claimed to be. What was it actually doing to people? The man behind it all was Marc St-Onge and he watched as millions of orders flooded in.

    • 39 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
18 Ratings

18 Ratings

smikethetearsaway ,

Truely addictive

A fine and exciting podcast, that manges to be nuances and not sensationel about the true storys of the often tragic stories of people being betrayed. I love the variety. I would love to get a playlist of the title songs. Is that available anywhere?

Planet Denmark ,

Fantastic reporting

This is a really well-presented series, with excellent story building. The storyline stays clear, and the different threads are easy to follow.

LineFaberJohannesen ,

5/5 STARS!

This podcast is currently one of my absolute favorites!

It is very well researched, very well told and at a exciting pace with the perfect level of attention to detail.

I recommend it to everyone I know.

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