23 episodes

It’s 1982, and a man bursts into an East Village storefront apartment and shoots punk musician Billy Balls. Author and activist iO Tillett Wright and Crimetown Producer Austin Mitchell unravel a mystery of love and loss, the tender binds of family, and the stories we tell ourselves just to survive. Created by Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier.

The Ballad of Billy Balls iHeartPodcasts

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.6 • 47 Ratings

It’s 1982, and a man bursts into an East Village storefront apartment and shoots punk musician Billy Balls. Author and activist iO Tillett Wright and Crimetown Producer Austin Mitchell unravel a mystery of love and loss, the tender binds of family, and the stories we tell ourselves just to survive. Created by Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier.

    S2 [1] Billy Balls and His Babygirl | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    S2 [1] Billy Balls and His Babygirl | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    New York City. The 1970s. Artists flock to the East Village hoping to make a name for themselves. Enter Rebecca, an aspiring model, who meets Billy Balls, a rock and roll musician like no other. They fall madly in love and are inseparable, until one night, when Billy is mysteriously shot.

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    • 29 min
    S2 [2] He's Not Done Yet | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    S2 [2] He's Not Done Yet | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    After Billy dies, his body disappears and strange things start to happen. Rebecca insists the whole thing is a cover up and we set out to find the truth.

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    • 24 min
    S2 [3] Billy the Kid | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    S2 [3] Billy the Kid | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    As the investigation begins, iO explores Billy's journey to New York City.

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    • 30 min
    S2 [4] Get in the Wind | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    S2 [4] Get in the Wind | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    iO explores a darker side of Billy - did it lead to his death?

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    • 23 min
    S2 [5] Those High-Powered Lawyers | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    S2 [5] Those High-Powered Lawyers | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    Was there a conspiracy to murder Billy in order to keep him quiet? iO's search for an answer leads to a sobering reality.

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    • 35 min
    S2 [6] Amanda | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    S2 [6] Amanda | The Ballad of Billy Balls

    Amanda, a game-changing character, tells her story.

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    • 40 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
47 Ratings

47 Ratings

Lou Small town Ireland ,

An intriguing and amazing story

By far the most incredible story I’ve heard in a long time and revealed in many jaw dropping moments. Io is amazingly compassionate and incredibly brave in pursing this story for Rebecca.

Heffa31 ,

iO and Rebecca are everything.

This is one of the most human stories I’ve listened to in forever. iO and her mother Rebecca deserve the highest of platitudes for the honesty and conviction they’ve shown in how they approached and unveiled this story.

GusRyan100 ,

Incredible story!

Fascinated by the JFK and RFK stories. Zac and Bill have a great double act going on too.

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