Whale Hunting Brazen

Think of your favorite mafia movie or narco show. Then think of its female characters. How many of them fall into the following categories? 1) long suffering wife 2) hot girlfriend 3) victim of crime. Probably a majority, right? But like any other industry, there are women out there running drug operations — even building empires — and journalist Deborah Bonello has been following their stories in Latin America for some time. In fact, she’s even written a book about them. This week on Whale Hunting, Bradley talks to Deborah about the women that prompted her to write the book, from ruthless Valle cartel leader Doña Digna to El Chapo’s right-hand woman Guadalupe Fernandez Valencia. They also discuss how Deborah came to report on the narcotics business, what it’s like to piss off a cartel boss with your work — and why we can’t help but root for female Narca bosses. 
Deborah’s book, Narcas: The Secret Rise of Women in Latin America's Cartels, is available now online and in all good bookshops. 
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Gangsters of the past may have headed to their nearest payphone to make risky calls, but modern day criminals have a much more convenient option: encrypted cellphones. The question is, who makes these phones and secure apps? In 2018, one phone app came along that was specifically marketed to criminal clientele. It was called Anom, and its mass adoption by organized crime groups around the world would eventually lead to the biggest sting in history. This week on Whale Hunting, investigative reporter Joseph Cox unravels the full story, explaining what criminals loved about Anom, the questionable decision to allow serious crimes to continue as evidence was collected, and even gangsters' favorite emojis.
Anom is the topic of Joseph's new book, Dark Wire: The Incredible True Story of the Largest Sting Operation Ever, which is out now online and in all good bookshops.
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Like night needs day, criminals have always needed money launderers. But how is the digital revolution changing the laundering business? This week on Whale Hunting, host Bradley Hope speaks to Geoff White, author of the new book Rinsed, about the increasingly sophisticated digital skills used by money launderers around the world. Together, they discuss how the industry has embraced new technology, from online brokers to methods like layering and using crypto mixers — as well as jumping into some of the most intriguing cases from Rinsed, including a Manchester drug trafficking group and a group of ingenious North Korean hackers. 
Geoff's book, Rinsed, is out online and in all good bookshops from 13 June.
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Many journalists have that one story they just can't let drop. For Nicky Woolf, it was this one. In December 2014, at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Rosemont, Illinois, horror unfolded at the final night of Midwest Furfest, the world’s largest convention for Furries. There's an attack. Poisonous levels of chlorine gas sweep through the hotel corridors, nineteen people are hospitalized and hundreds are evacuated. Hazmat teams trace the gas to a stairwell, where they find the remains of a chemical bomb. But almost a decade later, the identity of the perpetrator remains a mystery. This week, on Whale Hunting, host Bradley Hope interviews Nicky Woolf about his determination to unravel this unsolved case, leading to the creation of his new podcast, Fur & Loathing. Together, they discuss building trust with the Furry community, pursuing suspects, and understanding what sidelined subcultures can teach us about societies darkest elements.
To listen to Nicky's new podcast, search for Fur & Loathing in your favourite podcast app, visit the Brazen channel in Apple Podcasts, or go to brazen.fm/fur-and-loathing.
For more from Whale Hunting, follow the podcast wherever you listen – and you can subscribe to our newsletter at whalehunting.projectbrazen.com.

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Once upon a time, in a land far away, corporate interests didn't rule the political roost. It's hard to imagine today, when Big Oil, Big Tech and Big Finance (among other 'bigs') all muscle in on US democracy, grappling for the attention and affections of elected representatives. Indeed, a whole industry has sprung up to mediate this muscling, and you can find it on K Street. Home to Washington DC's lobbyists, K Street is also the topic of Brody Mullins' new book, The Wolves of K Street. This week on Whale Hunting, host Bradley Hope chats to Brody about the book, which he co-authored with his brother, Luke Mullins, and what they uncovered on their deep dive into the world of American corporate lobbying. Together, they discuss why lobbying came about in the first place and how powerful forces have changed over time, from the influential civil rights and environmental groups of the 1970s to today's big players on K Street. From mysterious deaths to dirty tactics and signs of change on Capitol Hill, Brody unravels this filthy rich industry, its biggest personalities, and its most questionable practices.
Brody and Luke Mullins' book, The Wolves of K Street, is out now. You can find it online and in all good bookshops.
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We’re back and we’re kicking off season two with a bang! This week on Whale Hunting, host Tom Wright is joined by Jane Perlez, long-time Beijing bureau chief for The New York Times, and now host of the new podcast FACE OFF: The US vs China. The show dives into the defining issues of the US-China rivalry, from espionage to technology, nuclear arms and cultural exchange – because there's nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition, right? Chatting with Tom, Jane shares details of her years reporting on the ground in Beijing, the threats of military escalation in today's geopolitical climate, and President Xi's vision for China. Together, they consider whether China and US were always going to end up as foes, and what the future could hold for this rocky relationship. 
Face Off: The US vs China is out now, available wherever you get your podcasts. And remember, if you’re enjoying Whale Hunting, make sure to visit our website at whalehunting.projectbrazen.com, where you can also subscribe to our newsletter.
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