76 episodes

Introducing..The Gas Man
It’s the late 1980s and US Special Agent Dennis Bass is warned about a shipment of suspicious chemicals headed to a secret destination. So he follows the lead – and ends up stumbling into a global plot helping fuel a war. The main suspect? The Gas Man. 
In the decades since, Special Agent Bass has been locked in an international game of cat and mouse with the man who supplied a dangerous regime with the chemicals to make weapons. Every time Bass thinks he’s got his hands on him… The Gas Man somehow manages to slip the net. And he’s still on the run today.
But after more than 30 years, could his past finally be catching up with The Gas Man?

To find out more about Tortoise:
Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou 
Producer: Claudia Williams
Editor: Jasper Corbett
Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
Sound design: Hannah Varrall
Original theme music: Tom Kinsella
Original artwork: Jon Hill

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Gas Man | Tortoise Investigates Tortoise

    • News
    • 4.8 • 120 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

Introducing..The Gas Man
It’s the late 1980s and US Special Agent Dennis Bass is warned about a shipment of suspicious chemicals headed to a secret destination. So he follows the lead – and ends up stumbling into a global plot helping fuel a war. The main suspect? The Gas Man. 
In the decades since, Special Agent Bass has been locked in an international game of cat and mouse with the man who supplied a dangerous regime with the chemicals to make weapons. Every time Bass thinks he’s got his hands on him… The Gas Man somehow manages to slip the net. And he’s still on the run today.
But after more than 30 years, could his past finally be catching up with The Gas Man?

To find out more about Tortoise:
Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou 
Producer: Claudia Williams
Editor: Jasper Corbett
Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
Sound design: Hannah Varrall
Original theme music: Tom Kinsella
Original artwork: Jon Hill

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    The Gas Man: Episode 1 - The special agent

    The Gas Man: Episode 1 - The special agent

    In the 1980s Special Agent Dennis Bass received a tip-off that changed the course of his career. 30 years on reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou sets out to solve the mystery of how an international fugitive got away with his crimes – and why he's still on the run.
    To find out more about Tortoise:
    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
    Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou 
    Producer: Claudia Williams
    Editor: Jasper Corbett
    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
    Sound design: Hannah Varrall
    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella
    Original artwork: Jon Hill
    FX credit: Telex by YleArkisto at freesound - License: Attribution 4.0

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 33 min
    The Gas Man: Episode 2 - The sting

    The Gas Man: Episode 2 - The sting

    Special Agent Bass has his target in his sights but he’s on another continent. If he wants him to talk he’ll need a clever plan – and maybe a bit of luck
    To find out more about Tortoise:
    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

    Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou 
    Producer: Claudia Williams
    Editor: Jasper Corbett
    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
    Sound design: Hannah Varrall
    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella
    Original artwork: Jon Hill
    FX credit: Boeing 737-800 Fly Over 3.wav by soundslikewillem at freesound

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 33 min
    The Gas Man: Episode 3 - The escape

    The Gas Man: Episode 3 - The escape

    The team persuades The Gas Man to step out from the shadows. He reveals the first big clue in the investigation to how he got away with it – and makes a surprising claim about his role in the case
    To find out more about Tortoise:
    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

    Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou 
    Producer: Claudia Williams
    Editor: Jasper Corbett
    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
    Sound design: Hannah Varrall
    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella
    Original artwork: Jon Hill

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 42 min
    The Gas Man: Episode 4 - The other Gas Man

    The Gas Man: Episode 4 - The other Gas Man

    Chloe makes a startling discovery about another chemical trafficker that has consequences for her investigation. A Kurdish survivor of mustard gas shares her story.
    To find out more about Tortoise:
    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
    Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou 
    Producer: Claudia Williams
    Editor: Jasper Corbett
    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
    Sound design: Hannah Varrall
    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella
    Original artwork: Jon Hill

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 46 min
    The Gas Man: Episode 5 - Truth serum

    The Gas Man: Episode 5 - Truth serum

    In this episode, Chloe looks into what happened to The Gas Man when he arrived back in Germany as a fugitive – and investigates whether his trade with Iran ever really ended
    To find out more about Tortoise:
    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
    Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou 
    Producer: Claudia Williams
    Editor: Jasper Corbett
    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
    Additional reporting: Marten Hahn
    Sound design: Hannah Varrall
    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella
    Original artwork: Jon Hill

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 39 min
    The Gas Man: Episode 6 - Devil's breath

    The Gas Man: Episode 6 - Devil's breath

    In the final episode of the series, is the 40-year game of cat-and-mouse nearly over?
    To find out more about Tortoise:
    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
    Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou 
    Producer: Claudia Williams
    Editor: Jasper Corbett
    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
    Additional production: Imy Harper
    Sound design: Hannah Varrall
    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella
    Original artwork: Jon Hill

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 37 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
120 Ratings

120 Ratings

Margiecomms ,

Journalism at its best

A carefully researched story that brings together many different threads into an interesting, coherent story. The podcast elevates the Heard vs Depp story into something with global repercussions.

Elby One ,

Great investigative journalism

Dark and strange dots connected in these crazy online times. Presented without sensationalism or hype.
Listened post the Will Smith/Depp photos taken in Saudi, which, at the time, I couldn't make sense of and which left me with a nagging suspicion of something menacing.

ruthyb2k ,

Binge listened in 2 days

Exceptional podcast series and story telling by Alexis. Totally fascinating and I recommend you listen.

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