Whale Hunting Brazen

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.
Want more from Whale Hunting? Head to our website at whalehunting.projectbrazen.com to subscribe to our newsletter delving into the murky worlds of money and power.
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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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Thanks for listening to season one of Whale Hunting! The podcast will be back very soon with brand new episodes on everything from President Xi of China to corporate lobbying in Washington, Furry subculture, female Narco bosses, and much more. 
In the meantime, we wanted to share an episode from one of our favourite shows: the 404 Media podcast. The team at 404 Media report from the frontier of tech, covering everything from hacking to AI, surveillance and cybercrime – and their weekly podcast is a great way to catch up on their new stories. In this episode, 404 journalist Joseph Cox shares his latest investigation into the Com, the nebulous online entity and culture that is linked to some of the most high profile and brazen data breaches in recent history. Joseph sat in their chatrooms while rival hackers and criminals doxed and physically robbed one another. You’ll also hear from 404’s Jason Koebler as he breaks down why some researchers are calling out Google on some of its AI science research. Enjoy!
For more on 404 media, head to 404media.co. And remember, you can subscribe to the Whale Hunting newsletter as well as the podcast by visiting whalehunting.projectbrazen.com.


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The consequences of Jho Low's colossal fraud continue to be felt on several continents. In Malaysia, the trial of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has entered its fifth year, with new testimony from ex-1MDB lawyer Jasmine Loo. In Switzerland this month, two PetroSaudi execs, Tarik Obaid and Patrick Mahony, have insisted to a judge that their company was not a sham set up to siphon money from the sovereign fund. In the US, former Fugees rapper Pras Michel is appealing his conviction for political conspiracy after doing Jho Low's political bidding in America. This week, on a special edition of Whale Hunting live from Brazen's new London studio, hosts Tom Wright and Bradley Hope share their take on all the latest 1MDB drama. Together, they answer questions submitted by live listeners – including those about Jho Low's potential arrest and where the saga could be headed next.
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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If your loved one was kidnapped by a terror group like ISIS, your first instinct might be to scream for help from the rooftops. This, Daniel Levin says, would not be a good move. Daniel has spent years working on all kinds of conflict resolution, from freeing hostages to bringing political adversaries to the table or helping countries recover after civil war. This week on Whale Hunting, host Tom Wright talks to Daniel about his remarkable experience in the art of track three diplomacy. Together, they discuss how off-the-record dialogues can shape the fate of nations, and how Daniel’s work with the Liechtenstein Foundation for State Governance is taking an innovative approach to society building and global crises.
To find more of Daniel’s work, head to www.daniellevinauthor.com, where you can order his books and find his latest writing, including The Guardian opinion piece discussed in this episode. 
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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