ENTROPY MEDIA

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Channel • 2 Shows

True Crime

True Crime

Weekly Series
True Crime

True Crime

Weekly Series

APR 2

S3 E02: The Man Is Nuts

The complicated relationship between Kurt Calabrese and his Uncle Nick reveals how Nick became a surrogate father figure in Kurt's turbulent childhood. While Kurt's father Frank Sr. ruled through fear, Uncle Nick showed kindness—despite his increasingly dark role as an outfit hitman who would eventually participate in multiple murders for the Chicago mob. Uncle Nick was reluctantly pulled into the criminal underworld by his brother Frank Sr., who in turn answered to feared outfit captain Angelo "The Hook" LaPietra. Kurt's life changes dramatically when he falls in love with Angela, the granddaughter of his father's boss Angelo LaPietra. Despite family pressure to stay apart, Kurt and Angela secretly marry at City Hall—a decision that sends Frank Sr. into a violent rage. What should have been a joyful wedding day turns into a terrifying chase through the streets as Kurt flees his father's wrath, culminating in a chilling warning from Uncle Nick that this forbidden marriage could get them all killed. Their story provides a haunting glimpse into how the Chicago outfit's brutal code affected even the most personal aspects of its members' lives. Binge the entire season of Killing Kurt—along with other gripping Entropy Media shows—completely ad-free by subscribing to Entropy Unlimited on Apple Podcasts. Unlock exclusive access to bonus content and enjoy your favorite stories without interruptions. Click HERE to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 2

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42 min
APR 9

S3 E03: Where Did Matt Go?

By the early 1990s, Frank Calabrese Sr. had spent decades building a criminal empire fueled by fear, paranoia, and control. He taught his sons the art of survival in the mob—never use house phones, memorize payphone numbers, speak in code, and trust no one. But when Frank let his guard down for an indebted auto shop owner named Matt Russo, the cracks in his armor started to show. What Frank saw as an opportunity to exploit a failing business, the FBI saw as the perfect way in. Russo, drowning in debt and desperate, became a federal informant and began wearing a wire in Frank’s inner circle. But gathering evidence on a man as cautious—and dangerous—as Frank Calabrese wouldn’t be easy. We go inside the FBI’s high-stakes operation to take Frank down, the meticulous way Frank shielded himself from betrayal, and the moment it all started to unravel. Binge the entire season of Killing Kurt—along with other gripping Entropy Media shows—completely ad-free by subscribing to Entropy Unlimited on Apple Podcasts. Unlock exclusive access to bonus content and enjoy your favorite stories without interruptions. Click HERE to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 9

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43 min
APR 2

S3 E01: I'll Kick You So Hard You'll Walk Funny

Kurt Calabrese, son of notorious Chicago Outfit hitman Frank "The Breeze" Calabrese Sr., breaks his silence about growing up under the shadow of one of Chicago's most feared mob enforcers. His story begins with a dramatic courtroom confrontation during the historic "Family Secrets" trial, where Kurt's victim impact statement provoked his father's menacing outburst, revealing the monster that had terrorized him throughout his childhood. Growing up in Elmwood Park, a Chicago suburb known as an enclave for Outfit members, Kurt lived a double life—neighbors saw his father as a friendly figure who handed out homemade wine, while behind closed doors, Kurt endured relentless abuse, living in constant fear of his father's return. Frank Sr. broke the traditional Outfit code by bringing his sons into "the life," forcing Kurt to collect "street tax" and teaching him disturbing techniques for violence. This first chapter of Kurt's story reveals the beginning of his journey from terrified son to someone who would ultimately help bring down one of Chicago's most notorious crime families. Binge the entire season of Killing Kurt—along with other gripping Entropy Media shows—completely ad-free by subscribing to Entropy Unlimited on Apple Podcasts. Unlock exclusive access to bonus content and enjoy your favorite stories without interruptions. Click HERE to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 2

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39 min
APR 30

S3 E06: Brotherly Love

In 1998, Frank Calabrese Jr. makes the most dangerous decision of his life: he writes a letter to the FBI offering to turn against his own father—one of the most feared mob enforcers in Chicago history. What follows is one of the most audacious undercover operations in the history of organized crime. In this episode, we go inside the moment that changed everything for the Calabrese family and the Chicago Outfit. After being transferred to the same prison as his father, Junior realizes the only way to escape is to cooperate. He offers to wear a wire inside federal prison, hoping to capture Frank Calabrese Sr. incriminating himself in decades of unsolved mob murders. Told through secret recordings, FBI testimony, and Junior’s own words, this is the story of how one son risked his life to dismantle the family empire he was born into. It’s also the origin of the evidence that would form the heart of the Family Secrets case—the case that brought down the Outfit. Binge the entire season of Killing Kurt—along with other gripping Entropy Media shows—completely ad-free by subscribing to Entropy Unlimited on Apple Podcasts. Unlock exclusive access to bonus content and enjoy your favorite stories without interruptions. Click ⁠HERE ⁠to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 30

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42 min
APR 16

S3 E04: Take the Money and Run

A duffel bag filled with mob cash disappears—and with it, any remaining trust between Kurt Calabrese, his brother Junior, and their volatile father, Frank “The Breeze” Calabrese. Kurt’s loyalty is tested like never before when his father shows up unannounced, ready to retrieve what he believes is still safely hidden in the bank. But when Frank discovers the money is gone, suspicion quickly turns to rage—and all roads lead to Junior. What follows is a brutal confrontation on a suburban lawn, a devastating confession, and the unraveling of a family already under intense FBI surveillance. As Frank becomes more unhinged, Kurt is pulled deeper into his father's dangerous world, forced to collect debts and even contemplate arson—pushed to the brink of committing crimes he never wanted to be a part of. Meanwhile, Junior’s decisions spiral out of control, dragging friends, businesses, and his own freedom into the fallout. Binge the entire season of Killing Kurt—along with other gripping Entropy Media shows—completely ad-free by subscribing to Entropy Unlimited on Apple Podcasts. Unlock exclusive access to bonus content and enjoy your favorite stories without interruptions. Click HERE to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 16

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36 min
MAY 14

S3 E08: The Final Errand

In the final chapter of Killing Kurt, Kurt Calabrese travels to a remote house in North Carolina to confirm his father’s death. What begins as a simple errand turns into an emotional reckoning. Inside a dim room behind a red curtain, Kurt comes face to face with the body of Frank Calabrese Sr.—the man who dominated, abused, and haunted his life. For the first time, Kurt is able to speak freely to his father, unleashing years of pain, rage, and conflicted love. As Kurt seeks closure, the fallout from Operation Family Secrets continues. Federal agents raid Frank Sr.’s home and uncover hidden stashes of cash, diamonds, guns, and tapes—evidence of a criminal empire now reduced to dust. With the Outfit in decline and the family fractured beyond repair, Kurt reflects on what it truly means to survive a legacy built on violence, fear, and silence. Binge the entire season of Killing Kurt—along with other gripping Entropy Media shows—completely ad-free by subscribing to Entropy Unlimited on Apple Podcasts. Unlock exclusive access to bonus content and enjoy your favorite stories without interruptions. Click ⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 14

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48 min
04/26/2023

The Biggest Small Town in the World

In the 1980s, blue collar kids started making millions at Chicago’s commodities exchanges. This century-old boys' club was one of the best-kept secrets in the world until the FBI showed up and tried to end the party. The FBI investigation put the exchanges on front pages everywhere, but when the Feds packed up, business went back to usual—like they’d never been there. Thirty years later, former-trader-turned-Hollywood exec Anjay Nagpal thinks there's something strange about this case. He taps his Chicago connections and after a few calls, he's already poking holes in the government's long-accepted narrative of the investigation. Notes: You can find episode transcripts and more on our website at https://www.entropymedia.art/brokers-bagmen-moles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

04/26/2023

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35 min
08/14/2024

Locked Up Abroad | Episode 2

Wendell recounts the terrifying moments leading up to his arrest in Chongqing, China. What began as a scuffle at a bar quickly escalated into a life-threatening situation as an angry mob pursued Wendell through the streets. Seeking refuge, he turned to the police for help, only to be handcuffed and left defenseless against the crowd's wrath. Wendell's nightmare only deepens as he's thrown into a brutal Chinese prison system, facing unimaginable conditions and isolation, with no contact with his family or access to legal help. Back home in the U.S., Wendell’s loved ones struggle to comprehend the gravity of his situation as they fight to bring him home. "Game Plan: The Wendell Brown Story" is an Entropy Media production. Catch new episodes every Wednesday, wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

08/14/2024

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43 min
04/26/2023

T-Bun and the G Men

To understand this case, you need to meet the colorful cast of characters at its core: Chicago commodities traders. Meet part-time bookie, possible mob associate, and full-time trader Tony “T-Bun” Bonjourno. He’s a blue collar guy whose dad’s friend helped him get a job on the floor. Once there, T-Bun and his friends live a life beyond their wildest fantasies. T-Bun gives us our first glimpse of the FBI agents’ actions on the floor and tells an incredible story that might just be the answer to why this investigation ended prematurely. Notes: You can find episode transcripts and more on our website at https://www.entropymedia.art/brokers-bagmen-moles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

04/26/2023

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40 min
03/13/2024

There Once Was A Trucker From Chicago

Meet Dave Rupert. A guy born in a part of Upstate New York so rural it's practically Canada, with a past nearly as untamed: trucker, one-time professional wrestler, pilot, a bit of a serial entrepreneur. Meet Mickey McKevitt. An ocean away, he leads the Irish Republican Army's militant splinter cell, the Real IRA. The two men had seemingly nothing in common, but by the time they met, Dave had earned the trust of the group as though he was an Irishman himself. Meet Bob Herguth and Abdon Pallasch, reporters who interviewed Rupert in secret locations over twenty years ago to find out about their first meeting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

03/13/2024

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44 min

For decades, Kurt Calabrese lived in the shadow of his father, Frank “The Breeze” Calabrese Sr., one of the Chicago Outfit’s most feared hitmen and loan sharks. Raised in a home ruled by violence, paranoia, and control, Kurt grew up knowing that loyalty wasn’t a choice, it was survival. In 2007, the Family Secrets Trial exposed 18 unsolved murders and a laundry list of heinous crimes that had terrorized Chicago for decades. Based on wiretap evidence from Kurt’s brother Junior, the case led to life sentences for some of the most powerful mob figures in modern history, effectively dismantling the Chicago Outfit. But the trial was just the public reckoning. The real story began years earlier, inside the Calabrese family itself. Season 3 of the award-winning podcast Underbelly, “Killing Kurt” takes listeners back to where it all began. Beyond the headlines and the courtroom, this is the story of a crime family at war with itself. As Kurt wrestled with his own loyalty, his older brother committed the ultimate betrayal, setting off a chain of events that would not only take down their father but leave Kurt caught in the crossfire. Told through his firsthand account, Kurt reveals the untold cost of growing up in the mob, the violence at home, the psychological toll, and the impossible choices made to escape a legacy of fear. Listen to the all new season of Underbelly: Killing Kurt, premiering April 2nd. Available wherever you get your podcasts. --------------- Underbelly is a podcast series exploring the wild and true stories behind investigations into the underbelly of society. From enigmatic spies, to seedy criminals and crooked officials, to the upper echelons of government intelligence, we shine light on the underworld through never before heard revelations about crimes you never dared to imagine. Binge the entire season of Killing Kurt—along with other gripping Entropy shows—completely ad-free by subscribing to Entropy Unlimited on Apple Podcasts. Unlock exclusive access and enjoy your favorite stories without interruptions. Click the HERE to learn more!

4.9 (286)

TRUE CRIME
It was a dream-turned-nightmare, for former American football star, Wendell Brown when he began coaching his beloved sport to Chinese citizens. After being attacked by multiple men, in a Yuzhong District nightclub, the Detroit legend, is the one who finds himself in one of the harshest prisons in China, facing a nearly impossible battle against a legal system with a 99% conviction rate. Yet, hope arises in the most unexpected form: a group of strangers from around the world who, using the WeChat app, come together to form “Team Wendell.” Scattered across the globe, they must fight against all odds to bring the American home before more harm finds him. Behind bars in one of China's harshest prisons, Wendell is the only Black man, American, and foreigner in a cell with 30 men. Isolated and targeted, he must survive not just the horrid conditions but also the danger from fellow prisoners. To survive, Wendell and his team need the perfect game plan. Binge the full season of "Game Plan: The Wendell Brown Story" now. Available wherever you listen to podcasts! A production of Entropy Media.

4.8 (70)

TRUE CRIME

Entropy Media curates and produces premium & evergreen podcasts with a relentless focus on impactful stories, unique subcultures, and larger-than-life characters. We curate our slate with stories that will make fascinating documentaries, films, and TV shows. With top tier sound design and intricate storytelling, our podcasts sound like Hollywood movies. Pretty soon, you’ll know an Entropy podcast when you hear one. With an Entropy Unlimited subscription, you can listen to all episodes ad-free, dive deeper into any one of our stories with exclusive episodes, early access to episodes, and a deep archive including the full interviews from most of our shows.

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ENTROPY MEDIA

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Top Shows

S3 E02: The Man Is Nuts

S3 E03: Where Did Matt Go?

S3 E01: I'll Kick You So Hard You'll Walk Funny

S3 E06: Brotherly Love

S3 E04: Take the Money and Run

S3 E08: The Final Errand

The Biggest Small Town in the World

Locked Up Abroad | Episode 2

T-Bun and the G Men

There Once Was A Trucker From Chicago

Ad-free, early access and exclusive content

Tony Bonjourno (T-Bun) Interview

Tom Durkin Interview

Lewis Borselinno Interview

John Ward Interview

Jeff Killburn Interview

Marisa McGlinchy Interview

Michael Gallagher Interview

Bill Murphy & Peter McCabe

Shawn Pogatchnick Interview

BONUS: Antionette Interview

About

ENTROPY MEDIA

Ad-free, early access and exclusive content

Top Shows

Top Episodes

S3 E02: The Man Is Nuts

S3 E03: Where Did Matt Go?

S3 E01: I'll Kick You So Hard You'll Walk Funny

S3 E06: Brotherly Love

S3 E04: Take the Money and Run

S3 E08: The Final Errand

The Biggest Small Town in the World

Locked Up Abroad | Episode 2

T-Bun and the G Men

There Once Was A Trucker From Chicago

Entropy Unlimited

Ad-free, early access and exclusive content

Top Entropy Unlimited Episodes

Tony Bonjourno (T-Bun) Interview

Tom Durkin Interview

Lewis Borselinno Interview

John Ward Interview

Jeff Killburn Interview

Marisa McGlinchy Interview

Michael Gallagher Interview

Bill Murphy & Peter McCabe

Shawn Pogatchnick Interview

BONUS: Antionette Interview

About