15 episodes

It’s the most shocking unknown tale of our era: a defense contractor who bribed Navy officers with cash, prostitutes and luxury items in return for multi-million-dollar deals. Now, under arrest and battling cancer, ​Leonard Francis, AKA Fat Leonard, is angry, and he’s talking for the first time. His explosive story will change the way you look at the U.S. Navy forever. With exclusive access to Leonard Francis himself, Fat Leonard reveals the true story of the misogynistic men at the heart of the Navy and the brave women who brought them down.

To access all episodes of the Fat Leonard podcast, subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts, or on other podcast apps by visiting www.brazen.fm/plus. Subscribing will not only unlock Fat Leonard, but it’ll also give you early access to new Brazen shows, as well as ad-free listening and exclusive subscriber-only content across all podcasts in our network.

For more, visit: www.fatleonardpodcast.com

Fat Leonard is a Project Brazen production. For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds. For the latest from Brazen delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters at brazen.fm/newsletters.

Fat Leonard Brazen

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 95 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

It’s the most shocking unknown tale of our era: a defense contractor who bribed Navy officers with cash, prostitutes and luxury items in return for multi-million-dollar deals. Now, under arrest and battling cancer, ​Leonard Francis, AKA Fat Leonard, is angry, and he’s talking for the first time. His explosive story will change the way you look at the U.S. Navy forever. With exclusive access to Leonard Francis himself, Fat Leonard reveals the true story of the misogynistic men at the heart of the Navy and the brave women who brought them down.

To access all episodes of the Fat Leonard podcast, subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts, or on other podcast apps by visiting www.brazen.fm/plus. Subscribing will not only unlock Fat Leonard, but it’ll also give you early access to new Brazen shows, as well as ad-free listening and exclusive subscriber-only content across all podcasts in our network.

For more, visit: www.fatleonardpodcast.com

Fat Leonard is a Project Brazen production. For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds. For the latest from Brazen delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters at brazen.fm/newsletters.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Paper Ships

    Paper Ships

    Leonard Francis became the most powerful military contractor in the Pacific, running a mafia organization at the heart of the U.S. Navy. He’s over 300 pounds, and charming. We meet him in jail, and explore why he’s talking exclusively to our host, author and journalist Tom Wright. We explore Leonard’s troubled childhood. It turns out this isn’t his first time in prison.

    Fat Leonard is a Project Brazen production. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and get bonus episodes, ad-free listening and early access to new podcasts. 

    For more fearless storytelling, visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.

    • 35 min
    Ring of Steel

    Ring of Steel

    Out of jail, aged 21, Leonard begins his career as a defense contractor, just as the U.S. embarks on its Forever Wars. Through skill, bribes and luck, we chart the Wolf of Wall Street-like rise of Leonard, on the back of a product called the Ring of Steel.

    To keep listening to this episode and the rest of the Fat Leonard series, subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts, or on other podcast apps by visiting www.brazen.fm/plus. Subscribing will not only unlock Fat Leonard, but it’ll also give you early access to new Brazen shows, as well as ad-free listening and exclusive subscriber-only content across all podcasts in our network.

    For more fearless storytelling, visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.

    • 6 min
    Paula

    Paula

    We look back at the Tailhook sexual assault scandal of 1991 through the voice of Navy whistleblower Paula Coughlin. The Navy’s problem with misogyny is deep seated and it set the stage for Leonard’s rise.

    To listen to this episode and the rest of the Fat Leonard series, subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts, or on other podcast apps by visiting www.brazen.fm/plus. Subscribing will not only unlock Fat Leonard, but it’ll also give you early access to new Brazen shows, as well as ad-free listening and exclusive subscriber-only content across all podcasts in our network.

    For more fearless storytelling, visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.

    • 34 sec
    The Braveheart

    The Braveheart

    How Leonard buys his own warship, the Braveheart, complete with a mercenary army, and deploys it to help fight Al Qaeda. He secretly records orgies with Navy officers, causing one of the U.S.’s worst ever national security breaches.

    To listen to this episode and the rest of the Fat Leonard series, subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts, or on other podcast apps by visiting www.brazen.fm/plus. Subscribing will not only unlock Fat Leonard, but it’ll also give you early access to new Brazen shows, as well as ad-free listening and exclusive subscriber-only content across all podcasts in our network.

    For more fearless storytelling, visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.

    • 34 sec
    Marcy

    Marcy

    Michael Misiewicz was a rising star in the Navy before Leonard corrupts him with prostitutes, cash and free travel. We see the descent of one officer into graft and violence through the voice of his wife, Marcy Misiewicz.

    To listen to this episode and the rest of the Fat Leonard series, subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts, or on other podcast apps by visiting www.brazen.fm/plus. Subscribing will not only unlock Fat Leonard, but it’ll also give you early access to new Brazen shows, as well as ad-free listening and exclusive subscriber-only content across all podcasts in our network.

    For more fearless storytelling, visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.

    • 34 sec
    Morena

    Morena

    Leonard’s cruel treatment of his Filipina girlfriend, Morena De Jesus, and their children together, exposes his dark side. A fraught relationship with his own father could hold the key to understanding Leonard.

    To listen to this episode and the rest of the Fat Leonard series, subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts, or on other podcast apps by visiting www.brazen.fm/plus. Subscribing will not only unlock Fat Leonard, but it’ll also give you early access to new Brazen shows, as well as ad-free listening and exclusive subscriber-only content across all podcasts in our network.

    For more fearless storytelling, visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.

    • 34 sec

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
95 Ratings

95 Ratings

Deeeev ,

Brazen is excellent

I binged the Cocaine podcast in Europe and Spy Valley podcast over the last few days. Also I’m just about finished binging Fat Leonard now. I love all of these. And look forward to binging the next series.

USA Mknitter ,

Excellent reporting job; can’t wait for what’s next for Fat Leonard

Our family lived several years in the late 1980s in Manila, Philippines on the economy—we were not military. Tom did NOT say that a high core value for Asians is to not be shamed, especially publicly, which Fat Leonard is trying to cover up by saying he has a lot of good things going for him [hiding his fear/embarrassment about possible imprisonment]. Also, Asians will tell you [an American] what he/she thinks you WANT to hear, rather than the actual truth. They are also impressed with education and rank. It’s sad to see another large American organization (like the US Navy) be so quick to blame others for wrong doing [just listened to another podcast where the DEA would not take action against wrong doing within its ranks, as well as not providing public information—like the US Navy in this situation]. Also, we saw in the Philippines that taking bribes was not wrong, unless you got caught. I had to chuckle when I heard Fat Leonard was paying for his own house security—he was in cahoots with it! Also, what doctor said he was in poor health? Fat Leonard can be in cahoots with that doctor, too! Please keep the podcast updated on Fat Leonard as a result of his capture and further court hearings, his children, and any further developments. Many kudos to Tom Wright and superb his reporting!

Geumpyhistory ,

Wow, Surprisingly Excellent

Unskewed. Covers government in a politically agnostic way. The way the military must operate in the real world, the ways it doesn’t have to but does anyway, and how it absolutely shouldn’t. Fat Leonard isn’t a good guy. But I’m not sure he’s the most evil villain of the story either. We are all being taken advantage of. If the military is naive to the bribes, etc., then they would just deal with port authorities themselves. Interesting human interest story, taxpayer accountability story, financial true crime story, military structure story. Excellent all around.

Top Podcasts In Society & Culture

The Viall Files
Nick Viall
MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Wishbone Production
Stuff You Should Know
iHeartPodcasts
Unlocking Us with Brené Brown
Vox Media Podcast Network
This American Life
This American Life
Shawn Ryan Show
Shawn Ryan | Cumulus Podcast Network

You Might Also Like

Gateway: Cocaine, Murder, & Dirty Money in Europe
Brazen
Spy Valley: An Engineer's Nuclear Betrayal
Brazen
Hot Money: The New Narcos
Pushkin Industries
Deep Cover: Never Seen Again
Pushkin Industries
Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen
CBS News
Who Killed JFK?
iHeartPodcasts