11 episodes
Varnamtown PodcastOne
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- True Crime
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4.3 • 692 Ratings
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Two years ago, Kyle MacLachlan, the star of Twin Peaks, called investigative journalist Joshua Davis with a strange story. Kyle had heard a rumor that Pablo Escobar did a deal in the early 1980s with a remote, coastal Southern town of 300 people. In exchange for vast wealth and limitless cocaine, Escobar would be allowed to land planes and ships in the area. Over the last 24 months, Josh and Kyle investigated the rumor, journeying to Varnamtown to knock on doors and find out what really happens when a firehose of money and cocaine is turned on a small, tight knit community.
Varnamtown was created in association with PodcastOne. It is produced by Epic Magazine, Picture Perfect Federation, and Full Picture with consulting producers Nir Liberboim and Lynn Betz.
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REO Speedwagon - Episode 1
In 1981, REO Speedwagon’s airplane landed outside of Varnamtown, a remote town in North Carolina. The cargo: a massive amount of drugs from Barranquilla, Colombia. The shipment revealed a startling connection between Colombia and Varnamtown, population 300. Did Pablo Escobar really do a deal en masse with the entire town? Kyle MacLachlan and investigative journalist Joshua Davis begin their journey into the swampy backwaters of the coastal South to uncover the truth.
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The Captain Tom - Episode 2
A cargo ship filled with drugs runs aground outside of Varnamtown. To make matters worse, the grounding happens in front of Roger Morton’s house, one of the only people in the area set on stopping the influx of drugs. Roger decides he needs to take serious action, setting up a titanic struggle between him and his neighbors.
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Better Help: This podcast is sponsored by Better Help. Visit https://BetterHelp.com/TOWN to get 10% off your first month. -
The CIA Accountant - Episode 3
DEA agent Mike Grimes arrives in North Carolina from Washington D.C. thinking he’d have plenty of time to fish in this sleepy region. Instead, he finds himself in the middle of a massive smuggling operation hidden in the swamps and coastal inlets. Roger Morton should be a natural ally, but things go quickly sideways at the local Tasty Freeze, and Roger is forced to write President Ronald Reagan a letter asking for help.
Thank you for supporting our sponsors!
Hello Fresh: Sign up at https://HelloFresh.com/VarnamtownFree for free breakfast for life! One breakfast item per box while subscription is active.
Better Help: This podcast is sponsored by Better Help. Visit https://BetterHelp.com/TOWN to get 10% off your first month.
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Clam Cops - Episode 5
Mike Grimes expands the REO Speedwagon investigation and discovers layers of corruption all around Varnamtown, from the Sheriff's office to within Roger Morton’s family. We delve into the Shakespearean tragedy of Roger’s relationship with his brother Duane, a local “clam cop.”
Thank you for supporting our sponsors!
Factor: Go to https://FactorMeals.com/Varnamtown50 and use code VARNAMTOWN50 to get 50% off.
Better Help: This podcast is sponsored by Better Help. Visit https://BetterHelp.com/TOWN to get 10% off your first month. -
The Chinese Connection - Episode 4
When the REO Speedwagon plane botched its landing, the pilots took off into the forest. Mike Grimes launches a manhunt and steadily closes in on one of the pilots while local Sheriff's deputy Larry Joyner chases down a van full of Colombians. Eventually, the chase leads Mike and Larry on an adventure in Miami.
Thank you for supporting our sponsors!
Hello Fresh: Go to https://HelloFresh.com/VARNAMTOWNFREE and use the code VARNAMTOWNFREE for free breakfast for life. One breakfast item per box while subscription is active
One Skin: Go to https://OneSkin.co and use code TOWN to get 15% off
Viia Hemp: Go to https://ViiaHemp.com & use code TOWN to receive 15% off PLUS one free sample of their Sleep Dreams gummies. 21+ -
Attack Turkeys - Episode 6
Corey Duber, a cop from Brooklyn, arrives in Varnamtown to take down Dale Varnam’s drug empire. He wins Dale’s trust and suddenly Dale starts naming names…a lot of them.
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Factor: Go to https://FactorMeals.com/Varnamtown50 and use code VARNAMTOWN50 to get 50% off.
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Customer Reviews
One of my favorites
As an Eastern North Carolinian who grew up here in the 80’s and 90’s, I loved everything about this podcast series. The music, storytelling and interviews with residents captured the tone and kind of good-natured lawlessness of the time period. Even now, Coastal NC can be a pretty strange place, especially some of the smaller towns. I think the hosts did a great job telling this wild story. I only wish it was longer! Listening to the episodes really took me back to my childhood. While we didn’t have massive amounts of cocaine or planes making emergency landings (that I was aware of), we had enough small-town hijinks and drama to fill a book. Thanks for the throwback and for bringing to light a little-known chapter of our history. Can’t wait to hear what’s up next!
Immediately hooked!!!!!!
The hosts are treasures 🖤
And the story is fascinating!!
Only one episode?
Waiting for more episodes, I guess.