Whale Hunting

This week on Whale Hunting, Tom Wright and Bradley Hope dive into the life and works of legendary spy novelist John le Carré. After le Carré's death in 2020, a new documentary and biography were released this autumn, revealing previously hidden elements of the author’s personal life. Was he really the spy he claimed to be – or were his stories of deceit and duplicity inspired by his other secrets? Tom and Bradley discuss le Carré’s life, how recent revelations might affect the legacy of his books, and whether biographies of powerful people can ever really tell the full story. Mentioned in this episode:John le Carré, a 2015 biography by Adam Sisman: bloomsbury.com/uk/john-le-carré-9781408849446 The Secret Life of John le Carré, a biography by Adam Sisman: profilebooks.com/work/the-secret-life-of-john-le-carrThe Pigeon Tunnel, a new documentary by Errol Morris: imdb.com/title/tt28486633The Secret Life of John le Carré by Adam Sisman review, from The Guardian: theguardian.com/books/2023/oct/15/the-secret-life-of-john-le-carre-by-adam-sisman-review How John le Carré's serial adultery shaped his spy novels, from The Washington Post: washingtonpost.com/books/2023/10/23/secret-life-john-le-carre-adam-sisman-review/For more information and to subscribe to the Whale Hunting newsletter, visit whalehunting.projectbrazen.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://brazen.fm/plus/

This week on Whale Hunting, Tom Wright is joined by Simon Willis, journalist and host of new podcast, The Professor. The series unravels the story of William Veres, an art dealer charged with running an art trafficking ring linked to the Sicilian Mafia. With a 20-year prison sentence looming, Veres has a daring plan to win the favor of prosecutors – he’ll solve the coldest case in the history of art crime: the theft of Caravaggio's Nativity. In this episode of Whale Hunting, Simon and Tom discuss the hidden world of art trafficking and organized crime that is exposed in The Professor, and its shadowy connections with the Italian establishment. Plus, Simon explains what it was like to navigate the still-treacherous world of Mafiosi while reporting this story.If you’d like to listen to the show, search for The Professor in your favorite podcast app, or visit www.brazen.fm/the-professor. For more information and to subscribe to the Whale Hunting, visit whalehunting.projectbrazen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://brazen.fm/plus/

How did the Ghetto Superstar rapper Pras Michel become locked in an international financial fraud case — and did his AI-loving lawyer stitch him up? In the first episode of Whale Hunting, investigative reporters Tom Wright and Bradley Hope dive into the unbelievable true story behind the conviction of rapper Pras Michel for money laundering, illegal lobbying, witness tampering and campaign finance violations. With Pras now back in the news with an unconventional legal appeal, Tom and Bradley discuss the rapper’s entanglement with the notorious Jho Low, from their first encounter in high end nightclubs to the pair’s efforts to manipulate the Trump administration. An intriguing tale of how money and influence can intertwine in incredible, sometimes shocking, ways.For more info and to sign up to the Whale Hunting newsletter, visit whalehunting.projectbrazen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://brazen.fm/plus/