Deep Cover Presents: Snowball
Pushkin Industries
Deep Cover is a show about people who lead double lives. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Halpern reveals webs of deception and dark underworlds, through interviews with federal agents and convicted criminals.
Deep Cover Presents: Snowball. A special limited series from the Unravel Podcast team at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Ollie Wards' family lost everything after their brush with a charming Californian con woman. As he embarks on a quest to find out how she did it, why she did it, and where she is now, he opens the door on a mystery that spans decades and across continents.
Binge episodes of Deep Cover Presents: Snowball early and ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover show page in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.
In the sixth season of Deep Cover: The Truth About Sarah, Jake Halpern and acclaimed investigative journalist Jess McHugh unravel an epic six-year deception that upended lives of countless people. Sarah Cavanaugh was many things: A decorated veteran. A Marine who saved her comrades. A young woman fighting cancer. She was stoic, humble, tough. In short: a hero. Sarah was everything people wanted her to be—until she wasn’t. Turns out, no one knew the real Sarah. Not her comrades. Not her wife. No one. Jake and Jess interview all of the key sources—including Sarah, herself—to tell this sprawling tale.
Season five covers the rise and fall of George Santos, the former Republican Congressman from New York, and the stories—many of which were not true—he told about his life and credentials.
Season four, The Nameless Man, tells the epic tale of two federal agents who investigate a rumor about a murder that supposedly took place 15 years prior. It is also the story of a family searching for answers about why their brother was killed. These two storylines collide in a courtroom in Philadelphia, where murder, memory, and morality go on trial.
Season three, Never Seen Again, tells the story of two women living on opposite sides of the country, who went missing in the summer of 1999. Seven years later, their stories collided when a small town detective got a tip and became convinced that if he could solve one mystery, he’d solve the other.
Season two, Mob Land, is about a high-rolling lawyer who joins forces with the feds to try to bring down one of the most powerful criminal syndicates in the country.
Season one, The Drug Wars, tells the story of an FBI agent who goes undercover with a biker gang, and follows a trail of clues that eventually leads to the US invasion of a foreign country.
Deep Cover drops on Mondays. To hear episodes early and ad-free, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.
iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.
Deep Cover Presents: Snowball. A special limited series from the Unravel Podcast team at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Ollie Wards' family lost everything after their brush with a charming Californian con woman. As he embarks on a quest to find out how she did it, why she did it, and where she is now, he opens the door on a mystery that spans decades and across continents.
Binge episodes of Deep Cover Presents: Snowball early and ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover show page in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.
In the sixth season of Deep Cover: The Truth About Sarah, Jake Halpern and acclaimed investigative journalist Jess McHugh unravel an epic six-year deception that upended lives of countless people. Sarah Cavanaugh was many things: A decorated veteran. A Marine who saved her comrades. A young woman fighting cancer. She was stoic, humble, tough. In short: a hero. Sarah was everything people wanted her to be—until she wasn’t. Turns out, no one knew the real Sarah. Not her comrades. Not her wife. No one. Jake and Jess interview all of the key sources—including Sarah, herself—to tell this sprawling tale.
Season five covers the rise and fall of George Santos, the former Republican Congressman from New York, and the stories—many of which were not true—he told about his life and credentials.
Season four, The Nameless Man, tells the epic tale of two federal agents who investigate a rumor about a murder that supposedly took place 15 years prior. It is also the story of a family searching for answers about why their brother was killed. These two storylines collide in a courtroom in Philadelphia, where murder, memory, and morality go on trial.
Season three, Never Seen Again, tells the story of two women living on opposite sides of the country, who went missing in the summer of 1999. Seven years later, their stories collided when a small town detective got a tip and became convinced that if he could solve one mystery, he’d solve the other.
Season two, Mob Land, is about a high-rolling lawyer who joins forces with the feds to try to bring down one of the most powerful criminal syndicates in the country.
Season one, The Drug Wars, tells the story of an FBI agent who goes undercover with a biker gang, and follows a trail of clues that eventually leads to the US invasion of a foreign country.
Deep Cover drops on Mondays. To hear episodes early and ad-free, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.
iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.
Episodes
Mentioned books
16 snips
Dec 29, 2025 • 53min
The Truth About Sarah Revisited (LIVE at WBUR)
Join Jake and Jess for a captivating live discussion where they dive into the complexities of trust and betrayal through Sarah's story. Uncover never-before-heard audio as they update listeners on Sarah’s journey post-release. Explore the heartwarming mission of Patrol Base Abate, aimed at supporting all veterans, and hear personal insights on the emotional toll of deception. They also reflect on why con stories fascinate us and share the challenges of reporting in such a sensitive landscape.
26 snips
Dec 22, 2025 • 44min
Shame, Scams, and The Stories We Tell Ourselves (with Ollie Wards)
In this episode, Ollie Wards, a journalist and creator of the Snowball series, shares his compelling journey investigating a family con. He recounts the thrill of uncovering family secrets and confronting the con artist, Lezlie Manukian. Topics include the psychological impacts of shame on victims, the ethical dilemmas of reporting intimate family stories, and the quest for justice amidst messy truths. Ollie's reflections reveal the complexities of healing and the bittersweet nature of closure while navigating emotional family dynamics.
12 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 24min
Snowball - Episode 7: The Morning After
Maria Konnikova, a psychologist and author exploring the psychology of con artists, offers fascinating insights into the motivations behind their actions. She explains that con artists crave power and control, often repeating their harmful patterns. Meanwhile, Ollie's conflicted feelings about Leslie deepen as he learns of her troubling past and struggles with whether to feel sympathy for her. As tensions rise, Ollie reflects on the importance of family over vengeance, sharing his experience of supporting his brother's recovery from Leslie's deceit.
10 snips
Dec 8, 2025 • 42min
Snowball - Episode 6: Stakeout
Leslie Manukian, the focus of the Snowball series, shares her story amidst longstanding allegations and complicated relationships. As Ollie and Simon conduct a tense stakeout, they seek the truth behind various business dealings. Psychologist and poker expert Maria Konnikova weighs in, offering insights into the world of con artists and the importance of charm in confrontations. The conversation takes unexpected turns as Leslie navigates accusations and attempts to explain her actions while Ollie grapples with the complexities of trust and deception.
15 snips
Dec 1, 2025 • 45min
Snowball - Episode 5: Black Widow
Cameron, a Paso Robles restauranteur and investor, shares his turbulent relationship with Leslie, a woman known for her charm and escalating deceit. He recounts how her charisma quickly drew him in, leading to significant financial trust. Listeners learn about allegations of forgery, fabricated restaurant experiences, and a web of lies that may soon unravel. Cameron discusses the emotional toll of betrayal and the decision to avoid legal repercussions, offering a gripping insight into the consequences of misplaced trust.
11 snips
Nov 24, 2025 • 41min
Snowball - Episode 4: Charmed
Ollie delves into Lezlie's emails and uncovers a wild story of a fraudulent book deal involving a ghostwriter and a famous actress. As he investigates the truth behind Lezlie's elaborate fabrications, he discovers that she might have created a whole persona to escape financial troubles. With a lead taking him to her first restaurant in Lake Tahoe, Ollie uncovers local accounts revealing Lezlie's shady past. The hunt intensifies as he plans to confront her in Paso Robles, leaving listeners eager for more.
12 snips
Nov 17, 2025 • 42min
Snowball - Episode 3: The Coconut Wireless
In this gripping tale, a woman's charm leads to chaos as she opens a bar in Maui. Rumors swirl through the community, revealing stories of deceit and financial ruin. Former associates recount her manipulations, while police uncover a history of fraud. A look into family dynamics adds layers to the mystery. As confrontations escalate, Leslie's web of lies starts to unravel, forcing her off the island. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure, set to play a crucial role in her next scheme, lurks in the shadows.
13 snips
Nov 10, 2025 • 44min
Snowball - Episode 2: The Great Houdini
David, a devoted father, dives into a shocking tale of deception surrounding his son's marriage. He uncovers forged documents linking his daughter-in-law to a massive bank loan, leading to the family's financial collapse and eventual homelessness. As they scrabble for answers, David reveals suspicious bank statements and details about Leslie's charm and manipulation. The plot thickens with connections to past scams and a mysterious attorney, all while David sifts through emails and clues left behind to crack the case.
13 snips
Nov 3, 2025 • 52min
Snowball - Episode 1: The Girl With the Dragonfly Tattoo
In this gripping discussion, Greg Ward, the middle son of the Ward family, unfolds the whirlwind romance that led to his marriage with the enigmatic Lezlie Manukian. He shares the magnetic first encounter at a London party, painting a vivid picture of her captivating aura. Delve into the unsettling signs that emerged post-wedding, from financial struggles tied to their cafe venture to a mysterious warning from Lezlie before her sudden disappearance. The family's unraveling story and Greg's memories make for a chilling yet captivating narrative.
Oct 27, 2025 • 6min
Deep Cover Presents: Snowball
In 2006, Greg Wards was your average Kiwi backpacker on an overseas adventure in the UK, working hard, playing harder — and falling head-over-heels in love. After a whirlwind international romance, Greg married Lezlie Manukian in New Zealand. Their new life started out by setting up a small business north of Auckland. But a snowball had started to roll the day Greg met Lezlie Manukian. It wasn't long before this ball of chaos gathered pace and crushed Greg and his family. Starting November 3, binge episodes of Deep Cover Presents: Snowball early and ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover show page in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
