Podcast Episodes

Introducing The Sunshine Place

Once called “the miracle on the beach,” Synanon began in the 1960s as an experimental rehab facility in Santa Monica, California with a radical claim: It could cure heroin addiction. Before long, it …

Published on 3 years, 4 months ago

GOING UNDERCOVER

Season 4 Episode 7

Alex Schuman, host of Puppy Kingpin, spoke to Deborah Howard, the president of CAPS, the Companion Animal Protection Society, and an undercover investigator who goes by the pseudonym Pete Paxton. In …

Published on 3 years, 4 months ago

A New Case: The Criminal Empire of Scam Calls

Chameleon: Scam Likely host, Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, sits down with Alex Schuman to chat about the newest season of the blockbuster Chameleon franchise. The duo dig into another scam you should be wa…

Published on 3 years, 4 months ago

A Q&A with Smoke Screen host Alex Schuman

Season 4 Episode 8

Spectacle: True Crime host, Mariah Smith, sits down with Alex Schuman to chat all things about the newest season of Smoke Screen, Puppy Kingpin. She puts host Alex Schuman in the hot seat and they di…

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

Puppy Kingpin | 7. Consequences

Season 4 Episode 7

Jolyn Noethe faces a class action lawsuit that accuses her of a federal crime and might cost her up to 5 million. The puppy pipeline isn’t going to change overnight, but Alex meets with a breeder who…

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

Puppy Kingpin | 6. License to Sell

Season 4 Episode 6

The Iowa AG’s lawsuit against Jolyn comes to a conclusion as she faces challenges from multiple sides. Alex looks more closely at the USDA as a growing number of breeders and animal rights activists …

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

Puppy Kingpin | 5. Small Town Secrets

Season 4 Episode 5

Alex heads to Britt, Iowa where Jolyn Noethe grew up and her for-profit enterprise, J.A.K.’s Puppies, is headquartered. He discovers that a family dispute is part of the reason she started her own br…

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

Puppy Kingpin | 4. A Kind of Identity Theft

Season 4 Episode 4

Multiple lawsuits now accuse Jolyn Noethe of creating rescues to sell commercially-bred puppies where they’ve been outlawed. Alex learns how the scheme reaches beyond the Midwest and meets Lizette Ch…

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

Puppy Kingpin | 3. Hobo K9

Season 4 Episode 3

Authorities learn of unusual “rescue puppies” starting to turn up in Chicago and begin an investigation. Soon, they are on the trail of the secretive businesswoman responsible.

A Neon Hum Media and …

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

Puppy Kingpin | 2. Inside a Puppy Mill

Season 4 Episode 2

Alex sets out to learn more about Jolyn Noethe, but ends up getting an inside look at a puppy mill and how they operate legally. We’ll hear audio of the day authorities descended on the farm of Barba…

Published on 3 years, 6 months ago