The Burden

By Orbit Media

The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them.

Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger

Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country.

Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood

Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question.

This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago.

Season 1 - The Burden

In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname.

Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance.

For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast.

Welcome to The Burden.

Episodes

Bonus Episode | Behind the Scenes of Avenger with Alexis Bledel and Fisher Stevens!

For Avenger, which takes place in Argentina, we recorded all interviews in Spanish, translated them into English and had them voiced by actors. Miriam, the "disappeared" who becomes a journalist and tracks down the pilots of the death flights, is voiced by Alexis Bledel, the Emmy-winning actor known for her role in Gilmore Girls and Handmaid's Tale. Her father is Argentine. Alexis is directed by Oscar-winner Fisher Stevens. Fisher has directed Al Pacino and Justin Timberlake, among others. In this bonus episode, we learn how a skilled director gets a great performance out of a talented actor. If you've ever wanted to see how a great performance comes together, this is a master class. An intimate peek into the process of acting and directing. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11/12/24•29m 30s

Avenger | 8. The Bodies

After thirty years of government impunity, the amnesty laws that helped bury Argentina’s horrific past are overturned. The trials against the junta commanders are reopened, and slowly, one after another, they are brought to justice. The trial against the pilots begins with Miriam and Enrique Piñeyro as key witnesses. It is the moment Miriam had been waiting for. The culmination of the investigation to avenge the deaths of her friends. And to answer the question that has plagued her: Why did I survive? Maybe to bring justice to the fallen. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

04/12/24•30m 49s

Avenger | 7. The Pilots

It’s 1979, Miriam is free, but living in exile in New York City where she is surveilled by the junta. She’s among the few to survive imprisonment. In the years that follow, unidentified bodies start to wash up on the shores of Argentina. The bodies are swollen and bloated, but the perpetrators are unknown. Years later, democracy returns to Argentina, but still no one is held to account for the crimes against the disappeared. In 1985, the new president promises a historic trial against the junta commanders. Miriam bravely returns to Argentina to testify, but the judicial process drags on. Eventually, the forensic team examining the flight logs Miriam and Giancarlo found, link them to the bloated bodies that washed ashore during the dictatorship. The pilots of the death flights could finally face justice. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27/11/24•36m 4s

Avenger | 6. Miriam in Court

The lack of media attention on the TV story is disheartening, but Miriam has a bigger plan up her sleeve and redirects all her energy to the courts. With the help of Nobel Laureate Adolfo Pérez Equivel, who himself survived a death flight, they file a formal accusation against the pilots at the federal prosecutor’s office. The evidence is mounting, the Argentine Navy hands over thousands of pages from the original flight logs to the prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor assigns a special unit to investigate crimes against humanity, and it includes an elite forensic team that links Miriam and Giancarlo’s investigation to a long unsolved crime. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20/11/24•33m 12s

Avenger | 5. The Flight Logs

One day, Miriam sits in her office when she gets a call from the stringer she hired to go look at one of the Skyvan planes which had been sold to a Florida businessman. The owner reveals that he has the flight logs dating back to the dictatorship. Those logs are a break. They could lead to the pilots of the death flights. With Enrique Pineyro’s help, who now joins the investigation, they decode the log’s cryptic notes. Flights that should have only taken 45 minutes were logged in at four hours. With the green light from the TV station, Miriam and her crew put the final touches on her report. She’s ready to expose everyone and maybe, finally see some justice. What follows comes as a complete surprise. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13/11/24•21m 57s

Avenger | 4. The Planes

Miriam and Giancarlo team up to search for the planes. She shows up at his tiny apartment every day after work at a TV station. They share pasta, cigarettes and scour the Internet for clues. One day, they stumble upon an obscure group of hobbyists who lead them to more details about the planes. Confident that they’re onto something, they try to enlist the help of a well-known Argentine pilot, actor, producer and controversial figure in Argentina. Their meeting doesn’t go well. Meanwhile, they locate one of the planes used for the death flights. When Miriam makes a discovery about the plane, she faces a decision that could make or break this investigation. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

06/11/24•19m 2s

Avenger | 3. The World Cup

It’s 1978. The World Cup, the most popular sporting event in the world, is hosted for the first time in Argentina. The Argentines are losing their minds with excitement. From a small cell in the middle of the city, Miriam can hear the cheers from the stadium a mile away. Her captors recruit her to work on the junta’s media propaganda machine; she must celebrate the very regime that imprisons her. Survival is a tricky business. She may have to compromise to avoid the death flights that will kill most of her fellow prisoners. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30/10/24•29m 34s

Avenger | 2. The Investigation

An Italian photographer with a specialty in the horror humans do named Giancarlo Ceraudo shows up in Argentina to learn about the death flights during Argentina’s military dictatorship. He’s obsessed. Who are the pilots who flew these homicidal missions? He knows the planes will hold clues. To find them, he needs Miriam’s help. If she accepts, she will have to confront painful memories of her own torture and kidnapping. But she may also have the chance to bring the pilots of the death flights to justice. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23/10/24•26m 31s

Avenger | 1. The Process

It’s 1977, Argentina. The military has seized power. Miriam Lewin is 19 years old, an activist, and a target of a brutal dictatorship. She’ll spend two years in prison. But Miriam is one of the lucky ones..... Her fellow prisoners will be tossed from airplanes to their deaths on the infamous “death flights.” Three decades later, Miriam is a respected investigative journalist. She steadfastly avoided doing stories about the death flights – the subject is too painful – until a phone call from an Italian photojournalist changes everything. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23/10/24•32m 6s

Introducing - The Burden: Avenger

Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Avenger is a production of Orbit Media in association with Sonoro Media and Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16/10/24•3m 28s

Bonus Episode | Father Frank Meets His Maker

He was the detective who could get the confessions other cops couldn’t. Thus the nickname, Father Frank. It was Father Frank who rescued the prosecution’s case against Cal—until that conviction was overturned. And it was Father Frank who helped put away a 16-year-old for murder—until that conviction was also overturned. So how good was Father Frank really? The DA reopened his cases, and some even called him the Scarcella of The Bronx. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09/10/24•32m 42s

Empire on Blood - Bonus Episode | Calvin Buari: Family Guy

When we last heard from Calvin Buari his murder conviction had just been overturned. But he didn't have a place to live. A lot has changed in Cal's life since then -- for one thing, you won't believe where he lives now. And Cal has brand new priorities. He says he wants to be a "family guy." So Cal is looking for love after lock-up. Or maybe it's not exactly love he's looking for? Listen now and let Cal explain. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

02/10/24•33m 42s

Introducing - Deep Cover: George Santos

George Santos, the former Republican Congressman from New York, told a lot of stories about his life and his credentials. Many of which, it turns out, were not true. Deep Cover Producer Amy Gaines McQuade, who grew up in Santos’ congressional district, speaks with insiders and experts to try to answer the question: Who is George Santos… really? Listen to Deep Cover: George Santos wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25/09/24•13m 7s

Empire on Blood | 8. I Shot Him

Emel was a jailhouse legal maestro who had been locked up for 19 years for a murder he insisted he didn’t commit. Then he was forced to plead guilty to helping commit a murder in order to get home. But he clung to a letter. A letter that came from the real killer, and that one day might set him free. In body and mind. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19/09/24•37m 14s

Introducing - The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi

In 1978, Pope John Paul I was found dead in his bed just 33 days after he was elected. The official story is that he suffered a fatal heart attack. But in the years since his death, some have claimed he was murdered to cover up crimes in the Vatican. The question of the Pope’s death has never been definitively answered, but there is one man who claims to know the truth. A man from one of New York City’s crime families who has deep ties to the Italian mafia. He was there the day of the Pope’s death and witnessed his murder firsthand. Or, at least, that’s what he says. His name is Anthony Raimondi, and these are his confessions. In this episode, Marc heads to Williamsburg, Brooklyn to meet a 70-year old gangster and hear him confess to the murder of Pope John Paul I. What he learns is that there’s a lot more to Anthony Raimondi than meets the eye.From USG Audio and Truth Media in association with Clockwork Films.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18/09/24•33m 59s

Empire on Blood | 7. This Too Shall Pass

In the aftermath of the court’s decision, Cal must adjust to a new reality. Where can a man like Cal find peace? With a mother he hasn’t seen in a decade? In a heatless van in the dead of winter? His girlfriend has waited for Cal for a decade, but he can’t bring himself to sleep inside her house. Freedom is hard. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11/09/24•41m 33s

Empire on Blood | 6. Evilina on the Stand

Cal’s last-shot hearing finally arrives: his new lawyers are in place, the new witness ready to testify. Turtle Man has called their written affidavits worthless “toilet paper.” He threatens to come out of retirement to make sure Cal stays locked away. But the Bronx DA has other ideas. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

04/09/24•56m 7s

Empire on Blood | 5. Joe Barry, Private Eye

Joe Barry,Cal’s private investigator, hired in desperation when Cal’s case seems all but dead. Joe’s a hard drinking, Bible-toting P.I. who’s not afraid to lie in the service of the truth. When he connects with a witness who claims she has the answer, she gives Cal a sliver of hope. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28/08/24•42m 59s

Empire on Blood | 4. Father Frank to the Rescue

Cal has been in prison for years as Dwight rules the Corner on Blood,which once belonged to Cal. Then Dwight “catches a body” and is sentenced to 25 years to life for murder. One day, Cal and Dwight, the man who testified against him, cross paths in a prison yard. Both Cal’s and Dwight’s worlds turn upside down, and alarmed prosecutors in the Bronx call in their ace. It’s all up to Father Frank now. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21/08/24•44m 56s

Empire on Blood | 3. Dwight, Poet of Evil

Calvin Buari’s former protégé in the Bronx crack trade, Dwight Robinson, loved and admired Cal. But then, feeling shunned and nursing his own ambitions, Dwight charts his own course — first with guns, then with something even more lethal: his testimony. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14/08/24•38m 48s

Empire on Blood | 2. Turtle Man Will Get His Man

Allen Karen was one of the best homicide prosecutors in the Bronx. He devotes his life to fighting crime – and to rescuing the 20 turtles that roam his bachelor pad. Karen uses his considerable skills – and his power to offer deals – to land a conviction in a three year old case no other prosecutor even wanted to try. Calvin Buari is in his sights. And Turtle Man is determined to take him down. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

07/08/24•38m 27s

Empire on Blood | 1. Calvin's Last Shot

Calvin Buari, who once drove BMWs and dealt crack from a violent corner in the Bronx, has served 22 years of a life sentence. The charge: double homicide. Cal insists he’s no murderer — someone else even confessed to the crime. Things are looking up for Cal when a legendary defense lawyer agrees to take on his final appeal. But then it all comes crashing down. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

07/08/24•39m 13s

Introducing - The Burden: Empire on Blood

The Burden: Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent years trying to untangle this dark intrigue. Then one day, his phone rang. It was the protege. The Burden: Empire on Blood is one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. But someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic Empire on Blood, which reached #1 on the charts when it was released half a dozen years ago. Empire on Blood is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31/07/24•2m 26s

Introducing - The Gist: Birds Aren’t Real (SHHH … Don’t tell the Crested Warbler!)

Peter McIndoe is the founder of the Birds Aren't Real movement-slash-conspiracy theory. He is also the author of the book, Birds Aren't Real: The True Story of Mass Avian Murder and the Largest Surveillance Campaign in U.S. History. Peter doesn’t believe any of that, by the way, but he has good insights on the type of people who do. Plus, how public access to subway brakes, the inability to license a pot store, and a 30-year-old San Fransisco "shanty town" clearance offer lessons in can-do (and can't-do) governance. Please follow the show!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26/07/24•50m 30s

The Burden - Bonus Episode | Justin Bonus for the Defense

Justin Bonus talks to Steve and Dax about his journey from hiphop entrepreneur to nationally acclaimed attorney for the wrongfully convicted. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24/07/24•14m 50s

The Burden - Bonus Episode | Admiring Louie

Did Steve and Dax get it wrong? Is Louie Scarcella as bad as his portrayal in the media? Steve and Dax speak with several of Scarcella’s colleagues who share their admiration for him and stand by his work as a detective. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16/07/24•18m 58s

The Burden - Bonus Episode | Coney Island of the Mind. Louie’s Mind

Louie Scarcella takes Steve to Coney Island where he moonlighted as a carnival barker and fixed games of chance. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

03/07/24•19m 55s

The Burden - Bonus Episode | Blame the Prosecutors

Steve and Dax are joined by journalist Ted Hamm who examines the conduct of the Assistant District Attorneys who worked on Louis Scarcella's wrongful convictions. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26/06/24•33m 29s

Introducing - American Criminal: The Menendez Brothers

From Airship, the studio behind American Scandal, American History Tellers, and History Daily, comes a new true crime history podcast that takes you inside the minds of some of our most notorious felons and outlaws, exploring the dark side to the American dream. The debut season tackles one of the country’s most sensational cases: The Menendez Murders. In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally shot their parents. Prosecutors said it was a million dollar inheritance that led two greedy kids to murder. But the picture-perfect facade this family built hid troubling abuse; could these teenagers have been driven to kill, or was it even in self defense?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21/06/24•11m 48s

Introducing - My Friend the Serial Killer: Local Man

What would you do if someone you knew turned out to be a serial killer? In the 1970s, Steve Fishman was an intern at his local newspaper. One day, he hitched a ride back home from Boston with a kind stranger who graciously picked him up and dropped him off at his destination. What Steve didn’t know however, was that this stranger was hiding a dark secret: by the time he picked up Steve, he had already killed three people - all hitchhikers. But this fateful ride was just the beginning of Steve’s story. While this may have been the first time Steve met the man he’d come to know as Red, it wouldn’t be the last… Featuring exclusive interviews and never-before-heard tapes, join Steve as he tells his chilling story for the first time and unravels the lingering questions surrounding this wild chapter of his life. Why did Steve get spared by the killer during their first meeting? And what could have possibly driven Steve back to the same killer he had just escaped? Find out on Smoke Screen: My Friend, the Serial Killer - available now wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribers to The Binge can listen to all episodes right now, completely ad-free. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-binge/id6442475215See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18/06/24•30m 23s

Introducing - Slaycation: My Big Fat Greek Murder

If you’re intrigued by the darker side of vacation tales, tune into Slaycation. The show navigates through the sinister underbelly of travel, making you question whether your next getaway might be more dangerous than you think.This episode of Slaycation: "My Big Fat Greek Murder" first ran in back in April. If you enjoy this episode, listen to Slaycation wherever you get this podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14/06/24•51m 35s

The Burden - Bonus Episode | David Ranta and the Murder of the Century

Steve and Dax dive into the case that made Louie Scarcella famous. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11/06/24•43m 34s

Introducing - Deep Cover: The Nameless Man

Deep Cover is a show about people who lead double lives. 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, PA where murder, memory, and morality go on trial.If you enjoy this clip, listen to Deep Cover: The Nameless Man wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

07/06/24•40m 48s

Introducing - On Our Watch: New Folsom from KQED

Soon after correctional officer Valentino Rodriguez starts working at New Folsom prison, he gets caught up in a bad incident. An incarcerated man ends up in the hospital with horrific injuries, and the prison starts an investigation. Valentino feels pressured to back up his fellow officers’ version of the story, even though he thinks it might not be the truth. Then he gets an opportunity he’s dreamed of — to join an elite unit investigating crimes in the prison. When correctional officer Valentino Rodriguez first stepped behind prison walls, he wasn’t just starting a job, he was joining a family. What he didn’t know was that he was now bound by an unwritten code that would ultimately test his loyalty to his oath and his fellow officers. Five years later, Valentino’s sudden death would raise questions from the FBI, his family and his mentor in the elite investigative unit where they both worked. This season, join us as we follow in Valentino’s footsteps to uncover the secrets hidden inside the most dangerous prison in California: New Folsom. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31/05/24•50m 31s

The Burden - Bonus Episode | Teresa Gomez Speaks!

Steve and Dax’s team unearth 30-year old audio recordings of Teresa Gomez making a statement to an assistant district attorney about a murder she claims to have witnessed. Teresa Gomez is arguably the single person most responsible for Louis Scarcella’s rise, and fall as an NYPD detective. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28/05/24•23m 38s

Introducing - The Jordan Harbinger Show

In-depth conversations with people at the top of their game. Jordan Harbinger unpacks guests' wisdom into practical nuggets you can use to impact your work, life, and relationships. Learn from leaders (Ray Dalio, Simon Sinek, Mark Cuban), entertainers (Moby, Tip "T.I." Harris, Dennis Quaid), scientists (Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye), athletes (Kobe Bryant, Dennis Rodman, Tony Hawk) and an eclectic array of fascinating minds, from art forgers and arms traffickers to spies and psychologists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24/05/24•1m 44s

The Burden | 10. A Reckoning

Episode 10 of 10 Louie Scarcella bursts into tears. “It sucks. It sucks.” The swaggering detective has been brought low by jailhouse lawyers. But did one “rogue” cop hoodwink the system? What role did Scarcella play? We confront the famed detective who finally makes admissions and then…in an unexpected twist, Derrick confronts Louie in a zoom call. They have some words for one another. The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14/05/24•58m 16s

The Burden | 9. Vindication

Episode 9 of 10 The new D.A. personally overturns Derrick’s conviction. But is he really guilty? The question hovers over the series: Have murderers been freed because of Scarcella’s alleged misdeeds? We investigate. We track the lone eyewitness in Derrick's murder trial to the woods of North Carolina and sort truth from fiction. We reveal a secret report on Derrick’s case, and find out who’s really to blame. The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

07/05/24•37m 31s

The Burden | 8. Judgment

Episode 8 of 10 Derrick and Shabaka are out of prison, but one “law partner” - the one who served as intern - is still behind bars. Derrick wins him a hearing in court. All seems aligned when reality warps. In an exclusive interview, we reveal why: the judge suffers from dementia and the system has been covering it up. The judge issues a devastating decision. The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30/04/24•46m 11s

The Burden | 7. Shabaka’s Last Shot

Episode 7 of 10 Shabaka Shakur is in court and Louie Scarcella is on the witness stand. It’s Shabaka’s last shot to prove he was framed. The courtroom drama doesn’t disappoint. A famed civil rights lawyer does the cross examination of a career, and “gets” Scarcella. A judge takes a hard look at the legendary detective, and changes history. The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23/04/24•39m 56s

The Burden | 6. Does a New D.A. Mean a New Day?

Episode 6 of 10 It’s 2013, and a fierce election for Brooklyn D.A. is in process. It’s an election that will change Brooklyn forever. The old guard is on the ropes and Louie Scarcella is a hot button issue. The lives of our main characters - Derrick, Shabaka, Louie, converge and no one will be the same. The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16/04/24•31m 20s

The Burden | 5. The Derrick Dilemma

Episode 5 of 10 Derrick Hamilton, champion of the wrongfully convicted, claimed innocence since the day he was arrested by Scarcella. He claimed innocence in a previous murder conviction as well. But we uncover documents that show he lied. He admits to being a liar. So… was he framed? Or is he the master manipulator the prosecution claimed? The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09/04/24•43m 37s

The Burden | 4. The Crazy World of Murder

Episode 4 of 10 We meet the single eyewitness at the heart of some of Scarcella’s high profile cases. Teresa Gomez claimed to witness 11 murders, and she brought them all to Scarcella. For Louie, she was a truth teller and a “special friend” who also boosted his career. For those she testified against, she was a crack addict and fabulist. We explore the complicated relationship of Louie and Teresa, and her reliability. The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

02/04/24•32m 31s

The Burden | 3. The Actual Innocence Team

Episode 3 of 10 We meet Shabaka Shakur, Derrick Hamilton, and the rest of the law firm they founded in prison. They are the best jailhouse lawyers of their generation. They have roles: lecturer, writer, PR man, intern… They claim they were framed...by Louie Scarcella. They declare common cause: bring him down. That cause will change the history of New York state jurisprudence. The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad-free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26/03/24•35m 38s

The Burden | 2. The Confessions of Louis Scarcella

Episode 2 of 10 Steve chases down the legendary detective. He hasn’t talked in years, but after tracking him to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, Louie starts to sing. We learn about his uncle, the mobster who Louie must investigate for murder. The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19/03/24•38m 1s

The Burden | 1. The Scoop

Episode 1 of 10 New York Times journalist Frances “Frenchie” Robles gets a tip about a group of wrongfully convicted men in the New York State prison system. The common denominator: many were arrested by the same detective. Frenchie tracks down the story in a surprise visit to prison. The Burden is available everywhere you get your podcasts.All episodes will be available one week early and ad free, along with exclusive bonus content on Orbit’s newly launched “True Crime Club House” subscription channel on Apple Podcasts. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19/03/24•37m 57s

Introducing: The Burden

The Burden - available everywhere on March 19 Detective Louis N. Scarcella was a legendary figure in New York City during the '90s. In a city overrun with violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. But the story changed when a group of convicted murderers-turned-jailhouse lawyers made a startling discovery that linked all their cases: Scarcella was the cop who helped put many of them away. They made a vow: Take down Scarcella. And with the help of a relentless New York Times reporter, they did just that. Thirty years later, 20 people who Scarcella helped put behind bars have since walked free. In the media, he’s known as the disgraced, rogue cop who hoodwinked an entire system. But was this really the workings of one person? We spent hundreds of hours talking with witnesses who were coerced, jailhouse lawyers, outraged attorneys, and righteous cops. Scarcella insists he didn’t do anything wrong. And after finally tracking him down, he agreed to take us into the belly of the beast... where justice is done (and undone). Welcome to The Burden. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/03/24•2m 35s