In 2014 vertelden twee kinderen de politie een schokkend verhaal: dat ze werden misbruikt door een satanische sekte; een sekte geleid door hun vader en door ouders en leraren op hun school in de rijke Londense buitenwijk Hampstead. Het verhaal was een leugen. Maar op internet maakte dat niets uit. Hoaxed is een onderzoek naar een van de ernstigste complottheorieën ooit in Groot-Brittannië. Een verhaal over een hedendaagse satanische paniek; over de slachtoffers wier levens verwoest werden en over de samenzweerders die de leugen over de hele wereld verspreidden. Oh, en het gaat over onze jacht op de daders – de mensen die de kinderen dwongen te liegen – degenen die het allemaal begonnen zijn.
Introducing… Hoaxed, the new series from Alexi Mostrous and Tortoise, who brought you Sweet Bobby.
In 2014, two children told police a shocking story: that they were being abused by a Satanic cult; a cult headed by their father and by parents and teachers at their school in the wealthy London suburb of Hampstead. The story was a lie. But on the internet, that didn’t matter.
Hoaxed is an investigation into one of Britain’s most serious-ever conspiracy theories. A story about a modern-day Satanic panic; about the victims whose lives were destroyed and about the conspiracists who spread the lie around the world. Oh, and it’s about our hunt for the perpetrators – the people who forced the kids to lie – the ones who started it all.
All 6 episodes are available now to listen for free. You can listen to the full series ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content by downloading the Tortoise audio app or subscribing to Tortoise+ on Apple podcasts. Or join Tortoise as a member, where you can access more of our reporting, live events and support our work. Just visit the Tortoise website and use the code Alexi50 for half price membership.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Introducing…Elon’s Spies
Elon Musk is one of the most powerful men in the world. He’s a billionaire, the founder of SpaceX, Tesla and more. To his followers, he’s a hero; to his critics, a far-right rabble rouser.
But for someone so public, there’s one part of his life that’s less well known.
Elon’s Spies investigates how this free-speech champion uses private investigators and surveillance to target everyone from whistleblowers at his companies, to online critics and people in his own life.
This is episode one of three. You can binge the entire series today by subscribing to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or by downloading the Tortoise app. To listen, search for Elon’s Spies wherever you get your podcasts.
To find out more about Tortoise:
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
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If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
Reporter: Alexi Mostrous
Producer: Gary Marshall
Sound design and original composition: Tom Kinsella
Podcast artwork: Jon Hill
Executive producer: Ceri Thomas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
