Episodes

  • Introducing... The Gas Man
    Jul 2 2024

    Introducing...The Gas Man


    It starts with a tip-off.


    It’s the late 1980s and US Special Agent Dennis Bass is warned about a shipment of suspicious chemicals headed to a secret destination. So he follows the lead – and ends up stumbling into a global plot helping fuel a war. The main suspect? The Gas Man.


    In the decades since, Special Agent Bass has been locked in an international game of cat and mouse with the man who supplied a dangerous regime with the chemicals to make weapons. Every time Bass thinks he’s got his hands on him… The Gas Man somehow manages to slip the net. And he’s still on the run today.


    But after more than 30 years, could his past finally be catching up with The Gas Man?



    To find out more about Tortoise:


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    Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou

    Producer: Claudia Williams

    Editor: Jasper Corbett

    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall

    Sound design: Hannah Varrall

    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella

    Original artwork: Jon Hill


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    3 mins
  • The special agent | Ep 1
    Jul 2 2024

    In the 1980s Special Agent Dennis Bass received a tip-off that changed the course of his career. 30 years on reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou sets out to solve the mystery of how an international fugitive got away with his crimes – and why he's still on the run.


    To find out more about Tortoise:


    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content


    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more


    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: Chloe Hadjimatheou

    Producer: Claudia Williams

    Editor: Jasper Corbett

    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall

    Sound design: Hannah Varrall

    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella

    Original artwork: Jon Hill


    FX credit: Telex by YleArkisto at freesound - License: Attribution 4.0


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    33 mins
  • The sting | Ep 2
    Jul 2 2024

    Special Agent Bass has his target in his sights but he’s on another continent. If he wants him to talk he’ll need a clever plan – and maybe a bit of luck


    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: Chloe Hadjimatheou

    Producer: Claudia Williams

    Editor: Jasper Corbett

    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall

    Sound design: Hannah Varrall

    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella

    Original artwork: Jon Hill


    FX credit: Boeing 737-800 Fly Over 3.wav by soundslikewillem at freesound


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    33 mins
  • The escape | Ep 3
    Jul 2 2024

    The team persuades The Gas Man to step out from the shadows. He reveals the first big clue in the investigation to how he got away with it – and makes a surprising claim about his role in the case


    To find out more about Tortoise:


    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content


    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more


    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: Chloe Hadjimatheou

    Producer: Claudia Williams

    Editor: Jasper Corbett

    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall

    Sound design: Hannah Varrall

    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella

    Original artwork: Jon Hill


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    42 mins
  • The other Gas Man | Ep 4
    Jul 2 2024

    Chloe makes a startling discovery about another chemical trafficker that has consequences for her investigation. A Kurdish survivor of mustard gas shares her story.


    To find out more about Tortoise:


    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content


    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more


    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: Chloe Hadjimatheou

    Producer: Claudia Williams

    Editor: Jasper Corbett

    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall

    Sound design: Hannah Varrall

    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella

    Original artwork: Jon Hill


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    46 mins
  • Truth serum | Ep 5
    Jul 2 2024

    In this episode, Chloe looks into what happened to The Gas Man when he arrived back in Germany as a fugitive – and investigates whether his trade with Iran ever really ended


    To find out more about Tortoise:


    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists


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    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more


    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: Chloe Hadjimatheou

    Producer: Claudia Williams

    Editor: Jasper Corbett

    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall

    Additional reporting: Marten Hahn

    Sound design: Hannah Varrall

    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella

    Original artwork: Jon Hill


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    39 mins
  • Devil's breath | Ep 6
    Jul 2 2024

    In the final episode of the series, is the 40-year game of cat-and-mouse nearly over?


    To find out more about Tortoise:


    Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content


    Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more


    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: Chloe Hadjimatheou

    Producer: Claudia Williams

    Editor: Jasper Corbett

    Narrative editor: Gary Marshall

    Additional production: Imy Harper

    Sound design: Hannah Varrall

    Original theme music: Tom Kinsella

    Original artwork: Jon Hill


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    37 mins