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Radiolab

Radiolab Presents: Ponzi Supernova

Radiolab

WNYC Studios

History, Science, Documentary, Natural Sciences, Society & Culture

4.644.5K Ratings

🗓️ 10 February 2017

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We thought we knew the story of Bernie Madoff.  How he masterminded the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, leaving behind scores of distraught investors and a $65 billion black hole.  But we had never heard the story from Madoff himself. This week, reporter Steve Fishman and former Radiolabber Ellen Horne visit our studio to play us snippets from their extraordinary Audible series Ponzi Supernova, which features exclusive footage of the man who bamboozled the world.  After years of investigative reporting – including interviews with dozens of FBI and SEC agents, investors, traders, and attorneys – the pair scrutinize Madoff’s account to understand exactly why he did it, how he managed to pull it off, and how culpable he actually was. Was he a puppetmaster or a puppet? And if the latter, who else is to blame for the biggest financial fraud in history? You can hear the entire series on iTunes or for free on Audible Support Radiolab by becoming a member today at Radiolab.org/donate.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Wait, you're listening.

0:03.1

Okay.

0:04.4

All right.

0:05.6

Okay.

0:07.0

All right.

0:08.5

You're listening to Radio Lab.

0:11.4

Radio Lab.

0:11.9

From W. N. Y.

0:13.9

C.

0:14.8

See?

0:15.1

Yeah.

0:19.2

So maybe you just want to start at the beginning.

0:21.1

So how did you bump into this?

0:22.6

You've been following financial stories?

0:24.7

I did some financial stories, but I think my beat was more people in the headlines at the worst moments of their lives.

0:33.6

And then I would go in and become their friends.

0:36.1

And we would talk intimately about what downfall means when you've been at the mountain.

0:44.2

Top.

0:47.0

Hey, I'm Chad Abram Rod.

0:48.6

I'm Robert Krollwich.

0:49.7

This is Radio Lab.

0:50.6

And today,

...

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