Hey, I'm Kelli McEvers, and this is Embedded from NPR.

As you probably know, for the past week, we have been sharing episodes from the 13th

step.

It's a new investigative podcast produced by our friends at NPR Member Station in HPR.

That's New Hampshire Public Radio.

If you haven't listened to the first two episodes, make sure to go back to the top of our

feed and check out the first episode.

That's the 13th step, the shadow, and the second episode, the 13th step, the God of Recovery.

What you're about to hear is episode three, and it's about the backlash to me too, to

the kind of reporting that's in this series.

In March 2022, reporter Lauren Chulgent published the first story detailing allegations against

Eric Spofferde, the founder of New Hampshire's largest addiction treatment network.

And then over the next few months, Lauren's sources and Lauren learned what happens when

powerful, wealthy people want to intimidate sources and stop these stories from coming out.

They're with threatening letters, lawyers, and worse.

To hear the rest of this eight part series, make sure to find the 13th step that's 13th

with the number 13 in your favorite podcast app or by clicking the link in today's show

notes.

All episodes, including a brand new update in the case against those accused of committing

vandalism at the homes of Lauren, her colleague, and her family, are available now.

Okay, here's episode three of the 13th step.

Hi, Lauren.

...