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Paper Trail

ProPublica
Propublica
PFAS (forever Chemicals)
Health Insurance
Microsoft
USAID
Dominican Republic
Revlimid
Old Apostolic Lutheran Church (OALC)
Celgene
Oklahoma Survivors Act
FDA
Connecticut
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Neil Goldenberg
Pentagon
Digital Escorts
South Sudan
Kenya
Tren De Aragua
Pfos

Investigative reporters at ProPublica chase down evidence of wrongdoing and bring it to light. That evidence can be on paper — or on thumb drives, in secret recordings, from conversations with whistleblowers. Each episode, you’ll ride along as we talk to reporters and their sources, uncover hidden facts and show you the receipts. When we publish what we find, things can change. Laws are passed, co... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes14Founded5 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Paper Trail

Latest Episodes

Reporter Andy Kroll got his hands on secret tapes of a low-profile bureaucrat named Russell Vought. Turns out, as director of the Office of Management and Budget, he’s been quietly reshaping the federal government and commanding many of the second Tr... more

While investigating the personal wealth of the president’s oldest son, investigative reporters Justin Elliott and Brett Murphy learned something almost too strange to be true: that a Russian oligarch closely allied with Vladimir Putin might have atte... more

Major League Baseball has built a pipeline in the Dominican Republic to scoop up young players with the potential of superstars like Red Sox hero David “Big Papi” Ortiz. But reporter Gus Garcia-Roberts uncovered how MLB has allowed a shadow industry ... more

We now know harmful “forever chemicals” are likely in the bodies of most people on Earth. Decades ago, 3M knew that these chemicals had seeped into the public’s blood, but they kept that a secret. One 3M scientist helped reporter Sharon Lerner unders... more

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

David Ortiz
Former baseball star and interviewed guest on the topic of the international draft and Dominican baseball industry
Former MLB player, Ortiz & Co. (as discussed)
Episode: The Predatory Industry Behind MLB’s Dominican Superstar Pipeline
Sharon Lerner
Investigative journalist at ProPublica who uncovered PFAS secrecy
ProPublica
Episode: How the Planet-Altering Disaster of “Forever Chemicals” Was Kept Secret
Chris Hansen
Former 3M scientist who discussed internal data on PFOS
3M (former)
Episode: How the Planet-Altering Disaster of “Forever Chemicals” Was Kept Secret
Melissa Sanchez
Immigration reporter in Chicago
ProPublica
Episode: The True Story of Why Immigration Agents Raided a Chicago Apartment Building
Sebastian Rotella
Reporter following Tren de Aragua, law enforcement and organized crime veteran
ProPublica
Episode: The True Story of Why Immigration Agents Raided a Chicago Apartment Building
Jody Cohen
Colleague and reporter on the ground
ProPublica
Episode: The True Story of Why Immigration Agents Raided a Chicago Apartment Building
Mariam Elba
Research/immigration reporter
ProPublica
Episode: The True Story of Why Immigration Agents Raided a Chicago Apartment Building
T. Christian Miller
ProPublica reporter contributing to the investigation
ProPublica
Episode: The True Story of Why Immigration Agents Raided a Chicago Apartment Building
Kyla Chamberlain
Alleged abuse survivor who left the OALC and spoke with reporters
OALC survivor
Episode: How “Forgive and Forget” Buried a Church’s Dark Secret

Host

Jessica Lussenhop
Host of Paper Trail

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 528 ratings
  • Important Journalism

    I am so glad I found this. I love the “leather shoe” reporting! This restores my hope in democracy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tiff al
    United Statesa month ago
  • Outstanding

    Important topics, great journalism.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PodcastListener-2020
    United Statesa month ago
  • The reporting is high quality, informative and easily digestible. Which makes it harder to say that unfortunately the background music is absolutely unnerving. Sets your teeth on edge. Many of the stories already deal with unpleasant and difficult topics, and it's understandable that you don't wrap reporting of medical coverups that have led to death in Beethoven, but it's rough to listen to that same topic with symbols clashing irrhythmically, and not end the episode feeling a bit paranoid.

    Podchaser
    5
    digitaldivelabs
    a month ago
  • Excellent Reporting

    Fills in the blanks often missing from today’s “news”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Callap
    United Statesa month ago
  • Amazing work

    The one time the process is as fascinating as the product. The reporting on generic meds helped me fix my Rx side effects problem! Check yours in their database!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    l finchy
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audiences value the show's methods and findings, noting high-quality sourcing and production.
Fans appreciate the clarity and depth of investigative reporting and its impact on public discourse.
Listeners praise rigorous, behind-the-scenes journalism and the receipts-driven storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Don Jr.’s Secret Wedding Guest
Q: How did you figure out that he's not just a guest, he's paying for this?
By reviewing records, talking to three people familiar with him, and corroborating with independent sources that showed substantial wedding funding channeled through an organization tied to the boxing world and to the Kremlin-adjacent network.
How the Planet-Altering Disaster of “Forever Chemicals” Was Kept Secret
Q: Why did Jim Johnson want this information to come out, even if it meant harming the company's image?
He framed himself as a loyal soldier who believed the disclosure was inevitable and wanted to push the truth into the light, even if it caused short-term disruption for the company.
How the Planet-Altering Disaster of “Forever Chemicals” Was Kept Secret
Q: What was the hardest part of pursuing this story inside a company wary of bad publicity?
The hardest part was facing doubt and pushback from colleagues, the sense of isolation, and the fear that admitting the truth could jeopardize careers, which made the pursuit feel almost like a moral test.
How “Forgive and Forget” Buried a Church’s Dark Secret
Q: How did you verify the breadth of abuse across the church?
We reviewed hundreds of police records, investigated in multiple states, and spoke with survivors and former members to identify a pattern of forgiveness sessions being used to internalize and cover up abuse.
How “Forgive and Forget” Buried a Church’s Dark Secret
Q: What first drew you to cover this church and these cases?
The prosecutor reached out with concerns about a case and the possibility that more abuse was happening beyond the initial convictions, prompting a broader investigation with multiple victims and locations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Paper Trail

What is Paper Trail about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Investigative reporting in this series centers on deep-dive examinations of power, money, and policy, with reporting that often blends on-the-ground storytelling with documentary-style evidence and source corroboration. Episodes frequently feature front-line journalists alongside subject-matter experts and insiders, unpacking complex issues from corruption and public health to government policy and corporate silence. A standout strength is the transparent exploration of sourcing and decision-making, sometimes accompanied by tools or datasets that help readers verify claims independently. This mix of rigorous reporting, narrative clarity, and accountability-focused storytelling makes it a strong fit for listeners who crave substantive, evide... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Paper Trail has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Paper Trail?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Paper Trail:

1. ProPublica Narrated
2. Criminal
3. Reveal
4. Search Engine
5. This American Life

How many episodes of Paper Trail are there?

Paper Trail launched 5 months ago and published 14 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Paper Trail?

Recent guests on Paper Trail include:

1. David Ortiz
2. Sharon Lerner
3. Chris Hansen
4. Melissa Sanchez
5. Sebastian Rotella
6. Jody Cohen
7. Mariam Elba
8. T. Christian Miller

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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