Rephonic
Artwork for Paper Trail

Paper Trail

ProPublica
Propublica
Health Insurance
Revlimid
Celgene
Oklahoma Survivors Act
FDA
Connecticut
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Neil Goldenberg
Mental Health
Tow Truck Industry
External Review
Tacrolimus
DNL Towing
Thalidomide

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 monthlyEpisodes7Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CultureDocumentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Paper Trail

Latest Episodes

A source told reporter Renee Dudley something she found hard to believe: that Microsoft was running tech support for the Department of Defense through China, the country’s biggest cybersecurity adversary. The arrangement was called “digital escorting... more

In 2024, Oklahoma legislators passed an unusual law: It would create a pathway to freedom for people who could prove that domestic violence was a substantial contributing factor to their crime — even if that crime was first-degree murder. Members of ... more

Reporter David Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer and soon learned that one of his drugs would cost almost $1,000 per pill. He set out to discover why, and uncovered financial records and legal filings that shocked him. The drugmaker’s strategy to r... more

ProPublica got a tip from a reader named Teressa. Her husband was having a severe mental health crisis, and her health insurance company was denying coverage for his hospital and inpatient treatment. She was fighting back against the denials — and re... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Criminal
CriminalVox Media Podcast Network
Reveal
RevealThe Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life

Recent Guests

Neil Goldenberg
Psychiatrist and external reviewer
external reviewer (Dr. Neil Goldenberg, Ohio)
Episode: How to Fight a Health Insurance Denial With a Little-Known Tool
Dave Altimari
Investigative reporter at The Connecticut Mirror
The Connecticut Mirror
Episode: How to Lose a Car in 15 Days
Ginny Monk
Reporter covering housing and children's issues
The Connecticut Mirror
Episode: How to Lose a Car in 15 Days
Debbie Cenziper
Investigative reporter, ProPublica
ProPublica
Episode: What the FDA Won’t Tell You About Your Medications
Megan Rose
Investigative reporter, ProPublica
ProPublica
Episode: What the FDA Won’t Tell You About Your Medications

Host

Jessica Lussenhop
Host of Paper Trail

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 267 ratings
  • Fantastic podcast!

    10/10! It’s fascinating + very informative! My only concern is that the humor doesn’t quite land. And turn off automatic podcast chapters

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnonymouslySynonymous
    Australia15 days ago
  • This is what Investigative Journalism Looks Like

    I have been in love with Pro Publica for a long time. It’s more relevant and necessary now than ever.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bene Ray
    United States17 days ago
  • Vocal Fry of Host

    Unfortunately after two episodes I could no longer listen due to the vocal fry of the host, plus her tendency to use “like” as a verbal crutch. Could definitely benefit from some coaching

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    anonanon100
    United States20 days ago
  • So thorough, and such crazy stories! Really grateful for the work being done at propublica, and giving us an insider view into investigative journalism and its impact on people once their discoveries go public.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    chai
    a month ago
  • Paper Trail Is the Proof We Still Need Real Journalism

    Journalism is not a luxury. It is how we find out what people in power were hoping we would never notice.

    These first three episodes prove exactly why reporters matter. The investigative work is strong, the writing is excellent, and the audio quality is so sharp it pulled me in immediately. It gave me that same feeling Serial did when it first came out. You start listening and suddenly your whole day belongs to the story.

    Bravo, ProPublica. This is the kind of work we need more of, not less.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    newswoman007
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise rigorous, evidence-based storytelling and the impact of investigations on real-world policy and reform.
Some criticism centers on pacing or interpersonal delivery, with expectations for sharper humor and tighter narration.
Audience finds guest lineups credible and outcomes meaningful for public accountability.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Fight a Health Insurance Denial With a Little-Known Tool
Q: Why is the external review not more commonly used, according to the episode?
Because external reviews are rare, difficult to access, and often overlooked, despite being a potentially decisive mechanism when traditional appeals fail; many people do not know about them or think they are unavailable.
How to Fight a Health Insurance Denial With a Little-Known Tool
Q: What changed the course of the medical appeal in Teressa and Elle's case?
The discovery and execution of an external review, conducted by a third-party psychiatrist, which reviewed all the medical evidence and ultimately determined that the inpatient behavioral health treatment was medically necessary, leading to reimbursement and resolution of the denial.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Paper Trail

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

The series centers on deep-dive investigative reporting that traces the sources, documents, and human impact behind major public-interest stories. Episodes weave survivor and patient experiences with legal, regulatory, and policy contexts to reveal how power and systems affect real people—from healthcare pricing and insurance denials to vehicle industry practices and courtroom outcomes. A standout throughline is the meticulous gathering of receipts, from court filings to internal records, to illuminate how institutions operate, who they service, and where accountability can drive reform. This approach, paired with clear storytelling and rigorous sourcing, often leads to policy conversations, reforms, or heightened public awareness, making i... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Paper Trail?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Paper Trail. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Paper Trail and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Paper Trail get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Paper Trail, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Paper Trail?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Paper Trail, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Paper Trail have?

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 2 months ago and published 7 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Paper Trail?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Paper Trail?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Paper Trail from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Paper Trail?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Paper Trail. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Paper Trail?

Recent guests on Paper Trail include:

1. Neil Goldenberg
2. Dave Altimari
3. Ginny Monk
4. Debbie Cenziper
5. Megan Rose

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days