Rephonic
Artwork for The Chinatown Sting

The Chinatown Sting

Pushkin Industries
Chinatown
Heroin Smuggling
Johnny Eng
Mahjong
Flying Dragons
Federal Prosecution
Beryl Howell
1980s Drug Busts
Heroin
Gangs
Character Dynamics
Revisionist History
New York City
Friendship
Legal Proceedings
Addiction
The Alabama Murders
Northeastern Blackout
Tina Wong
Drug Bust

In the late 1980s, a group of women connected through the mahjong parlors in Manhattan’s Chinatown were caught in a massive undercover drug bust. This bust was just the beginning of an even bigger case. Host Lidia Jean Kott and co-reporter Shuyu Wang interview sources who’ve never spoken on record before, including witnesses, defendants, and federal prosecutors, to reconstruct a case that still ha... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes11Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeDocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Chinatown Sting

Latest Episodes

Here's a preview from a show we think you'll enjoy, Agent Layla.

When she was 20 years old, something terrible happened to Vienna Luke. And for more than a decade, the truth of that night remains buried. But when Vienna becomes a mother, she realiz... more

Lidia Jean's been working on a new project — Examined: The Backfire Effect. It asks what happens when a system decides it already has an answer, when admitting a mistake feels harder than living with one, and when closing a case starts to matter more... more

In February 2024, celebrated children’s book author and illustrator Petra Mathers and her husband, photographer Michael Mathers, mailed letters to dozens of friends and family members to let them know they had died by suicide. Petra and Michael were ... more

Deep Cover's new season, The Family Man, tells a story about how families can deceive each other and the lengths we’ll go to to protect our loved ones Elise and Marissa grew up in a seemingly normal house in the suburbs of St. Louis, but it was a hou... 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.

Deep Cover
Deep CoverPushkin Industries
Valley of Shadows
Valley of ShadowsPushkin Industries

Recent Guests

Vienna Luke
Subject recounting the events and its aftermath
Private individual (story subject)
Episode: Introducing: Agent Layla from CBC’s Personally
Shawnessy Luke
Vienna's sister who uncovers details and pushes for truth
Family member
Episode: Introducing: Agent Layla from CBC’s Personally
Herb Wellzer
Retired Port Huron Police Detective
Port Huron Police Department
Episode: The Good Cop | From Examined: The Backfire Effect
Petra Mathers
Artist and author (subject of the episode)
–
Episode: Petra Mathers and Her Michael | From Death of an Artist
Michael Coy
Friend of Petra and one of the Michaels referenced in the book
–
Episode: Petra Mathers and Her Michael | From Death of an Artist
Michael Braske
Friend and observer linked to Petra and Michael
–
Episode: Petra Mathers and Her Michael | From Death of an Artist
Marcia Etro
Employee at Pyrrhmat Drug, a source of background details
Pyrrhmat Drug
Episode: Petra Mathers and Her Michael | From Death of an Artist
Corey Gehrig
Police officer involved in the investigation
Astoria Police Department
Episode: Petra Mathers and Her Michael | From Death of an Artist
Eric Halvorson
Deputy Chief of Police, involved in case briefing
Astoria Police Department
Episode: Petra Mathers and Her Michael | From Death of an Artist

Host

Lidia Jean Kott
Investigative journalist and host with a focus on Chinatown stories and true-crime docuseries.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 220 ratings
  • Good story, but…

    Good story, but Lidia Jean Kott sounds like she’s five years old.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    sinoscuba
    United States3 months ago
  • Great and can’t wait for more Chinatown

    Great podcast. Will there be more Chinatown crimes?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Demetrius Siracusa
    United States5 months ago
  • Thoughtful, Insightful, and Fun Listen

    I really appreciated the thoughtful and thorough reporting here from both Kott and Wang. I loved hearing the testimonials from those involved. They showed their individuality and humanity, which is often not afforded to us Asian Americans as we are viewed through the lens of the “perpetual foreigner.” I also appreciate Kott’s thoughtful approach culturally, particularly with her anecdote about her own relationship with immigration and what it means to be an “American.” That sensitivity, combined... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    michandesu
    United States7 months ago
  • Nasal

    Narrator‘s voice I lasted about 25 minutes really too bad. Sounds like it’s a good podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    c-crash
    United States8 months ago
  • Excellent

    Loved this podcast. The historical culture and individual lives affected by immigration and racism.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    6887elmt
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Narration style and voice receive mixed feedback, but reporting quality and interviewing are frequently highlighted as strengths.
Voices are praised for depth and humanity, with strong reporting on both sides of controversial topics.
Episodes are valued for balanced, culturally aware storytelling that surfaces immigrant perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#228
Ireland/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Introducing: Agent Layla from CBC’s Personally
Q: Why did she decide to tell her sister and parents, and what was the response?
Vienna's sister Shawnessy pushes for transparency, leading them to inform their parents, who ultimately struggle to process the information, with initial reactions hoping to protect the family while acknowledging the harm.
Petra Mathers and Her Michael | From Death of an Artist
Q: How did Petra and Michael meet and how did their relationship evolve over time?
They met in Portland after Petra moved there, and their connection grew rapidly into a deep and enduring partnership that influenced Petra's art and career; their bond was described as transformative and all-encompassing by close friends.
Life as a Flying Dragon
Q: Looking back, do you regret bringing drugs into the country and being in a gang?
CB suggests that there was a systemic way of doing business in Chinatown and emphasizes that it was a mutual understanding rather than pure extortion.
Life as a Flying Dragon
Q: How did the leadership style change under Onionhead compared to Michael Chen?
CB mentions that while Michael had strict rules, Onionhead was more casual and focused on making money rather than maintaining control.
Life as a Flying Dragon
Q: Why did you join the gang in the first place?
CB explains that he joined due to early bullying and the desire to belong, as well as the gang's moral foundation to protect the Chinese community.

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 The Chinatown Sting

What is The Chinatown Sting about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A compelling true-crime documentary series uses eyewitness testimony, court records, and firsthand accounts to recount a large-scale undercover heroin bust tied to Manhattan's Chinatown mahjong communities. Through deep reportage and intimate interviews with witnesses, defendants, prosecutors, and advocates, it builds a multi-layered portrait of crime, community, and culture, highlighting immigrant experience, systemic pressures, and the human impact of legal action. The show stands out for its focus on voices often unheard in crime reporting, weaving historical context with ongoing debates about policing, race, and justice.

Listeners can expect meticulously sourced storytelling, a patient, character-driven approach to complex cases, and r... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Chinatown Sting?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Chinatown Sting. 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 The Chinatown Sting and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Chinatown Sting get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Chinatown Sting, 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 The Chinatown Sting?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Chinatown Sting, 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 The Chinatown Sting have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Chinatown Sting 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 The Chinatown Sting?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Chinatown Sting:

1. Examined: The Backfire Effect
2. Deep Cover
3. Bad Women Presents Stolen Sister
4. Valley of Shadows
5. Against the Rules with Michael Lewis

How many episodes of The Chinatown Sting are there?

The Chinatown Sting launched a year ago and published 11 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 The Chinatown Sting?

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 The Chinatown Sting?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Chinatown Sting 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 The Chinatown Sting?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Chinatown Sting. 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 The Chinatown Sting?

Recent guests on The Chinatown Sting include:

1. Vienna Luke
2. Shawnessy Luke
3. Herb Wellzer
4. Petra Mathers
5. Michael Coy
6. Michael Braske
7. Marcia Etro
8. Corey Gehrig

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