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Artwork for The Outlaw Ocean

The Outlaw Ocean

CBC
Libya
Human Rights Abuses
Forced Labor
Mediterranean Sea
European Union
Seafood Industry
North Korean Labor
Labor Abuse
Chinese Seafood Industry
Uyghur Labor
Migrant Workers
Libyan Prisons
China's Offshore Fishing Fleet
Environmental Degradation
Migration
Aliou Candé
Al Mabani
Choice Canning
Chinese Fishing Fleet
Seafood Supply Chain

Where the law of the land ends, the story begins. Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Ian Urbina returns with a new season of his riveting podcast anthology, The Outlaw Ocean, which explores the most lawless place on earth — the vast unpoliceable ocean. New episodes starting June 4, 2025.

In season two, Urbina sheds light on the secretive Libyan prisons swallowing up sea-faring migrants; flagrant... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes19Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

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Artwork for The Outlaw Ocean

Latest Episodes

Someone Knows Something is the investigative true crime series by award-winning documentarian David Ridgen. 

In Season 10 of Someone Knows Something, host David Ridgen investigates the sudden 2021 disappearance of Jaclyn Ferland-Smith, a Canadian ex... more

On the night of September 11, 2012, a deadly attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, left four Americans dead, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. What followed this tragedy was a political storm that raised questions about America’s... more

They say you should never meet your heroes. Daemon Fairless disagrees. He takes us behind-the-scenes on The Outlaw Ocean, S2, from his intimate vantage point as its story editor. Fairless begins by asking host Ian Urbina why he takes the kinds of ris... more

Spread across the Earth’s oceans, the Chinese distant-water fishing fleet is the single largest armada in human history. This three-part series is an unprecedented investigation into their secretive fishing practices. The fleet is so gargantuan that ... more

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Recent Guests

Sebastien Ferland
Husband of Jackie Ferland-Smith, discussed in interview
Companion in Costa Rica, spouse of Jackie
Episode: The Outlaw Ocean Introduces: The Jaclyn Ferland-Smith Case
Daniel Aritonang
Indonesian deckhand who died due to severe mistreatment and malnutrition aboard a Chinese fishing vessel.
Episode: S2 E6: The undisputed superpower of the seas (China Pt. 1)
Jessica Reyes
Interpreter based in Montevideo, Uruguay, who assists Indonesian fishermen in medical crises.
Episode: S2 E6: The undisputed superpower of the seas (China Pt. 1)
Max Hardberger
A maritime repo man known for his daring ship recoveries
Episode: S2 E4: The repo man of the seas
Michael Bono
Managing Director of Vessel Extractions LLC, a company that specializes in ship repossessions
Vessel Extractions LLC
Episode: S2 E4: The repo man of the seas
Aliou Candé
28-year-old migrant from Guinea-Bissau who attempted to cross the Mediterranean to Italy
Episode: S2 E2: A place “worse than hell” (Libya Pt.2)
Mohammed David
Fellow migrant who traveled with Aliou Candé
Episode: S2 E2: A place “worse than hell” (Libya Pt.2)

Host

Ian Urbina
Investigative journalist and host of The Outlaw Ocean, known for immersive, on-the-ground reporting on maritime law, human rights, and global supply chains.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.5k ratings
  • Hi

    Bro is a cool guy

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Peter_Arbeitsloser
    Germany2 months ago
  • A truly amazing podcast

    I can’t say enough about how truly insightful and powerful this podcast is. The stories and issues are truly heartbreaking. Very, very well done

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LizabellsLA
    United States2 months ago
  • You Are Real Journalism

    In a world of noise it is always amazing to hear true journalism at its finest. Your team’s investigative skills and abilities is completely off the hook.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pdsilcox
    Canada2 months ago
  • Wish Urbina’s delivery was more natural

    This is a great podcast, and such important work. I do wish Urbina’s delivery sounded a little more natural. The many “reflective” pauses between so many words… it’s like… every other… word, is followed by a pause, and… that’s very hard to, listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    KEnriquez1
    Canada4 months ago
  • Great show but awkward narration

    I loved the first season and was very excited for season 2 but for some reason on season 2 Ian’s narration is incredibly awkward with tons of pauses and this strange stop start speech pattern that didn’t exist at all on season 1. I think this is because he’s reading a script and is not a natural at it. As soon as he’s off script it flows fine but when he’s reading it’s hard to listen and really difficult to concentrate. A real shame as the reporting is exceptional.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TC main
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive sentiment highlights the show's impact on consumer awareness and call for accountability.
Some criticisms center on narration pace and pauses, though audiences still rate reporting quality highly.
Listeners praise investigative depth, ethical storytelling, and the on-scene journalism that brings complex maritime issues to life.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#143
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#104
Italy/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#51
Finland/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#79
United Arab Emirates/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#120
South Korea/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#160
Norway/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S2 Bonus: Let’s go below the surface with host Ian Urbina
Q: What is the broader implication of the reporting Urbina has done?
Urbina discusses the worrying trend of the EU increasing funding to Libya to control migration and draws parallels with the situation in the U.S.
S2 Bonus: Let’s go below the surface with host Ian Urbina
Q: What was the investigation in Libya focused on?
Urbina's team was investigating the migrant crisis, particularly how the EU uses Libya to prevent migrants from reaching Europe and the horrific conditions in Libyan detention centers.
S2 Bonus: Let’s go below the surface with host Ian Urbina
Q: Why do you take these risks to get these stories?
Urbina feels an obligation to report on the dark issues he encounters, driven by a sense of guilt for not doing enough to help.
S2 E4: The repo man of the seas
Q: What are some of the unique aspects of piracy that you explore?
Max describes modern piracy as encompassing not just violent acts at sea, but also bureaucratic and legal maneuvers that can trap ships and their owners.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Outlaw Ocean

What is The Outlaw Ocean about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A hard-hitting investigative series that ventures to the most unpoliced edges of the world's oceans. Each season centers on powerful, often hidden stories: exploitative labor practices aboard fishing fleets, migrant detention and human rights abuses, and high-stakes maritime crime and salvage. With immersive reporting, the host builds a on-the-ground, risk-aware narrative that puts witnesses, whistleblowers, and affected communities at the center, often illustrating how supply chains, regulation, and geopolitics intersect with everyday consumption of seafood and global commerce. The show stands out for its willingness to place the listener on scene—frequently at the edge of safety—to reveal systemic abuse and the gray areas where law and mo... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Outlaw Ocean?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Outlaw Ocean:

1. The Cult Queen of Canada from Uncover
2. Hunting Warhead
3. Sea of Lies
4. Crime Story
5. Deep Cover

How many episodes of The Outlaw Ocean are there?

The Outlaw Ocean launched 4 years ago and published 19 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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What guests have appeared on The Outlaw Ocean?

Recent guests on The Outlaw Ocean include:

1. Sebastien Ferland
2. Daniel Aritonang
3. Jessica Reyes
4. Max Hardberger
5. Michael Bono
6. Aliou Candé
7. Mohammed David

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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