The Pirate of Prague

in episode 7, the narrator Nocera says “Like, isn’t capitalism built on greed? Isn’t that the impulse, the motor that powers the whole system? People wanna make money, right?”

No, capitalism is not simply built on greed. Sometimes people just want to create something that they also make a living at but you are a journalist Mr Nocerna (are you making $$ off this show?and maybe you don’t understand the power of words.

Well done show on an interesting guy. I had previously never heard of Victor.

loved it

I couldn’t listen past the second episode as the hosts’ frequent interjections and commentary threw me off. Need a better podcaster for crime stories.. Someone who can keep the audiences mind focussed on the story.

I listened to this after it came up as a recommended podcast—presumably because it’s produced by Apple. The story itself is genuinely dramatic and intriguing, but much of its impact is lost in the show’s overly stylised and overproduced delivery. It pads out episodes with self-indulgent repetition—most notably the repeated references to the expensive wine Victor drank, which, at best, was a minor detail in the overall story.

It feels very much tailored for a US audience, but I’d have preferred ... more

A very interesting story at its core, but every five seconds there’s a new buzzy side effect, or the very annoying narrator interrupts with stupid jokes. It’s like they don’t think we’ll be able to pay attention without them— like the jokes and side effects help. Sad waste of a great story/

Interesting story but dragged out for longer than was necessary.The dad jokes were cringey

I really enjoyed listening to this podcast. I found the hosts were interesting and sometimes funny. Story is easy to follow. Would recommend it.

Fascinating and intelligent. Another con man tale for the ages. Sequel please

Show was basic and the ending very unsatisfying. They never really answered question of what happened to money. And Joe kept interjecting the most asinine commentary that insulted the audience’s intelligence and his own dignity.

Firstly, probably some good journalism and an interesting subject but as others have noted, the primary narrator and his script completely ruin the story and earnest research that went into it. Why do Americans insist on sounding sarcastic and ignorant regarding the rest of the world, as though it’s a form of patriotism? It played like it was the first time the narrator has ever heard the name of another country or the historical facts about how the (not-America) world functions and then speaks ... more

Joe was a delight, a true pro. Peter as well. And the production was excellent. Great story.

I love everything about this show, the way it was told, the narrator’s voice, the music - intro, during the narration & the outro and ESPECIALLY the INSANE story itself. Well done. 🙌🏽

As others have mentioned, the narration on this is absolutely awful - making poor jokes and using the same phrases repeatedly ("there's good money in handbags" over and over). The actual story behind it is one I was interested in and I think would be served better without the constant interruptions from the hosts and also the music - everything was treated like some sort of comedy. I have no idea who's decision it was to frame it in this way but it really does spoil it. I will avoid any podcasts... more

It was like a good book. Couldn't put it down. Well done guys