Unravel

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On a scratchy recording made in a Melbourne hotel room above a casino, a man admits to committing murder. But as journalist Alicia Bridges investigates the man on the tape known as Mr Big, she finds herself in a world of lies and subterfuge, where very few things are as they seem. The recording leads her deep inside an international controversy, to a world of secrets that powerful institutions don't want revealed.Mr Big is the latest season of Unravel, the ABC's award-winning true crime podcast.Previous seasons of Unravel have covered everything from love scams to neo-nazi gangs.'Snowball' (Season 4) won Best True Crime at the Australian Podcast Awards in 2020, was one of Apple Podcasts' Best Listens of 2019, made the American Bello Collective's top 100 list that year.'Blood on the Tracks' (Season 1) won a Walkley award for Coverage of Indigenous Affairs.In Season 5, Firebomb, Crispian Chan investigates what really happened after his family's restaurant went up in flames in 1988. He was just a kid when Chinese restaurants were being firebombed in the dead of night and a campaign of terror was underway in Perth. Thirty-five years on, most of us have never heard about it, even though it's one of the few sustained and coordinated terrorism campaigns in Australia's history. Crispian teamed up with ABC reporter Alex Mann, and together they traversed the country to find answers and explore the darker forces that still lurk in our suburbs today.In Season 4, Snowball, Ollie Wards investigates how his brother's whirlwind romance with a charismatic Californian woman ultimately cost his family more than a million dollars. When Greg Wards met Lezlie Manukian, a beautiful woman whose world is full of glamour, he is immediately drawn to her. They fall in love, get married and start planning the rest of their lives together — the only catch is Lezlie is a con artist. To find out who his brother's wife really is, Ollie must track down Lezlie herself, and it soon becomes clear that his family's story is just one piece of a bigger jigsaw.In Season 3, Last Seen Katoomba, reporter Gina McKeon digs deep into the suspicious unsolved disappearance of young mum, Belinda Peisley, who was last seen in the Blue Mountains town of Katoomba, west of Sydney, in September 1998. Belinda's life descends into chaos after her 18th birthday when she receives a large inheritance and buys her own place in town. It's a move her family thinks will set her up for life but, instead, the house becomes a magnet for a world of drugs and a crowd of hangers-on who visit day and night. Gina pieces together the stories and evidence around the six main persons of interest named in the inquest into Belinda's disappearance and suspected death, and what emerges is a picture of a town and a case shrouded in secrecy.In Season 2, Barrenjoey Road, reporter Ruby Jones tries to solve the mystery of what happened to 18-year-old Trudie Adams after she disappears while hitchhiking home on Sydney's northern beaches in 1978. Ruby exposes the dark underbelly of the seemingly beautiful and serene "Insular Peninsula," uncovering a world where surfers run drugs home from Bali, gangs of men prowl the beaches and predators have unchecked power. Ruby will question why the case was never solved and her investigation will lead her to a criminal monster with links to organised crime and police corruption at the highest level.In Season 1, Blood On The Tracks, award-winning Muruwari and Gomeroi journalist Allan Clarke spends five years investigating the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of 17-year-old Gomeroi teenager, Mark Haines. In 1988, just outside of Tamworth in country New South Wales, a freight train hits Mark's body lying across the tracks. When the rail worker stops the train and gets out, the scene doesn't add up. The tracks divide Tamworth in two. An Aboriginal community on one side, a largely white population on the other. Some will say it was a suicide and others a murder. Despite the strange evidence found at the scene of his death, the family feel like they're being ignored by police. An inquiry finds no answers and the mystery is left to fester, causing division and suspicion in the town. Allan's reporting helps to spark a resurgence of interest in the case that sees the file reopened, a review launched, a reward announced. As Allan gets closer to the truth, the story ends with a revelation no-one was expecting, and the thirty-year-old mystery finally begins to unravel.

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Recent Reviews
  • CMLinDC
    Season 6 well done
    Great storytelling. Good production.
  • ProfKoala9
    Excellent
    This sucked me right in. Production quality was excellent and the inclusion of the entire Wards family gave it a real sense of poignancy. The actor recreation of Lezlie’s American accent was a little over the top and made me LOL- but probably certain kinds of Kardashian-American accents sound like abroad. Highly recommend this podcast.
  • meinconcord
    Good stuff
    As an American wonder why Aussies can do such a good job on their podcasts. Will be back for more.
  • JISF
    Good story, bad accents
    I liked the story and felt for the victims but the actors’ exaggerated American accents for Lezley and Eric were a problem for me.
  • Sonofashoe
    Well Crafted Family Vendetta
    The narrator’s family entered into a bad business deal, and has used ABC as a weapon against the woman they blame, as well as her parents. The patriarch of the aggrieved family admits to hacking into the alleged perp’s email account. Rather than saving screenshots (which could imply some level of authenticity), he chose to copy/paste text from this account as well as other email accounts that he claimed to have hacked. The narrator accepts his father’s account without question. It is most likely that the father, clearly obsessed with his misfortune, fabricated his copy / pasted email evidence. While I don’t question that the family felt victimized, this is an extreme example of someone with an agenda spinning a self-serving, one-sided story. There is no evidence that the woman they blame ever made any money from her “scam”. In fact the podcast offers nothing resembling evidence for any of their accusations.
  • leapingheart
    Psychological insight
    Ollie had extraordinary psychological insight into Leslie. This was an engine that powered the podcast. But it also had a family element that is unusual. The final words from Greg are moving. I learned something about myself from this podcast.
  • Cdubbsftw
    Great Reporting!
    Really important story that people need to hear and the reporting and production are very well done!
  • Doggywogerson
    Season 4!
    A friend turned me onto Season 4 of Unravel and rightfully so! I’m completely engrossed and cannot stop listening. I hope the family is healing after that awful experience.
  • Googleheadboy
    Season 4 is so good
    Hope your family is doing well!
  • coollonita
    It’s okay
    I only listened to season 4 snowball after reading a lot of reviews raving about it.. (so I might come back and change my review when I listen to more) kind of by the end I was sort of on the fence about the whole thing, like the host was, I think mostly because lezlie was such a manipulator it makes everything confusing..but after listening many episodes of “the perfect scam” podcast I realized this scam she pulled is actually unfortunately extremely common and her kind of “aw shucks”-Ing her way out of things claiming it was just business deals gone bad when she actually conned and schemed is also extremely common.. it’s unfortunate she was “homeless” at one point but, in truth that was likely another one of her cons.. she probably was getting money/donatations whatever from someone somewhere living under the guise that she was homeless or maybe even actually living that way temporarily likely for some benefit or another .. the podcast was pretty good but I would say not as unique or epic as everyone who id seen talk about it online made it out to be. I think the only thing that made it kind of unique was the fact that by the end you are left with some feelings of sadness for lezlie but I think it’s because in part you get duped by her too. It’s Just unfortunately a common ponzi/real estate scam that happens way too often. I definitely recommend the perfect scam if you liked snowball though
  • queendomhuh
    Season 4 Snowball is Great
    I have only listened to season 4 Snowball so far, but I really enjoyed it. Having the family involved definitely made the podcast more impactful. Lovely theme song too. Looking forward to the other seasons if they feature the same production value.
  • BlueBottleGirl
    Thank You!!
    This is a life mission well done and I appreciate you giving a voice to someone who was silenced too early. This podcast also witnesses the power of love and not giving up. So well done. All of the details and following through with investigation. I want to have a beer with Uncle Duck! What a gem.
  • Lulu LaLuna
    Snowball!
    It’s a fascinating story and the production on this series is so great. I’m smiling as I binge it. Partly because the voice actor for Lezlie is so funny and because i’m a little stoned here in California 🌴☀️🌊
  • emmteeemm
    Snowball
    Season 4 Snowball (New Zealand accents) is top notch. The best kind of roller coaster, one cannot make this kind of story up. Con artists, narcissists, hapless victims, it has it all packed into a season you can binge in a day.
  • jmdawson la
    You’ll also be amazed you haven’t heard of this one
    Season 4 is the best series of all time. Seriously. Brilliant. Visit their website to get ad free listens. You’re welcome!
  • MissSR13
    My new favorite!
    I stumbled onto this podcast and can’t believe I hadn’t heard of it (I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts). This show is so well done. The hosts are great, the subjects are important, and I love the sound bytes and interviews. Side note: I am NOT a fan of stories that have no resolution. Sure, sometimes that happens with this show. But because the structure surrounding the show is so solid, because there doesn’t seem to be a hint of sensationalism in the telling, I am left satisfied because the stories still have momentum. It’s really, really good.
  • miss cgh
    What a find!
    I heard of this on another pod and just binged every season until current in about a week. I love how the stories have similar themes- cold case mostly- but they’re so unique too and the reporting is in depth and thorough. I’m in the US but will be checking out other ABC shows since I’m so pleased with this one! Great if you mysterious true crime stories.
  • Acolumbianus
    Excellent podcast
    Well told long form crime stories. Great reporting and production.
  • catemcaran
    Ollie Wards, Encore!
    What a powerful and binge worthy season, Snowball. Ollie unravels the story for you better than the top dogs normally do. You really feel like you are there, and I hope he leads more seasons as the lead journalist. That Leslie, wow.
  • KaiserKristin
    Great Lesson in Inequity
    I super enjoy hearing the various characters and I’m reminded of my 8 week trip to Australia with my grandfather who worked with the AnZacs in WW2. He was 82 years of age when we went. We traveled to Sydney and then spent time in Canberra at the War Memorial there. My grandfather was Chairman of the Board at the WW2 Museum in New Orleans, which is now the most visited tourist attraction in NO. We hit Darwin, Adelaide, Uluru, stayed at Longitude 131, bought a wonderful aboriginal dot painted canvas, which is now framed beautifully in my living room. Cairns was cool, got my grandpa into a wetsuit at the Great Barrier Reef. I drove 2500km along the coast road and took the Ghan Train to Alice Springs, basically it was the trip of a lifetime. I only brought a 42lb carryon suitcase for the whole trip, clearly something I’m proud of! Feel honored to hear a bit about the indigenous people and the various cultures that exist. Five Stars
  • pod197
    Glued to this story
    Binged the story after reading about it on Reddit-excellent story, well done, compelling con artist story -
  • jillanneUSUK
    LOVED THIS!
    Top notch journalism and brings the people involved to life with empathy. I have a deep and abiding love for Kiwis so that was an added bonus. Binged the whole series in one day!
  • lkak
    One of the best
    Fantastic job - sharing a complex and seriously crazy story, with an incredible family. This is good for people to know about - but also inspiring for humanity. Very impressive.
  • j_a_x_
    Regarding S4
    This was a bananas story, but to hear the compassion from the family who was gaslit and frauded (is that a word?) by Lezlie that they now have FOR her, is incredible. Incredible and inspiring and I find myself moved by their compassion in an unexpected way. Also, sound design was 🔥 I caught little foley moments throughout that were reminiscent of radio plays of yore, well done! PS. I’m an American, it took me two episodes to understand wth “en zed” was 😂😂
  • KattieeMak
    Wonderful
    Have listened more than once, and get something a little different each time. Love it and appreciate all the hard work.
  • DrDavidFarrar
    Makes you laugh, makes you cry.
    I just listened to every episode of this true crime Australian podcast. It's not about some mass murderer, or an innocent person on death row. It's about a Californian con artist who rips off a family in New Zealand for literally every cent they have. And her New Zealand husband's brother is an Australian journalist who unravels her story from London to Brazil before he tracks her down in Paso Rambles, CA. It's funny and quirky and insightful. It made me laugh and cry, often at the same time. Five stars!
  • andrea_in_brooklyn
    Loved this podcast
    I hope everyone is ok now
  • charleslane
    Great crime narration
    I always listen to dateline USA mysteries. Just found this and excellent narration and actual interviews And realistic.i agree a binger.
  • 17yearsintheclassandcounting
    Season 4 • Snowball
    Such a great binge listen! Your story unfoldIng the tangled web of lies and deceit is so interesting. I particularly loved how your family summarized this long & emotional journey in the final episode. Very well done!
  • Ihhjkjhg
    Thank you for existing
    One of the few things left in the world that brings joy to life. Ollie & Greg - your mom is my hero!
  • xxanra
    Busted
    She was fired from the supermarket for cutting bad checks!
  • Nandibear77
    Riveting true crime
    One of the best true crime podcasts there is. Great varied topics. Listening to season 4 now, which shows there does not have to be a murder to be an absorbing story.
  • 988765433
    Season 4 is great
    Great podcast. Riveting. Listen in order and you’ll be spellbound
  • Lance & Anne
    Great podcast
    I am on the 4th season now. I have been very empressed with this podcast. All seasons so far have really kept my attention. I wasn't sure at first about each season having a different host, but it works here. I just wish i knew more about Austrailian geogrophy so that i could know better what the locations are like.
  • the dinosaur grape
    Loving this one
    Interesting story, great production. The actors reenactments of the characters is a hoot!
  • Jack_McCoy
    More, Please!
    Season 4 is the dark and occasionally funny tale of an American con artist and her many victims; seasons 1-3 cover missing persons and murder cases and are extremely dark — especially the violent sadism on display in season 2. These stories all feel like movies, with great music and sound design. First-class production values here. More please!
  • zoos47
    Season 4
    Loved it! Well done.
  • Misties78
    In Love
    Amazing job guys! I adore your podcast. Forget ‘never fall in love with a Kiwi”, I think I am in love with your entire family. I love that this is a family venture and that you are doing this for your brother and your parents. The investigative work and podcast are top notch! The love in your family is very apparent and that warms my heart and makes the show even more amazing. So far I am not feeling like this woman needs any sympathy. I think she is 100% a sociopath. As “normal” people who have the ability to empathize with others, I think it is natural for us to assume something MUST have really broken this person for her to take this path in life. That is because we can not comprehend what it is like to have zero emotions for others so we assume, surely, there must be some other explanation. I believe the comparison to the mind of a serial killer is a very accurate one. I am very interested to learn more about her parents. I truly hope they are just victims and not perpetrators as well but I find it very hard to believe that she hasn’t been this way her entire life and that her parents can be so gullible. Anyway, I didn’t mean to write all of this. I just came to say, good job but I got carried away. Can’t wait to learn what happens. Thanks guys. Highly recommended pod. Can’t wait for the Dr. Phil show lol Edit. Just listened to the next episode where you talked to a psychologist so scratch that idea I should have known you already had that covered, obviously
  • Beaner7877
    Quite a ride!
    I could not stop listening to this. The story just kept getting more unbelievably crazy each episode. Ollie and his father did some serious investigating! I was on the edge of my seat and kind of nervous when I listened to the confrontation episode. And your family seems so lovely. Well done!
  • tc2538
    Loved this
    I heard a commercial for this podcast on one of the others I listen to ( Uncovered ?) and so glad I checked it out. Ollie and his family are honest and funny while telling a heartbreaking story. Binged it in a day.
  • taechongirl
    Draws you right in
    Fascinating story, great research and reporting. Only downside is the voice used for Lezlie. The extreme valley girl accent is distracting and annoying.
  • Fidelio124
    Let’s hope Justice is Served via Dr Ollie!
    What an incredible story, which really tugs at the heart strings. I feel very sorry for Greg and the entire Ward family (and all the notable other victims - who all sound like nice, honest people). You have done a good job Ollie and Simon for trying to get to the bottom of LM. Fair, complete, clear headed, gracious and dignified whilst you are clearly dealing with a Psycho and her Schizophrenic world. It seems clear to me that her are parents are complicit in some real fashion, especially given the phone call from KiwiBank to Eric T Weis received from Leslie’s family home. Even listening to Betty’s email responses to Eric sound like “irony”, as if she knows that she is responding to Lezlie and is indirectly slapping her down. You and the many others should pursue this and send a detailed report to the FBI, who take on extra jurisdictional crimes. You certainly have a compelling brief. If you don’t stop her now she will be another “Hamish” and keep conjuring (Houdini) up more sophisticated crimes. Her namesake of “Eric T Weis” says it all - she is taking the piss and will keep on doing it to decent people.
  • PersonelHighJEAN
    WOW - VERY MOVING
    I feel emotional about this family. I've only just started listening and I can't stop. It has only one weakness and that is the voice over shouldn't have been done of Leslie's voice as a valley girl caricature. We listeners are an adequate jury, it is stronger for us to read in that inflection. We don't need to hear anger from anyone but our concious. I want to slap her silly for this family. To destroy a family home, to cheat such lovely folks. She really missed out on a great life with a great clan that any human being would be lucky to be invited into. Generosity and love should have been rewarded. My wish for them is they will get back everything and more from this terrible experience.
  • Ajbuda
    This season is great!
    The current season is great.
  • L_acey
    ?
    I loved Season 4- but it just blows me away that someone can get away constantly with this stuff and being a con artist and not be in jail- mind is blown.
  • cintx
    Quickly becoming my favorite podcast
    I just discovered this podcast but have binge listened the last two days and love it!
  • Geauxgigi3
    Great job!
    I binge listened to your podcast. I’ve been mad on all of your behalf’s but now I’m just grateful for your story and sharing the message of love, forgiveness, compassion, and most of all family! You raised a great group of boys Mom and Dad Wards!!!
  • Farrah-ri
    Fascinating!
    OMG I am hooked. Binged 3 episodes already and can’t wait to commute home and listen to more... very well done.
  • Podcast obsesssed
    Great story telling
    This podcast has had all the twists and turns you love in a true crime podcast. Very great telling of the story and a crazy story it is!
  • NZL-appuser
    Snowball - 2019’s Podcast of the Year
    Snowball surely will be 2019’s pod of the year. There is so much to love; the kiwi family who having lost ‘everything’ don’t want revenge just a better life for the perpetrator, the oh so Kiwi-isms, the perfectly acceptable use of expletives in everyday discourse, and the mystery of what really makes someone like Leslie tick. It’s a beautiful listen. Thanks Aussies.
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