Hot Money: Agent of Chaos
News & Politics
About
In 2020, the Financial Times exposed a €2 billion fraud at Wirecard, a high-flying German fintech. Many thought that was the end of the story. But for reporter Sam Jones, it was just the beginning. This season on Hot Money: Agent of Chaos, Jones investigates Wirecard’s chief operating officer, who vanished just as Wirecard collapsed. And turned out to also be a Russian spy. From an Ibizan sting operation to an attempted takeover of the Austrian intelligence service, his reporting spirals into a world of warlords, espionage, and disinformation. All in an attempt to answer one question: Who is the real Jan...
Episodes
- From The Financial Times: The Broker
This episode details the story of Will Somerindyke, who went from a failed baseball player and disgraced stockbroker to a major arms dealer. Somerindyke built a company that sourced Soviet-era weapons for conflicts in Syria and Yemen, and…
- Episode 8: Matryoshka
The season finale of Hot Money: Agent of Chaos explores a new narrative surrounding Matlesek's life in Russia, prompted by the resurfacing of an old tip.
- Episode 7: From Russia With Love
The episode discusses a UK trial of a Marsalek-backed espionage ring, whose inner workings are revealed through text messages. Subscription to Pushkin+ offers ad-free access to the season.
- Episode 6: Maestro
In Episode 6, titled Maestro, Sam is back in Vienna and uncovers a plot by Marsalek that nearly brought down Austria's intelligence agency.
- Episode 5: A Different Set of Rules
This episode features a conversation with a former Russian intelligence officer about potential recruitment methods for Marsalek and the purposes behind them.
- Episode 4: Backbearings
This episode of Hot Money: Agent of Chaos explores the past of an individual in Austria and Germany, detailing his habits, home life, and the impact he had on former colleagues and childhood friends. A correction is noted regarding the age…
- Episode 3: Thrill Seeking
Sam tracks down a former UN official living off-grid in Tunisia, who discloses his participation in one of Jan Marsalek's schemes. The episode also corrects a previous statement about Marsalek's mode of arrival in Syria.
- Episode 2: The Friendship Society
As Sam arrives in Vienna, a political scandal erupts due to a secretly recorded video linking the far-right to Russia. This plunges the Austrian government into crisis and exposes the environment in which individuals like Jan Marsalek can…
- Episode 1: The Bribe
Sam is sent to Vienna by his editor to find a specific man, following a sequence of secret lunch meetings. This episode is part of the 'Hot Money: Agent of Chaos' series.
- Introducing Hot Money Season 3: Agent of Chaos
Hot Money Season 3, titled Agent of Chaos, follows reporter Sam Jones as he investigates financial executive Jan Marsalek, discovering a network involving warlords, espionage, and disinformation.
- Episode 8 - The Red Notebook
Law enforcement is cracking down on the Kinahan cartel. A red notebook discovered in a car may provide clues to the murder of an electrician in Almere.
- Episode 7 - Against the Ropes
The episode 'Against the Ropes' from the show 'Hot Money: Agent of Chaos' discusses Daniel Kinahan's current influence and the efforts of law enforcement to address it. The show is associated with the Financial Times.
- Episode 6 - Ties with Tehran
The podcast episode "Ties with Tehran" from "Hot Money: Agent of Chaos" discusses an undercover operation conducted in New York that uncovered a connection to Tehran. Additional details and ad-free listening options are mentioned.
- Episode 5 - Nerds vs Narcos
The episode follows a high-tech Dutch police unit as they work to solve a murder case. The FT offers more content via their Edit App, and Pushkin+ provides ad-free listening.
- Episode 4 - Gangster's Paradise
Cartel bosses have moved from Europe to a city attracting criminals globally due to safety concerns. This episode details their relocation.
- Episode 3 - Sun, Guns & Sangria
The episode discusses the international law enforcement pursuit of the Kinahan cartel, highlighting the significant growth of their operations. It references the FT for more information.
- Episode 2 - Cocaine CEO
The 'Cocaine CEO' episode of Hot Money details how a Dublin drug dealer benefits from major changes in Europe's criminal economy. Listeners can find more from the Financial Times on the FT Edit App or subscribe to Pushkin+ for an ad-free e…
- Episode 1 - Murder Brokers
An investigation into a small-town murder escalates when a Dutch crime reporter uncovers evidence suggesting an international assassination plot. This episode of Hot Money: Agent of Chaos explores the unfolding connections.
- Introducing Hot Money: The New Narcos
The latest season of Hot Money kicks off with a murder investigation in a small town, revealing a large-scale cocaine cartel and a covert conflict.
- Episode 8: Inside Porn's Star Chamber
The season finale of Hot Money investigates how Visa and MasterCard became influential figures in the adult industry and examines the current impact of credit card company governance on porn.
- Episode 7: Porn Meets OnlyFans
This episode of Hot Money: Agent of Chaos explores OnlyFans, examining how the platform has changed online pornography by giving more power to performers. Hosts Alex and Patricia delve into the broader story of the site and its creators.
- Episode 6: Knocking on the Door of a Porn Empire
Patricia investigates why one global porn company reformed its practices significantly, while another made minimal changes. The episode includes a visit to the Prague headquarters of the company that changed little.
- Episode 5: The Billionaire Who Took Down Porn
A hedge fund manager's response to a critical column about a major porn site resulted in a significant shift for the company, following his communication with MasterCard.
- Episode 4: Playboy vs. Rusty and Edie
This episode details how a 1990s Ohio family's IT business led to a court case setting precedents for user-uploaded content on porn sites and for tech giants like Facebook and Twitter.
- Episode 3: Mr. Goldman, Mr. Sex
Patricia uncovers the secret identity of a former Goldman Sachs banker who purchased Fabian Thylmann's porn sites, a deal that remained hidden for years.
- Episode 2: The Darth Vader of Porn
This episode explores how computer programmer Fabian Thylmann built a major porn empire by securing Wall Street funding, leveraging financial expertise in an industry lacking capital.
- Episode 1: Porn Meets the Internet
Porn star Stoya joins hosts Alex Barker and Patricia Nilsson to discuss how free online porn changed the adult industry and to investigate the business of porn. The episode aims to uncover who is in charge and how the industry operates.
- Hot Money: Who Rules Porn?
Financial Times reporter Patricia Nilsson and editor Alex Barker investigated the porn industry, discovering a hidden power structure involving billionaires, tech innovators, and top finance companies that controls the world's largest porn…