Podcast
The Binge Cases: Doctor Billions
After Derika Moses injured her back at work, she got her spine fused. But after surgery, her pain only got worse. She didn’t know why — until she got a letter in the mail telling her that some of the spinal hardware in her back might be counterfeit. Not sterile. Not FDA approved. Made in a machine shop in Temecula, California.
Doctor Billions tells the story of the billion-dollar healthcare fraud that turned thousands of patients into unwitting cogs in a scheme involving dozens of doctors, lawyers and healthcare professionals across the country.
At the center of one of the nation's largest healthcare frauds was an elusive man named Michael Drobot. His ambition to turn a Long Beach hospital into a destination for back surgeons was at the expense of thousands of patients blind to what was happening behind the scenes.
One whistleblower told me: “I'm looking at the surgery board for tomorrow going, 'These people are f***ed.'”
Doctor Billions is hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalist Ben Adair for Sony Music Entertainment’s The Binge.
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Episodes release weekly on Thursdays.
To binge the series right now, hit ‘Subscribe’ at the top of the show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com.
Follow The Binge Crimes and The Binge Cases to get new stories on the first of the month, every month.
Join The Binge’s free newsletter – Patreon.com/TheBinge
- True Crime chart
- #37
- Episodes
- 197
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 39 min
- On air since
- 2020
- Latest episode
- 5 days ago
Episodes
197 episodes, from the first
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2 min
Introducing Smoke Screen: Fake Priest Trailer
Show notes
For 30 years, a man claimed to be a priest. He performed baptisms and took confession. Every time he ran into trouble, Father Ryan would move on to another small Midwestern town and start his scheme all over again. Followers who once worshiped him, now accuse him of exploitation, fraud and abuse. In season one of Smoke Screen, join Alex Schuman as he unravels this con and gets answers from this white-collar criminal himself.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Coming August 13th. Listen & follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Season 1
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36 min
Fake Priest | 1. An Unholy Priest
Episode 1
Show notes
Investigative reporter Alex Schuman hears about a guy accused of swindling millions who has travelled the Midwest for decades pretending to be a priest. Alex starts his journey talking to two people who have long tried to expose the truth. Alex is hoping to finally figure out why anyone would try to pull off such an elaborate con.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
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37 min
Fake Priest | 2. Coming Home
Episode 2
Show notes
Alex tracks down Father Ryan’s son, Jonathan Brady, and discovers Father Ryan was a scammer and manipulator long before he wore a priestly robe. Turns out he had plenty of practice committing fraud before he opened his first church in Wisconsin.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
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36 min
Fake Priest | 3. The Teacher
Episode 3
Show notes
Even con artists need mentors. Meet the false prophet who teaches Father Ryan how to perfect his con. Father Ryan evades criminal charges again and Alex learns about an unspoken reason prosecutors could let many criminals go free.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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37 min
Fake Priest | 4. Llama Drama
Episode 4
Show notes
After Father Ryan steals a follower's money, her property and even her husband's ashes, she hires a lawyer. A legal battle ensues over unpaid loans and a herd of llamas that Father Ryan leaves high and dry.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
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37 min
Fake Priest | 5. Meet The Browns
Episode 5
Show notes
A sheriff deputy arrests Father Ryan for taking more than $70,000 from an elderly follower. It's looking like he might get 7 years in prison, but then he meets a father-daughter pair of private investigators who change everything.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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37 min
Fake Priest | 6. No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Episode 6
Show notes
The father-daughter investigator team discovers the cop who arrested Father Ryan may have an ulterior motive. They defend Father Ryan tooth and nail - until they get a troubling surprise of their own.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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31 min
Fake Priest | 7. Two Dead Priests
Episode 7
Show notes
In his autobiography, Father Ryan connects himself to two priests who died suspiciously. One he accuses of molesting children. The other? He says he teamed up with to publicly shame pedophile priests. What's the truth?
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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39 min
Fake Priest | 8. Origin Story
Episode 8
Show notes
Alex Schuman finally has his showdown with Father Ryan. But things don't go as planned because Father Ryan has something to confess about his past that sheds light on why he wanted to become a "priest" in the first place.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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40 min
Fake Priest | 9. How To Get Away With Fraud
Episode 9
Show notes
Until now, Father Ryan has mostly escaped punishment for stealing money from followers under false pretenses. What would it take for him to face a jury of his peers?
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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4 min
Coming Soon: I Am Rama Trailer
Show notes
Rama was a spiritual teacher in the 80s and 90s who inspired many of his students while helming what many of his detractors would describe as a cult. He defied society’s archetypal vision of a New Age leader, eschewing minimalism for wealth and celebrity. He was also a man ahead of his time, encouraging his students to develop careers in computer science before that was mainstream.
For some, following Rama's lead worked out spiritually, and financially too. But for others, Rama's actions contradicted his cool persona; some eventually came forward with accusations of abuse, others vanished, whistleblowers went to the media, and the group began to shrink and splinter.
In this 10-part investigative series, Jonathan Hirsch explores the life, death and impact of Rama. "I Am Rama" drops June 22.
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Season 2
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38 min
I Am Rama | 1. Golden Light
Episode 1
Show notes
Rama was a man of many faces: teacher, tech entrepreneur, friend - and to some, a scam artist. This episode introduces Rama, examining the world from which he came, the way he shaped those who entered his orbit for better and for worse, and the mysterious circumstances around his demise.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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30 min
I Am Rama | 2. Becoming
Episode 2
Show notes
This episode follows Frederick Lenz III from his early days and education through his introduction to spiritualism with his mentor, Sri Chinmoy, at the dawn of the New Age. Young Freddie becomes “Atmananda,” a recruiter for his mentor, until it becomes time to strike out on his own, as Zen Master Rama.
If you want to know more about Rama’s early years, you can read more from the people who we interviewed for this episode. Liz Lewinson’s book is called “American Buddhist Rebel The Story of Rama, Dr. Frederick Lenz.” Mark Laxer's books is called “Take Me For a Ride, Coming of Age in a Destructive Cult.”
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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30 min
I Am Rama | 3. California Dreaming
Episode 3
Show notes
Rama’s growth as a spiritual teacher in the mid-80s starts in California but takes him and his students all over the country. Rama defines his doctrine, turning his attention to the potential of the computer industry. But for his students, it’s not always easy to keep up with their teacher, or stay in his good graces.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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45 min
I Am Rama | 4. Spiritual Contract
Episode 4
Show notes
Will Arntz is a man of many talents, from filmmaker to laser physicist. In this episode, Will relives the time he spent studying with Rama and how it changed his life.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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40 min
I Am Rama | 5. Brenda
Episode 5
Show notes
A young woman follows Rama to New York, and mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind many to wonder what happened. In this episode, people who knew and loved Brenda Kerber piece her story back together.
If you have any information about the death of Brenda Kerber that wasn’t reflected in this episode, please contact the White Plains Police Department in New York at https://whiteplainspublicsafety.com/submit-a-tip/ or 914-422-6111.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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43 min
I Am Rama | 6. Deprogramming
Episode 6
Show notes
Rama finds himself in the crosshairs of the Cult Awareness Network, a group dedicated to extricating people from what they consider to be cults by “deprogramming” them. But Rama’s students tell a much different story.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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27 min
I Am Rama | 7. Accused
Episode 7
Show notes
Multiple women accuse Rama of sexual misconduct and emotional manipulation. Many of Rama’s students defend their teacher.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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30 min
I Am Rama | 8. Public Opinion
Episode 8
Show notes
As Rama’s image took a hit in the public sphere, his students circled the wagons around their teacher. In something of a last ditch effort to win over the media, Rama accepts an invitation to appear on Dateline.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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30 min
I Am Rama | 9. Conscience Bay
Episode 9
Show notes
Power trips to paradise and never-before shared knowledge -- were these golden times, or Rama’s way of saying goodbye? This episode explores the final years leading of Rama's life.
A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
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