Episodes

  • Introducing... Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin
    Feb 10 2023
    Americans are used to being on the lookout for a scam, but authorities are warning of a new kind of fraud. Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin shines a spotlight on Jolyn Noethe, a secretive businesswoman from Iowa who is accused of laundering puppies like drug money. Over the course of 7 episodes, investigative reporter and host Alex Schuman exposes the scheme and an underground part of the industry bringing us the pets we love. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes ad-free. Smokescreen: Puppy Kingpin is part of The Binge - a new podcast channel from Sony Music Entertainment. The Binge — All Episodes, All at Once. From Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    3 mins
  • 1. Follow the Puppies
    Feb 10 2023
    When Mindi Callison finds out a local pet shop might be selling puppies from a puppy mill, she takes action. Soon, she’s tracking dogs being transported from state to state and stumbles onto a company that hides the source of puppies. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes ad-free. Your subscription also unlocks the entire network of podcasts on The Binge with a brand new story dropping every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Visit GetTheBinge.com to browse all the great stories included in your subscription. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at SonyMusic.com/Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • 2. Inside a Puppy Mill
    Feb 10 2023
    Alex sets out to learn more about Jolyn Noethe, but ends up getting an inside look at a puppy mill and how they operate legally. We’ll hear audio of the day authorities descended on the farm of Barbara Kavars, an Iowan breeder who got in way over her head. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes ad-free. Your subscription also unlocks the entire network of podcasts on The Binge with a brand new story dropping every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Visit GetTheBinge.com to browse all the great stories included in your subscription. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at SonyMusic.com/Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • 3. Hobo K9
    Feb 10 2023
    Authorities learn of unusual “rescue puppies” starting to turn up in Chicago and begin an investigation. Soon, they are on the trail of the secretive businesswoman responsible. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Subscribe on The Binge on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes ad-free. Your subscription also unlocks the entire network of podcasts on The Binge with a brand new story dropping every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Visit GetTheBinge.com to browse all the great stories included in your subscription. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at SonyMusic.com/Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • 4. A Kind of Identity Theft
    Feb 10 2023
    Multiple lawsuits now accuse Jolyn Noethe of creating rescues to sell commercially-bred puppies where they’ve been outlawed. Alex learns how the scheme reaches beyond the Midwest and meets Lizette Chanock. She claims her rescue’s name is being used to sell unhealthy puppies. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Subscribe on The Binge on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes ad-free. Your subscription also unlocks the entire network of podcasts on The Binge with a brand new story dropping every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Visit GetTheBinge.com to browse all the great stories included in your subscription. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at SonyMusic.com/Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • 5. Small Town Secrets
    Feb 10 2023
    Alex heads to Britt, Iowa where Jolyn Noethe grew up and her for-profit enterprise, J.A.K.’s Puppies, is headquartered. He discovers that a family dispute is part of the reason she started her own brokering business. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Subscribe on The Binge on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes ad-free. Your subscription also unlocks the entire network of podcasts on The Binge with a brand new story dropping every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Visit GetTheBinge.com to browse all the great stories included in your subscription. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at SonyMusic.com/Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • 6. License to Sell
    Feb 10 2023
    The Iowa AG’s lawsuit against Jolyn comes to a conclusion as she faces challenges from multiple sides. Alex looks more closely at the USDA as a growing number of breeders and animal rights activists think a USDA license doesn’t mean much anymore. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Subscribe on The Binge on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes ad-free. Your subscription also unlocks the entire network of podcasts on The Binge with a brand new story dropping every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Visit GetTheBinge.com to browse all the great stories included in your subscription. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at SonyMusic.com/Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • 7. Consequences
    Feb 10 2023
    Jolyn Noethe faces a class action lawsuit that accuses her of a federal crime and might cost her up to 5 million. The puppy pipeline isn’t going to change overnight, but Alex meets with a breeder who has nothing to hide and hears about a movement among breeders to go above and beyond USDA requirements. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Subscribe on The Binge on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes ad-free. Your subscription also unlocks the entire network of podcasts on The Binge with a brand new story dropping every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Visit GetTheBinge.com to browse all the great stories included in your subscription. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at SonyMusic.com/Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 mins