Impact Podcasts

DC Thomson

Impact podcasts create narrative investigative podcasts that shine a light on major crimes or scandals in communities covered by DC Thomson brands such as The Courier and The Press and Journal. New Series: “Who Killed Annalise?” In 2018, 22-year-old Annalise Johnstone was murdered near a Witch’s grave in Perthshire, Scotland. Nearly seven years later, her case remains unsolved. In Who Killed Annalise?, a new true crime podcast from The Courier, investigative journalist Brendan Duggan reopens the case, speaking with key figures to uncover why justice has never been served. Impact’s first season, Hunting Mr X, centred on the story of former North Sea oil diver Julian Chisholm who orchestrated a £100m cocaine deal with the Cali cartel. It was shortlisted for best podcast at the UK Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards in 2023. Season two - ’Vanished: The Arlene Fraser Murder’ - is also now available. Follow investigative journalist Dale Haslam as he uncovers what really happened in Scotland’s biggest ever missing persons case. In 1998, 33-year-old mum of two Arlene Fraser was at her home one minute - and gone the next.

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Top 10 Impact Podcasts Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Impact Podcasts episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Impact Podcasts for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Impact Podcasts episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

S1 EP3: The Storm

Impact Podcasts

06/01/23 • 21 min

After being put in a car during the middle of the night, on the orders of Julian Chisholm, Chris Howarth and Noel Hawkins eventually find themselves in Gibraltar where they then set off on a journey across the Atlantic to pick up 500kg of cocaine from the Cali Cartel.

They are faced with a battle for survival as the pair try to land the drugs near Ullapool amid a fierce storm.

This is not the end of the story...

Episode 4 releases June 8

Episode 5 releases June 15

For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

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S2 EP4: The lipreader

Impact Podcasts

11/27/23 • 24 min

Frustrated by a lack of progress, detectives turn to a lipreader in an attempt to build evidence - and strike gold.

It is enough to build a case against a key suspect, convince his friends to testify against him - all leading up to a dramatic court showdown.

Episode 5 will be released on Monday, December 4.

S1 EP5: Prison Break

Impact Podcasts

06/14/23 • 27 min

It’s not how you thought this story was going to end.

Listen to the epic conclusion to Hunting Mr X and find out where each of our characters ended up after their lives were forever changed by Julian Chisholm.

For more Mr X content, visit www.thecourier.co.uk/ and www.pressandjournal.co.uk/

S1 EP1: Anthrax Island

Impact Podcasts

06/01/23 • 25 min

A young and ambitious diver from the Highland village of Straffpeffer travels to Aberdeen in search of fortune but his sights aren’t just set on oil money. Julian Chisholm forms a gang with the intention of smuggling drugs into Scotland through a once dangerous deserted island.

For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

Trailer: Hunting Mr X

Impact Podcasts

05/26/23 • 1 min

Introducing Hunting Mr X: A new 5-part true crime podcast series from the DC Thomson titles The Press and Journal and The Courier

S1 EP4: The Bright Orange Van

Impact Podcasts

06/07/23 • 26 min

The net closes in on the gang as police and customs officers swoop after weeks of covert surveillance stretching from Spain to Scotland.

Customs investigator Graham Dick races to intercept the huge drugs haul, which is packed in a bright orange van, but gets the surprise of his life.

For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

Episode 5 coming June 15th

S1 EP2: Operation Klondyke

Impact Podcasts

06/01/23 • 22 min

From Spain to Ullapool, customs officer Graham Dick and his team keep a watchful eye on the gang’s movements. As they begin to build a case against Julian Chisholm, Graham has a hunch Chisholm, who later became known as Mr X, is planning something big with his criminal associates - including latest recruit, “Crazy” Chris Howarth.

For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

S1 Bonus Ep: The making of Hunting Mr X

Impact Podcasts

09/14/23 • 21 min

In the second of our bonus episodes, we take you behind the scenes of our true crime podcast, Hunting Mr X.

In a revealing conversation, host Brendan Duggan sits down with Impact Investigations reporter Dale Haslam to uncover the extensive work that went into crafting this gripping series.

Get a glimpse into the investigative process and learn about the months of dedication chasing leads and interviews that that brought Hunting Mr X to life.

If you have any questions about Mr X or tips about Julian Chisholm, please email [email protected]. To read more about this case go here.

Q & A with host Dale Haslam

Impact Podcasts

11/30/23 • 1 min

Investigative journalist Dale Haslam, who spoke to Arlene's friends, family, and those who brought her killer to justice, answers your questions about the case.

Read all the questions and answers here.

S1 Bonus Ep: A history of drugs

Impact Podcasts

09/07/23 • 25 min

In the first of two new bonus episodes of Hunting Mr X, we dive even deeper into the UK’s gritty underworld in the 1980s and 1990s.

Host Brendan Duggan is joined by two guests to learn how the criminal industry evolved and the devastating impact of the drug scene on communities during these turbulent times.

Retired detective chief superintendent Neil Leslie is now a lecturer of criminology and policing at Abertay University and Richard Prest is DC Thomson’s head of content development and a former crime reporter.

If you have any questions about Mr X or tips about Julian Chisholm, please 89email [email protected]. To read more about this case go The Press and Journal for more information.

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