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The Pope's Long Con

The Pope's Long Con

Louisville Public Media

In 2016, Danny Ray Johnson was elected to state office. The fast talking biker-preacher known as "The Pope" paints himself as a 9/11 hero. He says he raised the dead! But our seven month investigation uncovered a much different picture: Attempted arson. Another mysterious fire. Alleged bootlegging and molestation in the church. For years, Johnson broke laws. Now he helps make them. What happens when the institutions we rely on look the other way? How does a liar slip through the cracks into a position of power? This six-part series attempts to find out. From Louisville Public Media.
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Top 10 The Pope's Long Con Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Pope's Long Con episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Pope's Long Con 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 The Pope's Long Con episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

The Pope's Long Con - When Our Institutions Fail

When Our Institutions Fail

The Pope's Long Con

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12/14/17 • 16 min

Over and over, there were warning signs for law enforcement, political leaders and others. What happens when the institutions we rely on look the other way? How does a liar slip through the cracks into a position of power?

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The Pope's Long Con - An Empire Built On Blind Faith
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12/14/17 • 19 min

Go inside the Heart of Fire Church and meet the motorcycle-friendly congregation and gun choir. Check out the fellowship hall — or biker bar — and learn more about Johnson's dark past.

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The Pope's Long Con - From Bastrop To Bullitt

From Bastrop To Bullitt

The Pope's Long Con

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12/13/17 • 23 min

Like Forrest Gump, he just so happens to be in the front row, playing a pivotal role in America’s biggest moments. Time after time. Decade after decade. He's held some of the country's loftiest titles. Or not.

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The Pope's Long Con - Check Out Our New Investigative Podcast, Dig
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12/19/19 • 25 min

From the newsroom that brought you the Pope’s Long Con, check out our newest podcast, Dig. In the first season, we bring you the results of a yearlong look at how rape cases are investigated in Louisville. What we’ve learned: here, the police defer to prosecutors on rape cases — and prosecutors reject the vast majority of cases presented to them. Due to this unusual relationship, most people accused of rape here will never face consequences. Most won’t be arrested or convicted. And the case will be closed anyway. (Note: There are descriptions of a rape, and audio from a police body camera on the scene of a rape investigation, throughout this episode.) For more, visit kydig.org.
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The Pope's Long Con - The Pope's Wife

The Pope's Wife

The Pope's Long Con

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03/05/18 • 16 min

We knew the story wasn't over at the end of the last chapter — but no one could've known what would happen next. +

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The Pope's Long Con - An Accusation Of Molestation

An Accusation Of Molestation

The Pope's Long Con

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12/14/17 • 15 min

A teenage girl thought of Johnson as a second dad. Her family trusted the pastor. But in 2013, he allegedly molested her. Hear her story. And listen to Johnson's extraordinary response.

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The Pope's Long Con - Welcome To The Pope's House

Welcome To The Pope's House

The Pope's Long Con

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12/13/17 • 17 min

Meet Danny Ray Johnson, Kentucky's fast-talking preacher-turned-politician who is known as the Pope. He paints himself as a 9/11 hero, healer of the sick and miracle maker. Behind this persona — cultivated, built up and fine-tuned over decades — is a web of lies and deception. A mysterious fire. Attempted arson and false testimony. Alleged molestation in his church.

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The Pope's Long Con - Introducing The Pope's Long Con
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11/29/17 • 0 min

What happens when the institutions we depend on fail at every level? What happens when lies go unchecked? From the pulpit to the statehouse, one man claims to serve his fellow man. But does he? Find out in this series from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Louisville Public Media.

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Pope's Long Con have?

The Pope's Long Con currently has 8 episodes available.

What topics does The Pope's Long Con cover?

The podcast is about News, Investigative, True Crime, Con, Religion & Spirituality, Investigation, Podcasts, Crime and Politics.

What is the most popular episode on The Pope's Long Con?

The episode title 'Check Out Our New Investigative Podcast, Dig' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Pope's Long Con?

The average episode length on The Pope's Long Con is 17 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Pope's Long Con released?

Episodes of The Pope's Long Con are typically released every 1 day, 15 hours.

When was the first episode of The Pope's Long Con?

The first episode of The Pope's Long Con was released on Nov 29, 2017.

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