Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.

The Boston Globe | Wondery
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Football star Aaron Hernandez went from the bright lights of the Super Bowl to a convicted murderer in a few years. The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team, best known for its investigation of the sexual abuse scandal inside the Catholic Church, takes a hard look at the crisis facing football through the lens of Aaron Hernandez’s life and terrible crimes.

From Wondery, the podcast team that brought you Dr. Death, Spotlight asks: Did a brain badly damaged by football contribute to Hernandez’s violent behavior? Did he keep secrets about his sexuality that collided with a hyper-masculine football culture? Did elite coaches and teams look the other way as Hernandez was spiraling out of control?

Spotlight uncovered new documents, audio, and interviews to go deep into the story of what happened to Aaron Hernandez, and what it means for those of us who cheer on a violent game. 

Listen to Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/shows/gladiator/ now.

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17 episodes

Introducing ‘Spotlight: Snitch City’

Today, we’re sharing the first episode of the brand new podcast Spotlight: Snitch City, produced by The Boston Globe's award-winning Spotlight team – some of the same folks who brought you the Gladiator podcast! Named a “must listen” podcast by The Guardian, SNITCH CITY brings you inside the secret world of police informants through one small city – at the forefront of America’s drug war – New Bedford, Massachusetts. Featuring never-before-told cases, the podcast investigates how officers have exploited the secrecy of the informant system to enrich themselves, break laws, protect drug dealers, and attack perceived enemies… all with impunity. In this specific episode of SNITCH CITY, you’ll find yourself on the docks of New Bedford, hearing whispers about a rogue police officer harassing fishermen and stealing drugs, all of which come to a head one late night aboard a scalloping boat. The officer forces his way on board, saying an informant told him there would be drugs on board, and demands some. But when another officer, Mark Raposo, shows up, he thinks his colleague is in the middle of a “drug rip.” Now Raposo is ready to blow the whistle on what he’s seen. And it turns out that this officer’s abuse of the informant system is just the tip of the iceberg in this historic port city.   To listen to the rest of the series, follow Spotlight: Snitch City on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

50m
Mar 25
The Making of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez with Stuart Zicherman, Nina Jacobson, and Brad Simpson | 11

Patty Wen goes behind the scenes with the creators of FX’s . Showrunner Stuart Zicherman shares his process of translating the  podcast for television, including the exhilaration of bringing the Patriots’ locker room to life. And Executive Producers Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson join Patty to discuss working with Ryan Murphy on the American Story franchise and how these series are really a way of looking at ourselves through the lens of shared obsessions and the role we, as a culture, play in how these stories unfold. All episodes of FX’s  are now streaming on Hulu. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

38m
Nov 12, 2024
Norbert Leo Butz on Becoming Coach Bill Belichick and Thomas Sadoski on Tackling Hernandez’s Agent Brian Murphy | 10

Actors Thomas Sadoski and Norbert Leo Butz join Patty Wen to talk about the new FX series Sadoski, who plays Hernandez’s agent Brian Murphy, and Butz, who plays Patriots' coach Bill Belichick, discuss how they brought these complicated, larger-than-life figures to the screen — and the complex ethics of their relationships with the troubled athlete. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29m
Oct 08, 2024
Josh Rivera on Becoming Aaron Hernandez in FX’s American Sports Story | 9

Patty Wen is joined by actor Josh Rivera, the star of the new FX series , adapted from the podcast from Wondery and The Boston Globe. They talk about his preparation to play football star Aaron Hernandez, what it was like on set, and how he found humanity in such a complicated figure. FX’s  premieres on Tuesday, September 17 on FX, next day on Hulu. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28m
Sep 17, 2024
Listen Now: The Offensive Line with Annie Agar

Join NFL Insider and social media breakout star, Annie Agar, as she tackles the world of fantasy football, odds, props and parlays in “The Offensive Line.” Each week, Annie will break down the NFL’s juiciest and trendiest matchups and drama in her signature quick hitting style, while roasting players and teams (sorry in advance Cowboys fans), dishing out some ice-cold takes, teasing you with a weekly teaser 😉 and slamming the most “offensive” lines, odds and spreads. She’ll be joined by current and former players, and celebrity superfans for a fiery and fun slant on all things football, fantasy and Annie’s favorite picks! Enjoy The Offensive Line with Annie Agar wherever you get your podcasts: Wondery.fm/TOL http://wondery.fm/TOL See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9m
Sep 07, 2024
Introducing Murder in Boston Podcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3m
Dec 08, 2023
Introducing: False Idol

In the early 2000s, the Paralympics were headlined by star sprinters Marlon Shirley and Brian Frasure, when suddenly a new challenger emerged –– a teenager from South Africa named Oscar Pistorius. He immediately began dominating the sport, winning medals, setting records, and signing endorsement deals. But Shirley and Frasure had questions about how this newcomer was winning all these races. To hear more, listen to False Idol here https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__apple.co_falseidol&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=cOGW8O0zn3-9_eCi8-cLy7q889V0aI3dZIiwReaiWWg&m=XpHqqpO_q2aY_poYI0EMRAKoT31W6kLinqA0bye1Pqs&s=VQco5GSHgHfRZD0byyj_NcF71xlb5BugAZ4Qasn_0QU&e= or wherever you get your podcasts!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

44m
Aug 26, 2021
Wondery Presents - Dr. Death: Miracle Man

Paolo is a smart and handsome surgeon, renowned for his ability to perform surgeries that transform his patients’ lives. When television producer Benita covers him for a story, he’ll transform her life too, but not in the ways she expects. As Benita crosses professional lines to be with him, she learns how far Paolo will go to protect his secrets. And halfway around the world, four doctors at a prestigious medical institute make shocking discoveries of their own that call everything into question. From Wondery comes Season Three of the hit podcast, Dr. Death. MIRACLE MAN tells the story of a globe-trotting surgeon who seduces the medical world, and sweeps one woman off her feet. Hosted by Laura Beil.   LISTEN TO DR. DEATH SEASON 3: wondery.fm/DDS3_Gladiator http://wondery.fm/DDS3_Gladiator See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5m
Aug 16, 2021
Playing Through Pain | 8

The New England Patriots are in the Super Bowl again, and many current NFL players are feeling the physical toll the season has taken. Aaron Hernandez spoke to his former teammates nearly every day from prison: about the injuries they endured, and the drugs they took to dull the pain. Some of the drugs were legal, administered by the teams, but some drugs weren't. The drugs can help players remain on the field. But at what cost? Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/gladiator

32m
Jan 29, 2019
Interview | 7

Aaron Hernandez died in 2017 but his life still raises questions. On this special episode Liz Dolan, host of “Safe For Work” and “Satellite Sisters,” speaks with Bob Hohler of the Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team about the making of Gladiator, and the one question he still wants answered. Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/gladiator Support us by supporting our sponsors! AUDIBLE - Get a 30-day free trial and a free audio book when visit them at audible.com/gladiator http://audible.com/gladiator LENDING CLUB - Regain control of your finances today at lendingclub.com/gladiator http://lendingclub.com/gladiator

23m
Nov 20, 2018
Beauty & Violence | 6

In life, Aaron Hernandez weighed 240 pounds. In death, the most important part of his body was just over 3 pounds. When researchers analyzed his brain they were shocked by what they found. A lifetime of football had seemingly taken a tremendous toll, but could it explain his violent crimes? Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/gladiator Support us by supporting our sponsors! ZIP RECRUITER - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/gladiator http://ziprecruiter.com/gladiator STAMPS.COM - Use code GLADIATOR for a 4 week trial including postage and a meter stamps.com http://stamps.com/ BROOKLINEN - Get $20 off and free shipping when you visit Brooklinen.com http://Brooklinen.com and use promo code "Gladiator" at checkout.

32m
Nov 13, 2018
Erasing Aaron | 5

With his arrest, Hernandez traded in his jersey number for an inmate number in the Massachusetts prison system. His voice was rarely heard from again in public -- but he spent hours talking on the phone from inside jail. Spotlight obtained ninety hours of jail calls -- never before heard publicly -- that provide an intimate look at his life and mind in the period before his first murder trial. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/massachusetts/2018/10/13/helpbox/R3323fhkChCBSqfB5nO0KN/story.html Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/gladiator Support us by supporting our sponsors! ZIP RECRUITER - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/gladiator http://ziprecruiter.com/gladiator HIMS - Get a trial month for just $5 when you visit them at forhims.com/gladiator http://forhims.com/gladiator

41m
Nov 06, 2018
The Patriot Way | 4

Aaron Hernandez was enjoying success on the field, but in his third season with the Patriots, the fragile balance of his life tipped. There were people who cared for him trying to intercede, from an old girlfriend to his teammates. But no one could successfully help him escape from violence, drugs, and extortion attempts. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/massachusetts/2018/10/13/helpbox/R3323fhkChCBSqfB5nO0KN/story.html Subscribe to American Scandal today http://wondery.fm/scandal Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/gladiator Support us by supporting our sponsors! ZIP RECRUITER - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/gladiator http://ziprecruiter.com/gladiator BROOKLINEN - Get $20 and free shipping when you use promo code GLADIATOR at brooklinen.com http://brooklinen.com

43m
Oct 30, 2018
Gator Nation | 3

Aaron Hernandez was one of eight players who graduated high school early to join the powerhouse University of Florida football team. Six of them would go on to play in the NFL. Forget the senior prom, it was time to learn a playbook as thick as a dictionary. But perhaps the most important lesson he learned was after he got into a bar fight his freshman year: when you're a football player, actions don’t always have consequences. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/massachusetts/2018/10/13/helpbox/R3323fhkChCBSqfB5nO0KN/story.html Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/gladiator Support us by supporting our sponsors! ZIP RECRUITER - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/gladiator http://ziprecruiter.com/gladiator

35m
Oct 23, 2018
Bristol | 2

Aaron Hernandez was an exceptional athlete from an early age, a star in his hometown of Bristol, Connecticut. His father was a charismatic ex-athlete still known by his high school nickname, “The King.” He ruled the Hernandez home through fear, and a strong opinion of how he believed his two sons were supposed to act. The long shadow of Aaron’s upbringing -- and his childhood secrets -- would hover over him his entire life. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/massachusetts/2018/10/13/helpbox/R3323fhkChCBSqfB5nO0KN/story.html Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/gladiator Support us by supporting our sponsors! ZIP RECRUITER - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/gladiator http://ziprecruiter.com/gladiator HIMS- Get a trial month for just $5 when you visit them atforhims.com/gladiator http://forhims.com/gladiator

35m
Oct 15, 2018
Hail Mary | 1

When Aaron Hernandez was found hanging from a bedsheet in a maximum security prison cell in Massachusetts, he joined a growing number of former football players who’d taken their own lives. But he was the only one who left a trail of bodies in his wake. Spotlight investigates how Hernandez’s personal life spiralled out of control even as he rocketed to NFL stardom. His teammates on the Patriots were never sure whether he was a goofball who took a special kind of thrill in unnerving them, or whether he was truly dangerous. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/massachusetts/2018/10/13/helpbox/R3323fhkChCBSqfB5nO0KN/story.html Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/gladiator Support us by supporting our sponsors! ZIP RECRUITER - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/gladiator http://ziprecruiter.com/gladiator STAMPS.COM - Use code GLADIATOR for a 4 week trial including postage and a meter stamps.com http://stamps.com AUDIBLE - Get a 30-day free trial and a free audio book when visit them at audible.com/gladiator http://audible.com/gladiator

35m
Oct 15, 2018
Introducing Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez & Football Inc.

Football star Aaron Hernandez went from the bright lights of the Super Bowl to a convicted murderer in a few years. The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team, best known for its investigation of the sexual abuse scandal inside the Catholic Church, takes a hard look at the crisis facing football through the lens of Aaron Hernandez’s life and terrible crimes. Did a brain badly damaged by football contribute to Hernandez’s violent behavior? Did he keep secrets about his sexuality that collided with a hyper-masculine football culture? Did elite coaches and teams look the other way as Hernandez was spiraling out of control? Spotlight uncovered new documents, audio, and interviews to go deep into the story of what happened to Aaron Hernandez, and what it means for those of us who cheer on a violent game. From Wondery, the podcast team that brought you Dr. Death. Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/gladiator

2m
Oct 02, 2018