- 11
- Episodes
- 2025
- First episode
About Beneath The Surface
A tour through crime syndicates, secret societies, and hidden networks.
- Publisher
- National Media Archive
- Category
- true crime
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 6 Jul 2025
- Latest episode
- 13 Sept 2025
Latest episodes
11 episodes in the feed.
13 Sept 2025
Inside Manila’s Murder Economy
In this episode, we talk about the assassin-for-hire economy in the Philippines — how organized networks of contract killers operate, what it costs to buy a life, and why political targets are especially at risk. We cover the July 2008 killing of two Bahaghari rap group members, the infamous 1983 assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino, and firsthand accounts from targets like retired police Colonel Wally Sombero. We explore how middlemen and masterminds control the operations, how firearms are sourced or made, and why poverty keeps the pipeline of killers full. The episode also looks at government crackdowns, nationwide gun bans, black market access to weapons, and how private armed groups fuel a killing-for-hire industry that's quietly embedded in the country’s political and criminal landscape. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
7 Sept 2025
California Homeless Man and the 2-Week Manhunt
In this episode, we talk about the hostage situation that unfolded when three college-age friends from Bakersfield headed to their remote family cabin in the California hills. We break down how a man named Benjamin Ashley, armed and delusional, ambushed them on private land, held them at gunpoint, and later murdered a retired dentist. We cover the fifteen-day manhunt that followed, the DNA evidence police used to ID the suspect, and the tactical shootout that ended it all. This is the story of a planned summer getaway that turned into a survival test with real casualties. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
31 Aug 2025
Britain’s Biggest Ever Drug Operation | True Crime
In this episode, we talk about Liverpool’s long history of gang violence, from the brutal murder of Richard Morgan by the Cornermen in 1874 over a sixpence, to Curtis Warren’s £40 million heroin operation in the 1990s. We cover how the city’s docks turned it into a global smuggling hub, how economic collapse fueled the rise of the Liverpool Mafia, and how Warren became one of Interpol’s most wanted men. We break down the public outrage, the failures of law enforcement, the rise of organized drug trafficking, and the operations that finally brought Warren down. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
23 Aug 2025
The Violent Purges of the Chicago Mafia
In this episode, we talk about the Chicago Outfit's internal power shifts from the 1930s through the 1990s, covering the rise and fall of mob frontmen like Salvatore Battaglia and Felix “Milwaukee Phil” Alderisio, and how Tony Accardo maintained control using brutal enforcers like Frank Schweihs and Harry Aleman. We break down the Chop Shop War that tore through the Chicago Heights crew, the Outfit’s expansion into Las Vegas under Accardo’s leadership, and the murders tied to the Vegas casino skim. We also cover the FBI’s wiretap campaigns, the assassinations of Allen Dorfman and Daniel Seifert, the death of Tony Spilotro, and how advancing technology ultimately brought an end to the Outfit's most profitable rackets. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
16 Aug 2025
Vanished without a trace | The Lucille Butterworth Mystery
In this episode, we talk about the disappearance and murder of Lucille Butterworth in 1969, a young model from Hobart, Tasmania, who vanished after accepting a ride at a Claremont bus stop. We examine the decades-long investigation, the suppressed confession of known murderer Jeffrey Charles Hunt, the repeated failures by Tasmania Police, and the coroner’s 2016 finding of guilt that still resulted in no charges. The story includes firsthand details from detectives, prison inmates, and surviving family members, and covers the role of key figures like Inspector Orb Canning, Detective David Plumpton, and Tasmania’s Director of Public Prosecutions — culminating in one of the clearest miscarriages of justice in Australian criminal history. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
9 Aug 2025
The Brutal Reign of the Kray Brothers
In this episode, we talk about the violent rise and devastating fall of Ronnie and Reggie Kray, the twin brothers who ruled London’s East End with fear and brutality. We cover their early days at Repton Boxing Club, their criminal takeover of Soho clubs, their war with the Richardson gang, and a series of high-profile murders including George Cornell, Jack McVitie, and Frank Mitchell. We dig into their manipulation of the media, political scandals involving Lord Boothby, and Ronnie’s untreated paranoid schizophrenia. We trace their imprisonments, Reggie’s terminal cancer release, and the internal betrayal that nearly led to their assassination by their own men. We also examine the legacy — and the dangerous glamorization — of two killers who left behind blood, bodies, and a myth too many still believe. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
2 Aug 2025
Inside Singapore's Maximum Security
In this episode, we talk about daily life inside Singapore’s maximum-security prison, B1. The story covers one inmate’s journey from skateboarding fame to solitary confinement, the strict rules governing cell life, the reality of prison meals prepared by inmates, and the psychological impact of isolation. It explores routine cell checks, hidden contraband, tattoo culture tied to gang affiliation, and the use of improvised weapons. We discuss the structured point system inmates must follow to earn basic rewards, the punishment system including caning and extended sentences, and the challenge of transitioning from a “good inmate” to a law-abiding citizen. Brands mentioned include Singapore Airport Terminal Services, and topics span drug use, incarceration routines, behavioral reform programs, and inmate psychology. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
26 Jul 2025
The Fall of the Seventh Family: Inside Chicago’s Political Crime Syndicate
In this episode, we talk about the collapse of the seventh family—the political, judicial, and law enforcement branch of the Chicago Outfit. We cover the rise and failed assassination of Outfit associate Ken Eto, the murders of his hitmen, and how his testimony exposed major players. We break down the 1982 Diane Masters murder cover-up by corrupt cops, the downfall of Willow Springs law enforcement, and the launch of Operation Gambit by mob fixer-turned-informant Bob Cooley. We follow the convictions of Alderman Fred Roti, Judge Thomas Maloney, and multiple Outfit-linked officials, plus the shocking revelations from Operation Greylord. We detail the violent bombing campaigns against companies like Marina Cartage and the real players behind them. Finally, we examine how the Outfit collapsed from within, how its last hitman flipped during the Family Secrets trial, and how today’s Chicago mob hides behind contracts, not brass knuckles. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
19 Jul 2025
Inside Singapore's Maximum-Security Prison
In this episode, we talk about daily life inside Singapore’s maximum-security prisons—strip searches, televised family visits, and the strict routine of a controlled economy where inmates are paid around five to six dollars every two weeks. We follow inmates dealing with grief, trauma, and the long-term fallout of crimes including drug trafficking and family violence. We hear how rehabilitation efforts like Family Violence Intervention classes, mindfulness sessions, and art therapy confront cycles of violence and generational trauma. The episode also covers sentencing realities, including one inmate who avoided the death penalty after trafficking over three thousand grams of pure diamorphine, and another navigating a possible divorce after years of incarceration. Emotional survival, not just physical confinement, becomes the centerpiece of prison life. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
12 Jul 2025
Red Light Murder (The Daniel Murdoch Case)
In this episode, we talk about how three unrelated incidents—running a red light, a welfare check on an elderly man, and a suspicious hospital death—spiraled into major criminal investigations. We break down how a traffic stop uncovered Daniel Murdoch, a felon armed with multiple illegal firearms; how a detective’s visit revealed a serial burglar targeting vulnerable seniors; and how a supposed food poisoning death turned out to be arsenic murder tied to a financial dispute and a past murder plot. We cover the evidence, arrests, and full police investigations that led to convictions, including a six-and-a-half-year sentence for Murdoch and a life sentence for the poisoner. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
6 Jul 2025
Drug Smugglers Fight Their Addictions In Prison
In this episode, we step inside the hidden world of Singapore’s prison system, following men who swap violence for vocabulary, who trace old scars to find new ways forward. We listen as they confess hunger on highways, nights with no roof, the weight of fists that once felt like power. We hear how small acts — asking for a pencil, earning a movie night, tracing their childhood on scraps of paper — become seeds for a life beyond bars. Inside cramped classrooms and cold yards, they name the broken parts of themselves, stitch them together with lessons, promises, and hopes for a roof they can finally call their own. This is the echo of rain through concrete, a story of second chances found in the simplest details: a teacher’s calm voice, a counselor’s patient question, a promise whispered to a frightened boy inside a grown man’s chest. From empty train stations to open skies glimpsed twice a week, this is freedom rewritten one small step at a time. Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: Power & Influence Luxury & Prestige Wealth & Finance Erotic Audio Personal Growth & Achievement Crime & Corruption (True Crime) Knowledge & Ideas History & Legacy News, Culture & Society Technology & Innovation Exploration & Wonder
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