Tall Boy Radio

About Tall Boy Radio

Tall Boy Radio is your weekly escape from the ordinary. Join us as we crack open a cold one and dive into fascinating conversations with a diverse range of guests. From world-renowned experts to everyday heroes, we're here to explore everything from the serious to the silly. So grab a beer, kick back, and let's chat!

Publisher

Tall Boy Radio

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

15 Feb 2020

Latest episode

2 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

351 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Oct 2026

   #TBR349b - Face to Face with Whitey Bulger... Just Rich

   This version does not include Bob Ward due to sound issues. Ep349 is more complete. Crack open a cold one and join host Beans and his cousin/guest co-host Beau Barnett on this heavyweight episode of Tall Boy Radio. This week, the guys sit down for an extended, deeply personal conversation with Rich Teahan and Bob Ward, co-authors of the explosive book Face to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent's Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston's Most Notorious Gangster. Together, they dive deep into the blood-soaked history of James "Whitey" Bulger, the FBI corruption that protected him for decades, the 16-year international manhunt that finally brought him down, and the unprecedented six-hour flight where the mob boss opened up to federal law enforcement. Bob, Rich, Beans, and Beau lay bare the chilling brutal reality behind the Hollywood romanticization of James "Whitey" Bulger. As the undisputed kingpin of Boston’s Winter Hill Gang, Bulger ruled South Boston through ruthless violence, extortion, loan sharking, and narcotics trafficking. Bulger had direct involvement in at least 19 court-proven murders—ranging from rival mobsters to innocent bystanders and associates he suspected of betraying him (such as Debra Davis and Deborah Hussey). Bob and Rich don't shy way from talking about The FBI Corruption: They discuss how corrupt FBI agent John Connolly shielded Bulger under the guise of using him as a Top Echelon Informant against the Italian Mafia, effectively giving Bulger a license to commit murder with impunity. Rich Teahan, who commanded the FBI’s Whitey Bulger Task Force, takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the longest, most frustrating manhunts in American law enforcement history. • Rich shares how the task force broke through internal rivalries, overhauled their strategy, and ultimately flushed Bulger out of his hideout in Santa Monica, California, in 2011 through a targeted PSA campaign focused on his girlfriend, Catherine Greig. Upon Bulger’s arrest in California, Rich Teahan sat across from the 81-year-old mobster on a six-hour Justice Department jet flight back to Boston. • Rich provides an exclusive look at the only extensive interview Bulger ever granted to law enforcement. • He dissects Bulger's manipulative psychology, his paranoid worldview, his insistence on maintaining his "code," and what it was like to go face-to-face with a ruthless killer who knew his life on the run was finally over. Veteran Boston crime reporter Bob Ward brings a crucial, human perspective to the episode. Having covered the Bulger saga for over 30 years and hosted New England's Unsolved, Bob intimately details his bond with the families of Bulger's victims. • Bob discusses the agony these families endured while watching public agencies fail them for years, their fight for truth, and what real justice meant to those left behind after Bulger’s capture and ultimate death in prison. • Rich Teahan: A decorated 26-year veteran FBI Supervisory Special Agent who served as the commander of the FBI’s Whitey Bulger Task Force, leading the global effort that led to Bulger's capture. • Bob Ward: An Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter for WFXT-TV (Fox 25 Boston) and Silver Circle inductee who has covered New England crime and the Bulger case for more than three decades. You can pick up their book here Face to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent's Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston's Most Notorious Gangster: Amazon.co.uk: Teahan, Rich, Ward, Bob: 9781476695587: Books tallbotradio.com

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   #TBR 349 - Face to Face with Whitey Bulger

   We had sound issues with this episode that could not be fixed. This is the complete episode but if the poor sound bothers you, you can also listen to ep349b with Bob's Audio removed (Sorry Bob) Crack open a cold one and join host Beans and his cousin/guest co-host Beau Barnett on this heavyweight episode of Tall Boy Radio. This week, the guys sit down for an extended, deeply personal conversation with Rich Teahan and Bob Ward, co-authors of the explosive book Face to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent's Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston's Most Notorious Gangster. Together, they dive deep into the blood-soaked history of James "Whitey" Bulger, the FBI corruption that protected him for decades, the 16-year international manhunt that finally brought him down, and the unprecedented six-hour flight where the mob boss opened up to federal law enforcement. Bob, Rich, Beans, and Beau lay bare the chilling brutal reality behind the Hollywood romanticization of James "Whitey" Bulger. As the undisputed kingpin of Boston’s Winter Hill Gang, Bulger ruled South Boston through ruthless violence, extortion, loan sharking, and narcotics trafficking. Bulger had direct involvement in at least 19 court-proven murders—ranging from rival mobsters to innocent bystanders and associates he suspected of betraying him (such as Debra Davis and Deborah Hussey). Bob and Rich don't shy way from talking about The FBI Corruption: They discuss how corrupt FBI agent John Connolly shielded Bulger under the guise of using him as a Top Echelon Informant against the Italian Mafia, effectively giving Bulger a license to commit murder with impunity. Rich Teahan, who commanded the FBI’s Whitey Bulger Task Force, takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the longest, most frustrating manhunts in American law enforcement history. Rich shares how the task force broke through internal rivalries, overhauled their strategy, and ultimately flushed Bulger out of his hideout in Santa Monica, California, in 2011 through a targeted PSA campaign focused on his girlfriend, Catherine Greig. Upon Bulger’s arrest in California, Rich Teahan sat across from the 81-year-old mobster on a six-hour Justice Department jet flight back to Boston. Rich provides an exclusive look at the only extensive interview Bulger ever granted to law enforcement. He dissects Bulger's manipulative psychology, his paranoid worldview, his insistence on maintaining his "code," and what it was like to go face-to-face with a ruthless killer who knew his life on the run was finally over. Veteran Boston crime reporter Bob Ward brings a crucial, human perspective to the episode. Having covered the Bulger saga for over 30 years and hosted New England's Unsolved, Bob intimately details his bond with the families of Bulger's victims. Bob discusses the agony these families endured while watching public agencies fail them for years, their fight for truth, and what real justice meant to those left behind after Bulger’s capture and ultimate death in prison. Rich Teahan: A decorated 26-year veteran FBI Supervisory Special Agent who served as the commander of the FBI’s Whitey Bulger Task Force, leading the global effort that led to Bulger's capture. Bob Ward: An Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter for WFXT-TV (Fox 25 Boston) and Silver Circle inductee who has covered New England crime and the Bulger case for more than three decades. You can pick up their book here Face to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent's Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston's Most Notorious Gangster: Amazon.co.uk: Teahan, Rich, Ward, Bob: 9781476695587: Books (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Face-Whitey-Bulger-Capturing-Debriefing/dp/147669558X#detailBullets_feature_div) tallbotradio.com

3. 

   25 Sept 2026

   #TBR348 - Jack the Ripper

   In this episode of Tall Boy Radio, host Beans pulls back the fog of Victorian London to take a deep, analytical dive into history’s most infamous unidentified killer: Jack the Ripper. Joining him in the studio is renowned "Ripperologist" and author Jonathan Tye for a compelling discussion that goes far beyond the usual sensationalism of the 1888 East End murders. Together, Beans and Jonathan open by examining the enduring obsession with the Whitechapel Murders. Why does Jack the Ripper continue to hold such a dark grip on our collective imagination over a century later? The conversation pivots to a poignant truth about the victims—Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. The hosts reflect on how the harsh, impoverished lifestyles of these women likely would have vanished into historical anonymity had their lives not been tragically cut short by such heinous crimes, turning a spotlight on the tragic intersection of victimhood and historical immortality. The episode moves through the shifting landscape of Whitechapel itself, contrasting the squalor of 19th-century slums with the modern gentrification of the area today. No Ripper discussion would be complete without visiting the famed Ten Bells pub; Jonathan and Beans unpack the real role this iconic landmark played in the lives of the victims and the local community during the Autumn of Terror. Diving into the criminology of the case, they analyze the brutal nature of the crime scenes and what the specific modus operandi reveals about the killer’s psychological profile, escalation, and physical dexterity. They also sift through the case's most controversial evidence and red herrings: The Faked Ripper Diary: Deconstructing the hoax and why forgery continues to plague Ripperology. The Goulston Street Graffiti: Analyzing the mysterious chalk message ("The Juwes are the men That Will not be Blamed for nothing") left near a piece of Catherine Eddowes’ apron. The "Dear Boss" Letter: Discussing the infamous missive that gave the killer his iconic moniker and whether it was the work of the murderer or a publicity-hungry journalist. In the second half of the show, the focus shifts directly to Jonathan Tye’s ground-breaking book, Jack the Ripper? Edward Buckley - East End thug and gang member. Jonathan lays out the compelling case for why Edward Buckley deserves serious scrutiny as a prime suspect. The pair explore Buckley’s background, his place in the violent underbelly of East London gang culture, and what makes his profile so uniquely credible. Crucially, Jonathan walks through the lesser-known historical record of Buckley's other violent offenses, drawing striking parallels between his documented crimes and the brutal methods employed in the Whitechapel slayings. Whether you're a seasoned Ripperologist or a true crime enthusiast looking for a grounded, deeply researched perspective on the case, this episode offers a captivating mix of criminal psychology, social history, and fresh suspect analysis. Tune in, grab a tall boy, and step back into 1888. Pick up a copy of Jonathan's book here: Jack the Ripper?: Edward Buckley: East End Thug and Gang Member eBook : Tye, Jonathan: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Ripper-Edward-Buckley-Member-ebook/dp/B0GX3241BV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3RYWDT34NY02F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._C0CohkUm0pXCzYWyjO9dwyVCcR1SfDjDvvFEkQZ6pfC_fxf55PqcyGvqYrZZPPzuneWr9Anis3I5BavPuqt2xkFBbM8_8JZoMacW0PfydjqPxR_vy8MCi_I7zjREgnJiThsg4Q7Z9Ch1AOXOiegI5j0xMR8QN5L1nTo8uc5gop9acFPXIh2xkoNUatjmMoRRmE2LSnypsLZmmTheOVwe-pfOIvup0dFG1ITuauK4N4.1ZGDrCCQQkqpfywGJXhNyJIWSHAodwxqKSB-COxvzJM&dib_tag=se&keywords=jonathan+tye+jack+the+ripper&qid=1785358095&sprefix=jonathan+tye+jack+the+ripper%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-1) tallboyradio.com

Who has been a guest on Tall Boy Radio

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jon
• Steven Tweddell
• Tim Dunkley
• Vernon Geberth
• Tim Weaver

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

20,935

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

4.5 / 5

15 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 81 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

98

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

82

Contact Tall Boy Radio

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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