Targeted unravels the chilling modern phenomenon of weaponized information and institutional power, spotlighting stories of those who’ve faced coordinated smear campaigns, Interpol red notices and sanctions meant to destroy.
Explore untold stories of individuals targeted by false accusations in business, politics and public life – backed by research, evidence and thought-provoking storytelling.
Learn more at Targeted.com
Pavel Ivlev - The Lawyer Who Refused To Betray His Client
Russian lawyer Pavel Ivlev fled to the United States in 2004 after refusing to fabricate testimony against Mikhail Khodorkovsky during the Russian government’s dismantling of oil giant Yukos Oil Company. Labeled a fugitive and accused of bribery and embezzlement, Ivlev’s life was upended as he fought political persecution. Now vindicated but remains a long-term political refugee, Ivlev reflects on his role in one of Russia’s most infamous legal battles and the price of standing up to an authoritarian regime.
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7 May 2025
Aron Shaviv - The Targeting Victim Turned Targeting Expert
In 2019, international political strategist Aron Shaviv was the target of an Interpol Red Notice accusing him of terrorism and involvement in a coup attempt in Montenegro, a claim linked to his work for an opposition party that was challenging a 27-year regime. Eventually cleared by Interpol and named in a U.S. Human Rights Report as a victim of misuse of international law enforcement tools for politically motivated reprisal, this episode highlights how Shaviv’s ordeal impacted his career, finances and family life for years to follow.
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30 Apr 2025
Amalia Zatari & Dr. Alexandra Arkhipova - The Story That Unmasked A Serial Targeter
BBC Russia journalist Amalia Zatari and anthropologist Dr. Arkhipova exposed the identity of a Kremlin supporter that used a false name to snitch on those critical of the war in Ukraine. Amalia’s reporting revealed how this individual’s actions contributed to several dissidents being targeted by the regime and labeled as foreign agents, shedding light on the personal risks faced by those who dare to speak out.
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23 Apr 2025
Gaurav Srivastava - The Businessman Brought Down By Disinformation (Pt. 2)
Gaurav Srivastava was targeted by a smear campaign accusing him of being a fraud. These accusations were a failed attempt to avert the sanctioning of his former business partner by the UK, EU, and Switzerland for illicit trading in Russian oil. As disinformation spread across news websites, Wikipedia, and social media, it then spilled over into real life with phone calls and emails targeting his friends, family, business associates, banks and parents of his children's school, causing significant damage to his reputation, disrupting his business, and casting a dark shadow over his personal life. After enduring these claims for nearly two years, Gaurav is finally breaking his silence, sharing the impact of these accusations and his ongoing battle to reclaim his reputation.
Follow Zach Abramotwitz on X and subscribe to his substack Legally Disrupted
Go to targeted.com to learn more...
16 Apr 2025
Gaurav Srivastava - The Businessman Brought Down By Disinformation (Pt. 1)
Gaurav Srivastava was targeted by a smear campaign accusing him of being a fraud. These accusations were a failed attempt to avert the sanctioning of his former business partner by the UK, EU, and Switzerland for illicit trading in Russian oil. As disinformation spread across news websites, Wikipedia, and social media, it then spilled over into real life with phone calls and emails targeting his friends, family, business associates, banks and parents of his children's school, causing significant damage to his reputation, disrupting his business, and casting a dark shadow over his personal life. After enduring these claims for nearly two years, Gaurav is finally breaking his silence, sharing the impact of these accusations and his ongoing battle to reclaim his reputation.
Follow Zach Abramotwitz on X and subscribe to his substack Legally Disrupted
Go to targeted.com to learn more...
9 Apr 2025
Nathan Law - The Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Chased Into Exile
Pro-democracy Hong Kong activist Nathan Law discusses the ongoing risks he faces while in exile.
He was the youngest representative in Hong Kong's history and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. During the Umbrella Movement in 2014, Nathan was one of the five representatives who took part in the dialogue with the government, debating political reform and upholding non-violent civic actions. Yet his seat was overturned in July 2017 following Beijing’s constitutional reinterpretation, despite international criticism. Nathan was later jailed for his participation in the Umbrella Movement. In 2020, he was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME. He has been in exile in the UK since 2020.
Follow Zach Abramotwitz on X and subscribe to his substack Legally Disrupted
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8 Apr 2025
How do you defend against an entire government's targeting?
Nobel Peace Prize nominee Nathan Law is one of the brave leaders of Hong Kong’s 2014 “Umbrella Revolution,” who rallied tens of thousands of people in defense of democracy. But even with so many people on his side, he knows that standing up to the Chinese Communist Party means being faced with an opponent whose resources are on a massive scale.
2 Apr 2025
Jonathan Taylor - The Whistleblower Whose Life Was Crushed (Pt. 2)
British lawyer and whistleblower Jonathan Taylor exposed a $275 million bribery scheme by SBM Offshore, a multinational oil firm, only to become the target of defamation suits, SLAPP tactics, and an Interpol Red Notice. As part of the wider campaign to silence him, Taylor was arrested in Croatia and was nearly extradited to Monaco on unfounded charges. He subsequently spent years under de-facto legal siege while fighting to hold corrupt executives accountable. Now vindicated but without escaping damaging impact, Taylor recounts his harrowing journey from whistleblower to survivor, demonstrating the risk and impact of exposing corporate corruption.
Follow Zach Abramotwitz on X and subscribe to his substack Legally Disrupted
Go to targeted.com to learn more...
26 Mar 2025
Jonathan Taylor - The Whistleblower Whose Life Was Crushed (Pt. 1)
British lawyer and whistleblower Jonathan Taylor exposed a $275 million bribery scheme by SBM Offshore, a multinational oil firm, only to become the target of defamation suits, SLAPP tactics, and an Interpol Red Notice. As part of the wider campaign to silence him, Taylor was arrested in Croatia and was nearly extradited to Monaco on unfounded charges. He subsequently spent years under de-facto legal siege while fighting to hold corrupt executives accountable. Now vindicated but without escaping damaging impact, Taylor recounts his harrowing journey from whistleblower to survivor, demonstrating the risk and impact of exposing corporate corruption.
Follow Zach Abramotwitz on X and subscribe to his substack Legally Disrupted
Go to targeted.com to learn more...
Editor's Note: **CORRECTION** - Jonathan has informed us that he received the email from SBM executive Sietze Hepkema before his negotiations for a greater severance package failed, not after. He assured us this does not affect our telling of the story. But we apologize for this error and any confusion it may have caused.
24 Mar 2025
What does it mean to be "targeted"?
The journey into the realm of bureaucratic nightmares, bitter personal disputes and clandestine political repression begins this week as we prepare to launch our season premiere. How much damage can your reputation take before you reach the breaking point? What does it take to clear your name? Where do you turn when the systems you trusted are weaponized against you? To answer the questions and the many more that are sure to arise, search for TARGETED on YouTube this Wednesday, listen wherever you get your podcasts, and go to targeted.com to learn more…
17 Mar 2025
What would YOU do if you were targeted?
What would you do if you woke up one morning to find your world turned upside down? Hundreds of negative articles have flooded the internet overnight and your name has been dragged through digital mud, your bank accounts have been frozen, and whispers are spreading—parents at your kids’ school have been contacted, told you’re a “bad influence.” Your life, your livelihood, your reputation, everything you’ve built is under threat.
Targeted unravels the chilling modern phenomenon of weaponized information and institutional power, spotlighting stories of those who’ve faced coordinated smear campaigns, Interpol red notices and sanctions meant to destroy.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,483,821
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.3 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 64 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
72
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
50
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