Smoke Screen: My Friend, the Serial Killer

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Smoke Screen is an investigative documentary series on people with complex motives and morals. Follow characters on the fringes of society — con artists, cult leaders, corrupt politicians — as they seduce their marks and bend communities to their will. Join us as we unravel their stories and bring justice to the people they’ve deceived. SEASON 10: The Greatest Scam Ever Written - Coming August 1st What would you do if one handwritten letter promised to change your life forever? All of us want magic, to feel like there is some sort of exterior force guiding our next steps, to believe our fate is written in the stars. This is the story of 1 million hopeful Americans, the global scam that took $200m from them, and the mastermind who managed it all by sending out thousands of letters a week.Investigative journalist Rachel Browne takes us through the facts of the fraud, from its brilliantly simple conception to the revelation and imprisonment of the fraudster themselves. Speaking through letters from behind bars, the con artist maintains their innocence, saying:  ‘Maybe it's not moral, maybe it's bullshit, but it doesn’t mean it's fraud.’ And that is the question at the heart of The Greatest Scam Ever Written: What happens if you want to believe that sending $50 to a psychic will change the course of your destiny? Are you a victim, or a willing participant?SEASON 9: My Friend, the Serial KillerIn the 1970s, Steve Fishman was an intern at his local newspaper, when one day he hitched a ride back from Boston with Robert Carr III, better known as “Red.” Red seemed trustworthy enough, but he was hiding a secret: by the time he had picked up Steve, he had already killed three people—and all of his prior victims were hitchhikers themselves. Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free, by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month. Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Smoke Screen show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you listen.SEASON 8: My Fugitive DadAshley’s Dad was her favorite person in the world. He drove fast cars and sold them for a living. He was a scratch golfer and the love of her Mum’s life. Ashley thought she knew him better than anyone. But at 38, she found out he wasn’t who he said he was. Inspired by his favorite movie the Thomas Crown Affair, he had pulled off a robbery in Cleveland then disappeared. It turns out he evaded the authorities for half a century, living in their sleepy Massachusetts town. His secret upended his family’s life, but another family’s too. Because from the moment this 20-year-old vault teller escaped with $215,000 in 1969, Deputy U.S. Marshal John Elliott made it his life’s mission to bring him to justice. After he retired, his son even took up his mantle. For this six episode podcast, host Jonathan Hirsch teams up with Ashley Randele to unravel the mystery of how her Dad got away with it, and ultimately, why he left behind everyone and everything to start over. SEASON 7: Betrayal on the BayouFor almost two decades, DEA Special Agent Chad Scott ruled the streets just North of New Orleans. He controlled a network of snitches by convincing people he arrested to work for him as informants. Chad would stop at nothing to put drug dealers behind bars. His successes won awards at the DEA, but his willingness to bend the rules earned him a terrifying reputation on the streets. Some called him the Golden Boy. Others called him the White Devil. But when one of guys on Chad's team is caught dealing drugs, Chad’s life is overturned. His right-hand men betray him and confess everything to the FBI. Investigators go over his career with a fine-toothed comb, asking the question: is Chad Scott the greatest DEA Agent in the South, or is he a criminal? SEASON 6: Just Say You're SorrySEASON 5: Deadly CureSEASON 4: Puppy KingpinSEASON 3: The Sellout SEASON 2: I Am Rama SEASON 1: Fake Priest

Introducing: The Greatest Scam Ever Written
Jul 25, 2024 – 03:34
My Friend, the Serial Killer | 6. Unfinished Business
Jul 8, 2024 – 36:58
My Friend, the Serial Killer | 5. Donna
Jul 1, 2024 – 45:25
My Friend, the Serial Killer | 4. The Exclusive
Jun 24, 2024 – 40:10
My Friend, the Serial Killer | 3. Take Us To The Bodies
Jun 17, 2024 – 32:14
My Friend, the Serial Killer | 2. Confessions
Jun 10, 2024 – 32:14
My Friend, the Serial Killer | 1. Local Man
Jun 3, 2024 – 35:00
Introducing: My Friend, the Serial Killer
May 28, 2024 – 02:55
The Most Dangerous Man You've Never Heard Of - Who is John Todd?
May 6, 2024 – 03:54
Introducing The Runaway Princesses from In The Dark and The New Yorker
Feb 2, 2024 – 14:12
My Fugitive Dad | 6. Settling Accounts
Jan 8, 2024 – 50:53
My Fugitive Dad | 5. Tom's Very Last Round
Jan 1, 2024 – 33:46
My Fugitive Dad | 4. The Ringer
Dec 25, 2023 – 40:06
My Fugitive Dad | 3. The Last Randele
Dec 18, 2023 – 46:05
My Fugitive Dad | 2. The Hunt
Dec 11, 2023 – 30:47
My Fugitive Dad | 1. Becoming Thomas Crown
Dec 4, 2023 – 41:50
Introducing: My Fugitive Dad
Nov 17, 2023 – 02:19
Introducing *Crime Waves: Cold Truth*
Nov 8, 2023 – 03:00
Betrayal on the Bayou | 8. Approximation of Justice
Sep 18, 2023 – 47:01
Betrayal on the Bayou | 7. Inside the War Room
Sep 11, 2023 – 44:18
Betrayal on the Bayou | 6. Cops to Canaries
Sep 4, 2023 – 47:43
Betrayal on the Bayou | 5. Deal at the DoubleTree
Aug 28, 2023 – 39:07
Betrayal on the Bayou | 4. A Sign of Good Faith
Aug 21, 2023 – 39:56
Betrayal on the Bayou | 3. Kid Gloves
Aug 14, 2023 – 48:26
Betrayal on the Bayou | 2. The A-Team
Aug 8, 2023 – 42:36
Betrayal on the Bayou | 1. The White Devil
Aug 1, 2023 – 44:03
Introducing: Betrayal on the Bayou
Jul 18, 2023 – 03:10
Assassins, Heists, & Nazis - The Untold Story of the Abortion Pill in America
Jul 10, 2023 – 07:50
Just Say You’re Sorry | 6. Closure Doesn’t Exist
Jun 5, 2023 – 48:42
Just Say You’re Sorry | 5. The Serial Killer Whisperer
May 29, 2023 – 54:35
Just Say You’re Sorry | 4. Memory, Taste and Odor
May 22, 2023 – 54:07
Just Say You’re Sorry | 3. The Grand Canyon
May 15, 2023 – 53:00
Just Say You’re Sorry | 2. The Word of God
May 8, 2023 – 47:18
Just Say You’re Sorry | 1. Not That I Recall
May 1, 2023 – 36:03
Introducing: Just Say You're Sorry
Apr 24, 2023 – 02:31
Deadly Cure | 8. The Rattlesnake King
Mar 15, 2023 – 29:32
Deadly Cure | 7. Doing Time
Mar 8, 2023 – 35:45
Deadly Cure | 6. The Raid
Mar 1, 2023 – 42:06
Deadly Cure | 5. Operation Quack Hack
Feb 22, 2023 – 40:18
Deadly Cure | 4. The Limelight
Feb 15, 2023 – 35:40
Deadly Cure | 3. The Martyr
Feb 8, 2023 – 36:57
Deadly Cure | 2. The Bleach Hunters
Feb 1, 2023 – 35:28
Deadly Cure | 1. Genesis
Feb 1, 2023 – 38:10
Introducing: Deadly Cure
Jan 18, 2023 – 03:23
A New Investigation: The Last Days of the NXIVM Sex Cult
Jan 5, 2023 – 06:27
GOING UNDERCOVER
Aug 4, 2022 – 07:47
A New Case: The Criminal Empire of Scam Calls
Aug 1, 2022 – 15:32
A Q&A with Smoke Screen host Alex Schuman
Jul 22, 2022 – 16:32
Puppy Kingpin | 7. Consequences
Jul 21, 2022 – 34:35
Puppy Kingpin | 6. License to Sell
Jul 14, 2022 – 38:07

Recent Reviews

basic mitch

What?

So I have no idea what Carr said in any of the tapes - absolutely terrible audio. Second - Steve - my god, do you have any kind of intuition? This whole series was like listening to your ambition - never really looking for the story but just trying to see yourself in it. Gross.
Elle Em Esse

Excellent reporting

Compelling. A must-listen! Thanks to this season and Steve Fishman, I will be following his career. Can’t wait to absorb everything he’s done!
trmoor

Missed question

Why wouldn’t he ask if he had planned to kill him and if so why did he change his mind????
Rare Diva 53

Excellent!

I have only listened to season 9 but definitely plan to listen to the other 8 seasons. The writing was excellent. The balance of the narrator, investigators, victims and the serial killer himself had a very natural flow unlike many crime broadcasts. The killer’s daughter was a large part of the story and her explanations of her childhood, discovering who her father truly was and the many ways that changed her life and the mixed emotions and feelings that followed her throughout her life were so sensible. Of course, she dealt with many experiences and emotions through no fault of her own. Though she did hold on to undeserved blame simply because he was her father, it seemed she was as mentally stable and able to live life as well as anyone could under those circumstances. I believe this was due to her obvious intelligence. Another thing that I enjoyed about this series, is that obviously it was a story of a serial killer, a monster as is made clear in the title. Yet, there were no gory or bloody details even in the descriptions, mostly in his own words, some of which were actual tapes of him and some an actor using his words. There was no need for gory details and I attribute that to the brilliance of the writer. I have to say one of the most fascinating things about the entire story which I believe was in part due to the writing and in part due to who this man was apart from a monster. He was polite even when detailing his crimes. He was polite, gently spoken and dealt with his victims almost with a reasonable kindness, until of course he began the assault. This results in you almost liking him. Even some of the investigators involved attested to this which of course is both brilliant and a bit confusing. Obviously, the story brings you to the point where you are rooting for the ultimate punishment as he is a monster. Yet, the fact that he is likable, though this goes against human nature, really adds to the uniqueness of this story. If you like smart true crime especially without having to hear the actual violence and gore, I highly recommend this podcast!
EutawStBully

Writer Injected himself into this

This podcast is sickening. First off he titles it “My Friend the Serial Killer” Steven wants his relationship with Carr to be something more than what was essentially an Uber ride and ue injects himself every single place he could. Including going to his Carr’s wifes home and then hanging out with his 12 year old daughter…,ALONE!!! His conversation with a medical examiner they literally reminisce about how great of a guy Carr was. In the end as his daughter and a victims family member are on a phone call he once again has to inject himself into it. Absolutely Disgusting podcast
Hollyhoo1

My Friend the Serial killer

Story is told very well. It’s gruesome and sad for the victims. But, it demonstrates why my parents said never hitch hike - we’ll take you where ever you want to go.
Jboyles423

Not it

Started this pod with season 7 because it looked interesting but quickly became disgusted by the sympathy leveled towards drug dealers just because the majority of them are black. Didn’t finish the first episode and don’t plan to.
Skyler_Paff

Cringe

The subject and writer is self obsessed and learned nothing from his experience. It’s all about his ‘scoop’ then and now. Cringe voice, there’s nothing to investigate.
CrackedV

Lacking substance

The host is self righteous, and the storytelling lacks nuance. I don’t feel as if there is any insight gained by listening to this.
Brooke276

Good but we need help!

Interesting story and well done but man…those conversation tapes were clear as mud many times throughout. I would have liked if the author clarified what Carr said because I missed at least 30%. AND THAT MEDICAL EXAMINER IS SUS. That guy has bodies of his own out there.
TL MAC Ent. LLC

Deceptive

Had to pay for the subscription to hear the last episode…not disclosed at the beginning.
Smooth d tickle

TFATK is better

Do yourself a favor and go watch the fighter and the kid. TFATK is the best.
internetbridget

Steve

is a pretentious cornball. I can’t listen.
Kat041778

The title is off

The reporter considers himself a “friend” of the rapist/murderer because he met him once when he happened to hitch a ride from him. Kind of gross. The story does not sound like it is told by a reporter, too self centered, too sensationalized.
That guy who rates stuff

Good content…a little drawn out

Good content, solid storytelling. But a lot of these seasons can be trimmed down to a few episodes. Season 5 for example, very interesting story, but they circle back a lot and make small events to be much bigger. It really should have been 4 episodes tops.
EvenMorePerfect

S. 9 E. 4

Dear Steve. Car is NOT (from what I’m hearing) saying he is some innocent by standard. If he thought that he wouldn’t have put HIMSELF in prison. What he is saying is this could have been prevented if the SYSTEM did what they were suppose to! People should go to prison to be a caged animal only to get out and be harder and more violent! They should be in prison to assessed and rehabilitated to the best of our ability. To be educated and thought a skill or trade. Or prison system is the worse. He’d he saying that he cannot control his impulses, he knows that, he admits that and the state should have also evaluated him and realized that. I’ll give you a 4/5 stars for not looking at this rationally.
snippy mcsnipface

The Voice and its Humble Pride

Steve Fishman and his voice are obnoxious and make listening to this story a trial akin to the medieval torture of a saint. I was particularly unimpressed by his smarmy self-righteousness when he corrected a Southerner that the midday meal was actually called “lunch” and not “dinner.” We in the South know a little bit more about our vocabulary than the poorly informed Mr. Fishman does. This could have been a much better podcast had a voice actor played the role of Mr. Fishman, As it is, the podcast is not about journalism nor about a serial killer. It is about the not-particularly-interesting-to-others Mr. Fishman who possesses a voice and tone that ,as I have pointed out, make a martyr of the mundane ears who happen to hear him.
Lindsoid

Capitalizes on drama for ratings

The story is certainly interesting but the host/journalist is clearly capitalizing on the suffering of the victims for dramatic effect. Kind of feels gross. Couldn’t listen to it without thinking about how angry I would be if a desperate podcast host used the story of my loved one’s demise to boost his career and manipulated it with cliché, dramatic effect for increased ratings.
casiec4

This story gets crazier by the minute

Dr. Wright sounds like a psychopath! Autopsy at the gravesite?? What? Pocket knife? Grinds with Carr. OMG cannot believe what I’m hearing
chairyoh

My Friend the Serial Killer

True crime stories give voice to victims and give a picture of the depths of pain and maybe even evil in our fellow humans. But this podcast gives voice to a man who rapes people. There is a place for that voice- for the man telling “his” story in his own words. But the woman in his story (and the children, I would image in subsequent stories) don’t get to talk. Not in that moment by moment calm as F way. I think it’s messed up to call this podcast “My friend” and to have the reporter center himself in the story of man who gets to report his own story of true evil. He is not your friend. He’s not a person. The person in the story of a woman being kidnapped, befriended, raped, manipulated, terrified, betrayed and more… is that woman. Sure. Make this podcast. Listen to it. That’s within the freedom of the press I think. But please read the words of the people who don’t want his story told in his words.
arielall7

Season 9

Interesting if you can get past this guys’ voice. If he were a woman he wouldn’t have this opportunity.
ktwlks

Goes downhill real fast……

I loved the first season (I started with season 9), then I listened to Season 8 which was okay. By the title of this podcast, you would assume serial killers and the like. But one was about a bank heist, then a pet store selling puppies, then a health product scam (which also included TONS OF PROPAGANDA). Horrible. And uninteresting. Really disappointed. Don’t pay for the subscription.
Feral Yuppie

Host exhalation

I hate to defame another’s creation but this is more a podcast about the host than the murderer or victims. It seems overdramatized with the host’s sing song cadence. It just hits weird tho it has a much potential.
FNOMINL

So far, stories well told!

I like the production…clean, good timing, no interfering music in all the wrong places! My new binge listen! Haven’t heard this Ashley person yet! Praying she doesn’t have an irritating voice and is a distraction to his well rhythmic storytelling!
MoisesAlouPeePeeHands76

Jm JJ

YJiijjj
#1Zepp Fan

Guuuuuh

I’m going to listen to this entire series but I don’t feel good about it. It’s a captivating story and the hosts delivery is strong but I think on the whole it’s faux ethical. There’s a lot of talk about mistakes he made as a young reporter that he’s trying to rectify here, he says he got swept up in making a societal story and not challenging the killer because it’s what won awards at the time. Yet here is a story that doesn’t concern itself with the societal issues at all and describes the murders in gross detail and stays entirely focused on the host/killer relationship. Because that is the story that make for podcasts now. I don’t think any one learned any lessons or had any genuine introspection on why tell this story now, it seems to me like they want to squeeze every ounce of pulp out of intellectual property which I presume none of the victims families will see a penny of. If you don’t care about that sort of thing, the production is less annoying than most shows so enjoy. But this is disposable content giving a drag performance of a good faith production.
WeWouldBeDeadPod

Who's on trial here?

Did this medical examiner go on to commit crimes of his own? The host speaks about him as though he's a criminal, repeating "technique" over and over. If not, this is borderline slanderous. I mean I didn't like the way Dr. Wright seemed to be bemused by this horrible man and his actions, but it left me wondering if perhaps he was the serial killer after all.
Niiicccki

It’s alright

The story is okay. I hope the families of these victims don’t hear the interview with Dr. Wright. It would be insulting hearing him speak so highly of the killer.
weedxdog

My friend the serial killer

The host is way too full of himself. That coroner in episode 3 getting no push back on sounding like a sociopath was weird to me. The host is making his part in this so much more important than it was — centering himself like he was really ever in danger. This man killed children and women, not full grown men. He was never his intended victim. I’m really annoyed with this guy.
jnlking

Self obsessed host

Steve seems more into himself than the story he is telling. I listened to three episodes and couldn't do it anymore.
Churls Pugson

Season 10

Ummm… Can someone check in on Dr. Wright (season 9, ep 3)? Anyone else think he’ll be staring season 10?
Toydogwife

Forced subscription

I was really enjoying the episodes until I found I could not access the others without agreeing to a subscription at cost. Am deleting the podcast now.
Cstovicek

Good except for one thing

The second speaker Ashley doesn’t sound in sync with the host. She is over emotional like she’s trying to sell what she’s saying. She not really enjoying to listen too. I hope she is not in every episode.
82619jdk

Behind a pay wall. Pass

Have to pay to get past episode 2
girllovespods

Serial killer had me hooked!!

Couldn’t stop listening to this one!!
Em685

My Friend The Serial Killer!

Listen to season 9. Crazy story! I binged it in 2 days
Lizard819

Too much filler

This is interesting and had potential but it’s at least half filler that doesn’t go anywhere and the host is overly into monologuing about himself. A good editor and some restructuring would have made a better podcast
pod chap

Serial Killer Killer story

Wow, what a story. To get in the mind of a serial killer is a rare thing. The host is great.
AZohAZzzzzzzzzz

My friend the serial killer

Another “true crime” podcast that’s really just a giant brag by a journalist and how amazing he is. Dude reminds us repeatedly and seemingly proudly how he had a (brief, not scary, probably embellished and possibly mostly untrue) encounter with a serial killer (“sssssseeeeerial killer” as he says over and over and over). He injects his self-importance way too much. Uninteresting and uninspired. Only 1 additional star for the original 1970s era tapes that are well preserved or restored and easy to understand.
Upset23232323

Must Listen!

Absolutely loved the story and thought Ashley was great for telling her father’s story! Found it very interesting and intriguing.
brovixen

Such potential.

Unfortunately, the stellar performance of the main host is overshadowed by the daughter’s contribution, which detracts from the overall quality of Season 8 of the podcast. Fantastic concept, but the execution falls short.
AWiz37

Hosts are a bit dramatic

This was an interesting story, but the hosts performance is too much. Trying to make it dramatic. They should have left the daughter out completely, because she sounds like she’s performing and scripted. Also, they repeat things and then skip around. Not well executed. Still worth a listen.
fhhxfhbvyd

Daughter

It was okay until the daughter started her performance.
Curious Lo

Trying too hard

I should admit upfront that I couldn’t get through the first episode, it was like listening some eight-year-old kid with a flashlight under a blanket in gleefully reading a Hardy boy’s mystery out loud. Because the thing is, when you’ve got a good story, and this is a good one, you need to just tell it. Don’t waste our time or your energy by relishing every other paragraph as if they were all so fascinating and a real page turner. Just tell the tale, that’s the real secret, just tell it.
jarooti

Come On People

Clearly the”Daughter” as well as the other voices heard were actors. Why not tell us that upfront and limit the negative reviews ? And yes, way too many “mum” references. A good story that could have been done more professionally.
golferpoet

Interesting yet prolonged

This is a fascinating story. However, if it was shortened to 3 or 4 it would have maintained a greater degree of fascination.
Tia E. P.

Daughter, please.

The story was interesting but the daughter is unlikeable. I did not enjoy listening to her. Could have quoted some things she said and let that be enough. He didn’t want his story told and she refused to honor his wishes. She’s the real villain here. I’m still mad she openly told this.
AshLivD

Didn’t expect to be blown away

Yes, the daughter sounds overly rehearsed when speaking but this story was intriguing. I can’t imagine what this would have been like to experience this as a wife or daughter, although I think I would have seen the red flags and dug in. Unexpectedly, I was brought to tears on the last episode, it was so emotional.
AlohaVivs

LOVED!!

I absolutely loved this show!! Great reporting and extremely heartfelt. Ultimately someone’s story doesn’t necessarily depict who they are or what they struggle with. Loved this podcast!!
J-Ace62

This wasn’t not the worst….

It may not have been the worst, but it certainly was far from good. It was probably in the bottom percentage of podcasts. I’ve listened to. I feel completely deceived by the title and I think that’s why I have such a low rating and think so low of this whole entire podcast. It definitely mentions the bank heist if that’s what you wanna call it, but when I say it mentions it, that’s all that it really does. It doesn’t go into much about the criminality of this man the act, how he survived for so long, etc. it was very dry and more about this woman complaining. It was such a, “poor is me” podcast that I couldn’t get past any of that part of it, because it took up such a large quantity of the whole story. Truthfully, I hope this woman got a lot out of this cathartically because she’s not gonna win any awards and I’m blowing away that anyone else cares to listen to this podcast. It was such a boring, bland, vanilla, she told. it could’ve been so much more and so much more interesting if she went into what the title called but instead she cried herself all the way to bed! Too bad I’ll never get the time listening to this podcast back in my life….

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Smoke Screen: My Friend, the Serial Killer

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