Impact Podcasts

Impact Podcasts

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Impact podcasts create narrative investigative podcasts that shine a light on major crimes or scandals in communities covered by DC Thomson brands such as The Courier and The Press and Journal. Impact’s first season, Hunting Mr X, centred on the story of former North Sea oil diver Julian Chisholm who orchestrated a £100m cocaine deal with the Cali cartel. It was shortlisted for best podcast at the UK Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards in 2023. Season two - ’Vanished: The Arlene Fraser Murder’ - is also now available. Follow investigative journalist Dale Haslam as he uncovers what really happened in Scotland’s biggest ever missing persons case. In 1998, 33-year-old mum of two Arlene Fraser was at her home one minute - and gone the next. The team involved in Impact includes reporters Dale Haslam and Brendan Duggan, Senior Audio Producer Morven McIntyre, and Special Projects Editor Cheryl Livingstone. Check out more investigations from the Impact team here: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/category/pj-investigations/ and https://www.thecourier.co.uk/category/courier-investigations/

DC Thomson


    • Mar 17, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 21m AVG DURATION
    • 24 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Impact Podcasts

    S3 EP5: Not Proven

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 38:57


    After a stunning verdict, Brendan tracks down Annalise's brother Jordan and investigates where the case stands today. 

    S3 EP4: The Trial

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 30:54


    Two suspects stand trial for Annalise's murder. In the courtroom, shocking accusations, revelations, and contradictions emerge.  A trial is supposed to bring closure. But in this case, it only raises more questions. 

    S3 EP3: The Brother

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 25:53


    As their investigation deepens, police begin to focus on Jordan Johnstone.  He was the last known person to see Annalise alive. The evidence begins to mount. 

    brothers jordan johnstone
    Who Killed Annalise? Episode 3 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 5:06


    Episode 3 of 'Who Killed Annalise?' will be released Monday February 24 on all major podcast platforms.  To listen to the entire series for free download the Courier App in the link below: https://courier-newspaper.onelink.me/sLwV/hscl030m

    S3 EP2: My Life by Annalise

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 28:38


    Through Annalise's own personal writings, Investigative Journalist Brendan Duggan uncovers details of her troubled childhood.  He travels to her childhood home to speak with her family. But will they reveal the full story of Annalise's life before her tragic death? 

    'Who Killed Annalise?' Episode 2 Teaser

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 3:03


    Episode 2 of 'Who Killed Annalise?' will be released Monday February 24 on all major podcast platforms.  To listen to the entire series for free download the Courier App in the link below: https://courier-newspaper.onelink.me/sLwV/hscl030m

    S3 EP1: A Murder in Perthshire

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2025 26:50


    Two hikers stumble upon a body in a wooded area off a country road in Perthshire. Police quickly determine this isn't the murder scene—Annalise Johnstone was killed elsewhere.  Meanwhile, her brother, Jordan Johnstone, walks into a Dundee police station to report her missing. But detectives sense he's withholding something. 

    Who Killed Annalise? Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 1:34


    Introducing “Who Killed Annalise?” a five-part true crime podcast series from The Courier and DC Thomson. In 2023, Police Scotland claimed they had solved every homicide since 2013. But for the family of Annalise Johnstone, one question remains: Who Killed Annalise? Annalise Johnstone was killed in the shadow of a witch's grave in 2018. Annalise's brother, Jordan Johnstone, and his girlfriend, Angela Newlands, were charged in connection with her brutal killing—but neither was ever convicted. The Courier revisits the cold case of Annalise Johnstone like never before, uncovering new details and speaking with those closest to the investigation: journalists, detectives, and witnesses. The Podcast also features interviews with Annalise's family, which is significant given that one was once a suspect. New episodes of Who Killed Annalise? drop weekly starting February 17, 2025. Listen ad-free and binge the full series now on The Courier app.  

    S2 EP6: The body

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 22:18


    25 years have passed since Arlene Fraser went missing and her killer could be out of jail soon. But Arlene's family still don't know where she is. Arlene's sister explains how she is campaigning for a change in the law to ensure Arlene's killer can never leave jail - unless he says where her body is buried.

    S2 EP5: Released

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 26:30


    As doubts emerge about some of the evidence used to jail the killer, the courts are left with no choice but to let him go. As he returns home, all hell breaks loose, with bar brawls and bouncers getting between warring factions. Will Arlene's killer ever be brought to justice? Episode 6 will be released on Monday, December 11.

    Q & A with host Dale Haslam

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 1:03


    Investigative journalist Dale Haslam, who spoke to Arlene's friends, family, and those who brought her killer to justice, answers your questions about the case. Read all the questions and answers here.

    S2 EP4: The lipreader

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 24:44


    Frustrated by a lack of progress, detectives turn to a lipreader in an attempt to build evidence - and strike gold. It is enough to build a case against a key suspect, convince his friends to testify against him - all leading up to a dramatic court showdown. Episode 5 will be released on Monday, December 4.

    Trailer: Vanished

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 0:30


    Introducing Vanished: A new 6-part true crime podcast series from Impact Podcasts and the DC Thomson title The Press and Journal.

    S2 EP3: Just say nothing

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 27:58


    Six months have passed and there is still no clear lead in the case - and Arlene Fraser is still missing. But a new team of detectives dubbed 'the A team' arrive on the scene and make a breakthrough. Police make a key arrest - and use leverage to launch an undercover operation in a bid to snare a suspect. Episode 4 will be released on Monday, November 27.

    S2 EP2: The 'concerned' husband

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 29:58


    A crack team of detectives arrives in Elgin to investigate Arlene Fraser's disappearance - and they quickly begin to suspect her husband of foul play after a suspicious phone call. But he tries every trick in the book to the throw police off the scent - and officers are perplexed by his cast-iron alibi.

    S2 EP1: Arlene

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 43:36


    How does someone just vanish? In 1998, Arlene suddenly disappears from her home in the north-east of Scotland - and she was previously known to police as a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, Nat Fraser. Investigative journalist Dale Haslam travels to Elgin to investigate.

    S1 Bonus Ep: The making of Hunting Mr X

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 21:58


    In the second of our bonus episodes, we take you behind the scenes of our true crime podcast, Hunting Mr X. In a revealing conversation, host Brendan Duggan sits down with Impact Investigations reporter Dale Haslam to uncover the extensive work that went into crafting this gripping series. Get a glimpse into the investigative process and learn about the months of dedication chasing leads and interviews that that brought Hunting Mr X to life. If you have any questions about Mr X or tips about Julian Chisholm, please email brendan.duggan@dcthomson.co.uk. To read more about this case go here.

    S1 Bonus Ep: A history of drugs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 25:54


    In the first of two new bonus episodes of Hunting Mr X, we dive even deeper into the UK's gritty underworld in the 1980s and 1990s. Host Brendan Duggan is joined by two guests to learn how the criminal industry evolved and the devastating impact of the drug scene on communities during these turbulent times. Retired detective chief superintendent Neil Leslie is now a lecturer of criminology and policing at Abertay University and Richard Prest is DC Thomson's head of content development and a former crime reporter. If you have any questions about Mr X or tips about Julian Chisholm, please 89email brendan.duggan@dcthomson.co.uk. To read more about this case go The Press and Journal for more information.

    S1 EP5: Prison Break

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 27:40


    It's not how you thought this story was going to end. Listen to the epic conclusion to Hunting Mr X and find out where each of our characters ended up after their lives were forever changed by Julian Chisholm. For more Mr X content, visit www.thecourier.co.uk/ and www.pressandjournal.co.uk/

    S1 EP4: The Bright Orange Van

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 26:29


    The net closes in on the gang as police and customs officers swoop after weeks of covert surveillance stretching from Spain to Scotland. Customs investigator Graham Dick races to intercept the huge drugs haul, which is packed in a bright orange van, but gets the surprise of his life. For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/ Episode 5 coming June 15th

    S1 EP3: The Storm

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 21:10


    After being put in a car during the middle of the night, on the orders of Julian Chisholm, Chris Howarth and Noel Hawkins eventually find themselves in Gibraltar where they then set off on a journey across the Atlantic to pick up 500kg of cocaine from the Cali Cartel. They are faced with a battle for survival as the pair try to land the drugs near Ullapool amid a fierce storm. This is not the end of the story... Episode 4 releases June 8 Episode 5 releases June 15 For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

    S1 EP2: Operation Klondyke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 22:30


    From Spain to Ullapool, customs officer Graham Dick and his team keep a watchful eye on the gang's movements. As they begin to build a case against Julian Chisholm, Graham has a hunch Chisholm, who later became known as Mr X, is planning something big with his criminal associates - including latest recruit, “Crazy” Chris Howarth. For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

    S1 EP1: Anthrax Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 25:04


    A young and ambitious diver from the Highland village of Straffpeffer travels to Aberdeen in search of fortune but his sights aren't just set on oil money. Julian Chisholm forms a gang with the intention of smuggling drugs into Scotland through a once dangerous deserted island. For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

    Trailer: Hunting Mr X

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2023 1:20


    Introducing Hunting Mr X: A new 5-part true crime podcast series from the DC Thomson titles The Press and Journal and The Courier

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