CBC and the Toronto Star have announced a partnership between their respective investigative crime podcasts, Uncover, and Suspicion, unraveling the story of Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned FBI Most Wanted fugitive and alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding.
Hosted by independent author, filmmaker and reporter Michelle Shephard, alongside Toronto Star reporter Calvi Leon, the podcast features new on-the-ground reporting and original interviews. Still untitled, it’s set to be released this fall on both the Uncover and Suspicion podcast feeds.
CBC previously announced original documentary series Snow King: From Olympian to Narco about Wedding, which also features Leon’s investigative work, alongside journalist Jesse Hyde’s reporting for Rolling Stone. Produced by Visitor Media, the two-part docuseries is in production and will also debut this fall.
“This unbelievable true story, with its roots in Canada and many layers of mystery, is a perfect fit for CBC’s popular Uncover podcast series. We’re thrilled to build on CBC’s relationship with the Toronto Star to create a world-class podcast exploration of this ongoing international case, as the web of those accused of involvement continues to grow,” said Arif Noorani, Director, CBC Podcasts, in an announcement. “The coordinated launch of CBC’s podcast and docuseries will allow audiences to experience the in-depth investigation and incredible storytelling on the platform of their choice.”
“Sometimes the truth is stranger, and more terrifying, than fiction,” added Nicole MacIntyre, Editor-in Chief, Toronto Star. “The Star’s Suspicion investigative true crime podcast series is pleased to join forces with the CBC on this groundbreaking investigation as the hunt for Ryan Wedding continues. And while this case is still underway, the entire world is fascinated by the former Canadian Olympian who is now one of the FBI’s most wanted. The Star’s Calvi Leon has been at the forefront of this story from the beginning. And there is no one better to work alongside Calvi than former Star journalist Michelle Shephard. This new podcast from the Toronto Star and CBC will give listeners the chance to hear the whole story.”
A promising Canadian athlete, Wedding (known as El Jefe), is accused of running a trafficking empire with a $15 million FBI reward on his head. The podcast traces his descent into the criminal underworld – from his beginnings as a bouncer in Vancouver to Toronto and the murders he’s accused of ordering, and eventually Mexico where he’s believed to be hiding under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Shephard, a former Toronto Star national security reporter, most recently hosted the second season of White Hot Hate: Agent Pale Horse, a CBC podcast that dives into the life of FBI undercover agent Scott Payne and his 28-year-long career infiltrating the most dangerous gangs of our times. Leon is a young Toronto Star reporter with a focus on breaking news and investigations. The series producers include Falen Johnson (See You In Court, Secret Life of Canada) and Julia De Laurentiis Johnston (This Matters, Suspicion: 40 Years Cold).
