Listen Now

Until now, Father Ryan has mostly escaped punishment for stealing money from followers under false pretenses. What would it take for him to face a jury of his peers? A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Schuman finally has his showdown with Father Ryan. But things don't go as planned because Father Ryan has something to confess about his past that sheds light on why he wanted to become a "priest" in the first place. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to get all episodes of Smoke Screen Fake Priest ad-free? Subscribe to The Binge - a new podcast channel from Sony Music entertainment. Unlock all episodes of this show ad-free along with the entire network of true crime and investigative podcasts on The Binge. Plus, a brand new story drops every month - that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Click “try free” at the top of the Smoke Screen: Fake Priest show page to start your free trial or check out The Binge channel page at apple.co/thebinge to browse all the great shows available to binge ad-free. Not on Apple? Visit getthebinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans are used to being on the lookout for a scam, but authorities are warning of a new kind of fraud. Puppy Kingpin shines a spotlight on Jolyn Noethe, a secretive businesswoman from Iowa who is accused of laundering puppies like drug money. Over the course of 7 episodes, investigative reporter and host Alex Schuman exposes the scheme and an underground part of the industry bringing us the pets we love. From Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment. Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin is available now. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes now or visit GetTheBinge.com to get binge-access wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his autobiography, Father Ryan connects himself to two priests who died suspiciously. One he accuses of molesting children. The other? He says he teamed up with to publicly shame pedophile priests. What's the truth? A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The father-daughter investigator team discovers the cop who arrested Father Ryan may have an ulterior motive. They defend Father Ryan tooth and nail - until they get a troubling surprise of their own. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A sheriff deputy arrests Father Ryan for taking more than $70,000 from an elderly follower. It's looking like he might get 7 years in prison, but then he meets a father-daughter pair of private investigators who change everything. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Father Ryan steals a follower's money, her property and even her husband's ashes, she hires a lawyer. A legal battle ensues over unpaid loans and a herd of llamas that Father Ryan leaves high and dry. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even con artists need mentors. Meet the false prophet who teaches Father Ryan how to perfect his con. Father Ryan evades criminal charges again and Alex learns about an unspoken reason prosecutors could let many criminals go free. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex tracks down Father Ryan’s son, Jonathan Brady, and discovers Father Ryan was a scammer and manipulator long before he wore a priestly robe. Turns out he had plenty of practice committing fraud before he opened his first church in Wisconsin. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investigative reporter Alex Schuman hears about a guy accused of swindling millions who has travelled the Midwest for decades pretending to be a priest. Alex starts his journey talking to two people who have long tried to expose the truth. Alex is hoping to finally figure out why anyone would try to pull off such an elaborate con. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For 30 years, a man claimed to be a priest. He performed baptisms and took confession. Every time he ran into trouble, Father Ryan would move on to another small Midwestern town and start his scheme all over again. Followers who once worshiped him, now accuse him of exploitation, fraud and abuse. In season one of Smoke Screen, join Alex Schuman as he unravels this con and gets answers from this white-collar criminal himself. A Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices