The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece
News & Politics Podcasts
William Veres is in trouble. In 2018 he was arrested following the largest ever investigation by the Italian police’s art squad. They accuse him of running a pan-European art-smuggling ring with ties to the Sicilian mafia. He is alleged to have stolen $40 million worth of art and antiquities from Italy. Charged with 14 counts, including money laundering, forgery, wire fraud and conspiracy, he faces a jail term of up to 20 years.
But he has a plan to get out of trouble. In this four-part podcast, host Simon Willis follows him as he puts that plan into action. It’s a story that takes listeners deep into the underworld, and into the dark heart of the most famous criminal organization of them all – Cosa Nostra.
It is a story of drug dealers, hitmen, smugglers, spies – even a corrupt prime minister. And in the middle of it all is William Veres’s quest to save himself. How? By solving the coldest cold case in the history of art crime – the theft of Caravaggio’s Nativity.
The Professor is a series for Hidden Worlds, the home of unbelievable true stories and gripping investigations into shadowy places.
Stay subscribed to Hidden Worlds and get brand new series delivered to your favorite podcast app year-round. One podcast, endless stories.
For more, visit brazen.fm/hidden-worlds.
Location:
United States
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
William Veres is in trouble. In 2018 he was arrested following the largest ever investigation by the Italian police’s art squad. They accuse him of running a pan-European art-smuggling ring with ties to the Sicilian mafia. He is alleged to have stolen $40 million worth of art and antiquities from Italy. Charged with 14 counts, including money laundering, forgery, wire fraud and conspiracy, he faces a jail term of up to 20 years. But he has a plan to get out of trouble. In this four-part podcast, host Simon Willis follows him as he puts that plan into action. It’s a story that takes listeners deep into the underworld, and into the dark heart of the most famous criminal organization of them all – Cosa Nostra. It is a story of drug dealers, hitmen, smugglers, spies – even a corrupt prime minister. And in the middle of it all is William Veres’s quest to save himself. How? By solving the coldest cold case in the history of art crime – the theft of Caravaggio’s Nativity. The Professor is a series for Hidden Worlds, the home of unbelievable true stories and gripping investigations into shadowy places. Stay subscribed to Hidden Worlds and get brand new series delivered to your favorite podcast app year-round. One podcast, endless stories. For more, visit brazen.fm/hidden-worlds.
Language:
English
Episodes
Introducing The Burden
3/21/2024
Thanks for listening to The Professor. There will be a brand new Hidden Worlds series coming soon.
In the meantime, we wanted to share The Burden — a new investigative true-crime podcast from Orbit Media.
The show tells the story of Detective Louis Scarcella, once celebrated for his prowess in solving tough cases in 1990s New York City. But then a group of convicted murderers-turned-jailhouse lawyers made a startling discovery that linked all their cases: Scarcella was the cop who helped put them away. They said they were innocent — and that Scarcella coerced witnesses. They made a vow: Take down Scarcella. And with the help of a relentless New York Times reporter, they did just that. Twenty people Scarcella helped put behind bars have since walked free. In the media, he’s known as the disgraced, rogue cop who hoodwinked an entire system. But was this really the workings of one person?
The Burden is out now. To listen to the rest of the series, search for The Burden wherever you listen to podcasts.
Duration:00:16:13
Episode 4: The Fugitive
12/18/2023
Veres receives some photographs of parts of the Caravaggio canvas. He follows the lead to a source in Belgium, who is close to the Sicilian mafia. The source provides crucial new information about what happened to the painting. And it points to one man: a mafioso who has been on the run for thirty years.
Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus to get ad-free listening.
The Professor is a series for Hidden Worlds, the home of unbelievable true stories and gripping investigations into shadowy places. Subscribe to Hidden Worlds and get brand new series delivered to your favorite podcast app year-round. One podcast, endless stories. For more, visit brazen.fm/hidden-worlds.
For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.
Duration:00:35:53
Episode 3: Money for Nothing
12/11/2023
Veres gets word that the mafia are willing to talk about returning stolen art. He meets a group of middlemen in Naples, who tell him there’s a canvas on offer. As Veres negotiates the return of the painting, we begin to doubt Veres and Brand’s account of how they recover stolen art. It looks like they risk breaking the law to get the painting back. In his quest to get himself out of trouble, is Veres getting himself deeper into it?
Don’t want to wait for the next episode? Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus to listen to the full series today, and get ad-free listening.
The Professor is a series for Hidden Worlds, the home of unbelievable true stories and gripping investigations into shadowy places. Subscribe to Hidden Worlds and get brand new series delivered to your favorite podcast app year-round. One podcast, endless stories. For more, visit brazen.fm/hidden-worlds.
For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.
Duration:00:27:02
Episode 2: The Go-Between
12/4/2023
Veres goes to Belgium to meet a contact who he believes can help him obtain vital information about the Caravaggio painting. The contact agrees to act as Veres’s go-between, connecting Veres with senior figures in the mafia hierarchy. Meanwhile, host Simon Willis delves into the past investigations of the case, and finds out why the official investigation went nowhere: it was closed down after it uncovered links between the Caravaggio theft and Mafiosi close to Italian politicians.
Don’t want to wait for the next episode? Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus to listen to the full series today, and get ad-free listening.
The Professor is a series for Hidden Worlds, the home of unbelievable true stories and gripping investigations into shadowy places. Subscribe to Hidden Worlds and get brand new series delivered to your favorite podcast app year-round. One podcast, endless stories. For more, visit brazen.fm/hidden-worlds.
For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.
Duration:00:35:31
Episode 1: The Nativity
11/27/2023
William Veres is arrested in a dawn raid – one of 50 simultaneous raids across Europe to bust his criminal gang. To get out of trouble he agrees a deal with Italian anti-mafia police: if he can help them solve the coldest cold case in the history of art theft, they will help him in his own case. In this episode, we follow Veres as he begins his quest to find Caravaggio’s Nativity, believed to be in the hands of Cosa Nostra.
Don’t want to wait for the next episode? Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus to listen to the full series today, and get ad-free listening.
For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.
Duration:00:39:26
Introducing The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece
11/22/2023
William Veres is in trouble. In 2018 he was arrested following the largest ever investigation by the Italian police’s art squad. They accuse him of running an art-smuggling ring with ties to the Sicilian mafia. He is alleged to have stolen $40 million worth of art and antiquities from Italy – and faces a jail term of up to 20 years. But he has a plan to get out of trouble.
In this four-part podcast, host Simon Willis follows him as he puts that plan into action. It’s a story that takes listeners deep into the underworld, and into the dark heart of the most famous criminal organization of them all – Cosa Nostra.
It is a story of drug dealers, hitmen, smugglers, spies – even a corrupt prime minister. And in the middle of it all is William Veres’s quest to save himself. How? By solving the coldest cold case in the history of art crime – the theft of Caravaggio’s Nativity.
Episode one of The Professor will be released on 27 November 2023, with new episodes out on Mondays. Don’t want to wait for the next episode? Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and binge all four episodes, uninterrupted, on release day.
Duration:00:02:39
Meeting Simon Willis: Unlocking the secrets of a stolen masterpiece
11/20/2023
Can an accused criminal solve the coldest cold case in the history of art crime?
In this special pre-season bonus episode, Brazen co-founder Tom Wright speaks with Simon Willis about his upcoming podcast series, The Professor. Simon shares his experience following William Veres – an art merchant accused of stealing $40 million worth of antiquities – as he attempts to solve a legendary cold case and save himself from jail in the process.
The Professor is a story of drug dealers, hitmen, smugglers, spies – even a corrupt prime minister. And in the middle of it all is William Veres’s quest to save himself. How? By solving the coldest cold case in the history of art crime – the theft of Caravaggio’s Nativity.
Episode one of The Professor will be released on 27 November 2023, with new episodes out on Mondays. Don’t want to wait for the next episode? Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and binge all four episodes, uninterrupted, on release day.
Duration:00:11:06
Introducing Hidden Worlds
11/13/2023
Right now, around the world, there are real life stories unfolding that you wouldn’t believe. Stories that are stranger than fiction.
In Hidden Worlds, we’ll take you inside these stories and into places usually concealed from view. Every few weeks, we’ll use this feed to share a new podcast series with you — everything from organised crime to espionage, political corruption to international conspiracies.
Subscribe to Hidden Worlds, the home of gripping investigations and unbelievable true stories, and get a brand new series delivered to your favourite podcast app every month. Up first is The Professor, a story of a stolen masterpiece, the Italian mafia, and one man’s search for redemption. Listen here, in Hidden Worlds, very soon.
For more information, visit brazen.fm/hidden-worlds
Duration:00:00:03
Reporting in the Occupied West Bank
9/29/2023
Reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was killed while reporting in the occupied West Bank in 2022. While no one person has been held responsible for her death, investigations say it was most likely Israel Defense Forces who fired the bullet. At least 20 reporters have been shot by Israel Defense Forces since the year 2000.
In this special episode of Brazen Presents, journalist Ahmed Shihab Eldin speaks to Project Brazen reporter Neha Wadekar about the risks of reporting in Israel and the occupied West Bank, and why he believes democratic governments and the Western media are partially responsible.
Duration:00:15:19
Introducing Number Go Up: Inside Crypto's Wild Rise and Staggering Fall
9/12/2023
This week on Brazen Presents, Project Brazen co-founder Tom Wright talks with Zeke Faux about his investigation into the wild world of crypto, and his new book on the subject, Number Go Up.
In 2021, cryptocurrency entered the mainstream. Investment funds were buying it, celebrities were endorsing it. But Zeke, an investigative reporter, couldn't help questioning – what if it was all just a confidence game of epic proportions? In Number Go Up, he shares the story of his global quest to try and answer this question – and how, in 2022, he had a front row set when the bubble suddenly burst.
In this episode, Zeke and Tom sit discuss some of the book's crazy details and the ultra-wealthy characters he came across during his investigation, including former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, now on trial for fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, the shadowy Tether exec Giancarlo Devasini, and Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky, recently charged with charged with fraud and market manipulation by US authorities.
Number Go Up is out now, and available at all good bookshops.
Duration:00:23:10
Spy Valley: An Engineer's Nuclear Betrayal
8/15/2023
This week on Brazen Presents, we’re sharing a special preview of Spy Valley: An Engineer's Nuclear Betrayal. This new series uncovers Silicon Valley’s origins as a laboratory for espionage.
At the dawn of the hi-tech age, Moscow’s spies opened up shop in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. In this podcast, you’ll get to know the group of FBI spy hunters who assembled to stop them—and solve the case of a lifetime.
Hosted by national security journalist Zach Dorfman, Spy Valley will walk you through a maze of technology theft, double agents, and unbelievable events that put an American engineer at the center of it all.
There are new episodes of Spy Valley out now. To keep listening, search for Spy Valley: An Engineer's Nuclear Betrayal, wherever you get your podcasts.
To listen ad-free and get early access to new episodes, subscribe to Brazen+ in the Apple Podcasts app, or visit brazen.fm/plus to subscribe on other platforms.
Duration:00:13:04
Introducing Ritually: Exploring spirituality in a secular world
7/19/2023
This week on Brazen Presents, we’re sharing a special preview of the first episode of Ritually, a brand new Brazen podcast exploring what spirituality looks like for our secular world.
Join journalist-turned-guinea pig Nelufar Hedayat as she tries a new ritual in every episode. From sacred readings of Harry Potter to tarot cards, Nelufar dives in with the help of a different spiritual guide each week to see if these practices can actually make us feel better. In episode one, Nelufar struggles with patriarchal interpretations of Islam and decides to enlist the help of feminist spiritual practitioner Sarah Zaltash. She tries a new ritual to deepen her connection to Islam: following the daily call to prayer. It’s a practice that unites 1.8 billion Muslims around the world. But this version is different — radical, actually! — because it’s in a woman’s voice.
There are new episodes of Ritually out now. To keep listening, search for Ritually, wherever you get your podcasts. To listen ad-free and get early access to new episodes, subscribe to Brazen+ in the Apple Podcasts app or at brazen.fm/plus.
For more, visit ritually/fm.
Duration:00:38:35
Two Journalists, Two Regimes, Two Trumped-Up Arrests
7/5/2023
In May, Project Brazen released a podcast about Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal correspondent who was arrested by Russian authorities back in March. Evan was falsely accused of espionage, and he’s being held in a Moscow prison until his trial date in August.
In that episode, we explored questions around press freedom, journalist safety and security, and the future of foreign correspondence in an increasingly polarized and hostile world. For this episode, reporter Neha Wadekar spoke to another journalist - one who probably can relate to Evan’s situation better than anyone.
Jason Rezaian moved to Tehran in 2009 and became the Washington Post correspondent and Tehran bureau chief there. In 2014, Jason and his wife - who was also a journalist - were arrested on charges of espionage. Jason was held for 544 days and convicted of espionage, before finally being released and returning to the United States.
We interviewed Jason about the similarities and differences in the two cases and asked him to share a message for Evan Gershkovich.
Duration:00:18:57
How the US Women’s Soccer Team scored their victory for equal pay
6/22/2023
This week on Brazen Presents, we’re sharing a special preview from our new series of The Closer — the podcast that tells the inside story of deals that changed the world.
The Closer returns this summer with six dramatic new stories of groundbreaking deals. An epic fight from soccer's biggest stars, a private equity redemption story, the end of a toy empire, and so much more.
In episode one, The Closer takes a look at the US Women's National Soccer Team. It’s among the most decorated teams in the game but, until recently, it was paid a fraction of what the men took home. When the players decided to take up the fight for equal pay, they turned to sports attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who built a career out of representing some of the most high-profile athletes in labor disputes with professional leagues. He takes us inside the team’s strategy and reveals how they got the deal done.
To keep listening, search for The Closer wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts to unlock new episodes before everyone else, as well ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content.
Duration:00:45:34
The Man For Whom the Underworld Shivers
6/20/2023
This week on Brazen Presents, we’re sharing a special preview of the first episode of Gateway: Cocaine, Murder & Dirty Money in Europe, Project Brazen’s podcast that takes you inside the hidden world of cocaine.
In this six-part podcast series from Project Brazen, host Mitchell Prothero explores Europe’s cocaine crisis through the dramatic stories of cartel leaders, cops, journalists, and the victims caught in the middle. From RPG attacks on newspaper offices to the slaughter of entire families, the war on drugs has arrived on Europe’s shores. And a lot of people are making a lot of dirty money. Reporting from Antwerp and Amsterdam, Project Brazen goes deep inside this crazy under-reported story.
There are new episodes of Gateway out now. To keep listening, search for Gateway: Cocaine, Murder & Dirty Money in Europe, wherever you get your podcasts. To listen ad-free and get early access to new episodes, subscribe to Brazen+ in the Apple Podcasts app.
For more, visit brazen.fm/gateway.
Duration:00:22:55
Reporting True Crime During the Crime: Meet Mitchell Prothero
6/7/2023
This week on Brazen Presents, we’re bringing you a special bonus interview with the host and lead reporter of Brazen’s latest podcast: GATEWAY: Cocaine, Murder, & Dirty Money in Europe.
Launching 5 June 2023, GATEWAY is hosted by journalist Mitchell Prothero, and in this bonus episode he shares the inside story of the new six-part series exploring Europe’s cocaine crisis through the dramatic stories of cartel leaders, cops, journalists, and the victims caught in the middle. From RPG attacks on newspaper offices to the slaughter of entire families, the war on drugs has arrived on Europe’s shores. And a lot of people are making a lot of dirty money.
To listen to episode one, search for GATEWAY wherever you listen to podcasts.
Plus, subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts and get early access to new episodes, along with ad-free listening and bonus content from the show.
www.brazen.fm/gateway
Duration:00:15:14
Free Evan Gershkovich: How a US reporter was imprisoned in Putin's Russia
5/18/2023
How did Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich end up wrongfully imprisoned in Russia, and what happens now?
On March 29, Russian authorities arrested Evan and accused him of spying on Russia on behalf of the US government. Evan was imprisoned in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, where he remains today. In this special episode from Project Brazen, you’ll hear from those close to Evan — his friends, newsroom colleagues, even his former soccer coach — about his shocking arrest, efforts to bring him home, and how he became the journalist he is today.
Evan is the first American reporter to be charged with espionage in Russia since the Cold War. The charge, which The Journal vehemently denies, can carry a sentence of up to 20 years. To support the campaign for Evan’s release or send him a message of support, visit www.freegershkovich.com.
Duration:00:26:07
Introducing Night of Show: Prince's Super Bowl Comeback Shakes the Music Industry
5/2/2023
This week on Brazen Presents, we’re sharing a preview of Night of Show, the latest podcast from Project Brazen. To listen to the rest of this episode, search for Night of Show, wherever you get your podcasts.
In Night of Show, accomplished concert promoter Adam Wilkes joins music industry legends as they share behind-the-scenes stories about the pressures superstar artists faced when staging some of their biggest performances. Most Prince fans forget he was once in the wilderness after his 1980s heyday. He’d walked away from his record contract and had released a slew of albums that didn’t chart. Then, with John and Paul as promoters, he stages a major comeback.
Don’t want to wait for the next episode? You can listen to the full series, ad-free, by subscribing to Project Brazen’s channel on the Apple Podcasts app. Subscribe at: apple.co/night-of-show
nightofshow.com
Duration:00:24:32
The Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank
3/28/2023
This week on Brazen Presents, we’re sharing a special edition of The Closer Weekly. Last month, Project Brazen launched The Closer, a new podcast sharing the inside stories of the deals that changed the world. Then, just as season one wrapped, signs came of a potential banking crisis, and we realised the story was just getting started. Enter: The Closer Weekly. Like The Closer, this new weekly edition will delve into the deals that shape the world around us, but with a fresh focus on the biggest stories shaking up business today.
In episode one, The Closer Weekly dives into the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank with Financial Times journalist Tabby Kinder, one of the first to report on weaknesses at the bank. To keep listening, search for The Closer wherever you get your podcasts.
For ad-free listening, exclusive bonus content and early access to Project Brazen podcasts, subscribe to our channel on the Apple Podcasts app. You can try the subscription free for 7 days by going to www.apple.co/thecloser
Duration:00:16:37
Borodyanka, One Year Later
3/14/2023
This week on Brazen Presents, we’re going back to Borodyanka, Ukraine. Laurel Chor travelled there for the first time last year when she was hosting our podcast “Resistance: Stories from Ukraine.” The series documented how ordinary Ukrainians have been resisting the Russian invasion.
Now, she brings us this story about how Borodyanka and the people she met there are doing today.
If you enjoyed this episode, you can catch up on the rest of the series by searching for Resistance: Stories from Ukraine, wherever you get your podcasts.
For ad-free listening, exclusive bonus content and early access to Project Brazen podcasts, subscribe to our channel on the Apple Podcasts app. You can try the subscription free for 7 days by going to apple.co/brazen
www.projectbrazen.com
Duration:00:33:00