en nonadult 1318876555 no https://www.lpm.org/podcast/the-popes-long-con In 2016, Danny Ray Johnson was elected to state office. The fast talking biker-preacher known as "The Pope" paints himself as a 9/11 hero. He says he raised the dead! But our seven month investigation uncovered a much different picture: Attempted arson. Another mysterious fire. Alleged bootlegging and molestation in the church. For years, Johnson broke laws. Now he helps make them. What happens when the institutions we rely on look the other way? How does a liar slip through the cracks into a position of power? This six-part series attempts to find out. From Louisville Public Media. en-us StreamGuys Recast © Louisville Public Media Louisville Public Media In 2016, Danny Ray Johnson was elected to state office. The fast talking biker-preacher known as "The Pope" paints himself as a 9/11 hero. He says he raised the dead! But our seven month investigation uncovered a much different picture: Attempted arson. Another mysterious fire. Alleged bootlegging and molestation in the church. For years, Johnson broke laws. Now he helps make them. What happens when the institutions we rely on look the other way? How does a liar slip through the cracks into a position of power? This six-part series attempts to find out. From Louisville Public Media. false serial Louisville Public Media podcasts@louisvillepublicmedia.org https://lpm-rss.streamguys1.com/longcon/20190801142613-1512569342artwork.jpg https://www.lpm.org/podcast/the-popes-long-con true crime,crime,news,investigation,investigative,kentucky,louisville,con,politics https://feeds.lpm.org/longconpodcast From the Peabody Award-winning team behind "The Pope's Long Con," a new season of "Dig" is available now. This season, we meet Ronnie and Donnie Stoner. They were trusted educators and respected coaches. But in the summer of 2025, the twin brothers were indicted on more than 50 charges related to child sex abuse allegations. A group of young women say the abuse stretched back nearly two decades. So what took so long? Reporter Jess Clark follows the story of the women who say they survived the abuse, took matters into their own hands and are still fighting for the girls they used to be. Listen now in your podcast app or at kydig.org. 8c5a44b0-bf2c-11f0-acbe-7191172064bb trailer 00:02:10 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:21:00 -0500 no From the Peabody Award-winning team behind "The Pope's Long Con," a new season of "Dig" is available now. This season, we meet Ronnie and Donnie Stoner. They were trusted… From the Peabody Award-winning team behind "The Pope's Long Con," a new season of "Dig" is available now. This season, we meet Ronnie and Donnie Stoner. They were trusted educators and respected coaches. But in the summer of 2025, the twin brothers were indicted on more than 50 charges related to child sex abuse allegations. A group of young women say the abuse stretched back nearly two decades. So what took so long? Reporter Jess Clark follows the story of the women who say they survived the abuse, took matters into their own hands and are still fighting for the girls they used to be. Listen now in your podcast app or at kydig.org. 05816b00-2261-11ea-8fba-4b44d99f2649 full no 00:25:38 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 08:07:00 -0500 From the newsroom that brought you the Pope’s Long Con, check out our newest podcast, Dig. In the first season, we bring you the results of a yearlong look at how rape cases are investigated in L… From the newsroom that brought you the Pope’s Long Con, check out our newest podcast, Dig. In the first season, we bring you the results of a yearlong look at how rape cases are investigated in Louisville. What we’ve learned: here, the police defer to prosecutors on rape cases — and prosecutors reject the vast majority of cases presented to them. Due to this unusual relationship, most people accused of rape here will never face consequences. Most won’t be arrested or convicted. And the case will be closed anyway. (Note: There are descriptions of a rape, and audio from a police body camera on the scene of a rape investigation, throughout this episode.) For more, visit kydig.org. We knew the story wasn't over at the end of the last chapter — but no one could've known what would happen next. +

]]> 0bb6ac4b-a74c-4662-a7d7-6d86738b4934 Louisville Public Media We knew the story wasn't over at the end of the last chapter — but no one could've known what would happen next. We knew the story wasn't over at the end of the last chapter — but no one could've known what would happen next. The Pope's Wife 1 6 full no 00:16:25 1 6 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 07:00:00 -0500 Over and over, there were warning signs for law enforcement, political leaders and others. What happens when the institutions we rely on look the other way? How does a liar slip through the cracks into a position of power?

]]> af68148e-a274-4ab7-9165-d35f8a058bc6 Louisville Public Media Over and over, there were warning signs for law enforcement, political leaders and others. What happens when the institutions we rely on look the other way? How does a liar slip through the cracks into a position of power? Over and over, there were warning signs for law enforcement, political leaders and others. What happens when the institutions we rely on look the other way? How does a liar slip through the cracks into a position of power? When Our Institutions Fail 1 5 full no 00:16:33 1 5 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 17:08:00 -0500 A teenage girl thought of Johnson as a second dad. Her family trusted the pastor. But in 2013, he allegedly molested her. Hear her story. And listen to Johnson's extraordinary response.

]]> 253bd813-2018-43fd-9f37-bc6802a28a8c Louisville Public Media A teenage girl thought of Johnson as a second dad. Her family trusted the pastor. But in 2013, he allegedly molested her. Hear her story. And listen to Johnson's extraordinary response. A teenage girl thought of Johnson as a second dad. Her family trusted the pastor. But in 2013, he allegedly molested her. Hear her story. And listen to Johnson's extraordinary response. An Accusation Of Molestation 1 4 full no 00:15:50 1 4 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 17:07:00 -0500 Go inside the Heart of Fire Church and meet the motorcycle-friendly congregation and gun choir. Check out the fellowship hall — or biker bar — and learn more about Johnson's dark past.

]]> c385ee31-d660-4be5-9369-f73b2d187405 Louisville Public Media Go inside the Heart of Fire Church and meet the motorcycle-friendly congregation and gun choir. Check out the fellowship hall — or biker bar — and learn more about Johnson's dark past. Go inside the Heart of Fire Church and meet the motorcycle-friendly congregation and gun choir. Check out the fellowship hall — or biker bar — and learn more about Johnson's dark past. An Empire Built On Blind Faith 1 3 full no 00:19:00 1 3 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 17:06:00 -0500 Like Forrest Gump, he just so happens to be in the front row, playing a pivotal role in America’s biggest moments. Time after time. Decade after decade. He's held some of the country's loftiest titles. Or not.

]]> 368183c5-8fa0-41e7-ba37-b1d18bcbec8e Louisville Public Media Like Forrest Gump, "The Pope" just so happens to be in the front row, playing a pivotal role in America’s biggest moments. Time after time. Decade after decade. He's held some of the country's loftiest titles. Or not. In this episode, find out about his early days, his first brush with the law and his alligator. Yes, his alligator! Like Forrest Gump, "The Pope" just so happens to be in the front row, playing a pivotal role in America’s biggest moments. Time after time. Decade after decade. He's held some of the country's loftiest titles. Or not. In this episode, find out about his early days, his first brush with the law and his alligator. Yes, his alligator! From Bastrop To Bullitt 1 2 full no 00:23:29 1 2 Wed, 13 Dec 2017 02:01:00 -0500 Meet Danny Ray Johnson, Kentucky's fast-talking preacher-turned-politician who is known as the Pope. He paints himself as a 9/11 hero, healer of the sick and miracle maker. Behind this persona — cultivated, built up and fine-tuned over decades — is a web of lies and deception. A mysterious fire. Attempted arson and false testimony. Alleged molestation in his church.

]]> e7d00a6e-213f-4406-ade0-11773eccb96b Louisville Public Media Meet Danny Ray Johnson, Kentucky's fast-talking preacher-turned-politician who is known as the Pope. He paints himself as a 9/11 hero, healer of the sick and miracle maker. Behind this persona — cultivated, built up and fine-tuned over decades — is a web of lies and deception. A mysterious fire. Attempted arson and false testimony. Alleged molestation in his church. Meet Danny Ray Johnson, Kentucky's fast-talking preacher-turned-politician who is known as the Pope. He paints himself as a 9/11 hero, healer of the sick and miracle maker. Behind this persona — cultivated, built up and fine-tuned over decades — is a web of lies and deception. A mysterious fire. Attempted arson and false testimony. Alleged molestation in his church. Welcome To The Pope's House 1 1 full no 00:17:32 1 1 Wed, 13 Dec 2017 02:00:00 -0500 What happens when the institutions we depend on fail at every level? What happens when lies go unchecked? From the pulpit to the statehouse, one man claims to serve his fellow man. But does he? Find out in this series from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Louisville Public Media.

]]> 64a9c102-eff0-40a6-bb6c-b0807feb09f5 Louisville Public Media What happens when the institutions we depend on fail at every level? What happens when lies go unchecked? From the pulpit to the statehouse, one man claims to serve his fellow man. But does he? Find out in this series from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Louisville Public Media. What happens when the institutions we depend on fail at every level? What happens when lies go unchecked? From the pulpit to the statehouse, one man claims to serve his fellow man. But does he? Find out in this series from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Louisville Public Media. Introducing The Pope's Long Con 1 trailer no 00:00:56 1 Wed, 29 Nov 2017 14:56:00 -0500