Season 3 – Episode 7: Face to Face with Whitey Bulger Part 2 (With Authors Rich Teahan and Bob Ward)
In Part 2 of this compelling two-part series, we continue our conversation with Rich Teahan and Bob Ward, co-authors of Face to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent’s Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston’s Most Notorious Gangster. After exploring Bulger’s rise and the corruption that shielded him in Part 1, this episode takes listeners inside the manhunt itself. Facing fractured relationships, low morale, and a major prosecutorial setback, the task force reached a breaking point. What followed was a bold and innovative pivot—one that would ultimately change the course of the investigation. Rich walks us through the groundbreaking public service announcement that shifted focus from Bulger to Catherine Greig, the critical tip out of Santa Monica, and the carefully executed ruse that brought one of America’s most elusive fugitives out into the open. We also hear what happened next: the arrest, the return to Boston, and a rare, firsthand account of Bulger’s mindset during an extraordinary debriefing. This is the story of persistence, strategy, and the moment a 16-year manhunt finally came to an end.
Rich Teahan – Former FBI Agent and Task Force Leader
Bob Ward – Investigative Journalist and Co-Author
The Breaking Point:
The emotional and strategic impact of the decision not to prosecute Billy Bulger.
A Bold New Strategy:
The creation of an unprecedented FBI public service announcement targeting Catherine Greig.
Following the Right Lead:
How a tip from Santa Monica shifted the investigation from theory to action.
The Arrest:
The carefully executed ruse that brought Whitey Bulger out of hiding without violence.
Inside the Debriefing:
Bulger’s mindset, his fugitive playbook, and how he survived 16 years on the run using cash, aliases, and layered protection.
Trial and Aftermath:
Conviction, sentencing, and the final chapter of Bulger’s life.
Co-Authors of
Face to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent’s Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston’s Most Notorious Gangster Executive Producers: Marc Veazey and Aleks Litts
• Music: Desain
• Hosts: Marc Veazey and Aleks Litts
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