Five years after his death on a distant frontline in South Sudan, the truth about what happened to Christopher Allen is still a mystery. Was he a reckless freelancer? A mercenary? Or a young and ambitious reporter, caught in the crossfire? Approached by a family member looking for answers, journalist Basia Cummings begins investigating.
Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.
If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pig Iron - Episode 1: White rebel

Introducing… Who Trolled Amber?
What comes to mind when you think of Amber Heard? Liar? Survivor? Narcissist? Millions of us watched the celebrity trial of the century, Depp v Heard, in 2022. Amber Heard lost and Johnny Depp was vindicated. But what if Amber was actually the victim of an organised trolling campaign? What if the online hate against her was manufactured?
Alexi Mostrous, the reporter who brought you Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed, investigates what happened to Amber and who might have been responsible. It’s a story about how our own thoughts and opinions can be moulded without us even realising.
All six episodes of Who Trolled Amber are now available to binge-listen. 
Who Trolled Amber is the latest series in Tortoise Investigates, the home of Tortoise's award-winning investigative series.
To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
Reporter and host: Alexi Mostrous Producer: Xavier Greenwood Editor: David Taylor Narrative editor: Gary Marshall Additional reporting: Katie Riley&nbsp; Sound design: Karla Patella&nbsp; Artwork: Jon Hill &amp; Oscar Ingham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

News

Documentary

True crime

News Commentary

We are partnering with Campside Media, so that we can continue to bring our listeners brilliant investigations like Who Trolled Amber. You can join Tortoise as a member to get early and ad-free access to new series and support our investigations at www.tortoisemedia.com/invite.
Introducing...The White Devil
Sharing something special this week: A show from our friends at Campside Media, called White Devil. Late at night in May of 2021, a single gunshot shattered the silence along the beach at Belize’s luxurious Alaia resort. In White Devil, journalist Josh Dean dives into one of the biggest, splashiest, and most perplexing crime stories you’ve never heard of: The shooting death of renowned cop Henry Jemott, apparently by a Canadian property developer, connected to the family of one very influential billionaire: Lord Michael Ashcroft. In investigating, the craggy depths of Belize are brought to the surface: Its quirks, its corruption, and the all pervasive influence of several generations of one family in particular. You can binge the rest of White Devil at https://link.chtbl.com/tortoisewhitedevil. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing...The White Devil

We are partnering with Wondery, so that we can continue to bring our listeners brilliant investigations like Who Trolled Amber. You can join Tortoise as a member to get early and ad-free access to new series and support our investigations at www.tortoisemedia.com/invite
Introducing...The Price of Paradise
When ex-Bunny girl Jayne Gaskin spots the desert island of her dreams for sale online, she decides to risk it all. Trading in their English village home, Jayne and her family relocate to their own private paradise, just off the coast of Nicaragua. And a reality TV crew follows them to film a new show, No Going Back. But soon they all discover that paradise has its secrets. The locals claim the island belongs to them, and it’s been sold illegally. Jayne’s not leaving without a fight. A fight that will soon turn deadly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing...The Price of Paradise

Johnny Depp’s maverick lawyer Adam Waldman finally comes under scrutiny. Alexi uncovers Waldman’s links to powerful figures and investigates his role in feeding online abuse. Can the team get to the truth about who trolled Amber?
To find out more about Tortoise:
Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

 Reporter and host: Alexi Mostrous
Producer and reporter: Xavier Greenwood
Editor: David Taylor
Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
Additional reporting: Katie Riley 
Sound design: Karla Patella 
Artwork: Jon Hill & Oscar Ingham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who Trolled Amber: Episode 6 - Public enemy

Could a nation state have deployed an online army to fight for Johnny Depp? Alexi discovers the curious relationship between the Hollywood star and an authoritarian world leader.
All six episodes of Who Trolled Amber are now available to binge-listen. 
To find out more about Tortoise:
Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

 Reporter and host: Alexi Mostrous
Producer and reporter: Xavier Greenwood
Editor: David Taylor
Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
Additional reporting: Katie Riley 
Sound design: Karla Patella 
Artwork: Jon Hill & Oscar Ingham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who Trolled Amber: Episode 5 - The special relationship

The astonishing case of a teenage killer helps lift the lid on how bot campaigns work – and offers the team a new path forward in the investigation.
All six episodes of Who Trolled Amber are now available to binge-listen. 
To find out more about Tortoise:
Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

 Reporter and host: Alexi Mostrous
Producer and reporter: Xavier Greenwood
Editor: David Taylor
Narrative editor: Gary Marshall
Additional reporting: Katie Riley 
Sound design: Karla Patella 
Artwork: Jon Hill & Oscar Ingham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pig Iron - Episode 1: White rebel

Download our free app to listen on your phone