The 13th Step

The 13th Step episodes:

• 03.05.2024

  Update: A New Bill and a Final Ruling

  New Hampshire lawmakers consider a new oversight bill proposed in response to the podcast. And the judge issues his final ruling in Eric Spofford’s defamation lawsuit against NHPR and three of our sources.

  
• 12.20.2023

  A Special Announcement

  The 13th Step is going on tour with stops in New Hampshire, Boston, and Chicago. Host Lauren Chooljian will go behind-the-scenes of the podcast and take questions from the audience. For tickets and more information, visit 13thsteppodcast.org/events.

  
• 09.12.2023

  Update: A Big Arrest

  Federal prosecutors have charged a fourth person in the vandalism case, a man they describe as a “close, personal associate” of Eric Spofford.

  
• 06.20.2023

  Update: Vandalism Arrests

  Federal prosecutors have charged three men for their alleged roles in the vandalism incidents.

  
• 06.06.2023

  Epilogue: Employee A

  A conversation with one of the women whose story of sexual assault you heard earlier in this podcast. She talks with Lauren about what it was like to hear her story published, the legal threats she has faced from Eric...

  
• 06.06.2023

  6: The Glam Room

  Since Lauren began reporting, Eric Spofford sold his New Hampshire company for millions of dollars and filed a defamation lawsuit in response to NHPR’s coverage. We catch you up on everything that’s happened. And we introduce you to a sober...

  
• 06.06.2023

  5: The Litter Police

  What does it take to catch a predator in the addiction treatment industry? We hear about a case in California where the CEO of a network of treatment facilities was convicted of sexual assault and massive insurance fraud. It required...

  
• 06.06.2023

  4: A Wild (Wild?) West

  How did 13th stepping become so common in the recovery world and who can hold people accountable? Lauren looks into the history of the addiction treatment industry; goes in search of the people, government agencies, and industry groups that are...

  
• 06.06.2023

  3: Just the Beginning

  In March of 2022, Lauren publishes her first story detailing allegations against Eric Spofford. The events of the next several months illustrate the ways powerful, wealthy people can intimidate sources and try to stop journalism from happening. And then, there...

  
• 06.06.2023

  2: The God of Recovery

  As Eric Spofford tells it, he spent his teen years in the throes of addiction and crime. When he got sober, he became a crusader for recovery. We hear how he built his company – and his power. And we...

  
• 06.06.2023

  1: The Shadow

  What is “the 13th step,” and why does it matter? It all starts with understanding what it’s like to be in the earliest days of recovery. We meet two women who say they were harassed during early recovery. And we...

  
• 05.31.2023

  Trailer: The 13th Step

  The 13th Step is a podcast from New Hampshire Public Radio, coming June 6th.