#TBR355 - Surviving the Streets with Eddie Ortiz

Surviving the Streets: 23 Years from the Brooklyn Trenches to Counterterrorism Beans opens the episode with his signature casual pub-chat style before welcoming former NYPD Sergeant Eddie Ortiz. Eddie introduces his background and sets the stage for his 23-year career with the NYPD. Foot Patrol in Brooklyn: Eddie recounts his early days walking volatile foot posts in Brooklyn's 77th Precinct. He describes the reality of walking the beat during some of the city's highest-crime eras, highlighting how street-level policing relied heavily on intuition, presence, and building rapport with community members. Partners & Field Dynamics: Eddie shares candid stories about the different partners he rode with throughout his rookie years. He reflects on how varying personalities—from old-school veterans who policed strictly by instincts to tactical partners—shaped his own supervisory and survival philosophy on the streets.The conversation turns to Eddie’s transition into specialized units.Plainclothes Anti-Crime: Eddie revisits his time leading plainclothes Anti-Crime units in New York. He shares gripping accounts of split-second decision-making required in high-consequence environments. Beans asks Eddie about the polar ends of his career—working inside the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) and transitioning to modern Counterterrorism.Inside the Internal Affairs Bureau: Eddie discusses the psychological toll and social reality of working in IAB. He addresses the stigma within the department, the importance of maintaining absolute integrity, and what it was like to investigate misconduct while holding the line for honest cops. The Counterterrorism Division: Eddie outlines his work on the front lines of the NYPD's Counterterrorism Division. He discusses how the department transformed post-9/11 into an intelligence-driven agency, blending international intelligence gathering with domestic street coverage. Eddie talks about his book, Surviving the Streets: 23 Years from the Brooklyn Trenches to Counterterrorism. Why He Wrote the Book: Eddie explains that while the academy teaches recruits how to enforce the law, it doesn't teach them how to survive the psychological weight, administrative politics, or traumatic stress of the job. Bringing Cops Home Safe: Eddie shares his core leadership tenets: tactical positioning, psychological resilience, and making sure every officer under his command gets home safe at the end of every shift. In the final segment, Beans and Eddie dive into a broader discussion on the modern state of policing.Public vs. Media Perception: Eddie offers his perspective on how public sentiment has shifted over two decades. He contrasts the 24-hour news cycle and social media narratives with the daily realities of officers serving on the ground.Recruitment & The Future of Policing: They discuss the challenges modern police departments face regarding morale, recruitment, retention, and how police reform impacts officer safety and community relations.Grab a copy of Eddie's book here :SURVIVING THE STREETS: 23 YEARS FROM THE BROOKLYN TRENCHES TO COUNTERTERRORISM: Amazon.co.uk: ORTIZ, EDGAR: 9798234118387: Bookstallboyradio.com

In a compelling episode of the Tall Boy Radio podcast, hosts Beans and Gaz sit down with author, former Chicago Homicide Detective, and Sergeant Michele Wood to explore the raw, high-stakes reality behind her true crime memoir, Model Detective.The Unconventional Path to Law EnforcementBefore stepping onto the high-intensity streets of Chicago, Michele’s life looked vastly different from standard police trajectory. Beans and Gaz dive into her eclectic background, tracing her journey through:U.S. Army Service: Building foundational discipline, mental resilience, and tactical awareness early on.Fitness Modeling: Navigating the public eye, high-pressure environments, and physical conditioning—a contrast to street policing that earned her the moniker that would later inspire her book title, Model Detective.Navigating a Male-Dominated ArenaMichele reflects on what it was like rising through the ranks to become a detective and sergeant in a notoriously male-dominated department. She discusses the double standard and extra scrutiny female officers faced, noting that proving competence required unwavering confidence, superior work ethic, and distinct emotional intelligence—traits that often gave her an edge when interviewing witnesses or victims' families.The First Fatal Case: Young Boys and Russian RouletteOne of the episode's most sobering moments arrives when Michele recounts the first case involving a death that deeply impacted her. She walks the hosts through responding to a scene where young boys were playing Russian roulette—a tragic, avoidable loss of life that stripped away any remaining romanticized notions of police work. She details the psychological weight of witnessing raw grief firsthand and how that experience shaped her empathetic approach to homicide investigation throughout her career.Defining Cases & Model DetectiveThe conversation turns to the career-defining cases chronicled in Model Detective. Michele shares:Behind-the-Scenes Homicide Dynamics: The painstaking process of working cold scenes, building trust in hesitant communities, and fighting for justice in Chicago's toughest neighbourhoods.The Transition to Author: Why she felt compelled to put her experiences on paper—not just to share true crime intrigue, but to capture the human element, personal cost, and complex realities of law enforcement work.You can pick up a copy of Michele's book hereModel Detective: A True Story of Heels, Handcuffs and Homicides eBook : Wood, Michele: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle StoreVisit Michele's websiteMichele Wood's True Crime Memoir: Model Detectivetallboyradio.com

In a compelling, high-contrast episode of Tall Boy Radio, host Beans joins a meeting between two men who stood on opposite sides of one of the most famous bank robbery sprees in American history.Joining the mic are Steven Meyers, a former insider and key accomplice to Scott Scurlock—the legendary "Hollywood Bandit" who operated out of a massive multi-story treehouse in the Pacific Northwest—and Shawn Johnson, the lead FBI case agent tasked with putting an end to their streak. The episode navigates through high-stakes heists, Hollywood-grade makeup, tactical law enforcement, and the unlikely, deep-seated friendship formed between hunter and hunted decades after the dust settled. The Craft of the Heist & Prosthetic Magic:Steven details how he and Scurlock approached bank robbery as a meticulous, almost artistic discipline. He reveals how Scurlock studied FBI manuals and technical guides to learn how other robbers failed. Steven gives Beans an insider look at his role in applying the theatrical makeup, prosthetics, cheek/nose appliances, and full disguises that earned Scurlock the moniker "Hollywood". The FBI Strategy & Catching the "Hollywood" Crew:Shawn Johnson breaks down the perspective from the Violent Crimes Task Force. He explains the intense frustration and fascination of trying to track a crew that didn't leave traditional forensic traces or behave like standard offenders. Shawn shares tactical observations that slowly helped the FBI close the distance. Fact vs. Fiction: Assessing Netflix’s How to Rob a Bank:Both guests weigh in on the Netflix documentary How to Rob a Bank. While acknowledging it captured the raw intrigue of the story, Steven and Shawn highlight what Hollywood dramatized or glossed over. They speak about the key nuances missing from the film—specifically, the deeper human story of accountability, the actual mechanics of the escape plans, and how Steven's early prison writings formed the backbone of the narrative. The Thanksgiving Eve Shoot-Out & Finale:The tone shifts as Steven and Shawn revisit November 27, 1996—the final takeover heist in Seattle that went tragically wrong. They reconstruct the chaotic street shootout that ended with Steven being shot and arrested, Scurlock escaping into a nearby neighborhood, and Scurlock’s ultimate death by suicide in a camper trailer while surrounded by police. An Unlikely Friendship Built on Mutual Respect:The core emotional heart of the interview revolves around the friendship that formed years after Steven served his 13-year federal prison sentence. Shawn reveals how reaching out after reading Steven's memoir, The Treehouse, led to a meeting where both men laid all their cards on the table. Beans highlights how their mutual honesty and shared appreciation for each other’s professional skill allowed them to transition from adversary status to close personal friends. Throughout the conversation, Beans weaves in excerpts and themes from Steven Meyers' book, The Treehouse: The True Story of Hollywood, The Bank Robber. Behind the Disguise: The book details Scurlock's double life—living in a whimsical, hand-built four-story treehouse compound while plotting multi-million-dollar vault heists. Raw Reflection: Written initially as a stream-of-consciousness manuscript during Steven's early years in prison, the book dives into the psychology of crime, the rush of adrenaline, and the sobering reality of accountability. Pick up Steve's book hereThe Treehouse: The True Story of Hollywood the Bank Robber - Meyers, Steven: 9798899509841 - AbeBookstallboyradio.com

🎃 Stories Your Mummy Never Told You | A Darkcast Network Halloween Special 👻The candles are lit. The doors are locked. And somewhere in the darkness... someone has a story to tell.This Halloween, the Darkcast Network is gathering around the microphone once again, bringing together eight podcasts for a night of chilling tales, eerie encounters, and mysteries that refuse to stay buried.From unsettling legends to stories that might make you question every creak in your house, there's something waiting in the shadows for everyone.So grab a blanket, turn down the lights, and settle in.Just remember... some stories are better left untold.🕯️ Featuring: Murder Shelf, Rainbow Crimes, The Final Trace, Hands Off My Podcast, Book of the Dead, Murder in the PNW, Family Plot, and Stop Who Does That.🎙️ Eight podcasts. One haunting collection of stories.Happy Halloween from all of us at the Darkcast Network. 🖤Not all secrets stay buried.tallboyradio.com

In this episode of Tall Boy Radio, Beans is reunited with fan-favorite returning guest Jus Gonzales for a deep dive into arguably the greatest film franchise in cinematic history: Star Wars.This isn't your standard, run-of-the-mill galaxy debate. While the duo certainly pays homage to the classic tropes—unpacking why a silent bounty hunter like Boba Fett captured generations of imaginations, or why Jar Jar Binks ignited such relentless fan ire—they quickly launch past the surface-level nostalgia to explore the core art of storytelling itself.Beans and Jus dissect the cultural backdrop that made George Lucas's universe ignite like wildfire in 1977. They examine how real-world history, from the high-stakes Cold War Space Race to the lingering mythos of Roswell and UFO lore, shaped humanity's collective obsession with the cosmos—and how Star Wars took those anxieties and wonders to the ultimate next level.Moving beyond the original film trilogies, the conversation expands into the vast, rich landscape of the modern Star Wars lexicon. From ground-breaking animated series like The Clone Wars and Rebels to the expansive new frontier of live-action television and standalone films, they tackle why fans shouldn't let childhood gatekeeping blind them to incredible new storytelling.Whether you're a die-hard canon scholar or a casual listener along for the ride, pop open a cold one and join the ultimate cosmic roundtable.Check out Jus on Social MediaInstagramand on his websiteBrassrootsLeather.com – Brassroots Leathertallboyradio.com

Grab a cold pint, pull up a chair, and turn down the lights. This week on Tall Boy Radio, hosts Beans and Gaz are diving deep into the foggy, gas-lit alleys of Victorian London for an unfiltered masterclass in true crime history.Joining the boys in the studio is leading Ripperologist and researcher Steven Blomer, author of the groundbreaking book Inside Buck's Row. Together, they tear down decades of sensational Hollywood myth and examine the cold, hard evidence surrounding history’s most infamous unidentified serial killer: Jack the Ripper.In This Episode:The Surgical Myth: Did the killer actually possess specialized medical training, or have centuries of pop culture vastly exaggerated the precision of his anatomical extractions?A Lone Predator or a Conspiracy? Steven breaks down the physical evidence to address whether the killer worked strictly alone or if the logistics of the East End murders point toward a team effort.The Body Count: While popular lore focuses on the "Canonical Five," how many victims can genuinely be attributed to the Whitechapel killer?Victorian Clickbait: How the rampant 1888 tabloid press—and sensationalized letters like the famous "Dear Boss" note—fueled mass hysteria, misled police investigations, and forever altered the narrative.The Prime Suspects: The boys put the suspect lineup under the microscope. Was Polish tailor Aaron Kosminski truly the most likely perpetrator, as top police officials later claimed?The Maybrick Controversy: An in-depth, critical look at the notorious Diary of James Maybrick. Fraudulent forgery or genuine confession?Field Research 101: Where does a modern Ripperologist actually begin an investigation today when separating archival fact from Victorian fiction?Walking standard history: A virtual tour of modern East London. Steven highlights the surviving 1888 architecture and key street locations you can still physically visit in Whitechapel today.Whether you're a seasoned history buff or brand new to the case, Steven Blomer brings unprecedented detail to the table, cutting through 130+ years of urban legend to expose what really happened in the shadows of London.Find Steven's book here: (7) Facebooktallboyradio.com

In this heavy-hitting episode of Tall Boy Radio, Host Beans sits down with former FBI Special Agent Neil Moran for an unflinching, behind-the-scenes look at a life spent on the front lines of American law enforcement. Across a decorated career in the Bureau, Neil went toe-to-toe with organized crime figures, managed high-stakes undercover operations, and dismantled complex fraud rings. Now the author of his captivating memoir, Stories, Neil pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to wear the badge, navigate the criminal underworld, and transition into uncovering white-collar corruption in corporate America.Neil takes us back to the early days of his career in the FBI’s Automobile Larceny Department. Far from basic car theft, this specialized division was tasked with dismantling high-level criminal enterprises: multi-state stolen vehicle rings, illegal chop shop operations, international export rackets, and elaborate insurance fraud schemes where luxury vehicles were "disappeared" for massive payouts.Neil walks Beans step-by-step through how he unravelled a massive insurance fraud ring, following paper trails and burnt-out chassis to expose a network of staged thefts. It was during these relentless investigations that Neil’s path crossed with Tommy Stabille, a legendary mob figure whose name carried weight in organized crime circles. Neil shares what it was really like rubbing shoulders with Stabille, negotiating the tense psychological chess match between federal agent and seasoned mobster.Neil opens up the vault on one of the most intense cases of his FBI career: Philly Paradiso. A master manipulator embedded deep within organized crime syndicates, Paradiso operated in the shadows of extortion, illicit finance, and street-level enforcement. What does it take to live a double life? Neil shares nerve-wracking stories from his time undercover, explaining the mental discipline required to build trust with dangerous criminals without losing one's own identity. He also explores the dark art of managing confidential informants—learning how to read desperate people, leverage street intelligence, and balance the moral and physical risks of relying on criminals to catch bigger targets.After hanging up his badge, Neil wasn't done chasing the truth. He transitioned his investigative instincts into his second career: exposing white-collar crime, corporate embezzlement, and institutional fraud within corporate America. Neil explains how the playbooks of street mobsters and corporate executives often look eerily similar, sharing eye-opening insights into how multi-million dollar corporate fraud takes place behind closed boardroom doors.To wrap up the episode, Neil discusses the inspiration behind his book, Stories. He tells Beans how vivid memories led to a deep desire to document his personal journey. Neil reflects on the cathartic process of committing these wild, dangerous, and deeply human experiences to paper.Grab a cold drink, turn up the volume, and join Beans and Neil Moran for an unforgettable dive into the underworld, federal law enforcement, and the power of truth.Pick up Neil's book on AmazonStories eBook : Moran, Neil: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Storetallboyradio.com

This version does not include Bob Ward due to sound issues. Ep349 is more complete. Crack open a cold one and join host Beans and his cousin/guest co-host Beau Barnett on this heavyweight episode of Tall Boy Radio. This week, the guys sit down for an extended, deeply personal conversation with Rich Teahan and Bob Ward, co-authors of the explosive book Face to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent's Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston's Most Notorious Gangster.Together, they dive deep into the blood-soaked history of James "Whitey" Bulger, the FBI corruption that protected him for decades, the 16-year international manhunt that finally brought him down, and the unprecedented six-hour flight where the mob boss opened up to federal law enforcement.Bob, Rich, Beans, and Beau lay bare the chilling brutal reality behind the Hollywood romanticization of James "Whitey" Bulger. As the undisputed kingpin of Boston’s Winter Hill Gang, Bulger ruled South Boston through ruthless violence, extortion, loan sharking, and narcotics trafficking. Bulger had direct involvement in at least 19 court-proven murders—ranging from rival mobsters to innocent bystanders and associates he suspected of betraying him (such as Debra Davis and Deborah Hussey). Bob and Rich don't shy way from talking about The FBI Corruption: They discuss how corrupt FBI agent John Connolly shielded Bulger under the guise of using him as a Top Echelon Informant against the Italian Mafia, effectively giving Bulger a license to commit murder with impunity.Rich Teahan, who commanded the FBI’s Whitey Bulger Task Force, takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the longest, most frustrating manhunts in American law enforcement history.• Rich shares how the task force broke through internal rivalries, overhauled their strategy, and ultimately flushed Bulger out of his hideout in Santa Monica, California, in 2011 through a targeted PSA campaign focused on his girlfriend, Catherine Greig.Upon Bulger’s arrest in California, Rich Teahan sat across from the 81-year-old mobster on a six-hour Justice Department jet flight back to Boston.• Rich provides an exclusive look at the only extensive interview Bulger ever granted to law enforcement.• He dissects Bulger's manipulative psychology, his paranoid worldview, his insistence on maintaining his "code," and what it was like to go face-to-face with a ruthless killer who knew his life on the run was finally over.Veteran Boston crime reporter Bob Ward brings a crucial, human perspective to the episode. Having covered the Bulger saga for over 30 years and hosted New England's Unsolved, Bob intimately details his bond with the families of Bulger's victims.• Bob discusses the agony these families endured while watching public agencies fail them for years, their fight for truth, and what real justice meant to those left behind after Bulger’s capture and ultimate death in prison.• Rich Teahan: A decorated 26-year veteran FBI Supervisory Special Agent who served as the commander of the FBI’s Whitey Bulger Task Force, leading the global effort that led to Bulger's capture.• Bob Ward: An Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter for WFXT-TV (Fox 25 Boston) and Silver Circle inductee who has covered New England crime and the Bulger case for more than three decades.You can pick up their book hereFace to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent's Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston's Most Notorious Gangster: Amazon.co.uk: Teahan, Rich, Ward, Bob: 9781476695587: Bookstallbotradio.com

We had sound issues with this episode that could not be fixed. This is the complete episode but if the poor sound bothers you, you can also listen to ep349b with Bob's Audio removed (Sorry Bob)Crack open a cold one and join host Beans and his cousin/guest co-host Beau Barnett on this heavyweight episode of Tall Boy Radio. This week, the guys sit down for an extended, deeply personal conversation with Rich Teahan and Bob Ward, co-authors of the explosive book Face to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent's Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston's Most Notorious Gangster.Together, they dive deep into the blood-soaked history of James "Whitey" Bulger, the FBI corruption that protected him for decades, the 16-year international manhunt that finally brought him down, and the unprecedented six-hour flight where the mob boss opened up to federal law enforcement.Bob, Rich, Beans, and Beau lay bare the chilling brutal reality behind the Hollywood romanticization of James "Whitey" Bulger. As the undisputed kingpin of Boston’s Winter Hill Gang, Bulger ruled South Boston through ruthless violence, extortion, loan sharking, and narcotics trafficking. Bulger had direct involvement in at least 19 court-proven murders—ranging from rival mobsters to innocent bystanders and associates he suspected of betraying him (such as Debra Davis and Deborah Hussey). Bob and Rich don't shy way from talking about The FBI Corruption: They discuss how corrupt FBI agent John Connolly shielded Bulger under the guise of using him as a Top Echelon Informant against the Italian Mafia, effectively giving Bulger a license to commit murder with impunity.Rich Teahan, who commanded the FBI’s Whitey Bulger Task Force, takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the longest, most frustrating manhunts in American law enforcement history.Rich shares how the task force broke through internal rivalries, overhauled their strategy, and ultimately flushed Bulger out of his hideout in Santa Monica, California, in 2011 through a targeted PSA campaign focused on his girlfriend, Catherine Greig.Upon Bulger’s arrest in California, Rich Teahan sat across from the 81-year-old mobster on a six-hour Justice Department jet flight back to Boston.Rich provides an exclusive look at the only extensive interview Bulger ever granted to law enforcement.He dissects Bulger's manipulative psychology, his paranoid worldview, his insistence on maintaining his "code," and what it was like to go face-to-face with a ruthless killer who knew his life on the run was finally over.Veteran Boston crime reporter Bob Ward brings a crucial, human perspective to the episode. Having covered the Bulger saga for over 30 years and hosted New England's Unsolved, Bob intimately details his bond with the families of Bulger's victims.Bob discusses the agony these families endured while watching public agencies fail them for years, their fight for truth, and what real justice meant to those left behind after Bulger’s capture and ultimate death in prison.Rich Teahan: A decorated 26-year veteran FBI Supervisory Special Agent who served as the commander of the FBI’s Whitey Bulger Task Force, leading the global effort that led to Bulger's capture.Bob Ward: An Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter for WFXT-TV (Fox 25 Boston) and Silver Circle inductee who has covered New England crime and the Bulger case for more than three decades.You can pick up their book hereFace to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent's Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston's Most Notorious Gangster: Amazon.co.uk: Teahan, Rich, Ward, Bob: 9781476695587: Bookstallbotradio.com

In this episode of Tall Boy Radio, host Beans pulls back the fog of Victorian London to take a deep, analytical dive into history’s most infamous unidentified killer: Jack the Ripper. Joining him in the studio is renowned "Ripperologist" and author Jonathan Tye for a compelling discussion that goes far beyond the usual sensationalism of the 1888 East End murders.Together, Beans and Jonathan open by examining the enduring obsession with the Whitechapel Murders. Why does Jack the Ripper continue to hold such a dark grip on our collective imagination over a century later? The conversation pivots to a poignant truth about the victims—Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. The hosts reflect on how the harsh, impoverished lifestyles of these women likely would have vanished into historical anonymity had their lives not been tragically cut short by such heinous crimes, turning a spotlight on the tragic intersection of victimhood and historical immortality.The episode moves through the shifting landscape of Whitechapel itself, contrasting the squalor of 19th-century slums with the modern gentrification of the area today. No Ripper discussion would be complete without visiting the famed Ten Bells pub; Jonathan and Beans unpack the real role this iconic landmark played in the lives of the victims and the local community during the Autumn of Terror.Diving into the criminology of the case, they analyze the brutal nature of the crime scenes and what the specific modus operandi reveals about the killer’s psychological profile, escalation, and physical dexterity. They also sift through the case's most controversial evidence and red herrings:The Faked Ripper Diary: Deconstructing the hoax and why forgery continues to plague Ripperology.The Goulston Street Graffiti: Analyzing the mysterious chalk message ("The Juwes are the men That Will not be Blamed for nothing") left near a piece of Catherine Eddowes’ apron.The "Dear Boss" Letter: Discussing the infamous missive that gave the killer his iconic moniker and whether it was the work of the murderer or a publicity-hungry journalist.In the second half of the show, the focus shifts directly to Jonathan Tye’s ground-breaking book, Jack the Ripper? Edward Buckley - East End thug and gang member. Jonathan lays out the compelling case for why Edward Buckley deserves serious scrutiny as a prime suspect. The pair explore Buckley’s background, his place in the violent underbelly of East London gang culture, and what makes his profile so uniquely credible. Crucially, Jonathan walks through the lesser-known historical record of Buckley's other violent offenses, drawing striking parallels between his documented crimes and the brutal methods employed in the Whitechapel slayings.Whether you're a seasoned Ripperologist or a true crime enthusiast looking for a grounded, deeply researched perspective on the case, this episode offers a captivating mix of criminal psychology, social history, and fresh suspect analysis. Tune in, grab a tall boy, and step back into 1888.Pick up a copy of Jonathan's book here:Jack the Ripper?: Edward Buckley: East End Thug and Gang Member eBook : Tye, Jonathan: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Storetallboyradio.com