Reviews
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“If nothing else, very interesting. From the reviews sounds like the narrator has ruffled some feathers. Hmmm.”
Saveit Brother via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
11/12/24
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“Great story, but the overproduction and host ruin it. Truly unlistenable”
Hksugdgb via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
11/11/24
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“Loved it , fun and interesting , keeps you engaged”
Naudnice via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/28/24
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“I think it is really good and it brings you into your so called perfect country with no rich scammers”
All descendent moviesswiftie i via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
10/27/24
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“This is a text book example of how terrible narrative makes a listener want to not listen an interesting story. Joe Nocera’s style is like explaining everything over and over again like he would explain to a five year old. His jokes are terribly corny and bad. Everything that happens in the...”Read full review »
PleaseYesNo via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/25/24
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“It is a fairly interesting story about an important period in recent history. The delivery is very poor. Bad jokes repeated ad nauseum and it treats the listener like an idiot.”
RMC161616 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
10/16/24
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“Fantastic and interesting account of the story’s protagonist but, as others have noted in their reviews, the narrator is just the worst I have ever heard. His jokes fall flat and the way he presents the story is condescending to listeners, presuming we do not know the basics. Story is 5 stars,...”Read full review »
TRFlack via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/07/24
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“The storyline and Victor were gripping, the Disney commentary did the podcast no justice.”
Eurows via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
10/06/24
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“This podcast is about a guy who promised a bunch of sophisticated investors a very risky illiquid deal that didn’t work out.
How is anyone surprised or upset? Obviously there was a high level of risk involved in trying to get 100x returns. These high net worth sophisticated investors should...”Read full review »
Not-the-real-Viktor via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
10/02/24
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“Jawbreaking story, superb editing, clever and fun writing. So why not five stars? Well, one voice is missing and the pace is sometimes too high. The story and all its characters is good enough for at least ten episodes. Let us up hope for a final, final episode and a book or TV series on top of...”Read full review »
Cliffrocker via Apple Podcasts ·
Sweden ·
09/28/24
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“Story is good enough to listen to, but the host Noah is not funny and has an odd sense of humor/narration.”
ApplesReviewUISucks via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
09/26/24
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“Interesting from A to Z. Great host, narrator.
And loved the music too!”
afgagliardi via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
09/24/24
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“Great show, but fellas, we have got to work on the pronunciation of Azerbaijan... it's definitely not pronounced Ajabajan.”Read full review »
E_v_ via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
09/24/24
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“As a former radio reporter I must say it was a treat listening to this podcast. It was remarkable! Thank You for this show.”
Nars100 via Apple Podcasts ·
Poland ·
09/10/24
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“As other reviewers have said, this podcast started with a compelling story, but the hosts narrative style (constantly asking questions and repeating themselves in an over-the-top tone, akin to a children’s tv host). Completely unnecessary and ruins the listening experience. Such a shame.”
Gia's mum via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
09/07/24
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“I loved the story, storytelling, and all the journalism that went into this piece. Nothing on YouTube or other platforms comes close to covering the extent of this scandal.
Definitely give a listen if you like true-crime”
Collzy via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
09/03/24
“The podcast equivalent of a cartoon for 10 year olds…. Don’t waste your time. The narrator continually breaks the fourth wall ruining any kind of immersion into the story, and pretending to mispronounce Azerbaijan isn’t as funny as he thinks it is.”
0Gregor via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
08/27/24
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“Couldn’t make it past the second episode. Host’s commentary is over the top and unnecessary. The story was great on its own without his exclamations interrupting its flow.”
Hippopthrowaway via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/20/24
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“Interesting story, annoying narrator.”
YYCJay18 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
08/17/24
“A great story that could have been told in three or four episodes gets stretched into endless bore across eight episodes. At times Nocera and Elkind seem to be more fascinated by each other than focusing on the pirate. Episode start with 2 minutes of music and end with two minutes of self-praise....”Read full review »
forget444444 via Apple Podcasts ·
Switzerland ·
08/14/24
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“I don't know who this aimed towards, possibly the same dimwitted avaricious marks mentioned. It's cliche-laden, overproduced diabetes for the ears. Not one sympathetic character in earshot.”Read full review »
Billy Beeftoe via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
08/13/24
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“I really wanted to know this story, but the constant interruptions of the story by the narrator was too annoying to endure. Too bad, it was intriguing. :(”
Biztoon via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
08/09/24
“To stretch a 4-episode podcast into 8 episodes, the writers seem to have decided to condescend to the listener. They took a pretty fascinating story and told it as the audience was all 5th graders. It’s maddening.”
AB01540 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/05/24
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“Ugh it was sooo gooood. Please produce more episodes and seasons. I enjoyed every single part of it. Didn’t skip it at all.”
Casey2016 super 1 via Apple Podcasts ·
Norway ·
08/01/24
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“This is a really great story but over-produced in a way that detracts from the storytelling. The “host” tries to be conversational but it sounds so scripted and hokey. Additionally, major, important story points are simply conveyed with no explanation or reasoning making one wonder “why” it...”Read full review »
TSKLAX via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
07/30/24
“A mildly interesting story that warrants about an hour of your time. The narration ruins any semblance of interest for me, constantly mispronouncing Czech words for cheap laughs, cutting across some of the stories told by the characters, and generally being as irritating as humanly possible...”Read full review »
champasaurus via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
07/24/24
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“I really enjoyed this podcast. A fascinating story with quite a cast of characters. I'm often picky about narrators/storytelling, but I didn't mind the "gee schucks"quality of this one. I, also, loved the music by Daniel Lloyd Evans.”Read full review »
VincentePaws via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
07/22/24
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“I could not stop listening. This is such a engrossing narrative with an excellent host.”
SSM _NZ via Apple Podcasts ·
New Zealand ·
07/22/24
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“I lasted about 25 minutes of ep1. Like a lot of podcasts it’s very drawn out. Looooong descriptions of how wealthy he is, how lavish his party is, how lavish his house it. Lots of names of fancy drinks. Tedious stuff for bogans. I need about 15 seconds to be told all that stuff. I give it an...”Read full review »
High dudgeon via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
07/20/24
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“Liked the stroy over all but had to really battle with the narrator.”
Holywheez via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
07/19/24
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“Really enticing, well written podcast”
Sluttygirl124 via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
07/12/24
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“A good story ruined by juvenile, excessive dialogue from a narrator with either a speech impediment or a completely inappropriate accent for this story. Each painfully drawn out 30-minute episode could easily be trimmed down to a tight, intelligent 15 minutes of content if only the ridiculous...”Read full review »
vonR via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
07/11/24
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“I met a Czech Tech Czar in the 1990s when he commissioned my father’s shipyard to build him a yacht. It was said that he brought the Internet to the Czech Republic after the fall of communism. Can’t remember the guy’s name, but every Friday he put out a hell of a spread for all the workers at...”Read full review »
apple game player via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
07/08/24
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“From start to finish I couldn’t stop listening. 10/10 experience; highly recommend.”
ClimaxCake via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
07/06/24
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“It’s so exciting, enthralling and gripping. Brilliantly produced, I love the music!”
Starfire_x via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
07/06/24
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“I absolutely loved the way the narrators spoke and interjected humor into this fascinating story. Great pacing and storytelling!”
MustardSeed1990 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
07/03/24
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“The storytelling in this podcast is both captivating and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this podcast. Not only that, the music is also very atmospheric and adds yet more emotion and drama to this fascinating story.”
SlowCoachK via Apple Podcasts ·
New Zealand ·
07/03/24
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“I had sort of heard about Victor Kozeny, but this story provides a more comprehensive insight about fraud, foreign corruption, wealth and political influence, and greed.”
Stephanie VV. via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
07/03/24
“The desire to capture the biggest audience possible these days just means that everything is dumbed down or is full of melodrama to try to hold the listener’s attention.
Like I said interesting story ruined by over dramatisation, over explanation and over production.”
andrethescribe via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
06/11/24
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“Brilliant podcast- intriguing from start finish - super delivery! Love the theme song too!!”
tkillackey via Apple Podcasts ·
Ireland ·
05/13/24
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“The crazy tale of bumbling narcissist Viktor Kožený. So good it’ll make you want to pop open a bottle or two of Chateau Petrus with 500 of your closest friends!”
pribina via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/26/24
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“The story is interesting, but you would think this is the only time the narrator has ever heard of a scammer/ Imposter before. Inserting his own naivety along with a ridiculous pretentiousness combined with multiple attempts at shaming the very snobbery he clearly endulges in, ruins the bulk of...”Read full review »
mort213 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
03/19/24
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“Interesting story greatly enhanced by the incredible production which uses a top notch, hilarious narrator and Hollywood worthy script.”
Jsynick via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
03/10/24
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“Why is it funny to pretend not to be able to pronounce Azerbaijan? Every time you say it? As well as any and all names of Eastern European town mentioned? It comes across ignorant and arrogant and detracts from the story.”
podcastprincess789 via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
03/08/24
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“Riveting story, Joe Nocera is great!”
Miatamp via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
03/03/24
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“I’ve always wondered how some people rise to the ultra rich status, and it seems that some schmooz their way to the top. Really interesting story telling—and I love stories about the former Soviet satellites. Loved it.”
waggles7litters via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
02/27/24
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“I cannot listen to all the episodes. Many seem to be forever missing or broken. Thank you”
Sister Nina via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
02/21/24
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“This is a good, short, sharp podcast with an interesting story. However, sometimes the narrator gets a bit dramatic. They also dramatise scenes unnecessarily. Loose those 2 things and it would be 5 stars.”
Jess and Pickles via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
02/20/24
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“I enjoyed the story, but the narration was a little bit annoying. Certainly not as bad as people say in the reviews though.”
[{][}{][}] via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
02/18/24
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