In this episode, we talk about how Russian oligarchs rose from the ashes of the Soviet Union through chaotic privatization schemes, the shadowy loans-for-shares deals, and ruthless battles for control of vast resources like oil, gas, and aluminum. We cover the secret networks that connect Roman Abramovich, Oleg Deripaska, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Internet Research Agency, the Wagner Group, and the hidden offshore structures exposed by the Panama Papers. We examine how Alexei Navalny’s investigations, the KleptoCapture task force, and unprecedented Western sanctions turned once untouchable billionaires into global fugitives. We see how yachts worth hundreds of millions, London townhouses, secret bank accounts, and lavish lifestyles became symbols of a fragile bargain with Vladimir Putin—one that promises power if absolute loyalty is maintained, but demands a terrible price when trust is broken.

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In this episode, you’ll hear the incredible true story of how a beloved Japanese brand — known worldwide for its high-end cameras and life-saving medical equipment — nearly collapsed under the weight of its own hidden secrets. You’ll follow Olympus from its early days building microscopes to its legendary OM-1 camera, through Japan’s economic boom and the shadowy practice of tobashi that buried losses for decades. You’ll meet Michael Woodford, the British executive who rose from the shop floor to the president’s office — only to discover the company he loved was rotting from the inside. And you’ll hear how one uncomfortable lunch, a tuna sandwich, and a stack of hidden payments exposed one of Asia’s worst corporate scandals, forcing Olympus to face its past and rebuild its future in public view. It’s a cautionary tale, a lesson in loyalty and courage, and a reminder that sometimes the truth finds its way out — no matter how hard it’s buried.

Explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive:

• Power & Influence
• Luxury & Prestige
• Wealth & Finance
• Personal Growth & Achievement
• Crime & Corruption (True Crime)
• Knowledge & Ideas
• History & Legacy
• News, Culture & Society
• Technology & Innovation
• Exploration & Wonder