We call her Emma | Tortoise Investigates – Details, episodes & analysis

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Podcast We call her Emma | Tortoise Investigates

We call her Emma | Tortoise Investigates

The Observer

Society & Culture
True Crime

Frequency: 1 episode/14d. Total Eps: 120

Hosting podcast Acast

Emma is a high achieving, middle class girl from west London. She seems destined for a successful career in banking and a comfortable British life. Until she makes a decision that will come to define her. In 2001 Emma marries Bashar al-Assad - the now infamous dictator of Syria.


In the early days, people inside and out of Syria dared to hope. Alongside his beautiful, progressive wife, Bashar promised to modernise the country.


But when the Arab Spring reached Syria in 2011, Bashar's regime showed itself for what it really was: a brutal force, willing to capture and kill ordinary Syrians demanding change. And in all the years that a war raged on, Asma stands by her husband. She seemingly ignored the desperate pleas to stop her husband from killing his own people. 


But what did she really know about the atrocities her husband’s government was carrying out? And what choices did she really have? Some people allege that she actually assisted the regime and cashed in on the war, that she herself is a war criminal. Others say she tried to run away but was trapped, held hostage by a regime who threatened her life and her children. 


So, who is the real Emma?


We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.


To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 for 50% off an annual digital subscription.


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Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for access to this series and ad-free listening to Observer podcasts.


Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou

Producer - Gary Marshall

Sound design - Karla Patella

Podcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza Bourner

Executive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Score global : 73%


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The pond | Master Ep 3

Season 13 · Episode 3

jeudi 12 septembre 2024Duration 35:08

New Zealand police tell the former nanny there isn’t enough evidence to actively pursue her sexual assault complaint against Neil Gaiman. He says he offered himself up for an interview with the police. But the facts may indicate otherwise.


Clip: 1968 interview with Neil Gaiman - BBC 

Clip: Big Bang Theory, series 11, episode 21 - CBS/Warner Bros

Clip: Newsnight - BBC 

Clip: William Morrow 2014

Clip: Politics and Prose bookstore 2013

Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel Johnson

Producer: Katie Gunning

Additional reporting: Jess Swinburne

Original music and sound design: Tom Kinsella

Series editor: Matt Russell

Editor: Jasper Corbett


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Whatsapps | Master Ep 2

Season 13 · Episode 2

jeudi 12 septembre 2024Duration 48:56

The former nanny who alleges Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted her shares her WhatsApp messages with him. The messages appear friendly and affectionate. He says they’re evidence that she consented to sex with him. But is there another way of reading them?


Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel Johnson

Producer: Katie Gunning

Additional reporting: Jess Swinburne

Original music and sound design: Tom Kinsella

Series editor: Matt Russell

Editor: Jasper Corbett


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


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The bath | Master Ep 1

Season 13 · Episode 1

jeudi 12 septembre 2024Duration 56:51

Neil Gaiman is one of the world’s most successful authors. And one of the most loved. His works have been adapted for film, TV and the stage. Now two women, a former nanny and a fan, allege he sexually assaulted and abused them while they were in consensual relationships with him. He strenuously denies all the allegations.


Clip: The Sandman trailer - DDC comics / Netflix 

Clip: The Ocean at the End of the Lane trailer - National theatre 

Clip: The Simpsons - Disney

Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel Johnson

Producer: Katie Gunning

Additional reporting: Jess Swinburne

Original music and sound design: Tom Kinsella

Series editor: Matt Russell

Editor: Jasper Corbett


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


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lightbulbs | Dangerous Memories Ep 6

Season 12 · Episode 6

mardi 6 août 2024Duration 58:27

After years of failed attempts, an expert flies over from America to help guide the parents on how to get their children back. But getting them home is not the end of the journey, for anyone caught up in Anne’s web.


To find out more about Tortoise:




Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists




Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 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: Grace Hughes-Hallett


Producer: Gary Marshall


Additional reporting and production: Imogen Harper


Sound design and original composition: Tom Kinsella


Theme music: Far Gone (Don’t Leave) by Pictish Trail


Podcast artwork: Lola Williams


Commissioning editor: Basia Cummings


Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is Anne? | Dangerous Memories Ep 5

Season 12 · Episode 5

mardi 30 juillet 2024Duration 42:21

What motivated Anne in her work with the young women and did she believe what she was leading them to believe? In the search for answers, Grace turns to one of the only people who has heard Anne’s side of the story directly from her.


This is episode 5 of 6. To binge-listen to all 6 episodes ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.



To find out more about Tortoise:




Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists




Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 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: Grace Hughes-Hallett


Producer: Gary Marshall


Additional reporting and production: Imogen Harper


Sound design and original composition: Tom Kinsella


Theme music: Far Gone (Don’t Leave) by Pictish Trail


Podcast artwork: Lola Williams


Commissioning editor: Basia Cummings


Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ‘other person' | Dangerous Memories Ep 4

Season 12 · Episode 4

mardi 23 juillet 2024Duration 44:37

As Huey’s dependence on Anne grows, she becomes increasingly isolated from the outside world. Until, after a series of events over the summer of 2014, the police turn up and start to investigate. 


This is episode 4 of 6. To binge-listen to all 6 episodes ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.



To find out more about Tortoise:




Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists




Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 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: Grace Hughes-Hallett


Producer: Gary Marshall


Additional reporting and production: Imogen Harper


Sound design and original composition: Tom Kinsella


Theme music: Far Gone (Don’t Leave) by Pictish Trail


Podcast artwork: Lola Williams


Commissioning editor: Basia Cummings


Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do not say my name | Dangerous Memories Ep 3

Season 12 · Episode 3

mardi 16 juillet 2024Duration 43:56

After Huey cycled off into the distance, her mother had no idea what caused her to leave or why. She was in the dark about the extraordinary things Huey had come to believe about her own family. So she finds someone who can help track her down.


This is episode 3 of 6. To binge-listen to all episodes of Dangerous Memories ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.


To find out more about Tortoise:




Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists




Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 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 dangerousmemories@tortoisemedia.com




Written and reported by: Grace Hughes-Hallett & Gary Marshall


Producer: Gary Marshall


Additional reporting and production: Imogen Harper


Sound design and original composition: Tom Kinsella


Theme music: Far Gone (Don’t Leave) by Pictish Trail


Podcast artwork: Lola Williams


Commissioning editor: Basia Cummings


Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Seagull | Dangerous Memories Ep 2

Season 12 · Episode 2

mardi 9 juillet 2024Duration 43:45

Fipsi starts to question what really happened in the soft pink room, and how to help her friends who are still on their journeys with Anne Craig. But for one of them it’s already too late, as she makes a series of life altering decisions.


This is episode 2 of 6 of Dangerous Memories. To binge-listen to all 6 episodes ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.


If you'd like to get in touch with us about your own experience, contact: dangerousmemories@tortoisemedia.com



To find out more about Tortoise:


Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists


Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for early access and ad-free content


Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more



Written and reported by Grace Hughes-Hallett & Gary Marshall


Producer: Gary Marshall


Additional reporting and production: Imogen Harper


Additional editing: Claudia Williams


Sound design and original composition: Tom Kinsella


Theme music: Far Gone (Don’t Leave) by Pictish Trail


Podcast artwork: Lola Williams


Commissioning editor: Basia Cummings


Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That amazing healer lady | Dangerous Memories Ep 1

Season 12 · Episode 1

mardi 9 juillet 2024Duration 38:58

A group of well-heeled young English women hear about an intriguing therapist figure, who describes herself as a ‘teacher of personal development’. One by one they start to visit her for sessions and, for some, it will lead to disastrous consequences. 


This is episode 1 of 6 of Dangerous Memories. To binge-listen to all 6 episodes ad-free from today, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.


If you'd like to get in touch with us about your own experience, contact: dangerousmemories@tortoisemedia.com


To find out more about Tortoise:


Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists


Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for early access and ad-free content


Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more


Written and reported by Grace Hughes-Hallett & Gary Marshall


Producer: Gary Marshall


Additional reporting and production: Imogen Harper


Additional editing: Claudia Williams


Sound design and original composition: Tom Kinsella


Theme music: Far Gone (Don’t Leave) by Pictish Trail


Podcast artwork: Lola Williams


Commissioning editor: Basia Cummings


Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing...Dangerous Memories

Season 12

vendredi 28 juin 2024Duration 03:25

Introducing...Dangerous Memories


When Sarah watched her 23 year old daughter cycle away from her in Chelsea - a well-off corner of London - she had no idea it would be the last time they’d see each other for 6 years. What would make a loving child from a life of privilege sever ties with friends and family, and disappear? 


It turns out, Sarah wasn’t alone in losing a daughter. Something strange was happening to other young women, too.


And they all had one thing in common: a kind of therapist figure - a woman they were all seeing and sharing their problems, their secrets, their fears with. But it took years for the truth of what was happening behind closed doors to emerge, and the extraordinary things this woman led them to believe.


Dangerous Memories is the story of young women who wanted to be healed that became, for us, a story about the healer, and what we risk when we let someone else into our mind, and our memory.


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: Grace Hughes-Hallett

Producer: Gary Marshall

Additional reporting and production: Imogen Harper

Sound design and original composition: Tom Kinsella

Theme music: Far Gone (Don’t Leave) by Pictish Trail

Podcast artwork: Lola Williams

Commissioning editor: Basia Cummings

Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


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