The Ballad of Billy Balls
iHeartPodcasts
Show overview
The Ballad of Billy Balls has been publishing since 2019, and across the 6 years since has built a catalogue of 26 episodes, alongside 11 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 10 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a roughly quarterly cadence, with the show now in its 2nd season.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 7 min and 35 min — with run-times ranging widely across the catalogue. The publisher flags most episodes as explicit, so expect adult themes or strong language throughout. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Society & Culture show.
There hasn’t been a new episode in the last ninety days; the most recent episode landed 11 months ago. The busiest year was 2019, with 20 episodes published. Published by iHeartPodcasts.
From the publisher
It’s 1982, and a man bursts into an East Village storefront apartment and shoots punk musician Billy Balls. Author and activist iO Tillett Wright and Crimetown Producer Austin Mitchell unravel a mystery of love and loss, the tender binds of family, and the stories we tell ourselves just to survive. Created by Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier.
Latest Episodes
View all 26 episodes
Introducing: American History Hotline
bonusHi, RFK Tape listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts' latest release, American History Hotline. American History Hotline: Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to [email protected]. Listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio App or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi
Listen to The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi here: https://lnk.to/confessionsofanthonyraimondiFD!balladofbillyballs In 1978, Pope John Paul I was found dead in his bed just 33 days after he was elected. The official story is that he suffered a fatal heart attack. But in the years since his death, some have claimed he was murdered to cover up crimes in the Vatican. The question of the Pope’s death has never been definitively answered, but there is one man who claims to know the truth. A man from one of New York City’s crime families who has deep ties to the Italian mafia. He was there the day of the Pope’s death and witnessed his murder firsthand. Or, at least, that’s what he says. His name is Anthony Raimondi, and these are his confessions. From USG Audio and Truth Media in association with Clockwork Films.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi
Listen to The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi here: https://lnk.to/confessionsofanthonyraimondiFD!rfktapes In 1978, Pope John Paul I was found dead in his bed just 33 days after he was elected. The official story is that he suffered a fatal heart attack. But in the years since his death, some have claimed he was murdered to cover up crimes in the Vatican. The question of the Pope’s death has never been definitively answered, but there is one man who claims to know the truth. A man from one of New York City’s crime families who has deep ties to the Italian mafia. He was there the day of the Pope’s death and witnessed his murder firsthand. Or, at least, that’s what he says. His name is Anthony Raimondi, and these are his confessions. From USG Audio and Truth Media in association with Clockwork Films.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing Beyond All Repair
bonusImagine if, one day, you are accused of something. Something horrible, violent, heinous. Something you swear you did not do, and nothing you say can convince anyone otherwise — even the people closest to you. That’s Sophia Johnson’s story. Sophia was starting fresh: A new life, a new husband, a baby on the way. But it all unraveled on January 10, 2002, when her mother-in-law Marlyne Johnson was found bludgeoned to death in her home. Days later, Sophia was charged with the murder. To this day, Sophia swears she didn’t do it. But someone says they witnessed it — her own brother. When family betrays family, who do you believe? In this story of a sibling rivalry beyond compare, WBUR’s Amory Sivertson turns the clock back. She reexamines an unsolved case, a family torn apart, and a woman who wasn’t believed. From WBUR and ZSP Media, Beyond All Repair is a 10-part true crime investigation into a cold case. The series ends with an answer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing | Firebug
trailerFrom the co-creator of The Ballad of Billy Balls, Crimetown and host of Morally Indefensible comes a new podcast, Firebug. In the early 1990s, a manuscript for a novel called “Points of Origin” lands at literary agencies across the country. It tells the story of a fictional serial arsonist who lights up southern California. The thing is… the fires described in the novel may actually be real. Was Points of Origin a work of fiction, or the confessions of a prolific arsonist and murderer? Host Kary Antholis goes on a journey to figure out where fiction meets reality. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing | Morally Indefensible
trailer1979 is the year that Ex-Green Beret Doctor Jeffrey MacDonald is convicted of the murders of his pregnant wife and two young daughters. It’s also the year he meets a new friend in famous journalist Joe McGinniss. Joe agrees to write a book about Jeff’s case. That book becomes a smash bestseller and a TV limited series watched by over 65 million people, but the story it tells isn’t quite the story Jeff expected and that sets off a series of events that ruin both men’s lives…Who’s the real bad guy here, the journalist or the murderer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 [BONUS] The Ballad of The Ballad | The Ballad of Billy Balls
bonusEiO, Austin, and Zac sit down for a very special behind-the-scenes bonus episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 [BONUS] The Lawslinger | The Ballad of Billy Balls
bonusEiO and Austin pay a final visit to everyone's favorite lawslinger, Ron Kuby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing Crimetown, Season 2
bonusEFrom the same team behind The Ballad of Billy Balls comes Crimetown, Season 2. This season, Crimetown heads to Detroit, Michigan. From its heyday as the Motor City to its rebirth as the Brooklyn of the Midwest, Detroit’s history reflects a series of issues that strike at the heart of American identity: race, poverty, policing, loss of industry, the war on drugs, and our universal desire for a savior. Detroit’s a tough town, and its residents are even tougher. They’ve weathered riots, a drug epidemic, political scandal, and innumerable other hardships, but they’re still here—and they have stories to tell.Learn more at www.crimetownshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 [BONUS] I'll Call You Back | The Ballad of Billy Balls
bonusEiO returns some of the many compelling listener calls, while Austin checks in with old friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 [BONUS] Leave a Message | The Ballad of Billy Balls
bonusEIn the afterglow of the season, we play some voicemails we've received from our wonderful listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 Ep 13S2 [13] Life After Death | The Ballad of Billy Balls
EAs the show comes to an end, iO tries to figure out what the wisdom of it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 Ep 12S2 [12] The Guy in the Cowboy Hat | The Ballad of Billy Balls
EThe elusive character at the center of the mystery is found, and iO gets his story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 Ep 11S2 [11] There’s Someone Under This Ground | The Ballad of Billy Balls
EiO takes Rebecca on a trip 37 years in the making. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 Ep 10S2 [10] Something Bigger Than Me | The Ballad of Billy Balls
EiO's upbringing pushes him to a life or death moment, and his path toward healing leads straight to Billy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 Ep 9S2 [9] Ophelia | The Ballad of Billy Balls
ERebecca's grief in the years following Billy’s death leads her to an unlikely source of comfort, and a big surprise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 Ep 8S2 [8] Cops Tend to Shoot | The Ballad of Billy Balls
EAfter months of anticipation, iO and Austin receive the biggest piece of evidence yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing Gangster Capitalism
bonusEGangster Capitalism Season 1 is centered on the 2019 college admissions scandal that is exposing everyone from CEOs to celebrities. Award-winning documentarian Andrew Jenks uncovers the origins and inner workings of this unprecedented scam, introducing you to the people involved, and exploring the larger debate around higher education that is being brought to the forefront.Gangster Capitalism is a production of C13Originals, a division of Cadence13. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 Ep 7S2 [7] The Hunt for Paper | The Ballad of Billy Balls
EiO and Austin track down some concrete evidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 Ep 6S2 [6] Amanda | The Ballad of Billy Balls
EAmanda, a game-changing character, tells her story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.