The Wire Stripped

"They used to make steel there, no?" – Spiros Vondas This episode features the voices of: Reign (Frog) on rapping with Method Man Alexa Fogel (Casting Director on The Wire) on casting Method Man Jeffrey Pratt Gordon (Johnny Fifty) on Chris Bauer's powerhouse perform Hannah and Jen (Standard Issue Podcast) on Beadie Russell Leo Fitzpatrick (Johnny Weeks) - on never having seen the Wire! Andrew Johnstone (Podcaster and Marylander) on community colleges in Baltimore Thanks to Sonix for helping transcribe all these interviews. Get your 100 free minutes of transcription with Sonix using this link https://sonix.ai/invite/stripped Burner Our burner message this week is from Cheri her favourite character! If you want to leave us a 60 seconds or less burner message record using your favourite voice recorder app and email it to burner@theWireStripped or Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 Episode Synopsis Ziggy's inability to move a package of drugs costs him his Camaro "Princess" and nearly his life as he falls foul of East side dealers Frog and Cheese. Seeing his cousin in danger, Nick attempts to parley with one of the dealers but discovers that they have torched Ziggy's car. Daniels sends Herc, Carver and Kima out for some hand-to-hands as they half-heartedly step up their investigation of the docks. Officer Russell gets information from Maui who indicates that the union computer may be useful in tracking containers. Sobotka's frustration with the Greeks begins to grow as he is once again denied a meeting with their boss, remaining defiant even when his payment for smuggling each container is tripled. Donette visits D'Angelo and tells him that he is being supported; D'Angelo remains cynical. The Barksdale family's drug trade continues to falter because of supply problems. Thankyou Theme tune by Sam and Martin from Song by Song Podcast: www.songbysongpodcast.com Season 2 Images from Cris Sutera: www.crissutera.co.uk Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"If I hear the music, I'm gonna dance." – Greggs This episode features the voices of: Alexa Fogel (Casting Director on The Wire) on casting Ziggy Melanie Nicholls-King (Cheryl) on the similarities between Cheryl and Kima compared to Daniels and Marla Kelli R Brown (Kimmi) on joining Omar's crew Chris Bauer (Frank Sobotka) on Frank's nephew Nicky Michael Kostroff (Maury Levy) on the phrase "you people" Leo Fitzpatrick (Johnny Weeks) - on his character nearly being killed in the first 3 episodes Damond Gordon (Production Assistant on the Wire) on Avon being a smart killer Andrew Johnstone (Podcaster and Marylander) on millenials trying to buy houses in Baltimore Thanks to Sonix for helping transcribe all these interviews. Get your 100 free minutes of transcription with Sonix using this link https://sonix.ai/invite/stripped Burner Our burner message this week is from Graham from Sydney on ignoring his friend! If you want to leave us a 60 seconds or less burner message record using your favourite voice recorder app and email it to burner@theWireStripped or Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 Episode Synopsis "D" confronts Avon about the Hot Shots and washes his hands of the business. Avon brokers a deal to give up the CO Tilghman for a reduced sentence. Valchek specifically requests Lieutenant Daniels for the Sobotka investigation. Daniels negotiates with Burrell and secures the promise of his own major crimes unit after the Sobotka investigation ends. Sobotka chastises his son and nephew about their unauthorized smuggling deal with the Greeks; he defends his own illicit deals as a means toward regenerating the ailing dockyard. Ziggy continues to enjoy his new-found wealth with a silly jacket and hat combo. McNulty takes a personal interest in the murdered women and is pressured to find Omar for Bunk and we get a sneak peak at Bubbles and Johnny Weeks. Thankyou Theme tune by Sam and Martin from Song by Song Podcast: www.songbysongpodcast.com Season 2 Images from Cris Sutera: www.crissutera.co.uk Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"What they need is a union." – Russell This episode features the voices of: Isiah Whitlock Jr (Clay Davis) on corruption Gerard Ender (Sam) on being on The Red Carpet Kelli R Brown (Kimmi) on why she was perfect to play Kimmy Deirdre Lovejoy (Rhonda Pearlman) on disenfranchisement in the white community Al Brown (Stan Valcheck) on working with black cops Jill Redding (Delores) on the state of the industry Damond Gordon (Production Assistant on the Wire) on shooting in a prison James Dyer (Empire Magazine and Pilot TV Magazine) on McNulty Chris Hewitt (Empire Magazine) on Amy Ryan Andrew Johnstone (Podcaster and Marylander) on dredging the Canal Thanks to Sonix for helping transcribe all these interviews. Get your 100 free minutes of transcription with Sonix using this link https://sonix.ai/invite/stripped Burner Our burner message this week is from Ryan on growing to love season 2! If you want to leave us a 60 seconds or less burner message record using your favourite voice recorder app and email it to burner@theWireStripped or Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 Episode Synopsis Nick is getting his hair cut and is concerned over how he is to provide for his girlfriend and their daughter. He joins Ziggy and Johnny Fifty to steal containers for Spiros Vondas and The Greek that contains old school digital cameras. Avon chats with Stringer about problems with their drug supply and D'Angelo's growing distance. Frank Sobotka attempts to court political favour in order to fulfill his hopes for the regeneration of the docks. Omar Little signs up some new partners in crime. Wee-Bey asks for help from Avon to deal with an abusive prison officer who also deals drugs. Thankyou Theme tune by Sam and Martin from Song by Song Podcast: www.songbysongpodcast.com Season 2 Images from Cris Sutera: www.crissutera.co.uk Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"They can chew you up, but they gotta spit you out." – McNulty This episode features the voices of: Gerard Ender (Sam) on his famous death in The Wire Al Brown (Stan Valcheck) on his son in law, Prez. Jeffrey Pratt Gordon (Johnny Fifty) - on trying to cheat on Irish breakfasts Antonio D Charity (Prison Offices Tilghman) - on vendettas James Dyer (Empire Magazine and Pilot TV Magazine) on human trafficking Chris Hewitt (Empire Magazine) on pettiness Andrew Johnstone (Podcaster and Marylander) on the can of "dead girls" Dave Pickering (Podcaster on Getting Better Acquainted and The Family Tree) on stained glass windows Thanks to Sonix for helping transcribe all these interviews. Get your 100 free minutes of transcription with Sonix using this link https://sonix.ai/invite/stripped Burner Our burner message this week is from Ryan on growing to love season 2! If you want to leave us a 60 seconds or less burner message record using your favourite voice recorder app and email it to burner@theWireStripped or Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 Episode Synopsis Officer Russell is assigned the murders of the thirteen women discovered in the cargo container. McNulty offers to help and again ensures that the case goes back to Rawls' homicide department. Valchek strikes a deal with Acting Commissioner Burrell—in return for supporting Burrell in his aspirations for promotion, Valchek demands Burrell set up a detail to investigate Sobotka and his union. Sobotka, angry at not being informed of the container's contents, considers cutting his ties with The Greek and demands a meeting. "Horseface" complains of sudden police pressure to Sobotka and the two come up with a plan to further embarrass Valchek. In prison, Avon Barksdale's relationship with his nephew D'Angelo begins to sour. Bodie Broadus finds that the new shipment of drugs for the Barksdale Organization is missing. Thankyou Theme tune by Sam and Martin from Song by Song Podcast: www.songbysongpodcast.com Season 2 Images from Cris Sutera: www.crissutera.co.uk Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Ain't never gonna be what it was." - Little Big Roy This episode features the voices of: Chris Bauer (Frank Sobotka) - on playing Frank and his head to head with Valcheck Al Brown (Stan Valcheck) on Valchek's son in law, Prez John Doman (Major Bill Rawls) - on conflict in the system Jill Redding (Delores) on running a bar on "The Wire" Jeffrey Pratt Gordon (Johnny Fifty) - on Frank Sobotka Damond Gordon (Production Assistant on "The Wire") on coming back for Season 2 James Dyer (Empire Magazine and Pilot TV Magazine) on the transition from season 1 to season 2 Chris Hewitt (Empire Magazine) on the new theme tune and Tom Waits as Frank Sobotka Joe Kiely (Dave’s co-host on Shitegeist) on this season's new catchphrase Andrew Johnstone (Podcaster and Marylander) on stained glass windows and the fate of the guys on the docks Thanks to Sonix for helping transcribe all these interviews. Get your 100 free minutes of transcription with Sonix using this link https://sonix.ai/invite/stripped Burner Our burner message this week is from Brendan - who was liberal with the "C-bomb" and unsure about the state of his marriage! If you want to leave us a burner message use Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 Episode Synopsis McNulty "went where he didn't want to go" aka harbor patrol with Diggsy. He discovers a corpse "floater" in the harbor and pays back Colonel Rawls by proving City Homicide are responsible for the investigation. Major Valchek is pissed off when the boss of a local stevedore union named Frank Sobotka donates a more impressive gift to a local church. Sobotka meets with other union leaders and learns that a crucial pier is still in a state of disrepair. Sobotka instructs his nephew Nick to see The Greek regarding payment for a unknown container that he is smuggling through the port. Later, Port Police Officer "Beadie" Russell stumbles across The Greek's container and discovers the bodies of over a dozen young women inside. Thankyou Theme tune by Sam and Martin from Song by Song Podcast: www.songbysongpodcast.com Season 2 Images from Cris Sutera: www.crissutera.co.uk Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 2 of The Wire Stripped! We're starting with a special episode that we are super happy to share with you all. It's the Live Show that we recorded with the amazing Clarke Peters! We recorded this as part of the London Podcast Festival in 2018 in front of a SELL OUT audience. Dave and Kobi chat with Clarke about The Wire helped by questions from the audience. **COMPETITION** To WIN One of the Clarke Peters Signed books "All The Pieces Matter" send a Burner Message using Whatsapp Voice Memo to +447534 831 658. Please do subscribe if you haven't already and tell your friends too! Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wire: Stripped Season 2 is here! Starting Wednesday 19th September with the full audio from our LIVE show with Clarke Peters. Then each week, we'll be watching Season 2 of The Wire, episode by episode, featuring all new exclusive interviews with Chris Bauer (Frank Sobotka), Al Brown (Valchek), John Doman (Rawls), Michael Kostroff (Maurice Levy), Alexa Fogel (Casting Director) and many more. We also want you to be part of the show - we're looking for new burner messages. Let us know either what you thought of Season 2 the first time you saw it or what you thought of Ziggy the first time you met him! Leave a Whatsapp voice message on +447534 831658 NOW! Everyone who leaves a Burner Message will be entered into a prize draw to win a copy of the Book “All the Pieces Matter” as signed by Clarke Peters! Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are hard at work on Season 2, but in the meantime, we’re very excited to announce our first LIVE show, as part of the London Podcast Festival. Join Kobi, Dave, producer Tom and special guest Clarke Peters (Lester Freamon) as they talk all things ‘Cool Lester Smooth’, look back at his career, his time on the show and host a live Q&A with the audience. Tickets available now: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-wire-stripped-with-special-guest-clarke-peters/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features the voices of: Wendell Pierce ( Bunk) on the "Fat Finger" Lance Reddick (Daniels) Joe Kiely (Podcaster) on D'Angelo Hannah and Jen (The Standard Issue Podcast) on D'Angelo and his mother Luke Moore (Radio Stakhanov and "The Football Ramble") on the montage Jonathan Abrams (Author "All the Pieces Matter") on Kima Greggs Andrew Johnstone (Academic and Podcaster) Storyline 1: The cops start rounding up all of the guys on the street They pick up 12 or so people and with D’s help manage to catch Wee Bay in Philly. Wee Bay Storyline 2: The streets try to regroup The guys are low on supply. D’angelo has flipped and has to deal with his mother. Storyline3: The cops try to take it to the FBI It's good but doesnt go the way that they want. The feds want to go for the politicians but the detail feel that is not the direction that they wanted to go in. Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is me, yo, right here. - Wallace Tray Chaney (Poot) on killing Wallace and saying goodbye to Michael B Jordan Isiah Whitlock Jr (Senator Clay Davis) on auditioning and not knowing his character arc Lance Reddick (Daniels) on Larry Gilliard Jr Damond Gordon (Production Assistant on "The Wire") on the final scenes with Michael B Jordan Luke Moore (Radio Stakhanov and "The Football Ramble") on Wallace Jonathan Abrams (Author "All the Pieces Matter") on how the creators fought to shoot Wallace "properly" Andrew Johnstone (Academic and Marylandian) on what "Poot" really means Storyline 1: The Streets start cleaning up The streets are reeling from the main stash being hit. “Any body who could hurt you could be put into play”. They write a list of people and start ticking them off.. including Wallace Storyline 2: The politics people get scared Political candidates start handing back campaign financing as they are scared that it would lead to allegations of corruption. Storyline 3: The police are aware of the clean up They try their best to protect people once they realise that the streets are trying to clean up. They cannot protect Wallace. As the wire is down they look to bug Orlandos. Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Dope on the damn table.” - Daniels This episode features the voices of: Miciah Jones (Little Man) on how Wee Bay would actually have killed him! (Even though it happened off screen) Frankie Faison (Dept Commissioner Burrell) on being a more sympathetic character than people tend to believe Hannah and Jen (The "Standard Issue" Podcast) on being fearful for Bubbles! Dave Pickering ("Getting Better Acquainted" and "The Family Tree" podcasts ) rooting for Kima and both sides of "The Game" Damond Gordon (Production Assistant on "The Wire") on not knowing whether D'Angelo would sleep with the fishes or not Joe Kiely (Dave’s co-host on Shitegeist) on Rawl's eloquence Gabriela Jones (podcast producer at "The Guardian Newspaper") on Bubbles Luke Moore (Radio Stakhanov and "The Football Ramble") on Wee-Bay and D'Angelo "Jane" (A listener from Baltimore) on real threats of violence against her Storyline 1: Kima Aftermath - Bubbles gets beat up The Cops band together after Kima gets shot. Freamon is obviously ace/ Bunk and crew chasing the shooters trail. Storyline 2: Bubbs gets beat down Bubbs gets brought in and beat down by a cop that doesn’t know his history with Kima. McNulty turns him loose but doesnt help him out in the same way that Kima was Storyline3: The streets batten down the hatches After realising a cop was taken down the gang take precautionary measures. Weebay is told to kill Little Man. Servino accepts some jail time and Weebay heads to Philly Storyline4: The guys in command pull rank The Guys in command - Burrell and the other chap above him are reeling after kima and call for “Dope on the Table”. We see the commissioner come to the hospital. The command find out that the detail knows about the main stash and tell the detail to break it in! Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A quick update from Kobi and Dave to congratulate our producer Tom and his wife Holly on the birth of their first child. We'll be taking a short break, and will be back very soon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“And then he dropped the bracelets...” - Greggs or "Cheese Puffs AND Ring Dings?" - Syndor Featuring the voices of: Wendell Pierce (The Bunk) on how the cast fought with David Simon to save Kima's life Frankie Faison (Dept Commissioner Burrell) on his views about Burrell as a character Riggsy (Detective in the UK Law Enforcement) on how stakeouts actually work! Chris Clanton ("Savino" on The Wire) telling us about setting up the Orlando and Kima shooting Damond Gordon (Production Assistant) on shooting the Kima and Orlando shooting Joe Kiely (Dave’s co-host on Shitegeist) on the scene that "gets" to him the most in Season 1 Professor David Nutt (psychiatrist and neuropsychopharmacologist) on how detox works Andrew Johnstone (academic and podcaster) on Kima Greggs Storyline 1: Orlando Gets Stung Gets stung and sets up the Undercover Buy/Bust and dies. Kima gets shot Despite everyone's better judgement Orlando decides to hook up with his "connect" so that he can buy his own drugs and try and enter The Game more. This immediately backfires as Orlando's connect is an undercover cop unconnected with Daniels' detail. The Detail under pressure from command operate a "buy bust" sting operation where Kima goes undercover in a bid to witness the exchange. The team did not realise that this was gang killing and Kima gets shot in the crossfire Storyline 2: McNulty finds Wallace The Detail hears that Wallace is in trouble and realise that they could "flip" him Storyline3: They Find the Main Stash Syndors' skills come to the forefront and he stumbles across what turns out to be the Barksdale's Stash House - queue another stakeout and Prez manages to get some sunlight! Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Maybe we won.” - Herc. Featuring the voices of: - Scroobius Pip (Distraction Pieces Podcast) on the basketball truce - Micaiah Jones (Little Man on The Wire) on how the basketball game brought the neighbourhood together - Joe Kiely (Dave’s co-host on Shitegeist) on the importance of games in The Wire - Gabriela Jones (podcast producer at The Guardian) on her personal experiences with addiction - Professor David Nutt (psychiatrist and neuropsychopharmacologist) on how governments have failed addicts - Andrew Johnstone (academic and podcaster) on how Herc and Carver are the cops you’re most likely to meet Storyline 1: The East vs West Game A lot of things happen off the basis of this game! The Cops didn’t know who Avon was until this point. Prop Joe for the East and the Barksdale for the West. Both bring ringers to the game and Prop Joe plays a better hustler game. Avon shows up the cops when then try to follow him and he is wise to them and waves past Daniels, waggling the finger! Storyline 2: The Smart Cops Freamon, Sydnor and Prez start following the elaborate paper trail. Freamon seems pleased to be requesting 200 pages of paper trail. Storyline 3: The “Dumb” Cops Herc and Carver catch Weebay and confiscate money. They consider keeping it, but ultimately don’t. They realise too late that some of the money slipped out of the bag in the car and Daniels rips them a new one. Storyline 4: Bubs on the straight and narrow Through a series of incidences in this episode we see Bubbles starting to turn his back on The Game. After nearly getting beaten up for stealing crappy drugs, he chats to Waylan about recovery and goes to see his sister. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Spoilers for all 5 seasons of The Wire - proceed with caution** Kobi chats with author Jonathan Abrams to chat about the release of his new book - All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire. Jonathan tells how David Simon gave his approval for the project, how he tracked down the cast, and we get a sneak peek of some of the stories revealed in the book. The book is available to buy now in all good bookstores, or you can purchase from Amazon here. We're giving away five copies of the book. Head to our Twitter page for details on how you can win. Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Come at the King, You best not miss." - Omar ... This episode features the voices of: - Frankie Faison (Deputy Commissioner Burrell) on how a city can be ruled by politics - Lance Reddick (Lieutenant Daniels) on Daniels' shady past - Brandon Price (Stinkum) on how difficult it was to film his death scene - Chris Clanton (Savino) on having to leave the party scene because he was underage at the time - Cathy Cullen (Dave's wife and co-host on The Cinemile) on McNulty's bad parenting - Jonathan Abrams (author of "All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire") on Stringer Bell's education - Andrew Johnstone (academic and podcaster) on how Stringer and Avon are two sides of a perfect character - Huey Morgan (podcaster at Huey: Off The Record) on the Barksdale family - Damond Gordon (production assistant on The Wire) on that iconic Omar line Storyline 1: Stringer Bell is a different type of gangster We see Stringer Bell attending Community College Introduction to Macro Economics and then starts to show the guys in the copy shop what he has learnt straight away. He talks about de-escalating the violence after Stinkum dies, but is disregarded by Avon. Storyline 2: Catching Clay Davis' Driver Senator Clay Davis' Driver is caught in the drug zone taking $20k from Littleman but Deputy Comissioner Burrell sets him free. They are told to shut down the detail by the end of the week. McNulty and Greggs call to Judge Phelan and he tells Deputy Commissioner off and threatens him with “contempt” for not wanting to run the wire tap for a full 60 days… Storyline 3: Omar Kills Stinkum Weebay and Stinkum set out of kill a couple of rival drug dealers and think its going to be an easy take out. Omar has other ideas and ambushes them, killing Stinkum. The Bounty on Omars head goes up to $10k. Omar is brought in to chat to The Detail and scopes out Orlando's whilst there. Storyline 4: The party gets out of hand Wee Bay, Stinkum and LittleMan have a party - it gets out of hand and one of the ladies dies. It appears to seriously affect D'Angelo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"A man must have a code.” - Bunk. This episode contains the voices of: - Micaiah Jones (“Little Man” in The Wire) on Bubbles and the red hat - Huey Morgan (from podcast Huey: Off the Record) on why pagers were a thing - Scroobius Pip (from the Distraction Pieces Podcast) on “When Omar Met Bunk” - Former heroin addict “Paul” on cops trying to blend in - UK Detective “Riggsy” on the realities of surveillance police work Storyline 1 - Catching Bird Bunk and McNulty chase down more leads on the Gant case and get help from an old lady. She helps to confirm that it’s Bird with the description. Omar gives Kima and McNulty some valuable info about about about how to get bird. Bubs employs his “hat trick” Storyline 2: Breaking the Code - Chasing Stinkum Prez shows more and more skills at breaking the code. The gang (Gregs, Sydnor, Herc and Carver) chase down the Re-Up with Stinkum and the kid in the low rises. They catch the kid and Prez freaks out in the office. This leads the Barksdale crew to realising that something ain’t right and they pull out the payphones. Storyline3: Santangelo and Rawls Rawls puts pressure on Santangelo. Clear a case or spill the goods on McNulty. Landsman and Cole send him to a clairvoyant/Gypsy. Omar helps clear a old case of his and Santangelo lets McNulty know that Rawls is after his ass. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"...and all the pieces matter." - Freamon This episode contains the voices of: - Lance Reddick on one of his favourite scenes, with a drunken Polk - Huey Morgan on the authenticity of the fashion - Scroobius Pip on D’Angelo’s terrible fashion - Cathy Cullen from The Cinemile on Team Freamon and Prez - Ex-heroin addict “Paul” on the realities of copper-scrounging - Andrew Johnstone on the real-life cameos - Production assistant Damond Gordon on the gory makeup behind Brandon’s death The Police Storyline 1: Prez and Freamon - a winning team - The Wiretap starts The wiretap is up and running and Freamon notes a high amount of activity the night before - when Brandon died. He also schools Prez on what’s pertinent and non-pertinent. They also get Stinkum’s pager number. Rawls finds out that McNulty and Bunk have linked D’Angelo to three murder cases and presses them for an arrest warrant, which will kill the case. They appeal to Daniels, who is initially reluctant, but eventually stands up to Rawls and get the Deputy involved, buying them another month. Storyline 2: Omar starts turning “Snitch” McNulty gets a call from Omar that he wants to see Brandon’s body. McNulty has the boys and brings them along with Omar to the morgue. An upset Omar starts to flip - heading to the office and agreeing to be an eye-witness to the murder of Gant by Bird. The Street Storyline 1: Brandon’s Body and Wallace’s reaction The show opens on Brandon’s brutally murdered body. Happening offscreen makes it even more powerful. The sight is seriously affecting Wallace, even when he gets rewarded $500 by String and Avon. D’Angelo reminds him that “killing is part of the game”. D’Angelo tells Wallace that two of the lookouts had been thieving, but he kept it wrapped up and moved them off. Storyline 2: Bodie and Juvenile Court Maurice Levy defends Bodie in court and he gets off very lightly. Herc and Carv find out that he’s back out and beat him down, assuming he’s escaped again. He says the juvey system is a joke and asks them to give him a lift to his grandmother’s and he’ll call it even. Storyline 3: Johnny Weeks and the CopperHouse Job Johnny is out of medical care and back on the streets - he wrangles Bubbles into stealing some copper pipes with him - faking a traffic accident. They sell it on and buy some dope - but Johnny is arrested. “That boy got no luck” Last Appearances - Brandon Memorable Quotes/Scenes - The intro to Wallace’s home - Daniels chewing out Rawles - Bodie’s trial - “I’m ready to be good” - Brandon on the hood/bonnet like a hunting trophy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"...a little slow, a little late." - Avon Barksdale Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 This episode contains the voices of: -Scroobius Pip (The Distraction Pieces Podcast) -Gabriela Jones (Podcast Producer at The Guardian) -Professor David Nutt (Psychiatrist and Neuropsychopharmacologist ) -Andrew Johnstone (Maryland native and Academic) -"Paul" (Former heroin addict from Baltimore, Maryland) THE COPS Storyline 1: Prez is no Longer “A Hump” The judge signs the affidavit and the cloned pager is up and running. Freamon points out that they’re not real numbers - it’s a code. Prez cracks the code. Storyline 2: Herc and Carver Chase down Bodie Herc and Carv chase down Bodie and bring him for processing. They try “Good Cop/Bad Cop” on him, but it goes hilariously wrong. As they wait for the juvenile intake, they end up shooting pool with him. Storyline 3: Omar Comin’ Bubbles tells Kima and McNulty about Omar’s van, and they stake it out, hoping to catch him with a gun and turn him informant. They parlay at a graveyard. McNulty reveals that Bailey has been killed, and Omar reveals that a guy called Bird killed William Gant, and that he knows Bubbles is their CI. THE STREET Storyline 1: Paranoid Barksdale The cold open shows us just how paranoid and careful Barksdale is. Stringer and Barksdale discuss that a corner is wide open and Stinkum should run it. He takes D’Angelo to see his brother in a nursing home, and stresses how unpredictable life can be. Storyline 2: D’Angelo and the corner D’Angelo gets a lecture from String about trying to find the snitch. Bodie throws a bottle at Wallace for not being on his guard. Later, Poot and Wallace spot Brandon in an arcade and phone it in. Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Thin line ‘tween heaven and here." - Bubbles Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 This episode contains the voices of: -Wendell Pierce (Bunk Moreland) -Gabriela Jones (Podcast Producer at The Guardian) -Jonathan Abrams (Author: All The Pieces Matter, The True Story of The Wire) -Andrew Johnstone (Maryland Native and Academic) -Iszi Lawrence (BBC Radio 4 Host, Podcaster and Comedian) Storyline 1: Lester Freamon Becomes Even More Badass Kima and McNulty try to flip some witnesses from the busts, but nobody is interested. The judge presses the deputy commissioner for results, and the wire tap/pager idea gets the go-ahead. Back in the office, Greggs explains that they have a case for “exhaustion” which would give them enough to clone a pager. Freamon drops another badass bomb by revealing he already has D’Angelo’s pager number. Storyline 2: Deirdre Kresson Case McNulty and Bunk get landed with a cold case that Jay insists might be linked to D’Angelo - they do him a favour and take a look into it. The “fuck” scene happens. It ties in directly with the story D’Angelo tells Bodie and Wallace. Storyline 3: The Hit Goes out on Omar Omar and his crew are celebrating their victory on the streets. We realise that Brandon is Omar’s lover. Brandon apologises for using Omar’s name. Omar gives a free fix to a mother - like Robin Hood of the Projects. Meanwhile, Barksdale, Stinkum, Weebay and String are shooting hoops and casually decide to put a hit on Omar. They mock him for being gay. String says he’s worried there’s a leak in D’Angelo’s crew. Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave, Kobi and their special guests recount how they first got into "The Wire" in the first place and tips for people who want to get into the show for the first time. Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 This episode contains the voices of: -Lance Reddick (Daniels) -Frankie Faison (Burrell) -Gabriela Jones (The Guardian Podcasts) -Jonathan Abrams (Author: All The Pieces Matter, The True Story of The Wire) -Joe Kiely (Shitegiest Podcast) -Andrew Johnstone (Maryland Native and Academic) -Iszi Lawrence (BBC Radio 4 Host, Podcaster and Comedian) Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The excellent Sam Pay and Martin Austwick from the sublime "Song by Song" Podcast (follow them on twitter @SongBySongPod ‏) recorded the sweet version of "Way Down in the Hole" that plays on every episode of "The Wire: Stripped". We sat with Martin and Sam to talk about all of the versions of "Way Down in the Hole" across all the seasons of "The Wire" and then discuss their arrangement. We all love Song By Song Podcast and if you have enjoyed this episode please take a moment to follow them and listen to their award winning show! Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Spoilers for all 5 seasons of The Wire - proceed with caution** We were lucky enough to speak with Wendell Pierce aka "The Bunk" about his time before, during and after The Wire. We chat about how he first got the part of Bunk Moreland, his favourite scenes and season and what he initially thought of the show after watching the first episodes! Wendell talks candidly about his relationship with Dominic West and how they bounced off each other from the start through to, his regrets and the moment that he nearly quit the show. You can follow Wendell Pierce on Twitter (Tell him we sent you!) @WendellPierce Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The king stay the king." - D'Angelo Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 This episode contains the voices of: -Lance Reddick (Daniels) -Frankie Faison (Burrell) -Jonathan Abrams (Author: All The Pieces Matter, The True Story of The Wire) -Joe Kiely (Shitegiest Podcast) -Andrew Johnstone (Maryland Native and Academic) -Iszi Lawrence (BBC Radio 4 Host, Podcaster and Comedian) Storyline 1: A Picture of Barksdale McNulty asks Polk and Mahone to get off their fat arses and do something. Go down to the City Housing Department and get a picture of Barksdale. They bring back a picture of a middle-aged white guy. “Maybe he’s white” Kima says, and she and McNulty laugh. She lists off what they have on Barksdale - just a DOB and that he’s clean and once made “Golden Gloves”. Freeman’s ears pick up at this, and he starts digging around. Then does that total badass thing with the poster. Storyline 2: Daniels and the Politics Daniels attends a meeting with the Commissioner following the fallout from Prez being an idiot. We first meet Valchek - his father-in-law, a complete slime. The Deputy Commissioner describes him as “a necessary evil” Daniels decides to play ball, reluctantly. Storyline 3: The Bust Daniels is forced into doing a bust on the low-rises, despite McNulty’s protests. They find absolutely nothing, because the stash-house has been moved. Mahone gets punched by Bodie and Herc, Carver and Kima go to town on him. Storyline 4: Omar Comin’ We see Omar and his crew scoping out the joint. They then raid the low-rises during the re-up, and D’Angelo is chewed out by Weebay for being out getting sandwiches when it happened. Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"You cannot lose if you do not play." - Marla Daniels Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 This episode contains the voices of: -Wendell Pierce (William "The Bunk" Moreland) -Gabriela Jones (The Guardian) -Iszi Lawrence (BBC Radio 4 Host, Podcaster and Comedian) Storyline 1: The Cops The team arrive at their new offices - the ringing phone. “It’s for McNulty” We meet Prez - who discharges a firearm into a wall. Kima, Herc and Carver start collating intel with Bubbles and a red hat. McNulty and Bunk pursue the witness’ murder case and put the heat on D’Angelo. The witness’ murder hits the front page - we don’t know who told the journalists, but the judge is quoted. Storyline 2: The Dealers D’Angelo gets picked up by McNulty and Bunk and cracks in the interrogation room. We see his softer side. Later, we meet his girlfriend and child, and he gets a gentle talking-to from good ol’ uncle Avon. Storyline 3: Herc, Carver and Prez These three stupendous idiots get drunk and decide to go to the towers and cause shit. They humiliate some people, Prez pistol-whips a 14-year-old who later goes blind, they get shot at and their car gets burned out. Follow Us Online Website: www.TheWireStripped.com Twitter: @TheWireStripped Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheWireStripped Instagram: @TheWireStripped Leave a Whatsapp voice memo on our burner phone 📞 +447534 831 658 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"...when it's not your turn" - McNultyKobi and Dave go back to the pits to rewatch Season 1, Episode 1 of HBO’s The Wire. This episode contains the voices of: -Frankie Faison (Deputy Commissioner Burrell)-Lance Reddick (Lieutenant Daniels)-Wendell Pierce (William "The Bunk" Moreland)-Andrew Johnstone (Academic and Author)-Gabriella Jones (The Guardian)Setting the Scene - (This episode only)David Simon likes to say that the first scene of each season of "The Wire" encapsulates the themes of that season. In the case of Detective Jimmy McNulty investigating the murder of one Omar Isiah Betts, known to friends and family as Snot Boogie, Simon gets to explain what the entire series will be about......The America of "The Wire" is broken, in a fundamental, probably irreparable way. It is an interconnected network of ossified institutions, all of them so committed to perpetuating their own business-as-usual approach, that they keep letting their own equivalents of Snot Boogie into the game, simply because that's how it's always been done. It doesn't matter that it makes no sense. Only a rugged individualist/cocky narcissist like McNulty would even think to suggest that things could and should be run differently.The StreetsAs writer David Simon puts it, “those who are excluded from the legitimate economy make their own world.” This is truly another world. We see young kids out on the stoop unsupervised, just watching the police work as if nothing’s wrong. As if there’s not a bloody body out in the street.The PoliceThese people generally aren’t familiar with the streets. Even when they are, their understanding is juvenile at best. Still, they are forced to interact with this different world, which means they often depend on those who live there. This relationship is examined in-depth throughout this season.The GameThis is what unites the two different worlds. The “game” has many levels, and while it may differ on some levels, the rules are always the same: there are winners and there and losers, and you play the game whether you like it or not.Storyline 1: McNultyMcNulty “snitches” to Judge Phelan, sets a series of events in motion that brings the team together and pisses off a million people in the process. He massively pisses off his boss, Rawles, who wants nothing to do with this case. Daniels in vice gets roped in to put a detail together, pulling in Kima, Herc, Carver and McNulty.Storyline 2: D’Angelo“D” Gets Out, we see Stringer Bell corrupting the trial and the witness. D’Angelo is driven to the Orlando Club - his uncle’s strip joint - by Weebay. We briefly meet Barksdale, and D’Angelo comes across as quite naive. He gets demoted to the low-rises from the towers, and meets his crew, acting the boss. Finally, he sees that the witness “Gant” from his trial has been shot dead. Storyline3: BubblesWe meet Bubbles, who is running a counterfeit money scam with Johnny Weeks - who is “green” and how Bubbles is trying to get “brown”. Johnny gets beat down, and Bubbles becomes a snitch.Discussion Points?- Who are the cops?- Do you understand anything of what is going on here?- Things you missed on first viewingKey Characters- McNulty- D’Angelo Barksdale- BubblesTriviaSergeant Jay Landsman is the name of a real life cop. The real Jay Landsman does come into series later.Both the Snot Boogie murder story and Bunk's tale of shooting a mouse in his kitchen are anecdotes from Simon's time researching his non-fiction book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets (1991).Simon deliberately used surveillance cameras throughout the show to add to the sense of always being watchedSimon makes the point that the detectives are motivated not by a desire to protect and serve but by the intellectual vanity of believing they are smarter than the criminals they are chasing.The flashback at the end of the episode - David Simon says that HBO urge... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the first trailer for "The Wire: Stripped" See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices