The 13th Step

Episodes

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  Introducing: A Private Matter 04.11.2026 26m

  A Christmas tree farmer with dementia disappears. His wife never reports him missing. Can anyone find out why? A Private Matter is a five-part series from Bear Brook about what happens when family estrangement and the growing dementia crisis conspire to create an epic tragedy of humble proportions, spawning a criminal investigation and a supernatural search for answers. A Private Matter is the third season of Bear Brook, the critically-acclaimed true crime podcast from New Hampshire Public Radio hosted by Jason Moon. Bear Brook is a production of NHPR's Document team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Introducing: Safe to Drink 12.02.2026 33m

  Introducing “Safe to Drink:” A New Hampshire town finds out its water has been contaminated by a chemical. The most basic question — whether the water is safe to drink — doesn’t have a clear answer. Nobody seems to know much about this so-called forever chemical, which is weird because… this has all happened before. From the Document team at New Hampshire Public Radio, "Safe to Drink" is a four-part series about the water contamination story that keeps repeating in town after town — and about the people who fought for answers through a maze of chemistry, regulations, and illnesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  11: Feds Arrest Eric Spofford 09.06.2025 29m

  Federal prosecutors now say the vandalism scheme was Eric Spofford’s idea all along. Spofford appears in federal court, and Lauren explains what this remarkable moment means for her and her sources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  10: The Sentencing 11.12.2024 26m

  A federal judge sentences Eric Labarge, the man who pled guilty to orchestrating the vandalism in retaliation for our reporting on Labarge’s friend, Eric Spofford. Lauren explains what went down in the courtroom – and how she navigated the experience as both a journalist and a victim of this crime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  9: A New Bill and a Final Ruling 05.03.2024 20m

  New Hampshire lawmakers consider a new oversight bill proposed in response to the podcast. And the judge issues his final ruling in Eric Spofford’s defamation lawsuit against NHPR and three of our sources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  8: A Big Arrest 12.09.2023 19m

  Federal prosecutors have charged a fourth person in the vandalism case, a man they describe as a “close, personal associate” of Eric Spofford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  7: Vandalism Arrests 20.06.2023 13m

  Federal prosecutors have charged three men for their alleged roles in the vandalism incidents. According to the feds, the vandalism was "solicited" by a "close, personal associate" of Eric Spofford's. Reporter Jason Moon goes to the arraignment at a Boston courthouse and tells Lauren what happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Epilogue: Employee A 06.06.2023 25m

  A conversation with one of the women whose story of sexual assault you heard earlier in this podcast. She talks with Lauren about what it was like to hear her story published, the legal threats she has faced from Eric Spofford and his lawyers, and why she decided to speak out in the first place. The 13th Step is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team. More at 13thsteppodcast.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  5: The Litter Police 06.06.2023 1h 1m

  What does it take to catch a predator in the addiction treatment industry? We hear about a case in California where the CEO of a network of treatment facilities was convicted of sexual assault and massive insurance fraud. It required years of work – and two women who banded together and refused to give up. The 13th Step is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team. More at 13thsteppodcast.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  6: The Glam Room 06.06.2023 38m

  Since Lauren began reporting, Eric Spofford sold his New Hampshire company for millions of dollars and filed a defamation lawsuit in response to NHPR’s coverage. We catch you up on everything that’s happened. And we introduce you to a sober living community where addressing women’s sexual trauma is a priority. The 13th Step is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team. More at 13thsteppodcast.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2: The God of Recovery 06.06.2023 53m

  As Eric Spofford tells it, he spent his teen years in the throes of addiction and crime. When he got sober, he became a crusader for recovery. We hear how he built his company – and his power. And we hear allegations that he abused that power by sexually assaulting members of his own staff. The 13th Step is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team. More at 13thsteppodcast.org. Nearly all the music in this podcast was written by Jason Moon. At the top of this episode, we used an excerpt of a track by “grapes” featuring J. Lang and Morusque. It’s called “I dunno.” To support investigative journalism like The 13th Step at NHPR, click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  3: Just the Beginning 06.06.2023 58m

  In March of 2022, Lauren publishes her first story detailing allegations against Eric Spofford. The events of the next several months illustrate the ways powerful, wealthy people can intimidate sources and try to stop journalism from happening. And then, there was the vandalism…  The 13th Step is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team. More at 13thsteppodcast.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  4: A Wild (Wild?) West 06.06.2023 55m

  How did 13th stepping become so common in the recovery world and who can hold people accountable? Lauren looks into the history of the addiction treatment industry; goes in search of the people, government agencies, and industry groups that are supposed to oversee it; and does a deep dive into its most pervasive cultural force: AA and the 12 steps. She finds a lot of good intentions, alongside a lot of problems. The 13th Step is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team. More at 13thsteppodcast.org. To support investigative journalism like The 13th Step at NHPR, click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  1: The Shadow 06.06.2023 38m

  What is “the 13th step,” and why does it matter? It all starts with understanding what it’s like to be in the earliest days of recovery. We meet two women who say they were harassed during early recovery. And we meet the man who allegedly harassed them – the founder of New Hampshire’s largest addiction treatment network. The 13th Step is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team. More at 13thsteppodcast.org. To hear more stories by Lauren Chooljian and NHPR's Document team, click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Trailer: The 13th Step 31.05.2023 6m

  Reporter Lauren Chooljian starts getting tips about the founder of New Hampshire’s largest addiction treatment network. He is allegedly sexually harassing or assaulting women — employees and former clients at his facilities. The tips send Lauren on a journey deep into the addiction treatment industry, which, as one source says, “needs a #MeToo movement.”  The 13th Step is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team, coming June 6th. More at 13thsteppodcast.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices