S7 EP6: Patrick Radden Keefe on the opioid crisis, criminal career longevity and why access is overrated

The Louis Theroux Podcast

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Tuesday, 7 April 2026 - 1 hour 27 minutes

Joining Louis in the studio today is award-winning writer and investigative journalist, Patrick Radden Keefe. Patrick tells Louis about his investigation into the Sackler family's involvement in the opioid crisis, how professional criminals keep career longevity, and why he thinks access is overrated. Plus he discusses his latest book, London Falling.

Warnings: Strong language and adult themes.  

Links/Attachments:  

Book: London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth, Patrick Radden Keefe (2026) 

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/patrick-radden-keefe/london-falling/9781035056279  

Book: Say Nothing, Patrick Radden Keefe (2019) 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/say-nothing/patrick-radden-keefe//9780008159269?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=259955&awc=3787_1770820651_da19805aca482f3e2f7cdd8da31aca44&utm_source=259955&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Genie+Shopping+CSS  

Book: Empire of Pain, Patrick Radden Keefe (2022) 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/empire-of-pain/patrick-radden-keefe//9781529063103?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=863943&awc=3787_1770820691_38f3f451369dd9c047c37137a0cb0d42&utm_source=863943&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.octer.co.uk%2F  

TV Show: ‘Say Nothing’ (2024) - Hulu 

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/say-nothing  

Wolf of Wall Street (2013) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/  

War Dogs (2016) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2005151/  

Nightcrawler (2014) 

https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/nightcrawler/umc.cmc.1h8fjzqshxpg22pa0bm7iho27?action=play  

American Psycho (2000) 

https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/american-psycho/umc.cmc.4k3idfzm0x9j5okdedo2s4l50?action=play  

Book: Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks, Patrick Radden Keefe (2022) 

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/patrick-radden-keefe/rogues/9781035001767  

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/  

Article: Larry Gagosian Piece, Patrick Radden Keefe (2023) 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/07/31/larry-gagosian-profile  

Book: Hillbilly Elegy, JD Vance, (2017) 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/hillbilly-elegy/j-d-vance/9780008220563  

Book: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua (2012) 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/battle-hymn-of-the-tiger-mother/amy-chua//9781408822074?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=259955&awc=3787_1770824539_3e1fda19a55aa22e32d76f01e79f390b&utm_source=259955&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Genie+Shopping+CSS   

Article: The Sinaloa Drug Cartel, Patrick Radden Keefe (2012) 

https://archive.nytimes.com/6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/behind-the-cover-story-patrick-radden-keefe-on-the-sinaloa-drug-cartel/ 

Book: Nazi Billionaires, David De Jong (2023) 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/nazi-billionaires/david-de-jong/9780008299798  

Book: Some People Need Killing, Patricia Evangelista (2023) 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/some-people-need-killing/patricia-evangelista/9781804710081  

 Book: Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann (2017) 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/killers-of-the-flower-moon-adapted-for-young-adults/david-grann/9781398528482  

TV Show: Industry (2020 – present) - BBC 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000pb89/industry  

Podcast: Wind of Change (2020 – 2022) - Crooked Media 

https://crooked.com/podcast-series/wind-of-change/  

Song: ‘Wind Of Change’, The Scorpions (1990) 

https://open.spotify.com/track/3ovjw5HZZv43SxTwApooCM  

Song: ‘Piano Man’, Bill Joel (1973) 

https://open.spotify.com/track/70C4NyhjD5OZUMzvWZ3njJ  

Book: The Journalist and the Murderer, Janet Malcolm (1989) 

https://www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/stock/the-journalist-and-the-murderer-janet-malcolm  

Article: Carl Icahn, Patrick Radden Keefe (2017) 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/28/carl-icahns-failed-raid-on-washington  

Credits: 

Producer: Millie Chu  

Production Manager: Francesca Bassett  

Music: Miguel D’Oliveira  

Audio Mixer: Tom Guest 

Video Mixer: Scott Edwards  

Shownotes compiled by Elly Young 

Executive Producer: Arron Fellows  

A Mindhouse Studios Production for Spotify  

www.mindhouse.co.uk 

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