How the search for a missing deputy uncovered the Mojave Desert’s meth epidemic, the outlaw bikers supplying it, and the corrupt police force covering it up.
On June 11, 1998, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy Jon Aujay went for a run in California’s Devil’s Punchbowl park. A long-distance runner and former military, Aujay felt at home in the rocky terrain, but when he didn’t return home by nightfall, his wife reported him missing. Nearly 30 years later, Aujay has yet to be found and the mystery surrounding his disappearance has only deepened.
Some say Aujay is just another missing hiker, claimed by the inhospitable landscape of the Southern California desert. Some say he took his own life out there. But there’s another theory that many of Aujay’s friends and LASD colleagues are convinced is true… that he was the victim of foul play, and that his own department is covering it up.
Through exclusive interviews, revealing wiretaps, and buried police files, investigative reporters Hayley Fox and Betsy Shepherd dig into what the sheriff’s department has kept hidden all these years.
Told over 8 episodes, Valley of Shadows follows the hairpin turns of the Aujay case, and breaks new ground in the search to uncover what really happened to the missing deputy. New episodes release on Mondays.
Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus. Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack on Spotify.
The Executive Shift explores how leadership decisions shape public outcomes. Hosted by Bird Dog Recruitment, the podcast features candid conversations with senior leaders who have navigated consequential career transitions into public service. Listeners gain practical insight into leadership, governance, and what it truly takes to serve effectively at the highest levels of state government.
The Forward Party Podcast, hosted by Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, Lindsey Williams Drath, and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, brings together leaders and reform-minded voices to talk about practical ways to fix our democracy, reduce polarization, and build solutions that put people over parties. Not Left. Not Right. Forward.
Pandora’s Box: The Fall of L.A.’s Sheriff is a six-part podcast exploring the crisis that toppled one of the country’s most prominent lawmen, Lee Baca. Rising from humble beginnings, he presented himself as a reformer when he took over the scandal-plagued agency in 1998. He vowed that he would be sheriff as long as he lived, and voters seemed to approve. But inside the massive jail system he ran, claims of inmate abuse kept surfacing. When a young FBI agent found an inmate willing to talk, it triggered an unprecedented clash between two massive law agencies…and a cover-up that went to the top.
The Lawfare Podcast features discussions with experts, policymakers, and opinion leaders at the nexus of national security, law, and policy. On issues from foreign policy, homeland security, intelligence, and cybersecurity to governance and law, we have doubled down on seriousness at a time when others are running away from it. Visit us at www.lawfaremedia.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Richard Nixon was a complex and contradictory figure, and his public speaking style reflected this complexity. He was a skilled orator who could deliver powerful and persuasive speeches, but he was also prone to awkwardness and gaffes.Nixon’s strengths as a public speaker included his intelligence, his command of facts, and his ability to connect with an audience on an emotional level. He was also a master of the “Nixonian pause,” which he used to create suspense and emphasis.However, Nixon also had some weaknesses as a public speaker. He could be stiff and wooden in his delivery, and he was sometimes prone to rambling and digressing. He was also known for his “sweaty Nixon” persona, which was exacerbated by his tendency to perspire profusely when he was nervous.Despite his weaknesses, Nixon was an effective public speaker overall. He was able to use his skills to connect with voters and deliver his message in a persuasive way. This was evident in his successful campaigns for President and Vice President, as well as his ability to rally support for his policies while in office.Here are some specific examples of Nixon’s strengths and weaknesses as a public speaker:Strengths:
– Intelligence and command of facts: Nixon was a highly intelligent man with a deep knowledge of history, politics, and economics. This was evident in his speeches, which were often full of detailed information and statistics.
– Emotional connection with audience: Nixon was able to connect with his audience on an emotional level by sharing personal stories and anecdotes. This was particularly effective in his speeches to working-class Americans, who could relate to his “rags to riches” story.
– Use of the “Nixonian pause:” Nixon mastered the use of the “Nixonian pause,” which was a dramatic pause that he used to create suspense and emphasis. This was particularly effective in his speeches on television.
Weaknesses:
– Stiff and wooden delivery: Nixon could be stiff and wooden in his delivery, which sometimes made him appear uncomfortable in front of an audience.
– Rambling and digressing: Nixon was sometimes prone to rambling and digressing in his speeches. This could make his speeches difficult to follow and could lose the attention of his audience.
– “Sweaty Nixon” persona: Nixon was known for his “sweaty Nixon” persona, which was exacerbated by his tendency to perspire profusely when he was nervous. This could make him appear uncomfortable and untrustworthy to some viewers.
Overall, Richard Nixon was a skilled and effective public speaker. He was able to use his strengths to connect with voters and deliver his message in a persuasive way. However, he also had some weaknesses, such as his stiff delivery and tendency to ramble. Despite these weaknesses, Nixon was able to use his public speaking skills to achieve great success in his political career.
Young Americans vote less than any other age group. They don’t answer polls. They swipe past political content. And most of them will tell you they’re just not that into politics.
But what if disengagement isn’t indifference?
Not Political People is a series exploring why a generation has opted out—and what they actually think when someone bothers to ask. Host Glynn talks to 65 young people across three swing states about identity and stereotypes, the negativity that poisons political conversation, the media nobody believes, and whether voting even matters when the system feels rigged.
Black Card Declined is a bold, unfiltered podcast for listeners tired of emotional narratives, cultural pressure, and identity-based groupthink. Host Brianna Riddick breaks down the stories shaping our culture with a conservative, fact-driven, and context-focused perspective—bringing clarity to a world addicted to outrage.
Taiwan Frontlines is a limited series podcast produced by GMF and hosted by Bonnie Glaser, GMF Indo-Pacific managing director, and Jason Hsu, former Taiwanese legislator and tech policy advocate.
Taiwan’s role in the global economy is increasing, but the island faces a growing security threat from China. Given Taiwan’s geopolitical importance, deeper and more varied perspectives on its story, including those by voices from Taiwan, are long overdue. Taiwan Frontlines provides these perspectives.
Each podcast episode features influential policymakers and thought leaders who join Bonnie and Jason to discuss relevant issues of technology, security, diplomacy, economic resilience, and Taiwan’s place in a shifting international order.
Created in partnership with NOWNEWS, through its English-language platform Taiwan Current News (https://www.tcn.tw/)
We explore the politics, policies, and possibilities that shape the lives of letter carriers beyond delivering mail. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of any union branch, employer, or organization. Each participant is speaking solely on their own behalf. Nothing said on this show should be interpreted as representing the views of any other member, branch, or official body.
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