Spellcaster: The Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried

Episodes

Episode 9: Sam Bankman-Fried’s Spell Falters With Guilty Verdict

By Max Chafkin, Hannah Miller and Annie Massa

The FTX co-founder had one more risky bet to place — that he could win over a jury in his own federal fraud trial. In this episode of Spellcaster, old friends take the stand to testify against him.

Episode 8: Sam Bankman-Fried Won Over Crypto Skeptics. Now He Faces a Jury

By Hannah Miller, Max Chafkin and Annie Massa

As the fraud trial of FTX’s former head begins, the Spellcaster podcast returns with a view from inside the courtroom — where opposing sides are set to spar over the credibility of Bankman-Fried and former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison.

Episode 7: Sam Bankman-Fried’s Friends and Family Were Along for FTX’s Rise

By Hannah Miller, Annie Massa and Max Chafkin

The Spellcaster reporters talk about SBF’s inner circle and the future of FTX in this round-table bonus episode of the podcast.

Episode 6: FTX’s Fall Sets Off Guilty Pleas and Soul-Searching by Those Around Bankman-Fried

By Annie Massa, Hannah Miller and Max Chafkin

In episode six of the Spellcaster podcast, people around SBF ponder one of his greatest powers — getting otherwise smart people to second-guess their own eyes, ears and instincts.

Episode 5: FTX’s Final Days Were Pure, Unadulterated Chaos

By Annie Massa, Hannah Miller and Max Chafkin

The collapse of SBF’s crypto exchange came fast. In Episode 5 of the Spellcaster podcast, old allies quickly become enemies.

Episode 4: FTX Racked Up Wins and Celebrity Pitches, but Staff Saw Cracks Forming

By Max Chafkin, Annie Massa and Hannah Miller

With the success of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried is hailed as the next Warren Buffett. But in Episode 4 of the Spellcaster podcast, those who looked behind the scenes saw warning signs.

Episode 3: Sam Bankman-Fried’s Risky Japan Trade Seeded a Crypto Empire

By Hannah Miller, Max Chafkin and Annie Massa

In Episode 3, Sam Bankman-Fried’s new crypto trading firm makes big money on a Japan crypto trade, but early Alameda Research employees start asking questions.

Episode 2: Bankman-Fried Was Schooled in Earning to Give and Playing to Win

By Annie Massa, Hannah Miller and Max Chafkin

In this episode of the Spellcaster podcast, a lunchtime chat convinces a college-aged Sam-Bankman Fried that the best way to save the world is to make a ton of money.

Episode 1: Behind Sam Bankman-Fried’s Journey From Hero to Handcuffs

By Max Chafkin, Annie Massa and Hannah Miller

The FTX co-founder, nicknamed SBF, appeared with world leaders and celebrities. But a new podcast series shows how this carefully staged production was about to fall apart.

Episode 1

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Episodes