Pull the Thread: The Wild Life

Luminary | DreamCrew Entertainment

In the corrupt and deadly world of the illegal wildlife trade, criminals are responsible for the wholesale slaughter of animals, and the suffering of people, too. Justice is rarely found. Undeterred, one man set out to bring down one of the biggest wildlife trafficking syndicates on the African continent. His name is Wolf. And he’s a spy. Investigative journalist Runako Celina takes us through the bizarre and far-reaching web of the global illegal wildlife trade and those trying to dismantle it. From Luminary, Drake's DreamCrew Entertainment, Novel, and Thread Studios, this is Pull The Thread, Season 1: The Wild Life. read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture
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Introducing The Wild Life
15-05-2024
Introducing The Wild Life
The tale of an international crisis that involves the poaching, smuggling, and illegal trade of protected species. The Wild Life takes an unprecedented look at the corrupt, dangerous, and fascinating world of the wildlife trade. A Kingpin has his downfall as investigative reporter Runako Celina unpacks the complex systems surrounding illegal animal products, including the criminalization of poverty as well as the motivations driving demand. It's a wild ride, where nothing is as it initially seems.CREDITS:Executive Produced by - Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Maggie Gilbride (DreamCrew Entertainment); Coral Lee (Luminary); Max O’Brien (Novel); Mauricio Gris and Alex Farquharson (Thread Studios)Host - Runako CelinaProducer - Saskia EdwardsAdditional Production - Julian Manuguerra-Patten and Jake OtajovicResearcher - Madeleine ParrEditor - Mythili RaoOriginal music composer - Jake LongMusic Supervisor- Nicholas AlexanderSound designer and mixer - David SmithFact checker - Dania SulemanVoice of Wolf - Ivan IvashkinFollow Pull the Thread: The Wild Life wherever you get your podcasts.To hear episodes early and ad-free subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on LuminaryFOLLOW:Luminary: @hearluminaryDrake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrewNovel: @novelpodcastsThread Studios: @threadstudiosukRunako Celina: @runakocelina Focused Conservation:@focused.conservation

Episodes

Introducing The Wild Life
15-05-2024
Introducing The Wild Life
The tale of an international crisis that involves the poaching, smuggling, and illegal trade of protected species. The Wild Life takes an unprecedented look at the corrupt, dangerous, and fascinating world of the wildlife trade. A Kingpin has his downfall as investigative reporter Runako Celina unpacks the complex systems surrounding illegal animal products, including the criminalization of poverty as well as the motivations driving demand. It's a wild ride, where nothing is as it initially seems.CREDITS:Executive Produced by - Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Maggie Gilbride (DreamCrew Entertainment); Coral Lee (Luminary); Max O’Brien (Novel); Mauricio Gris and Alex Farquharson (Thread Studios)Host - Runako CelinaProducer - Saskia EdwardsAdditional Production - Julian Manuguerra-Patten and Jake OtajovicResearcher - Madeleine ParrEditor - Mythili RaoOriginal music composer - Jake LongMusic Supervisor- Nicholas AlexanderSound designer and mixer - David SmithFact checker - Dania SulemanVoice of Wolf - Ivan IvashkinFollow Pull the Thread: The Wild Life wherever you get your podcasts.To hear episodes early and ad-free subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on LuminaryFOLLOW:Luminary: @hearluminaryDrake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrewNovel: @novelpodcastsThread Studios: @threadstudiosukRunako Celina: @runakocelina Focused Conservation:@focused.conservation
Untouchable
22-05-2024
Untouchable
Investigative reporter Runako Celina begins to uncover the dark and twisted world of wildlife trafficking and meets a unique character who is at the center of it all. On this season of Pull The Thread, The Wild Life takes an unprecedented look at the fascinating, corrupt, and oftentimes dangerous world of the illegal wildlife trade. [Content Warning: Contains description of violence to animals.]CREDITSExecutive Produced by: Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Maggie Gilbride (DreamCrew Entertainment); Coral Lee (Luminary); Max O’Brien (Novel); Mauricio Gris and Alex Farquharson (Thread Studios)Host - Runako CelinaProducer - Saskia EdwardsAdditional Production - Julian Manuguerra-Patten and Jake OtajovicResearcher - Madeleine ParrEditor - Mythili RaoOriginal music composer - Jake LongMusic Supervisor- Nicholas AlexanderSound designer and mixer - David SmithFact checker - Dania SulemanVoice of Wolf - Ivan IvashkinFollow Pull the Thread: The Wild Life wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes early and ad-free subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on LuminaryFOLLOW:Luminary: @hearluminaryDrake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrewNovel: @novelpodcasts Thread Studios: @threadstudiosukRunako Celina: @runakocelina Focused Conservation:@focused.conservation
The Big Bad Wolf
22-05-2024
The Big Bad Wolf
In 2016, Wolf, an undercover agent, was enlisted by a former DEA agent and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Officer to embark on his most audacious mission to date--to take down a top wildlife crime syndicate. The story of Moazu Kromah, East Africa's most wanted wildlife trafficker, is nowhere near as interesting as how he was taken out, and by whom.CREDITSExecutive Produced by: Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Maggie Gilbride (DreamCrew Entertainment); Coral Lee (Luminary); Max O’Brien (Novel); Mauricio Gris and Alex Farquharson (Thread Studios)Host - Runako CelinaProducer - Saskia EdwardsAdditional Production - Julian Manuguerra-Patten and Jake OtajovicResearcher - Madeleine ParrEditor - Mythili RaoOriginal music composer - Jake LongMusic Supervisor- Nicholas AlexanderSound designer and mixer - David SmithFact checker - Dania SulemanVoice of Wolf - Ivan IvashkinFollow Pull the Thread: The Wild Life wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes early and ad-free subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on LuminaryFOLLOW:Luminary: @hearluminaryDrake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrewNovel: @novelpodcasts Thread Studios: @threadstudiosukRunako Celina: @runakocelina Focused Conservation:@focused.conservation
Most Expensive Socks
22-05-2024
Most Expensive Socks
With the operation underway. Wolf gains trust by playing a well-connected drug trafficker who is now dabbling in the illegal wildlife trade. But to get money into the traffickers’ hands, and capture them on tape, is more of a hurdle than he expected. Turns out, banks don’t like large, mysterious, international transfers. Wolf tries a more precarious solution.CREDITSExecutive Produced by: Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Maggie Gilbride (DreamCrew Entertainment); Coral Lee (Luminary); Max O’Brien (Novel); Mauricio Gris and Alex Farquharson (Thread Studios)Host - Runako CelinaProducer - Saskia EdwardsAdditional Production - Julian Manuguerra-Patten and Jake OtajovicResearcher - Madeleine ParrEditor - Mythili RaoOriginal Music Composer - Jake LongMusic Supervisor - Nicholas AlexanderSound Designer and Mixer - David SmithFact Checker - Dania SulemanVoice of Wolf - Ivan IvashkinFollow Pull the Thread: The Wild Life wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes early and ad-free subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on LuminaryFOLLOW:Luminary: @hearluminaryDrake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrewNovel: @novelpodcasts Thread Studios: @threadstudiosukRunako Celina: @runakocelina Focused Conservation:@focused.conservation
Incorruptible
22-05-2024
Incorruptible
Some compare illegal wildlife trafficking to a war. On the front line are the poachers and the game rangers. Syndicates often rely on the corruptibility of these poorly-paid rangers to be information providers and protectors. Anton Mzimba, a guardian of rhinos and other big game in South Africa, refused to be one of them.CREDITSExecutive Produced by: Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Maggie Gilbride (DreamCrew Entertainment); Coral Lee (Luminary); Max O’Brien (Novel); Mauricio Gris and Alex Farquharson (Thread Studios)Host - Runako CelinaProducer - Saskia EdwardsAdditional Production - Julian Manuguerra-Patten and Jake OtajovicResearcher - Madeleine ParrEditor - Mythili RaoOriginal Music Composer - Jake LongMusic Supervisor - Nicholas AlexanderSound Designer and Mixer - David SmithFact Checker - Dania SulemanVoice of Wolf - Ivan IvashkinFollow Pull the Thread: The Wild Life wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes early and ad-free subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on LuminaryFOLLOW:Luminary: @hearluminaryDrake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrewNovel: @novelpodcasts Thread Studios: @threadstudiosukRunako Celina: @runakocelina Focused Conservation:@focused.conservation
Brady Bunch, with Fangs
22-05-2024
Brady Bunch, with Fangs
Runako’s producer Saskia visits Hamm, West Germany, site of the world's largest herpetology fair to uncover what types of people buy, or sometimes smuggle, animals and animal products–and why they do it. Whether seeking exotic pets, aphrodisiacs, or hangover cures, the global demand for animal parts persists, as do the shady legal loopholes that allow the trade to flourish.CREDITSExecutive Produced by: Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Maggie Gilbride (DreamCrew Entertainment); Coral Lee (Luminary); Max O’Brien (Novel); Mauricio Gris and Alex Farquharson (Thread Studios)Host - Runako CelinaProducer - Saskia EdwardsAdditional Production - Julian Manuguerra-Patten and Jake OtajovicResearcher - Madeleine ParrEditor - Mythili RaoOriginal Music Composer - Jake LongMusic Supervisor - Nicholas AlexanderSound Designer and Mixer - David SmithFact Checker - Dania SulemanVoice of Wolf - Ivan IvashkinFollow Pull the Thread: The Wild Life wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes early and ad-free subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on LuminaryFOLLOW:Luminary: @hearluminaryDrake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrewNovel: @novelpodcasts Thread Studios: @threadstudiosukRunako Celina: @runakocelina Focused Conservation:@focused.conservation
Grab the Bullsh*t by the Horns
22-05-2024
Grab the Bullsh*t by the Horns
It’s 2018, Wolf has forked out big bucks from government coffers to buy contraband from the syndicate, yet no rhino horn appears. While anxiously waiting he realizes his manipulation skills may be the only way the traffickers will finally deliver. Wolf, Runako learns, is constantly working to balance espionage and fatherhood, and she sees the toll this kind of work takes on his family.CREDITSExecutive Produced by: Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Maggie Gilbride (DreamCrew Entertainment); Coral Lee (Luminary); Max O’Brien (Novel); Mauricio Gris and Alex Farquharson (Thread Studios)Host - Runako CelinaProducer - Saskia EdwardsAdditional Production - Julian Manuguerra-Patten and Jake OtajovicResearcher - Madeleine ParrEditor - Mythili RaoOriginal Music Composer - Jake LongMusic Supervisor - Nicholas AlexanderSound Designer and Mixer - David SmithFact Checker - Dania SulemanVoice of Wolf - Ivan IvashkinFollow Pull the Thread: The Wild Life wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes early and ad-free subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on LuminaryFOLLOW:Luminary: @hearluminaryDrake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrewNovel: @novelpodcasts Thread Studios: @threadstudiosukRunako Celina: @runakocelina Focused Conservation:@focused.conservation
Takedown
3d ago
Takedown
Wolf and team move closer to arresting their targets Mansour Surur, Amara Cherif, and Moazu Kromah. With stakes high, authorities strategize about how to put these traffickers in handcuffs–as all three men are based in different African countries. Working quickly and stealthily, will the arrests ensue or give the criminals a chance to disappear for good?CREDITSExecutive Produced by: Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Maggie Gilbride (DreamCrew Entertainment); Coral Lee (Luminary); Max O’Brien (Novel); Mauricio Gris and Alex Farquharson (Thread Studios)Host - Runako CelinaProducer - Saskia EdwardsAdditional Production - Julian Manuguerra-Patten and Jake OtajovicResearcher - Madeleine ParrEditor - Mythili RaoOriginal Music Composer - Jake LongMusic Supervisor - Nicholas AlexanderSound Designer and Mixer - David SmithFact Checker - Dania SulemanVoice of Wolf - Ivan IvashkinFollow Pull the Thread: The Wild Life wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes early and ad-free subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on LuminaryFOLLOW:Luminary: @hearluminaryDrake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrewNovel: @novelpodcasts Thread Studios: @threadstudiosukRunako Celina: @runakocelina Focused Conservation:@focused.conservation