Jun 15, 2026 · 47 min · 19 segments
THE BLURB: Frederich Nietsche warned us about staring into the abyss and becoming the monster we most feared. He could have been talking about being in prison. Or being a spy. In this episode, John…
John KiriakouHost
John Dillinger was arguably the most famous criminal, the most famous outlaw of the twentieth century.
Born and raised outside of Indianapolis, Indiana, his father was very worried about him.
He knew that Dillinger was involved in petty crime, and he moved him to a rural village just to get him out of that element.
Well, it was in that rural village that he met somebody in his early twenties who convinced the younger John Dillinger that a life of crime was okay.
He hit the proprietor with that sock full of bolts, and he waved the gun around, but he never used it.
Dillinger's father then went to the owner of the store and begged the man's forgiveness.
But the store owner said he was a young man, he was only seventeen, and he deserved leniency.
When Dillinger finally got out of prison eleven or twelve years later, he was a hardened criminal, and he was ready to start robbing banks.
As with any spy mission, though, once events begin happening, they can take on a life of their own.
Could I dance with the devil and come out okay on the other side? Well, I guess I was gonna find out.
John Dillinger was arguably the most famous criminal, the most famous outlaw of the twentieth century.
Born and raised outside of Indianapolis, Indiana, his father was very worried about him.
He knew that Dillinger was involved in petty crime, and he moved him to a rural village just to get him out of that element.
Well, it was in that rural village that he met somebody in his early twenties who convinced the younger John Dillinger that a life of crime was okay.
He hit the proprietor with that sock full of bolts, and he waved the gun around, but he never used it.
Dillinger's father then went to the owner of the store and begged the man's forgiveness.
But the store owner said he was a young man, he was only seventeen, and he deserved leniency.
When Dillinger finally got out of prison eleven or twelve years later, he was a hardened criminal, and he was ready to start robbing banks.
As with any spy mission, though, once events begin happening, they can take on a life of their own.
Could I dance with the devil and come out okay on the other side? Well, I guess I was gonna find out.
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