‘Believed’ tells the story of convicted serial abuser and former Olympic gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar
NPR and Michigan Public Radio present “Believed,” a series about infamous Olympic gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar who was convicted after sexually abusing women and girls for decades. This series chronologically investigates Larry, starting with a story 13 years before Larry faced legal ramifications, how he managed to evade law enforcement for years, and what his reputation was like in the industry. Episodes detail the abuse through survivors’ firsthand accounts and factors that led to Larry’s trial.
Start “Believed” from episode one to hear the complete story. All 9 episodes are now streaming, and the average length is 30 minutes.
When “An Absurd Result” hosts spoke with Podsauce, hosts Jule Banville and Linda Glantz shared their podcast picks. Jule shared that “An Absurd Result” was inspired by “Believed” when investigating a heartbreaking story about sexual abuse, told by survivors, in podcast form.
This series speaks with victims who filed reports with police officers and unpacks stories years before Larry admitted he was an abuser in court. This podcast interviews victims and former gymnasts and their parents who encountered Larry. Many parents were in the room when the abuse was happening and had no idea.
In episodes one and two, listeners hear from Brianne Randall-Gay who explained the abuse, what it was like to report Larry’s behavior, and what followed. By the third episode, listeners hear about a young girl, Larry’s family friend, who he abused for years in his basement. Episode four explains how Larry was questioned by police in 2014 after another patient reported him. Hear the exact recording from Larry’s interrogation where he lied, manipulated facts, and the police let him walk free.
The “How He Got Caught” episode discusses the start of Larry’s fall in 2016, beginning with a team of journalists, a Michigan detective, and a Kentucky mom. This episode also shares clips from another one of Larry’s interrogations. In the “What Have You Done?” episode, listeners hear about a patient who was abused, continued to support him for years, and her decision to courageously speak up.
Over the last few episodes, listeners hear about the trial where over 200 women and girls confronted Larry at his sentencing and were able to directly address Larry with comments like: “Little girls don’t stay little forever. They grow into strong women that return to destroy your world.”
All episodes of “Believed” are now streaming, wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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