American Shrapnel

American Shrapnel

The Olympics explode on a July night in 1996. The largest pipe bomb the country has ever seen. A string of bombings shakes Atlanta for the next year. Thousands of photos and videos produce one blurry image of the attacker, a photo so grainy the FBI called him “Blob Man.” Agents zero in on the wrong man, the media follows suit, and the real bomber slips away. Until Birmingham. In Alabama, the Blob Man finally makes a misstep. He detonates another bomb, but this time someone sees something. A college student asks himself a question: Why, when everyone else is rushing to see what happened, is that man running away? That curious student breaks open what was then the largest manhunt in U.S. history: the search for Eric Robert Rudolph. Years pass. No trace. Does he have help? Is he planning more attacks? In American Shrapnel, the latest podcast from the Murrow-winning Alabama Media Group, join 2x Pulitzer Prize winner John Archibald and award-winning journalist Becca Andrews as they track the path of destruction — from the bombings, through the manhunt, and back to the twisted politics that fueled it. You’ll hear the stories of survivors, radicals and heroes. This isn’t a story of the past. The anger that fueled it has only grown stronger today.

Episodes

June 25, 2025 3 mins
The Olympics explode on a July night in 1996. The largest pipe bomb the country has ever seen. A string of bombings shakes Atlanta for the next year. Thousands of photos and videos produce one blurry image of the attacker, a photo so grainy the FBI called him “Blob Man.” Agents zero in on the wrong man, the media follows suit, and the real bomber slips away. Until Birmingham. In Alabama, the Blob Man finally makes a misstep. He d...
Mark as Played
An explosion at the ‘96 Olympics, and the bomber slips away. Two more bombs. A photo of the suspect so grainy the FBI called him “Blob Man.” Then, a college student sees a suspicious man leaving the scene of yet another bomb. Follow the unlikely hero on a daring chase that would give agents their first big break. Host, Writer: Becca Andrews Host, Writer: John Archibald Executive Producer, Co-Creator: John Hammontree Audio Eng...
Mark as Played
July 30, 2025 39 mins
Agents descend on Murphy, N.C. only to find a Goldilocks scene. The stove is still warm but the inhabitant is gone. Eric Rudolph disappears in the frenzy. Tales emerge of a severed hand, a would-be Rambo, and a crowd cheering “Run Rudolph Run” Host, Writer: Becca Andrews Host, Writer: John Archibald Executive Producer, Co-Creator: John Hammontree Audio Engineer: Chris Hoff Field Producer: Sarah Whites-Koditscheck Social P...
Mark as Played
July 30, 2025 39 mins
Eric Rudolph was a chameleon. A Bible thumper and a skilled pot grower, a Holocaust denier and an avid reader.  Stories from family and friends reveal a dangerous, contradictory man. And his secrets. Host, Writer: Becca Andrews Host, Writer: John Archibald Executive Producer, Co-Creator: John Hammontree Audio Engineer: Chris Hoff Field Producer: Sarah Whites-Koditscheck Social Producers: Caroline Vincent, Mila Olivera Lo...
Mark as Played
August 20, 2025 38 mins
What radicalized Eric Rudolph?  Family. Neighbors. Timothy McVeigh. But there’s more. Come on a whirlwind ride through a brazen armored car robbery, an antisemitic preacher who once considered the bomber a protege, the U.S. Army, and a girl named Joy. And meet the men trying to make a whole army of Eric Rudolphs. Host, Writer: Becca Andrews Host, Writer: John Archibald Executive Producer, Co-Creator: John Hammontree Audio ...
Mark as Played
August 20, 2025 33 mins
Memrie Cresswell stood up to tuck in her shirt as a bomb exploded at the Otherside lounge. It saved her life. Time after time luck was the thing that kept Rudolph’s body count from soaring. As he desperately tries to kill more, his bombs evolve. Host, Writer: Becca Andrews Host, Writer: John Archibald Executive Producer, Co-Creator: John Hammontree Audio Engineer: Daniel Potter Field Producer: Sarah Whites-Koditscheck Soc...
Mark as Played
August 20, 2025 39 mins
Why did Eric Rudolph target abortion clinics? Friends said they didn’t know Rudolph cared about that issue. But the battle over abortion rights had been long and bloody. Meet the women who were soldiers in that movement. And its casualties. Host, Writer: Becca Andrews Host, Writer: John Archibald Executive Producer, Co-Creator: John Hammontree Audio Engineer: Daniel Potter Field Producer: Sarah Whites-Koditscheck Social P...
Mark as Played
August 27, 2025 30 mins
Rookie cop Jeff Postell’s life would change forever when he found a man digging through a dumpster in Murphy, North Carolina. The man said his name was “Jerry Wilson,” but he had an awfully familiar face. Host, Writer: Becca Andrews Host, Writer: John Archibald Executive Producer, Co-Creator: John Hammontree Audio Engineer: Daniel Potter Field Producer: Sarah Whites-Koditscheck Social Producers: Caroline Vincent, Mila Olive...
Mark as Played
September 3, 2025 44 mins
Eric Rudolph was finally in shackles. But what would become of him? As prosecutors in Georgia and Alabama jockeyed to be first to take him to trial, a new worry emerged. It was dynamite. About 200 pounds of it. Host, Writer: Becca Andrews Host, Writer: John Archibald Executive Producer, Co-Creator: John Hammontree Audio Engineer: Daniel Potter Field Producer: Sarah Whites-Koditscheck Social Producers: Caroline Vincent, Mi...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.