All Episodes

November 10, 2025 83 mins
We discuss “dead” kayaker Ryan Borgwardt and his attempt to fake his own death, leaving his wife and three children in Watertown, Wisconsin, to be with his online lover in the former Soviet republic.  CW | TW: This episode discusses death fraud, a premeditated plan to unalive oneself, and death imagery. Listener discretion is advised. Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠severedpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠severedpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@severed_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Harry Chambers + Drew Hudson Logo Art: Drew Hudson Theme Song Composer | Podcast Editor: Harry Chambers Show Concept | Researcher | Lead Writer: Drew Hudson Sources News Clip: After Faking His Own Death, Ryan Borgwardt is Back in Court (WFRV) Article: “The Missing Kayaker: What Happened to Ryan Borgwardt?” by Jamie Thompson (The Atlantic) Article: “He Faked His Death to Start New Life with Woman He Met Online: Here Were His Last Texts to His Wife” by Nicole Acosta (People.com) Article: “Panicked texts Reveal Final Conversation Between Wife and Wisconsin Kayaker Who Faked His Death To Be With European Mistress Before He Vanished” by Richard Pollina (NY Post) Article: “The Wife of a Wisconsin Kayaker Who Faked His Own Death moves To End Their Message” by Todd Richmond (AP) Article: “Wisconsin Father Who Allegedly Faked Kayak Accident Was in Contact with Woman Overseas: Police” by Liam Quinn (People.com) Article: “Sheriff Says Runaway Wis. Father Who Faked His Own Death Returned ‘Willingly,’ Did So ‘For His Family, I Guess’” by KC Baker (People.com) Article: “Wisconsin Kayaker Who Faked His Death and Fled to Asia Says Plan Was A ‘Crazy, Emotional Dream’” by Todd Richmond (AP) Article: “Man Who Faked Death, Fled US Gets 89 Days in Jail For the 89 Days He Was Missing” by Emily Shapiro (ABCNews) Article: “Missing Kayaker in Green Lake Believed To Have Faked His Death and Fled the Country” by Joe Schulz (WPR; Wisconsin Public Radio) Article: “Man Who Faked His Own Death in Green Lake Sentenced to 89 Days in Jail” by Evan Casey (WPR; Wisconsin Public Radio) Article: “Update: Out On Bond After Fleeing the Country and Faking His Death, Ryan Borgwardt Charged with Misdemeanor” by Dylan Hunter Carter (WTMJ; 620WTMJ) Arbitration: Washington-Caldwell School District and OPEIU Local No. 9, AFL-CIO-CLC (WERC.WI.gov) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

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.

The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

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.

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

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.