Gangsters of The Seas Podcast
In Gangsters of The Seas, a podcast presented by Michelle Rodriguez, discover the history of some of the greatest pirates of the Indian Ocean. Cruel and bloodthirsty privateers, buccaneers and sailors turned criminals, they terrorized and pillaged the seas. You’ll soon hear that you’re not born a pirate. You become one!
Episode 1 : Thomas Tew, The Pioneer of the East
It was February 1692, off the coast of Bermuda, and the Amity, a small privateer sloop, had been battered by a storm. Captain Thomas Tew stood on deck, surveying the damage and his dazed crew. But rather than giving up, he revealed a daring plan: to abandon their official mission and become full-fledged pirates, seeking treasure beyond the Cape of Good Hope and Madagascar. With cutlass raised high, Tew raised his Jolly Roger, his crew roared, "A gold chain or a wooden leg, we'll stand with you!" And thus began Tew's legend.
Learn more
Episode 2 : Henry Every, The King of The Pirates
It was May 1694, and aboard the Charles II, Henry Every and his fellow sailors were getting restless. They had been waiting in the Spanish harbor of Corunna for weeks. Enough was enough. Every had quietly gathered a group of like-minded seamen and they took control of the ship to set sail for fortune and adventure on the high seas. Every was elected as their new captain. Thus, at 40 years old, he decided to write his own legend and became a pirate, embracing the life of freedom and riches that awaited him.
Learn more
Episode 3 : The Buzzard, Serial Looter
It was March 1716 off the coast of the Bahamas when pirate captain Olivier Levasseur, known as the Buzzard, sailed his ship the Postillon into Nassau, the biggest island in the region. There, he discovered a haven for pirates, a paradise for outlaws run by Captain Hornigold, and met other ambitious captains keen on sailing the seas as outlaws. Together, they formed a brotherhood, the Flying Gang, and they went on to pillage and plunder the Caribbean. The Buzzard soon forged a name and reputation for himself. A pirate legend was born.
Learn more
Episode 4 : William Kidd, The Reluctant Pirate
It was October 1697, and Captain William Kidd was aboard his ship, Adventure Galley, sailing the Arabian Sea. His crew of 160 men was eager for loot, but Kidd had yet to capture anything significant. As tensions rose, one of the gunners, William Moore, threatened mutiny when Kidd refused to attack a Dutch vessel. In response, Kidd fatally struck Moore with a barrel. His fate was sealed, once a privateer commissioned by the King of England, Kidd had now become a murderer and a wanted pirate, facing the hangman's noose if caught.
Learn more
Episode 5 : Kanhoji Angre, The Pirate Admiral
It was December 1707, and Kanhoji Angre stood atop the rampart walk at the sea fort he governed, gazing out at the Arabian Sea. He had just been appointed head of the Navy by the king of the Maratha Empire, granting him full control over the fleet and all the forts and infrastructure along the empire’s coastline. With a strike force feared by Europe's powers, Kanhoji was determined to become one of the most powerful kingpins to ever roam the Indian Ocean.
Learn more
Episode 6 : Mathurin Desmarestz, For Whom Freedom Was The Greatest Treasure
It was February 1688 when Mathurin Desmarestz found himself standing on the deck of the Spanish frigate Sainte-Rose, south of Saint-Domingue The 70 sailors on board were reveling in their freedom after a daring escape from the French navy 48 hours earlier. For these buccaneers, freedom was everything. and today they were free once more. For Quartermaster Desmarestz, this was just the beginning of his pirating adventure that would take him across the world.
Learn more
Episode 7 : Edward England, The Marooned Captain
It was early 1718 when Edward England, a pirate who had gained popularity within the pirate community, set sail with a small crew on a sloop, after having refused the King's Pardon. Edward, who once was a sailor in the merchant navy before becoming a pirate, was determined to pursue his destiny on the high seas.
Learn more
Episode 8 : Nathaniel North, The Wandering Pirate
It was in the end 1690s and Nathaniel North, an humble sailor in the Royal Navy, is standing on the bridge of an English warship in the Caribbean. Unhappy with his situation, Nathaniel wishes to be a pirate and hunt the wealth of ships between Europe and the New World. One day, while the crew is occupied, Nathaniel seizes the opportunity and swims to the nearby shore, determined to regain his freedom. After hours of swimming, he collapses on the beach, gazing at the ship he just escaped. This is the start of a new life as a seafarer, which will lead him to wander accross the Eastern seas.
Learn more