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Check latest episodes from The Walkers: The real Salt Path | Tortoise Investigates podcast

The Missing Money | The Walkers Ep1

2026/01/13

In a small town in north Wales, an alleged theft at a local estate agents plants the seeds for a global blockbuster. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 13th January. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Additional reporting - James Urquhart Producer - Matt Russell Artwork: Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Music supervision & sound design - Karla Patella Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the path | The Walkers Ep2

2026/01/13

With question marks now raised over how The Salt Path began, Chloe Hadjimatheou starts to track down other characters from the book. Did Raynor Winn and Moth ever walk the path the way they claimed? Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Additional reporting - James Urquhart Producer - Matt Russell Artwork: Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Music supervision & sound design - Karla Patella Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cider at Haye | The Walkers Ep3

2026/01/20

When the television cameras come to a heritage cider farm in Devon, Moth and Raynor Winn take centre stage. Within weeks, they vanished. The farm’s owner, their friend, is left to piece together the disparity between what he’d witnessed…and what Raynor Winn had written about. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Artwork: Observer design with thanks to Angela Harding Music supervision & sound design - Karla Patella Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Miracle | The Walkers Ep4

2026/01/27

Moth is suffering from a rare and terminal illness: corticobasal degeneration. Life expectancy rarely extends beyond eight years. But almost two decades after his diagnosis, Moth is still defying the odds. Has he discovered the secret to a medical miracle? Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Additional reporting - James Urquhart Producer - Matt Russell Sound design - Rowan Bishop Fact checking - Madeleine Parr Music supervision - Karla Patella Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The French Quarter | The Walkers Ep5

2026/02/03

In the aftermath of her initial investigation, Chloe hears from a close family member of Moth’s. The story is one of deep divides…and another theft. But it takes her one step closer to understanding who Moth and Raynor Winn really are. Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Music supervision - Karla Patella Sound design - Rowan Bishop Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Letters | The Walkers Ep6

2026/02/10

At a motorway service station, Chloe meets someone close to Raynor Winn who’s nervous about coming forward. It turns out she’s another character from The Salt Path…and she’s Raynor Winn’s niece. And she’s not turned up empty handed… Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Artwork - Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Music supervision and sound design - Karla Patella Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus... subscriber exclusive Q&A

2026/02/16

If you’re enjoying the series but have burning questions that are still unanswered, then join our conversation on Tuesday 17th February. You can put your questions directly to Chloe Hadjimatheou, plus hear behind-the-scenes and find out what’s happened since the series aired. This event is exclusively for our subscribers. This is going to be an event exclusively for our subscribers. If you’re already a subscriber, head here to book your place for the Q&A. Don’t worry if you haven’t subscribed yet - you can subscribe now at observer.co.uk/subscribe. By becoming a subscriber, you will get tickets to future events like the Q&A, The Observer app, our premium newsletters and exclusive partner offers. Find out more at observer.co.uk/welcome. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Missing Book | The Walkers Ep7

2026/01/12

The Missing Book | The Walkers Ep7

2026/02/17

The Salt Path was the supposed bestseller debut book by Raynor Winn, selling millions worldwide. So when two more sequels came along with increasingly bold claims on reversing a terminal illness, why did the publisher Penguin not question it more? Chloe also goes on the hunt for Raynor Winn’s fourth book…her true debut written years before The Salt Path. Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Artwork - Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Music supervision - Karla Patella Sound design - Tom Burchell Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing... The Walkers: The real Salt Path

2026/01/07

Raynor Winn’s memoir The Salt Path was a bestseller and literary phenomenon with millions of people captivated by this true story of financial ruin, terminal illness, and healing through nature. Raynor Winn has since published two more books and The Salt Path has been adapted for the big screen, starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson. At its heart it is a simple tale, of a couple embarking on a 630 mile trek in the face of stark adversity. When faced with nothing, they chose to walk. But when reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou received a tip-off that the memoir may not be the "unflinchingly honest" account it claimed to be, suddenly things began to unravel. And the questions, about what is and isn't true, began mounting. How far can you bend the truth before it begins to break? Episode 1 will be available to listen on Tuesday 13th January. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to all 7 episodes on Tuesday 13th January. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content. Head to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Music supervision and sound design - Karla Patella Sound design - Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork - Lola Williams Executive producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Depth Wish | Deep Water Ep1

2025/11/18

Three years ago, travel writer Lydia Gard discovered freediving. An extreme and beautiful sport defined by one objective: to dive as deep as you can on one single breath. It soon became a calling. Then, she stumbled on a darker side of the sport. Rumours that a group of top divers were doping to go deeper. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla Patella Sound design - Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fair Play | Deep Water Ep2

2025/11/18

Lydia travels to Kalamata, Greece, a renowned freediving spot to investigate the doping allegations. What substances are athletes meant to be taking? And what are the risks – to them, and to the sport she loves? Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla Patella Sound design - Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the bag | Deep Water Ep3

2025/11/25

Vertical Blue, 2023, the moment the doping scandal erupts. The competition organiser, William Trubridge, recounts his plan to catch the dopers – and Lydia investigates the fallout of a very controversial drugs bust. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla Patella Sound design - Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don’t hold your breath | Deep Water Ep4

2025/12/02

The CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency – and the man who caught Lance Armstrong – has advice for Lydia. It’s not what she’s expecting. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla Patella Sound design - Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Click Bait | Deep Water Ep5

2025/12/09

An anti-doping officer tells Lydia that drugs are only considered a problem in freediving on social media, and in podcasts. She learns the problem is bigger, and more complex, and more corrupt, than she realised. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla Patella Sound design - Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KVThrice 2026/02/08

Superb Job

Journalism at its best. So satisfying to see a couple of hucksters ,who have exploited people’s hope for their own personal gain, revealed to be the c...

SammieIC 2026/02/12

Interesting

This was good and is all about an author who wrote a memoir and it seems as if the book is made up of lies and spreads misinformation about a disease ...

bonzi74 2025/08/27

A+

Very well done.

SmokeyCat007 2025/04/24

Well Done

Brilliant storytelling. My heart breaks for the victim. Many people failed him that should have intervened. He is brave for standing up to Ms. Bowen a...

654258996 2025/06/07

Nope

The subject, Gareth, has more problems than what happened to him at fourteen. This story is shady at best.

suspendedisbelief 2025/04/29

Consent

Lucky Boy: gave it a charitable listen. Liked 50% of it but the compassion of the narrator for Gareth is contradicted by the terms she uses. At one po...

majicomac 2025/04/12

Personal responsibility

I’m having a very hard time with the Master story. It quite seems to me that none of these women want to take personal responsibility for their decis...

Knott.Melanie 2025/04/11

Terribly sad, excellently reported

Some of the best reporting I have heard. Such an important yet sad story. Thank you to everyone for your openness in getting this story out.

Warwhoop 2025/04/04

Investigate the OTHER 14 schools...

I feel this pod could’ve carried on investigating the other 14 schools that freak ran through. From what I know about predictors there’s no way she st...

AnonyCrat 2025/04/06

Season 1

Can’t really get into it. I really tried. I know there’s so many more seasons, but if I don’t like the first one, what’s the chances of me liking all ...

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