Andres Caballero

just terrify these people and get them so scared that not only would they give me the cash, they would give me their terror. It made me feel strong. All I know is we're f***ing helpless. All I know is anarchy. All I know is chaos. I just leaned into that.

just terrify these people and get them so scared that not only would they give me the cash, they would give me their terror. It made me feel strong. All I know is we're f***ing helpless. All I know is anarchy. All I know is chaos. I just leaned into that.

The first time I heard about the death flights and even about the dictatorship was when I was about nine years old in my grandfather's repair shop at our house just north of the city. And one day he just thought I was old enough to hear that just blocks away in the Rio de la Plata, the river right by my house, people had been thrown from planes into the sea and killed.

The first time I heard about the death flights and even about the dictatorship was when I was about nine years old in my grandfather's repair shop at our house just north of the city. And one day he just thought I was old enough to hear that just blocks away in the Rio de la Plata, the river right by my house, people had been thrown from planes into the sea and killed.

Immediately for a kid, all these questions come up besides being horrified about why, you know? And my grandpa at the time, I remember he didn't really have any answers for me because it was the early 90s. And even though democracy returned to Argentina in 1983, it's not like we were learning about what had happened in the history books, right?

Immediately for a kid, all these questions come up besides being horrified about why, you know? And my grandpa at the time, I remember he didn't really have any answers for me because it was the early 90s. And even though democracy returned to Argentina in 1983, it's not like we were learning about what had happened in the history books, right?

It was still a system where there was a lot of shoving things under the rug. Such a large number of people, especially young people, are now barely reconnecting with this history. And there's still so many questions, right, up in the air. But the importance of knowing what happened and how can we prevent this from happening again?

It was still a system where there was a lot of shoving things under the rug. Such a large number of people, especially young people, are now barely reconnecting with this history. And there's still so many questions, right, up in the air. But the importance of knowing what happened and how can we prevent this from happening again?

Because I think there is this collective loss of memory sometimes that happens to populations, to countries. And, you know, people just forget. And then we tend to fall into other trends.

Because I think there is this collective loss of memory sometimes that happens to populations, to countries. And, you know, people just forget. And then we tend to fall into other trends.

just terrify these people and get them so scared that not only would they give me the cash, they would give me their terror. It made me feel strong. All I know is we're f***ing helpless. All I know is anarchy. All I know is chaos. I just leaned into that.

The first time I heard about the death flights and even about the dictatorship was when I was about nine years old in my grandfather's repair shop at our house just north of the city. And one day he just thought I was old enough to hear that just blocks away in the Rio de la Plata, the river right by my house, people had been thrown from planes into the sea and killed.

Immediately for a kid, all these questions come up besides being horrified about why, you know? And my grandpa at the time, I remember he didn't really have any answers for me because it was the early 90s. And even though democracy returned to Argentina in 1983, it's not like we were learning about what had happened in the history books, right?

It was still a system where there was a lot of shoving things under the rug. Such a large number of people, especially young people, are now barely reconnecting with this history. And there's still so many questions, right, up in the air. But the importance of knowing what happened and how can we prevent this from happening again?

Because I think there is this collective loss of memory sometimes that happens to populations, to countries. And, you know, people just forget. And then we tend to fall into other trends.

The economy was in shambles.

The economy was in shambles.

Political violence and tensions grew.

Political violence and tensions grew.

Leftist groups retaliate, targeting government officials, police chiefs.

Leftist groups retaliate, targeting government officials, police chiefs.

Violence divided the country. The best-known group targeting police and government forces was called the Montoneros. Some supported them, including Medium, as the best hope against forces of repression. But others saw only chaos and violence. They craved stability. Meanwhile, Medium was in the midst of a political awakening. She got a job at a factory and helped organize union workers.

Violence divided the country. The best-known group targeting police and government forces was called the Montoneros. Some supported them, including Medium, as the best hope against forces of repression. But others saw only chaos and violence. They craved stability. Meanwhile, Medium was in the midst of a political awakening. She got a job at a factory and helped organize union workers.

Before we begin, please note that for this story, we interviewed Medium and everyone else for dozens of hours in Spanish. We hired actors to voice their words in English.

Before we begin, please note that for this story, we interviewed Medium and everyone else for dozens of hours in Spanish. We hired actors to voice their words in English.

Her parents started to worry about her, but Medium was on a different path now. The entire nation was on edge. Inflation was skyrocketing. The violence was getting worse. The government seemed powerless.

Her parents started to worry about her, but Medium was on a different path now. The entire nation was on edge. Inflation was skyrocketing. The violence was getting worse. The government seemed powerless.

Argentina's armed forces took control. A coup led by General Jorge Rafael Videla. Up until then, he had played a neutral role when it came to politics. But he was the country's most powerful military leader. He promised peace, a stable economy. Officially, his plan was called the National Reorganization Process, or just the process.

Argentina's armed forces took control. A coup led by General Jorge Rafael Videla. Up until then, he had played a neutral role when it came to politics. But he was the country's most powerful military leader. He promised peace, a stable economy. Officially, his plan was called the National Reorganization Process, or just the process.

Values that General Videla says were threatened by subversives, students, union members, teachers, activists, people like Medium, who he vowed to, quote, annihilate.

Values that General Videla says were threatened by subversives, students, union members, teachers, activists, people like Medium, who he vowed to, quote, annihilate.

General Videla's swearing-in takes place inside the presidential palace. The room is filled with men in green and blue military uniforms, Catholic bishops, and families of Junta leaders watching from a balcony. Everyone is standing. Suddenly, two giant doors open, and General Videla appears. He's tall, slim, with a thick mustache. He has a stern look, and he takes the oath.

General Videla's swearing-in takes place inside the presidential palace. The room is filled with men in green and blue military uniforms, Catholic bishops, and families of Junta leaders watching from a balcony. Everyone is standing. Suddenly, two giant doors open, and General Videla appears. He's tall, slim, with a thick mustache. He has a stern look, and he takes the oath.

The rumors are true. The Junta takes its crackdown on leftist groups to a new level.

The rumors are true. The Junta takes its crackdown on leftist groups to a new level.

For Miriam, it means leaving her parents' house. She knows she's a person of interest. She fears she will bring danger to her family, so she goes into hiding.

For Miriam, it means leaving her parents' house. She knows she's a person of interest. She fears she will bring danger to her family, so she goes into hiding.

It's late afternoon, 1977. Miriam is in a neighborhood in Buenos Aires. She's 19. It's been a year since Argentina's military seized power. A coup to bring back peace and stability, says the military dictator. People like Medium, a young political dissident, are now targets.

It's late afternoon, 1977. Miriam is in a neighborhood in Buenos Aires. She's 19. It's been a year since Argentina's military seized power. A coup to bring back peace and stability, says the military dictator. People like Medium, a young political dissident, are now targets.

By then, Medium had fallen in love with a fellow journalism student, Juan Estevez. They met in college. He was an activist like her.

By then, Medium had fallen in love with a fellow journalism student, Juan Estevez. They met in college. He was an activist like her.

After the coup, they drop out of journalism school and go underground.

After the coup, they drop out of journalism school and go underground.

Before they go underground together, they buy two cheap wedding bands and ask the leader of their activist group to marry them.

Before they go underground together, they buy two cheap wedding bands and ask the leader of their activist group to marry them.

Medium and Juan don't get to live there for very long. Crackdowns become more frequent. They have to go back to hiding at friends' houses or at cheap motels. They're preparing for the worst.

Medium and Juan don't get to live there for very long. Crackdowns become more frequent. They have to go back to hiding at friends' houses or at cheap motels. They're preparing for the worst.

And there was one critical part of their group's training, that they would always carry a cyanide pill and pledge to swallow it before they were captured.

And there was one critical part of their group's training, that they would always carry a cyanide pill and pledge to swallow it before they were captured.

Two nights before her kidnapping, Miriam is walking through the streets of Buenos Aires, heading back to where she and Juan are staying. They're still in hiding.

Two nights before her kidnapping, Miriam is walking through the streets of Buenos Aires, heading back to where she and Juan are staying. They're still in hiding.

Two days later, on May 17th, 1977, Medium finds herself running for her life, being chased by three men in a Ford Falcon.

Two days later, on May 17th, 1977, Medium finds herself running for her life, being chased by three men in a Ford Falcon.

She yells out her phone number, begging anyone who can hear to call her family. Then, the moment Medium and her fellow militants had prepared for.

She yells out her phone number, begging anyone who can hear to call her family. Then, the moment Medium and her fellow militants had prepared for.

Usually, cyanide pills are made out of glass. Once you crush it with your teeth, the glass cuts your mouth. The poison enters the bloodstream quickly. But Medium's cyanide capsule is homemade. It's plastic.

Usually, cyanide pills are made out of glass. Once you crush it with your teeth, the glass cuts your mouth. The poison enters the bloodstream quickly. But Medium's cyanide capsule is homemade. It's plastic.

In the next episode, Miriam is taken alive to a clandestine center to be interrogated. The exact scenario that she and her fellow comrades had tried to avoid at all costs.

In the next episode, Miriam is taken alive to a clandestine center to be interrogated. The exact scenario that she and her fellow comrades had tried to avoid at all costs.

From Orbit Media, this is Avenger, the story of Miriam Lewin. I'm your host and senior producer, Andres Caballero. The series was produced by Ezequiel Rodriguez-Sandino and edited by Monica Campbell. Original score, Nicolás Pachela. Mixing and mastering, Christopher Hoff and Austin Smith. Assistant producers, Andres Fechtenholz and Eliana Gillespie.

From Orbit Media, this is Avenger, the story of Miriam Lewin. I'm your host and senior producer, Andres Caballero. The series was produced by Ezequiel Rodriguez-Sandino and edited by Monica Campbell. Original score, Nicolás Pachela. Mixing and mastering, Christopher Hoff and Austin Smith. Assistant producers, Andres Fechtenholz and Eliana Gillespie.

Fact check, Alejandro Marinelli and Leonardo Scanone. Legal review, Neil Rossini. Casting director, Paula Gammon-Wilson. The executive producers from Orbit Media are Steve Fishman, Fisher Stevens, Marcy Wiseman, and Katie Springer.

Fact check, Alejandro Marinelli and Leonardo Scanone. Legal review, Neil Rossini. Casting director, Paula Gammon-Wilson. The executive producers from Orbit Media are Steve Fishman, Fisher Stevens, Marcy Wiseman, and Katie Springer.

The voice actors in Avenger include Alexis Bledel as Miriam Lewin, Fulvio de la Volta as Giancarlo Seraudo, Gonzalo Vargas as Enrique Piñero, Edgardo Manono Castro as Bruno Vane, and Tom Schubert as Carlos Maco Somiliana en Gustavo. This podcast was produced in association with Sonoro. The Sonoro executive producers are Camila Victoriano, Joshua Weinstein, and Jasmine Romero.

The voice actors in Avenger include Alexis Bledel as Miriam Lewin, Fulvio de la Volta as Giancarlo Seraudo, Gonzalo Vargas as Enrique Piñero, Edgardo Manono Castro as Bruno Vane, and Tom Schubert as Carlos Maco Somiliana en Gustavo. This podcast was produced in association with Sonoro. The Sonoro executive producers are Camila Victoriano, Joshua Weinstein, and Jasmine Romero.

The rest of the Sonoro production team includes senior producer Carmen Graterol, editor Rodrigo Crespo, producer Paloma Navarro Nicoletti, Evelyn Uribe, Mariana Coronel, Sara Mota, Manuel Parra, Hannah Bottom, and Tasha Sandoval. Special thanks to Radio En Casa and Pomeranek Recording Studios in Buenos Aires. And to Medium Lewin and Giancarlo Seraudo for letting us tell their story.

The rest of the Sonoro production team includes senior producer Carmen Graterol, editor Rodrigo Crespo, producer Paloma Navarro Nicoletti, Evelyn Uribe, Mariana Coronel, Sara Mota, Manuel Parra, Hannah Bottom, and Tasha Sandoval. Special thanks to Radio En Casa and Pomeranek Recording Studios in Buenos Aires. And to Medium Lewin and Giancarlo Seraudo for letting us tell their story.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for listening.

From Orbit Media, I'm Andres Caballero. This is Avenger, the story of Miriam Lewin. Episode 1, The Process Fast forward three decades to 2010. It's four in the afternoon, the busiest time of day at Canal 13, a national TV channel in Buenos Aires. Miriam sits in her office chair, looking through a big glass window at the cars driving by.

From Orbit Media, I'm Andres Caballero. This is Avenger, the story of Miriam Lewin. Episode 1, The Process Fast forward three decades to 2010. It's four in the afternoon, the busiest time of day at Canal 13, a national TV channel in Buenos Aires. Miriam sits in her office chair, looking through a big glass window at the cars driving by.

In Argentina, Medium is a well-known investigative journalist. And she's relentless, going after perpetrators of sexual abuse. She's reported from Gaza, Russia, lots of places. Now, she's in the middle of the biggest investigation of her career. Medium looks at her phone. It's a U.S. number. An Argentine reporter calling from Florida, Medium had recently hired him to help her follow up on a tip.

In Argentina, Medium is a well-known investigative journalist. And she's relentless, going after perpetrators of sexual abuse. She's reported from Gaza, Russia, lots of places. Now, she's in the middle of the biggest investigation of her career. Medium looks at her phone. It's a U.S. number. An Argentine reporter calling from Florida, Medium had recently hired him to help her follow up on a tip.

She had sent him to meet the owner of a small plane that maybe had once been used by Argentina's dictatorship to kill hundreds of people. They were tossed out of planes, alive, into the sea. Somehow, the plane ended up in Fort Lauderdale. Medium hoped that it still held clues, evidence of the atrocities.

She had sent him to meet the owner of a small plane that maybe had once been used by Argentina's dictatorship to kill hundreds of people. They were tossed out of planes, alive, into the sea. Somehow, the plane ended up in Fort Lauderdale. Medium hoped that it still held clues, evidence of the atrocities.

On the phone, the reporter confirms it's the right plane.

On the phone, the reporter confirms it's the right plane.

I spent a lot of my childhood in Argentina. In the early 90s, at my grandfather's repair shop, behind our house. It was a middle-class suburb of Buenos Aires, and every morning I would wake up to Radio Colonia, my grandfather's favorite station. Inside his repair shop, the floors and shelves were stacked with old radios, tools, and countless broken televisions.

I spent a lot of my childhood in Argentina. In the early 90s, at my grandfather's repair shop, behind our house. It was a middle-class suburb of Buenos Aires, and every morning I would wake up to Radio Colonia, my grandfather's favorite station. Inside his repair shop, the floors and shelves were stacked with old radios, tools, and countless broken televisions.

One day, he decided I was old enough to hear about the death flights. He told me how only about a decade earlier, thousands of people had been kidnapped, loaded into airplanes, and thrown into the ocean. I was barely nine at the time. We lived several blocks from the shore. I could picture the planes above the water, bodies free-falling.

One day, he decided I was old enough to hear about the death flights. He told me how only about a decade earlier, thousands of people had been kidnapped, loaded into airplanes, and thrown into the ocean. I was barely nine at the time. We lived several blocks from the shore. I could picture the planes above the water, bodies free-falling.

I had a lot of questions, but my grandfather didn't have answers. This was in the 90s, and many Argentines were still searching for answers about loved ones who had gone missing. Mothers, fathers were still mourning, in fear and in silence. It seemed at times that Argentina, the entire country, was looking away, intent on burying the ghosts of the past.

I had a lot of questions, but my grandfather didn't have answers. This was in the 90s, and many Argentines were still searching for answers about loved ones who had gone missing. Mothers, fathers were still mourning, in fear and in silence. It seemed at times that Argentina, the entire country, was looking away, intent on burying the ghosts of the past.

For a long time, journalist Miriam Lewin wanted to bury them too. For good reason. She'd been one of the disappeared. Better to forget years of captivity, of torture. Then, one day, an annoying, rude, incredibly persistent Italian photojournalist entered her life, asking lots of uncomfortable questions.

For a long time, journalist Miriam Lewin wanted to bury them too. For good reason. She'd been one of the disappeared. Better to forget years of captivity, of torture. Then, one day, an annoying, rude, incredibly persistent Italian photojournalist entered her life, asking lots of uncomfortable questions.

Theirs would be an unlikely alliance, but together they set out to bring justice to the victims of the vuelos de la muerte, the death flights. It would prove to be the investigation of a lifetime. The investigation would also become crucial in my search for answers. How did an entire country allow this to happen? Was there, will there ever be justice?

Theirs would be an unlikely alliance, but together they set out to bring justice to the victims of the vuelos de la muerte, the death flights. It would prove to be the investigation of a lifetime. The investigation would also become crucial in my search for answers. How did an entire country allow this to happen? Was there, will there ever be justice?

Where were the pilots who flew the death flights? In 2007, Giancarlo Seraudo is living in Buenos Aires. He's the annoying Italian photojournalist who gets in touch with Medium. He invites her to a cafe to take some photos.

Where were the pilots who flew the death flights? In 2007, Giancarlo Seraudo is living in Buenos Aires. He's the annoying Italian photojournalist who gets in touch with Medium. He invites her to a cafe to take some photos.

In his 30s, Giancarlo is a bit of a nomad. He's been all over the world, telling stories, taking photos, fulfilling his obsession to document the scars left by fascist governments. Recently, he traveled from Italy to Argentina on a mission. He's become obsessed with the death flights. He's heard about Medium and decided he needs her.

In his 30s, Giancarlo is a bit of a nomad. He's been all over the world, telling stories, taking photos, fulfilling his obsession to document the scars left by fascist governments. Recently, he traveled from Italy to Argentina on a mission. He's become obsessed with the death flights. He's heard about Medium and decided he needs her.

A survivor and, just as important, a journalist on the ground who might help him find some answers. And Giancarlo's request comes at a good time.

A survivor and, just as important, a journalist on the ground who might help him find some answers. And Giancarlo's request comes at a good time.

She agrees to meet Giancarlo at a café in the center of Buenos Aires. It's a gray, windy day in August, and Medium comes straight from her office, wearing her signature fluorescent orange jacket, her red curly hair blowing in the wind. The café is on Avenida Nueve de Julio, a majestic avenue lined up with purple jacaranda trees.

She agrees to meet Giancarlo at a café in the center of Buenos Aires. It's a gray, windy day in August, and Medium comes straight from her office, wearing her signature fluorescent orange jacket, her red curly hair blowing in the wind. The café is on Avenida Nueve de Julio, a majestic avenue lined up with purple jacaranda trees.

It's not the first time that a foreign journalist contacts Medium for an interview, but Giancarlo is different.

It's not the first time that a foreign journalist contacts Medium for an interview, but Giancarlo is different.

They start talking. Giancarlo seems eager, too eager. He's leaning toward Medium over the table. Medium is not impressed. The whole setup seems off.

They start talking. Giancarlo seems eager, too eager. He's leaning toward Medium over the table. Medium is not impressed. The whole setup seems off.

Giancarlo is convinced that if they could find the planes, that could lead to the pilots of those death flights.

Giancarlo is convinced that if they could find the planes, that could lead to the pilots of those death flights.

It was an obscure book. Only a few copies were ever printed. Giancarlo gives it to her and she puts it in her bag. Their meeting ends without a commitment. But it sparks something within her.

It was an obscure book. Only a few copies were ever printed. Giancarlo gives it to her and she puts it in her bag. Their meeting ends without a commitment. But it sparks something within her.

Miriam grew up in a nice middle-class neighborhood in Buenos Aires. She was an intellectual child. She loved books and poetry. Her dad was a big influence. He was a leftist. He gave her books about socialism, workers' movements.

Miriam grew up in a nice middle-class neighborhood in Buenos Aires. She was an intellectual child. She loved books and poetry. Her dad was a big influence. He was a leftist. He gave her books about socialism, workers' movements.

Soon, she was an activist.

Soon, she was an activist.

When Miriam's parents started to worry about her safety, they offered to fly her to Brazil or somewhere outside Argentina.

When Miriam's parents started to worry about her safety, they offered to fly her to Brazil or somewhere outside Argentina.