“Outlaws: The Good Thief” Podcast Debuts: Greece's Robin Hood

 Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor is a meme that never grows old. Today, we simply have too much of the rich stealing from the poor, whether it's Ticketmaster's service fees or large banks overdraft fees, or even the cell phone companies and their "activation fee."

This newly-released, eight-part podcast should energize that "Robin Hood" gene in all of us.

 Kaleidoscope, a New York-based podcasting company, and iHeartPodcasts have announced the launch of a new eight-part series today, Outlaws: The Good Thief, tells the thrilling true story of Vassilis Paleokostas, Greece’s modern-day Robin Hood who, over a twenty-year span orchestrated some of the country’s most inventive bank heists and escapes.

Much like Robin Hood, Paleokostas became a national folk hero by positioning himself as a crusader against corruption in a time of great economic insecurity, and by sharing his spoils with the mountain folk he grew up with. To this day, he remains at large, having escaped not once but twice from Greece’s maximum security prison, Korydallos, by helicopter.

Listeners can hear the first episode now, here.

This is the first season of Outlaws, another Kaleidoscope original anthology series following in the footsteps of “Obsessions,” and is voiced by Miles Gray, co-host of iHeartPodcasts’ “The Daily Zeitgeist” and “Mad Boosties.”

 Through rare access to Paleokostas’ co-conspirators, his mentor, and several high ranking police officers and officials charged with hunting him down, this podcast will reveal how a poor kid from the mountains became one of Interpol's most wanted. Along the way, the show taps classmates, journalists, and even a former prime minister to understand the truth about Vassilis Paleokostas: Does the man measure up to the myth? Why does his legend have such a hold on his country? And most importantly, who is keeping his secrets? 

Oz Woloshyn and Mangesh Hattikudur, Kaleidoscope’s co-founders, commented, “Vassilis Paleokostas is like a cross between a real life action hero and a philosopher. His bank robberies and escapes read like they belong on the silver screen. But he is also a socialist trying to fix a broken system. He’s like a cat burglar for the people, who also wants to get rich along the way!”

“We are proud to continue our collaboration with Kaleidoscope on their impressive slate of scripted podcasts,” said Will Pearson, President iHeartPodcasts. “‘The Good Thief’ is popcorn podcasting at its finest - incredibly cinematic and exciting storytelling that is perfect for summer and reason enough for getting lost in the magical world of Greece.”

 “Outlaws: The Good Thief” is Kaleidoscope’s fifth series release with iHeartPodcasts following “Obsessions: Wild Chocolate,” “Skyline Drive,” “The Last Soviet” and “Silenced: The Radio Murders.”

 Outlaws: The Good Thief will release a new episode every Wednesday, with the final episode dropping August 30, 2023. 

Who knows? Vassilis Paleokostas may be living in your neighborhood, and can save you from your local Karen.