Loose Units: The Podcast
Loose Units: The Podcast is hosted by ex-cop John and his son Paul, a broadcaster, as they delve into John's experiences on the police force in the 1980s. The show is based on the bestselling books 'Loose Units' and 'Electric Blue'. It blends humor and personal stories to explore a father's past career.
Episodes
GNOMES!
Paul and Tegan wrote a cop show for the telly! Yes, Gnomes is out now on Stan, and follows a small town police force dealing with a supernatural threat - specifically, killer garden gnomes. John and Paul chat about how Loose Units informed the research process, and John discusses his favourite parts of this six-part adventure. Here's where you can watch the show:Australia: StanNew Zealand: TVN
Ladders in the Sky
John talks the terrifying heights he climbed as a firefighter, Paul meets Special Agent Dale Cooper, and the boys break some news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Whistle
John pays tribute to a fallen officer, before he and Paul discuss a rather disgusting tradition involving fireman's whistles. Also: Lanterns! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Blame it on Manson
Did Jeffrey McDonald murder his wife and two daughters, or was this horrific crime carried out by a crazed gang of Manson-inspired psychopaths? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babies
A Verhoeven has a baby, John discusses the oddities of fatherhood, and there's an over-abundance of milk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Balls.
From tucking to the illegal removal of genitals from a well known morgue, John and Paul really go places in this new episode of Loose Units: Busted. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ecological Terrorism?!
How did John and Christine end up on the Sea Shepard? And how did John fare on the ABC this weekend past? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Scammed!
Paul gets scammed! But can he out-scam a scammer? Also, John weighs in: can you kick open those stupid automatic gates appearing in supermarkets? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John Worked at Dispatch?
An unearthed work appraisal leads to the revelation that John worked at VKG - but what did working at dispatch actually involve? Also, John and Paul make some lose recommendations! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Carvery - Part Two
What does John recall about the killer from the carvery? And will John abide driving lessons from Paul, instead of the other way around? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Carvery - Part One
How does John feel about superheroes? And how do he and Paul find their way to the front door of a terrifying two-part story? Plus, Paul recieves some new Spider Man goodies courtesy of the good folks at The Gamesmen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
TOYS!
What toys did John always want as a kid but never get? And how will he and Paul go from toys to decapitations in a matter of minutes? It's time to find out! (And a big thanks to the folks at Gamesmen!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dusting for Prints
After a terrifying story about exploding toilets, John and Paul take a walk down memory lane, back to a day when John tried to teach a young Paul the fine art of forensics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John's Test Results
How did John fare in his assessment during his time in the fingerprints division back in 1984? This episode, we find out - and we also discover a pretty whopping timeline error made way back when the boys first started this adventure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From A***hole to Breakfast
What did John's superiors really think of him? Also, an explosion in the Verhoeven house creates utter chaos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stabbings, Skydiving and Suitcases
A skydiving tragedy cuts deep, while closer to home, a stabbing takes place right near John and Christine's house. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mum Reveals All about Department Store Brawl
In this very special bonus episode, Christine tells her side of the department store prison escapee story, revealing what it was like to see John fight with the suspect, being kicked in ths stomach during the brawl (whilst heavily pregnant), and what happened next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Whose Body Did Dad Dig Up?
When a young John, working in forensics, dug up a body in the middle of Kurangai Chase National Park in the early eighties, he had no idea whose body it was. Until now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Plummeting Out of the Sky - Part Two
John explains just how loose he and his skydiving buddies got before jumps - and how a mis-timed exit almost spelled the end for a friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Plummeting Out of the Sky - Part One
What makes someone want to fling themselves out of a plane, over and over? Is it the same impulse that makes someone want to be a cop? This week, Paul interrogates his dad about what compelled him to skydive over and over - and what made him finally stop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It Takes Balls to Hate Rugby.
John explains what happens when he was forced to chaperone rugby players whilst on duty, and Paul asks about John's skydiving prowess. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John Gets Stalked
In this (sort of) bonus episode, John delivers a story - mere hours old - of his being stalked whilst hauling priceless silver. Then, he tells Paul an untold tale of a member of the New South Wales Police Band getting in way over his head. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Surprisingly Horny
Ex=cop John Verhoeven has claimed to have played trumpet in front of teeming crowds, and Paul has mocked these claims over the years. But this week, an unearthed photo has Paul eating humble pie. Also: the latest on the traffic accident which broke Paul's elbow last week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
He Flew Through the Air, Your Honour.
In this, the thrilling conclusion to John's story of a prison escapee turned department store brawler, Paul finds out that there have been some details long left buried - details now brought into the light. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
BONUS EP: Sentencing Snafu
Thanks to an intrepid listener, we now know what in certain parts of the world, sentences CAN be comically long. John and Paul hopped on the mic for a bonus ep to rectify this sentencing snafu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I'll See You in Court!
Paul reveals a piece of historic evidence: a newspaper clipping from the 1980s which tells the true, untold story of John and Christine's encounter with their attacker in all it's lurid glory. Plus, John and Paul joust over just how many years someone can be put in prison for, before it gets ridiculous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
All-Out Brawl in a Department Store
Two off-duty cops, John and a pregnant Christine, encounter a certain prison escapee slash shoplifter in a department store. What happens next is violent, strange, and almost folkloric. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
He Doesn't Look Strong Enough (To Lift Shops)
Paul unearths a newspaper clipping that puts one of John's most iconic cases under the microscope - but before they can get to the crime itself, the boys need to take a quick detour down memory lane. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Your Marks
John tries to take Paul inside the head of a first-time burglar, before Paul walks John through the transfer papers that saw a Constable get promoted to Fingerprints. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Applying for a Transfer
Last week, John's grades at school looked set to threaten his psospects as a cop - but how'd he do with his grades when he actually WAS a cop? In this episode of Loose Units: Busted, Paul walks John through the paperwork that saw him transferred to fingerprints, and the boys talk bullying, moustaches, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Do You Need Good Grades to Become a Cop?
What kinds of grades do you need to become a police officer? And what kind of rapscallion was John in school? Well, today on Loose Units: Busted, Paul reveals John's old school report. Your favourite father and son duo takes a trip down memory lane, delving into the marks that drove John into his uniform in the first place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What Happened to Dad's Ex-Partner?
Paul pushes John to finally open up about how he met his partner on the force, Julian, and asks him why the friendship fell apart. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Other Woman
For years, John has told Paul the love story of how he joined the police force to get together with Christine - his mum. But now, it turns out there's...Another woman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Marching Orders
Young John is all set for his passing out parade at the police acaademy, when disaster strikes - he needs a military-grade haircut, stat! Plus, what happens when teenage John decides to suddenly don an impressive moustache? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Three Car Chases in One Night - Part Two
One car chase down... two to go. This week, John tells Paul all about the rest of his "night of three car chases", and Christine's witnessing of a crime takes a terrifying step up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Three Car Chases in One Night - Part One
John reveals a terrible crime witnessed by Christine, before beginning his tale of a night in the 80s when he, and his partner, took part in three consecutive car chases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Driving Me Nuts
How do cops learn how to drive - not the basics, but the chases, the evasive driving, the scary stuff? In this week's episode, John tells Paul all about driver training at the academy, accidentally getting a little too personal in the process. And don't forget: Watson's new sketch comedy show, Watson: Underground, is on at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and listeners get $25 tickets
Police at the Door
What happens when John unearths a newspaper clipping - the very same ad that drew him to join the plice force all those years ago? Well, he and Paul end up finding out exactly what happened to John when he enrolled. Then, bloody new details from a surprise late night police inspection come to light. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Boxes Full of Secrets
LOOSE UNITS IS BACK! In this brand new season, John and Paul dive into literal boxes filled with photos, files and articles thought lost to time. In this, the very first episode of Loose Units: Busted, John and Paul discover new details about John's time enrolling in the police force, a Vietnam war helicopter pilot enters the picture, and John makes an embarrasing admission.New episodes of Loose
LOOSE UNITS RETURNS FEB 3RD!
Loose Units is back with a brand new season, premiering Febuary 3rd. LOOSE UNITS: BUSTED will follow Paul and John as they go through a treaure trove of files, clippings and reports long thought lost which reveal untold details and cases from John's storied career as a cop in the eighties. After discovering this hidden cache over the Christmas break, your favourite Loose Units have decided to kick
The Last Post
John and Paul make an announcement about this staggeringly long season of THE SHADOW FILES. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 253 - The Moral Weirdness of Robocop
Paul and John discuss the many merits of Peter Weller, then John sounds off on summary justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Belle Gibson
John and Paul take a look at Belle Gibson, the con-artist at the heart of Netflix's new Apple Cider Vinegar dramatisation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Retirement Home Killer
Garry Davis was charged with killing multiple retirees with lethal doses of insulin, but were there more victims? John raises the possibility that he may, in fact, be a serial killer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jack the Ripper - Part Three
John and Paul try to narrow down the suspect pool. But who are their top picks for who Jack the Ripper actually was? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 252 - ARGH! MY EYES!
John has some health related news, which he delivers to Paul (and yourselves) in peak John fashion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jack the Ripper - Part Two
John and Paul look at the letter from a medical expert which forever dictated the profile of Jack the Ripper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 251 - What's Wrong With John's Foot?
John has a foot problem - but will he open up about it in a timely manner? Also: are people getting stupider? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jack the Ripper - Part One
John and Paul begin their look at the Whitechapel Murders by heading back to the beginning. Who were Jack's first victims? And was he interrupted? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 250 - All Signs Point to a Mystery
A strange ute pulls up in John's street. Another minor neighbourhood story... or a full-blown mystery? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
They Found Jack the Ripper! ...Or Did They?
DNA evidence purports to reveal - finally - who Jack the Ripper was! Or does it? John and Paul begin a lengthy multi-part exploration of this unmissable serial killer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 249 - Happy Valentine's Day!
A special Valentine's Day episode of Loose Ends, featuring Christine! But did John get her anything? And will he live to regret it if he didn't? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Escape from Alcatraz
Three men escaped from notorious prison, Alcatraz, shortly before it closed down in the sixties. But how did they do it? And could John give them a run for their money? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 248 - Ankle Monitors
How do ankle monitors work? What happens when cops can't cop properly? And will Musk doom us all? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr.
Did you know that Frank Sinatra's son was kidnapped mere days after the assassination of JFK? Because John and Paul sure didn't! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 247 - Steamed
John finally cashes in on some long overdue presents, and finds himself steaming in a most unlikely location. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Veteran and his Wife
John tells Paul about a WW2 veteran who returns home, commits a murder, and is brought to justice. Or is he? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 246 - Falling Out of the Sky
Paul jumps out of a plane from 15,000 feet - something John has plenty of experience with. Plus... hang on. John was a garbage man? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Back From Holidays - An Update!
John and Paul are back soon, but in the meantime, a quick update for all of you loyal listeners! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 245 - The Bali Nine
In the final episode for 2024, Paul and John wheel through a rolodex of current crime headlines, culminating in a revelation from on high. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
JonBenét Ramsey - Part Two
John and Paul look at the balls dropped by Boulder police, the press pile-on, and the legacy of this tragic case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 244 - Raiding the Palace
The Assad regime has toppled, and left behind a surreal cache of treasures. John ruminates on their worth, before he and Paul chat about a recent grisly find at Sydney airport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
JonBenét Ramsey - Part One
Netflix's new documentary about this infamous case spurs John and Paul to finally begin looking at one of the most storied crimes in US history? Did the family do it? Or was an intruder too blame? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Karen Read
John and Paul take a blow-by-blow look at the case dividing a small town, and captivating true crime obsessives the world over. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 243 - John's Shameful Secret
On today's Loose Ends, John (eventually) makes a truly odd admission about a shameful deep from his past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The "Lesbian Vampire Killer"
In 1989, 24-year old Tracey Wigginton committed a murder which consumed the public's attention - and with good reason. Was her moniker accurate? Did Brisbane briefly fall prey to a vampire, or was this nothing more than a tragedy amplified by the tabloids? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 242 - Word of the Year
Paul tells John about a Bitcoin heist, before he and John take a look at the Oxford English Dictionary's word of the year. Will John accept Rizz? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Night Terrors
In 1989, an assassination and a federal police investigation led to Paul's descent into nightmare. John takes Paul on a trip back in time in this look at a notorious Australian cop-killing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 241 - Dropping It
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Gardener
John walks Paul through a case from back in 2005, where he bodies of a retired couple were found strangled in their home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Dance Teacher
John walks Paul through a case involving a woman who, one night, hears her husband's computer turn on. What happened next will floor you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 240 - Bluey Coins
Paul is ill, yet still manages to (try to) explain to John what Bluey is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The University of Texas Tower Shooting
The incredible true story of a man who climbed a clocktower, wreaked havoc, ended lives, and changed American law enforcement forever in the process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 239 - A Slippery Slope
Are we all doomed, or has John gone full "man yells at cloud"? The boys debate whether or not society is backsliding, before John makes a bold claim. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Beltway Snipers
John and Paul set their sights on an infamous case involving two snipers and many tragic murders, carried out in Washington State shortly after 9/11. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 238 - Batman and Butt Stuff
A certain costumed crimefighter has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, leading to a very strange discussion about vigilantism. Then, John talks about butts, and things truly go off the rails. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Snipers
John and Paul begin their exploration of snipers. What are they? What are some common myths? And is John as good a shot as he claims to me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 237 - Recruitment Drive
A hypothetical discussion about police recruitment triggers a surprisingly deep discussion between John and Paul about the nature of police work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Sniper
What happens when the head of a bikie gang has a hit taken out on them? A fascinating story involving a sharpshooter and inter-gang rivalries rears it's head on this week's Loose Units. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loose Ends 236 - The Stolen Gorilla
A gorilla goes missing, and a wall nearly comes down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
