THE REBEL KIND

The story of a 6’7”, 350-pound trucker from Chicago, David Rupert, who managed to infiltrate and take down the Real Irish Republican Army. Hosted by Robert Herguth and Abdon Pallasch, the two Irish-American journalists who covered the story and interviewed Rupert about his dangerous mission. The Real IRA leader sued to get the tapes of their interviews with Rupert, which you'll hear, exclusively, in the podcast. In this fiercely original show by Entropy Media, we hear Rupert's story for the first time, as he told it to the journalists—a story of loyalty, perseverance, and the bonds that connect us to our homelands.

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Forget Bond, meet Dave: trucker turned top spy in the heart of the Irish Republican Army. "Underbelly: The Rebel Kind" dives deep with exclusive recordings & interviews, revealing the risks, sacrifices, & impact of his daring mission. This true story transcends true crime, exploring the human cost of conflict, hidden truths, & ordinary lives caught in the crossfire. Beyond heroes & villains, it's a journey into the heart of a mission that changed Northern Ireland

Meet Dave Rupert. A guy born in a part of Upstate New York so rural it's practically Canada, with a past nearly as untamed: trucker, one-time professional wrestler, pilot, a bit of a serial entrepreneur. Meet Mickey McKevitt. An ocean away, he leads the Irish Republican Army's terrorist splinter cell, the Real IRA. The two men had seemingly nothing in common, but by the time they met, Dave had earned the trust of the group as though he was an Irishman himself. Meet Bob Herguth and Abdon Pallasch, reporters who interviewed Rupert in secret locations over twenty years ago to find out about their first meeting.

EPISODE 1: THERE ONCE WAS A TRUCKER FROM CHICAGO

When an FBI agent walks into Dave Rupert's truck stop, his mind starts racing. There's so many things law enforcement might want to address. A few friends he made though a dalliance is the last thing on his mind. Dave Rupert's unusual background in upstate New York led from a family doing what they had to do to survive to becoming a trucking entrepreneur. But a night out at a bar in Florida will eventually change Dave's life.

Additional Music by Guinness the Duo.

EPISODE 2: A LITTLE OFF BASE

Dave Rupert experiences a little indigestion as he mulls over an offer from the FBI. He'll learn the agent who approached him has a background in investigating international terrorism back in Chicago. In fact, Ed Buckley is well known to Irish Republican supporters in the city. When Dave sees an opportunity to make some money, he goes for it.

EPISODE 3: the fbi walks into a bar

Dave's plot to run a bar for profit while spying on vacationing republicans along the banks of the Drowes River is a rocky as the road to Dublin. The former owner of his pub wasn't paying the bills and that makes Dave's life even more difficult. But a diligent barkeep certainly doesn't look like a spy and his plan kind of begins to work. Knowing the history of the British occupation in Ireland is just the tip of the iceberg for Dave's education on republican ideals.

EPISODE 4: It's a Funny Place, Tullaghan

A visit to Dave's family in upstate New York gets Bob and Abdon a history lesson on Joe Beef, Joby for short. That was Dave's nickname growing up in rural Madrid and it stuck with his family through his litany of careers. Even through late 1997 when Dave inks his first official contract to become a spy -- affording him the opportunity to finally focus on the danger in militant republican circles.

EPISODE 5: COIN OPERATED

Dave Rupert has spent years earning the trust of his IRA friends in Ireland and they've finally given him a military task. Dave heads back to Chicago with a name: Frank O'Neill. He's about to discover why an FBI agent like Ed Buckley was tasked with rooting out any connections between Chicago and militant Republicans. Dave's next moves will be in a city that goes as far as dyeing a whole river green on St. Patrick's Day.

EPISODE 6: The City That Dyes its River Green

On Good Friday in 1998, a treaty that will come to be called the Good Friday Agreement is signed by several nations. At its core, it's an a plan for peace that will involve a decommissioning process for paramilitary groups and a plan for a future vote on a united Ireland. For some, it's about forgiveness, hope and peace. For others, it's the same old story: another surrender to British Authority. Dave Rupert has a front row seat for the final significant fracturing of militant Republicans of the 20th century. Where does he go from here?

EPISODE 7: GOOD FRIDAY

A car bomb explosion kills 31 people -- including unborn twins -- in the town center of Omagh in Northern Ireland. The Real IRA takes public responsibility for the bombing, but the story that trickles out maintains it was a horrible mistake. In this episode, we explore the aftermath of the bombing that infuriated Irish from coast to coast, north and south. Meanwhile, Dave Rupert is suddenly in real danger as any IRA associates become public enemies and a central target of security services.

EPISODE 8: Omagh

The last militant Republicans still willing to fight after the Omagh bombing are looking for support. What better support could you ask for than a wealthy American offering cash and weapons from the United States? Joe O'Neil introduces Dave Rupert to a storied Republican named Mickey Donnelly and with that connection, Dave is whisked off to a meeting with the Real IRA's top man: Mickey McKevitt.

EPISODE 9: The Two Mickeys

After years of hard work and learning the ins and outs of Irish republicanism, Dave Rupert is in with the Real IRA. He's rubbing shoulders with one of the most dangerous men in Ireland. Dave is fast friends with the man who Irish and British governments say is the terrorist who must be stopped to prevent another tragedy like Omagh. Dave knows how to work his angles, but he worries about whether the security services can keep up.

EPISODE 10: spying on mickey

Dave Rupert's contract was just for intelligence gathering, but now he's asked to testify in court. Will he out himself as an agent and informer, furthering putting himself and his family in danger? When Mickey McKevitt faces charges under a new law in the Irish Special Criminal Court, his lawyers are going to have to dig deep to discredit a potential witness. That's when they get wind of a book deal back in Chicago.

EPISODE 11: McKevitt v. Pallasch

Dave Rupert retires to a life in hiding, reflecting on a journey that took him across the Atlantic and back. We visit an icon of Belfast that shows just how much the north has changed. We reflect on what Dave contributed to the peace in Ireland and whether a reunited Ireland could be possible in our lifetime.

EPISODE 12: The Other Side of Town

THE REBEL KIND TEAM

BOB HERGUTH

HOST
Robert Herguth is an investigative reporter with the Chicago Sun-Times, where he focuses on an array of subjects, including police corruption, organized crime and government accountability, as well as religion. He has also contributed to the New York Times, Newsweek, Chicago Magazine, Catholic Digest, and Irish America, amongst others.
ABDON PALLASCH

HOST
Abdon Pallasch was a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, where he covered Barack Obama's rise to the presidency and co-wrote the stories that ultimately landed R&B superstar R. Kelly in prison. He now handles communications for the Illinois Office of Comptroller and works on journalism projects in his spare time. He has been published in The Irish Times and The Belfast Telegraph.
DALTON MAIN

PRODUCER
Dalton Main is a freelance podcast producer. He has worked on shows for the University of Chicago Podcast Network, Gimlet Media, and Spotify. As an award-winning multimedia journalist, he has been published by CNN, NPR, Fox News, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, The Austin American Statesman, and TV news stations across the country.