About This Episode
Lawrence Gerard Nassar, a physician embedded within elite American gymnastics circles, carried out systematic sexual abuse against hundreds of young female athletes for nearly two decades before facing justice. The story of how he operated with impunity forms the backbone of "Believed," a landmark investigative podcast produced by Michigan Radio in partnership with NPR.
The nine-episode series, which premiered in autumn 2018, reopened one of the most significant institutional scandals in American sports. Hosted by investigative journalists Kate Wells and Lindsey Smith, the podcast combines survivor testimonies, archived evidence, and meticulous reporting to construct a narrative that exposes not merely one perpetrator, but an ecosystem of institutional blindness and protection.
Nassar's position as the official physician for USA Gymnastics granted him unparalleled access to vulnerable athletes during their most formative years. Operating under the veneer of medical authority, he conducted what he termed "treatments" during one-on-one sessions—a manipulation of trust that went unchallenged for decades. By the time his abuse came to light, more than 150 women had filed complaints, though estimates suggest the actual number of victims may be considerably higher.
What makes "Believed" distinctive in the crowded true crime podcast landscape is its refusal to treat Nassar as a solitary aberration. Instead, the series methodically documents how Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, and law enforcement agencies encountered warning signs, received formal complaints, and failed repeatedly to act. A critical focus of the podcast involves the university's institutional mishandling of previous allegations—a pattern that allowed Nassar to continue practicing even after concerns had been raised internally.