It’s March 2012 in a region of Afghanistan known as the birthplace of the Taliban. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales leaves his base–in the dead of the night–and lays siege to two villages, killing a reported sixteen innocent Afghan civilians. The reaction from the American government is swift and severe; provoking universal condemnation and a life sentence in Fort Leavenworth military prison.

Over a decade later, the lingering question about what became known as the Kandahar Massacre remains. Why did it happen? Anchored by 18 hours of exclusive interviews from America's most notorious war criminal and complemented by a chorus of people central to this polarizing case, THE WAR WITHIN: THE ROBERT BALES STORY is a 12-episode investigative podcast that will shed new light on the inner sanctum of the military. Throughout, the series will contain explosive revelations that run the gamut, from brain injuries, to potentially toxic drugs, to possible cover-ups by the nation Robert Bales swore to protect.

Episodes drop every Thursday, starting on June 29th.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the opening episode of THE WAR WITHIN, you'll meet Robert Bales, an American soldier convicted of murdering 16 civilians one night during the War in Afghanistan. Deploying in 2012 to a region known as the "Birthplace of the Taliban", Staff Sergeant Bales and his squad found themselves in constant, overwhelming danger... which fostered unease and paranoia in the ranks.

THE WAR WITHIN was produced Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Check Point Productions, and Mosquito Park Pictures, in association with iHeart Podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 2 of THE WAR WITHIN covers the events of March 11th, 2012, when Robert Bales walked off his military base to commit the massacre for which he is now known. The incident is broken down with precise detail, from the points of view of Bales, several of the soldiers who were stationed with him, and even the Afghan families who were targeted that fateful night.

THE WAR WITHIN was produced Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Check Point Productions, and Mosquito Park Pictures, in association with iHeart Podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 3 of THE WAR WITHIN tracks the immediate aftermath of the Kandahar Massacre, as Robert Bales’ family hires a prominent lawyer and navigates a growing media frenzy around the story – all while probing deeper into Bales’ backstory.

THE WAR WITHIN was produced Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Check Point Productions, and Mosquito Park Pictures, in association with iHeart Podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 4 of THE WAR WITHIN delves into Robert Bales' contentious military trial, from the perspectives of both the prosecution and the defense. While the US government was intent on achieving its definition of justice for the Kandahar Massacre, Bales' family and team were determined to keep the Staff Sergeant alive.

THE WAR WITHIN was produced Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Check Point Productions, and Mosquito Park Pictures, in association with iHeart Podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 5 of THE WAR WITHIN sheds light on how Robert Bales' handles his present and future circumstances in Fort Leavenworth, where he's sentenced to life in prison, before asking the first of several crucial questions concerning the Kandahar Massacre: Were the Afghan civilians killed that fateful night... actually members of the enemy Taliban?

THE WAR WITHIN was produced Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Check Point Productions, and Mosquito Park Pictures, in association with iHeart Podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 6 of THE WAR WITHIN probes the controversial subjects of Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD in the Armed Forces, in determining whether Staff Sergeant Bales was fit to deploy to a warzone for the fourth time. It also continues to follow up on the question of whether Bales' victims were associated with the Taliban insurgency.

THE WAR WITHIN was produced Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Check Point Productions, and Mosquito Park Pictures, in association with iHeart Podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 7 of THE WAR WITHIN concerns the numerous substances that might have altered Robert Bales’ state of mind in 2012 Afghanistan – particularly, a controversial and potentially defective antimalarial drug.

THE WAR WITHIN was produced Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Check Point Productions, and Mosquito Park Pictures, in association with iHeart Podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.