‘Revenge was never part of this’
FIRST-TIME podcasters Emma and Sarah Ferris have been stunned to see their story ranked in the top two per cent in the world.
The sisters co-produced Conning the Con, detailing the real-life experience of Emma after she met and began a relationship with Andrew WC Tonks Thomson, who subsequently conned her out of $300,000.
Emma fought back and then shared her incredible story over the 14-episode podcast with London-based sister Sarah as writer, narrator and editor.
A key goal had been to educate others about the warning signs of conmen and share her recovery, she said.
‘‘It doesn’t have to define you and can make you stronger.’’
They knew they had a good story to tell, but have been overwhelmed by the response.
As each episode is released it regularly sits at number one in New Zealand. Last week it hit 150,000 downloads and was ranked as among the most popular 2 per cent of podcasts in the world by Listen Notes.
Sharing the story was raw and
painful at times for Emma, but it also provided its own therapy, particularly when she heard from past girlfriends and victims of Thomson. She is also pleased that the publicity makes it more difficult for him and other conmen to find new victims.
‘‘Revenge was never part of this. It’s not in my DNA,’’ she said.
The 12th episode drops tomorrow with two more after that.
The sisters are not planning any more podcasts in the series, but say there is potential for a second season using stories people have subsequently shared with them.
‘‘It’s been a rollercoaster, but I’m in the best space I’ve been in a long time,’’ Emma says.