Searching for Allan Rothbart

By: Barry Rothbart

Narrated by: Barry Rothbart

“The truth will set you free… but first it’ll suck.”

When comedian Barry Rothbart was growing up in Queens in the 90s, there were two things he knew for sure… his father, Allan, was his best friend and he was also Jon Bon Jovi’s manager. But then everything changed in 1997, when Barry’s dad got arrested and admitted that he actually worked for the Italian mafia, running the largest bookmaking operation in the United States. High school Barry jumped in to work alongside him–bringing envelopes from one place to another, disposing of evidence, meeting with strange men with huge hands in the back of pizzerias, and making more money than most teenagers had ever seen. It all seemed like a perfect buddy comedy…. until it wasn’t.

Years after Allan’s death from cancer in 2007, Barry discovered cassette tapes that his dad had recorded on his deathbed. These tapes contained confessions that shattered everything Barry thought he knew about his father. Serious crimes, stolen identities, relationships to serial killers, and the implication of another secret family that Allan had kept hidden from Barry and his mom.

In this gripping and darkly funny ten-part series, Barry embarks on a deeply personal and wildly absurd investigation into the true story of Allan Rothbart. Through revealing interviews with childhood friends, estranged family members, his father’s ex-girlfriends, and a mysterious woman named Iris who seems to hold the key to his father's biggest secrets, Barry uncovers a web of lies, crimes, and shocking revelations that force him to reconcile the loving father he knew with the stranger he discovers.

Searching for Allan Rothbart is part true-crime, part family memoir, and part late-in-life coming-of-age tale. It explores the lies between parents and their children, the stories we tell ourselves, and what happens when the truth undoes it all. A journey tied together by intimate family recordings and populated with colorful characters, this Audible Original is about growing up, getting wise, and learning that sometimes the most crucial mysteries are the ones closest to home.

©2025 Audible Originals, LLC. (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC.

A Captivating Story That I Couldn't Stop Listening To!

I absolutely loved this—stellar storytelling that really grabbed my attention from the very first episode. I found myself completely immersed, unable to stop listening. I binged the first six episodes in one night and devoured the rest the next day. The content was compelling, well-crafted, and kept me hooked throughout. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys authentic, fascinating stories!

The story

True story that’s funny,sad,and emotional. Just goes to show that no one’s perfect.

Wait, what?

Great storytelling and now I want to hear the rest. Not trying to spoil anything but was that a joke at the end? Is it just me?

The most delightful podcast

This podcast was delightful! It reminded me of Missing Richard Simmons or Winds of Change. The author is a fantastic storyteller and I loved every minute of it.

If you keep peeling back the layers…

As a professional memoirist helping others craft their life stories, I could hardly stop listening to this podcast series. It’s proof that truth is often better (stranger?) than fiction. What began as a review of his late father’s self-recorded audio memoir became an intimate reflection as Barry got to know his father through these tapes and the people he met along the way. No doubt this experience will continue to gently shape his own life as son, now father. Well done!