Max Hardberger: The Repo Man of the High Seas

Max Hardberger: The Repo Man of the High Seas

From Badass of the Week by Badass History - High Five Content & Seven Bucks Productions

May 27, 2026 · 46 min · Season 2 · Episode 33

About this episode

The episode explores the incredible story of Max Hardberger, a maritime lawyer and sea captain known for repossessing cargo ships from corrupt entities.

Most repo men tow away Hondas in the middle of the night. Max Hardberger stole back multi-million dollar cargo ships from dictators, corrupt governments, and the Russian mafia. This week, Ben Thompson and producer Andrew Jacobs dive into the unbelievable true story of the maritime lawyer, poet, and sea captain who turned international ship repossession into an art form—using fake sinkings, voodoo priests, tropical storms, and sheer nerve to pull off some of the wildest heists in modern history. From Haiti to Vladivostok, this is the story of the world’s only cargo ship repo man… and the insane missions that made him a legend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Ben Thompson, Andrew Jacobs

Guest: Max Hardberger

Topics covered

  • maritime law
  • ship repossession
  • heists
  • adventure
  • history

Keywords

  • Max Hardberger
  • ship repossession
  • maritime lawyer
  • heists
  • adventure

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Russian mafia

Places: Haiti, Vladivostok

More episodes of Badass of the Week

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Badass of the Week podcast page.