‘Bear Brook’ podcast returns October 21 with ‘A Private Matter’
Bear Brook has been named one of TIME’s “100 Best Podcasts of All Time” and has been downloaded more than 40 million times. Produced by New Hampshire Public Radio’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated Document team, the podcast returns for its third season this October.
Season three carries the title A Private Matter. Award-winning journalist and host Jason Moon investigates the disappearance of Jay Hickey, a Christmas tree farmer suffering from dementia in a small rural New Hampshire community. Jay's wife, Patty, did not report him missing to authorities, and the season establishes that such a decision is not necessarily considered a crime in every situation.
The reporting delves into the legal and investigative context around the non-reporting of the missing person. A tip indicated that a lot of strangeness was starting to emerge, prompting further inquiry into the circumstances of Jay Hickey's disappearance and the reasons why no report was made initially. Police work revealed new information about when the disappearance occurred.
Jason Moon explores what happens when family estrangement and the growing dementia crisis intersect to create an epic tragedy of humble proportions. This dynamic spawns both a criminal investigation and a determined search for answers regarding the events that unfolded.
The five-part season breaks down across distinct focuses. Episode one sets out the vanishing of Jay Hickey and the initial tip about strangeness. Episode two presents Jay's daughter's explanation of how she learned of the disappearance and offers another perspective on Patty, while police uncover new details on timing. Episode three follows a volunteer sleuth's research that connects the case to astrologer Isabel Hickey. Episode four covers family suspicions of foul play after more than three years, police explanations for not charging Patty, a strange phone call triggering a new search, and insights from search and rescue science on whether Jay could still be found. Episode five seeks answers directly from Patty.
Bear Brook: A Private Matter debuts October 21, 2026, with the first two episodes available at launch and the rest airing weekly on Wednesdays. The trailer releases September 23, 2026. It is distributed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
Bear Brook began as a New Hampshire Public Radio cold-case project and grew into a multi-season investigation. Named one of TIME’s 100 Best Podcasts of All Time with over 40 million downloads, the series maintains its focus on verified facts through the Document team. Season three applies the same rigorous approach to the private matter of Jay Hickey's disappearance, offering listeners insight into the intersections of health, family, and law enforcement. The show's restraint continues to draw audiences seeking substantive true crime content.
The podcast's measured public-radio style and documented impact distinguish the series. Several families have received answers only after episodes aired. Teachers now assign the series in forensic-science courses, extending its life beyond entertainment charts. This careful approach rewards listeners who value depth over sensationalism.
