By: Jeremy Murphy

Before launching one of the most gripping new entries in the true crime podcast world, Steve Stanulis was already a man of many lives. A former NYPD officer turned celebrity bodyguard, Chippendales dancer, and film producer, Stanulis is now blending decades of frontline experience into his latest endeavor: “Bulletproof,” a weekly podcast that fuses raw true crime storytelling with Hollywood’s darkest secrets and the streetwise instincts of someone who’s lived it all.

“I’ve worn a badge, I’ve worn a bulletproof vest, and I’ve stood face-to-face with danger,” Stanulis says. “But the real threat has always been the truth people try to bury.”

“Bulletproof” Podcast

Launching this summer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, “Bulletproof” is anything but your average armchair true crime show. Each episode features reenactments of real-life private investigation cases Stanulis has personally handled—some involving seduction, betrayal, or blackmail, and others spiraling into violence and murder. What sets the show apart is Stanulis himself: his résumé includes patrolling Brooklyn in the ’90s, protecting celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kanye West, and navigating Hollywood’s underbelly as a self-described “fixer.”

“I wasn’t just reading about crime or studying it,” he says. “I was in the middle of it. From the NYPD to Hollywood to Chippendales, everything I did somehow came back to human behavior, secrets, and danger. That’s what “Bulletproof” is really about.”

Celebrity Security

Stanulis first got his break in celebrity security in 1999 when he was introduced to Leonardo DiCaprio’s money manager—and, despite showing up late after working a bachelorette party, struck an unexpected connection with the actor over shared ACL injuries. “We had nothing in common—he just came off Titanic, and I was a stripper,” Stanulis recalls. “But I pulled down my pants to show him the scar, and I happened to be in a G-string. That broke the ice.”

Soon, Stanulis was running with DiCaprio’s infamous “Pussy Posse” and had a front-row seat to Hollywood nightlife. He eventually worked with stars across the spectrum, including a headline-grabbing stint with Kanye West that ended in a $30 million suit. (“He sued me for hitting on Kim,” Stanulis says, laughing. “It was ridiculous—but it went global.”)

But it wasn’t all glitz. When Stanulis lost access to high-profile gigs after a manager he worked with was indicted, he pivoted. “I got the bug for film and producing, but checks were few and far between. Someone said, ‘Why don’t you become a PI?’ and it just clicked.” Shows like Ray Donovan had made the term “fixer” mainstream—and Stanulis was already living it.

That unique mix of cop grit, performer charm, and Hollywood savvy gave him a foothold in private investigation. “I’ve dealt with cheating spouses, blackmail, everything,” he says. “And let’s be honest—who would know more about cheating spouses than someone who worked at Chippendales?”

Coming Full Circle

With “Bulletproof,” Stanulis brings those experiences full circle. The podcast’s first season features an array of jaw-dropping guests: Shere Hayes, one of the first to testify against Sean “Diddy” Combs; Michael Dowd, widely considered the most corrupt cop in NYPD history; and Kent McGowan, a former Texas Ranger who spent 20 years behind bars for a controversial shooting and is now seeking a pardon. There’s also Lou Essa, a towering ex-boxer and football player turned mob fixer whose life intersected with Muhammad Ali.

“Every time you think you’ve heard or seen it all, the next day something crazier happens,” says Stanulis. “That’s what makes this genre so addictive. People love the romanticism of true crime—especially when celebrities are involved. Cold cases, corruption, scandals—they all pull people in.”

He’s also unapologetic about calling out dirty cops. “I come from a family of cops—my dad, my brother, my uncles,” he says. “So when someone abuses that trust, they’re lower than a street thug in my book. You’re preying on people when they’re vulnerable. There’s no excuse for that.”

Joe Rogan of True Crime

The podcast doesn’t just rely on interviews and narrative—it also includes reenactments, filmed biopic-style, based on Stanulis’ wildest investigations. “We picked ten of our craziest fixer jobs and PI cases and walked the audience through how it all happened—how we got the job, what happened to the victim, and how we caught the perp,” he says. “The male escort case isn’t even the wildest one.”

With episodes dropping weekly and a growing tally of high-profile cases and guests, “Bulletproof” is already positioning itself as a standout in the crowded true crime market. Stanulis hopes it becomes “the Joe Rogan of true crime,” and believes his lived experience—still active as an investigator—gives it a level of credibility and intensity most shows can’t match.

“We’re not just giving opinions. We were there. We’re still there,” he says. “And we’re not afraid to go deep.”