“Nightmare!” - Somali Pirate Hostage on 977 Days Inside HELL HOLE | Michael Scott Moore • 372
Julian Dorey · 9 Jan 2026 · 2h 54m
Guest: Michael Scott Moore · Host: Joey Def, Julian Dorey
This conversation centers on journalist Michael Scott Moore's account of being kidnapped by Somali pirates in early 2012 while researching a book on piracy, and held captive for nearly three years. Moore explains how he came to cover a landmark piracy trial in Hamburg, which led him to travel to Somalia with a guide and armed clan escort to interview a pirate boss in person. He describes the abduction itself, a broken wrist and head wound sustained during the capture, the opening ransom demand of twenty million dollars, and the slow, often absurd negotiation process conducted largely through his mother. He details months spent moving between makeshift camps under trees, a stretch of half a year held aboard a hijacked fishing vessel where a murdered captain's body remained in the freezer, a failed escape attempt by swimming from that ship, and long stretches without any contact with the outside world. He talks candidly about despair, a considered suicide, and a turning point triggered by a papal radio broadcast that led him to consciously forgive his captors. The discussion also covers the broader history and economics of Somali piracy, the mechanics of ransom and rescue operations, and his long recovery afterward, including physical rehabilitation through surfing, work supporting hostages' families, and a separate revelation about his father's death by suicide.
Ask this show a question Watch on YouTube
What comes up
Timestamps link into the episode on YouTube.
- Introduction and background as a journalist
- History of Somali piracy and the pirate trial in Hamburg
- Modern piracy tactics and shipping security
- Trip to Somalia and meeting a pirate boss
- The kidnapping itself
- Early captivity, injuries, and first phone call/ransom demand
- Life and friendship with fellow hostage Rolly under the trees
- Six months held aboard the hijacked tuna ship and escape attempt
- Loss of hope, papal broadcast, and forgiveness
- Release negotiations and the day of freedom
- Recovery, PTSD, surfing therapy, and revelation about his father
Said on this episode
Quoted from the auto-generated transcript, which mishears names and technical terms. podcite.com reports what a show said; it does not endorse or fact-check it.
“A week after my kidnapping, Muhammad Garfani, kind of a legendary pirate boss, said, "You have to demand $20 million or we'll start to starve you in 24 hours." And I said, "That's insane."”
“There's some sharks in there. There are sharks and either I was going to die or with any luck get freed.”
“So people say, 'How did you maintain hope?' And the answer is I didn't. I stopped trying to hope.”
“That was the only form of freedom I had.”