The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell
- Episódios
- 265
- Publicação
- várias vezes por semana
- Último episódio
- 11 nov 2026
Sobre o podcast
Former drug trafficker and standup comedian Johnny Mitchell takes you inside the world of drugs, crime, prison, and the politics of the War on Drugs.
Episódios 265
I Survived 4 Years Inside Thailand's Most Notorious Prison
What happens when a young Frenchman living the dream in Thailand makes one stupid mistake—and ends up sentenced to 14 YEARS in one of the most brutal prison systems on Earth? In this episode, Johnny sits down …
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What happens when a young Frenchman living the dream in Thailand makes one stupid mistake—and ends up sentenced to 14 YEARS in one of the most brutal prison systems on Earth?
In this episode, Johnny sits down with Léo Maruin, a Frenchman whose life took a horrifying turn after he and a friend started printing counterfeit €50 bills in Thailand. What began as a short-lived scheme to make extra money quickly turned into a nightmare when Thai authorities arrested him and sentenced him to 14 years behind bars.
Léo takes us inside the terrifying reality of Thailand's prisons, where nearly 300 inmates were crammed into a single cell, prisoners slept shoulder-to-shoulder, toilets overflowed with human waste, and disease, violence, and corruption were part of everyday life.
He describes witnessing horrific abuse, watching inmates die from untreated infections, paying guards for basic necessities, and struggling to survive in conditions that pushed him to the brink of insanity.
With little hope of getting out, Léo spent years fighting to survive, relying on support from family and friends while desperately hoping for a royal pardon or a transfer back to France.
After nearly five years inside Thailand's prison system, Léo finally made it home—but the experience changed him forever.
In this interview, Léo reveals the shocking realities of Thai prison life, the psychological toll of losing his freedom, and how he managed to survive a living hell.
Léo is also the author of 14 Years a Prisoner, a book detailing his extraordinary survival story. You can get it here: https://a.co/d/00ESADUi
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0:00 The Counterfeit Money Scheme That Led to Thai Prison
5:23 The Police Raid and Arrest in Thailand
12:25 Welcome to Hell: Inside Pattaya Prison
18:55 Deadly Infections and Horrific Prison Conditions
25:21 How He Got Sentenced to 14 Years
30:21 Surviving a 14-Year Prison Sentence
36:23 Filthy Toilets, Overcrowding, and VIP Cells
43:00 Attacked With a Shovel by Another Inmate
49:20 Transferring to Bangkok's Notorious Prison
56:27 Solitary Confinement and Brutal Punishments
63:37 Royal Pardons and Surviving Prison Floods
69:12 The Fight to Get Transferred Back to France
74:22 French Prison vs. Thai Prison and Getting Released
80:00 Life After Prison and the Meaning of Freedom
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O.J. Simpson's Accomplice Finally Revealed
See if your SSN is for sale right now. My sponsor Cloaked will tell you for free in 2 seconds at https://cloaked.com/connect Did O.J. Simpson have an accomplice in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron …
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See if your SSN is for sale right now. My sponsor Cloaked will tell you for free in 2 seconds at https://cloaked.com/connect
Did O.J. Simpson have an accomplice in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman? Did prosecutors and the LAPD ignore crucial evidence that could have changed the outcome of the trial?
In this episode, Johnny sits down with investigator Alex Tomé to discuss a shocking new theory surrounding one of the most infamous murder cases in American history.
At the center of the investigation is Joey Ippolito Jr., a convicted drug smuggler with alleged connections to the Mafia, Colombian cartels, Hollywood celebrities, and federal law enforcement. According to the investigation, Ippolito wasn't just connected to O.J. Simpson — he may have been at the crime scene on the night of the murders.
Alex reveals previously overlooked eyewitness accounts, FBI disclosures about O.J.'s cocaine connections, and claims that prosecutors were given information about a potential accomplice but chose not to present it to the jury.
The conversation also explores a wild new theory about the infamous Bronco chase: What if O.J. wasn't planning to harm himself, but was actually trying to flee the country with help from organized crime?
From alleged deathbed confessions and missing murder evidence to new claims about Al Cowlings and the LAPD's refusal to conduct additional forensic testing, this interview challenges the official narrative of the O.J. Simpson case.
Was there a second person involved in the murders? And if so, why was that evidence never presented at trial?
Watch the full interview to hear the investigation and decide for yourself.
Check out O.J.'s Accomplice streaming now on Peacock
Get Alex's book here: https://orenthalsaccomplice.com/
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
Cloaked! See if your SSN is for sale right now. My sponsor Cloaked will tell you for free in 2 seconds at https://cloaked.com/connect
Superpower! Head to https://superpower.com and use code CONNECT at checkout for $20 off your membership. Get 100+ biomarkers tested every year, plus a personalized health plan and on-demand care team. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod
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0:00 - The O.J. Simpson Accomplice Theory
7:26 - Who Was Joey Ippolito?
15:43 - Eyewitnesses at the Murder Scene
22:55 - Untested Blood and Missing Evidence
25:42 - This Episode Is Sponsored By Cloaked
27:11 - The Mafia Connection
30:12 - Was Charlie Ehrlich O.J.'s Accomplice?
36:26 - Joey's Brother Reveals What Happened
42:09 - O.J.'s Connections to the Cocaine Trade
49:21 - What Joey Allegedly Told the FBI
55:48 - Why Did Prosecutors Ignore the Evidence?
1:03:44 - This Episode Is Sponsored By Superpower
1:05:18 - The Possible Motive Behind the Murders
1:12:12 - Was Joey a Government Informant?
1:17:26 - Al Cowlings and Joey's Criminal Connections
1:22:28 - O.J., Nicole and the Money Problems
1:28:29 - Reconstructing the Night of the Murders
1:35:52 - How Did the Murders Turn So Violent?
1:42:16 - A New Witness and Al Cowlings' Involvement
1:49:11 - What Happened Immediately After the Murders?
1:55:25 - The Bloody Glove and Mark Fuhrman
2:00:45 - Disposing of Evidence and Joey's Arrest
2:07:03 - Why Didn't the FBI and LAPD Act?
2:12:42 - Could Joey Have Testified Against O.J.?
2:19:47 - The Families' Reactions and Prosecutors' Silence
2:25:44 - Final Thoughts and the O.J.'s Accomplice Documentary
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The Dark Side of Growing Up in a Mafia Family
Growing up just blocks from John Gotti's social club in New York City's Little Italy, Frank Parisi was raised in a world of Mafia figures, drug dealers, violence, and organized crime. His family owned a famous …
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Growing up just blocks from John Gotti's social club in New York City's Little Italy, Frank Parisi was raised in a world of Mafia figures, drug dealers, violence, and organized crime. His family owned a famous Italian bakery that secretly operated as a major marijuana distribution hub, moving hundreds of pounds of drugs through the streets of New York.
Johnny sits down with Frank Parisi to reveal what it was really like growing up surrounded by the New York Mafia during the 1980s and 1990s. From witnessing brutal beatings outside his family's bakery as a young child to rubbing shoulders with powerful mob figures, Frank was exposed to the criminal underworld before he was old enough to understand it.
His father was one of New York's biggest marijuana dealers, supplying everyone from street crews to well-connected organized crime figures. By age 12, Frank was selling drugs himself, and as he got older, he became involved in violent Staten Island street crews, drug trafficking, and an increasingly destructive opioid addiction. Despite countless arrests and dangerous encounters, he somehow managed to avoid a lengthy prison sentence.
After years of addiction, violence, and brushes with death, Frank finally walked away from the streets and rebuilt his life in Texas. But in 2023, his incredible story took another shocking turn when he suffered sudden heart failure, experienced what he describes as dying on the operating table, and received a life-saving heart transplant from a 19-year-old girl.
Frank reveals the untold stories of growing up in New York's Mafia underworld, the reality of life inside a criminal family, his descent into addiction, and the near-death experience that changed everything.
Go Support Frank!
Website and Book: https://frank-parisi.com/
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00:00 Growing Up Around the New York Mafia
04:45 Life in Little Italy During the 1980s and 90s
11:18 My Father's Bakery and Secret Drug Empire
17:22 Following My Father's Footsteps Into Street Life
24:55 How My Father Made Millions Selling Marijuana
31:10 My Addiction Spiraled Out of Control
38:54 Leaving New York and Fighting to Get Sober
46:15 Fighting for My Life and Needing a Heart Transplant
53:26 Getting a Second Chance at Life
1:00:36 What My Near-Death Experience Taught Me
1:07:05 Overcoming Addiction, Breaking the Cycle, and Living Fully
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He Ran America's Biggest Pill Mill, Made $40 Million
At the height of Florida's opioid epidemic, Derik was helping run a massive pill mill operation that brought in as much as $300,000 a day, saw 500 patients daily, and generated an estimated $40 million before …
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At the height of Florida's opioid epidemic, Derik was helping run a massive pill mill operation that brought in as much as $300,000 a day, saw 500 patients daily, and generated an estimated $40 million before the feds shut it down.
With dozens of doctors, thousands of customers traveling from across America, and an endless demand for oxycodone, the business became a multimillion-dollar empire operating in plain sight. Derik reveals how doctors were recruited, how patients obtained hundreds of prescription pain pills at a time, and how he once moved 100,000 pills in a deal worth over $1 million.
But the money came with consequences. As the FBI closed in, Derik found himself facing federal racketeering charges and a 20-year prison sentence.
Derik takes us inside the rise and fall of Florida's notorious pill mill industry, revealing the unbelievable profits, corruption, violence, and chaos behind one of the darkest chapters of America's opioid crisis. He also opens up about his deeply traumatic childhood, the family tragedies that shaped him, and what it took to rebuild his life after prison.
From making millions selling prescription opioids to losing everything in federal prison, this is a firsthand account of the American opioid epidemic from someone who helped fuel it.
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
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0:00 - Inside the $40 Million Florida Pill Mill Empire
5:16 - Where Did the Missing $15 Million Go?
12:26 - Running Clinics With 27,000 Patients
19:57 - 45-Second Doctor Visits and Roxy 30s
26:07 - MRI Kickbacks and the Business Behind the Pills
30:06 - This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims
31:39 - Derek's Childhood and Troubled Family History
38:20 - Childhood Violence and His Father's Arrest
44:52 - Growing Up Around the Mafia
52:32 - A Second Devastating Family Tragedy
59:50 - How Tragedy Tore His Family Apart
1:06:07 - Meeting the George Brothers and Building Houses
1:12:18 - The Steroid Business That Started It All
1:16:24 - This Episode Is Sponsored By PrizePicks
1:18:37 - How Derek Got Into the Pain Clinic Business
1:25:26 - Inside Florida's Wild West of Prescriptions
1:32:47 - Why Florida Became the Pill Mill Capital
1:40:59 - How the FBI First Discovered the Operation
1:47:42 - Recruiting Doctors and Growing the Empire
1:54:53 - Violence, Trouble, and Expanding the Clinic
2:01:24 - The Chaotic Clinic Gets a Police Visit
2:08:30 - Greedy Doctors and Stolen Patients
2:15:17 - Hiring a Doctor Who Sold Drugs From His Trunk
2:22:06 - Big-Time Pill Buyers and Million-Dollar Deals
2:29:05 - The Drug Laws and Who Really Profited
2:36:21 - Why the Federal Government Went After Them
2:42:05 - The Rival Jacksonville Pill Clinic
2:49:04 - A Gunpoint Confrontation Ends in Arrests
2:56:09 - How the Feds Built Their Case
3:03:19 - Cooperating Witnesses and Allegations Against Derek
3:09:31 - The Plea Deal, Prison Sentence, and Life After
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Drug Kingpin Inherited His Murdered Father's Crack Empire
Red Hat was born into a drug empire. His father was a millionaire drug kingpin who allegedly worked with corrupt cops, moved massive quantities of cocaine, and controlled the streets of Texarkana. But after …
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Red Hat was born into a drug empire. His father was a millionaire drug kingpin who allegedly worked with corrupt cops, moved massive quantities of cocaine, and controlled the streets of Texarkana. But after serving time in prison, his father was brutally murdered over $1 million in hidden drug money.
Instead of walking away from the criminal underworld, he followed in his father's footsteps.
By just 15 years old, he was already selling drugs. By 17, he had his own house, multiple cars, and was making serious money in the streets. Eventually, he built his own drug trafficking operation, moving massive quantities of cocaine and marijuana across Texas and the surrounding states.
Red Hat reveals what it was like growing up as the son of a powerful drug kingpin, his father's connections to corrupt police and organized crime, the shocking circumstances surrounding his murder, and how he went on to build a drug empire of his own.
From childhood surrounded by drug money and violence to becoming a major trafficker himself, this is a firsthand account of generational crime, betrayal, unimaginable wealth, and the devastating consequences of the drug game.
Go Support Red Hat!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/on_da_spot725
YouTube: @OnDaSpotInterview
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0:00 - The Midnight Call That Changed Everything
5:06 - Becoming a Major Weed Supplier
10:16 - Growing Up in a Drug Kingpin's Family
15:22 - My Dad's Secret Partnership With Corrupt Cops
21:22 - Jamaican Drug Dealers Kidnapped My Father
29:34 - From Stealing Rolexes to Federal Prison
34:36 - Getting Into the Drug Game at 15
40:03 - The Money Dispute That Got My Father Killed
46:02 - How I Started Selling Crack
52:13 - My Father's Gambling Addiction and Our Final Goodbye
58:30 - Making Connections in the Drug Business
1:04:20 - Running Multiple Crack Houses and Making Serious Money
1:11:33 - Escaping Police Raids on My Drug Houses
1:18:37 - How I Got a Corrupt Cop on My Side
1:25:49 - The Police Start Closing In on My Operation
1:32:02 - Leaving Crack Behind for the Weed Business
1:38:24 - Meeting My California Drug Connection
1:45:08 - Moving Hundreds of Pounds Across State Lines
1:53:12 - The Traffic Stop That Almost Ended Everything
2:00:37 - The Scare That Made Me Leave the Drug Game
2:06:04 - Lessons From the Streets and Breaking the Cycle
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25 to Life for Murder — How a Crip Leader's Own Lawyer Betrayed Him
Floss Tha Boss was a notorious 52 Hoover Gangster Crip from Dallas, Texas, who started gangbanging at just 12 years old. By his mid-20s, he was calling the shots for a crew of 30 gang members, making serious …
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Floss Tha Boss was a notorious 52 Hoover Gangster Crip from Dallas, Texas, who started gangbanging at just 12 years old. By his mid-20s, he was calling the shots for a crew of 30 gang members, making serious money selling crack, robbing drug dealers, and getting into deadly shootouts.
But everything changed when a confrontation turned fatal, landing Floss a murder conviction and a 25-year prison sentence. To make matters worse, Floss claims his own defense lawyer was secretly trying to sleep with his wife while representing him in court.
In this episode, Floss sits down with Johnny Mitchell to reveal what life was really like inside some of Texas's toughest prisons. From brutal gang politics and prison riots to mandatory fights, corrupt guards, and the underground prison economy, Floss shares unbelievable stories from nearly two decades behind bars.
Now a free man pursuing a rap career, Floss reflects on his violent past, how he survived prison, and what it took to turn his life around.
Go Support Floss!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/floss_thaboss
YouTube: @kvpkatsvideoproductions8486
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE CONNECT? Send us an email explaining your story and why you think you'd be a good fit to [email protected]
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
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0:00 - Floss Tha Boss: From Dallas Crip to Texas Prison
5:16 - Surviving a Drive-By Shooting
11:24 - Robberies and Gang Life in Dallas
17:38 - Leading the Head Busting Committee
23:01 - Robbing an Underground Gambling House
28:05 - This Episode Is Sponsored By Ridge
29:57 - Growing Up Poor in North Dallas
38:22 - The Shooting That Changed His Life Forever
43:42 - On the Run and Turning Himself In
51:49 - His Lawyer Betrayed Him: 25 Years in Prison
56:39 - This Episode Is Sponsored By Kalshi
57:55 - Entering the Texas Prison System
1:04:26 - Prison Politics, Gang Rules, and Hustling
1:10:22 - Becoming a Shot Caller Behind Bars
1:16:27 - Shanks, Fights, and Prison Violence
1:22:19 - Losing His Appeal and Finding God
1:29:58 - Forced Labor and Brutal Texas Prison Conditions
1:35:37 - Corrupt Guards and Racial Divisions in Prison
1:41:10 - Fighting for Parole After 17 Years
1:48:11 - Prison Fights and Almost Losing His Freedom
1:55:54 - Contraband, Dirty Guards, and Prison Money
2:04:05 - Finally Coming Home and Rebuilding His Rap Career
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His Parents Were Cops— He Became a Heroin Dealer
Both of Josh's parents were police officers. He grew up surrounded by law enforcement, riding in patrol cars and spending time at police stations. But instead of following in their footsteps, he became …
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Both of Josh's parents were police officers. He grew up surrounded by law enforcement, riding in patrol cars and spending time at police stations. But instead of following in their footsteps, he became everything they were fighting against — a heroin addict and drug dealer.
In this episode, Josh, a former heroin dealer describes growing up in Maple Valley, Washington, an affluent suburban town hiding a deadly underground drug epidemic.
After undergoing spinal surgery at just 15 years old, he was prescribed powerful opioids that helped set him on a path toward nearly two decades of addiction and crime. What started with selling weed and cocaine spiraled into prescription pill trafficking, heroin dealing, violent robberies, overdoses, and a criminal underworld where nobody could be trusted.
He reveals how he nearly died from a cocaine overdose at 16, narrowly escaped involvement in an armed pharmacy robbery, watched close friends get murdered, and lost more than 30 people to the devastating drug epidemic that consumed his hometown.
But after years of injecting heroin and destroying his body, Josh finally reached a breaking point.
This is the story of a police officer's son who descended into the criminal underworld, survived a life that killed so many of his friends, and somehow found his way back.
Go Support Josh!
YouTube: @Joshpellz
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sweet_leaf_co
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE CONNECT? Send us an email explaining your story and why you think you'd be a good fit to [email protected]
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0:00 Meet Josh Pellz: The Suburban Gangster
5:11 How Prescription Pills Flooded the Suburbs
11:34 Growing Up in the Epicenter of the Opioid Crisis
17:53 Overdosing on Cocaine as a Teenager
24:05 The Dark Reality of Heroin Addiction
30:01 Drug Busts, Informants, and Robberies
35:15 A Close Call With the Police
41:57 Betrayal, Murder, and the Drug World
46:57 From Prescription Pills to Black Tar Heroin
54:21 The Long Road to Getting Clean
1:00:03 A Generation Lost to Overdoses
1:05:03 The Fort Bragg Cartel and Big Pharma
1:11:07 A Drug-Fueled Crash and His Cop Father
1:16:03 A Violent Confrontation and Police Trouble
1:21:49 The Deadly Consequences of Suburban Gangster Life
1:27:41 Recovery, Selling Weed, and Getting Robbed
1:33:15 Becoming a Gun Dealer
1:40:27 Building a New Life and Business in Oklahoma
1:45:39 Sweet Leaf, YouTube, and Life After Addiction
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The Man Who Armed Philadelphia's Most Dangerous Criminals
He worked with the ATF helping federal agents bust drug dealers. Then he became one of Philadelphia's most notorious illegal gun traffickers. In this episode, Johnny sits down with Simon White, a former ATF …
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He worked with the ATF helping federal agents bust drug dealers. Then he became one of Philadelphia's most notorious illegal gun traffickers.
In this episode, Johnny sits down with Simon White, a former ATF informant who went on to supply firearms to dangerous drug organizations throughout North Philadelphia, Kensington, and the notorious Badlands.
Simon reveals how he went from working alongside federal agents to selling hundreds of illegal firearms to Philly drug gangs. He describes the massive profits, the dangerous criminals he dealt with, and how legitimate gun stores continued selling him weapons despite scrutiny from the ATF.
When the feds finally caught up with him, Simon was confronted with an indictment involving 150 guns, while prosecutors believed the actual number could have been closer to 500.
But the craziest part came when he went to prison and found himself surrounded by the very criminals he had supplied with guns.
Simon opens up about his complicated relationship with the ATF, the betrayal that changed his life, his decision to cooperate with federal investigators, and the devastating consequences of the illegal gun trade.
This is an inside look at Philadelphia's criminal underworld from a man who helped arm it.
Go Support Simon!
Website: https://www.simonwhitespeaks.com/
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0:00 Meet Simon White: Philadelphia's Gun Runner
5:44 Why Philadelphia's Streets Were So Dangerous
14:25 How Gun Shops Supplied the Illegal Gun Trade
22:43 This Episode Is Sponsored By Quince
24:41 Selling Guns to Philly Drug Bosses
28:21 Gun Violence, Revenge, and the Reality of Murder
34:21 Working as an Undercover Informant for the ATF
39:37 This Episode Is Sponsored By Cash App
40:23 Betrayed by the Feds: Why Simon Lost Trust
47:37 From ATF Informant to Illegal Gun Dealer
54:09 This Episode Is Sponsored By Superpower
55:38 The Feds Accuse Him of Selling 500 Guns
1:03:09 Gun Dealers Escape Charges and the Rise of Ghost Guns
1:10:00 Harsh Gun Sentences and Close Calls With Police
1:17:06 Walking Into Prison and Seeing His Former Customers
1:24:44 Gambling, Street Fame, and the Money
1:32:18 How Hollywood Influenced the Illegal Gun Market
1:38:12 Operation Sunrise: The Massive Philly Drug Bust
1:45:13 His Son's Life Sentence and the Cost of Gun Violence
1:52:13 How His Customers Cooperated With Federal Agents
1:58:42 Facing More Prison Time and Protecting His Family
2:04:41 Prison Politics, Accountability, and His Final Message
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The Truth About Tupac's Murder | The Keefe-D Story
Nearly 30 years after Tupac Shakur was gunned down on the Las Vegas Strip, one of the most infamous murder cases in hip-hop history has finally reached a verdict. And the man convicted of orchestrating the …
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Nearly 30 years after Tupac Shakur was gunned down on the Las Vegas Strip, one of the most infamous murder cases in hip-hop history has finally reached a verdict. And the man convicted of orchestrating the killing may have sealed his own fate by refusing to keep his mouth shut.
On August 31, 2026, Duane "Keefe D" Davis, a former high-ranking Southside Compton Crip, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur. But how did a street fight at the MGM Grand turn into the assassination of one of the biggest music stars in the world? And why did it take authorities three decades to bring someone to justice?
In this episode, we break down the entire story—from Tupac's explosive rise with Death Row Records and his bitter feud with Biggie Smalls to the gang rivalries, stolen jewelry, and casino brawl that set the deadly events in motion.
We also examine the shocking evidence presented at Keefe D's trial, including his own recorded confessions, television interviews, memoir, and jailhouse phone calls. We'll explore the allegations surrounding Diddy, the conflicting accounts of who actually pulled the trigger, and the investigative failures that allowed the case to remain unsolved for decades.
Was Tupac's murder simply an act of gang retaliation, or was something bigger happening behind the scenes? And could Keefe D have gotten away with it if he'd just kept his mouth shut?
This is the full story of Tupac Shakur's murder, the man convicted of his killing, and the extraordinary trial that brought a measure of justice nearly 30 years later.
00:00 – The Verdict: Keefe D Found Guilty
03:47 – Tupac's Rise, Death Row Records & Biggie Smalls
09:11 – Mike Tyson Fight Night in Las Vegas
13:10 – Orlando Anderson, Keefe D & the Compton Gang Rivalry
17:02 – The Gun, the White Cadillac & the Hunt for Tupac
20:39 – Tupac's Final Ride Through Las Vegas
24:25 – The Investigation, Witnesses & Gang Retaliation
31:38 – How Investigators Got Keefe D Talking
37:29 – The Interviews and Memoir That Changed Everything
40:52 – Keefe D's Arrest & Legal Battle
43:07 – Inside the 2026 Murder Trial
50:25 – The Guilty Verdict & Unanswered Questions
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How A Mexican Narco Dynasty Built A U.S. Drug Empire
Martin Munoz up in Anaheim, just minutes from Disneyland—but behind the scenes, his family was connected to a completely different world. In this episode, Martin tells the story of growing up around a family …
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Martin Munoz up in Anaheim, just minutes from Disneyland—but behind the scenes, his family was connected to a completely different world.
In this episode, Martin tells the story of growing up around a family involved in high-level drug trafficking between Mexico and Southern California. He describes an uncle who operated at a major level before mysteriously disappearing in Tijuana, a father who went on to become a major meth and cocaine distributor, and how he eventually found himself stepping into the same business.
After his father was arrested, he says his dad’s right-hand man was told: “Go grab my son and let him run with you.”
From there, the operation grew fast.
Martin eventually found himself receiving as much as 100 kilos of cocaine a week, handling massive amounts of cash, meeting his father’s network of customers, and running stash locations throughout Orange County.
He talks about:
• Growing up around narcos, gang members, money, and violence in Anaheim
• His uncle’s rise—and mysterious disappearance in Mexico
• How his father built his own trafficking network
• Getting introduced to the business as a teenager
• His father’s arrest and the moment he was brought into the operation
• Receiving 100 kilos of cocaine per week
• Counting and collecting millions of dollars
• The surveillance operation that eventually brought the feds to his door
• His federal prison sentence and why he finally walked away from the life
This is the story of a kid who grew up wanting to become a narco, eventually entered his family’s world, and learned firsthand where that life leads.
Go Support Martin!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/48ways/
YouTube: @48ways62
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0:00 Meet Martin Muñiz: Inside a Narco Family Dynasty
2:05 Growing Up Around Anaheim Gangs and Cartel Money
12:05 His Uncle's Meth and Ephedrine Empire
18:54 How the Family Came from Mexico to California
26:54 This Episode Is Sponsored By PrizePicks
28:03 His Uncle's Cartel and International Smuggling Routes
36:29 The Mysterious Disappearance of His Uncle
42:41 Living Between Street Gangs and Drug Kingpins
48:32 How His Father Rebuilt the Family Business
59:10 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims
1:00:29 Corruption and Smuggling at the U.S.–Mexico Border
1:07:05 Entering the Drug Game at 18
1:14:00 From Small Deals to Moving Pounds of Meth
1:22:22 Getting Access to His Father's Supply
1:26:18 This Episode Is Sponsored By GLD
1:27:39 His First Big Deal With His Dad
1:39:50 His Father Gets Arrested
1:50:15 Taking Over the Family's Drug Network
1:58:18 His Dad Flees to Mexico and the Business Expands
2:05:04 Stashing and Distributing 100 Kilos of Cocaine
2:12:48 The Dream of Becoming a Kingpin in Mexico
2:23:31 The First Sting and Police Raid
2:31:13 Managing Millions and Tracking Missing Loads
2:40:39 Stolen Drugs, Enforcers, and Cartel Violence
2:49:52 The Hawaiian Distributor Who Became an Informant
2:55:13 Realizing Federal Agents Were Following Him
3:03:56 Why His Father Turned Down El Mayo Zambada
3:12:16 The Plot to Kill Martin
3:18:38 Finding a Tracking Device on His Car
3:26:33 The DEA Arrest and Raids
3:31:30 How the Informant Built a Federal Case
3:42:43 Facing 12 Years in Federal Prison
3:54:15 How His Father Retired from Drug Trafficking
4:03:25 Life After Prison: Rap and the Music Business
4:11:00 Regrets, His Children, and His Father in Mexico
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How A Gang Leader Survived America's Worst Prison System
Diaz Aguilar went to prison at 23 years old and spent the next 22 years inside Mississippi’s notoriously violent prison system. In this episode, Diaz sits down to tell the unbelievable story of how he survived …
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Diaz Aguilar went to prison at 23 years old and spent the next 22 years inside Mississippi’s notoriously violent prison system.
In this episode, Diaz sits down to tell the unbelievable story of how he survived decades behind bars while navigating gang politics, corrupt prison staff, brutal violence, and a massive underground contraband economy.
Diaz explains how inmates worked with guards to bring in marijuana, tobacco, liquor, smartphones, and other contraband worth enormous amounts of money inside the prison system. He describes guards cooperating with gangs, violent conflicts between prison factions, years spent in segregation, and the abuse he says he witnessed and experienced at the hands of correctional staff.
He also breaks down the case that sent him to prison. Diaz maintains that he was convicted of manslaughter despite no DNA, fingerprints, or physical evidence tying him to the murder weapon.
Over time, Diaz became a powerful figure within the prison gang hierarchy and helped operate an organized contraband business that could generate more money than many street hustles.
But after spending nearly half his life behind bars, Diaz eventually had to face an entirely different challenge: learning how to live in the free world again.
Today, he is rebuilding his life, pursuing professional certifications, working in management, and sharing his story through his memoir, Rosecrans.
This is a story about prison corruption, gang politics, survival, institutionalization, and what it takes to start over after 22 years behind bars.
Go Support Diaz!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/diaz_santiago_55/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@diaz_santiago75
Book: https://a.co/d/00doiiEd
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0:00 Intro: 22 Years in Mississippi Prison
6:51 Corrupt Guards & Brutal Prison Conditions
13:22 How the Contraband Operation Worked
18:20 This Episode Is Sponsored By Freecash
19:53 Cash, Money Orders & the Prison Economy
25:14 Cell Phones, Contraband Laws & Prison Education
33:37 Growing Up Puerto Rican in Compton
39:48 Gang Life & the Road to Mississippi
44:56 Why He Stayed in Mississippi & the Vice Lords Network
49:01 This Episode Is Sponsored By Shopify
50:11 The Fight That Led to 22 Years in Prison
57:05 The Evidence, Trial & Case Against Diaz
1:03:44 Anger, Isolation & Learning to Survive
1:09:03 This Episode Is Sponsored By Cloaked
1:10:54 His First Years Inside Mississippi Prison
1:17:52 Security Threat Status & Abuse by Guards
1:24:21 Handcuffed, Beaten & Prison Violence
1:30:49 Gang Wars, Stabbings & Prison Riots
1:36:17 Spending Four Years in Solitary Confinement
1:42:05 Prison Weapons & Building Connections With Guards
1:48:03 Smuggling Contraband Through Prison Guards
1:55:44 Rising to the Top of the Contraband Operation
2:02:33 Hidden Stashes & Making Money in Prison
2:08:48 Weed Markups & the Prison Liquor Racket
2:15:57 Smuggling Contraband Through Maintenance Trucks
2:22:03 Adapting Prison Survival Skills to the Free World
2:28:13 Life After Prison, Career Plans & Final Reflections
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How A Cocaine Trafficker Survived 10 Years As A Fugitive In Mexico
Scott Anthony had already lived a life most people wouldn't believe. He grew up in Chicago street gangs, robbed drug dealers, trafficked cocaine, fled the United States, lived under aliases, and eventually …
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Scott Anthony had already lived a life most people wouldn't believe.
He grew up in Chicago street gangs, robbed drug dealers, trafficked cocaine, fled the United States, lived under aliases, and eventually built a new life in Mexico.
Then he discovered another business: Cuban cigars.
While still on federal probation, Scott says he began traveling to Cuba, buying hundreds of boxes of cigars, moving them through Mexico, and smuggling them across the U.S. border. What started with 40 boxes eventually grew into loads of hundreds at a time.
His customers ranged from wealthy businessmen and cigar dealers to some of Chicago's biggest names—including Michael Jordan.
In this episode, Scott breaks down the rise of his Cuban cigar operation, the border seizures, the people who moved the merchandise, his encounters in Cuba, and why he ultimately walked away from the business and put the money into building a legitimate fitness empire in Mexico.
This is the story of a career criminal who eventually decided he'd pushed his luck far enough.
Go Support Scott!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/scottanthonyog
YouTube: @ScottAnthonyOG
Website: https://www.scottanthonyog.com/
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0:00 Preview & Scott Anthony Intro
7:12 Gangs, Prison Influence & the Criminal World
14:58 Early Scores & Blowing the Money
21:55 Police Brutality & Run-Ins With Law Enforcement
28:12 Going From Petty Crime to Bigger Scores
38:17 Robbing Dealers
45:14 The $300K–$400K Drug Score
49:40 Shootout With the Cops
56:26 What Scott Was Wanted For
58:09 Fleeing to Mexico
1:07:35 Robbing Dealers & His Cop Cousin
1:12:26 Starting a New Life in Guadalajara
1:18:25 Fake Names & Living as a Fugitive
1:26:02 The Federales Find Him in Mexico
1:34:20 The Federal Plea Deal & Eight Years Probation
1:44:35 Back in Chicago & Life After the Case
1:53:59 How the Cuban Cigar Hustle Started
1:59:09 Smuggling Cuban Cigars Across the Border
2:04:49 Buying Cigars in Cuba & Moving Them North
2:10:12 Michael Jordan & Celebrity Cigar Customers
2:17:09 Smuggling Costs, Profit Margins & $500 Boxes
2:24:05 How Big the Cigar Operation Became
2:30:16 Could the Cuban Cigar Hustle Work Today?
2:39:40 Divorce, Scott’s Books & Final Thoughts
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Hells Angels Enforcer Reveals Life At War With The Mongols
Former Hells Angel Joby Walters sits down to tell the unbelievable story of how he entered the outlaw motorcycle world at nearly 50 years old, rose through the ranks, survived one of the most infamous biker …
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Former Hells Angel Joby Walters sits down to tell the unbelievable story of how he entered the outlaw motorcycle world at nearly 50 years old, rose through the ranks, survived one of the most infamous biker wars in American history, and eventually walked away from it all.
Joby recounts meeting legendary Hells Angel Sonny Barger, earning his patch, and becoming deeply involved in the Arizona club scene during escalating conflicts with the Mongols, Vagos, Bandidos, and other outlaw motorcycle clubs.
He gives a firsthand account of the deadly 2002 fight at Harrah’s Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, describing the moments leading up to the violence, the chaos inside the casino, and the death of one of his closest brothers.
Joby also tells the incredible story of ATF agent Jay Dobyns infiltrating the Hells Angels, a staged murder used to gain the club’s trust, the moment Joby realized something wasn’t right, and the federal investigation that followed.
Facing potentially decades behind bars, Joby fled to Mexico, where he spent years living under a new identity, riding through the mountains, hunting mountain lions and bears, and eventually beginning the spiritual transformation that would change the direction of his life.
After prison, violence, betrayal, and losing nearly everything, Joby walked away from the Hells Angels and found a new purpose through faith.
Go Support Joby!
Website: https://www.jobywalters.com/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HC3QQ54S
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0:00 Joby Walters: Hells Angels Outlaw Story
6:15 Getting Sober Before Joining the Hells Angels
11:52 The Bullhead Confrontation
18:08 Meeting Sonny Barger
25:00 This Episode Is Sponsored By Perplexity AI
26:47 From Prospect to Full-Patch Hells Angel
34:18 Expanding the Hells Angels in Arizona
41:16 Early Club Wars & Mongols Tensions
48:15 This Episode Is Sponsored By Cash App
49:25 The Laughlin Riot: How It Started
57:07 The Laughlin Shootout Explodes
1:05:03 Aftermath, Arrests & the Mongols War
1:07:15 This Episode Is Sponsored By PrizePicks
1:08:54 Two and a Half Years in Mexico
1:20:01 The ATF Undercover Infiltration
1:27:33 The Revenge Plot & Fake Murder Setup
1:35:03 Realizing They Were Undercover
1:43:31 Federal Indictments & Conspiracy Charges
1:50:43 Facing Prison & Beating the Federal Case
1:57:40 Getting Out, Probation & Faith
2:04:06 Bandidos, Sonny Barger & Old Club Wars
2:11:03 Old-School Biker Life & Final Thoughts
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Inside The Dark Web Credit Card Scam Making Millions Every Month
Matthew Handy lived through 20 years of addiction, crime, prison, paranoia, and survival before finally turning his life around. In this episode, Matt sits down to tell the wild story of how his life spiraled …
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Matthew Handy lived through 20 years of addiction, crime, prison, paranoia, and survival before finally turning his life around.
In this episode, Matt sits down to tell the wild story of how his life spiraled from early drug use in San Diego to heroin addiction, meth dealing, organized retail theft, credit card fraud, extortion, bank robbery, and cartel-adjacent chaos on both sides of the border.
Matt opens up about childhood trauma, prison, the criminal mindset, life in San Bernardino, the explosion of credit card fraud, smuggling drugs from Tijuana, and the moment a bank robbery finally forced him to choose between spending decades behind bars or changing his life.
Today, Matt is in recovery, runs the podcast My Last Relapse, and works in addiction treatment helping others escape the same cycle that nearly destroyed him.
Go Support Matt!
YouTube: @MyLastRelapse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt.handy.17/
Rehab: https://www.harmonygrovebh.com/
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00:00 Intro: Credit Card Fraud, Addiction & Crime
06:58 Growing Up in 1990s San Diego
13:39 Planning a Bank Robbery
18:10 Extorting Doctors & Wealthy Clients
24:14 Childhood Trauma and Early Criminality
29:56 Robberies, Drugs & Firestorm Burglaries
35:20 Prison Life and Using Behind Bars
37:42 The Baby Product Theft Scheme
43:17 Building a Nationwide Retail Theft Operation
49:27 Paranoia, Silent Tape & High-Level Shoplifting
55:22 Prison Didn’t Scare Him Straight
1:03:44 Getting Out, Relapsing & Manipulating Family
1:09:11 Back With His Uncle and Trap House Life
1:13:18 Selling Meth and Joining a Gang Circle
1:19:03 Police Surveillance and Controlled Buys
1:24:03 Major Task Force Bust
1:29:18 Addiction, Choice & Facing Serious Time
1:32:59 Moving to San Bernardino
1:37:04 The Amazon Warehouse Scam
1:42:55 Credit Card Fraud Begins
1:49:31 Running Teams and Moving Merchandise
1:56:33 Paranoia Ends the Fraud Ring
2:00:03 Returning to San Diego and Trying to Get Clean
2:04:02 Relapse, Energy Drink Theft & Street Hustles
2:09:43 Meeting His Future Wife
2:15:03 Doctors, Escorts & Blackmail
2:18:07 COVID, Fentanyl and Crime in San Diego
2:22:19 Tijuana Drug Houses and Border Runs
2:27:37 Heroin, Fentanyl and Meth Markets
2:34:31 Xanax Blackouts and Cartel Money
2:39:32 Robbing a Bank to Get Her Attention
2:44:48 Arrest, FBI Questioning & Bomb Threat Investigation
2:50:21 Delancey Street and Avoiding Decades in Prison
2:57:58 Recovery, Relapse and Building a New Life
3:00:24 Where to Find Matthew Handy
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Why A Successful Rapper Confessed To Murder 17 Years Later
Former Bad Boy rapper G. Dep sits down to tell one of the most unbelievable stories in hip-hop history. Growing up in Harlem during the height of the crack era, G. Dep went from hustling in the streets and …
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Former Bad Boy rapper G. Dep sits down to tell one of the most unbelievable stories in hip-hop history.
Growing up in Harlem during the height of the crack era, G. Dep went from hustling in the streets and battling drug addiction to landing a record deal with Bad Boy Entertainment and becoming one of the label’s rising stars. But behind the success, the music, and the fame was a secret that continued to haunt him.
In 1993, at just 18 years old, G. Dep was involved in a fatal shooting in Harlem. He was never arrested for it and eventually moved on with his life, signing with Bad Boy and building a successful rap career. But nearly two decades later, the guilt became too much.
In December 2010, G. Dep walked into a New York City police precinct and confessed to the crime — 17 years after it happened.
In this episode, G. Dep opens up about growing up in New York City, selling drugs, getting arrested repeatedly, discovering hip-hop, signing with Bad Boy, working around Diddy and some of the biggest names in rap, battling addiction, and the incredible decision that ultimately sent him to prison.
He also explains what was going through his mind when he confessed, why he was willing to face the consequences, his trial and prison sentence, the road to clemency, and what it feels like to finally be free and making music again.
This is the story of G. Dep — from the streets of Harlem to Bad Boy Records, prison, redemption, and a second chance at life.
Go Support G. Deb!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/gdepofficial/
YouTube: @gdepofficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gdepofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trevell.g.dep.coleman
Merch: https://lovethehustler.com/collections/g-dep
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0:00 Intro: Why G. Dep Turned Himself In
6:24 Growing Up in Harlem During the Crack Era
12:03 Breakdancing, Early Rap & Becoming G. Dep
18:00 Selling Drugs & Early Drug Use
21:59 This Episode Is Sponsored By Kalshi
23:05 Drug Cases, Jail & Hearing About Tupac
34:20 Escaping an Undercover Arrest
42:19 This Episode Is Sponsored By Cloaked
43:50 The Song That Led G. Dep to Bad Boy
52:14 The 1993 Shooting
1:01:36 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims
1:03:13 Police Question G. Dep the Next Day
1:07:22 Living With the Secret & Growing Guilt
1:14:22 G. Dep’s Relationship With Diddy
1:19:48 Writing Lyrics for Diddy
1:26:03 PCP, Fame & Coping With the Murder
1:33:16 Bad Boy Parties & Addiction Taking Over
1:40:29 Reconnecting With Diddy After Bad Boy
1:48:54 Deciding to Turn Himself In
1:56:24 Walking Into the Precinct to Confess
2:02:07 Arrested After a 17-Year-Old Confession
2:09:53 Taking the Murder Case to Trial
2:15:27 15-to-Life, Clemency & Coming Home
2:20:34 Life Today, New Music & What’s Next
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Baltimore’s Fentanyl Epidemic Is Worse Than You Think
Baltimore has always had a reputation as one of America’s toughest cities — a place shaped by poverty, violence, addiction, and survival. In this episode, Johnny travels through Baltimore to see how the city …
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Baltimore has always had a reputation as one of America’s toughest cities — a place shaped by poverty, violence, addiction, and survival. In this episode, Johnny travels through Baltimore to see how the city has changed since The Wire, how the drug trade has evolved from heroin to fentanyl, and why homicides have recently dropped despite open-air dealing still being visible across the city.
With help from Baltimore Carl of Baltimore Recovery Alliance, we visit Lexington Market, South Baltimore, East Baltimore, and O’Donnell Heights to hear directly from people who lived the streets, worked the corners, battled addiction, and are now trying to save lives through recovery and community intervention.
This episode looks at Baltimore’s past, present, and future — from kingpins and corner crews to fentanyl, treatment centers, credible messengers, gentrification, and the people fighting to bring hope back to the city.
Special thanks to Baltimore Carl and Baltimore Recovery Alliance. If you're in the Baltimore area and are seeking help to get clean from addiction check out https://baltimorerecoveryalliance.com/
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00:00 Baltimore, The Wire, and the city’s violent history
02:07 Why Baltimore has such a high murder rate
05:55 Historic drop in homicides
07:08 Community intervention and peace teams
09:44 Heroin, fentanyl, and the changing drug economy
13:51 Lexington Market and open-air drug use
16:10 Baltimore’s addiction and treatment industry
20:22 South Baltimore drug corners
25:53 O’Donnell Heights and East Baltimore
29:41 Youth programs and signs of hope
30:12 Brandon Novak on addiction and recovery
34:33 Why Baltimore is worth saving
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The White Crack Kingpin Who Ran An All-Black Drug Crew
Black Label has one of the wildest stories we’ve ever heard on The Connect. Growing up in extreme poverty in St. Petersburg, Florida, he was surrounded by crack, violence, and chaos from an early age. By 11 …
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Black Label has one of the wildest stories we’ve ever heard on The Connect.
Growing up in extreme poverty in St. Petersburg, Florida, he was surrounded by crack, violence, and chaos from an early age. By 11 years old, he was already selling drugs. By his late teens, Black Label says he was helping run a multi-million-dollar drug operation, moving large quantities of crack and cocaine while leading a crew in one of the most dangerous environments imaginable.
But the money came with consequences. Kidnappings, robberies, violence, federal investigations, and eventually a massive indictment brought the entire world crashing down. Black Label ultimately spent 15 years behind bars, including 28 months in solitary confinement.
In this episode, Black Label takes us inside the crack era of 1990s St. Petersburg, explains how a white kid became accepted in an all-Black neighborhood and prison environment, breaks down the mentality that allowed him to survive, and reveals what finally happened when federal agents closed in.
He also opens up about his brutal childhood, his relationship with his mother, the lessons he learned in prison, taking responsibility for his decisions, and how he rebuilt his life after coming home.
Today, Black Label has transformed his name into a brand, building a professional chauffeur and security business while becoming a viral social media personality and host of the Black Label Lounge. His message now centers around turning “pain into purpose” and showing people that where you start doesn’t have to determine where you finish.
This is the incredible story of survival, crime, prison, entrepreneurship, identity, and reinvention — told by the one and only Black Label.
Go Support Black!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/black_label_services
YouTube: @blacklabellounge
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blacklabel1014
Merch: https://www.stickermule.com/blacklabel1014
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
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0:00 Black Label’s Incredible Story
8:18 Growing Up White in a Black Neighborhood
15:20 Survival Mentality & Pain Into Purpose
21:11 This Episode Is Sponsored By PrizePicks
22:40 The Crack Era in St. Petersburg
28:58 His First Fight & Earning Respect
36:02 Abuse at Home & Wanting Out
40:17 This Episode Is Sponsored By GLD
41:48 Education, Entrepreneurship & Black Label Services
50:33 Kidnapped for a $60,000 Ransom
56:01 Territory Wars & Street Violence
1:00:47 This Episode Is Sponsored By Superpower
1:02:17 Turning the Crack Game Into a Business
1:09:58 Crack Houses, Cookers & Supplying the City
1:16:55 Family Conflict, Identity & Prison Politics
1:23:50 Building the Black Label Brand & Going Viral
1:31:06 Moving Money & Reinvesting Drug Profits
1:37:54 Coming Home After 15 Years & Starting Over
1:45:03 Guns, Ego & Losing the Original Purpose
1:51:52 The Federal Indictment & Refusing to Cooperate
1:59:09 Surviving & Hustling in Federal Prison
2:05:54 The Underground Prison Economy
2:13:05 His Mother, Forgiveness & Unresolved Pain
2:20:43 Pain Into Purpose & Building a New Life
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Is Trump Covering Up Melania’s Connection To Jeffrey Epstein?
Donald Trump once appeared unusually willing to confront the Jeffrey Epstein story. According to Julian Dorey, Trump reportedly cooperated with an attorney representing Epstein victims, publicly urged people to …
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Donald Trump once appeared unusually willing to confront the Jeffrey Epstein story. According to Julian Dorey, Trump reportedly cooperated with an attorney representing Epstein victims, publicly urged people to investigate Epstein and his powerful connections, and later campaigned alongside calls for greater transparency.
So what changed?
In this episode, Julian Dorey joins for a deep dive into Trump’s history with Epstein, the fight over the unreleased files, Elon Musk’s explosive claim that Trump appears in them, and reports suggesting Trump and Epstein were closer than casual acquaintances.
They also examine why millions of pages have allegedly remained unreleased or heavily redacted, reports of senior administration officials discussing the Epstein fallout in the Situation Room, Thomas Massie publicly naming figures connected to the case, and Dorey’s belief that major Epstein developments have repeatedly landed during low-attention news cycles.
The conversation eventually turns to Dorey’s most controversial theory about what Trump could be trying to protect—a theory he repeatedly emphasizes is speculation, not proven fact.
If Trump was once willing to help expose Epstein, why does Dorey believe his behavior changed?
This episode follows the timeline, the contradictions, the powerful names, and the unanswered questions surrounding one of the most controversial stories in American politics.
Go Support Julian!
YouTube: @JulianDorey
Clips Page: @juliandoreyclips
Podcast: @JulianDoreyDaily
IG: https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey
X: https://x.com/juliandorey
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0:00 Intro – What Is Trump Hiding in the Epstein Files?
5:30 Why Julian Dorey Became Obsessed With Epstein
11:45 Epstein’s Role as a Powerful “Fixer”
17:23 Epstein, Gaza, Evil & Christianity
23:05 Trump’s History With Jeffrey Epstein
30:04 Trump Accusations & the Melania Theory
35:06 Allegations About Melania’s Past
40:19 Was Trump Distancing Himself From Epstein?
45:24 Why Are 3 Million Pages Still Unreleased?
50:24 Pam Bondi, Todd Blanche & the Situation Room
56:41 The Game of Thrones Comparison to Trump
1:03:42 Epstein Stories & Suspicious News Cycles
1:10:24 Trump’s Collapse as a Master Marketer
1:17:20 The Biggest Names Connected to Epstein
1:24:53 Epstein, Intelligence Agencies & Mossad
1:30:00 The David Rockefeller Story
1:34:44 Blackmail, Politicians & the Epstein Network
1:39:00 Why Aren’t Epstein’s Victims Being Heard?
1:45:40 Could Congress Force the Files to Be Released?
1:50:28 Escaping the Republican vs. Democrat Divide
1:56:21 Julian Dorey’s Final Thoughts & Outro
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Inside The New Jersey Mafia That Inspired The Sopranos
Jimmy “Easy” Saracco lived the kind of Mafia life most people only know from movies. In this episode, the former DeCavalcante associate opens up about coming up in New York’s underworld, making serious money …
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Jimmy “Easy” Saracco lived the kind of Mafia life most people only know from movies.
In this episode, the former DeCavalcante associate opens up about coming up in New York’s underworld, making serious money through bookmaking and loansharking, carrying out violent orders, and operating around the New Jersey crime family often associated with the real-life inspiration behind The Sopranos.
Jimmy also tells the story of his explosive feud with John Gotti Jr., including his claim that Gotti Jr. was involved in a plot to have him killed. After surviving a brutal attack that left him stabbed and in a coma, Jimmy says he wanted revenge—but Mafia politics made Gotti Jr. untouchable.
Years later, the world Jimmy had lived by began collapsing from the inside. Bosses, captains, and associates started cooperating with the federal government, leaving Jimmy facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.
Eventually, he made the decision he once thought was unthinkable: he cooperated too.
Jimmy explains why he flipped, what it felt like walking out of his first proffer session, the murders and rackets he admitted involvement in, his time in witness protection, and why he says his life today is better than the one he left behind.
This is the story of money, murder, loyalty, betrayal, the real-life Mafia world behind The Sopranos—and what happens when the code everyone swore to live by finally falls apart.
Go Support Jimmy!
Book: https://a.co/d/0iR1D8xx
YouTube: @JIMMY_EASY_SARACCO
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
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0:00 Jimmy Easy: Murder, Loansharking & the DeCavalcante Family
7:03 Becoming an Earner & Entering the Mob Life
14:29 Social Clubs, Rikers Island & Early Prison Time
20:12 Vigilante Street Justice & a Brutal Mob Story
22:59 This Episode Is Sponsored By Quince
24:52 Building His Crew & the Holmdel Robbery
35:09 Bookmaking, Loan Sharking & Mob Collections
41:07 This Episode Is Sponsored By Shopify
42:18 Vinny Palermo, Mob Hits & Disappearances
49:29 The 1997 Arrest, FBI Setup & Cooperators
56:17 Mob Territory, Kickbacks & Making Money
1:00:12 This Episode Is Sponsored By Quo
1:01:22 John Gotti's Influence & Sopranos Connections
1:10:34 Extortion, Tow Trucks & Illegal Businesses
1:15:34 This Episode Is Sponsored By Mood
1:16:54 Jewelry Heists, Fences & Whitey Bulger
1:22:18 Chop Shops, Stolen Cars & Insurance Fraud
1:28:08 Courtroom Corruption & Buying Your Way Out
1:33:33 The Night John Gotti Jr.'s Crew Tried to Kill Him
1:39:32 Inside the DeCavalcante Family Structure
1:45:24 Medical Fraud, Hospitals & Massive Kickbacks
1:51:05 The World Trade Center Robbery & Ralphie Flips
1:58:45 Insurance Money, Wiretaps & the Coming Indictment
2:05:03 The Feds Close In & the Murder Charges
2:13:23 Facing Life in Prison & Deciding to Cooperate
2:20:00 Sentencing Deals, Cooperators & Witness Protection
2:27:35 Leaving WitSec & Life After the Mafia
2:30:00 Hit Man Tells All, Jimmy's YouTube & Closing
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Could A U.S. Intervention In Mexico Become America’s Next Vietnam?
Could a U.S. military intervention in Mexico actually happen—and what would it look like if it did? Ed Calderon joins the show and we break down the growing tension between the United States and Mexico, the …
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Could a U.S. military intervention in Mexico actually happen—and what would it look like if it did?
Ed Calderon joins the show and we break down the growing tension between the United States and Mexico, the strategic importance of northern Mexico’s manufacturing base, and why a future conflict could extend far beyond the fight against cartels and fentanyl. The conversation explores the potential consequences of military intervention, including mass migration, border shutdowns, trade disruptions, economic shortages, and the possibility of cartel groups transforming into organized guerrilla forces using drones, IEDs, precision weapons, and other modern battlefield tactics.
We also examine why Mexico could become an extremely difficult environment for a prolonged U.S. military campaign, how deeply interconnected Mexican and American communities are, and why recent operations against historically powerful cartel figures may signal a much larger geopolitical shift.
Go Support Ed!
Website: https://www.edsmanifesto.com/
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Podcast: @manifestoradionetwork3191
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0:00 Could the U.S. Go to War With Mexico?
7:46 Michoacán, Cartels & Self-Defense Groups
14:50 U.S. Pressure on Mexico’s Politicians
22:02 CIA Operations, the DEA & Iran-Contra
28:36 Mayo Zambada, Sinaloa & Political Corruption
36:12 Why a U.S.–Mexico Military Clash Could Happen
42:22 The Economic Motive for Invading Mexico
49:54 What Would a U.S. Intervention Actually Look Like?
55:55 Cartel Fighters, Snipers & Guerrilla Warfare
1:03:12 Could Mexico Turn Into a Civil War?
1:10:07 Morena, Foreign Influence & Mexico’s Sovereignty
1:15:30 The Huachicol Fuel-Smuggling Empire
1:21:52 How U.S. Fuel Gets Smuggled Into Mexico
1:28:58 Sinaloa’s Future, CJNG & Cross-Border Drug Tunnels
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How The Sinaloa Cartel Moves Cocaine Across America
At just 18 years old, Jacob Diaz went from growing up in extreme poverty and foster care to helping manage a massive cocaine trafficking operation stretching from the Texas border to Florida. In this episode …
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At just 18 years old, Jacob Diaz went from growing up in extreme poverty and foster care to helping manage a massive cocaine trafficking operation stretching from the Texas border to Florida.
In this episode, Jacob explains how he started as a driver and translator before eventually handling logistics, coordinating drivers, collecting money, managing stash houses, and helping oversee the U.S. side of an operation connected to the Beltrán Leyva organization.
At its peak, the network was moving dozens of kilos a week, with Jacob describing hundreds of kilos moving through individual customers and millions of dollars changing hands.
Jacob breaks down how the operation stayed under the radar, how cocaine moved across the country, what life was like around cartel figures in Mexico, and the mistake that eventually brought federal investigators to his door.
After being convicted on a federal cocaine conspiracy charge and serving more than seven years in prison, Jacob completely changed direction and built a legitimate business helping people repair their credit and access funding.
This is the story of how a teenager went from homelessness and foster care to the center of a multimillion-dollar cocaine operation—and how it all came crashing down.
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Ig: https://www.instagram.com/mycreditbuilderpros/
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0:00 Intro: From Foster Care to Cartel Logistics
6:11 Growing Up in Extreme Poverty in Ocala
11:50 Foster Care, Family Separation & His Mom Disappearing
17:15 Learning to Let Go and Move Forward
20:03 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims
21:48 Selling to Eat While Homeless
29:00 Selling Out of the Foster Home
34:32 Meeting the Man Who Became His Father Figure
41:54 Getting Involved In The Beltran-Leyva Organization
43:21 This Episode Is Sponsored By NordVPN
44:42 Becoming the U.S. Logistics Manager
47:17 Collecting Cash, Translating & Learning the Business
55:07 Border Routes, Checkpoints & Moving Product
1:00:57 The 70-Year-Old Cartel Mule
1:06:00 Moving 20 Kilos a Week Through Ocala
1:12:36 The Dream of Retiring in Spain
1:22:02 Cartel Security & Acapulco Nightlife
1:27:05 Living on a $30K-a-Month Party Budget
1:32:38 Why They Used One Distributor at a Time
1:38:02 How His Boss Got Back Across the Border
1:44:49 Flying Cash to Mexico
1:50:44 The 2011 Federal Investigation Begins
1:56:31 The Federal Case & Recorded Evidence
2:01:33 Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison
2:06:51 Building a Credit Business in Prison
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How San Francisco Became A Haven For The Fentanyl Trade
Former San Francisco undercover narcotics officer Britt Elmore exposes how the Tenderloin became one of America’s most notorious open-air drug markets — and how fentanyl, street dealers, weak prosecution …
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Former San Francisco undercover narcotics officer Britt Elmore exposes how the Tenderloin became one of America’s most notorious open-air drug markets — and how fentanyl, street dealers, weak prosecution, addiction, homelessness, and organized trafficking reshaped the city.
In this episode, Britt breaks down the San Francisco fentanyl crisis from the inside. After 25 years working narcotics, undercover buys, federal task force cases, wiretaps, gun deals, stolen car operations, cartel-linked investigations, and street-level drug markets, Britt explains how the fentanyl trade operates in the Bay Area and why San Francisco became a magnet for addiction, homelessness, and open-air drug dealing.
He discusses the Tenderloin drug market, Honduran street dealers, Mexican suppliers, fentanyl economics, undercover police work, drug trafficking routes, confidential informants, cartel connections, stolen property rings, car break-ins, retail theft, rehab fraud, Proposition 47, and why many officers believe the system has stopped holding repeat offenders accountable.
This conversation is a raw, unfiltered look at crime, addiction, policing, fentanyl, and the collapse of public order in one of America’s most iconic cities.
Topics covered:
-San Francisco fentanyl crisis
-Tenderloin open-air drug market
-SFPD undercover narcotics work
-Fentanyl trafficking in California
-Honduran drug dealers in San Francisco
-Mexican cartel supply chains
-Drug addiction and homelessness
-Proposition 47 and criminal justice reform
-Retail theft, bipping, and stolen property rings
-Confidential informants and federal wiretaps
-Undercover gun and drug buys
-How fentanyl changed the drug trade
Go Support Britt!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britt-elmore-5641a53a
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
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https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow
00:00 San Francisco’s fentanyl crisis
01:33 Arrests, treatment, and the debate over addiction policy
03:04 Drugs inside jails, rehabs, and nonprofit systems
07:16 San Francisco’s tech wealth and drug culture
11:16 Honduran dealers and the Tenderloin street market
13:57 How Tenderloin dealers make money and avoid arrest
15:18 Heroin, fentanyl, and changing opioid markets
17:28 The economics of fentanyl
20:16 Britt Elmore’s undercover narcotics career
24:34 How Honduran dealers arrive, live, and operate in the Bay Area
28:35 Working wires from street dealers to Mexico
30:01 This Episode Is Sponsored By Mood
31:37 Meth, heroin, Sinaloa links, and border corruption
41:24 The undercover warehouse fencing operation
49:20 Reactive policing, low-level crime, and Proposition 47
55:01 “Bipping,” retail theft, and stolen goods networks
1:02:13 Drug transport routes through California, Oregon, and Washington
1:04:18 How federal wiretaps work
1:10:45 Major seizures and hidden stash houses
1:12:18 Prescription pills, addiction, and fentanyl recovery
1:23:03 Narcan, overdoses, and fentanyl contamination myths
1:29:39 Mexican trafficking groups, meth, and Hell’s Angels case
1:32:12 Informants, federal pressure, and who flips
1:51:42 Guns, switches, Dracos, and ATF cases
2:00:51 Cannabis eradication and drug money in the mail
2:18:28 Life undercover, adrenaline, and retirement
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How a Mormon Kid From Texas Became a Mexican Cartel Sicario
From a strict Mormon upbringing in Texas to the violent world of cartel-connected crime, Tyler’s story is one of the wildest we’ve heard. In this episode, Tyler explains how he went from being a high school kid …
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From a strict Mormon upbringing in Texas to the violent world of cartel-connected crime, Tyler’s story is one of the wildest we’ve heard.
In this episode, Tyler explains how he went from being a high school kid making money transporting drugs to working around human-smuggling networks along the Texas–Mexico border. He describes witnessing extreme cartel violence at a young age, moving migrants through border towns, becoming involved in violent contract work in Mexico, and later building a large drug business back home.
Tyler also opens up about the side of that lifestyle people rarely talk about—the paranoia, emotional numbness, PTSD, memory problems, prison, and the difficulty of returning to a normal life after years surrounded by violence.
We discuss:
• Growing up in a strict Mormon household
• Getting recruited into drug transportation as a teenager
• Witnessing cartel violence for the first time
• How human-smuggling networks operate along the border
• Coyotes, safe houses, spotters, burner phones, and cartel organization
• His descent into increasingly violent criminal work
• Building a drug business through Snapchat
• His 2019 arrest and prison sentence
• The lasting psychological effects of the lifestyle
• Therapy, family, faith, and trying to rebuild his life
This conversation contains descriptions of violence, drug trafficking, and other criminal activity. It is presented for documentary, educational, and entertainment purposes and is not intended to promote or encourage illegal behavior.
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
BetterHelp! See the reviews, see what stands out, and see if BetterHelp is right for you. Visit https://betterhelp.com/connect
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00:00 Intro: Mormon Kid to Cartel Hitman
01:27 Growing Up in a Strict Mormon Household
03:13 Rebelling Against Church Rules
04:16 First Adventure: Driving Heroin
06:40 Close Call: Witnessing a Chainsaw Murder
09:07 The Psychological Aftermath
12:32 Understanding the Cartel's Organization
15:10 Mental Health Struggles and Trauma
20:35 This Episode Is Sponsored By BetterHelp
21:55 Getting Back into Smuggling
23:23 Human Smuggling Operations and Safe Houses
27:18 Evolution into a Hitman
29:04 Cartel's Control and Police Corruption
31:52 The Job: Contract, Payment, and Preparation
36:27 The First Hit and Moral Numbing
40:33 This Episode Is Sponsored By Mood
42:33 Avoiding Addiction and the Double Life
45:08 The Worst Thing Seen: Four Days of Torture
52:00 The Drug Business and Burner Phones
01:10:11 Getting Busted and Going to Prison
01:17:00 Building the Snapchat Drug Empire
01:22:26 Why Keep Doing Hits?
01:24:07 The Last Job and Quitting
01:27:01 Arrest and Prison Sentence
01:30:09 Life After Prison and Redemption
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The Sinaloa Cartel Is Losing Control Of It's Own Territory
Katarina Szulc returns to The Connect after reporting on the ground in Sinaloa, where the cartel war has pushed Culiacán deeper into violence and uncertainty. In this episode, she breaks down what she witnessed …
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Katarina Szulc returns to The Connect after reporting on the ground in Sinaloa, where the cartel war has pushed Culiacán deeper into violence and uncertainty.
In this episode, she breaks down what she witnessed firsthand, why the Chapitos are under enormous pressure, and how CJNG could emerge as one of the biggest winners if the Chapitos eventually collapse or surrender. With CJNG already providing manpower and resources to its Sinaloa allies, could the organization ultimately move in and absorb their territory?
We also get into the escalating war inside the Sinaloa Cartel, the future of the remaining Chapitos, alleged cartel ties to Mexican politicians, the growing influence of CJNG, what daily life now looks like in Culiacán, forced recruitment, and Katarina's disturbing investigation into human trafficking in Tijuana.
This is an inside look at one of the most important power struggles happening in Mexico's criminal underworld—and what could come next.
Go Support Katarina!
YouTube: @katarinaszulc
IG: https://www.instagram.com/katarinaszulc
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00:00 The Cartel's Control Over Sinaloa
02:40 Senseless Murders and Public Fear
03:30 Governor Rocha's Indictment
08:30 Challenges of Reporting in Sinaloa
13:30 Inside the Daily Murders
20:00 The War for Cartel Control
23:30 CJNG Alliance and Mencho's Death
28:00 Cartel Convoys and Rural Danger
32:00 Humanizing Cartel Members
34:00 Victims and the New Generation
36:00 Cartel Economics and Recruitment
39:00 Chapitos' Surrender Talks
44:00 Political Leverage and US Influence
50:00 Mazatlan's Strategic Value
58:00 Human Trafficking Crisis
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Baltimore Drug Kingpin Reveals Making Millions Selling Heroin For The Mafia
Steven Dixon, a former Baltimore heroin kingpin, reveals how the city’s drug trade really worked during its most notorious era—from New York suppliers and mob connections to high-purity heroin, street corners …
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Steven Dixon, a former Baltimore heroin kingpin, reveals how the city’s drug trade really worked during its most notorious era—from New York suppliers and mob connections to high-purity heroin, street corners generating staggering amounts of cash, and the operation that made him millions.
He breaks down how heroin moved from New York to Baltimore, how dealers controlled territory across West Baltimore, why trusted connections mattered, and how the drug economy seen in The Wire compared to what was actually happening on the streets.
But the money and power came with a devastating price. After building a massive operation and owning more than 100 properties, Steven eventually became addicted to heroin himself—losing the empire, the money, and nearly everything else.
After years of addiction, he finally got clean, returned to school, earned a master’s degree, and dedicated his life to helping others recover through addiction treatment and behavioral health programs.
This is the inside story of Baltimore’s heroin era—from millions in drug money to addiction, recovery, and redemption.
Go Support Steven!
Recovery Facility: https://absolutehbh.com/
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
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Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.
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00:00 Meet Steve Dixon
00:37 Baltimore's Heroin Kingpin
02:11 Reflections on the Drug Trade
03:32 Why Baltimore is a Heroin City
05:13 The Nigerian Connection
07:44 Building a Fortune
10:53 From Heroin to Fentanyl
12:07 This Episode Is Sponsored By Cash App
13:27 Growing Up in Baltimore
16:04 A Life on the Streets
19:03 Acquiring Turf and Connections
21:27 Regrets and Community Impact
23:35 Keys to Success in the Game
25:31 The Mob and Nigerian Sources
27:00 Distribution Network
30:43 This Episode Is Sponsored By Superpower
32:13 Police and Stash Houses
34:54 Violence and Stickup Boys
37:24 The Fall: Addiction
40:16 Investing in the Community
42:16 This Episode Is Sponsored By NordVPN
43:52 The Addiction to Money
45:40 A Day in the Life
50:38 Handling Massive Cash
52:37 The Turning Point
56:30 Dodging a Federal Case
58:00 Descent into Addiction
01:01:40 Losing Everything
01:04:10 Life as a Homeless Addict
01:07:26 The Road to Recovery
01:11:20 Helping Others Get Clean
01:14:42 The Rehab Industry
01:18:22 Redemption and Legacy
01:20:24 Is Baltimore Better Now?
01:23:57 Changing Attitudes in the Community
01:27:02 Final Thoughts
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Florida’s Next Governor Declares WAR On AIPAC, Mass Surveillance & AI Data Centers
Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback joins The Connect to explain why he believes it’s time for a political revolution at the state level—and why Florida must stand up to Washington, Wall Street …
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Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback joins The Connect to explain why he believes it’s time for a political revolution at the state level—and why Florida must stand up to Washington, Wall Street, foreign influence, and the growing surveillance state.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Fishback lays out his plan to eliminate Flock license-plate cameras, oppose Palantir-style mass surveillance, protect First and Fourth Amendment rights, and repeal Florida laws he believes restrict criticism of foreign governments.
He also breaks down his opposition to the H-1B visa system, arguing that major corporations are replacing qualified American workers with cheaper foreign labor. Fishback explains how he would penalize companies that refuse to hire qualified Florida residents, prevent private-equity firms and foreign investors from buying up single-family homes, and stop taxpayer-subsidized AI data centers from spreading across the state.
The discussion also covers Florida public schools, student accountability, crime and “teen takeovers,” restoring rights to former nonviolent offenders, gun rights, undeclared foreign wars, the National Guard, AIPAC influence, state sovereignty, and his legal battle to remain on the ballot.
Can Florida become a model for a new American liberty movement—or is the political machine too powerful to defeat?
Go Support James!
Website: https://www.votemyflorida.org/
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00:00 Introduction: The Fight for Freedom
00:42 Why I Support James Fishback
01:30 Fishback's America First Platform
02:44 A Call to Action for Floridians
03:01 The National Significance of Florida's Fight
04:41 A New Experiment in Liberty
06:50 The Easiest Problem: Banning Flock Cameras
08:20 The Fourth Amendment and Mass Surveillance
10:50 The Existential Battle for Privacy
12:10 Repealing Florida's Hate Speech Law
14:40 The Real Test of the First Amendment
15:56 Taking on the Opposition: Byron Donalds
17:00 The Education Crisis in Florida
20:00 Accountability in the Classroom
22:55 The H-1B Visa Scam
26:50 Protecting American Jobs
29:00 Resistance at the State Level
32:10 Banning Private Equity from Buying Homes
34:00 The Unfair Advantage of Private Equity
36:45 Foreign Buyers and the Housing Crisis
38:00 Capitalism vs. America
39:12 The Threat of Data Centers
42:40 The Data Center Invasion in Florida
44:30 Defending State Sovereignty
47:00 Consistency and Truth in Politics
48:00 Existential Issues vs. Cultural Differences
50:00 The Case Against Zero Crime
53:00 Addressing Teen Takeovers and Riots
57:40 The El Salvador Model: Tough on Crime
58:40 Restoring Rights for Former Felons
01:01:00 The Lawfare Battle and Victory
01:03:00 The Un-American Nature of Merging Militaries
01:04:40 The True America First Agenda
01:06:00 Byron Donalds: A Puppet of Foreign Interests
01:08:00 America Comes First
01:10:00 Christian Values and Governance
01:12:00 Teaching Kids What It Means to Be American
01:14:00 Mass Surveillance vs. Freedom
01:18:00 The Unanimous Opposition to Data Centers
01:20:00 The Momentum of the Fishback Campaign
01:22:00 Final Call to Action: Vote for James Fishback
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How A Teenage Drug Kingpin Built A Meth Empire at 16
His mom was a queenpin. His dad was the muscle. By 16, he was selling meth and building his own operation in small-town Texas. In this episode, Cory Simek, a former teenage meth dealer reveals what it was like …
Notas do episódio
His mom was a queenpin. His dad was the muscle. By 16, he was selling meth and building his own operation in small-town Texas.
In this episode, Cory Simek, a former teenage meth dealer reveals what it was like growing up inside the drug game—and how his family’s criminal lifestyle shaped the path he followed. After starting with marijuana, he quickly moved into meth, made serious money before he was old enough to sign a lease, and became the target of a six-month police investigation.
He breaks down how confidential informants gained his trust, the warning signs he ignored, the raid that brought everything crashing down, and the brutal reality of racial politics and survival inside the Texas prison system.
But his story did not end behind bars. After serving years in prison and losing nearly everything, he transformed his mentality, entered the car business with no experience, became a top salesman, opened his own dealership, invested in real estate, and rebuilt his life through legitimate business.
This is a raw story about growing up in a criminal family, selling meth at 16, undercover informants, police raids, addiction, betrayal, Texas prison, redemption, entrepreneurship, and second chances.
Go Support Cory!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/corywiththekeys
Dealership: https://thekeykonnect.com/
YouTube: @Corywthekeys
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
Hims! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, and more visit https://hims.com/connect
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Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!
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00:00 Intro: Raised by a Queenpin and an Enforcer
01:55 Cory With the Keys Joins the Show
02:19 His Parents’ Wild Origin Story
04:56 Childhood Changes After His Mom Relapses
06:59 Learning the Drug Game at 12
07:26 Smoking Weed for the First Time
08:47 Becoming a 13-Year-Old Dealer
10:08 The Lunch-Money Lesson That Changed Him
11:19 Trying to Live Up to Both Parents’ Reputations
11:52 Getting Kicked Out at 16
12:11 Moving From Weed to Meth
13:15 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims
14:51 Selling Meth as a Teenager
16:27 Renting a Trap House Underage
17:14 Hustling While Still in High School
18:37 Getting Expelled Before Graduation
20:35 The Suspicious Customer Who Became an Informant
23:36 A Warning Before the Raid
24:30 Police Search the Trap House
26:13 Discovering the Informant’s Role
28:39 This Episode Is Sponsored By Quo
29:50 Another Informant Story After Prison
35:12 Swallowing an Eightball During a Police Stop
37:28 Realizing He Was Set Up
41:49 Back to the First Bust
44:08 Taking State Jail Instead of Probation
46:04 Surviving State Jail at 17
47:07 Learning Texas Prison Politics
50:32 Getting Out and Returning to the Streets
51:16 Weed Connects From the Valley
53:12 How Border Checkpoints Changed the Price
55:20 Shipping Bricks Through UPS
58:03 Moving Pounds and Making Teen Money
1:00:24 His Father’s Return to the Meth Game
1:02:35 His Dad Refuses to Snitch and Gets 25 Years
1:04:18 Falling in Love After State Jail
1:06:14 Learning He Might Become a Father
1:07:09 TDC Boot Camp and the Drug-Free Zone
1:10:15 Finding Out His Mom Died
1:11:52 Trying to Go Straight for His Son
1:13:14 The DNA Test That Broke Him
1:15:50 Heartbreak Sends Him Back to Hustling
1:16:41 SWAT Raids the Trap House
1:18:40 Running Into One of His Dad’s Snitches
1:21:27 Probation, Suspended License, and Disaster
1:22:23 Sentenced to Six Years in TDC
1:24:01 Learning He Must Serve Five Flat
1:28:10 Losing Everything in Prison
1:30:08 Rock Bottom Becomes the Turning Point
1:31:14 Deciding to Make Prison Time Serve Him
1:32:11 Fighting and Surviving Real Prison
1:35:22 Finding Better Ways to Do Time
1:36:52 Finally Making Parole
1:38:28 Getting Out and Starting Over
1:39:09 Discovering Car Sales
1:40:27 Talking His Way Into a Dealership Job
1:41:41 Becoming the Top Salesman
1:42:56 Battling Old Habits After Success
1:47:22 Opening His Own Dealership
1:48:19 Real Estate, Music, and Reinvention
1:49:56 Speaking in Prisons and Mentoring Kids
1:52:12 Johnny and Cory Discuss Their Turning Points
1:54:27 Why Accountability Keeps Him Straight
1:56:30 Finding Your Skill Set and Passion
1:57:09 Where to Find Cory With the Keys
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Ex-Cop Sentenced to 20 Years—Then Forced to Fight for His Life in Prison
A former sheriff’s deputy says one split-second police shooting turned him from a respected officer into a convicted murderer—and sent him to Texas prison for 20 years. In this episode, Kent McGowen tells the …
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A former sheriff’s deputy says one split-second police shooting turned him from a respected officer into a convicted murderer—and sent him to Texas prison for 20 years.
In this episode, Kent McGowen tells the full story of the night he served an arrest warrant on an armed woman, fired after she allegedly refused repeated commands to drop her weapon and later found himself charged with murder.
Kent explains why he believes he was railroaded by corrupt officials, how his conviction survived multiple trials and appeals, and what happened when he went from enforcing the law to fighting for his life behind bars.
He also exposes the brutal realities of the Texas prison system, including extreme heat, violence, suicide, untreated mental illness, guard misconduct and the dangers he faced as a former police officer living among inmates.
Was this a justified police shooting—or a murder? Was Kent held accountable for his actions, or sacrificed to protect a corrupt system?
Watch the full interview and decide for yourself.
Go Support Kent!
Book: https://a.co/d/08T9XO6m
Make a Donation: https://www.givesendgo.com/G31TC
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00:00 Deadly Encounter: The Incident
00:24 Introducing Kent McGowen
01:11 Life as a Cop in Texas Prisons
01:50 Horrors of Texas Prison Conditions
03:19 Survival, Food, and Suicides
05:55 First and Only Prison Fight
09:00 Wild Personalities Behind Bars
17:01 Murders in Prison
21:22 Mail, Communication, and System Abuse
23:34 Corruption and Lack of Accountability
29:16 The Shooting Incident and Background
37:11 Executing the Warrant
41:53 The Shooting and Aftermath
49:35 The Indictment and Arrest
55:21 Political Games and Legal Strategy
01:01:01 Life on Bond During Legal Battles
01:09:06 Trial, Appeals, and Corrupt Lawyers
01:18:36 Second Trial and Legal Incompetence
01:26:43 Losing Trial, Sentencing, and Prison Transfer
01:31:46 Surviving as a Cop in Prison
01:47:40 Endless Parole Denials and Family Impact
01:58:19 Final Release and Post-Prison Life
02:06:56 Ongoing Legal Battles and Activism
02:09:01 Seeking Justice and Lessons Learned
02:12:08 Innocents Behind Bars and Conclusion
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The Real Marlo Stanfield From "The Wire" Breaks His Silence
The real-life Marlo Stanfield sits down for his first podcast interview. In this exclusive episode, Marlo Bates — known across Baltimore as Marlo Stanfield — opens up about the story behind one of the most …
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The real-life Marlo Stanfield sits down for his first podcast interview.
In this exclusive episode, Marlo Bates — known across Baltimore as Marlo Stanfield — opens up about the story behind one of the most feared and iconic characters from HBO’s The Wire. From growing up in West Baltimore, building a powerful street organization with his twin brother Tamir, and surviving decades in prison, Marlo shares the truth behind the legend in his own words.
He talks about Baltimore in the 1970s and 1980s, the heroin trade, 24-hour shops, loyalty, violence, police pressure, murder charges, wrongful convictions, learning to read in prison, and how his life changed after serving nearly 37 years.
This is a rare, unfiltered conversation with the man behind the myth — covering The Wire, David Simon, Ed Burns, Baltimore street history, prison, redemption, and Marlo’s new documentary available on Amazon Prime and OG Network.
Watch until the end for Marlo’s message to the next generation and his thoughts on legacy, loyalty, and life after prison.
Go Support Marlo!
Documentary: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0I1PSYZXS1A0412Z0LYVAMJHTT?ref_=atv_dp_share_cu_r
IG: https://www.instagram.com/themarlodocumentary
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
GLD! New customers get 40% Off with code MITCHELL at https://GLD.com
Mood! Head to https://mood.com, find the functional gummy that matches exactly what you're looking for, and let Mood help you discover YOUR perfect mood. And don't forget to use promo code CONNECT when you check out to save 20% on your first order.
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00:00 Marlo's Introduction & The Real Story
03:29 Early Life in Baltimore
08:38 Jumping Into the Streets
13:00 Family Ties
15:04 This Episode Is Sponsored By GLD
16:39 The Business Begins
22:27 Expanding the Operation
31:31 Keys to Success & Street Codes
39:00 The Height of the Organization
42:36 This Episode Is Sponsored By Mood
44:09 Encounters with Law Enforcement
59:41 Trials, False Witnesses & Conviction
01:09:20 Life in Prison & Transformation
01:18:13 Parole, Legacy & Reflections
01:21:03 The Marlo Documentary & Moving Forward
01:25:55 Outro & Final Thoughts
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How An Abuse Victim Took The Law Into His Own Hands...
Clark Frederick’s life changed forever after years of grooming and sexual abuse by Dennis Pegg, a Boy Scout leader and sheriff’s lieutenant trusted by his family and community. Decades later, after struggling …
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Clark Frederick’s life changed forever after years of grooming and sexual abuse by Dennis Pegg, a Boy Scout leader and sheriff’s lieutenant trusted by his family and community.
Decades later, after struggling with addiction, gambling, broken relationships, PTSD, and silence, Clark encountered his abuser with another young boy. The sight triggered a devastating spiral that ended with Clark confronting and killing the man who abused him.
In this episode, Clark explains how he avoided a life sentence, why other alleged victims began coming forward, what happened during his three years awaiting trial, and how he ultimately received a five-year sentence for manslaughter.
He also shares how prison therapy, meditation, faith, sobriety, and speaking openly about his trauma helped him rebuild his life. Today, Clark is an advocate for survivors, the author of Scarred, and the host of the Free Like Me podcast.
This conversation includes discussions of childhood sexual abuse, addiction, violence, suicide, and trauma. Viewer discretion is advised.
Clark’s message is clear: revenge did not heal him. Survivors do not have to sacrifice the rest of their lives because of what was done to them. Breaking the silence, seeking support, and doing the work to heal can create a different future.
Check out Clark’s book and podcast on his website: https://www.freelike-me.com/
Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!
https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow
00:00 Introduction & The Boy Scouts Scandal
01:45 Clark Frederick's Early Life
06:00 Grooming & Abuse Begins
12:10 Community Deception
19:00 Escalation to Abuse & Secret Files
25:00 Coping, Shame & Silence
33:00 Long-Term Impact & Struggles with Addiction
45:50 Decades of Trauma & Encounters with Abuser
59:00 Seeing Abuser with New Victim & Breaking Point
01:03:00 The Confrontation and Aftermath
01:17:00 Jail, Trial & Public Reaction
01:31:00 Healing, Advocacy & Changing the Law
01:39:00 Redemption, Family Loss & Life After Prison
01:44:00 Breaking the Silence & Moving Forward
01:47:00 Closing Reflections & Legacy
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Aqui estão os 40 episódios mais recentes de 265. Os mais antigos estão no feed do podcast.
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