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/

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

Kalshi! Download the Kalshi app and use code MITCHELL to get $10 when you trade $10.

18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory.

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.

Hims! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/connect

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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:

PrizePicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CONNECT and use code CONNECT and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!

GLD! New customers get 40% Off with code MITCHELL at https://GLD.com

Superpower! Head to https://superpower.com and use code CONNECT at checkout for $50 off your membership. Get 150+ biomarkers tested every year across two tests, plus a personalized health plan and on-demand care team. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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:

Quince! Find your next fall favorites at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://quince.com/connect

Shopify! The only thing standing between you and your own income is getting started. Free trial at https://shopify.com/mitchell

Quo! Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://quo.com/theconnect

Mood! Head to https://mood.com, browse their amazing selection of functional gummies, and find the perfect gummy for whatever you're dealing with. Use promo code CONNECT at checkout to save 20% on your first order.

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/

Merch: https://sneakreaper-industries.com/

Podcast: @manifestoradionetwork3191

IG: https://www.instagram.com/manifestoradiopodcast/

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.

Go Support Jacob!

Ig: https://www.instagram.com/mycreditbuilderpros/

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

NordVPN! NordVPN! Upgrade your online protection with an all-in-one security app! Get an exclusive NordVPN deal + 4 months extra here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/theconnect. Itʼs risk free with NordVPNʼs 30-day money-back guarantee!

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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:

Mood! Head to https://mood.com, browse their amazing selection of functional gummies, and find the perfect gummy for whatever you're dealing with. Use promo code CONNECT at checkout to save 20% on your first order.

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Mood! Head to https://mood.com, browse their amazing selection of functional gummies, and find the perfect gummy for whatever you're dealing with. Use promo code CONNECT at checkout to save 20% on your first order.

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices