Investigative journalist Mariana van Zeller joins us to unpack the world most people never see. From interviewing cartel leaders to going undercover and getting trapped during an overseas coup, her career has taken her into some of the most dangerous environments on the planet.

We talk about fear, corruption, Mexico’s current climate, the glamorization of crime, and the crimes that are happening in our own backyards. Are there truly bad people — or are we products of our environment?

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
02:57 – Mariana Van Zeller is On a Different Level
05:30 – Like Trafficked, but More Detailed
07:01 – How Did You End Up Here?
09:01 – A Month After Moving to NY, 09/11 Happened 😳
11:05 – We Were the First Journalists Who Were Doing This Kind of Work
16:20 – Sometimes People Aren’t Ready for the Truth
18:38 – You’re Not Afraid to Be Aggressive
20:32 – I Go Undercover Too
23:56 – As Women We’re Often Underestimated…
25:51 – Is Your Husband Freaking Out?
27:43 – The Cartel Had Some Ground Rules
29:01 – What I Really Want to Be Remembered As Is -
29:37 – Do You Believe There Are Bad People?
31:53 – His Story Seemed Too Fake…
34:21 – What Are Your Thoughts on Mexico Right Now?
37:35 – Based On Your Experience, What Happens Now?
39:49 – “I Got It Back From a Dirty Cop”
40:35 – People Are Scared
42:26 – They Took El Chapo and Look What Happened
45:38 – Cartel Leaders Are So Glamorized Nowadays
47:13 – We Wanted to Interview El Chapo’s Mother
53:37 – There’s a Huge Sex Trafficking Problem in LA
56:02 – That Could’ve Been Really Horrible
59:36 – We Were Stuck In a Foreign Country with Incoming War
01:02:19 – Stuck in an African Coup
01:04:43 – What Do You Do For Fun?
01:07:57 – I Have Contraband in My Podcast Studio
01:08:48 – What’s Something You’ve Learned About Humanity?

Keep up with Mariana!
IG: @marianavz
TikTok: @mariana_vanzeller
Podcast: The Hidden Third

While you’re here, follow the Poddy on all socials 🫶🏼
IG: @laplatica
TikTok: @LaPlaticaPod

Sebastian Robles - @ayyysebas

Josh Leyva - @TheJoshLeyva

RESOURCES FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS IMMIGRATION INFORMATION
Immigrant Legal Resource Center - https://www.ilrc.org/advanced-search?issues%5B0%5D=35&resource_type%5B0%5D=15&terms=
National Immigration Law Center - https://www.instagram.com/nilc?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Barrio Drive - https://barriodrive.com/collections/daca-renewal-fund
Immigrants Rising - https://www.instagram.com/immigrantsrising?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Attorney Kathleen Martinez - https://www.instagram.com/laabogadamartinez?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

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