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TPW Mariana van Zeller: Black Markets, Fentanyl & Cartels – This Past Weekend with Theo Von #603 Dusty Slay & Theo Von Talk Trailer Parks, Netflix Special “Wet Heat,” & Growing Up (Ep. 601) Gaza Doctor Aziz Rahman MD – This Past Weekend with Theo Von 602: A Firsthand Account of the Humanitarian Crisis TPW 569 – Theo Von and Andrew Schulz Mariana van Zeller | This Past Weekend with Theo Von This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von EPISODE #603: Mariana van Zeller Show Notes The full episode can be found here: https://youtu.be/6J4U3R5dRik Summary In this captivating episode, Theo Von is joined by Emmy-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller to discuss her groundbreaking work on her National Geographic show, “Trafficked.” Recognized for its deep dives into the world’s most dangerous black markets, the show has earned numerous accolades for its fearless approach to humanizing the individuals within these hidden economies. Mariana explains her methodology for gaining the trust of people who live in the shadows, highlighting the motivations that drive them to speak—whether it’s ego, a sense of impunity in corrupt regions, or simply a deep-seated desire to be understood without judgment. She reveals the shocking reality that these criminals often look like “your neighbor” and that the “war on drugs” has been a “massive failure,” with most narcotics entering the U.S. through official ports of entry, not across open borders. Throughout their conversation, they touch upon a range of Mariana’s investigations, including: **Cartel Operations:** Her extensive reporting from Sinaloa, Mexico, and how American-born and raised individuals are often the masterminds behind logistics within the U.S. **Assassinations:** Terrifying encounters with hitmen in Los Angeles and South Africa, exploring the complex psychology behind their actions. **The Hidden Third:** The staggering scale of the global black and gray markets, which together constitute 38% of the world’s economy. **Human Trafficking:** The heartbreaking reality of bride trafficking in Vietnam, fueled by China’s gender imbalance from the one-child policy. **Rehab Scams:** The exploitation of vulnerable communities, particularly Native Americans, through fraudulent Medicaid billing in states like Arizona and California. **Ghost Guns & Militias:** The rise of untraceable firearms and the unsettling growth of unregulated militias at the U.S. border. Mariana also shares her personal insights on resilience, attributing her ability to handle such intense topics to her curiosity, supportive upbringing, and a knack for compartmentalizing. She concludes by announcing her new podcast, “The Hidden Third,” which will offer an even deeper look into these untold stories. The new season of “Trafficked” airs on National Geographic every Saturday at 9:00 p.m. and is available on Hulu. Mariana van Zeller Briefing Briefing: The Underworld Unveiled Executive Summary: Mariana van Zeller, an Emmy-winning journalist for National Geographic, specializes in investigative reporting on global black markets, including cartels, scammers, extremist groups, and human trafficking. Her work on the show “Trafficked” aims to expose the hidden corners of the world by getting unwilling individuals to speak. Key themes emerging from her experiences include the pervasive and growing nature of the global black market economy, the complex motivations of those involved (often driven by circumstance rather than inherent malice), the broken systems that enable these illicit activities, and the critical role of empathetic journalism in understanding and exposing these issues. Van Zeller emphasizes the importance of human connection, trust-building, and a non-judgmental approach in her dangerous work, highlighting that the “underworld” often operates closer to home than many realize. Key Themes and Most Important Ideas/Facts: The Pervasive and Growing Global Black Market Economy: Scale: Van Zeller highlights the astonishing scale of the black and gray market economy, stating that “38% of our global economy are these gray and black markets. It’s what economists call the hidden third.” Monetary Value: The drug trade alone is estimated at “$600$ to $800$ billion dollars,” surpassing the GDP of many countries combined. Accessibility: These illicit activities are not confined to “dark tunnels” or remote areas; they happen “in broad daylight in like open lit warehouses and you know the neighbor’s house in the backyard.” Growth: The industry of scams is “growing every single year,” with “$12.5$ billion dollars scammed from Americans last year alone.” Motivations and Humanity in the Underworld: Circumstance over Malice: Van Zeller strongly believes that the “vast majority of the people that I spend time with… are people that are born out of the circumstances that they’re born in.” Desire to Be Understood: This is a crucial factor in convincing people to talk. Her approach is “I’m not here to judge you I’m here because I really truly want to understand why you do what you do.” Aspiration and Hope: She shares the story of a 16-year-old cocaine trafficker who was saving money to “one day become a dentist” to “make people smile.” Broken Systems and Government Accountability: The War on Drugs’ Failure: Van Zeller asserts, “The war on drugs has been a massive failure.” Despite billions spent, “1 million people have died from the opiate crisis” since 2000. Exploitation of Loopholes: Many illicit activities, like rehab scams, thrive by “exploiting broken systems.” She criticizes the government for allowing these systems to be exploited. Immigration as a Political Tool: Van Zeller and Theo believe the ongoing immigration crisis is deliberately left “open and broken on purpose” by the government to “create a lot almost cuz then it inspires people who believe in America.” The Ethics and Methodology of Investigative Journalism: Building Trust: The “hardest part” of her job is convincing people to talk, which can take “months sometimes even years.” A key tactic is to show up “never with security,” which she sees as “completely counterproductive.” Human Connection and Empathy: Van Zeller’s primary tool is establishing a “human connection” by emphasizing: “I’m not here to judge you.” Personal Risk: Her work involves significant personal risk, including interviewing dangerous individuals like assassins (one of whom pointed a gun at her and her team). Compartmentalization: Van Zeller describes her ability to “compartmentalize things” as crucial for coping with the traumatic experiences she witnesses. Mariana van

TPW Dusty Slay & Theo Von Talk Trailer Parks, Netflix Special “Wet Heat,” & Growing Up (Ep. 601) Gaza Doctor Aziz Rahman MD – This Past Weekend with Theo Von 602: A Firsthand Account of the Humanitarian Crisis TPW 569 – Theo Von and Andrew Schulz Episode Metadata Title This Past Weekend with Theo Von (Episode 601) Host Theo Von with mentions of collaborators Bobby and Mo Guest Dusty Slay comedian from Opaikica, Alabama Episode # 601 Air Date Aug 7, 2025 Introduction to Dusty Slay and his projects Dusty Slay has a new special out on Netflix called Wet Heat and his own podcast called We Are Having a Good Time 00:37 He has purchased 10 acres of land in McMinnville, Tennessee, where he is trying to build an orchard and has a cabin 04:32 Childhood experiences and neighborhood dynamics The conversation touches on the topic of people with disabilities being more visible in the past, with examples of individuals with crosseyed vision and other conditions being more commonly seen 05:07 The discussion also mentions unusual names, such as Misty, Stormy, and Dusty, which were popular in certain areas or communities 07:37 Dusty Slay shares his experience growing up in a trailer park in Opaikica, Alabama, with a diverse group of people, including Asian kids, and how it felt exotic as he got older 09:25 The neighborhood had a unique dynamic, with a mix of trailer homes and brick houses, and a distinct social hierarchy, where being too smart wasn’t considered cool 11:33 A friend named Squirrel had a notable presence, with an above-ground pool and a stepdad named Sid, and was seen as having a desirable lifestyle 11:49 The community had its own set of values and talents, such as whistling, were highly regarded, and having unique skills or possessions, like laser discs, was a status symbol 17:14 Growing up in a trailer park A person’s buddy’s dad installed a window upside down, and it was compared to a car window, letting it down instead of pushing it up, which was seen as defying gravity 19:17 The discussion involved growing up in a poor neighborhood with trailers, including the use of lattice work around the bottom of trailers, which could attract cats that would get under the trailer and cause problems 22:32 The person reminisced about their childhood, including stealing wood from their dad’s barn to build a clubhouse, not realizing the barn was not abandoned, and living in a trailer park with a sense of community, where everyone knew each other’s business 25:32 Growing up in a trailer park, there was a sense of community, but also a lack of personal space, and incidents like calling the police on a church for playing music too late were not uncommon 29:21 Tornadoes and storms were a big concern in the trailer park, with trees being a major hazard, and experiences like having a tree limb fall through the roof of the trailer were not rare 30:36 Childhood experiences, such as throwing pine cones and riding bikes, were a big part of growing up in the trailer park, and the lack of supervision and lawsuits made for a unique environment 33:39 Various life experiences, jobs, and memories The discussion involves bodily functions, including peeing, and how it can be affected by factors like clothing, with a mention of wearing 100% cotton underwear for comfort 39:44. There’s a conversation about flying and the challenges of finding the right time to board a plane to avoid waiting too long to use the restroom 40:37. The topic shifts to past experiences, including selling pesticides to stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot, and living in Charleston, South Carolina, where comedy and waiting tables were part of the experience 42:41. Memories can be changed, lost, or difficult to recall, and the brain is not a flawless archive of everything experienced 49:01 Some people use substances like LSD to try to expand their minds and recall memories, but this can lead to unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations 50:02 The conversation also touches on past work experiences, including a job in pesticide sales, where the individual had a wild summer with a coworker and managed to maintain good sales numbers despite their partying lifestyle 56:28 As a kid, time was often spent sitting in a car, trying to find ways to kill time, and enjoying simple things like smoking cigarettes or dipping, with the ability to sit in a car all day with just a radio and nicotine 58:35 The experience of being left in a car as a kid was common, and it was a time for exploration and learning, such as figuring out how to use the cigarette lighter 59:13 Learning to drive a stick shift was also a challenging experience, with the added pressure of being yelled at while trying to master the skill 01:01:13 Working with a parent, in this case, helping with credit card signups at colleges, was a way to learn how to hustle and drive to different locations, including Southeastern Louisiana University 01:03:01 Other jobs included working at a restaurant called Hyman’s in Charleston, a tourist spot with good food, where many employees were hired and it was common to run into former coworkers all over the country 01:04:31 Worked as a pizza delivery guy for Papa John’s, which felt like a blue-collar job, and would often get high while delivering pizzas 01:07:50 Used to pick up friends at a gas station and they would ride along while delivering pizzas, getting high and listening to the radio 01:08:26 Recalls a story about someone defecating in the meat at a newly opened Taco Bell, which led to its shutdown 01:10:46 Discusses people working in restaurants and how some individuals have been known to contaminate food, including a person who made TikTok videos of themselves peeing in people’s food 01:11:21 Career in comedy and related stories Talks about his career in comedy, feeling good about making it this far and enjoying