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Artwork for Borderland: Dispatches

Borderland: Dispatches with Katarina Szulc

IRONCLAD
Sinaloa Cartel
Fentanyl
Drug Trafficking
CJNG
Cartel Violence
Mexico
Jalisco New Generation Cartel
Venezuela
Drug War
Organized Crime
Human Trafficking
Colombia
Cartels
Baby Trafficking
Social Media Influencers
United States
Mexican Cartels
Tijuana
Crude Oil Theft
Juárez

Cartel violence. Kidnappings. Disappearances. The headlines don’t tell the full story. Borderland: Dispatches, an IRONCLAD Original, delivers raw, on-the-ground updates from Mexico’s cartel war. Hosted by investigative journalist Katarina Szulc, the series offers real-time snapshots of a conflict reshaping the future of both Mexico and the U.S. With rare access to traffickers, law enforcement, and... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes74Foundeda year ago
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Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Borderland: Dispatches

Latest Episodes

Vince “Rocco” Vargas sits down with Katarina Szulc to discuss her recent investigation in Tlaxcala, Mexico (which you can watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rXThHW2xeg ), an uptick in violence in Zacatecas, cartels operating Canada and more... more

In this SUPERCUT compilation of Borderland: Dispatches films, we look back at some of Katarina Szulc's most dangerous assignments inside of Mexico. From exposing trafficking operations to investigating the Tijuana drug underworld, we look at some the... more

In this SUPERCUT compilation of Borderland: Dispatches films, we look back at Katarina Szulc's investigations in to cartel activity in North America.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original.

Marek Health:

Visit marekhealth.com/ and ... more

Recently, Katarina Szulc investigated reports that women from Tlaxcala, Mexico were being trafficked to Tijuana, where they were enslaved by “managers” and forced into the city’s underground.

On the latest episode of Borderland: Dispatches, she re... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

John Norez
Former special operations game warden invited for ride-along and insights on border operations
Former Game Warden
Episode: Cartels IN America?! Katarina Szulc Investigates Montana, Indiana, San Diego & More Hotspots
Kat Szulc
Investigative journalist
Borderland: Dispatches
Episode: The New Era of Cartel Warfare — How Modern Wars Are Reshaping Cartels
Mark Warner
Founder of GhostBed, interviewed as a sponsor guest
GhostBed
Episode: Mexico’s Narco Governors — The Power Behind the Cartels
Jorge Ventura
Reporter covering border and cartel nexus
Borderland Dispatches / IRONCLAD Original
Episode: Iran and Chinese Migrants Using VIP Cartel Smuggling Routes — Security Risks in the U.S.
Ioan Grillo
An incredible journalist and friend of the host, currently on the ground in Colombia reporting on the situation in Venezuela.
Episode: BONUS: Venezuela in the Wake of Maduro's Capture (with Ioan Grillo)
Joaquin Camarena
Former USMC intel analyst with operational experience in the Indo-Pacific region; expert in Chinese Communist Party and domestic Chinese politics.
Episode: Why U.S. Institutions Fail to Stop the CCP’s Deep Infiltration Strategy
Stefano Ritondale
Chief Intelligence Officer of Artorias specializing in cartel intelligence and analysis
Artorias
Episode: Chaos Continues in Sinaloa: El Mayo, Los Chapitos, CJNG Connections, and Who's the Next Kingpin

Host

Katarina Szulc
Host and investigative journalist focused on cartel dynamics and frontline reporting.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 238 ratings
  • This is the old ways being ushered into the modern age

    Anabel Hernandez wrote about the cartels being tied every government administration. As did Mr.Grillo and his books tracing narco history and Charles Bowden who opened a lot of eyes with his work. Cartels will never stop. There’s too much money to be made. Organized crime has become its own culture in South America.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    House of Grit
    United States3 months ago
  • Lol

    Great work. Lol i thought u were mexican. And then julian dorey pod u said u were polish. Lol

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    horses in the. back
    United States5 months ago
  • Accent

    Your fake Mexican accent is cringe

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    GotzArmyGeneral
    United Statesa year ago
  • Pregnant women murdered

    I found you on Shawn Ryan’s podcast. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m praying for you and your support staff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    eoughh
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great reporter

    I listen to this podcast on my way to work. It’s excellent journalism a lot of information. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Midtown North 2643
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Boots-on-the-ground reporting is consistently praised for its credibility and detail.
Guests and hosts are repeatedly described as informative and unapologetically direct.
Occasional critiques focus on delivery or production choices, but these are outweighed by the depth of reporting.
Listeners value the investigative angles beyond mainstream coverage.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are Cartel Drone Operators Training on the Ukraine Frontlines? Katarina Szulc Investigates
Q: What is driving the proliferation of FPV drones among cartel networks?
The episode explains that FPV drones are attractive due to their low cost, rapid training, and real-time battlefield effectiveness, with training facilities in Ukraine producing foreign fighters who then apply these tactics back in Mexico and Colombia.
Death Threats, CJNG, Rolling Stones, and What's Next for Dispatches | Q&A Part 2
Q: Are American PMCs fighting in Mexico?
Yes, there have been reports of American private military companies operating in Mexico.
Death Threats, CJNG, Rolling Stones, and What's Next for Dispatches | Q&A Part 2
Q: When do you think it will be the first USA Mexico-operated drone attack?
She believes there will be a drone attack, likely justified to the public as a crackdown on drug houses.
Death Threats, CJNG, Rolling Stones, and What's Next for Dispatches | Q&A Part 2
Q: What was the general population temperature on Maduro's arrest?
Most Venezuelans were happy, but it didn't signify a regime change; many feared there would be no real improvement in their lives.
Death Threats, CJNG, Rolling Stones, and What's Next for Dispatches | Q&A Part 2
Q: What is the US doing about child trafficking into and out of Mexico for sale?
In her view, not a lot; there's seen to be a lack of urgency on the part of the US government regarding non-American child victims.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Borderland: Dispatches

What is Borderland: Dispatches about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program delivers on-the-ground reporting and investigative storytelling around cartel violence, border security, and international conflict. Episodes frequently explore how cartels leverage drones, foreign fighters, and cross-border networks, with frontline reporting from Mexico, Ukraine, and other hotspots. Notable strengths include deep field access, a willingness to challenge official narratives, and a clear focus on the human dimensions of violence and policy debates. The show stands out for its immersive, on-location dispatches that blend journalism with geopolitical analysis, making it valuable for listeners who want real-world context behind headline events and trends in transnational crime and security policy.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Borderland: Dispatches. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Borderland: Dispatches and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Borderland: Dispatches get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Borderland: Dispatches has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Borderland: Dispatches?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Borderland: Dispatches:

1. Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas
2. Change Agents with Andy Stumpf
3. The Shawn Ryan Show
4. The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell
5. The Watch Floor with Sarah Adams

How many episodes of Borderland: Dispatches are there?

Borderland: Dispatches launched a year ago and published 74 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Borderland: Dispatches?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Borderland: Dispatches?

Recent guests on Borderland: Dispatches include:

1. John Norez
2. Kat Szulc
3. Mark Warner
4. Jorge Ventura
5. Ioan Grillo
6. Joaquin Camarena
7. Stefano Ritondale

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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