Rephonic
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
Mexican Cartels
Cartels
Baby Trafficking
Social Media Influencers
United States
El Mencho
Tijuana
Crude Oil Theft

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes78Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
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Artwork for Borderland: Dispatches

Latest Episodes

In this SUPERCUT compilation of Borderland: Dispatches films, we look back at Katarina Szulc’s investigations into cartels fighting in the Ukraine War.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:02:39) Travelin... more

In this SUPERCUT compilation of Borderland: Dispatches films, we look back at Katarina Szulc's investigations into the operation to take down CJNG leader El Mencho.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01... more

Katarina Szulc joins Vince 'Rocco' Vargas to discuss her latest investigation into foreign fighters in Ukraine, cartel paramilitary groups, the state of trafficking, and the law enforcement wars on cartels.

Borderland: Narcosis is an IRONCLAD Origin... more

Katarina Szulc recently visited Ukraine to speak with foreign fighters who joined the International Legion, created two days after the 2022 Russian invasion. At a training facility, she asks about concerns that transnational criminal organizations ar... more

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Recent Guests

Katarina Szulc
Investigative journalist reporting on cartel violence and trafficking in Mexico
IRONCLAD
Episode: The Truth about Cartel Paramilitaries, Cartel Members in Ukraine, Trafficking Ops and More
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 244 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 States5 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 States6 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.

Katarina Szulc Investigates Reports of Cartel Members Fighting in Ukraine (FULL INVESTIGATION)
Q: How long does it typically take for someone to kind of master this?
A drone instructor says it took him 72 hours, while some trainees can learn in 45 hours.
Katarina Szulc Investigates Reports of Cartel Members Fighting in Ukraine (FULL INVESTIGATION)
Q: How is that happening?
A Ukrainian military official says foreign recruits undergo checks by border, security, immigration, and police services, but that screening is limited by incomplete database access. Authorities may also investigate information about recruits' activity during service.
Investigating Ukraine's Foreign Fighters: Cartel Connections & Mercenaries? Katarina Szulc
Q: Can you tell me that story again, kind of what happened?
The official describes meeting a recruit who said a cartel had sent him to Ukraine for training. He said he did not plan to return and wanted to bring his family to Ukraine; the official says such cases are rare but cannot rule out other criminal recruits.
Investigating Ukraine's Foreign Fighters: Cartel Connections & Mercenaries? Katarina Szulc
Q: How did you guys figure out that was happening?
The official says foreign recruits undergo checks by border, security, immigration, and police services, but Ukraine lacks access to a comprehensive international criminal database. Authorities also monitor recruits during service and may investigate tips about criminal ties.
The Truth about Cartel Paramilitaries, Cartel Members in Ukraine, Trafficking Ops and More
Q: What are some of the ways that you've heard they're transporting, right?
Szulc says much of the cocaine entering the United States and Canada is moved by sea in large shipping containers, which can be concealed and passed through ports. She says land crossings have faced increased supervision.

Audience Metrics

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

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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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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 Watch Floor with Sarah Adams
4. The Shawn Ryan Show
5. Julian Dorey Podcast

How many episodes of Borderland: Dispatches are there?

Borderland: Dispatches launched a year ago and published 78 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. Katarina Szulc
2. John Norez
3. Kat Szulc
4. Mark Warner
5. Jorge Ventura
6. Ioan Grillo
7. Joaquin Camarena
8. Stefano Ritondale

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