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Artwork for The Connect-

The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell

Johnny Mitchell
Drug Trafficking
Cocaine
War On Drugs
Sinaloa Cartel
Marijuana
Crack Cocaine
Fentanyl
Pablo Escobar
Heroin
Mexico
Cartels
New York City
Drug Addiction
Prison System
Mental Health
True Crime
Violence
Colombian Drug Trade
Mafia
Prison Reform

Former drug trafficker and standup comedian Johnny Mitchell takes you inside the world of drugs, crime, prison, and the politics of the War on Drugs.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes245Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

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Artwork for The Connect-

Latest Episodes

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 drive... more

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 traffi... more

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 wor... more

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 ... more

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Recent Guests

Jacob Diaz
Former drug broker and logistics operator for Beltran Leyva/Cartel networks
The Connect Show guest
Episode: How The Sinaloa Cartel Moves Cocaine Across America
Britt Elmore
Law enforcement officer and undercover agent discussed in depth
Law enforcement (SF Bay Area)
Episode: How San Francisco Became A Haven For The Fentanyl Trade
Katarina Szulc
Narco journalist embedded in Sinaloa Cartel conflicts; reported from Culiacán and surrounding areas
Episode: The Sinaloa Cartel Is Losing Control Of It's Own Territory
Steve Dixon
Former heroin kingpin, later substance abuse counselor
Absolute Healing Behavioral Health Center
Episode: Baltimore Drug Kingpin Reveals Making Millions Selling Heroin For The Mafia
James Fishback
Candidate for Governor of Florida, political commentator
Florida governor candidate
Episode: Florida’s Next Governor Declares WAR On AIPAC, Mass Surveillance & AI Data Centers
Cory Simek
Former Texas drug dealer, entrepreneur, and performer
The Key Connect / Cory With the Keys
Episode: How A Teenage Drug Kingpin Built A Meth Empire at 16
Kent McGowen
Former Houston sheriff who served 20 years in prison for shooting a suspect
Book: Reasonable Doubts
Episode: Ex-Cop Sentenced to 20 Years—Then Forced to Fight for His Life in Prison
Marlo Bates Stanfield
Former Baltimore gangster and subject of the interview
Self/Marlo Bates Stanfield
Episode: The Real Marlo Stanfield From "The Wire" Breaks His Silence
Clark Frederick
Survivor of childhood abuse, advocate, author of Scarred
Author of Scarred, Survivor Advocate
Episode: How An Abuse Victim Took The Law Into His Own Hands...

Host

Johnny Mitchell
Host of The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 3.6k ratings
  • Texas tim is a punk

    Love the pod but some of these guys are straight trash liars Texas Tim " tiny Tim " yeah ok fake

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    dingo warrier
    United States3 months ago
  • Hard to pinpoint a title

    I’m not sure how to contact you to tell you my story. Best podcast I’ve ever listened to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anjadoodle
    United States3 months ago
  • Fire

    Just finished up the 2 part Mark Branon episode, and it was fire! That guy is the real deal, and the last of a dying breed. I can only imagine the stories he didn’t and couldn’t tell. A++++

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    M@rc E M@rc
    United States4 months ago
  • Tim Grimehymen

    Dayum Wigg-ah! You a serious friggin loser.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Snatchy Lopez
    United States5 months ago
  • Whisper Shocks

    Stop whispering and talking like you’ve never heard a shocking statement. What are you 12? It makes it so campy and shows education.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MeterDoctor
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests consistently bring compelling, insider perspectives that feel authentic and unique.
Listener feedback highlights memorable, eye-opening moments from interviews with former criminals and reform advocates.
The host sometimes dominates conversation, drawing criticism from some listeners.
Content quality and guest variety are generally praised, though ads can interrupt flow for some listeners.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#48
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#160
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#210
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#221
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#169
India/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#188
New Zealand/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How San Francisco Became A Haven For The Fentanyl Trade
Q: How did fentanyl change the drug market in the Tenderloin?
Fentanyl dramatically lowered the quantities needed for an overdose and intensified profits due to its high potency, causing shifts in supplier networks from local street dealers to global supply chains, and creating new risk dynamics for users and police.
The Sinaloa Cartel Is Losing Control Of It's Own Territory
Q: How has the death (and apparent leadership change) in CJNG affected the balance of power in Sinaloa?
Mencho's death briefly unsettled CJNG reinforcements, but the group's leadership transition did not cause a fracture; CJNG continued to back the Chapitos with a unified stance, and the shift in leadership didn't derail their strategy of absorbing or aligning with other factions as a way to expand influence.
How A Texas Prisoner Got Pulled Into A Cartel Meth Empire
Q: How did the out-of-state plug operate and why was Arizona central to it?
The guest explains that the out-of-state plug connected through a network in Arizona, acting as the primary supply line for bricks of meth; communications were kept secret (burner phones, onion websites), and operations relied on trusted intermediaries and controlled routes to move product across state lines, creating a scalable chain.
How One Drug Smuggler Shipped MILLIONS in Marijuana Through UPS
Q: What was the scale of operations and how were products shipped?
The guest explains shipping thousands of pounds monthly via a sprawling delivery network using gray-market channels, with shipments sometimes sent through USPS, UPS, and FedEx in boxes, often triple- or quadruple-vacuum-sealed to avoid detection, while also running a legitimate dispensary and using jewelry trades to move value.
How European Cocaine Cartels Took Over The Global Drug Trade
Q: How did you gain access to European cartels for your work?
I embedded with undercover units and used my role as a photographer to blend in, sometimes buying drugs with undercover cops and cultivating trust over long periods to achieve access while staying relatively safe.

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 The Connect-

What is The Connect- about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A provocative interview series that centers on drugs, crime, prisons, and the politics surrounding the War on Drugs, with guests who recount firsthand experiences inside illicit networks, law enforcement, and reform movements. Episodes frequently mix personal redemption arcs, investigative journalism, and policy critique, often pushing against mainstream narratives with bold, populist, or reform-minded takes. Notable is the consistent emphasis on insider perspectives—from cartel and prison systems to investigative reporting—paired with a frank, no-nonsense hosting style that can drive sharp, eye-opening conversations about accountability, governance, and societal impact. The show is likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy gritty, real-world... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Connect-?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Connect-:

1. Locked In with Ian Bick
2. Matthew Cox | Inside True Crime Podcast
3. VladTV
4. Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas
5. The Murder Men

How many episodes of The Connect- are there?

The Connect- launched 4 years ago and published 245 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Connect-?

Recent guests on The Connect- include:

1. Jacob Diaz
2. Britt Elmore
3. Katarina Szulc
4. Steve Dixon
5. James Fishback
6. Cory Simek
7. Kent McGowen
8. Marlo Bates Stanfield

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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