LA PLATICA
LA PLATICA
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“I Interviewed Cartel Leaders… Here’s What I Learned”
1 hour 13 minutes Posted Mar 2, 2026 at 2:00 pm.
– Intro
– Mariana Van Zeller is On a Different Level
– Like Trafficked, but More Detailed
– How Did You End Up Here?
– A Month After Moving to NY, 09/11 Happened 😳
– We Were the First Journalists Who Were Doing This Kind of Work
– Sometimes People Aren’t Ready for the Truth
– You’re Not Afraid to Be Aggressive
– I Go Undercover Too
– As Women We’re Often Underestimated…
– Is Your Husband Freaking Out?
– The Cartel Had Some Ground Rules
– What I Really Want to Be Remembered As Is -
– Do You Believe There Are Bad People?
– His Story Seemed Too Fake…
– What Are Your Thoughts on Mexico Right Now?
– Based On Your Experience, What Happens Now?
– “I Got It Back From a Dirty Cop”
– People Are Scared
– They Took El Chapo and Look What Happened
– Cartel Leaders Are So Glamorized Nowadays
– We Wanted to Interview El Chapo’s Mother
– There’s a Huge Sex Trafficking Problem in LA
– That Could’ve Been Really Horrible
– We Were Stuck In a Foreign Country with Incoming War
– Stuck in an African Coup
– What Do You Do For Fun?
– I Have Contraband in My Podcast Studio
– What’s Something You’ve Learned About Humanity?
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Show notes
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:
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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