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PODCAST

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole

The Opioid Matrix is a podcast for anyone looking for the latest information in the illegal drug supply chain — Beginning to end. Each episode will feature a discussion with industry experts about the current opioid crisis, including drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, drug identification, drug addiction, as well as the role of government, law enforcement, new health and social programs, and more.Welcome to The Opioid Matrix-A Journey into the Rabbit Hole.

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All Episodes

44:27

Fighting Fentanyl at the Root: Why Every City Needs...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2025/09/02

Fentanyl isn’t just stealing lives—it’s exposing a broken system. Year after year, billions are spent on programs that barely move the needle, while families keep losing loved ones. But what if the solution has been sitting right in front of us all along?In this episode of The Opioid Matrix, Michael Brown talks with Larry Kenemore a retired paramedic who’s seen addiction up close, and now leads the North American Rotarian Action Group on Addiction Prevention. Larry shares Project SMART, a practical,

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51:29

From Most Wanted to Most Trusted: The Double Life of...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2025/08/19

What if the people we locked away for drug crimes were running million-dollar trafficking empires—from behind bars?In this explosive episode, we sit down with Benjamin Freedland—once a mid-level trafficker moving hundreds of pounds of marijuana and deeply embedded in a cartel’s East Coast operation.After flipping and working undercover with the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Freedland now trains law enforcement on how to recruit and manage high-level informants.But this story isn't

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44:38

California: Sanctuary City Policies, Homelessness and...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2025/07/15

While overdose deaths climb and homelessness surges, billions in taxpayer dollars disappear into broken systems and half-hearted solutions. And beneath it all, an industrial-sized drug economy thrives: unseen, unchallenged, and politically inconvenient.In this searing episode of The Opioid Matrix, Scott Silverman, CEO and Founder at Confidential Recovery, comes back to the show to dissect alongside Michael Brown the fentanyl-fueled collapse happening in plain sight.We dive into:How fentanyl has

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47:53

Why does America Keep Losing the Same Drug War Over...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2025/05/27

The U.S. dismantled Colombia’s Cali Cartel with strategy, buy-in, and force. What are we doing wrong now that fentanyl is winning in the U.S.?Former DEA agent Chris Feistl helped take down one of history’s most powerful cartels—but now he’s watching history repeat itself. In this episode, he and Michael Brown draw a straight line from Colombia’s bloody narco-wars to the synthetic opioid crisis destroying American communities. From political division and foreign inaction to fractured law enforcement

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49:47

Former Shot Caller for the Sinaloa Cartel Reveals...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2025/05/14

Sealing borders won’t resolve the fentanyl crisis unless we rethink how domestic trafficking can be disrupted. In this episode, we welcome back Margarito “Jay” Flores Jr.—a former Sinaloa cartel kingpin turned law enforcement educator—to dive deeper into the operations behind the illicit fentanyl trade that’s taken thousands of U.S. lives each year. With cartels now designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, the U.S. is taking a harder stance, but Jay and Michael explore if policy is enough if

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43:50

A Doctor’s Journey: Seeking the Truth Behind his...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2025/04/15

In this episode, Michael Brown sits down with Dr. Gary Latson, a licensed anesthesiologist and father who lost his son to a fentanyl-laced substance. Dr. Latson brings over four decades of medical experience and shares the difference between medical fentanyl and the illicit version flooding American streets—and why this distinction can mean life or death.We discuss:The dangers of illicit fentanyl from a medical perspective.The biology of opioid addiction and genetic vulnerability.The growing danger

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38:02

Terror has a Name - Inside Los Zetas Cartel

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2025/03/25

In this gripping episode, we sit down with former DEA Special Agent and author Leo Silva to discuss the evolving landscape of the illicit drug trade and the growing sophistication of cartel operations. Drawing from his experiences detailed in Reign of Terror, Silva provides a firsthand account of how organizations like Los Zetas have transformed from traditional drug traffickers into highly organized, militarized criminal enterprises.We explore the new challenges law enforcement faces, including the

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40:35

Cartel Fentanyl is in Everything - even Marijuana

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2025/02/18

If you think your child is safe, think again. Fentanyl isn’t in counterfeit pills anymore—it’s laced into marijuana, hidden in vape pens, and disguised in party drugs. No one is immune.In our first episode of the year, host Michael Brown speaks with Paula Young, a mother who turned grief into action after her son, Andrew, unknowingly consumed fentanyl-laced marijuana and lost his life.They reveal how cartels are evolving their tactics, why social media is fueling the crisis, and the urgent policy

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51:35

How the Cure Became the Cause: Examining Colorado’s...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2025/01/07

Illicit fentanyl has transformed the U.S. drug crisis into a national emergency that affects all ages, incomes, and communities. Despite the staggering toll. Where is the policy change?In this episode, we sit down with award-winning journalist and filmmaker Steffan Tubbs to uncover the harrowing truths behind America’s fentanyl epidemic, as seen in his documentary Devastated: Colorado’s Fentanyl Disaster. He examines the intersection of decriminalization policies, cartel operations, and societal

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49:52

Middle Americas’ Fight against Fentanyl using...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/11/26

In the heart of America’s fentanyl crisis, one county is doing what many thought impossible—bringing overdose rates down. In this episode we are joined by Commander Tom Fallon, of Hamilton County’s Heroin Task Force, to discuss how local law enforcement, through strategic partnerships and innovative community outreach, has succeeded in reducing fentanyl overdoses in the county. Commander Fallon also reveals that the real war is fought far from the public eye—with mothers who’ve lost their children,

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57:44

Deflection Methods: an Alternative Approach to...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/10/22

Each person who struggles with drug addiction has a unique story. And regardless of how they got there, they are all humans and deserve to be treated with empathy. In this episode, we are joined by Dennis Lowe, Commander of the South Central Ohio Major Crimes Unit, who has spent 40 years in law enforcement and is leading a unique model of community-driven policing. Commander Lowe and Michael Brown discuss the challenges associated with transitioning towards a more empathetic law enforcement

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45:43

Mexico’s Deadliest Cartel - Inside the CJNG with...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/10/08

Cartel operations go far beyond drugs—they are entrenched in the internal economies of countries, exercising control across multiple industries. In this episode, we are joined by Chris Dalby, Director of World of Crime and author of World of Crime Guides to Organized Crime, to explore the scope of the cartel networks. Chris shares all things about the Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG), revealing this syndicate’s brutality, extortion tactics, and control over fentanyl and meth production globally

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63:10

Jay Flores’ Journey from Sinaloa Cartel Kingpin to...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/09/24

In today’s episode, we are once again joined by Margarito "Jay" Flores, Jr., a former distributor for the Sinaloa Cartel, for part two of our series inside one of the most notorious criminal organizations in the world.Michael and Jay pick up the conversation right where they left off, delving deeper into the challenges of dismantling these criminal networks and examining the strategies in the war against drugs. They also talk about how Jay’s approach to the US government set a precedent of

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53:15

Jay Flores’ Journey from Sinaloa Cartel Kingpin to...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/09/10

Money is the engine of drug trafficking. Without it, organized crime would cease to exist.Does this mean that efforts to end the drug crisis in America should focus more heavily on targeting money instead of drugs? Are there reasons why this hasn’t been the strategy in the past?In this two-part series episode, we are joined by Margarito "Jay" Flores, Jr., who operated a distribution network for the Sinaloa cartel, as he pulls back the curtain on the financial empire of the world’s most notorious

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45:32

From Personal Pain to Public Outreach: Andrea Thomas...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/08/13

Getting sober is often seen as the milestone of ending drug addiction, and many policies and projects are designed with this approach in mind.However, without proper healthcare, supportive communities, and tools to stay sober, people often relapse into an endless cycle that continues to fuel the opioid crisis.In this episode, we are joined by two unifying voices fighting the opioid crisis: Andrea Thomas, Founder and Executive Director of Voices for Awareness, and Michael Fiore, Founder of

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53:39

How the Opioid Crisis and Homelessness are Impacting...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/07/30

No matter how much money is allocated to fight the opioid epidemic, if it’s not sustained by strong, systemic approaches and policies, the fight won’t succeed. In this episode, we are joined by a long-time guest of the show, Scott Silverman, CEO and Founder at Confidential Recovery, as he explores California's drug policies, the exploitation of legal marijuana by cartels, and the significant role of government in these crises. The author of The Opioid Epidemic: What You Don’t Know Will Destroy Your

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66:18

The Impact Cartel Fentanyl has on the U.S. Judicial...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/07/16

"How do prosecutors handle the evolving illicit drug market and how has it impacted our judicial system?"As fentanyl-related deaths continue to rise nationwide, our legal system now faces a new paradigm in seeking justice for so many lives lost.In this episode, we are joined by Paul Ostrow, Chairman of the Fentanyl Free Communities Policy Board. He and host Michael Brown delve into the urgent and complex opioid crisis affecting communities across the nation, with a focus on the Midwest. Paul,

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66:13

A Legal, Political, and Social Perspective from...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/06/25

'It takes an entire country to protect the country.'But when we're talking about deep and complex geopolitical dynamics, is a united country enough to tackle the illicit drug crisis our nation currently faces?In this episode, we are honored to have Andrew Edelberg, Senior Trial Attorney at Aivazoglou & Mikropoulos - located in the Philadelphia area, share his extensive experience in the legal and law enforcement fields. Andrew addresses the systemic issues in mental health and substance abuse

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46:42

Building Community in DEA Operations

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/06/11

To tackle the drug crisis, relying solely on law enforcement is no longer sufficient. With cartels employing increasingly sophisticated trafficking tactics, leveraging community engagement and education has become a priority.In this episode, Orville Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. DEA Detroit Field Division, joins host Michael Brown to delve into how the DEA's jurisdiction is adding value to agency operations. They explore the value of forging strategic partnerships with community

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51:19

Marijuana Rescheduling Consequences: Potency, Policy,...

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole ·

2024/05/21

How has marijuana changed since the days when Paul McCartney composed ‘Got to Get You into My Life’ in 1966?In this episode, we take a deep dive into the history and trends of marijuana with Jaime Zerbe, Chief of Staff at Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). Sam is made up of an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. Jaime shares her perspective on marijuana consumption based on science.Join us as we discuss: How marijuana is often

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93 results

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