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Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
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Total monthly reach
Estimated from 1 chart position in 1 market.
By chart position
- 🇲🇽MX · News#1391K to 10K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
300 to 3K🎙 Daily cadence·61 episodes·Last published 1w ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
1K to 10K🇲🇽100% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
400 to 4K
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
From 16 epsHost
Recent guests
Recent episodes
The New Era of Cartel Warfare — How Modern Wars Are Reshaping Cartels
Jun 18, 2026
56m 53s
The Front Line of Modern Warfare — Inside Ukraine's Most Dangerous Underground Operation (Preview)
Jun 4, 2026
6m 05s
America vs CJNG: Guatemala Approves Massive Joint U.S. Strike Operations On Cartels
May 29, 2026
17m 51s
Los Chapitos FINISHED? The Endgame of the Sinaloa Cartel Civil War Coming?
May 21, 2026
34m 09s
Sheinbaum Is Panicking — Why the US Is Dismantling Her Cartel-Connected Politicians
May 14, 2026
28m 30s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/18/26 | The New Era of Cartel Warfare — How Modern Wars Are Reshaping Cartels | Producer's Note: Enjoy this interview from Katarina's appearance on the IRONCLAD Original, Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent "Rocco" Vargas. On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Katarina Szulc, investigative journalist and host of the Ironclad Original, Borderland: Dispatches. Kat shares insights from her recent reporting in Ukraine, where authorities are investigating claims that foreign fighters with cartel ties traveled to the front lines to learn modern combat tactics before returning to Latin America. The conversation also explores foreign mercenaries in Ukraine, the evolution of cartel warfare, U.S. pressure on cartel leadership, corruption in Mexico, and what these developments could mean for the future of organized crime. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:44) Cartels, Ukraine, and FPV Drone Warfare (03:26) The Colombian Connection & Drone Schools in Lviv (09:52) American Mercenaries & Background Checks on the Front Lines (11:33) Gamers vs. Combat: How Simple is FPV Drone Flying? (15:24) Behind the Scenes of the Global Mercenary Recruitment Machine (25:06) US Boots on the Ground & The Standoff over Drone Strikes in Mexico (29:51) Cartel Corruption & Political Gaslighting in Sinaloa (34:22) The 2026 World Cup: A Cartel Moneymaker? (47:17) 2026 Wrap-Up: The Year of the Fallen Kingpins & The Endless Drug War Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 56m 53s | ||||||
| 6/4/26 | The Front Line of Modern Warfare — Inside Ukraine's Most Dangerous Underground Operation (Preview)✨ | modern warfareUkraine+4 | — | IRONCLADSpotify | UkraineYouTube | Ukrainemodern warfare+5 | — | 6m 05s | |
| 5/29/26 | America vs CJNG: Guatemala Approves Massive Joint U.S. Strike Operations On Cartels✨ | drug warjoint military operations+4 | — | CJNGIRONCLAD | GuatemalaMexico+1 | drug warGuatemala+5 | Pressure | 17m 51s | |
| 5/21/26 | Los Chapitos FINISHED? The Endgame of the Sinaloa Cartel Civil War Coming?✨ | Sinaloa CartelLos Chapitos+3 | Stefano Ritondale | All Source NewsIRONCLAD | — | Sinaloa CartelLos Chapitos+3 | Pressure | 34m 09s | |
| 5/14/26 | Sheinbaum Is Panicking — Why the US Is Dismantling Her Cartel-Connected Politicians✨ | US crackdownnarco-politicians+4 | — | Sinaloa | CuliacánUS+1 | US crackdownnarco-politicians+5 | Norwood Sawmills | 28m 30s | |
| 5/8/26 | Inside Russia's Foreign Mercenary Pipeline — The Ukrainian POW Camp Holding Putin's Recruits✨ | Ukrainian POW campforeign mercenaries+4 | — | Ukraine's Ministry of Defense | LvivRussia+1 | Ukrainian POW campforeign mercenaries+5 | Norwood SawmillsCODE | 23m 27s | |
| 5/1/26 | Foreign POWs Held in Ukraine: Katarina Goes Inside the Prison Camp (PREVIEW)✨ | POW campUkraine+3 | — | IRONCLAD | UkraineLviv+1 | POW campUkraine+4 | — | 6m 23s | |
| 4/24/26 | Inside The CIA's Secret Cartel War — And The Raid That Killed 2 Officers✨ | CIA operationsdrug cartels+4 | — | CIAMexican state and federal authorities | Chihuahua, Mexico | CIAChihuahua+5 | FIRECRACKER FARM | 20m 31s | |
| 4/16/26 | Mexico’s Narco Governors — The Power Behind the Cartels✨ | narco politicsMexican cartels+3 | — | IRONCLAD | MexicoMexico | narco governorsMexico+3 | GHOSTBEDIRONCLAD | 28m 00s | |
| 4/9/26 | CJNG’s Next Chapter: The American Citizen Now Leading the Cartel✨ | cartel successionfamily power networks+4 | — | CJNGValencia narco dynasty | — | CJNGEl Mencho+5 | GHOSTBEDIRONCLAD | 23m 15s | |
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| 4/2/26 | The New Cartel War Is Happening in U.S. Federal Court✨ | cartel warU.S. federal court+3 | — | — | — | cartelfederal court+5 | GHOSTBEDIRONCLAD | 34m 26s | |
| 3/27/26 | On the Ground in Jalisco, Mexico: Inside the Ongoing Threat of CJNG Violence✨ | CJNG cartelviolence+4 | — | CJNGIRONCLAD | Jalisco, Mexico | CJNGJalisco+4 | GHOSTBEDIRONCLAD | 18m 35s | |
| 3/20/26 | Inside El Mencho’s Compound After the Raid: What the Scene Reveals✨ | El MenchoMexico+4 | — | IRONCLAD | Mexico | El Menchoraid+5 | GHOSTBEDIRONCLAD | 20m 52s | |
| 3/12/26 | Iran and Chinese Migrants Using VIP Cartel Smuggling Routes — Security Risks in the U.S.✨ | cartel smugglingnational security+4 | Jorge Ventura | — | CaliforniaUnited States+3 | cartelsmuggling+7 | GHOSTBEDIRONCLAD | 24m 34s | |
| 3/5/26 | El Mencho Is Dead — But the Crime Scene Raises Questions✨ | crimedrug cartels+3 | — | CJNGIRONCLAD | Jalisco | El MenchoCJNG+3 | GHOSTBEDIRONCLAD | 30m 59s | |
| 2/27/26 | The Cartel Crisis at America’s Northern Border — Narcos Target Tribal Lands✨ | drug traffickinghuman trafficking+4 | John Nores | IRONCLAD | MontanaBlackfeet Nation | carteldrug trafficking+6 | GHOSTBEDIRONCLAD | 28m 41s | |
| 2/19/26 | Announcement from Katarina: Preview of Her Latest Investigation in Montana✨ | drug traffickinghuman trafficking+3 | — | — | MontanaBlackfeet Nation+1 | MontanaBlackfeet Nation+3 | — | 2m 01s | |
| 2/12/26 | Cartel Slaughter: Innocent Miners Kidnapped & Murdered in Extortion Shake Down | On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down the killing of several kidnapped workers connected to Canadian mining company Vizsla Silver Corp. in Sinaloa. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GhostBed: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/DISPATCHES and use code DISPATCHES for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc/id1814920364 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EvQ4S8NnDqqSdCRhZvPaI?si=ea91d3147b6b46bc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 23m 46s | ||||||
| 2/5/26 | Death Threats, CJNG, Rolling Stones, and What's Next for Dispatches | Q&A Part 2 | While on route to her next assignment, Katarina takes a break from the frontlines to answer the questions you’ve been asking. From the latest on Ryan Wedding’s arrest to the realities of reporting on Mexican cartels, international crime, and organized crime networks, Katarina gives unfiltered insights from her years of on-the-ground journalism. She also opens up about the risks, challenges, and surprising moments behind the stories she covers, and what drives her to keep going back into the heart of the narco world. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/DISPATCHES and use code DISPATCHES for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Show less Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 32m 29s | ||||||
| 1/29/26 | Ryan Wedding, Cartels, Kidnapping Risks, and Behind the Scenes of Reporting | Q&A Part 1 | While on route to her next assignment, Katarina takes a break from the frontlines to answer the questions you’ve been asking. From the latest on Ryan Wedding’s arrest to the realities of reporting on Mexican cartels, international crime, and organized crime networks, Katarina gives unfiltered insights from her years of on-the-ground journalism. She also opens up about the risks, challenges, and surprising moments behind the stories she covers, and what drives her to keep going back into the heart of the narco world. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00)- Unpacking Ryan Wedding's Surrender and Apprehension Details (05:35)- Navigating Journalism's Dangers and Expanding Global Coverage (11:29) - Finding Satisfaction, Speaking Spanish, and Exposing Political Corruption (18:14)- The Scariest Moment: Protecting Sources from Law Enforcement (21:18)- Pursuing Dream Interviews While Prioritizing Personal Safety (23:43)- Exposing Ryan Wedding's Fake AI-Generated Instagram Account (26:58)- Admiration of Anthony Bourdain (29:02)- Fentanyl Crisis, Middle East Reporting Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/DISPATCHES and use code DISPATCHES for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 34m 43s | ||||||
| 1/24/26 | BREAKING: Inside the Operation That Brought Ryan Wedding Back to the US | On today’s episode of Borderland Dispatches, Katarina breaks down the surrender of Ryan Wedding, his transfer to U.S. custody, and the key players involved, including Kash Patel, Omar Harfuch, and Mexican authorities. Guests Stefano Ritondale from @All_Source_News and Jeff Nadu (@JeffNadu) provide context on Wedding’s role in the drug trade, the political and media dynamics surrounding his capture, and what his surrender means for organized crime enforcement. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/DISPATCHES and use code DISPATCHES for an extra 15% off sitewide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 48m 58s | ||||||
| 1/22/26 | Inside the Colombia–Venezuela Border — Exposing Organized Crime Behind Drugs, Fuel, and Smuggling | Producer’s note: This episode features on-the-ground reporting and is best experienced on video via Spotify or YouTube (@thisisironclad) On today’s episode, Katarina reports from the Colombia–Venezuela border, investigating organized crime, drug routes, and fuel smuggling along one of the world’s most dangerous borders.Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD OriginalSponsors:GHOSTBED:Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/DISPATCHES and use code DISPATCHES for an extra 15% off sitewide.Norwood Sawmills:Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber athttps://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 15m 56s | ||||||
| 1/16/26 | Investigating the Colombia–Venezuela Border After Maduro’s Capture (featuring Ioan Grillo) | On today’s episode, Katarina reports from the Colombia–Venezuela border in the days following Nicolás Maduro’s capture. Joined by journalist Ioan Grillo, she documents conditions on the ground, the presence of international press, and the restrictions facing journalists attempting to cross. Watch the full report on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FavpHWbbn8 Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/DISPATCHES and use code DISPATCHES for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills:Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 18m 00s | ||||||
| 1/8/26 | The Tech Behind Venezuela’s Government — In the Wake of Maduro’s Arrest | On today's episode, Katarina speaks with Ringmast4r, an American-Venezuelan ethical hacker, about the country’s digital infrastructure and citizen tracking systems, including technology developed with Chinese assistance. They discuss life in Venezuela following the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, how the government continues to monitor and control citizens, and the heightened paranoia and challenges faced by the population. Borderland Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original More from IRONCLAD: IG: https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@thisisironclad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 26m 31s | ||||||
| 1/5/26 | BONUS: Venezuela in the Wake of Maduro's Capture (with Ioan Grillo) | This weekend, Borderland: Dispatches host Katarina Szulc was able to connect with acclaimed cartel investigative reporter Ioan Grillo, from the border of Columbia and Venezuela, who gave an inside look at the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In this special episode of Borderland: Dispatches, Ioan Grillo and Katarina talk about what the situation is like on the ground, what comes next, and what the implications are for cartels, organized crime, and the drug war. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original. More from IRONCLAD: IG: https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@thisisironclad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 30m 26s | ||||||
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Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.
Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.