Alchemy of Violence: Narcos, Reapers and Survival

Fox News
  • 0.0 (0)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • SERIES
Alchemy of Violence: Narcos, Reapers and Survival
FOX NEWS PODCASTS +

Listen to ad-free, bonus, and early access content

RM 12.90/month or RM 129.90/year

In this multi-part podcast, "Alchemy of Violence: Narcos, Reapers and Survival," host and Marine Staff Sgt. Johnny Joey Jones will guide you through a series of wide-ranging interviews with Ed Calderon, a former paramilitary law enforcement officer from Mexico who took on the country's ruthless drug cartels face-to-face at a time when their gruesome violence was reaching a fever pitch in 2006 and beyond. Calderon’s dangerous career south of the border, and the rampant corruption he says came with it, ultimately forced him to run for his life. It also left him with a lifetime's worth of on-the-ground experience, and a set of unique survival skills akin to a real-life McGuyver, just a few years shy of his 40th birthday. In his own words, Calderon shares intimate details on everything from his childhood and family inspiration, to the horrors he witnessed firsthand in his career, and how he’s using those experiences now to help others who might be recovering from similar traumas –a new career in what he calls his "after-life."

Season 1

  1. Birth of a Reaper - E1

    EPISODE 1

    Birth of a Reaper - E1

    Meet Ed Calderon, a former paramilitary law enforcement officer from Mexico who acquired a set of unique survival skills over a career confronting drug cartels that makes even some special operators nervous, and maybe even a little jealous. Those skills don’t just come from a career confronting drug cartels face to face, but an inspirational mother and a childhood that may have foreshadowed the evil he would come to face later in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
  2. Plata O Plomo - Ep2

    EPISODE 2

    Plata O Plomo - Ep2

    A bribe or death. Silver or lead. The evil Ed faced in his career was nothing, and everything, that he knew it would be going into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    37 min
  3. The Making of a (Narco) "Saint" - E3

    EPISODE 3

    The Making of a (Narco) "Saint" - E3

    Ed forges the Sneak Reaper mindset, whether he knows it at the time or not, with a little inspiration from “Santa Muerte,” aka “the Holy Death.” An origin story like you’ve never heard before. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min
  4. Journey of a Reaper - E4

    EPISODE 4

    Journey of a Reaper - E4

    Ed runs for his life, literally, when his new bosses ask him to start targeting one cartel and ignoring the others. He also discusses the gruesome killings of some American women and children in the Mexican desert, and why he thinks those killings should have changed the discussion about Mexico’s cartels forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
  5. Disciple of a Teenage Escape Artist - E5

    EPISODE 5

    Disciple of a Teenage Escape Artist - E5

    Ed Calderon is perhaps best-known for his escape skills; picking locks, getting out of handcuffs, discretely carrying the tools needed to do so and generally being able to break free from a variety of life-threatening situations. And his first teacher was a 15-year-old criminal named Fernando.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 min
  6. Who Has Ever Been in An Abduction Before? - E6

    EPISODE 6

    Who Has Ever Been in An Abduction Before? - E6

    Ed uses the skills he acquired working anti-abduction details for Mexican government officials to helptrain others who face the threat of violence or kidnappings in everyday life. And for some of Ed’s students,their training with him comes after they’ve already experienced true violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min
  7. Criminally Sourced Expression of Love - E7

    EPISODE 7

    Criminally Sourced Expression of Love - E7

    Ed is an impressive guy to some special operators, but he says the people who have wound up impressing him the most are typically ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations. And some of his students have wound up teaching him things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min
  8. Stillness Is Death - E8

    EPISODE 8

    Stillness Is Death - E8

    Change is one of the few constants for Ed Calderon, and moving too fast can sometimes result in important stories of heroism being forgotten, and tales of true evil being spun into something else. Plus, his take on the infamous meeting between drug kingpin “el Chapo” and a Hollywood celebrity, and the connection he sees to the story of slain DEA Agent Kiki Camarena.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min
  9. What is a Knife Good For? - E9

    EPISODE 9

    What is a Knife Good For? - E9

    Ed says saving your life, and the lives of others, can often come down to having things on your person that are small enough to fit in your pocket. Find out what those things are, and what Ed’s mother has to do with his skills with a knife (among other things). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    20 min
  10. A Little Bit Quiet - E10

    EPISODE 10

    A Little Bit Quiet - E10

    After years of trauma, even someone with the mindset of a Sneak Reaper needs a hand on their journey to recovery. That was certainly true for Ed, but his initial experiences with prescription drugs for some of his problems seemed to only make things worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min
  11. Ask Me About the Rooster - E11

    EPISODE 11

    Ask Me About the Rooster - E11

    Our podcast ends with a story of “fever dreams,” fallen friends, and a fighting rooster who lived to see the after-life. Ed Calderon now has a song of his own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min
  12. Alchemy of Violence Trailer

    SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Alchemy of Violence Trailer

    In this multi-part podcast, “Alchemy of Violence: Narcos, Reapers and Survival,” host and Marine Staff Sgt. Johnny Joey Jones will guide you through a series of wide-ranging interviews with Ed Calderon, a former paramilitary law enforcement officer from Mexico who took on the country's ruthless drug cartels face-to-face at a time when their gruesome violence was reaching a fever pitch in 2006 and beyond. Calderon’s dangerous career south of the border, and the rampant corruption he says came with it, ultimately forced him to run for his life. It also left him with a lifetime's worth of on-the-ground experience, and a set of unique survival skills akin to a real-life McGuyver, just a few years shy of his 40th birthday. In his own words, Calderon shares intimate details on everything from his childhood and family inspiration, to the horrors he witnessed firsthand in his career, and how he’s using those experiences now to help others who might be recovering from similar traumas –a new career in what he calls his “after-life.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2 min

Trailer

Shows with Subscription Benefits

  • The FOX News Rundown is the place to find in-depth reporting on the news that impacts you. Each morning, Mike Emanuel, Dave Anthony, Lisa Brady, Jessica Rosenthal, and Chris Foster take a deep dive into the major and controversial stories of the day, tapping into the massive reporting resources of FOX News to provide a full picture of the news.    Plus, every night, The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition brings you even more coverage of the day's biggest stories and on the weekend, you’ll hear everything that’s going on in the beltway with The FOX News Rundown: From Washington and special uncut, unedited interviews with The FOX News Rundown: Extra.    Each day The FOX News Rundown features insight from top newsmakers, along with FOX News reporters and contributors, plus a daily commentary on a significant issue of the day. Check us out twice a day, every day.

    • 0.0 (0)
    • POLITICS

  • The Guy Benson Show offers listeners smart, fast-paced political and cultural insights from a right-leaning perspective. The Guy Benson Show blends major news-maker guests, a steady stream of Fox News stars, passionate and informative monologues, and perspectives from callers.

    • 0.0 (0)
    • NEWS

  • Jimmy Failla - former head writer and on-air contributor for "Kennedy" on the Fox Business Network - says Fox Across America is best described as "a celebration of our unique American privilege, and will function as an audio safe space where people of all political persuasions can disagree and still get along!" Today's political climate is sorely in need of talent with the unifying ability to allow both sides to debate the issues straight up. Be sure to join Jimmy and his special guests: Emily Compagno, Brian Brenberg, Katie Pavlich, Bill Hemmer, Harris Faulkner, Tomi Lahren, Dave Landau and many more.

    • 0.0 (0)
    • POLITICS

  • Greg Gutfeld is the host of The Greg Gutfeld Show, and member of The Five on FOX News Channel. Greg is the one on this podcast. That is, unless you want to be the one. Go ahead. He doesn't mind.

    • 0.0 (0)
    • NEWS

  • ***Fox News Investigates explores a new true crime story each season*** She had everything going for her: A good job, close friends, a loving family, a boyfriend and a brand new condo. Her family describes her as a strong, fun-loving, career-minded, and responsible young woman. So why did Jennifer Kesse seemingly vanish without a trace? On the morning of Tuesday, January 24, 2006, Jennifer Kesse failed to show up for work at Central Florida Investments, where she was a finance manager. Jennifer was known for her reliability, but on that winter morning 14 years ago, nobody heard from Jen. And that meant something was terribly wrong. In this podcast, hosted by crime reporter Cristina Corbin, she travels to Florida to uncover new leads, conduct exclusive interviews, and examine evidence in recently unsealed police records. Years later, the Jennifer Kesse case is anything but cold. In fact, the investigation, by some accounts, is only just beginning.

    • 0.0 (0)
    • TRUE CRIME

  • Trey Gowdy former federal prosecutor and four term United States Congressman from South Carolina brings his one of a kind style to the podcast platform. Every week you’ll hear original commentaries and power player interviews. Don't be surprised if his former congressional colleagues stop by from time to time as well.

    • 5.0 (1)
    • NEWS COMMENTARY
FOX NEWS PODCASTS +

Listen to ad-free, bonus, and early access content

RM 12.90/month or RM 129.90/year

View Subscription FAQs

About

In this multi-part podcast, "Alchemy of Violence: Narcos, Reapers and Survival," host and Marine Staff Sgt. Johnny Joey Jones will guide you through a series of wide-ranging interviews with Ed Calderon, a former paramilitary law enforcement officer from Mexico who took on the country's ruthless drug cartels face-to-face at a time when their gruesome violence was reaching a fever pitch in 2006 and beyond. Calderon’s dangerous career south of the border, and the rampant corruption he says came with it, ultimately forced him to run for his life. It also left him with a lifetime's worth of on-the-ground experience, and a set of unique survival skills akin to a real-life McGuyver, just a few years shy of his 40th birthday. In his own words, Calderon shares intimate details on everything from his childhood and family inspiration, to the horrors he witnessed firsthand in his career, and how he’s using those experiences now to help others who might be recovering from similar traumas –a new career in what he calls his "after-life."

Information

More From Fox News

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada