The Hidden Third

Mariana van Zeller
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From Emmy and Peabody Award–winning journalist Mariana van Zeller comes THE HIDDEN THIRD, a weekly dive into the underground markets that quietly power a third of the global economy. Every episode Mariana sits down with people who know these worlds firsthand - the hustlers, smugglers, scammers, kingpins, and those trying to shut them down. The series reveals how they function, why they endure, and the profound ways they impact us all. New episodes drop every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts. The Hidden Third is a co-production of Muck Media and The Roost Podcast Network.

  1. 16 HR AGO

    Shaka Senghor: 19 Years for Murder

    Join The Hidden Third Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheHiddenThird Shaka Senghor went to prison for murder at 19 and spent seven of his 19 years in solitary confinement. But his imprisonment started long before that. Today, Mariana sits down with Shaka and has an intimate conversation about life’s hidden prisons, the moment in solitary confinement that changed his life, and the work he is passionate about now - speaking to young kids who grew up like him. Oprah Winfrey called her conversation with him one of the best conversations of her life. I understand why. Judge for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 9m
  2. You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    16 HR AGO ·  BONUS

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing Parenting Expert Emily Oster: The #1 Parenting Mistake That Causes Unnecessary Stress (Use THIS Data-Backed Framework to Debunk the Biggest Parenting Myths!) from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Parenting today feels like navigating endless advice while quietly wondering if you’re doing any of it right. Jay sits down with bestselling author and economist Emily Oster to unpack one of the most overwhelming journeys many people will ever face: becoming a parent. In a world filled with endless advice, social media pressure, and conflicting research, parenting can start to feel like a test you’re constantly failing. Emily offers a refreshing, data-driven perspective that helps parents cut through the noise, separating real evidence from the myths that fuel unnecessary anxiety. From pregnancy and fertility to sleep training and screen time, this conversation reveals what truly matters and what parents can finally let go of. Together, Jay and Emily challenge many of the parenting beliefs we’ve accepted without question. They explore why modern parents feel so overwhelmed by information and expectations, when the data actually shows there are many “right” ways to raise a child. Emily breaks down how correlation is often mistaken for causation in parenting advice and how that misunderstanding quietly drives guilt, fear, and comparison. Whether it’s breastfeeding versus formula, screen time, sleep training, or developmental milestones, Emily encourages parents to move away from perfection and toward confident, thoughtful decision-making. In this episode you'll learn: How to Stop Overthinking Parenting Decisions How to Decide What Parenting Advice to Ignore How to Choose the Sleep Strategy That Works for Your Family How to Raise Kids with a Growth Mindset How to Plan Parenting Decisions Before Problems Arise How to Let Go of the Pressure to Parent Perfectly Parenting can feel overwhelming, especially in a world filled with endless advice, opinions, and expectations. The truth is, raising a child isn’t about getting every small decision perfectly right, it’s about showing up with love, care, and intention, day after day. Emily’s book, Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know, offers guidance through pregnancy and motherhood. Grab a copy now. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.  Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:39 Why Does Parenting Feel Harder Today? 04:06 What the Data Really Says About Parenting 05:24 Don’t Trust This Fertility Advice! 07:56 What Affects Sperm Health 09:51 Lifestyle Habits That Affect Fertility 12:26 Are Antidepressants Safe During Pregnancy? 15:02 Which Pregnancy Rules Actually Matter (And Which Don’t) 18:25 When Is the Best Age to Have Kids? 21:56 Common Pregnancy Myths Debunked 31:19 How Dads Can Support After Birth 34:09 What’s Actually Best for the Baby? 36:51 More Parenting and Pregnancy Myths 44:20 How to Deal With Mom Guilt 47:55 How to Raise Confident Kids 54:28 Parenting Decisions That Cause Stress 56:27 The Truth About Sleep Training 01:02:03 Does Crying It Out Harm Attachment? 01:04:12 How Much Screen Time Is Too Much? 01:09:40 The Truth About Childhood Vaccines 01:12:02 Are Kids Being Overmedicated? 01:14:35 The Many Paths to Parenthood 01:16:49 This or That: Parenting Edition 01:24:31 Emily on Final Five Episode Resources: Website | https://parentdata.org/  Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/emily.oster.509/  Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/profemilyoster  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/parentdata  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@profemilyoster  X | https://x.com/ProfEmilyOster  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. 8 APR

    Chosen by Aliens: The Kidnapping of Jan Broberg

    Jan Broberg was kidnapped at 12 by a family friend who convinced her it was an alien mission. Then kidnapped again at 14. Her story — the basis for Netflix's Abducted in Plain Sight — is one of the most shocking grooming cases ever documented. Today she tells it in her own words, and breaks down the predator tactics that are still happening — from family friends to online platforms like Roblox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 9m

  4. 1 APR

    NYC Drug Kingpin Turned Weed CEO

    This week on The Hidden Third, Mariana sits down with Coss Marte — a former drug dealer who, at 17, was running what he claims was New York City's first 24/7 drug delivery business, pulling in over $2 million. A betrayal within his own team brought it all crashing down, and he was suddenly facing up to 25 years in prison. Behind bars, a doctor told him he wouldn't survive to 30. What happened next changed everything. Coss lost 70 pounds, built a workout program with fellow inmates, and wrote the business plan for ConBody — a gym empire built on second chances. Then came the ultimate full-circle moment: he's back to selling drugs — this time legally. His cannabis dispensary ConBud now operates multiple locations across NYC, including one on the very corner of the Lower East Side where he once dealt illegally. From drug kingpin to CEO, this is one of the most remarkable reinvention stories you'll ever hear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 45min

  5. 25 MAR

    From Prison Cell to Rocket Scientist

    Marta Barreto survived years of sexual abuse, addiction, exploitation, and prison. She became a mother, got sober, went back to school, and eventually landed her childhood dream — working on rocket propulsion at Virgin Orbit. In this episode, Marta talks about the psychological grip of trauma and exploitation, the barriers that keep so many victims trapped, and what it really takes to rebuild a life from zero. One of the most powerful survival stories we've ever told on The Hidden Third. Head to http://factormeals.com/hiddenthird50off and use code hiddenthird50off to get 50% off and free breakfast for a year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 25min

  6. 18 MAR

    Undercover Cop

    Britt Elmore, former undercover narcotics detective, spent years embedded inside the operations most people only see in crime dramas — building cases against dealers, managing informants, and navigating the moral gray zones that define modern drug enforcement. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on how undercover operations really work: the mechanics of infiltrating criminal networks, the fragile trust between officers and informants, and how drugs move from international suppliers all the way down to local street corners. He traces the full supply chain of the underground drug economy — and explains why it continues to evolve faster than law enforcement can keep up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 44min

  7. 11 MAR

    Felon at 7, Reborn in Solitary

    Sonny Von Cleveland survived years of childhood sexual abuse, 18 years in prison, and 19 months in solitary confinement. But it was in that isolation cell where everything changed — through daily conversations with a Muslim mentor in the cell across from his, Sonny found accountability, forgiveness, and a reason to live differently. Today he mentors at-risk youth in juvenile detention centers across Southern California, serves on Riverside County's Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, advocates with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition in Los Angeles, and leads The Von Cleveland Foundation. He was named Palm Springs Person of the Year in 2023 and has received Congressional Recognition for his work. His memoir Hey White Boy: Conversations of Redemption is the raw, unfiltered story of how a child failed by the world around him found his way back — and decided to make sure others don't walk the same road. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week THE HIDDEN THIRD: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoCiI8nJacn8gDiHxr6aQGA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehiddenthirdpodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hidden-third/id1845989117 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3n1BBoj3BgVuEYaiZ6SotF MARIANA: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mariana_vanzeller Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marianavz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 44min

  8. 4 MAR

    Game Warden vs The Cartel

    Between 4,000 and 6,000 cartel trespass growers take to the woods of California every year. They arrive armed, they stay for months, and they are ready to defend their cash crop at any cost. They divert waterways, deploy pesticides and fertilizers so toxic they were banned by the EPA over a decade ago, and leave behind environmental disasters that may take generations to repair. And they do all of this not in some remote foreign country — but in America's own backyard, sometimes within miles of population centers. In this episode of The Hidden Third, Mariana sits down with Nores to pull back the curtain on this largely invisible conflict — one that sits squarely at the intersection of drug trafficking, environmental destruction, cartel violence, and wilderness law enforcement. Nores walks Mariana through the dangerous operations his team ran deep in the backcountry, the shootouts they survived, and the environmental toll of an illegal industry that generates billions in black market revenue every year. He also explains why marijuana legalization did nothing to stop the cartels — and why the black market is still booming. If you've ever hiked a California trail, camped in a national forest, or followed the war on drugs, this conversation will change the way you see both. 🎙️ From Emmy and Peabody Award–winning journalist Mariana van Zeller comes THE HIDDEN THIRD, a weekly dive into the underground markets that quietly power a third of the global economy. Every episode, Mariana sits down with people who know these worlds firsthand - the hustlers, smugglers, scammers, kingpins, and those trying to shut them down. The series reveals how they function, why they endure, and the profound ways they impact us all. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday. THE HIDDEN THIRD: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoCiI8nJacn8gDiHxr6aQGA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehiddenthirdpodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hidden-third/id1845989117 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3n1BBoj3BgVuEYaiZ6SotF MARIANA: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mariana_vanzellerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/marianavz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 2m
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About

From Emmy and Peabody Award–winning journalist Mariana van Zeller comes THE HIDDEN THIRD, a weekly dive into the underground markets that quietly power a third of the global economy. Every episode Mariana sits down with people who know these worlds firsthand - the hustlers, smugglers, scammers, kingpins, and those trying to shut them down. The series reveals how they function, why they endure, and the profound ways they impact us all. New episodes drop every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts. The Hidden Third is a co-production of Muck Media and The Roost Podcast Network.

Information

  • Creator
    Mariana van Zeller
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 423667

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