The Culture of Criminal Cool

Ash Adams

The Culture of Criminal Cool follows the true story of Adam Diaz—a kid from the beaches of the Dominican Republic who rose to become a top earner for the Medellín cartel during the cocaine boom of 1980s New York, moving millions each week while navigating violence, loyalty, and the constant threat of collapse. Hosted by Ash Adams, whose background in film and storytelling brings a sharp, cinematic lens to real-life crime, the series pulls you inside Diaz’s world through firsthand accounts of his rise, his near-fatal mistakes, and the decisions that defined him—from gunfights in the street to high-stakes deals that blurred the line between survival and self-destruction. But this isn’t just a crime story—it’s an unflinching look at the mindset behind it all, and the uncomfortable truth that the line between who we are… and who we could become… is thinner than we think. An Evio Production Created by Ash Adams Produced by Ash Adams & Branden Morgan Produced by Patrick Pankratz Recorded live at Cabretta Beach, Dominican Republic and Bellaire Studios in Los Angeles, California

Episodes

  1. E|2 Gangster School

    3D AGO

    E|2 Gangster School

    🎧 The Culture of Criminal Cool — Episode 2: Gangster School In Episode 2, Ash Adams takes us deeper into the rise of Adam Diaz — and into the moment where curiosity turns into commitment. This isn’t mythology anymore. This is initiation. We rewind the clock to the Lower East Side, where a young Diaz is running a grocery store operation that’s anything but groceries. Cocaine sales are streamlined, efficient, and hiding in plain sight — customers, cops, professionals, and junkies all moving through the same quiet system. It’s controlled. It’s profitable. And it’s about to get violent. When outside dealers start encroaching on his territory, Diaz does what every rising player in the game eventually has to do — he confronts it. What starts as negotiation quickly escalates into something far more permanent. A fight. A retaliation. A gun pulled in broad daylight. And then… the moment. The one every criminal story eventually arrives at: Pull the trigger… or don’t. What follows is chaotic, raw, and defining. Diaz fires. A man goes down. And just like that, the line between hustler and something much more dangerous disappears. But what makes this moment hit harder isn’t just the violence. It’s the contradiction. Because at the same time Diaz is standing over a man he nearly killed… he’s still a teenager. Still thinking about women. Still thinking about his future. Still convincing himself he’s not “that guy.” This episode digs into the psychological pivot point — the exact moment where someone doesn’t just participate in the lifestyle… They become it. And as Ash frames it, this is the part of the story we rarely admit we’re drawn to: The risk. The power. The decision to act when most people wouldn’t. Because like it or not… This is where “criminal cool” is born. 🔥 On This Episode: The mechanics of street-level drug operations in 1980s New York Territorial conflict and the unwritten rules of the Lower East Side The first act of real violence — and what it does to a person The internal contradiction of the criminal mindset Why we’re drawn to the exact moment someone crosses the line 🔗 Stay Connected Watch full episodes on YouTube (Evio Creative Network) Visit: https://eviocreative.com Follow The Culture of Criminal Cool wherever you listen Share the show with someone fascinated by the psychology of crime Rate & review — it helps more than you think Because every legend has a beginning… And most of them start the same way: With a choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    21 min
  2. E|1 The King of Brooklyn

    MAY 5

    E|1 The King of Brooklyn

    🎧 The Culture of Criminal Cool — Episode 1: The King of Brooklyn What makes a criminal… cool? In the premiere episode of The Culture of Criminal Cool, host Ash Adams dives headfirst into that uncomfortable question — not from a distance, but from inside the fascination itself. We’re introduced to Adam Diaz — a.k.a. “The King of Brooklyn” — a high-level operator for the Medellín cartel who moved millions of dollars a week during the height of the cocaine boom in 1980s and early ’90s New York City. And we meet him… on the worst day of his life. Arrested. Cornered. Staring down federal agents — and telling them to pull the trigger. This isn’t just a crime story. It’s a character study. Through firsthand accounts, recorded conversations, and personal reflection, Ash begins to unpack not just who Adam Diaz was… but why figures like him capture our imagination in the first place. From The Godfather to The Sopranos, from real-life figures like Pablo Escobar and John Gotti, to the everyday fantasies we project onto power, rebellion, and violence — this episode explores the uncomfortable truth: We don’t just consume crime stories. We admire them. But why? Is it escapism? A safe outlet for darker impulses? Or something deeper — something we don’t want to admit about ourselves? As Diaz’s story unfolds — from cartel money to federal pressure, from arrogance to collapse — one thing becomes clear: The rise is only part of the story. And the fall… is always coming. This episode sets the stage for a larger journey — one that will explore the psychology, mythology, and cultural obsession with criminals who live outside the rules… and somehow make it look good. 🔗 Stay Connected Follow The Culture of Criminal Cool wherever you listen Watch full episodes on YouTube (Evio Creative Network) Visit: https://eviocreative.com Share the show with someone fascinated by the psychology of crime Rate & review — it helps more than you think Because the real question isn’t who these people are… It’s why we can’t stop watching them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    22 min

  3. APR 24

    INTRODUCING: The Culture of Criminal Cool

    The Culture of Criminal Cool follows the true story of Adam Diaz—a Brooklyn street kid who rose to become a top earner for the Medellín cartel during the cocaine boom of 1980s New York, moving millions each week while navigating violence, loyalty, and the constant threat of collapse. Hosted by Ash Adams, whose background in film and storytelling brings a sharp, cinematic lens to real-life crime, the series pulls you inside Diaz’s world through firsthand accounts of his rise, his near-fatal mistakes, and the decisions that defined him—from gunfights in the street to high-stakes deals that blurred the line between survival and self-destruction. But this isn’t just a crime story—it’s an unflinching look at the mindset behind it all, and the uncomfortable truth that the line between who we are… and who we could become… is thinner than we think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    4 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Culture of Criminal Cool follows the true story of Adam Diaz—a kid from the beaches of the Dominican Republic who rose to become a top earner for the Medellín cartel during the cocaine boom of 1980s New York, moving millions each week while navigating violence, loyalty, and the constant threat of collapse. Hosted by Ash Adams, whose background in film and storytelling brings a sharp, cinematic lens to real-life crime, the series pulls you inside Diaz’s world through firsthand accounts of his rise, his near-fatal mistakes, and the decisions that defined him—from gunfights in the street to high-stakes deals that blurred the line between survival and self-destruction. But this isn’t just a crime story—it’s an unflinching look at the mindset behind it all, and the uncomfortable truth that the line between who we are… and who we could become… is thinner than we think. An Evio Production Created by Ash Adams Produced by Ash Adams & Branden Morgan Produced by Patrick Pankratz Recorded live at Cabretta Beach, Dominican Republic and Bellaire Studios in Los Angeles, California

Information

You Might Also Like