Podcasts · Society & Culture · True Crime

The Hidden Third

Mariana van Zeller

55 episodes

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.

More about the show

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.

Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. The Military Sent Her Family Overseas. Then It Wouldn't Let Them Come Home

    · 1 h 24 min

    Jamie Lenio found out her husband, an active-duty Marine, was having an affair with his direct boss, a one-star Army general. After 16 years of marriage, it was over. Then she found out she was stuck in Germany and…

  2. The Hacker Who Tracked Down My Romance Scammer

    · 1 h 20 min · Bonus

    He's been hacking since he could type. Now Arman the Cyber is a white hat hacker who hunts down romance scammers. He tracked down the fake Jon Bon Jovi who took almost everything from Leslie Pickett, and my personal…

  3. She Thought She Was Dating Jon Bon Jovi. Then He Asked for Money.

    · 1 h 32 min

    Start your free trial of Perplexity Computer today at https://pplx.ai/hiddenthird and experience the next phase of AI. #ad Go to http://Quince.com/hiddenthird for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. She…

  4. I Was Set Up by a Cartel. Now I’m Going to Federal Prison

    · 1 h 30 min

    Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MARIANA at https://www.oneskin.co/MARIANA #oneskinpod Use code HIDDENTHIRD at http://Monarch.com to get 50% off your first year of Monarch Core! Join The Hidden Third Patreon today!…

  5. From College World Series Hero to $32M Ponzi Scheme

    · 2 h 16 min

    Go to https://meetfabric.com/HIDDENTHIRD and apply today, risk-free He was a College World Series champion, a pro baseball prospect and a relative of Tampa mob boss Santo Trafficante Jr. Then a gambling addiction…

  6. Evan Rachel Wood: The Cost of Speaking Out Against Marilyn Manson

    · 2 h 24 min

    Disclaimer: Marilyn Manson, whose legal name is Brian Warner, has denied Evan Rachel Wood’s allegations. He has previously said that her claims are “horrible distortions of reality” and that his intimate relationships…

  7. He Helped Save Thousands of Abused and Exploited Kids

    · 2 h 26 min

    Join The Hidden Third Patreon today: https://patreon.com/TheHiddenThird Try ZipRecruiter for free at http://ZipRecruiter.com/HIDDENTHIRD Jim Cole spent two decades as a Homeland Security Investigations special agent,…

  8. The Vigilante Hunting Bullies, Scammers and Predators

    · 2 h 29 min · Explicit

    Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/HIDDENTHIRD and use code HIDDENTHIRD and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MARIANA at https://www.oneskin.co/MARIANA #oneskinpod…

  9. Trapped in Bolivia's Deadliest Prison. Then She Took It Over.

    · 1 h 39 min · Explicit

    Use code HIDDENTHIRD at http://Monarch.com to get 50% off your first year of Monarch Core! Sharon Yitzhaki was 20 years old when she was pulled off a plane at a Bolivian airport. Authorities searched her bag, and the…

  10. She Escaped Traffickers, Then Was Kidnapped Again

    · 2 h 17 min

    https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/HIDDENTHIRD and use code HIDDENTHIRD and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! Sex trafficking survivor Lurata Lyon was kidnapped twice. First, at 17, by a trafficking network in…

  11. Ohtani's Bookie Is Out of Prison — And He's Talking

    · 2 h 15 min

    Try ZipRecruiter for free at http://ZipRecruiter.com/HIDDENTHIRD Go to http://Quince.com/hiddenthird for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Matt Bowyer — the illegal bookmaker at the center of the…

  12. The Man Governments Send to Negotiate with Terrorists | Tom Gregg

    · 2 h 26 min

    Hostage negotiator and UN mediator Tom Gregg on Afghanistan, the Taliban, the Haqqani network, and the Bowe Bergdahl prisoner exchange. He has spent more than twenty years in rooms most of us will never see. Tom Gregg…

  13. Secret Service Interrogator: How He Got Killers to Talk | Brad Beeler

    · 1 h 58 min

    Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MARIANA at https://www.oneskin.co/MARIANA #oneskinpod Brad Beeler is one of the most experienced criminal polygraph examiners in U.S. Secret Service history — a 25-year federal agent…

  14. He Robbed a Casino With a Blow‑Up Doll and a Fake AK‑47

    · 2 h 39 min

    Timeline’s clinically proven formula, Mitopure, now starts at $79, when you subscribe at http://timeline.com/MARIANA. Adnan Alisic is the mastermind behind one of the craziest casino heists in American history — a…

  15. Bad Vegan: Scam, Abuse & Netflix Scandal | Sarma Melngailis Speaks Out

    · 1 h 52 min

    Go to https://meetfabric.com/HIDDENTHIRD and apply today, risk-free Try ZipRecruiter for free at http://ZipRecruiter.com/HIDDENTHIRD Sarma Melngailis was once the queen of New York’s vegan scene — a Wharton‑educated…

  16. How an LAPD Captain Solved a 30-Year-Old Cold Case Murder

    · 2 h 08 min

    Nearly 30 years after 15‑year‑old Danielle “Danni” Houchins was murdered in Montana, former LAPD captain Tom Elfmont helped finally bring her family answers. Drawing on more than 25 years running gang and narcotics…

  17. Wallo267 spent 20 years in Prison for Armed Robbery. Now He's YouTube’s Cultural Advisor.

    · 1 h 03 min · Explicit

    In this episode of The Hidden Third, we sit down with Wallo267 to unpack a story that starts in the harshest possible place: prison. Wallo caught his first conviction at just 10 years old. By 17, he was sentenced to…

  18. The World’s Best Bounty Hunter: How Michelle Gomez Finds People Who Vanish

    · 1 h 09 min

    How do you find people who do not want to be found? In this episode of The Hidden Third, Mariana sits down with skip tracer and private investigator Michelle Gomez – described by Wired as “the world’s best bounty…

  19. America’s Last Weed Prisoner

    · 2 h 47 min

    This past January, America’s so‑called “last cannabis prisoner” walked out of federal custody after serving years on a marijuana trafficking conspiracy between California and the East Coast. At 24, he was running a…

  20. She Was the Crystal Meth Queen of Waikiki. Then She Became a PTA Mom in New Jersey.

    · 1 h 30 min

    Nikki Mammano arrived in Hawaii as a college student and, within months, was running crystal meth in Waikiki. She became known as the Crystal Meth Queen of Waikiki — until it all came crashing down. Today, she’s a PTA…

  21. Lee Harris Claims to Channel Aliens. Why Do Millions Believe Him?

    · 2 h 08 min

    On this episode of The Hidden Third, I interview Lee Harris — a channeler who claims to communicate with 88 intergalactic beings known as “The Z’s.” He reaches over 2 million people each month and leads a global…

  22. He Was a Violent Neo-Nazi Leader. Then He Found Out He Is Jewish.

    · 2 h 25 min

    Join The Hidden Third Patreon today! patreon.com/thehiddenthird Frank Meeink's life runs parallel in many ways to one of the most powerful films ever made about hate in America — American History X. Except his story…

  23. Prophet or Predator: How He Tricked Her and Trafficked Her Mother

    · 1 h 07 min

    Join The Hidden Third Patreon today! patreon.com/thehiddenthird Lola Blanc was 12 when a man at an LDS (Mormon) singles dance told her mother he was a prophet receiving direct revelation from God. No compound, no mass…

  24. Mariana's Interview on The Jordan Harbinger Show

    · 1 h 42 min · Bonus

    Special episode drop! We're excited to share an interview with Mariana on The Jordan Harbinger Show. Mariana talks about her long-running show, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, her experiences in the field, and what…

  25. “The Hangover” Producer Who Walked Away From Hollywood to Fix America's Prison System

    · 50 min

    Join The Hidden Third Patreon today! patreon.com/thehiddenthird Scott Budnick produced some of the biggest films in Hollywood — Old School, The Hangover, War Dogs. Then he visited a juvenile detention center in Los…

  26. Meagan Elizabeth: Raised in a Cult Hiding 900 Abusers

    · 1 h 31 min

    Join The Hidden Third Patreon today! patreon.com/thehiddenthird Watch on Spotify. If you’re subscribed to Spotify Premium, you don’t get any Spotify ads on my video. With a limited-time offer, get Huel today with an…

  27. Amanda Knox Imprisoned In Italy: The Real Story

    · 2 h 08 min

    Join The Hidden Third Patreon today! patreon.com/thehiddenthird Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MARIANA at http://www.oneskin.co/MARIANA #oneskinpod Amanda Knox was 20 years old when she went to Italy for a study…

  28. The American Captive Inside Venezuela's Deadliest Prison

    · 2 h 04 min

    Join The Hidden Third Patreon today! patreon.com/thehiddenthird Watch on Spotify. Spotify subscribers get fewer ads on my video. Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at…

  29. Shaka Senghor: 19 Years for Murder

    · 2 h 09 min

    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.…

  30. Chosen by Aliens: The Kidnapping of Jan Broberg

    · 2 h 09 min

    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…

  31. NYC Drug Kingpin Turned Weed CEO

    · 1 h 45 min · Explicit

    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…

  32. From Prison Cell to Rocket Scientist

    · 1 h 25 min

    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…

  33. Undercover Cop

    · 1 h 44 min · Explicit

    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…

  34. Felon at 7, Reborn in Solitary

    · 1 h 44 min

    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…

  35. Game Warden vs The Cartel

    · 2 h 02 min

    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,…

  36. The Woman Who Took On Amazon

    · 1 h 42 min

    Go to http://factormeals.com/hiddenthird50off and use code hiddenthird50off to get 50% off and free breakfast for a year. What happens when one of the most powerful corporations in the world – Amazon – decides your…

  37. Ex Neo-Nazi | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 1 h 28 min

    Go to http://expressvpn.com/hiddenthird to secure your online data and get up to four extra months. At 14, Christian Picciolini was a lonely kid from an Italian immigrant family in Chicago when he was recruited into…

  38. From The Kink Machine: The Secret Power Behind Porn

    · 33 min · Bonus

    On The Hidden Third, we explore the underground worlds and shadowy figures that drive much of the global economy—so today I’m excited to share an excerpt from a new audiobook about one of our culture’s most taboo,…

  39. The Hipster Grifter | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 2 h 09 min

    Go to http://selectquote.com/mariana to save more than 50% on term life insurance. Kari Ferrell became known as “The Hipster Grifter” after her cons went viral. In this episode of The Hidden Third, Kari joins me to…

  40. Retired ICE Agent | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 2 h 15 min

    Eric Balliet spent 25 years with the Department of Homeland Security - first with the CBP and then with ICE - arresting dozens of human traffickers, smugglers, and child predators. He led the wiretap strategy that…

  41. Journalist Jacob Soboroff on Family Separation, ICE Raids, and the LA Fires | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 1 h 36 min · Episode 14

    Go to http://selectquote.com/mariana to save more than 50% on term life insurance. Go to http://rocketmoney.com/hiddenthird to reach your financial goals faster. In this episode, I sit down with MS NOW correspondent…

  42. Xbox Underground Hacker | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 1 h 46 min

    In this episode of The Hidden Third, Mariana sits down with Arman, an underground hacker involved in the infamous Xbox Underground case -- an alleged conspiracy federal investigators said targeted Microsoft and its…

  43. USC Athlete Turned Cocaine Kingpin | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 1 h 39 min · Episode 12

    This week on The Hidden Third, I sit down with Owen Hanson, known as “O-Dog” — a former USC athlete whose hunger to win at all costs spiraled into a criminal operation spanning sports betting, drug trafficking, and…

  44. Anna Delvey / Fake Heiress | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 1 h 29 min · Episode 11

    Go to http://rocketmoney.com/hiddenthird to reach your financial goals faster. This week on The Hidden Third, I speak to Anna Sorokin, better known as “Anna Delvey”, the infamous “fake heiress” whose real-life story…

  45. Embezzler Turned Prison Entrepreneur | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 2 h 12 min · Episode 10

    Justin Paperny is a former stockbroker turned convicted felon. In this episode, he takes Mariana from the schemes that landed him in federal prison to how he now coaches white-collar criminals on surviving…

  46. Father vs. Child Predators | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 1 h 30 min · Episode 9

    Todd Thomas’s daughter was 12 when he discovered she was being groomed by a child predator. What he did next changed the course of his life. Mariana talks to Todd about the moment he found out, the choices he made, the…

  47. Jeffrey Epstein Survivor | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 1 h 40 min · Episode 8

    Go to http://expressvpn.com/hiddenthird to find out how you can get up to four extra months. At 21, Lisa Phillips was assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein, an ordeal that marked the start of years of grooming and manipulation.…

  48. Russian Sex Spy | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 1 h 53 min · Episode 7

    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to http://betterhelp.com/mariana for 10% off your first month. Aliia Roza says she was trained by Russian intelligence in “sexpionage” and later defected after falling in…

  49. From Addict to Ironman | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 1 h 28 min · Episode 6

    Rob Archuleta takes Mariana from his meth-fueled days in Las Vegas to the grueling yet rewarding crucible of Ironman, tracing why he quit drugs and how the scrappy running club he founded, Addict2Athlete, is…

  50. Body-Brokering Survivor | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller

    · 57 min

    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to http://betterhelp.com/mariana for 10% off your first month. At 23, Sequoyah Thiessen moved to L.A., believing the “Rehab Riviera” would help her kick opioids. Instead,…

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