Brain Drain with Connor McCann

In this two part episode of Crime & Politics: Colombia, I discuss one of the most famous drug traffickers and organized crime figures of all time: Pablo Escobar Gaviria. 

Many facets of Pablo´s life are well known, such as his massive wealth, temper and his war against the Colombian state and people, but what is less known is the war he waged WITH the state, against the Colombian people. 

In part one of Crime & Politics; Colombia, I discuss the Bogotazo, La Violencia,  the societal conditions that lead to the state working with Pablo, many of which had endured for decades and the players the state found in these places. 

In this short episode, I discuss an incident that occured back in 2010, an incident that made me analyze and think differently about myself, people around me and the world we live in.  

An incident where I saved a naked dude´s life.   

To find out how I saved him, why the man was naked and what came to mind vis a vis us as Americans, in contrast to history´s greatest conquerors, check this new story out now

On August 27th, 20009, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, an influential member of the Saudi Royal family, was greeting citizens at his palace. It was the holy month of Ramadan in the city of Jeddah and one of these citizens at his palace piqued the interest of the Prince more than others.  

This citizen´s name was Abdullah Al Asiri and he had a gift for the Prince.   

Namely, a PETN explosive device, hidden in his butt.  In this episode, we discuss Abdullah, the organization he belonged to and what we as Americans understand about an enemy we declared war on over 2 decades ago.

In 2007, I decided to take some magic mushrooms and go for a nice neighborhorhood stroll through the Mission District at night time. I was at a crossroads in my life and felt that a pscyhedelic experience could perhaps provide me some needed clarity.   

Clarity on what and how much of it I received wasn´t what I expected. I document the story in the first episode of my new series called Faded in San Francisco, where i discuss intoxicated episodes in the city by the bay.

In the second in a series of short stories from the streets of San Francisco, I discuss a young man I encountered on the 14 Mission bus in 2007. Many people then, as now, would be surprised to encounter me, an Irish Muslim, but what about the man I encountered, a Palestinian Norteño?

In this personal story, set amongst a surging drug epidemic in the early 2010s, I discuss an encounter I had with a couple of would be burglars in downtown San Francisco. A bit of city history, a seafood staple and how one views time all play a role in this tale, with another short story to follow

In August of 1996, it was the last day of summer in the city of San Francisco. Like many kids, I wasn´t thrilled with the prospect of returning, but unlike many kids I had a plan to miss the first day of school.  

By the end of the day, I would have my first brush with death. This is the story.  

Music:

 I think I was there: Emil Axelsson 

Sadness: Carl Henriksson 

Night Victim: Alan Carlson-Green

In the introductory episode of Underhooks, our new series discussing the stories at the intersection of Crime and Martial Arts, we bring to you the story of Amar Suloev. A former MMA fighter, Amar would find himself under indictment, but he was the far from the first sportsman in Russia to do so. We discuss Amar, his case and how athletes like him became foot soldiers in  post-Communism Russia.

A full visual experience of this episode is offered on Youtube

This week on the Brain Drain Podcast, host Connor McCann takes the show to the Tarim Basin, currently located in Eastern China. Starting in the 20th Century, mummies began to be discovered in the area and the identity of some of these mummies would surprised many. Join Connor on this free wheeling discussion of these groups, their history and who they would become.

On November 3rd, 1996, a car crashed in the district of Susurluk, three hours south west of Istanbul, Turkey. Inside the car were 3 men and one woman whose very presence together exposed a secret, long theorized alliance many believed in, but could never prove.  

Until now.