The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell

In this episode, Carlos McAdory shares his unbelievable journey from growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, to becoming involved in street crime, armed robberies, and eventually receiving a federal life sentence.

He breaks down how a local robbery case became a federal Hobbs Act conspiracy, why his codefendants cooperated, and how refusing to cooperate led to an extreme sentence: 20 life sentences. Carlos also explains the legal loopholes, sentencing errors, and federal “three strikes” issue that ultimately helped him beat life and come home after serving 19 years, 2 months, and 4 days.

This conversation covers street life in Minnesota, prison politics, federal sentencing, the trial penalty, legal appeals, studying law from prison, and the mindset it took to keep fighting when the system said he would never come home.

Watch as Carlos opens up about accountability, redemption, fatherhood, the justice system, and what he’s building now through his documentary work and podcast.

Go Support Carlos And Follow His New YouTube Channel @RebuildingCarlos

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00:00 Introduction: Carlos's Story

01:00 Background: Growing Up in St. Paul

03:20 Street Life, Gangs, and Early Crimes

08:40 First Prison Term & Sentencing in Minnesota

11:00 Returning to the Streets & Second Prison Sentence

17:50 Life in State Prison and Street Hustles

24:00 Transition to Federal Crimes & Armed Robberies

34:00 The Robbery Conspiracy Unfolds

40:00 Getting Caught: Arrests, Cooperation & The Feds

46:00 Going to Trial & Federal Sentencing

54:00 Life Sentence and Injustice in the System

01:04:00 Learning the Law: DIY Legal Battle

01:12:00 Breakthrough: Discovering the Illegal Sentence

01:22:00 Appeals, Denials, and Never Losing Hope

01:31:00 Change in Law & Second Chance

01:40:00 Coming Home: Life After Prison

01:47:00 Reflections, Lessons, and New Beginnings

01:52:20 Documentary, Podcast, and Final Thoughts
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Actor and Hollywood stuntman Erik “All Day” Audé joins The Connect for one of the most intense stories ever told on the channel.

In 2002, Erik was arrested in Pakistan after unknowingly being used as a drug mule and accused of attempting to smuggle narcotics through the airport. What followed was a nightmare: a death sentence, years inside one of Pakistan’s most dangerous maximum-security prisons, brutal conditions, riots, violence, corruption, and the constant fear that he would be the next prisoner executed.

Erik breaks down how he was deceived, what life on death row was really like, how he survived the prison system, and how he eventually fought his way back to freedom after proving his innocence. He also talks about his career as a stuntman, the importance of safety on film sets, and the lessons he learned from surviving the unimaginable.

This is a story about betrayal, survival, faith, justice, and what it takes to keep fighting when the entire system is against you.

Go Support Erik!

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Years-Pakistan-Erik-Aud%C3%A9-Story/dp/B0D1YFHP5X

Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Years-Pakistan-Erik-Aud%C3%A9-Story/dp/B07FSRBWGL

Aude’s Ice Cream Bar: https://www.instagram.com/audes_ice_cream_bar/

Tipsy Cow Bar and Grill: https://www.instagram.com/tipsycowshermanoaks/

Wine Bar: https://www.instagram.com/buvettela/

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

Betterhelp! You don’t have to be on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/connect

Lucy! Find LUCY near you at https://lucy.co/stores or save 20% on your first online order at https://lucy.co/CONNECT with promo code CONNECT.

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00:00 Erik Audé's Nightmare: Pakistan Death Row

01:39 Introducing Erik's Story & Book

03:11 Hollywood Stunt Work & Industry Dangers

07:53 On-Set Injuries & Stunt Safety Culture

13:32 Behind the Scenes: Drug Smuggling Logistics

16:08 Exploiting Drivers & Realities of US-Mexico Smuggling

18:29 Deception Schemes: Mules, Tragedy & Innocent Couriers

20:15 This Episode Is Sponsored By Betterhelp

21:24 How Eric Became a Dupe in the Drug Trade

29:34 Pakistan's Corrupt Justice System & Bribery in Courts

33:24 This Episode Is Sponsored By Lucy

34:56 Erik's Recruitment—A Glamorous Leather Industry Cover

46:14 Erik's First Suspicious Smuggling Trips

55:02 The Trip to Pakistan: Red Flags and Arrest

01:03:54 Jailed in Pakistan: Culture Shock and Danger

01:14:17 Abuse, Survival, and Corruption Inside Prison

01:25:27 Violence, Survival, and Learning the System

01:41:09 Erik's Survival Tactics and Prison Power Plays

01:54:28 Prison Riots, Boxing, and Navigating Pakistani Jail Hierarchy

02:15:33 Appeals, Pakistani Lawyers, and Winning Respect

02:35:07 Fighting for Freedom: Legal Maneuvering from the Inside

02:57:06 High Court, Vindication, and Leaving Pakistan

03:02:39 Return Home, Civil Suit, and Final Justice

03:11:00 Erik Today: Lessons, Life After Prison & Reflections

03:13:33 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Erik's Story
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Carl Johnson grew up in the streets of Baltimore during the same era HBO was filming The Wire — but while the world watched the show, Carl lived the reality.

In this episode, Carl breaks down what The Wire got right and wrong, how Baltimore’s open-air drug markets really operate, why the city became such a major heroin and fentanyl hub, and how the collapse of the old street-code changed the game forever. He also opens up about his own past in the streets, his mentor’s connection to the real Barksdale family, the violence that shaped Baltimore’s reputation, and why fentanyl has made today’s drug trade more dangerous than ever.

Now out of the game, Carl works in recovery and helps others struggling with addiction through the Baltimore Recovery Alliance. This is a raw, unfiltered look inside one of America’s most infamous cities — from someone who survived it and turned his life around.

We all watched The Wire. Carl Johnson lived it.

Go Support Carl!

Recovery Program: https://baltimorerecoveryalliance.com/

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

Hims! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/connect

Prescription required. See website for details and important safety information. Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra®. Viagra® is a registered trademark of Viatris Specialty LLC. Hims is not affiliated with or endorsed by Viatris.

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

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00:00 Meet Carl: From Baltimore Streets to Rehab Counselor

03:45 Intro: The Wire & Baltimore's Unique Drug Market

07:07 Fentanyl Takes Over: Shifts in Baltimore's Drug Trade

13:47 Opiates, Rehab, and Open Air Markets

24:33 How the Drug Game Runs: Corners, Crews, and the Feds

32:14 Baltimore's Changing Landscape: Projects, Gentrification

38:11 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims

39:47 Abandoned Buildings and Homicide Culture

50:25 Guns, Violence, and Life on the Corners

01:03:41 Life Lessons from the Streets: The Barksdale Legacy

01:11:15 Getting Into the Game: Carl's Early Hustles

01:19:55 Crack vs. Heroin: Insider Secrets, Hustle Hierarchies & Survival

01:34:32 Prison, Probation, and the Turning Point

02:05:31 Rehab, Redemption & Breaking Cycles

02:21:55 Addiction, Policy & Baltimore Recovery Alliance
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In this raw and unfiltered interview, Polo Cisneros breaks down how he built a multi-year career in the cocaine trade — and how the COVID-19 pandemic created the perfect storm for him to make over $1 million in record time.

From supply shortages and skyrocketing prices to underground business strategies, Polo explains how the streets really work behind the scenes. He shares how he avoided prison for nearly two decades, the mindset that kept him alive, and why he ultimately walked away from the game.

This isn’t a glorified story — it’s a real look at the risks, the money, and the consequences of life in the drug trade.

In this episode:

-How COVID changed the drug market overnight

-Turning 1 kilo into massive profit

-The strategy behind wholesale vs street-level dealing

-Why he avoided violence and stayed under the radar

-The moment he knew it was time to quit

-The hidden costs of the lifestyle

IG: https://www.instagram.com/get_yours_1000

Podcast: @Allways_In_Motion

Website: https://allwaysinmotionproductions.com/

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

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00:00 Meet Polo Cisneros

02:46 Building a Steady Coke Business

06:54 Learning the Game in New York & Jersey

09:29 Barbering, Connections & Learning to Press

13:37 Raw Product, Customers & Quality Control

15:19 Caribbean vs. Mexican Supply Routes

17:39 Colorado Grow & the Houston Connection

22:00 Walking Away From Bigger Cartel Ties

24:49 Growing the Business & Reinvesting in Logistics

28:18 Monthly Profit, Family Life & Staying Low-Key

31:13 Stash Spots, Driving Rules & Managing Risk

38:20 College Towns, Shore Towns & Out-of-State Customers

41:39 Molly, Club Drugs & Changing Trends

43:16 COVID Coke Shortage Changes Everything

45:01 Turning One Brick Into Ten

47:00 Making $2 Million During Lockdown

52:19 The Market Crashes & Going Legit

01:14:03 Filmmaking, Arrest, and Life After the Game
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Houston street hustler Jugg sits down with to tell the unbelievable story of how he helped fuel the hydrocodone pill explosion across Louisiana and Texas during the early opioid epidemic. From moving thousands of pills a week out of Houston pain clinics to watching entire communities fall into addiction, Jugg gives a raw firsthand account of the rise of “lean culture,” pill trafficking, doctor shopping, Roxy 30s, and the transition into today’s fentanyl crisis.

In this interview, Jugg breaks down:

-How Houston pain clinics operated during the opioid boom

-Making millions trafficking hydrocodone and Roxy pills

-Drug culture in Houston and Louisiana in the 2000s

-The rise of lean, syrup, and pill addiction

-Corrupt clinics, pharmacies, and doctor shopping

-Prison, street politics, and surviving the game

-Why fentanyl changed everything

-His life after prison running trucking businesses and podcasts

This is one of the wildest untold stories from the Southern opioid epidemic — straight from someone who lived it.

Go Support Jugg!

IG: https://www.instagram.com/juggwdh

YouTube: @wdhtv2

This Episode Is #Sponsored By

Superpower! Head to https://superpower.com and use code CONNECT at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod

Hims! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/connect

Prescription required. See website for details and important safety information. Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra®. Viagra® is a registered trademark of Viatris Specialty LLC. Hims is not affiliated with or endorsed by Viatris.

Hell Fresh! Go to https://hellofresh.com/connect10fm now to Get 10 Free Meals + a Free breakfast for Life! One per box with active subscription. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. That’s HelloFresh dot com slash connect10fm to Get 10 Free Meals + free breakfast for Life.

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00:00 Ground Floor of the Pill Game

01:45 Introducing Jugg: Origins & Early Hustle

03:30 Family Ties & Teenage Hustling

05:27 Crack, Pills & Generational Drug Shifts

08:17 The Houston Move & Pain Clinics

11:17 The Hydrocodone Boom

14:07 The Pill Market: Operations & Economics

19:07 Scaling Up: Distribution, Profits & Players

20:45 This Episode Is Sponsored By Superpower

22:29 From Weed to Pills: Business Evolution

28:07 Doctor Shopping & Law Enforcement Crackdown

29:56 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims

31:38 Switching to Roxys & New Market Challenges

35:37 Effects on Community & Pill Culture

39:34 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hello Fresh

41:05 The Pharmacy System & Regulatory Changes

45:07 Crossing Over: Racial Lines & Generational Impact

48:57 Legal Troubles & Escalating Risks

53:07 Prison Time & Lessons Learned

01:00:17 Fake Pills & Fentanyl Danger

01:04:57 Rap Life vs. Hustle Life

01:10:47 Life after the Game: Trucking & Entrepreneurship

01:14:57 Logistics, Trucking, and Felon-Friendly Careers

01:19:17 Reflections, Community & Closing Thoughts
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