WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.940 Welcome, curious minds, to another deep dive. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:06.280 Today we're embarking on, well, an intellectual 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:08.939 shortcut, you could say. We're exploring some 00:00:08.939 --> 00:00:11.839 really pressing social issues of our time, but 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:14.900 through the lens of one exceptional American 00:00:14.900 --> 00:00:17.320 journalist and author. That's right. His career 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:21.079 is just, it's a testament to unearthing hidden 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:23.859 truths. and crafting narrative so compelling, 00:00:24.100 --> 00:00:26.600 they genuinely reshape how we understand things. 00:00:26.820 --> 00:00:28.660 Indeed. We're delving into the extensive work 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:31.519 of Sam Kanonis. He's a reporter and author based 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:33.740 out in Los Angeles. And his writing isn't just 00:00:33.740 --> 00:00:35.740 straight reportage, is it? It's more like this 00:00:35.740 --> 00:00:39.759 masterful act of connection. He links these disparate 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:42.539 elements of American and Mexican society. gives 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:45.179 us a clearer, much more nuanced picture of some 00:00:45.179 --> 00:00:47.200 really complex challenges. He's become such a 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:49.399 pivotal voice on everything from, you know, the 00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:51.420 intricacies of Mexican migration to the devastating 00:00:51.420 --> 00:00:53.659 impact of the opioid crisis. Absolutely central. 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:57.939 Our mission today is really to unpack his remarkable 00:00:57.939 --> 00:01:02.340 journey from local newsrooms all the way to becoming 00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:05.319 this indispensable chronicler of modern America. 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:08.040 You'll gain, I think, a really thorough understanding 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:10.400 of his investigative approach, the surprising, 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:12.579 sometimes pretty uncomfortable facts he's uncovered, 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:15.379 and the profound implications of his reporting. 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:18.650 What makes his work truly resonate for me anyway, 00:01:19.109 --> 00:01:21.969 is its ability to translate these huge societal 00:01:21.969 --> 00:01:25.489 shifts into deeply personal human stories. You 00:01:25.489 --> 00:01:27.769 actually see the faces behind the statistics. 00:01:28.049 --> 00:01:30.150 And that's key. We'll examine how his unique 00:01:30.150 --> 00:01:32.390 background changed his perspective, dive deep 00:01:32.390 --> 00:01:34.430 into the groundbreaking insights from his acclaimed 00:01:34.430 --> 00:01:37.170 books, Dreamland, The Least of Us, and we'll 00:01:37.170 --> 00:01:38.870 also broaden our view, look at his reporting 00:01:38.870 --> 00:01:41.769 on community resilience, urban challenges, the 00:01:41.769 --> 00:01:44.049 vibrant, often misunderstood aspects of Mexican 00:01:44.049 --> 00:01:46.469 culture, too. Right. And his career path itself 00:01:46.469 --> 00:01:49.379 is interesting. starting way back in 87, local 00:01:49.379 --> 00:01:51.480 newsrooms, and eventually becoming a full -time 00:01:51.480 --> 00:01:53.939 freelance journalist by 2014. That move seems 00:01:53.939 --> 00:01:56.439 crucial. Oh, absolutely. It positioned him perfectly 00:01:56.439 --> 00:01:59.120 to pursue these long -form, really impactful 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:02.799 projects with, well, unmatched dedication. The 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:05.400 journalists' roots in early explorations. Okay, 00:02:05.420 --> 00:02:08.159 so to truly understand the reporter behind these, 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:11.460 frankly, monumental works, we have to trace his 00:02:11.460 --> 00:02:14.669 journey back, back to his formative years. Where 00:02:14.669 --> 00:02:17.349 did Sam Keowns' unique perspective first start 00:02:17.349 --> 00:02:20.210 to take root? He grew up in Claremont, California, 00:02:20.590 --> 00:02:23.669 graduated Claremont High in 77, and later he 00:02:23.669 --> 00:02:26.909 went to UC Berkeley, earned not one but two bachelor 00:02:26.909 --> 00:02:30.050 of arts degrees, economics and American history. 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:32.460 That's quite a combination, isn't it? It absolutely 00:02:32.460 --> 00:02:34.400 is. And I think it's a really critical clue to 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:37.280 understanding his later work, that mix, economics 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:40.300 and American history. It isn't just interesting, 00:02:40.659 --> 00:02:43.560 it's profoundly synergistic. This dual academic 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:45.860 foundation suggests an early deep interest in 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:48.020 both the structural forces that shape societies, 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:50.620 you know, push and pull of markets, supply, demand, 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:52.819 incentives. This is big picture stuff. Exactly, 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:55.870 the big picture stuff. and the specific historical 00:02:55.870 --> 00:02:58.129 narratives that underpin them. He's not just 00:02:58.129 --> 00:03:00.129 looking at a moment in time, but asking, OK, 00:03:00.129 --> 00:03:01.810 how did we get here? And what are the underlying 00:03:01.810 --> 00:03:04.810 systems actually doing? Right, the why. The why. 00:03:04.830 --> 00:03:07.229 It lets him see not just what is happening, but 00:03:07.229 --> 00:03:11.069 why it's happening. Tracing these intricate causal 00:03:11.069 --> 00:03:14.270 chains, understanding the long term impact on 00:03:14.270 --> 00:03:17.289 people's lives, and this interdisciplinary approach. 00:03:17.469 --> 00:03:19.770 It's absolutely crucial for understanding his 00:03:19.770 --> 00:03:22.169 later deep dives into issues like the opioid 00:03:22.169 --> 00:03:25.150 crisis, which has the these massive economic 00:03:25.150 --> 00:03:27.930 ramifications. Think pharmaceutical marketing, 00:03:28.189 --> 00:03:31.110 illicit drug economies, and deep historical dimensions, 00:03:31.490 --> 00:03:34.210 too. Shifts in American society, public health 00:03:34.210 --> 00:03:37.389 thinking, even cultural anxieties. It avoids 00:03:37.389 --> 00:03:39.449 those simplistic explanations you sometimes see. 00:03:39.669 --> 00:03:41.849 Precisely. It's a hallmark of his ability to 00:03:41.849 --> 00:03:44.669 connect seemingly disparate events into a cohesive, 00:03:45.150 --> 00:03:47.330 understandable story. And you can really see 00:03:47.330 --> 00:03:49.169 that intellectual foundation starting to play 00:03:49.169 --> 00:03:51.909 out in his early journalism career, too, which 00:03:51.909 --> 00:03:56.069 was incredibly diverse before he settled into 00:03:56.069 --> 00:03:59.830 his more renowned long form work. Started in 00:03:59.830 --> 00:04:03.069 87, Orange County Register, getting a feel for 00:04:03.069 --> 00:04:05.590 local issues, community dynamics. Ground level. 00:04:05.770 --> 00:04:09.030 Yeah, ground level. Then four years as a crime 00:04:09.030 --> 00:04:11.750 reporter for the Stockton Record. Right in the 00:04:11.750 --> 00:04:14.270 thick of it. Understanding the grittier realities, 00:04:14.530 --> 00:04:18.129 policing, the human impact of crime. Real world 00:04:18.129 --> 00:04:22.060 consequences. Then 92 moves to Seattle. political 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:25.019 reporter for the Tacoma News Tribune. Think about 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:28.439 that path. Local news, then crime, then the mechanics 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:30.420 of political power. It's like he was gathering 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:32.660 puzzle pieces from completely different boxes, 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:35.410 wasn't it? Exactly. slowly building up this holistic 00:04:35.410 --> 00:04:38.069 picture of how society functions or, well, sometimes 00:04:38.069 --> 00:04:41.089 malfunctions. Each role gave him a distinct perspective, 00:04:41.430 --> 00:04:43.370 equipped him with this comprehensive understanding 00:04:43.370 --> 00:04:45.949 of American life from multiple angles, prepared 00:04:45.949 --> 00:04:47.910 him for the complex stories he'd tell later. 00:04:48.069 --> 00:04:50.089 He wasn't just watching, he was actively learning 00:04:50.089 --> 00:04:53.370 how these forces interact. And that diverse background 00:04:53.370 --> 00:04:55.790 really set the stage for, I think, maybe the 00:04:55.790 --> 00:04:58.300 most transformative period of his career. His 00:04:58.300 --> 00:05:01.560 move to Mexico in 1994. He worked there as a 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:04.319 freelance reporter for a whole decade. Until 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.100 2004. A decade. That's significant immersion. 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:09.279 It really is. Connect this to the bigger picture. 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:12.100 This wasn't just some assignment. It was a decade 00:05:12.100 --> 00:05:15.300 of profound immersion. It gave him this intimate 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:18.220 understanding of Mexican society, its vibrant 00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:21.000 culture, complex economy, political landscape, 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:24.139 a perspective that would become absolutely central 00:05:24.139 --> 00:05:26.740 to his later groundbreaking work. Migration, 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:29.600 the drug trade. You can't fake that kind of understanding. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:31.420 No, you really can't. He didn't just parachute 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:34.589 it for interviews. He built... deep source relationships, 00:05:35.029 --> 00:05:37.230 learned the nuances, the regional dialect, social 00:05:37.230 --> 00:05:39.829 customs, got that on the ground understanding 00:05:39.829 --> 00:05:42.730 few journalists ever achieve. He lived it. He 00:05:42.730 --> 00:05:44.949 breathed the culture, understood its intricacies, 00:05:45.050 --> 00:05:47.129 its challenges, its triumphs. It provided this 00:05:47.129 --> 00:05:48.790 incredible foundation, didn't it? It allowed 00:05:48.790 --> 00:05:51.850 him to tell stories with authenticity, depth, 00:05:52.209 --> 00:05:54.389 empathy, things you might not get from afar. 00:05:54.790 --> 00:05:58.029 Right. He saw Mexico not as some caricature, 00:05:58.370 --> 00:06:00.629 but as a living, breathing nation with its own 00:06:00.629 --> 00:06:03.519 rich internal dynamics. crucial for understanding 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:06.100 the transnational issues later. And it's so clear 00:06:06.100 --> 00:06:08.560 that Decade fundamentally reshaped his lens. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:11.480 When he came back to the states, joined the LA 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:14.519 Times in 2004, there's no surprise he immediately 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:16.899 started covering immigration gang -related stories. 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:19.639 His time south of the border just directly informed 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:22.000 his beat back home, gave him that unique perspective. 00:06:22.139 --> 00:06:25.660 It connected perfectly. But then, 2013, he makes 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:28.500 this pivotal decision, takes a leave of absence 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:31.370 from the Times. specifically to work on Dreamland. 00:06:31.389 --> 00:06:34.170 Right, a big step. And just a year later, 2014, 00:06:34.389 --> 00:06:37.350 an even bigger leap, leaves the LA Times entirely. 00:06:37.870 --> 00:06:39.990 Pursues freelance writing full -time. Yeah. Since 00:06:39.990 --> 00:06:42.709 then, his work's been everywhere. National Geographic, 00:06:43.029 --> 00:06:45.230 Pacific Standard, New York Times, LA Mag. And 00:06:45.230 --> 00:06:49.000 that move to full -time freelance? It was more 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.100 than just a career change. It was strategic. 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:53.959 It profoundly enabled his most impactful work. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:56.680 It gave him the freedom, right, to pursue these 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:59.339 long -form, immersive projects, the daily grind, 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:01.779 the deadlines of staff jobs. Well, they often 00:07:01.779 --> 00:07:03.899 don't permit that. You need time for that kind 00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:06.800 of depth. Exactly. Think about it. A newsroom 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:09.680 reporter is constantly driven by the 24 -hour 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:13.079 cycle, the weekly print deadline. Freelance work, 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:15.740 especially for major book projects, gives you 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:18.800 that essential time. Extensive travel, hundreds 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:22.300 of interviews, meticulously weaving complex narratives. 00:07:22.519 --> 00:07:24.480 The kind of multi -year investigations that define 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:27.439 his books. That independence gave him the latitude 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:31.129 to truly... deep dive, explore the depth and 00:07:31.129 --> 00:07:33.230 breadth without those institutional constraints. 00:07:33.790 --> 00:07:36.410 It let him craft the comprehensive human -centered 00:07:36.410 --> 00:07:39.129 narratives that define his contribution. It shows 00:07:39.129 --> 00:07:41.069 a real dedication to profound understanding, 00:07:41.350 --> 00:07:44.870 not just scratching the surface for daily headlines. 00:07:45.089 --> 00:07:48.250 Precisely. Dreamland, unveiling the opioid epidemic's 00:07:48.250 --> 00:07:50.470 roots. And here's where that independent focus 00:07:50.470 --> 00:07:54.079 really, really paid off. 2015, Sam Kinnares publishes 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:56.779 Dreamland, the true tale of America's opiate 00:07:56.779 --> 00:07:58.879 epidemic. This book just launched him onto the 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:01.899 national stage. For so many of us, myself included, 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:03.860 it was the first time we genuinely understood 00:08:03.860 --> 00:08:06.800 the intricate, often deeply uncomfortable origins 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:09.279 of this crisis. This crisis that continues to 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:12.560 just devastate communities. The book meticulously 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:15.040 explores the widespread abuse of prescription 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:18.319 painkillers, specifically names Oxycontin. Right, 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.959 the big one. And simultaneously chronicles the 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:24.939 insidious rise of Mexican black tar heroin, particularly 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:27.100 its distribution by traffickers from this one 00:08:27.100 --> 00:08:30.699 town, Salisco, Nayarit. What's truly illuminating 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:33.559 there is how Quinones connects the dots between 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:36.519 two phenomena that seem distinct but ultimately 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:39.840 converge to create this massive crisis. He shows 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:42.440 how the over -prescription and frankly aggressive 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:45.500 marketing of pharmaceutical opioids like OxyContin 00:08:45.690 --> 00:08:48.669 created this enormous population vulnerable to 00:08:48.669 --> 00:08:50.769 addiction. It wasn't just individual choices 00:08:50.769 --> 00:08:53.289 then. No, it was systemic pressures. These were 00:08:53.289 --> 00:08:56.210 legitimate, FDA -approved drugs being aggressively 00:08:56.210 --> 00:08:58.509 pushed by pharma companies, direct to consumer 00:08:58.509 --> 00:09:01.529 ads, sales reps targeting doctors, often really 00:09:01.529 --> 00:09:03.350 downplaying the addiction risk. Right, I remember 00:09:03.350 --> 00:09:05.929 those ads. And this widespread availability, 00:09:06.669 --> 00:09:09.190 combined with a cultural shift, you know, pill 00:09:09.190 --> 00:09:11.990 for every ill mentality, and this initial belief 00:09:11.990 --> 00:09:15.200 they were safe for chronic pain. Yeah. It created 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:18.639 this vast pool of people. People who, when their 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:21.100 prescriptions ran out or got too expensive, were 00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:23.759 left with a powerful physical dependency. Which 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:26.779 raises that huge question. How did legitimate 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:30.440 medicine, driven maybe by profit, maybe by misunderstanding 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:33.879 long -term consequences, how did it unwittingly 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:37.279 pave the way for a devastating illicit drug market? 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:40.000 Kenonis basically shows how the land of dreams 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.460 where pain could supposedly be managed risk -free 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:45.190 morphed into dreamland. A nightmare for so many. 00:09:45.370 --> 00:09:47.509 As individuals sought relief and just got ensnared. 00:09:47.649 --> 00:09:49.610 But his work didn't stop with Big Pharma, did 00:09:49.610 --> 00:09:52.009 it? He then dives into the incredible ingenuity 00:09:52.009 --> 00:09:55.029 or maybe terrifying efficiency of these heroin 00:09:55.029 --> 00:09:57.889 traffickers from Tlalisco, Nayarit. Yeah, that's 00:09:57.889 --> 00:09:59.710 the other crucial piece. He reveals how they 00:09:59.710 --> 00:10:01.690 essentially revolutionized the drug trade, moved 00:10:01.690 --> 00:10:04.350 away from traditional, often violent gang models 00:10:04.350 --> 00:10:07.090 with their turf wars to this highly decentralized 00:10:07.090 --> 00:10:09.629 direct -to -consumer system. So users didn't 00:10:09.629 --> 00:10:11.769 have to go into dangerous neighborhoods anymore. 00:10:11.950 --> 00:10:13.919 Exactly. They set up what you You could almost 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:17.019 call an early mobile delivery service. Burner 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:20.740 phones, unmarked cars, these intricate networks 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:23.220 of low -level dealers who prioritized customer 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:26.820 service, rapid delivery, even volume discounts. 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:29.580 Like pizza delivery, but for heroin. He actually 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:32.200 uses that analogy. He does. And this innovative 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:35.370 business model. designed for maximum market penetration 00:10:35.370 --> 00:10:39.070 and convenience. It made black tar heroin incredibly 00:10:39.070 --> 00:10:41.789 accessible, even in small towns, rural areas 00:10:41.789 --> 00:10:44.070 where it had never been common before. So it 00:10:44.070 --> 00:10:46.169 bypassed the traditional supply chains. Totally. 00:10:46.330 --> 00:10:48.389 Tragically fueling the crisis further, reaching 00:10:48.389 --> 00:10:50.450 communities previously untouched, effectively 00:10:50.450 --> 00:10:52.190 creating brand new markets for their product. 00:10:52.509 --> 00:10:54.590 The significance of Dreamland, then, it really 00:10:54.590 --> 00:10:56.710 lies in its ability to humanize the epidemic, 00:10:56.750 --> 00:10:59.889 right? And provide this clear, accessible, yet 00:10:59.889 --> 00:11:02.950 deeply complex narrative of its origins. Absolutely. 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:05.740 Before Dreamland, public understanding was so 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:08.940 fragmented, often blaming individuals or isolated 00:11:08.940 --> 00:11:12.320 crime or specific groups. Canonis offered this 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:15.460 coherent, multi -threaded story, showed how global 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:18.480 supply chains, farmer practices, societal shifts 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:21.100 in pain management, and these innovative illicit 00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:24.980 market strategies. How they all converged. A 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:27.759 perfect storm. A perfect storm, creating a public 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:30.690 health disaster on an unprecedented scale. and 00:11:30.690 --> 00:11:33.309 it fundamentally shifted the conversation around 00:11:33.309 --> 00:11:36.070 addiction. moved it from just a criminal justice 00:11:36.070 --> 00:11:40.149 issue to a recognized public health crisis demanding 00:11:40.149 --> 00:11:43.330 a multi -pronged response. It influenced everyone. 00:11:43.669 --> 00:11:46.049 Public health officials, law enforcement policymakers 00:11:46.049 --> 00:11:48.710 prompted this critical reevaluation of strategies. 00:11:48.889 --> 00:11:50.990 It really is a foundational text, isn't it? For 00:11:50.990 --> 00:11:53.309 anyone trying to grasp the historical roots of 00:11:53.309 --> 00:11:56.389 the opioid crisis. Shows this profound, often 00:11:56.389 --> 00:11:58.830 unintended consequences when powerful drugs meet 00:11:58.830 --> 00:12:01.230 vulnerable people and adaptable illicit markets. 00:12:01.330 --> 00:12:03.720 Couldn't agree more. So the core insight you 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:06.600 should take away from Dreamland, what is it? 00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:09.000 I think the truly transformative understanding 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.740 from Kiona's work is that this wasn't just a 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:14.659 crisis of individual addiction. It was a catastrophic. 00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:17.980 Systemic failure. Systemic is the key word. It 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:20.460 exposed how a medical system, maybe unwittingly 00:12:20.460 --> 00:12:23.039 co -opted by aggressive pharma marketing, created 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:26.259 this huge demand for painkillers. A demand that 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:29.039 street level innovators then tragically and efficiently 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:31.919 fulfilled. It forced America to confront this 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:34.970 uncomfortable truth. Some of our worst crises 00:12:34.970 --> 00:12:37.629 start in places we least suspect. Corporate boardrooms, 00:12:37.909 --> 00:12:40.850 doctor's offices, ending up on our streets. And 00:12:40.850 --> 00:12:42.870 that perspective is just critical for understanding 00:12:42.870 --> 00:12:46.070 the ongoing fight, revealing roots far more complex 00:12:46.070 --> 00:12:48.230 and interconnected than many realized. The least 00:12:48.230 --> 00:12:51.129 of us. The synthetic surge in community hope. 00:12:51.450 --> 00:12:53.850 As profound as Dreamland was, the drug crisis, 00:12:53.950 --> 00:12:55.409 well, it didn't stand still, did it? It kept 00:12:55.409 --> 00:12:58.509 mutating, intensifying. Unfortunately, no, it 00:12:58.509 --> 00:13:03.110 evolved. Six years later, 2021, Sam Kinones released 00:13:03.110 --> 00:13:06.370 its powerful follow -up, The Least of Us. True 00:13:06.370 --> 00:13:09.110 tales of America and hope in the time of fentanyl 00:13:09.110 --> 00:13:11.889 and meth. And this deep dive chronicles an even 00:13:11.889 --> 00:13:15.129 more alarming evolution, a new terrifying phase 00:13:15.129 --> 00:13:17.870 of the crisis. Yeah, this book explores the terrifying 00:13:17.870 --> 00:13:20.269 and incredibly rapid rise of synthetic drugs. 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:24.000 specifically fentanyl, and a new profoundly potent 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:27.039 form of methamphetamine. It details this critical 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:30.120 dangerous shift in Mexico from plant -based narcotics, 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:33.120 heroin from poppies, cocaine from coca leaves. 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:35.440 Things that grow. Right, things that grow to 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:38.200 drugs manufactured entirely from chemicals in 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:40.679 clandestine labs. And that change is huge, isn't 00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:43.080 it? Onumental. Because synthetics are far cheaper, 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:45.320 quicker to produce, they don't depend on farming 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:47.799 cycles, specific climates, large tracts of land, 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:49.919 makes production and distribution much harder 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:52.600 to detect, control, or stop at the source. I 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:54.980 remember that piece in the Atlantic from the 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:57.039 book. The title was something like, I don't know 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:59.340 that I would even call it meth anymore. Exactly. 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:02.559 That phrase alone just powerfully conveys the 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.480 terrifying transformation of a drug we thought 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:07.480 we understood. The large -scale production of 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:11.679 this new, highly neurotoxic meth in Mexico fundamentally 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:14.360 changed its impact. It's not just a drug causing 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:16.779 addiction anymore. It's a profound disruptor 00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:19.320 of brain chemistry. Leading to severe mental 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:21.840 health issues. Severe mental health issues, aggressive 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:25.039 behaviors, and consequently, this dramatic decline 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:28.320 in societal stability. This new meth, unlike 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:30.879 the older stuff, seems to just wreak havoc on 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:33.700 the brain almost immediately. pushes users into 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:37.200 prolonged psychosis, paranoia, severe cognitive 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:39.879 deterioration at an alarming rate, makes recovery 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:42.480 immensely harder. And the consequences are just 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:44.899 dire, rippling through the fabric of American 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:48.120 society. Quinones directly links this new wave 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:50.059 of synthetics, especially at this altered meth, 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:52.500 to the skyrocketing rates of homelessness and 00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:54.740 mental illness across the U .S. He shows how 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:56.500 these substances aren't just causing addiction, 00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:58.659 they're fundamentally altering people's capacity 00:14:58.659 --> 00:15:01.580 to function. Making stable housing, jobs, even 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:04.009 basic social connections incredibly difficult. 00:15:04.370 --> 00:15:07.009 Exactly, which directly contributes to the visible 00:15:07.009 --> 00:15:10.090 crises we see in our cities and towns. The tent 00:15:10.090 --> 00:15:12.610 encampments, the public health emergencies, the 00:15:12.610 --> 00:15:15.269 overwhelmed social services. The personal devastation 00:15:15.269 --> 00:15:18.029 is immense and its societal reflection is in 00:15:18.029 --> 00:15:20.289 those growing numbers experiencing chronic homelessness, 00:15:20.970 --> 00:15:23.269 severe drug -induced mental health challenges. 00:15:23.970 --> 00:15:26.789 It's transforming urban landscapes, overwhelming 00:15:26.789 --> 00:15:28.990 support systems. So if we connect this to the 00:15:28.990 --> 00:15:33.169 bigger picture. This shift is a new, far more 00:15:33.169 --> 00:15:35.429 dangerous frontier in the drug crisis. It challenges 00:15:35.429 --> 00:15:38.629 all the existing paradigms. It really does. Synthetics 00:15:38.629 --> 00:15:41.669 are cheaper, incredibly potent, bypass agricultural 00:15:41.669 --> 00:15:44.070 cycles, makes them far harder to control through 00:15:44.070 --> 00:15:46.309 traditional methods, which raises that critical 00:15:46.309 --> 00:15:48.830 question. How do communities, how do public health 00:15:48.830 --> 00:15:51.490 systems adapt to a crisis evolving so rapidly? 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:55.419 Creating these new complex challenges for rehab, 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:57.720 public safety, mental health, infrastructure. 00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:59.940 Traditional approaches are struggling. They really 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:02.820 are. Approach is often designed for opioids or 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:05.379 older meth addictions. They're struggling with 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:07.899 the sheer intensity, the unique neurological 00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:10.620 impacts, the sheer volume of people affected 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:13.840 by these new synthetics. It's not just an addiction 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:17.340 crisis anymore. It's a profound social breakdown 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:20.299 driven by these new brain -altering substances. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:23.620 It demands innovative, often uncomfortable, truly 00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:25.799 multi -sectoral solutions from every part of 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:28.980 society. Health care, housing, law enforcement, 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.799 community security outreach, all of it. What 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:33.960 stands out to me, though, even in this incredibly 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:37.340 bleak landscape, Keenonies isn't solely a chronicler 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:40.340 of devastation. The least of us is also imbued 00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:42.279 with stories of hope. That's right. There's hope 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:44.279 woven through it. Highlighting these incredible 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:47.139 efforts of Americans engaged in, well, Herculean 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:49.460 endeavors to rebuild their communities. In the 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:51.419 face of addiction, social breakdown... It's not 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:53.879 just documenting the problem. No. It's equally 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:56.100 about identifying and celebrating those actively 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:58.940 fighting to heal and rebuild. often with remarkable 00:16:58.940 --> 00:17:03.080 ingenuity, compassion, tireless dedication, usually 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:05.519 at the grassroots level. And this offers you, 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:08.539 the listener, a vital glimpse into that incredible 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:11.259 resilience, those innovative solutions emerging 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:13.640 from the darkest corners of this crisis. Stories 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:16.359 of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:18.779 reminding us that even in the bleakest times, 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:21.480 the human spirit of recovery, mutual support, 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:26.759 It persists. It shines through. Provides models. 00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:32.910 Inspiration. While his work on the drug crisis 00:17:32.910 --> 00:17:35.690 is obviously monumental, widely recognized, Sam 00:17:35.690 --> 00:17:38.190 Kenones' curiosity extends far beyond it. He's 00:17:38.190 --> 00:17:41.230 truly a keen observer of culture, economics, 00:17:41.450 --> 00:17:43.470 the intricate tapestry of life on both sides 00:17:43.470 --> 00:17:45.990 of the U .S.-Mexico border. He has a wide lens. 00:17:46.470 --> 00:17:48.390 So let's explore some of his other fascinating 00:17:48.390 --> 00:17:51.009 deep dives, starting with his earlier explorations 00:17:51.009 --> 00:17:53.910 into Mexican society. Tales from Mexico and Migration. 00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:56.799 His 2001 book, True Tales from Another Mexico, 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:59.599 The Lynch Mob, The Popsicle Kings, Chileno and 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:02.539 the Bronx. It's a compelling collection of nonfiction 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:05.279 stories, portraying life on the margins of Mexican 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:08.579 society, a country undergoing profound transition. 00:18:09.130 --> 00:18:11.650 What kinds of stories did he find that really 00:18:11.650 --> 00:18:13.869 captivated him during that decade living there? 00:18:14.150 --> 00:18:16.170 Well, what's truly remarkable here is how Quiñones 00:18:16.170 --> 00:18:18.710 captures the vibrancy, the sheer resilience, 00:18:18.750 --> 00:18:21.410 and sometimes the harsh, often overlooked realities 00:18:21.410 --> 00:18:24.569 of Mexican life. Outside those mainstream narratives, 00:18:24.930 --> 00:18:27.109 he wasn't just reporting on Mexico. He was immersing 00:18:27.109 --> 00:18:29.970 himself in these niche, often forgotten communities, 00:18:30.430 --> 00:18:32.910 bringing to light these powerful human stories 00:18:32.910 --> 00:18:35.710 of people living on the fringes. Like what specifically? 00:18:36.109 --> 00:18:37.730 Well, for instance, there's this fascinating 00:18:37.730 --> 00:18:40.650 look into a of drag queens in a small town preparing 00:18:40.650 --> 00:18:43.710 for Mexico's oldest gay beauty contest reveals 00:18:43.710 --> 00:18:46.250 this vibrant, unexpected subculture thriving 00:18:46.250 --> 00:18:48.750 amidst traditional society. Wow. Then there's 00:18:48.750 --> 00:18:51.769 the poignant, inspiring tale of a Michoacan village 00:18:51.769 --> 00:18:54.829 where the entire community makes a thriving living, 00:18:55.269 --> 00:18:58.250 producing and distributing popsicles palettes. 00:18:58.369 --> 00:19:01.869 Illustrates ingenious economic survival, entrepreneurial 00:19:01.869 --> 00:19:04.470 spirit that often drives migration. The Popsicle 00:19:04.470 --> 00:19:07.210 Kings. The Popsicle Kings. He also delves into 00:19:07.210 --> 00:19:09.869 the gritty legendary neighborhood of Tepito in 00:19:09.869 --> 00:19:13.309 Mexico City, a bastion of resilience, illicit 00:19:13.309 --> 00:19:16.549 trade, communal solidarity. And he shares the 00:19:16.549 --> 00:19:19.549 legend of Jesus Malverde, the so -called narco 00:19:19.549 --> 00:19:22.430 saint of Sinaloa, a complex figure reflecting 00:19:22.430 --> 00:19:24.970 this blend of local belief, folk Catholicism, 00:19:25.170 --> 00:19:27.170 and the ingrained culture of the drug trade. 00:19:27.569 --> 00:19:29.529 Fascinating. He even covers a shocking lynching 00:19:29.529 --> 00:19:32.289 in a small town in Hidalgo, exposing the darker, 00:19:32.329 --> 00:19:34.730 more brutal side of traditional communal justice. 00:19:35.009 --> 00:19:36.930 So not shying away from the tough stuff either. 00:19:37.069 --> 00:19:39.410 Not at all. Perhaps one of the most compelling 00:19:39.410 --> 00:19:42.329 narratives is the only known biography of Chileno 00:19:42.329 --> 00:19:45.710 Sanchez, an immigrant narco -currito singer who, 00:19:45.910 --> 00:19:48.670 despite being gunned down after a concert, rose 00:19:48.670 --> 00:19:51.509 from humble beginnings to become this musical 00:19:51.509 --> 00:19:54.140 icon. one of the most influential artists out 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:57.880 of LA in his generation. His raw, authentic music 00:19:57.880 --> 00:20:00.400 just resonated deeply with Mexican immigrants' 00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:02.640 experiences. These aren't just stories. They 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:05.440 sound like windows into a Mexico far more complex, 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:08.019 multifaceted, and deeply human than the typical 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:10.559 headline suggests. Exactly. And he continued 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:13.319 exploring these rich narratives with his 2007 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:17.309 book, Antonio's Gun and Delfino's Dream. True 00:20:17.309 --> 00:20:20.109 tales of Mexican migration, another powerful 00:20:20.109 --> 00:20:22.210 collection focusing on Mexican immigrants, their 00:20:22.210 --> 00:20:24.329 lives on both sides of the border, based on his 00:20:24.329 --> 00:20:26.849 reporting in Mexico. Again, what are some standout 00:20:26.849 --> 00:20:28.609 stories from this one that really illuminate 00:20:28.609 --> 00:20:30.750 the human experience of migration? Well, this 00:20:30.750 --> 00:20:32.910 book continues his tradition of revealing the 00:20:32.910 --> 00:20:35.470 unexpected. Imagine the story of the Henry Ford 00:20:35.470 --> 00:20:38.250 of velvet painting in El Paso Juarez, a truly 00:20:38.250 --> 00:20:40.250 unique cultural phenomenon speaking to cross 00:20:40.250 --> 00:20:42.589 -border entrepreneurship, artistic expression. 00:20:42.950 --> 00:20:47.130 Velvet painting, seriously. Seriously. of a vibrant 00:20:47.130 --> 00:20:49.789 opera scene in Tijuana, showcasing unexpected 00:20:49.789 --> 00:20:52.609 artistic flourishing in a place often stereotyped 00:20:52.609 --> 00:20:54.910 as just commerce or conflict. That's surprising. 00:20:55.089 --> 00:20:56.970 Isn't it? You also spent a season with a high 00:20:56.970 --> 00:21:00.269 school soccer team in Garden City, Kansas. Illustrating 00:21:00.269 --> 00:21:03.289 the integration, the challenges faced by immigrant 00:21:03.289 --> 00:21:06.349 youth in America's heartland, finding their identity 00:21:06.349 --> 00:21:09.009 in a new landscape. But what really underscores 00:21:09.009 --> 00:21:12.190 his dedication, the risks involved, is that dramatic 00:21:12.190 --> 00:21:14.569 account of how drug trafficking Mennonites in 00:21:14.569 --> 00:21:17.329 Chihuahua actually forced Quiñones to leave Mexico 00:21:17.329 --> 00:21:20.369 because he was reporting on their illicit activities. 00:21:20.509 --> 00:21:23.049 They had to leave the country. Yes. This wasn't 00:21:23.049 --> 00:21:25.490 passive observation. It was a firsthand experience 00:21:25.490 --> 00:21:28.990 of the dangers inherent in exposing uncomfortable 00:21:28.990 --> 00:21:32.049 truths within powerful, insulated communities. 00:21:32.809 --> 00:21:35.470 And interwoven throughout this book is the compelling 00:21:35.470 --> 00:21:38.710 personal story of Delfina Juarez, a young construction 00:21:38.710 --> 00:21:41.640 worker seeking opportunity. first in Mexico City, 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:45.500 then LA, embodying that quintessential migrant 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:47.940 dream and struggle, a story that resonates with 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:50.460 countless others, that story about the Mennonites 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:53.140 forcing him out. It speaks volumes about the 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:55.319 immersive, often perilous nature of his work. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:58.519 So the profound insight you can glean from these 00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:00.940 deep dives into Mexican culture and migration, 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:03.720 it's that his earlier books show you the rich, 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:06.960 multifaceted, deeply personal human stories behind 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:09.970 migration. Not just stats, but individual driven 00:22:09.970 --> 00:22:12.809 by hope, economic necessity, entrepreneurial 00:22:12.809 --> 00:22:16.410 spirit, and sometimes acute danger. It challenges 00:22:16.410 --> 00:22:18.890 us to look beyond simplistic narratives, understand 00:22:18.890 --> 00:22:21.269 the ingenuity and resilience of people navigating 00:22:21.269 --> 00:22:23.450 immense life changes. And that deep immersion 00:22:23.450 --> 00:22:25.849 also allowed him to report on specific policy 00:22:25.849 --> 00:22:28.799 and social issues with unique insight. showed 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.759 how deeply he understood the complexities. For 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:33.160 instance, November 2, 2012, he wrote about attempts 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:35.539 to reform the Mexican indigenous governance system 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:38.960 known as usos y costumbres, uses and customs. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:41.380 To the traditional laws. Right. Traditional, 00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:44.339 often unwritten, communal laws, self -governance 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:47.119 structures in many indigenous communities, often 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:50.299 predating formal national systems. Canonas explored 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:52.400 critics' arguments that while these traditions 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:55.240 preserve unique culture, foster local autonomy, 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:57.980 They can also create challenges. That's how. 00:22:58.259 --> 00:23:00.920 Specifically, they can marginalize migrants returning 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:03.680 home after years away. Wow. They might not fit 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:05.619 into the established traditional social order 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:08.619 anymore, fosters tensions between them and those 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:11.079 who stayed and upheld traditional ways. Interesting 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:14.720 tension. Then, January 2017, his L .A. Times 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:17.440 op -ed, The truth is immigrants have let us live 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:20.839 like princes, argued powerfully for the significant, 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:23.460 often underappreciated contribution of immigrant 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:26.200 labor to the Southern California economy. highlighted 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:28.440 how immigrant workers fill essential often low 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:31.119 -wage jobs underpinning everything agriculture, 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:34.279 construction, hospitality, caregiving. enabling 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:36.599 a higher quality of life, lower costs for many 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:39.099 residents. So it raises that question. How do 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:41.740 deeply rooted cultural traditions, even well 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:44.480 -intentioned ones, create unforeseen challenges 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:46.599 for modern communities, especially with migration? 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:49.660 Exactly. And conversely, how do we often overlook 00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:52.339 the fundamental economic contributions of immigrant 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:55.319 populations that are integral to sustaining our 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:57.839 societies, maintaining our lifestyles? Quinones 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:00.420 doesn't shy away from these nuanced, challenging 00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:03.079 conversations. He brings complexity, multiple 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:06.160 often conflicting perspectives of the four. Urban 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:09.220 decay, community resilience, and policy insights. 00:24:09.450 --> 00:24:12.190 Beyond these cultural and migration deep dives, 00:24:12.410 --> 00:24:15.009 Quiñones has also focused his lens on urban decay, 00:24:15.529 --> 00:24:17.650 community resilience, and some challenging policy 00:24:17.650 --> 00:24:20.710 insights closer to home in the U .S. His October 00:24:20.710 --> 00:24:24.130 2022 LA Magazine article, Skid Row Nation, for 00:24:24.130 --> 00:24:26.569 example, explored how the proliferation of that 00:24:26.569 --> 00:24:29.349 new highly potent meth, combined with the dramatic 00:24:29.349 --> 00:24:31.430 growth of tent encampments and specific court 00:24:31.430 --> 00:24:33.950 rulings, how all that contributed to the explosive 00:24:33.950 --> 00:24:35.710 growth of homelessness and mental illness in 00:24:35.710 --> 00:24:37.690 Los Angeles. Mm -hmm. Connecting the dots again. 00:24:38.029 --> 00:24:40.960 Exactly. shows his ability to connect these seemingly 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:44.460 disparate issues, the drug trade, evolving legal 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:46.519 decisions about public camping impacting law 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:49.259 enforcement's ability to intervene, and the visible, 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:52.640 heartbreaking crisis of homelessness. He's not 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:54.799 just reporting on the visible problem, but trying 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:58.000 to understand that full, intricate web of causes. 00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:02.119 They're cascading effects on a major city, painting 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:04.519 a pretty grim picture of how these forces interact 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:07.140 to create a humanitarian crisis on our streets. 00:25:08.509 --> 00:25:10.509 And he's not afraid to challenge conventional 00:25:10.509 --> 00:25:12.950 wisdom when it comes to solutions either. June 00:25:12.950 --> 00:25:15.549 2023, he published a particularly thought provoking 00:25:15.549 --> 00:25:18.289 piece in the Atlantic. Title was America's approach 00:25:18.289 --> 00:25:20.289 to addiction has gone off the rails. I remember 00:25:20.289 --> 00:25:22.670 that one. In it, he argued that law enforcement, 00:25:23.230 --> 00:25:25.809 and specifically a reimagined approach to incarceration, 00:25:26.230 --> 00:25:28.250 not just for punishment, but as a structured 00:25:28.250 --> 00:25:30.990 environment for recovery, are necessary components 00:25:30.990 --> 00:25:33.230 of a truly compassionate response to the overdose 00:25:33.230 --> 00:25:36.599 crisis. That is a really thought -provoking perspective. 00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:40.140 It challenges common assumptions, often forces 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:43.599 us to confront uncomfortable truths. Kidonis 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:47.059 is essentially saying an effective truly compassionate 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:50.460 response requires a genuinely multifaceted approach. 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:53.259 One that integrates elements often seen as opposing 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:55.539 forces like public health and law enforcement. 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:58.579 Not either. Not either. He argues that simply 00:25:58.579 --> 00:26:00.779 providing treatment in a chaotic environment 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:03.359 without addressing pervasive public drug use 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:05.680 and the dangerous influence of illicit markets, 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:09.599 it can be ineffective, even unsustainable. His 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:12.140 argument isn't for punitive measures in isolation, 00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:14.859 but for a system where incarceration, for instance, 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:17.299 could serve as a period of enforced stability, 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:19.960 a pathway to intensive, structured treatment 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:22.599 that might be impossible on the streets. So it 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:24.740 encourages critical thinking about what compassionate 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:27.920 really means in this context. Exactly, in the 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:30.079 context of a public health crisis that also has 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:32.759 significant public safety and social order dimensions. 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:35.759 It prompts us to consider how various societal 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:38.619 tools, when appropriately applied and integrated, 00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:41.480 can work together to genuinely help those suffering. 00:26:41.869 --> 00:26:44.349 Rather than letting philosophical divides hinder 00:26:44.349 --> 00:26:47.170 effective solutions, it's a call to move beyond 00:26:47.170 --> 00:26:50.190 that, either thinking to a more holistic, arguably 00:26:50.190 --> 00:26:52.529 more realistic approach. And it's inspiring to 00:26:52.529 --> 00:26:55.049 see him not just identify the problems in such 00:26:55.049 --> 00:26:57.609 detail, but also shine a light on solutions, 00:26:58.150 --> 00:27:00.410 however small scale or unexpected they seem. 00:27:01.029 --> 00:27:03.930 His February 2024 article for the Free Press 00:27:03.930 --> 00:27:06.289 highlighted how towns like Hazard in Eastern 00:27:06.289 --> 00:27:08.509 Kentucky, how they're turning to small scale 00:27:08.509 --> 00:27:11.240 local enterprises to recover. recover from the 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:13.259 staggering damage of the opioid crisis and the 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:15.779 decline of coal. Finding new paths forward. Yeah, 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:18.079 he reported on initiatives like local woodworking 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:20.660 shops, artisanal food producers, community -led 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:23.579 retraining programs, prioritizing local ownership, 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:26.220 sustainable growth. Not grand federal programs. 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:29.740 No, these are grassroots efforts. Born of necessity, 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:33.000 deep community engagement. These stories illustrate 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:36.220 genuine, practical efforts at rebuilding. emphasizing 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:38.480 local ownership, community -driven initiatives 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:41.259 as pathways to recovery, demonstrating that hope 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:43.539 and progress can emerge even from the depths 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:46.160 of devastation, often through the creativity 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:49.240 and resilience of ordinary citizens. The storyteller's 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:51.880 reach, engagement and accolades. Sam Kinones 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:54.559 isn't just a meticulous writer, is he? He's really 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:56.960 a public intellectual, actively engaging with 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:59.640 audiences across the country, profoundly influencing 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:02.220 policy. He gets out there. He does. He possesses 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:05.000 this unique ability to make complex issues accessible. 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:08.000 deeply personal, which is key for you, our learner, 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:10.720 seeking to understand these challenges. Following 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:13.579 the release of Dreamland in April 2015, Keonon 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:15.619 has embarked on this astounding speaking tour, 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:18.819 delivered 265 talks over the next four and a 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:22.480 half years. Wow, 265 talks. That's incredible. 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:25.119 Isn't it? Think about that level of commitment, 00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:29.140 direct engagement. He spoke in incredibly diverse 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:32.180 venues, small towns grappling with the epidemic 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:36.099 directly, major universities, over 50 across 00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:38.619 the U .S., crucial professional conferences, 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:42.000 judges, narcotics officers, doctors, public health 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:44.119 officials, social workers, addiction counselors. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:46.779 Everyone on the front lines. Everyone. This level 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:49.019 of direct interaction is so rare for an author. 00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:52.000 speaks to the urgency, the relevance of his message. 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:55.240 Furthermore, January 2018, he testified before 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:57.660 the U .S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, 00:28:57.980 --> 00:29:01.140 Labor, and Pensions. Directly bringing his insights, 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:03.680 his on -the -ground reporting right into the 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:06.200 legislative process, showcasing the real -world 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:08.359 impact of his journalism. That's significant 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:11.259 reach. And going back to 2012, even before Dreamland 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:13.500 launched him to national prominence, he gave 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:15.400 a compelling lecture at the University of Arizona. 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:18.700 titled So Far from Mexico City, So Close to God, 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:21.200 Stories of Mexican Immigrants and of Mexico's 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:23.759 Escape from History, shows his broad scope, his 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:25.359 commitment to understanding these intertwined 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:27.960 cultures. What's truly compelling there is the 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:30.519 sheer breadth and depth of his audience engagement. 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.980 He's not just writing for fellow journalists 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:36.220 or academics. He's directly addressing the people 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:39.079 on the front lines of these crises. The doctors, 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:41.279 public health officials managing the impact, 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:43.920 law enforcement dealing with safety, community 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:47.319 members living through it. And crucially, the 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:49.619 policymakers with the power to enact systemic 00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:53.019 change. This level of direct engagement ensures 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:55.619 his meticulously researched insights aren't just 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:58.900 heard, but actively considered. debated, hopefully 00:29:58.900 --> 00:30:02.059 applied in real world settings. His Senate testimony 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:04.240 in particular demonstrates that policy shaving 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:07.160 power of his investigative journalism. It's a 00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:09.380 clear sign his research, his compelling narratives 00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:11.980 are recognized as vital contributions, moving 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:15.079 beyond just observation to direct impactful influence. 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:17.559 And that direct feedback loop probably enrich 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:19.839 his own understanding too, right, informing his 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:22.599 later work. Undoubtedly a two way street. Beyond 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:24.980 traditional speaking, he also embraces digital 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:27.700 platforms, connects with new writers, expands 00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:30.380 his storytelling reach, which is quite forward 00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:32.539 -thinking, generous for a seasoned journalist. 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:35.119 Hmm, building community. In 2011, he launched 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:37.960 Tell Your True Tale on his website, an initiative 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:40.200 aimed specifically at encouraging new writers 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:42.819 from all walks of life to share their personal 00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:46.750 stories. Hope, struggle, transformation. To date, 00:30:47.029 --> 00:30:49.170 that platform has published over 50 stories, 00:30:49.609 --> 00:30:51.509 providing a voice to many who might not otherwise 00:30:51.509 --> 00:30:54.190 have one, creating this powerful testament to 00:30:54.190 --> 00:30:56.589 the human spirit. That's wonderful. And in February 00:30:56.589 --> 00:30:59.630 2012, he started True Tales, a reporter's blog, 00:31:00.089 --> 00:31:02.809 offers his ongoing insights, reflections, focuses 00:31:02.809 --> 00:31:06.269 on a wide array of topics, LA, Mexico, migration, 00:31:06.829 --> 00:31:10.509 culture, drugs, neighborhoods, the border, and 00:31:10.509 --> 00:31:13.839 naturally, the art of storytelling itself. Stepping 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:15.900 back, these initiatives show his commitment not 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:18.079 just to telling stories but to fostering storytelling 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:21.259 in others, expanding the very definition of narrative. 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:24.039 He understands that real, comprehensive understanding 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:26.579 comes from a multitude of voices, lived experiences, 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:29.599 not solely from professional journalists. Democratizing 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:32.140 storytelling in a way. Exactly. By providing 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:34.359 accessible platforms like Tell Your True Tale 00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:36.960 and his blog, he continually enriches the public 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:39.500 discourse around these often marginalized topics, 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:42.460 empowers individuals to share their own realities, 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:46.039 struggles, triumphs, helps build empathy, challenge 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:48.799 stereotypes, cultivate more nuanced, comprehensive 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:51.880 understanding, moving beyond a single narrative 00:31:51.880 --> 00:31:55.140 to a rich tapestry of human experiences. It keeps 00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:58.579 the conversation vibrant, inclusive, deeply human 00:31:58.579 --> 00:32:00.980 -centered. And of course, his deeply impactful 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:04.200 work hasn't gone unnoticed by his peers and critics. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:07.779 He's received significant awards, honors throughout 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:10.099 his career. Well deserved. Awarded an Alicia 00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:13.140 Patterson Fellowship back in 98 for stories on 00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:16.200 impunity in Mexican villages and early recognition 00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:18.319 of his investigative prowess, his willingness 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:21.819 to tackle tough subjects. 2008 received the prestigious 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:24.460 Maria Morris Cabot Prize from Columbia University 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:26.819 for career excellence covering Latin America. 00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:30.259 Testament to that decade spent meticulously freelancing, 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:32.779 immersing himself in Mexico. Major recognition. 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:36.000 Dreamland not only got widespread acclaim, but 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:38.960 won the coveted 2015 National Book Critics Circle 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:42.720 Award for non -fiction. A major literary accolade 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:45.319 speaks volumes about its impact, critical reception. 00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:48.500 Huge award. And his powerful follow -up, The 00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:51.299 Least of Us, nominated for the 2021 National 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:54.140 Book Critics Circle for best non -fiction, underscoring 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:57.279 its continued relevance, literary merit. These 00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:59.299 accolades aren't just shiny trophies, are they? 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:02.480 They signify the profound impact, critical acclaim, 00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:05.539 enduring importance his work has garnered, validating 00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:08.299 his deep dives, encouraging further exploration 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:10.859 into these vital subjects. They speak to the 00:33:10.859 --> 00:33:13.339 quality, integrity, profound resonance of his 00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:16.460 journalism. Outro. So what's the lasking takeaway 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:19.039 from our deep dive into Sam Quinone's remarkable 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:21.900 body of work? We've uncovered a journalist uniquely 00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:24.819 dedicated to unearthing the complex, often uncomfortable 00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:27.420 truths that shape our world. From dissecting 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:29.259 the intricate origins of the opioid epidemic 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:31.740 to exploring the nuanced realities of Mexican 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:34.680 migration and highlighting the inspiring resilience 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:37.420 of American communities, he consistently provides 00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:40.440 a comprehensive, multifaceted, and always human 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:42.910 -centered perspective. He shows us that behind 00:33:42.910 --> 00:33:45.490 every statistic, every headline, there are countless 00:33:45.490 --> 00:33:49.369 individual stories. Struggle, adaptation, profound 00:33:49.369 --> 00:33:53.289 hope compels us to look closer. His unparalleled 00:33:53.289 --> 00:33:55.890 ability to synthesize diverse information, spot 00:33:55.890 --> 00:33:59.269 patterns across seemingly unrelated fields, connect 00:33:59.269 --> 00:34:02.289 the dots between global forces and local realities. 00:34:02.730 --> 00:34:06.049 It makes him an indispensable guide, understanding 00:34:06.049 --> 00:34:08.980 today's most complex challenges. He encourages 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:11.300 us to critically question assumptions, consider 00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:13.500 multiple viewpoints, even those that challenge 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:16.059 our preconceptions, understand that solutions 00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:18.880 often require a holistic, empathetic approach, 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:21.539 integrating everything from public health and 00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:24.420 reimagined law enforcement to grassroots community 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:26.460 efforts. He doesn't just present facts, does 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:29.320 he? No. He masterfully crafts narratives that 00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:31.500 help us comprehend why these issues matter to 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:34.619 us all. making the abstract consequences of policy 00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:37.619 and economy tangibly personal, deeply resonant. 00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:39.900 For you, the learner, his work is such a powerful 00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:42.179 reminder that becoming truly well -informed means 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:44.860 looking beyond the superficial headlines, embracing 00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:47.420 the full intricate tapestry of human experience, 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:49.460 even when it's challenging or uncomfortable. 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:51.880 It's about understanding the deep interconnected 00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:54.780 systems shaping our societies and the enduring 00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:57.400 strength of the human spirit within them. Given 00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:59.599 the constantly evolving nature of the challenges 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:02.840 Kenona's chronicles, from the relentless mutation 00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:05.400 of synthetic drugs to shifting socioeconomic 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:08.460 landscapes, migration patterns, this raises an 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:11.280 important question for you to consider. As global 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:14.599 forces continue to reshape local realities, present 00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:17.699 new unexpected threats, what new connections 00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:20.500 might future deep dives uncover, and how might 00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:22.960 our understanding of America and hope continue 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:25.559 to be redefined in the coming years? Through 00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:28.039 the resilience and ingenuity of communities facing 00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:30.619 unprecedented change. The stories of our society 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:33.260 are never truly finished, are they? Always adapting, 00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:35.719 always revealing new facets of the human condition.