This Is Actually Happening What if you entered the belly of the NARCO beast? [Rebroadcast #281]
Aug 12, 2025
Gladden Rangel, a musician and martial artist, shares his gripping story of incarceration in a Mexican prison following a nightclub altercation. He reflects on his troubled childhood and the transformative power of music that initially led him to a glamorous life. However, a chaotic confrontation thrusts him into the brutal realities of the criminal justice system. Rangel intertwines themes of violence, environmental degradation, and the struggle for personal peace through martial arts and meditation amid the chaos.
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Childhood Separation And Early Isolation
- Gladden Rangel describes being abruptly taken from his mother and sister and moved to live with his strict, religious grandmother.
- He built an inner life of drawing and insect collecting to cope with loneliness and abandonment.
Music Became A Way Out
- Gladden Rangel learned electronic music production and plugged into LA's underground scene through classes and pirated software.
- Playing at Studio 69 made him feel seen and convinced him he could make it as a DJ.
A Too-Good Invitation To Mexico
- Gladden Rangel accepted an offer from a stranger to headline a new Mexican club with room and board covered.
- He arrived feeling out of place but excited by the chance to build his career abroad.