From surfer to cartel kingpin… then a 60-year sentence. In this wild episode, Mark Branon shares his unbelievable rise as one of the biggest marijuana traffickers in the U.S.—moving up to 30,000 lbs across the country while working with the Sinaloa cartel. From flying loads over the border to building million-dollar smuggling operations, his story sounds straight out of a movie. But everything changed when a prosecutor targeted him… and he made a decision that would haunt him forever. Inside this episode: -Running multi-ton marijuana operations coast-to-coast -Working directly with cartel networks in Mexico -Close calls with DEA, informants, and betrayals -The attempted hit on a prosecutor that went horribly wrong -How his own lawyer flipped and helped take him down -Life sentence, prison politics, and eventual release This is a raw, unfiltered look at the rise and fall of a real-life drug boss—and the consequences that followed. Go Support Mark! https://thrivingagain.health/ This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: StopBox! Get firearm security redesigned and save 10% off @StopBoxUSA with code CONNECT at https://stopboxusa.com/connect #stopboxpod HelloFresh! Go to https://hellofresh.com/connect10fm now to Get 10 Free meals + Free Nutribullet® Ultra Plus+ 2-in-1 Compact Kitchen System (a $189.99 value) on your 3rd box. Free meals applied as a discount on the first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. Disclaimer: Must order the 3rd box by May 31st, 2026. Cash App! Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/1ekoiacn #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Cash App Green, overdraft coverage, borrow, cash back offers and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6mc4qAxpztC6D20wzeS91C Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU69IWUT8m_qPT01AbelXiA/join