How many threads can bring us beyond the headlines? In this episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry Davidson welcome journalist John Lechner to discuss Death is Our Business, an exposé on Russian mercenaries and the increasing privatization of warfare. Lechner recounts his experiences in war zones and illuminates the geopolitical forces shaping modern conflicts.

John Lechner (@JohnLechner1) / X

After the break, Larry sits down with bestselling true crime author T.J. English to explore The Last Kilo, a gripping look at the cocaine empire that reshaped America and it’s ongoing, though
sometimes misguided, war on drugs. English reveals the untold stories behind Miami’s biggest drug traffickers and the systemic corruption that enabled their rise and how two ordinary people can get caught up in running a drug empire.

T.J. English | Author | Journalist | Mob Stories | New York ...

The episode closes with a moving reflection from I. S. Berry on war, trauma, statistics and survival, marking the final recording from this studio.

Out of the darkness and into the light, The Artful Periscope signs off with gratitude for the threads it has woven.