Podcast Summary: The Burden (Orbit Media)

Episode: Introducing: Get the Money and Run - Trailer

Release Date: April 29, 2025
Host(s): Steve Fishman, Ben Adair
Featured Voice: Joe Loya (The "Beirut Bandit")

Overview

The trailer for Season 4 of The Burden, entitled Get the Money and Run, introduces listeners to the story of Joe Loya, once Southern California’s most notorious and prolific bank robber. Through his own words, Joe recounts a life shaped by violence, rage, and daring heists—unpacking not just the mechanics of his robberies, but the dark psychology fueling them. The season promises an unfiltered look inside Joe’s motivations and methods, as well as the law enforcement pursuit that trailed him.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Joe Loya’s Psyche and Method

• Preparation for Robbery: Joe describes entering a state of "peace" before a robbery, likening it to being in the "eye of the storm," utterly focused and free from fear.

  • Quote:

    "I had this peace almost. I was like, eye of the storm. And I'm like, focused on. Don't need no music, don't have no noise in my head, no fucking fear at all. And when I'm that guy, that guy gets shit done."
    (Joe Loya, 00:21)

• Execution: Joe would brazenly walk into banks, intimidate tellers through presence and words alone—never showing a weapon—and walk out with thousands in cash.

  • Quote:

    "Like, walk into a bank, walk up to a teller, and without even showing a weapon, walk away with thousands and thousands in cash."
    (Ben Adair, 00:34)

  • Quote:

    "I'm going to run roughshod right through any, like, resistance you have. You stand up, I'm cutting you in half. And you'll quickly see acquiescence is the best thing at this point. And they did."
    (Joe Loya, 00:42)

• Reputation: FBI agents and bank tellers alike were struck by Joe’s menacing presence—described as being "all in the eyes."

  • Quote:

    "He didn't pull a gun, why'd you give him the money? And they were all like, you know, his eyes. It's his eyes. He meant it. You could tell. And there was menace in my eyes."
    (Joe Loya, 01:00)

Early Life & Motivation

• Violent Upbringing: Joe shares that his capacity for intimidation and violence was shaped by a troubled youth, including prison time and an attempt on his father’s life as a teenager.

  • Quote:

    "I had attempted to kill my dad when I was 16. I'd already spent a couple years in prison. I knew how to carry myself and turn on that aggression, that sort of violent maleness."
    (Joe Loya, 01:07)

• The Role of Fear: Joe gained a sense of strength from terrifying others, intentionally cultivating chaos in each robbery.

  • Quote:

    "Just terrify these people and get them so scared that not only would they give me the cash, they would give me their terror. It made me feel strong. All I know is we're fucking helpless. All I know is anarchy. All I know is chaos. I just leaned into that."
    (Joe Loya, 01:34)

Promise of the Season

• Host Introduction: Ben Adair describes the upcoming season as “an all access pass into the mind of one of California’s most prolific bank robbers.”

  • Quote:

    "Coming soon, The Burden Season 4 Get the Money and Run. It's an all access pass into the mind of one of California's most prolific bank robbers."
    (Ben Adair, 01:23)

• Series Context: The season will examine not only the thrilling details of Joe's criminal activity but also his personal history and the larger pursuit of justice.

• Exclusive Content: Listeners are encouraged to binge the entire season ad-free and with bonus content via subscription.

Notable Moments with Timestamps

• 00:12 – Ben Adair frames the series by asking: "When is walking to a bank not just walking to a bank? When you're walking to a bank robbery and you are the robber."
• 00:21 – Joe Loya describes his mental transformation before a robbery.
• 00:52 – The official introduction of Joe Loya, his notoriety, and the FBI’s perception of him.
• 01:07 – Joe relays details of his troubled youth and background in violence.
• 01:34 – Revealing how fear and chaos drove him, culminating in a sense of empowerment.
• 01:52 – Information on how to listen to the new season and where to find exclusive content.

Memorable Quotes

"You stand up, I'm cutting you in half. And you'll quickly see acquiescence is the best thing at this point. And they did."
— Joe Loya (00:42)

"Just terrify these people and get them so scared that not only would they give me the cash, they would give me their terror. It made me feel strong."
— Joe Loya (01:34)

Tone and Style

The trailer is intense, gritty, and unfiltered—conveying the raw energy of both Joe Loya's criminal career and his internal motivations. Joe’s language is blunt and direct, giving a real sense of the turbulence and unpredictability that defined both the crimes and his life.

Summary

Get the Money and Run will plunge listeners into the mind and memories of Joe Loya—a criminal whose intellect and savagery unsettled banks and agents across California. Through first-person accounts and investigative journalism, Season 4 promises to dissect the line between predator and prey, innocence and guilt, and the cost of living outside the law.

Listeners can catch the new season on all major podcast platforms or subscribe for exclusive ad-free access.