In this fascinating episode of the Atom CTO podcast, host Bhairav Patel interviews his long-time friend Toby Muse about his new book “Life and Death Inside the Secret World of the Cocaine Cartels”. Toby is a journalist who has spent years reporting from some of the most dangerous places in the world, including the drug wars of Colombia and the civil war in Syria.
The conversation starts with Toby recounting how he got his start in journalism, inspired by the writing of Hunter S. Thompson and Robert Fisk. He explains how he ended up in Colombia during the height of the drug violence in the early 2000s. Toby describes the intensity of the violence, kidnappings and massacres that touched every family in the country.
The two then dive into discussing Toby’s book Kilo. In it, he wanted to capture the feeling of being in the middle of the drug war – the madness, thrill, danger and allure of the cocaine trade. He gained unprecedented access to interview people at all levels of the cocaine supply chain in Colombia – from coca farmers and pickers, to drug traffickers and assassins. Toby reflects on the challenge of humanizing these people without being overly sympathetic to their crimes.
Throughout the discussion, Toby shares harrowing stories and close calls from his time reporting in Colombia and Syria. He compares the differences between the two conflict zones. In Colombia, the threat of violence from narco militias was a constant, heavy dread hanging over him. In contrast, Syria involved more immediate danger dodging bombs and bullets on the frontlines.
Toby says his goal with the book is to provoke a change in drug policy. After so many years and lives lost, he argues that the current “war on drugs” approach clearly isn’t working as cocaine production is higher than ever. While he doesn’t claim to have the answers, he believes we need an honest reevaluation of global drug policy to stop the senseless deaths in Colombia.
The interview touches on the challenges facing the journalism industry today and Toby’s advice for aspiring foreign correspondents. It ends on a reflective note, with Toby saying his advice to his younger self would be to dive in fully to creative pursuits you can be proud of.
Overall, it’s a riveting conversation that sheds light on the human side of the cocaine trade and the important, often dangerous work of international conflict reporting. Toby’s book sounds like a gripping read for anyone interested in learning more about the complex realities behind the drug war headlines.
If you want to buy this book or learn more about Toby, visit his website: