El Paso, 1989: Alex Silva is a bored and disaffected teenager whose life is going nowhere fast. But instead of keeping his head down, Alex is distracted by some wealthy Mexican customers. Chasing the scent of money, he discovers that they are drug smugglers who bring marijuana into the US from Mexico. What follows is a coming-of-age story, as torture, imprisonment, falling in love, and a jailbreak conspire to finally make Alex a man.&nbsp;<br><br>This show is joining Luminary. For more, go to LuminaryPodcasts.com

Scottish chef Gordon Malloch arrives in Saudi Arabia to start a new life as a catering manager but quickly finds himself a profitable side-line as a bootlegger. His homemade hooch makes him the toast of the ex-pat party scene. But when he is caught red-handed, he is sentenced by the religious police to nearly four years in prison and over 400 lashes.

When Englishman Shaun turns to Ecstasy as a relief from the stresses of his new life as a stockbroker in Phoenix, Arizona, he soon finds himself seduced by the money and glamour of dealing the drug on an industrial scale. It proves to be too little too late when, one morning, there's a knock at the door, and his world turns upside down.<br><br>This show is joining Luminary. For more, go to LuminaryPodcasts.com

When travel dreams turn to nightmares, from the creators of Dr. Death.<br><br>This show is joining Luminary. For more, go to LuminaryPodcasts.com

The City tells true stories of how power works in urban America. Season 1 begins in Chicago, 1990. After years of disinvestment, highways are rebuilt, old buildings demolished, and new skyscrapers erected. All that rubble has to go somewhere, and its destination isn’t a landfill—it’s a pair of vacant lots in a predominately black, working-class neighborhood called North Lawndale. The man behind this operation is a white guy sporting a Cosby sweater and underworld connections. What follows is a tour de force through Chicago’s underbelly: Aldermen get indicted. An FBI investigation goes awry. A community’s resilience is tested—all unfolding under the specter of racism in America. Look for The City on Apple Podcasts and subscribe to USA TODAY’s new investigative podcast series: https://apple.co/2Ot21Tu

What is it like to be famous before you’re famous? What is it like to walk in the shoes of another person? Each episode of IMAGINED LIFE takes you on an immersive journey into the life of a world-famous person. It’ll be someone you may think you know, even admire -- or maybe the opposite. You’ll get clues to your identity along the way. But only in the final moments will you find out who “you” really are. So sit back, let go, and -- imagine your life. Subscribe today at wondery.fm/imaginedlife

Listen to Locked Up Abroad host Jim Clemente's fascinating conversation with Billy Hayes, bringing you a more in depth look into his experience in Turkey and his escape from prison. We also hear about what Billy has been doing since his return and insights into his life then and now.

Jayne Blaydon is working as a stripper in West Yorkshire, England, when she is presented with a proposition to teach lap dancing at a new club in the Caribbean. She and her husband, David, arrive in Guyana, for what starts out as a dream vacation, but soon realize they have be tricked into smuggling multiple kilos of liquid cocaine back to England. They successfully get through two customs points before being arrested in Guadeloupe and end up spend two harrowing years in prison.&nbsp;<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

Reini Weigel, a 30 year-old German woman is at the end of a long trip to South America and wants to visit the legendary Lost City, a thick tropical rain forrest on the north coast of Colombia. She and Erez Eltawil are joined by four others and begin the three day trek through the jungle. When they arrive at their destination, it is late and they decide to spend the night. At 3.30am they are awakened by guns in their faces and machetes at their throats. They have been kidnapped by guerrillas in this remote region of Colombia. As weeks turn into months with no sign of release, the hostages become increasingly desperate and the group splits - each faction adopting a different survival strategy: cooperation with the kidnappers versus outright resistance, both groups pushing their tactics to the limit.&nbsp;<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

In July 2008, Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan is looking to make a name for himself. He joins photographer, Amanda Lindhout on a trip to record the conditions in the refugee camps in Somalia. They are aware of the danger, with rival militias fighting for control of the country, but feel protected by the guards assigned to travel with them. When they make a decision to go beyond their safe zone, they are kidnapped by a criminal gang. The ransom is set at $3 million; if it's not paid, they will be killed. What started out as a seven day trip, becomes 462 days in captivity.<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

David Scott was a 36 year-old machine operator in Swindon, England in 2007. When his father was stricken with cancer, he began searching the internet for information about the disease and unexpectedly began an online relationship with Cynthia Reyes a Philippino woman, who had recently left a violent marriage. After a few months, David takes a trip to the Philippines to meet Cynthia and their relationship deepens. David returns to England. A short time later, Cynthia calls to tell him that she is pregnant. Overjoyed, he immediately goes back to the Philippines to be with her, not realizing that the country’s strict laws regarding marriage and adultery will turn their life upside down.&nbsp;<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

In 2003, Brigene Young was a 20 year-old South African woman struggling to get by. Working two bar tending jobs to support herself and her 16 year-old sister, she just needs a break. When CJ, one of her regular customers, asks her to join him on a holiday to the luxury island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, she hesitantly agrees to go, with promises of a dream vacation. At the last minute, CJ informs her that she will be making the trip alone and she realizes he has tricked her into smuggling drugs onto the island. Against her better judgement, she decides to carry on.&nbsp;<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

Mike Cook, Mace Stanley and Frank Sayre recount their harrowing experience attempting to smuggle 2200 lbs of marijuana into the United Sates from Mazatlan in 1972. Mike, Mace and their friend Paul were California surfers soaking up the sun south of the border. When their boat needs more work than they can afford, they need a way home. They think they’ve found the perfect answer in Frank and his brother Dan. But they are in for a surprise when they are arrested and sent to a dangerous Mexican prison. In the grueling months awaiting a trial, they work on a desperate plan to escape.<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

Growing up in the South Bronx, 20 year-old Twana “TK” White dreams of a better life. Barely surviving on her salary as a security guard, she wants more. When a neighborhood drug dealer tells her that she can make $10,000 for a quick trip to Jamaica to bring back a “small” amount marijuana, she fantasizes about how that could change everything for her and her girlfriend, Scarlet. Checking into their luxury hotel with money in their pockets, they soak up the scenery for the first few days . When suddenly, things take an ominous turn, they end up learning a very big lesson.&nbsp;<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

Thomas Hamill was a truck driver in Mississippi in 2003. At 43, he felt that his life lacked adventure. The war had just begun and Thomas learned that the US military was looking for civilian drivers in Iraq. He decided that he needed to give something back to his country and that this was an opportunity that he was not going to miss. He kissed his wife and children good-bye and set off for Camp Anaconda in central Iraq. On April 9, 2004, the one year anniversary of the fall of Bagdad, insurgents kidnapped Thomas, holding him hostage, leaving him wondering what his ultimate fate would be.<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

When Phil Ashby joined the military, much of the appeal was the adventure and danger. His courage and hard work got him promoted as the youngest Admiral ever in British history. But a desk job was not for him. When the opportunity to work with the United Nations in West Africa came around, he jumped at the chance. In January of 2000, he was posted into territory in Sierra Leone held by the Revolutionary United Front. Sent to disarm the “boy soldiers” under the thumb of the vicious rebels, he ends up fighting for his life against these savages and must plan a daring escape.<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

The story of Chris Parnell. Running horseback riding stables in Kathmandu; happily married with a young child, Chris has the perfect life. When he and his family join a friend on a vacation to this tropical paradise, he is unaware that his good buddy is, in fact, a drug smuggler. Mistakenly charged as an accomplice, Chris begins an 11 year nightmare that costs him much more than he could ever have imagined.&nbsp;<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

Los Angeles in 1993. Brendan Cosso is a 23 year-old, carefree party guy, living the high life running the VIP room at one of the hottest clubs in Hollywood. The Roxbury caters to the A-List celebrity crowd and Brendan is at the center of it all. He and his best friends, Sebastian, Julio and Guy are on top of the world. Young, fun and unstoppable. John, a wealthy businessman who frequents the club, offers Brendan $50,000 to go to Brazil and pick up a package. He even cuts Brendan’s friends into the deal. Five days in San Paulo, all expenses paid. What could go wrong?<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

The story of Billy Hayes' 1970 arrest and imprisonment for possession of hashish at the Turkish Airport. Most of us know about his harrowing experience and amazing escape to safety in Greece from the 1978 Oliver Stone film, starring Brad Davis. But, as we hear from Billy himself, that was the movie version. Now, we hear the real story. In his own words, he tells us about his carefree post-college days, his reckless hubris, traveling to Turkey three times to smuggle drugs back to the United States for the easy money that funded his high flying lifestyle. He was no innocent first-timer as the movie suggests. But he definitely paid the price. This is a compelling, hair razing and emotional story. How did youthful arrogance play a part in tempting fate, going back again and again into the belly of the beast? How did he survive through five horrifying years? How has he recovered and what scars persist in his memories about the pain that he caused his family? Midnight Express takes us on that journey. Through the lows and the highs. This is not a Hollywood movie. This was his life.<br>Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2017 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved.

An audio adaptation of the National Geographic TV series. Hosted by Jim Clemente (host of the true crime podcast Real Crime Profile as well as the CBS documentary on Jon Benet Ramsey). Produced by Raw TV Ltd for National Geographic Channels. © 2015 NGC Network International, LLC and NGC Networks US, LLC. All rights reserved. *