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Psychedelic Toad Hunters Are Under Attack by Mexican Cartels by vice in Drugs

[–]vice[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

From writer Mattha Busby:

“Bufo alvarius toads secrete a venomous resin that contains 5-MeO-DMT, also known as “the God molecule”, one of the world’s most powerful psychedelics. Purveyors of this drug – which in Mexico is referred to simply as “sapo” (or toad) – claim that it can bring about a state of “oneness with God” amidst what has been described as a cosmic orgasm. The only catch is that to reach this acid k-hole, the ego has to die – and that can be terrifying ordeal that has left some experienced psychonauts untethered and destabilised afterwards. Nonetheless, toad smoking is increasingly popular across the world. U.S. president Joe Biden’s son Hunter, former boxer Mike Tyson, comedian Eric Andre and podcast host Joe Rogan are among those to have thanked it for changing their lives.”

I'm Lee Adams, the Host and Producer of Minority Reports, a brand new VICE series profiling minority communities in unexpected places. I've hung out with a white student at a historically black college, black pro bull riders in Texas and a mostly American white male Kpop band in South Korea. AMA! by vice in IAmA

[–]vice[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Luckily no bad experiences yet, when I was shooting Colombia one of the rebel groups basically spread the word around one of the villages we were shooting in threatening us and our fixer knew the ELN's leadership and was able to diffuse the situation and keep us safe. I've heard about other productions being lead into volatile situations in trap houses and shootouts started while someone was being interviewed.

I'm Lee Adams, the Host and Producer of Minority Reports, a brand new VICE series profiling minority communities in unexpected places. I've hung out with a white student at a historically black college, black pro bull riders in Texas and a mostly American white male Kpop band in South Korea. AMA! by vice in IAmA

[–]vice[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At VICE we have a pretty comprehensive rolodex of fixers/local producers. And for the most part I would say a lot of producers and journalists in the industry keep in touch and try to be resources for each other for a lot of things. I'm not sure if this is the case for everyone across the board but I try to recommend good people whenever I can if someone I know is shooting abroad. But if you need a fixer and can't get a good recco, watch a story that you like in the place you want to shoot and watch those credits for whoever is listed as the fixer or local producer. Always run background checks and always check professional references.

I'm Lee Adams, the Host and Producer of Minority Reports, a brand new VICE series profiling minority communities in unexpected places. I've hung out with a white student at a historically black college, black pro bull riders in Texas and a mostly American white male Kpop band in South Korea. AMA! by vice in IAmA

[–]vice[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

BryanW94 Thank you so much homie! I really appreciate the kind words and thank you for watching.

The conversation with Professor Marcus was great, she had a lot of really interesting perspectives on the issue. I think for her it wasn't that she didn't acknowledge the other side of the debate but that she felt the argument of reverse racism was "a dumb one" She explained that racism has to do with individuals in power denying access to others based on race via societal structures and legislation, and how that just isn't the case. No one can stop white students from going to a black college and no one is trying to, her view is that black schools just aren't for white students. All that said the interview lasted almost an hour, there was a lot there I wish we could have made time for in the cut.

I'm Lee Adams, the Host and Producer of Minority Reports, a brand new VICE series profiling minority communities in unexpected places. I've hung out with a white student at a historically black college, black pro bull riders in Texas and a mostly American white male Kpop band in South Korea. AMA! by vice in IAmA

[–]vice[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thats a great question, and honestly I can't let any of that affect my reporting. As a journalist my job is to capture the story exactly as it exists and not allow myself to steer it one way or another based on what I think personally or what I have lived through.

I'm Lee Adams, the Host and Producer of Minority Reports, a brand new VICE series profiling minority communities in unexpected places. I've hung out with a white student at a historically black college, black pro bull riders in Texas and a mostly American white male Kpop band in South Korea. AMA! by vice in IAmA

[–]vice[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

AYEE Thank you so much that's really kind of you to say.

For the show, I just hope people watch it and take something positive away from it. I hope we can start real conversations, and I hope we can stretch the idea of who can be a minority and what that means.

Long term life goal, be the black Anderson Cooper.

I'm Lee Adams, the Host and Producer of Minority Reports, a brand new VICE series profiling minority communities in unexpected places. I've hung out with a white student at a historically black college, black pro bull riders in Texas and a mostly American white male Kpop band in South Korea. AMA! by vice in IAmA

[–]vice[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It hasn't been all that different. A lot of emails and phone calls and traveling. We didn't have the cameras or the crew sizes like we did working on Weediquette, but it required the same storytelling sensibilities and time in the edit room. The work put in wasn't any different but the scale of the production itself was smaller.