Welcome to "The Wolf Den," in this episode we venture into the heart of the American opioid epidemic, exposing the dark underbelly of pharmaceutical sales and the devastating impact it has had on countless lives. In this special feature, we invite you to join us for an exclusive and emotionally charged interview with Alec Burlakoff, a former top executive at Insys Therapeutics.

As we unravel the shocking details, brace yourself for Burlakoff's candid revelations, which lay bare the unethical practices that fueled the crisis. Insys Therapeutics, the Arizona-based manufacturer of the powerful opioid painkiller Subsys, faced bankruptcy after a groundbreaking criminal case brought to light a reckless conspiracy to illegally boost profits from the drug. Burlakoff, along with other executives, faced prison sentences, marking a significant turning point in holding pharmaceutical leaders accountable for their role in the epidemic.

Join us as we delve into Burlakoff's tumultuous journey at Insys Therapeutics. Driven by personal struggles with illness and depression, Burlakoff initially sought to make a positive impact in the pharmaceutical industry. However, he found himself entangled in a ruthless world where success often came at the expense of moral integrity.

In this emotionally charged interview, Burlakoff unveils the aggressive tactics employed to justify the sales of opioids, even amid legal controversies surrounding their marketing. His insider account paints a chilling picture of the unscrupulous practices that permeated the pharmaceutical industry during his tenure at Insys.

Throughout the conversation, Burlakoff doesn't shy away from confronting his own culpability, acknowledging the insidious nature of greed and its impact on ethical decision-making. His raw and heartfelt introspection offers listeners a rare glimpse into the moral dilemmas faced by those within the pharmaceutical world.

"The Wolf Den" doesn't just shed light on the devastation caused by the opioid crisis; it also raises crucial questions about the accountability of pharmaceutical executives and the role of regulatory bodies like the FDA. Burlakoff's emotionally charged testimony serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency for transparency, ethical conduct, and compassionate healthcare practices.

Join us for a riveting exploration of the opioid epidemic and the individuals who played a part in perpetuating it. "The Wolf Den" presents this thought-provoking interview, encouraging us all to confront the harsh realities and seek meaningful solutions to combat the opioid crisis affecting communities nationwide. Get ready for an impactful journey that will leave a lasting impression on your understanding of this critical issue. Show Links  Narcotics Anonymous  https://www.na.org/

This week The Pack is joined by a man who needs no introductions to anyone in the world of finance. Barry Jay Minkow, former American businessman, pastor, and 2x convicted felon, is now turned, fraud hunter.  

 At 16, Minkow founded ZZZZ Best, an immensely successful carpet cleaning and restoration company. However, it was a front to attract investment for a massive mafia-funded Ponzi scheme. ZZZZ Best collapsed in 1987, costing investors and lenders $100 million in one of the largest investment frauds ever perpetrated by a single person and one of the largest accounting frauds in history. It is often used as a case study of accounting fraud.

After being released from jail, Minkow became a pastor and fraud investigator in San Diego and spoke at churches and schools about ethics. This ended in 2011 when he admitted to helping deliberately drive down the stock price of homebuilder Lennar and was ordered back to prison for five years. Three years later, Minkow admitted to defrauding his church and was sentenced to an additional five years in prison. He is subject to restitution requirements totaling $612 million.

 With his sidekick from prison, "The Big Homie," Minkow now uses his abilities to expose fraud and launches a new podcast called “Fraud Factor” Sit back and enjoy some tales from a HOF of financial scams and a bad guy turned good. 

This Week The Pack is joined by Winston Sterzel, (on Twitter @serpentza) also known by his  YouTube pseudonym SerpentZA. We talk about his time in China, his need to flee, How China has changed, and the chilling effect they have on free speech in the US.  Russia, Ukraine, and Vietnam and how China has its hand in global events.  

He lived in Shenzhen in the Guangdong province of China for fourteen years. His videos cover a variety of topics relating to life in China from a Westerner perspective. He moved to China to work as an English teacher after first visiting on business in 2005. In 2015, he was one of twelve South Africans in China profiled by China Radio International. He started uploading videos in China in 2007 and became a full-time vlogger in 2016. His videos primarily focus on life in China as viewed from a Western perspective.

Sterzel has also made videos about motorcycle trips through China. With fellow YouTuber Matthew Tye (who goes by Laowhy86) and other friends, he has taken extended journeys and produced documentary series titled Conquering Southern China and Conquering Northern China. He and Tye operate the YouTube channel ADVChina, a motorcycle travel vlog. Sterzel was also co-founder of a small, China-based custom motorcycle business, Churchill Custom Motorcycles, that is no longer in business. In late 2018, he said he desired to create "positive content" about China, but that a negative interaction with the Chinese police spurred him to move out of China.

In 2019, Sterzel moved to Los Angeles because he felt he would lose his life or be incarcerated in China following threats by ultranationalist Internet users, who accused Sterzel's wife of being a spy and a threat to national security. Sit back have a drink and let's talk about China since we can't go there.  Links

https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVPodcasts

https://www.youtube.com/@serpentza

https://twitter.com/serpentza

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Sterzel