Bringing Business Wars to Life: Wondery’s Deep Dive into the Drug Cartels Era

Transforming an Audio-Only Podcast into a Compelling Video Experience

At Press Play: Creatives, we specialize in crafting engaging visual narratives, and our recent work with Wondery’s Business Wars gave us the opportunity to do just that. Typically an audio-only podcast, Business Wars takes listeners deep into the rivalries that shape industries and history. For their special Drug Cartels: Inside Miami’s Drug Warsepisode, we were brought on to provide video editing services, turning a compelling discussion into an immersive visual experience.

Inside Miami’s Drug Wars: A Collaboration with MGM+’s Hotel Cocaine

This special episode was a deep dive into the rise of Miami’s drug empire in the late ‘70s, a world that inspired the MGM+ series Hotel Cocaine. Hosted by David Brown, the conversation featured series creator Chris Brancatoalongside actors Danny Pino and Mark Feuerstein, both of whom bring this thrilling world to life on screen.

Set against the backdrop of the Mutiny Hotel, a hotspot for traffickers, politicians, and celebrities, the discussion explored the intersection of crime, culture, and power in one of the most dangerous yet glamorous eras in Miami’s history.

Our Role: Bringing the Conversation to Life

While Business Wars is known for its rich storytelling in audio format, this episode required a different approach—one that engaged viewers visually while maintaining the intensity of the discussion. Our role focused on:

🎬 Multi-Camera Editing – Seamlessly cutting between speakers to enhance the conversation’s natural flow and maintain visual engagement.

🎞 Incorporating Visual Elements – Adding subtle overlays, titles, and graphics to reinforce key moments and historical context.

🎧 Fine-Tuned Pacing – Ensuring the episode retained the signature Business Wars energy while adapting it to a video-first audience.

Why We Love This Work

Collaborating on projects like Business Wars: Inside Miami’s Drug Wars is why we do what we do. It’s about taking rich, compelling storytelling and elevating it visually—whether through dynamic editing, creative pacing, or audience-first design.

🚀 Looking to bring your podcast or event content to life with video? Let’s make it happen. PressPlayCreatives.com