25 | Rasmus Krath - Crossing the Darien Gap: Migration, Trafficking, and the Pursuit of Freedom
Mon May 12 2025
With no government presence, rampant cartel activity, and deadly terrain, the Darién Gap is one of the most dangerous migration routes on Earth—despite being less than 100 miles long. Every day, thousands of migrants from over 50 countries risk drowning, starvation, or violence as they attempt to cross this lawless stretch of jungle in search of a better life.
We often see statistics in the news—but Rasmus Krath, documentary filmmaker and adventurer, is determined to put faces to those numbers.
In this episode, Rasmus shares his firsthand experience crossing the Darién Gap with a Venezuelan family fleeing political and economic collapse. With previous work in conflict zones like Afghanistan and Somalia, this became his most personal and dangerous project to date. He opens up about the power of storytelling to humanize migration, challenge public narratives, and inspire global empathy.
In this powerful conversation, we explore the real human stories behind mass migration, the brutal dangers of jungle crossings, and the filmmaker’s mission to humanize those too often reduced to statistics.
This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in:
- Human migration and the untold realities behind border crossings
- Documentary Filmmaking in conflict zones and ungoverned territories
- Firsthand accounts from the Darién Gap—one of the world’s most dangerous routes
- Debunking myths about migrants, cartels, and U.S. border issues
- Empathy-driven media that puts real people before politics
🔔 Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@adventures.less.traveled
🌐 Learn more about the upcoming documentary: https://vimeo.com/user197865632
GUEST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasmus_krath/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rasmuskrath
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasmus-krath-a6487237/
- Website: https://www.rasmuskrath.dk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rasmus.krath.3/
- Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user197865632
PODCAST LINKS
- Podcast Website: https://adventures-less-traveled.com
- Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LpB7vI
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-less-traveled/id1681357393
OUTLINE
(00:00) – Introduction: Venezuela Crisis & Mass Migration
(02:00) – Documentary filmmaking & humanizing migration
(04:00) – Universal hopes and dreams among migrants
(05:30) – Why the Darién Gap makes logistical sense for illegal immigrants
(07:00) – Survival Through the Darién Gap: Nature, Cartels & Lawlessness
(10:10) – Harrowing Experiences: Gangs, Robberies, and Sexual Violence
(11:45) – Complete Dearth of Government Oversight
(15:35) – Migrants vs Cartels: De-coupling Motivations and Debunking Border Misconceptions
(23:35) – What Makes the Darién Gap Different From Other Humanitarian Issues?
(28:45) – Global Awareness: Sharing the Documentary’s Message
(34:15) – Defining "Adventure"
PODCAST SOCIAL
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/adventures.less.traveled
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_ALT_podcast
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/AdventuresLessTraveled
More
With no government presence, rampant cartel activity, and deadly terrain, the Darién Gap is one of the most dangerous migration routes on Earth—despite being less than 100 miles long. Every day, thousands of migrants from over 50 countries risk drowning, starvation, or violence as they attempt to cross this lawless stretch of jungle in search of a better life. We often see statistics in the news—but Rasmus Krath, documentary filmmaker and adventurer, is determined to put faces to those numbers. In this episode, Rasmus shares his firsthand experience crossing the Darién Gap with a Venezuelan family fleeing political and economic collapse. With previous work in conflict zones like Afghanistan and Somalia, this became his most personal and dangerous project to date. He opens up about the power of storytelling to humanize migration, challenge public narratives, and inspire global empathy. In this powerful conversation, we explore the real human stories behind mass migration, the brutal dangers of jungle crossings, and the filmmaker’s mission to humanize those too often reduced to statistics. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in: - Human migration and the untold realities behind border crossings - Documentary Filmmaking in conflict zones and ungoverned territories - Firsthand accounts from the Darién Gap—one of the world’s most dangerous routes - Debunking myths about migrants, cartels, and U.S. border issues - Empathy-driven media that puts real people before politics 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@adventures.less.traveled 🌐 Learn more about the upcoming documentary: https://vimeo.com/user197865632 GUEST LINKS - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasmus_krath/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rasmuskrath - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasmus-krath-a6487237/ - Website: https://www.rasmuskrath.dk/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rasmus.krath.3/ - Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user197865632 PODCAST LINKS - Podcast Website: https://adventures-less-traveled.com - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LpB7vI - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-less-traveled/id1681357393 OUTLINE (00:00) – Introduction: Venezuela Crisis & Mass Migration (02:00) – Documentary filmmaking & humanizing migration (04:00) – Universal hopes and dreams among migrants (05:30) – Why the Darién Gap makes logistical sense for illegal immigrants (07:00) – Survival Through the Darién Gap: Nature, Cartels & Lawlessness (10:10) – Harrowing Experiences: Gangs, Robberies, and Sexual Violence (11:45) – Complete Dearth of Government Oversight (15:35) – Migrants vs Cartels: De-coupling Motivations and Debunking Border Misconceptions (23:35) – What Makes the Darién Gap Different From Other Humanitarian Issues? (28:45) – Global Awareness: Sharing the Documentary’s Message (34:15) – Defining "Adventure" PODCAST SOCIAL - Instagram: https://instagram.com/adventures.less.traveled - Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_ALT_podcast - Facebook: https://facebook.com/AdventuresLessTraveled