# The Cruise Ship Virus & The $8M "Tape Cleaner" King

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/opie-radio-67207/the-cruise-ship-virus-the-8m-tape-cleaner-king
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/opie-radio-67207/the-cruise-ship-virus-the-8m-tape-cleaner-king.md
Podcast: [Opie Unfiltered (Opie Radio Podcast)](https://stenobird.com/podcast/opie-radio-67207)
Published: 2026-05-04T11:21:55+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cruise-ship-virus-the-8m-tape-cleaner-king--71852785
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71852785/nyc_subway_machete_video_the_8m_tape_cleaner_king.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/opie-radio-67207/episodes/the-cruise-ship-virus-the-8m-tape-cleaner-king
Duration seconds: 3794

## Resource

​The world is getting weirder, and Opie is here to keep score. In today’s episode, we are joined by Comedian Tony P to break down the terrifying news of a Hantavirus outbreak aboard the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius. We discuss the symptoms, the rodent connection, and why anyone still pays thousands of dollars to be trapped at sea with a "mouse virus." ​Then, we dive into the bizarre story of the "Tape Cleaner King," an Austin man who just pleaded guilty to moving $8.4 million in illegal poppers under the guise of "Pumpkin Spice" VCR maintenance. We also tackle the sheer frustration of the Five Boro Bike Tour holding New York City hostage, Rudy Giuliani’s critical condition in Florida, and the questionable quality of day strippers. It’s a Monday mix of high-stakes crime, medical horror, and essential New York observational humor. Subscribe to the Opie Radio podcast to join the conversation.

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## Transcript

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