Kriti Mehrotra
As a long-form documentary, we can only describe it as being equally captivating, crazy, and complicated. Netflix’s ‘Running with the Devil: The Wild World of John McAfee’ is simply unlike any other. That’s because it delves into the layers of the once-renowned tech entrepreneur’s years as a fugitive through not just revealing footage but also exclusive interviews with those interconnected. Amongst them was none other than then-Vice reporter/Editor in Chief Rocco Castoro — so now, if you wish to learn more about his current standing, we’ve got all the necessary details for you.
Who is Rocco Castoro?
Rocco Castoro (born 1982) was reportedly quite young when he developed a keen interest in journalism and decided to pursue the same upon graduating from Cardinal Mooney High School. He thus obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida- College of Journalism & Communications (2000-2004) before kickstarting his professional career as an Editor for The Satellite. He actually left the independent magazine for an Editorial Intern post at Vice in Brooklyn, New York, in 2006, only to gradually rise the ranks and be appointed Editor in Chief (EiC) in early 2011.
During this period, Rocco spent time with not only John McAfee but also the Ku Klux Klan, Snoop Dogg, along with several other intriguing personalities for exclusives no one else even attempted to chase. Of course, as expected, while some of these were incredible hits, others either did not work out too well or were axed entirely — like his 2013 report on the former tech mogul being on the lam. However, the Sarasota, Florida native stuck by the Media Group as the EiC as well as an Executive Producer, that is, until he chose to expand his wings through other endeavors in February 2015.
Rocco Castoro Runs His Own Reporting Company
From what we can tell, Rocco Castoro has since relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he served as a Producer at NBC Universal (2016-2018) before joining Collider as an executive. He only stayed in the position of Creative Director at the Studio for a year, though, because he then landed an opportunity to be the editor-in-chief for an online channel known as SCNR. Yet today, having pushed the boundaries of his skills, the 40-year-old has evolved into the Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of his own reporting company — he had to develop unique methods as Vice had handed him a lengthy 5-year non-compete contract upon resignation.
Therefore, now that the stipulations of his ties with Vice are done with, Rocco is truly letting his past stories, counter-corporate intelligence journalism, and real personality shine through. From the reports he pens on his business’ website to his ‘Devil in the Details: Running with McAfee’ podcast to his online presence, every aspect makes it clear he’s only getting geared up to grow further. If we’re being honest, his work is brutally honest and perfectly satirical. Coming to Rocco’s personal life, since he deliberately prefers to keep the details down low, we do not know much about it.
“I plan to release my long-form investigative reporting through my new company The Knows, including other stories that have been previously killed by my employers,” Rocco exclusively told The Cinemaholic when asked about his goals for the future. These will cover everything from the case of exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui to the public conflict one of the largest water bottling plants faces owing to its alleged corruption, amongst much more. He and his team have even “filmed a documentary on ‘comically terrible spy’ Val Broeksmit,” the missing Deutsche Bank whistleblower who was found dead in April 2022.
Rocco added, “Despite the serious subjects of my reporting, I use humor to reveal truths about powerful and influential people — especially the ones who have tried to keep me from reporting these stories.” As for his long-term goals, the journalist wishes to “make up for the last seven years of lost time during my non-compete period during which rumors and falsehoods circulated to discredit me. That includes a few fun revenge plans for the people who still haven’t made things right for holding me back from my work.”
We also asked Rocco if he believes the infamous tech mogul is still alive, as claimed by his ex-girlfriend Samantha Herrera in the documentary, to which he responded, “No, I do not think John McAfee is still alive. But I’m sure he would be gleeful over the theories circulating that he is still out there somewhere in hiding.”
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