About Grady Stewart

Grady Stewart is the bold and unfiltered voice behind Crimes or Misunderstandings, a podcast that dives deep into the real lives behind criminal convictions—where sometimes the story isn’t what it seems.

Grady was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, right on the border of Juarez, Mexico—once the murder capital of the world and a major hub for drug import and export. Growing up surrounded by cartel violence, Grady was married to the daughter of a high-ranking Mexican politician and gained firsthand knowledge of how cartels operate. He witnessed unspeakable acts, including the murder of his wedding bridesmaid and her husband, who were mowed down with AK-47s. Determined to escape that world, he came to Australia in search of peace.

He spent three years living in the East Kimberley, immersing himself in Aboriginal culture. Grady received a traditional skin name and totem, learned to hunt native foods like bush turkey, kangaroo, and goanna, rode bulls, and spearfished in crocodile-infested waters. But soon, the fight game came calling—and he went on to build the most televised cage fighting organisation in Australia.

His life took another dramatic turn when he ended up in prison—one of the only Americans to navigate the Australian correctional system. Facing deportation, he sat in his cell and prayed for a chance to stay in the country with his children. That prayer became a vow: if he could remain, he’d use his life to give back.

Crimes or Misunderstandings is the result of that promise. With a sharp mix of humor and gravity, Grady brings forward the stories of people who’ve been convicted—some rightly, some wrongly. His goal is to explore the thin line between crime and misunderstanding and give a voice to those often overlooked. More than just a podcast, it’s a movement for second chances.