Habits and Hustle Episode 519: Andrew Bustamante: Reading People, Predicting Behavior and Creating Leverage
Jan 13, 2026
Andrew Bustamante, a former CIA officer and co-founder of EverydaySpy, shares insights on reading human behavior and influencing decision-making. He discusses the pitfalls of authority bias and the power of perception versus reality. Bustamante explains techniques to control emotional responses and the significance of body language in communication. He also emphasizes the importance of ethical leverage and defining true goals over assumptions, while reflecting on his transition from intelligence work to teaching practical skills for business and personal development.
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Episode notes
Life Undercover: Covert Cover Legends
- Andrew describes covert CIA cover identities and the falsified paperwork involved in covert employment.
- He explains covert employees hide their CIA affiliation even on mortgages and taxes for operational safety.
Thriving In The Seedy Corners Of Espionage
- Andrew recounts thriving in 'seedy' espionage environments like illegal matches and dark alleyways.
- He admits his personality traits (willingness to lie, detach from past relationships) made him suited for clandestine work.
Talk Less, Lie Simpler
- Speak less and simplify your fabrications to reduce memory errors when lying.
- Professional liars only deviate minimally from truth and control verbal and nonverbal alignment.
