#91: Ex-CIA Spy: What They Don’t Tell You About Money, Success, and Power

Today’s guest is ex-CIA officer and founder of EveryDaySpy, Andrew Bustamante.

We went deep on the truth about government, money, perception, persuasion, and what real success actually looks like. He revealed how spy training connects to everyday life, why the CIA isn’t what conspiracy theories claim, and how the systems around us are designed to keep us predictable.

What stood out most is his blunt honesty: happiness is a slippery pursuit, financial success is the only objective success, and once you see how the world really works, you can never unsee it.

Key Discussion Points:

• The truth about the CIA vs conspiracy theories
• Influence vs persuasion (and how you’re being steered daily)
• How the world really works vs how we’re taught it runs
• Why governments don’t care about you (and never did)
• A debate on money, success, and what truly matters

Learn more about Andrew:

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4oEHBby

Read Andrew’s CIA book ‘Shadow Cell’: https://geni.us/ShadowCellBook 

Follow Andy on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante

Explore Spy School: https://everydayspy.com/ 

Support Andy's sponsor Axolt Brain: https://axoltbrain.com/andy

Listen to the podcast: https://youtube.com/@EverydaySpyPodcast

Follow Chris:

https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

Chapters:

1:30 – CIA breathwork and field prep
6:40 – Debunking CIA conspiracies
11:20 – What the CIA actually does
16:45 – Influence vs persuasion explained
22:10 – How algorithms control your thinking
27:30 – The red pill: once you see it, you can’t unsee it
33:20 – How the world runs vs how the world works
38:50 – Governments don’t care about you
44:30 – Systems built to keep you predictable
50:40 – External validation vs real success
56:10 – Heated debate: what money really means
1:02:30 – Net worth and how it changes everything
1:08:00 – Curiosity vs commitment: why most stay stuck
1:13:10 – Raising kids with perspective outside the US
1:18:20 – Working for nothing vs working for something

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