We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

Former CIA Spy Reveals How To Read Anyone

39 snips
Oct 28, 2025
Guest
Andrew Bustamante
Andrew Bustamante, a former CIA covert officer and co-founder of Everyday Spy, shares his unique insights on reading people and building trust. He discusses the real superpower of the CIA—systematizing curiosity—and how it can transform personal relationships. Learn how to spot deception, the transactional nature of relationships, and the importance of hard conversations. Bustamante also reflects on his own journey from military life to the CIA, revealing eye-opening stories about identity, emotional connections, and balancing work with family.
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ANECDOTE

Commanding Nuclear Missiles At 24

  • At 24 Andrew became a deputy missile crew commander with two people commanding ten missiles and 30 warheads at 99% readiness.
  • That responsibility shaped his ability to tolerate uncertainty and perform under extreme stakes.
ANECDOTE

Recruited With Overnight Tickets

  • A recruiter overnighted plane tickets and arranged a covert interview that pulled Andrew from a Peace Corps application into national security recruiting.
  • He flew to DC blind, followed envelopes, and realized the process was sanctioned and serious.
ANECDOTE

Cutting Ties To Join The CIA

  • Upon recruitment Andrew was told to wrap up casual relationships, so he cut off friends and his girlfriend to reset his life for CIA.
  • He felt no loneliness then because joining CIA felt like finding his tribe, but later regretted erasing his past.
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