EverydaySpy Podcast
Andrew Bustamante
Hosted by former covert CIA intelligence officers Andrew Bustamante and Jihi Bustamante, the EverydaySpy Podcast gives you practical, powerful spy skills and insights you can use everyday. From parenthood fixes to career shortcuts, business hacks to geopolitical insights, this pod is for you if you are looking for frank, honest, and hilariously relatable truth from two real-world field operatives who have done and seen things they can't talk about (and will never forget).
Episodes
Mentioned books
21 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 17min
Ex-CIA Spy: The Real Reason the Iran War Started
A deep look at how intelligence assessments and public narratives about Iran diverged. Discussion of why Iran and Venezuela were not top national priorities in key strategy documents. Exploration of motives like legacy and perception behind political moves. Breakdown of regional coordination with Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Analysis of messaging aimed at U.S. audiences and media influence.
8 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 22min
CIA Spy: The Psychological Skill 99% of People Don’t Have
A deep dive into CIA-style skills translated for everyday life. Conversation covers predicting and directing human behavior, body language tricks that provoke reactions, and cultural conditioning around personal space. Techniques for planning outcomes, mirroring to build likability, and practical persuasion tactics are discussed. Tests for detecting deception and framing questions are also explored.
11 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 12min
The REAL Reason Iran Didn’t Retaliate (It’s Already Happening)
A deep dive into why Iran gave no public retaliation and how covert responses are unfolding. A look at how Israel and the US prepared and enabled a precise strike. Discussion of proxy warfare masking true actors and how perception is shaped. Examination of intelligence advantages in AI and the wide digital vulnerabilities that leave devices exposed.
Feb 27, 2026 • 21min
The U.S. Secretly Crushed Maduro — Here’s How It Really Happened
A deep look at how a layered, multi-service operation brought down Maduro and why Cuba shielded him. A clear breakdown of phone tracking methods like IMEI, ad tech signals, and email tokens. An explanation of how companies and agencies buy bulk location data. Practical defenses: using separate devices and changing routines to reduce tracking. A discussion of European intelligence strengths and integration challenges.
Feb 25, 2026 • 12min
Europe Is Sleepwalking Into Collapse — And Russia Knows It
A heated debate on whether Russia can be integrated with Europe and the strategic stakes if it aligns with Europe or China. Discussion of risks from admitting infiltrated states like Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. A call for Europe to reallocate resources from welfare bureaucracy into intelligence and defense. Proposals for faster governance, temporary emergency powers and a common defense framework.
14 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 13min
CIA Training: How to Brainwash & Influence Anyone (Ethically)
Andrew Bustamante, a former covert CIA intelligence officer turned consultant, shares CIA-derived influence and communication skills. He discusses quick, practical techniques to improve relationships and success. He explains planting seeds for long-term influence, competing survival and tribal instincts, and how consistency and recency win people over.
Feb 20, 2026 • 17min
While America Was Distracted… Saudi Arabia and China Built Power
Conversation covers how Gulf states parlayed oil into rapid wealth and pragmatic foreign ties. Discussion of China and Russia building power while the U.S. was focused elsewhere. A travel-risk segment about repeated detentions, phone cloning, and how to change behavior and security practices. Exploration of social credit realities and practical surveillance like auto-fines tied to IDs.
Feb 18, 2026 • 17min
CIA Honey Traps: How Governments Turn Good Men Into Traitors
A candid look at moral flexibility and why intelligence services seek it. Stories of undercover dilemmas where helping others clashes with tradecraft. A clear explanation of honey traps, how emotions are targeted, and how operations are planned and executed. An unsettling account of surveillance and compromise techniques rooted in historical spy methods.
10 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 18min
CIA Spy: America Is Losing — And You’re Not Ready
A candid conversation about how resignation and adaptability signal vulnerability to recruitment. A debate on whether American economic primacy is slipping and how China’s centralized tactics accelerated its rise. A CIA framework splitting people into motivate, manipulate, controlled categories. Warnings about bureaucracy, partisanship, and the limits of protest in fixing systemic failures.
8 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 20min
CIA Spy: Why the FBI Looked the Other Way on Epstein (A Dark Reality Check)
A frank breakdown of how intelligence agencies balance moral costs against geopolitical gains. A look at extradition, diplomatic deals, and how sensitive informants are managed. Discussion on whether alleged kompromat actually influences leaders and why public outrage often fades. A sharp critique of conspiracy thinking and how loyalty shapes political messaging.
