The Pocket with Chris Griffin

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Ash Dykes. When most people think of adventure, they picture travel, fun, maybe a little challenge. For Ash Dykes, it’s life or death. From pulling a 120kg trailer through the Gobi Desert with no backup, to hallucinating his way to survival on the brink of heatstroke, to being held at gunpoint and crossing crocodile-infested rivers. Ash has lived through it all. But this isn’t just about danger. It’s about why someone would willingly step into the unknown, where death is a real option, and what that teaches you about life, fear, and resilience. Ash shares how he went from a small coastal town in North Wales to setting world records in some of the most extreme places on Earth, and the mental discipline it takes to keep moving when everything in your body is screaming to stop. This conversation is raw, wild, and filled with lessons that go way beyond exploration. Key Discussion Points: Nearly dying of heatstroke in the Gobi Desert Training for world records with just a tire and sledgehammer The “third man syndrome” that saved his life Why fear is a package deal with growth Leading with kindness in life-or-death missions This one will make you rethink what’s really possible. Follow Ash: https://www.instagram.com/ash_dykes/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Timestamps: 03:00 Why Ash chases danger 09:40 Childhood dreams in North Wales 13:20 $10 bike across Vietnam 18:40 Illegal jungle crossings 24:50 Mongolia mission begins 31:00 Dragging 120kg through the Gobi 37:10 Heatstroke and hallucinations 42:00 The “third man” phenomenon 50:30 Wolves, bears, and crocs 58:20 Breaking down on the Yangtze 01:05:00 The weight of leadership 01:12:40 Survival in the Amazon 01:18:50 Love vs danger lessons 01:24:40 Next mission on the Yellow River 01:30:00 Chasing legacy and purpose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real talk… Jim Fortin changed my life as a young 17 year old. It is very full circle being able to sit down at his house for over 2 hours and have him on the show. Most people are living life backwards. They’re chasing more money, more success, more things… all while stuck in the same identity that keeps pulling them back. In this episode, Jim Fortin breaks down why 99.8% of people are working from the wrong place - behavior over identity, and how to flip it so transformation actually sticks. We unpack subconscious programming, the stories we tell ourselves, habits that shape our entire reality, and how to finally step into the identity of the person you want to become. Key Discussion Points • Why most people “work backwards” in life • How your subconscious identity sabotages change • The hidden role of habits and stories • Breaking free from scarcity and limitation • The real path to lasting transformation Thank you all for the support. This one is special. Very special for me. Learn more about working with Jim: www.jimfortin.com/chris Follow Jim: https://www.instagram.com/iamjimfortin/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Apply to work with Chris to help launch or grow your podcast: www.thepodcastjungle.com/apply Timestamps: 00:03:00 – Why 99.8% of people work backwards 00:07:00 – Growing up poor and breaking free from it 00:12:00 – The truth about identity vs behavior 00:16:30 – Oprah, habits, and why change doesn’t stick 00:21:00 – The power of stories we tell ourselves 00:26:00 – Reprogramming subconscious beliefs 00:31:00 – My own resistance to coaching 00:35:00 – Doubt as the doorway to transformation 00:39:30 – How people’s energy shapes your life 00:45:00 – Relationships, attachment, and emotional maturity 00:51:00 – Financial abuse and subconscious control 00:56:30 – Why providing isn’t enough in relationships 01:02:00 – Doing vs being: where real change happens 01:08:00 – How identity creates self-fulfilling prophecies 01:15:00 – Final lessons on stepping into who you truly are Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This was raw and real. Straight from the heart filled with passion. Hopefully this can give you the nudge you need to take the leap. Apply to work with me to start or scale your podcast: http://www.thepodcastjungle.com/apply Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Savanna Faith Stone, a 20-year-old social media figure known for promoting traditional gender roles and Christian marriage, discusses her shift from liberalism to conservative tradlife. She debates feminism as a plotted movement, argues women should forgo voting for a more conservative nation, and describes how faith, marriage, and online backlash shaped her public persona.

Michael Smoak, a wellness expert and content creator, opens up about his transformative journey following the loss of his father. He discusses the importance of perspective, emphasizing how curiosity can evolve into competence. The conversation tackles the difference between confidence and ego and introduces the insightful table and plates analogy to illustrate self-sufficiency in relationships. Michael also highlights the power of ownership over victimhood, advocating for genuine communication and resilience during life's challenges.

Christian Guzman has built an empire in fitness but the road to Alphaland nearly broke him. In this episode Christian opens up about burning through $110k a month just to keep the lights on, taking a $1M loan that barely scratched the surface, and the relentless two-year grind that pushed him to his limits. We get into the chaos of building something permanent, the mistakes that cost millions, how ego can tank a healthy business, and why he is finally shifting his focus to balance, family, and the things that actually matter. This was a good one! Key Discussion Points: • The reality of running out of money mid dream • When ego makes business decisions for you • Building calm in the middle of absolute chaos • Why Christian refused to quit even when he should have • The role of family and relationships in building an empire • Knowing when to slow down after years of full speed grind Follow Christian: https://www.instagram.com/christianguzmanfitness/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Timestamps: 03:00–07:30 The property that made Alphaland possible 07:30–12:00 $110k a month to stay alive 12:00–16:30 The moment he thought he was done 16:30–21:00 Lessons from the wild twenties 21:00–25:30 Managing people without losing yourself 25:30–30:00 When ego wrecks a business 30:00–34:30 Choosing family over the grind 34:30–39:00 Making time before it runs out 39:00–43:30 Building a place people belong 43:30–48:00 What sacrifice really looks like 48:00–52:30 The loneliness of mastery 52:30–57:00 Why he never quits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Elliott’s story is pure grit. He’s been betrayed, hit rock bottom, and built it all back up not just once but over and over. Today he leads the largest sales training company in the world and still wakes up hungry every day.  We talk about building a self-belief that cannot be shaken, why suffering is the best teacher, how to lead yourself before anyone else, and why the right partner can be your biggest competitive edge. This one will light you up. People hate on Andy, people told me not to interview Andy, but I make sure I make my judgments based on my experience, not everyone else’s projections. I enjoy my time with Andy, I’m fascinated by him and I think you will be too. Key Discussion Points: • Why comfort kills growth • Loyalty you cannot put a price on • How self-imposed hardship sharpens you • Confidence vs ego and knowing the line • Drawing the right people into your circle • Building a team that feels like family • How physical discipline hardens the mind • Turning pain into permanent fuel • Why your partner matters more than you think • Playing for legacy and not just quick wins Timestamps: 03:20–09:11 Pain, suffering, and the refiner’s fire 09:11–12:00 The curse of comfort and staying hungry 12:00–15:45 Confidence vs ego and being coachable 15:45–18:45 Why connection beats information 18:45–23:05 Loyalty, betrayal, and building trust 23:05–26:47 How Jackie changed Andy’s life forever 26:47–30:15 Building a team that feels like family 30:15–33:08 Discipline, self-respect, and physical fitness 33:08–36:20 Creating life-changing impact for others 36:20–39:37 Using pain and doubt as fuel 39:37–42:02 The boring work that builds empires 42:02–44:53 Why family alignment determines long-term success 44:53–48:10 Changing who you are and coming back stronger 48:10–50:42 Resilience, redemption, and becoming a legend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn Wells is known as the world’s top supplement formulator with over 40 patented ingredients, but behind the success is a story of trauma, depression, obesity, and suicidal thoughts. In this episode, we dive into Shawn’s raw personal journey, how pain shaped his purpose, and why he believes modern life is leaving us all dangerously nutrient deficient. We talk about the lies we’ve been told about health, the war on our brains, the true cause of burnout, and why supplements are no longer just “nice to have.” This is one of the most eye-opening convos we’ve had on the podcast. Follow Shawn: https://www.instagram.com/shawnwells/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Check out our sponsor of the podcast: Dream Recovery. Use code GRIFFIN for 15% off your entire order: https://dreamrecovery.io/ Get a free podcast playbook with everything you need to know to build a successful podcast: https://thepodcastjungle.com/ Timestamps: 03:00–07:20 Supplements are no longer optional 07:20–11:35 Lifespan, healthspan, and youthspan 11:35–15:50 Escaping the system and ancient wisdom 15:50–18:22 How the food industry keeps us sick 18:22–22:05 The doctor who changed everything 22:05–26:00 Trauma, obesity, and internal war 26:00–30:04 Turning pain into purpose 30:04–34:30 Psychedelics and the second life 34:30–38:55 Loneliness, depression, and healing 38:55–43:20 Nightclubs, numbness, and real connection 43:20–47:00 Addiction, apathy, and burnout 47:00–52:00 Why caffeine makes you feel worse 52:00–58:04 Going viral with better energy 58:04–1:04:00 Kim Kardashian and Paraxanthine’s rise 1:04:00–1:09:45 Caffeine is not what you think 1:09:45–1:13:10 Understanding your bioindividuality 1:13:10–1:16:30 Smart supplementation for brain and sleep Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Baulch (aka PrimeTrain) was stuck in the loop, partying every weekend, waking up with regret, and telling himself it was fine because everyone else was doing the same. But deep down, he knew he wasn’t proud of who he was becoming. Seven months ago, he made a decision that changed everything. He gave up drinking, cleaned up his circle, and went all in on his potential. Since then, his business has hit six figures a month, his energy has shifted, and he’s finally living the life he used to just talk about. In this raw and honest episode, we unpack what it really takes to change, why so many men stay stuck in the same cycles, and the brutal self-talk that finally pushed him to break free. He’s not perfect. But he’s giving life a red hot crack. This convo was powerful. Key Discussion Points: – The drinking cycle most men can’t escape – Self-sabotage, regret, and rock bottom – How quitting alcohol unlocked his best self – Business growth and inner confidence – Why most people never change Check out our sponsor of the podcast: Dream Recovery. Use code GRIFFIN for 15% off your entire order: https://dreamrecovery.io/ Follow Tom: https://www.instagram.com/tombaulch/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Apply to join Chris’ Podcast School: https://www.thepodcastjungle.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices