CIA Whistleblower: They Can See All Your Messages! I Was Under Surveillance In Pakistan! - The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett Recap

Podcast: The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett

Published: 2026-01-19

Duration: 1 hr 46 min

Guests: John Kiriakou

Summary

John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer, discusses the depth of surveillance capabilities and his experiences with the agency, including his imprisonment for whistleblowing on the CIA's torture program.

What Happened

John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer, shares his experiences within the agency, noting the extensive surveillance capabilities that intelligence agencies possess. He explains how agencies can remotely control cars and convert smart TVs into listening devices, as evidenced by the Vault 7 documents leaked to Wikileaks.

Kiriakou, who blew the whistle on the CIA's torture program, served 23 months in prison for his actions. He maintains that revealing the truth was necessary, despite the personal cost, and remains proud of the McCain-Feinstein anti-torture amendment, which he influenced.

He describes the recruitment strategies of the CIA, highlighting that 95% of spies are motivated by money. The agency's recruitment tactics involve offering tangible incentives like passports or green cards, but typically avoid illegal items.

Kiriakou reveals that the CIA actively recruits individuals with sociopathic tendencies due to their ability to operate in morally ambiguous situations. He underscores the high divorce rate among CIA operatives, attributing it to the nature of the job and the training to lie.

The episode delves into historical operations, such as MKUltra, where the CIA engaged in unethical experiments, including dosing Americans with LSD. Kiriakou notes that the CIA director ordered the destruction of documents related to these activities.

Kiriakou expresses skepticism about various conspiracy theories, including the belief that Jeffrey Epstein was an Israeli spy using extortion as a motivator. He also discusses the extensive presence of spies in the U.S., estimating between 50,000 to 60,000 operatives.

He touches on geopolitical tensions, particularly the strategic planning of countries like China, which he views as a long-term adversary of the West. The episode concludes with Kiriakou's reflections on his life post-CIA and his desire for a pardon from President Trump.

Key Insights

• Intelligence agencies have the capability to remotely control vehicles and convert smart TVs into listening devices, as confirmed by the Vault 7 documents leaked to Wikileaks.
• 95% of spies are primarily motivated by financial incentives, with the CIA offering benefits like passports or green cards to recruits.
• The CIA actively recruits individuals with sociopathic traits due to their ability to navigate morally ambiguous situations, contributing to a high divorce rate among operatives.
• The CIA's MKUltra program involved unethical experiments on American citizens, including the administration of LSD, with subsequent orders to destroy related documentation.