Modern WisdomCIA Whistleblower: “The Shadow Government Is Real” - John Kiriakou
Episode Details
EPISODE INFO
- Released
- October 8, 2026
- Duration
- 2h 36m
- Channel
- Modern Wisdom
- Watch on YouTube
- ▶ Open ↗
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
John Kiriakou is a former CIA counterterrorism officer, intelligence whistleblower, journalist, and author. Expect to learn who’s actually controlling the US government, what John thinks of the new Paramount/Warner Bros. Skydance Merger, why we should be worried about and taking China more seriously, if brainwashing is real in CIA interrogation techniques, the most impressive CIA operations they pulled off, why John plays Angry Birds every morning and much more… - Get up to $350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 6 at https://eightsleep.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom - 0:00 Why Should We Believe An Ex-CIA Agent? 0:44 Will John Ever Receive a Presidential Pardon? 3:25 Who Really Controls America? 11:32 Inside the CIA’s Levels of Security 15:26 The CIA’s Most Classified Operations 16:44 Do the CIA Classify Embarrassing Information? 17:54 Could Big Tech Become More Powerful Than the CIA? 20:37 Is the CIA Spying on American Citizens? 25:54 Why We Should Be Worried About China 30:53 How Foreign Spies Infiltrate the US Government 39:50 What Will CIA Whistleblowers Be Leaking in 10 Years? 43:18 Is Mass Surveillance the Price of Safety? 47:51 Is Brainwashing Real? 58:45 The Chicken Farmer Who Brought Down Hitler 01:03:30 Inside Operation Grim Beeper 01:06:03 The Greatest Intelligence Operations Ever 01:11:41 Can America Legally Kidnap Foreign Nationals? 01:17:20 Was 9/11 the Most Complex Intelligence Operation Ever? 01:20:47 The Location and Kidnap of Adolf Eichmann 01:22:37 The Legendary Capture of Carlos the Jackal 01:27:34 Why Working For the CIA Was So Much Fun 01:29:37 How Mass Persuasion Works at Scale 01:36:58 Does Working For the CIA Make You Paranoid? 01:38:19 How to Spot a Liar 01:46:50 How Interrogators Get People to Tell the Truth 01:54:17 Should Torture Ever Be Legal? 01:59:43 The Most Shocking Interrogation Tactics Used By the CIA 02:07:31 What Really Happens at Guantanamo Bay? 02:08:50 Was Uday Hussein One of the Most Evil Men Ever? 02:15:34 Dominance vs Prestige: What Makes a Better Leader? 02:20:16 Is This America’s First Botched Lethal Injection Execution? 02:28:31 Why John is Obsessed With Angry Birds 02:31:09 Is John a Model Now? 02:32:54 What Everyone Gets Wrong About Intelligence Agencies 02:35:41 Where to Find John - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spotify.modernwisdom.com or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.modernwisdom.com Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/
SPEAKERS
Chris Williamson
hostHost of the Modern Wisdom podcast.
John Kiriakou
guestFormer CIA officer and whistleblower who served 15 years in the agency.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Chris Williamson and John Kiriakou, CIA Whistleblower: “The Shadow Government Is Real” - John Kiriakou explores ex‑CIA whistleblower claims deep state, surveillance, and torture define power John Kiriakou argues the CIA and broader federal bureaucracy can operate as a “shadow government,” outlasting presidents and often ignoring unwanted directives while weak oversight enables it.
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