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Andrew Bustamante

Andrew Bustamante is a former U.S. Air Force officer who says he served as a covert CIA intelligence officer; he is co-founder of the intelligence-skills training platform EverydaySpy, host of the EverydaySpy Podcast and author of Shadow Cell and Outsmart Everyone.

Contents11 sections
Key facts

Serves in the U.S. Air Force

He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy; his publisher’s biography says he spent most of his Air Force career in nuclear ICBM operations and received decorations in Afghanistan and Iraq.⁠[1]

Says He Served in the CIA’s National Clandestine Service

His publisher says he was recruited from the military into the CIA’s National Clandestine Service, where he served for seven years handling sensitive operations that remain classified.⁠[2]

What he did between 2007 and 2014 cannot be verified exactly, but timelines, tax records and employment documents suggest his account is true.⁠[3]

Their memoir says he and his wife, a fellow CIA officer, met as trainees at Langley and married while hunting terrorists around the world.⁠[4]

Leaves the CIA and Moves to St. Petersburg

In 2014 he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, and joined CVS Health on a CIA-written cover résumé; about a year later his cover was lifted.⁠[3]

Launches the Everyday Espionage Lectures

In June 2018 he began the Everyday Espionage lecture series in St. Petersburg to help people apply spy thinking to careers and relationships.⁠[3]

Appears on the Lex Fridman Podcast

He appeared on episode 310 of the Lex FridmanLex FridmanLex Fridman is a Soviet-born, US-raised computer scientist and podcast host who works as an MIT research scientist on human-AI interaction and autonomous driving. His Lex Fridman Podcast is known for hours-long conversations with guests including heads of state and technology leaders.Open the full entry Podcast, discussing the CIA and the president, the war in Ukraine, the CIA recruitment process, disguises, cybersecurity, private intelligence, the NSA and Snowden, and the CIA and UFOs.⁠[5]

Appears on The Diary of a CEO

Publishes Shadow Cell

Publishes Outsmart Everyone

On September 8, 2026, Little Brown Spark published his Outsmart Everyone, which draws on his undercover years to show how intelligence skills such as detecting lies and building networks can be applied in everyday life; the publisher describes Shadow Cell as a New York Times bestseller.⁠[7]

As of October 2026: Runs EverydaySpy

As of October 2026 he is co-founder of the intelligence-skills training platform EverydaySpy and co-hosts the EverydaySpy Podcast with his wife, covering careers, parenting, business and geopolitics. His wife serves as EverydaySpy’s vice president.⁠[8][2]

He is also listed as a cast member of the HISTORY channel series Beyond Skinwalker Ranch, as an intelligence consultant.⁠[9]

Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts

EverydaySpy: Official website: https://everydayspy.com/ (opens in a new window)⁠[5]

Sources

  1. Andrew Bustamante | Hachette Book Group (opens in a new window)
  2. Andrew Bustamante | Hachette UK (opens in a new window)
  3. St. Petersburg couple drive a minivan, volunteer at church and were CIA spies (opens in a new window)
  4. Shadow Cell by Andrew Bustamante & Jihi Bustamante | Hachette Book Group (opens in a new window)
  5. #310 – Andrew Bustamante: CIA Spy | Lex Fridman Podcast (opens in a new window)
  6. The Diary of a CEO takes you inside the CIA (opens in a new window)
  7. Outsmart Everyone by Andrew Bustamante | Hachette Book Group (opens in a new window)
  8. EverydaySpy Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts (opens in a new window)
  9. Andrew Bustamante - Beyond Skinwalker Ranch Cast | HISTORY Channel (opens in a new window)