The CARLOS Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with former CIA officer John Kiriakou. John opens up about his upbringing near Pittsburgh, his career in the CIA, and the personal turmoil he faced while stationed in Athens in 2000. He shares a powerful story about a violent confrontation following a car accident, and how his use of diplomatic immunity played a role in the incident. We dive into CIA culture, where mental health breakdowns, strict rules, and financial pressures create vulnerabilities for officers, often leading to betrayals, as seen with Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen. John reflects on how, after 9/11, the agency became reckless with law and morality, and why he believes the intelligence community has done more harm than good. We also discuss his views on Venezuela's Maduro, Israel's actions in Gaza, and much more. Don't miss this raw conversation. For behind-the-scenes moments and more exclusive content, join us on Patreon.   _____________ At its core, The CARLOS Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and real truths we're not supposed to say out loud. If we've made you pause, rethink, or feel a little more connected, become part of what we're building.   Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations.   Join the community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch  IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast/  FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast  X: https://x.com/carlospodcast 

In this episode Jack Barsky shares what it was really like living as a KGB "illegal" in America, and why his most dangerous move had nothing to do with guns, gadgets, or car chases. Jack breaks down how he communicated through secret writing, shortwave radio, and Morse code, why his role was more "intellectual spy" than assassin, and what the KGB actually valued about having operatives planted inside the U.S. We get into the stolen identity that became his real life, the moment someone almost sniffed him out, and the years-later encounter that finally brought the FBI to his door. Then the conversation takes a hard left into the part of his story that changes everything — falling in love, becoming a father, and defying Moscow when they ordered him home. The risk was real, and the cover story he used to disappear is one of the most shocking twists you'll hear. Some highlights we explore: How secret letters and shortwave Morse code worked Why "being there" mattered more than intel Spotting and profiling people for recruitment The moment a coworker sensed something was off His take on Mossad, CIA missteps, and Putin's myth Interracial relationships in the 70s and 80s The lie he used to vanish from the KGB Why he believes love beats fear every time   _____________ At its core, The CARLOS Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and real truths we're not supposed to say out loud. If we've made you pause, rethink, or feel a little more connected, become part of what we're building. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations.   Join the community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch  IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast/  FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast  X: https://x.com/carlospodcast

In this episode, I sit down to interview former CIA officer John Kiriakou. John discloses startling details about the CIA's operations, including the agency's high divorce rates, its involvement in torture practices, and the moral conflicts that arise from such duties. He recounts his personal journey from aspiring to be a spy, his experiences in Middle Eastern studies, and his rapid rise within the CIA ranks. John also shares his key roles in significant historical events, like briefing President George H. W. Bush about Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The conversation delivers in-depth commentary on torture's ineffectiveness, the ethical dilemmas faced by intelligence officers, and John's three-year investigation and imprisonment for exposing the CIA's torture program. Lastly, John discusses controversial topics such as the mysterious death of Jeffrey Epstein and the JFK assassination. This episode promises to be one of the most important and eye-opening conversations about government and intelligence. _____________ At its core, The CARLOS Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and real truths we're not supposed to say out loud. If we've made you pause, rethink, or feel a little more connected, become part of what we're building. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations.   Join the community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast X: https://x.com/carlospodcast 

Chef Babette Davis doesn't whisper truth – she shouts it! In this unforgettable episode of CARLOS, the two-time Emmy-award winner sits down with the legendary chef, fitness icon, and truth-teller for a conversation about survival, addiction, food, ego, faith, and the discipline to chose life every single day. From childhood trauma and crack addiction to radical self-mastery, nutrition, love, and political rage, Chef Babette speaks with a clarity and conviction earned through pain and practice. This isn't a wellness conversation. It's a reckoning – with what we consume, what we tolerate, and how we stay present in a world that constantly tries to pull us away from ourselves. _____________ At its core, The CARLOS Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and real truths we're not supposed to say out loud. If we've made you pause, rethink, or feel a little more connected, become part of what we're building. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations.   Join the community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast X: https://x.com/carlospodcast 

Known as "The Kingmaker", Ann Coulter calls it like she sees it – and in this episode of CARLOS, she doesn't hold back. In an unfiltered conversation, Coulter weighs in on Trump's transformation, being picked up by Epstein, why she believes women shouldn't be president, and so much more. Carlos Watson presses her on power, prejudice, loyalty, and contradiction – challenging her views while letting them breathe. The result is a rare and deeply human conversation with one of America's most polarizing voices, revealing not just what Ann Coulter believes, but why she believes it. _____________ At its core, The CARLOS Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and real truths we're not supposed to say out loud. If we've made you pause, rethink, or feel a little more connected, become part of what we're building. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations.   Join the community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast X: https://x.com/carlospodcast 

Alan Dershowitz has spent a lifetime defending the indefensible – and paying the price for it. In this episode of CARLOS, one of America's most famous legal minds reflects on Israel, a Trump 3rd term, and the case that changed everything: Jeffrey Epstein. In a raw and wide-ranging conversation, Dershowitz confronts accusations, conspiracy theories, and a justice system he believes is fundamentally broken. Carlos Watson challenges him on guilt, loyalty, and moral limits – revealing a portrait of a man who insists that defending the rule of law matters most when it's hardest to do. You may disagree with him. You may be unsettled by him. But you won't forget this conversation. _____________ At its core, The CARLOS Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and real truths we're not supposed to say out loud. If we've made you pause, rethink, or feel a little more connected, become part of what we're building. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations.   Join the community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast X: https://x.com/carlospodcast 

The Carlos Podcast is a ROSE Media original hosted by Carlos Watson After building a billion-dollar media company – and surviving a wrongful prosecution – Carlos returns wiser and unfiltered. Presidents, rebels, icons, outcasts, critics, and thinkers sit for the conversations they won't have anywhere else. This trailer introduces ROSE Media and the network's mission to create bold, colorful, and impactful storytelling, including The Carlos Podcast. New episodes coming soon.