The Carlos Watson Podcast

🎙️ This Episode is Sponsored by Ethos — Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. 👉 Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/carlos ✅ Application times may vary. Rates may vary. What happens when a young man is recruited into the secret world of apartheid-era South Africa and ultimately risks his life to help stop an assassination plot against Nelson Mandela? Carlos sits down with former spy and intelligence operative Bradley Steyn for an extraordinary conversation about violence, transformation, espionage, and the fight for a new South Africa. Bradley recounts witnessing a shocking act of violence as a teenager, joining the military, and eventually being recruited into an apartheid-era security operation. But everything changes when Bradley is involved in capturing an ANC operative who challenges his beliefs and forces him to confront the difference between right and wrong. He eventually becomes a double agent, infiltrating far-right extremists at a moment when South Africa is on the brink of civil war. Bradley reveals how he and others helped uncover a plot to assassinate Nelson Mandela during his inauguration, including a custom-made sniper rifle and an elaborate plan to derail South Africa's transition to democracy. He also shares what happened after his cover was threatened and how he ultimately escaped the country. 👉 What would you have done if you were in Bradley's position? Tell us what you think in the comments. Timestamps [00:00] The Plot to Assassinate Nelson Mandela [00:46] Meet Bradley Steyn [01:23] From Ballet to Special Forces [01:41] The Shooting That Changed His Life [03:47] “Kind Eyes” Saves Him [04:08] When His White Skin Saved His Life [05:13] Living With the Trauma [05:48] The Man He Thought Had Died Survived [06:07] Anger, Violence & Joining the Navy [06:45] Entering the World of Intelligence [07:34] Protecting a Trans Woman From Attack [09:02] “We Need That Guy on Our Side” [09:17] The Secret Security Operation [10:00] The Dirty Tricks of Apartheid-Era Intelligence [11:15] The Mission to Capture an ANC Operative [12:18] The Midnight Raid [13:02] How Lethal Was Bradley? [13:45] The Secret Safe House [14:00] The Freedom Charter Changes Everything [15:05] Bradley's “Come to Jesus” Moment [15:38] Realizing He Was on the Wrong Side [16:53] Becoming a Double Agent [17:17] The Risk of Being Discovered [18:32] Was the Capture a Setup? [21:30] The Road to Mandela's Presidency [21:46] The Assassination of Chris Hani [22:20] Infiltrating the Far Right [22:57] South Africa on the Brink of Civil War [23:05] Nelson Mandela Appears on a Hit List [23:47] The Plot to Kill Mandela [24:25] The Hidden Sniper Rifle [25:00] The Plan to Kill Mandela at His Inauguration [25:35] Did Mandela Know About the Plot? [26:20] How the Assassination Was Prevented [26:27] When Bradley's Cover Was Blown [27:18] The Attempt on Bradley's Life [27:38] Escaping South Africa [28:14] Living With PTSD [28:42] Protecting the Rich & Famous [29:22] Working Security for Julia Roberts [29:48] Bradley's CIA Connection

Big thanks to our partner, Dose. Try Dose today and get 35% off with code CARLOS. https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS This episode is also sponsored by the Black Business School. Get 35% off their Prime Course and take control of your financial future. https://b1stockoptions.com/watsons What happens when trauma, survival, and faith shape the person you become? Carlos sits down with Sam Sparks for a deeply personal conversation about growing up without knowing his biological father, childhood trauma, becoming a father at a young age, homelessness, and the anger that shaped much of his early life. Sam opens up about how his past influenced his relationships and decisions, and how faith, appearance, and one unexpected encounter with Steve Harvey changed the direction of his life. He shares the story behind becoming Steve Harvey's stylist and mentee—and the dream he believes prepared him for it. Today, Sam is focused on creating opportunities for young people through The Brew in Chicago, using business, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and generational wealth to help reshape his community. 👉 What part of Sam's journey resonated with you most? Tell us in the comments.

Big thanks to our partner, Dose. Try Dose today and get 35% off with code CARLOS. https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS This episode is also sponsored by the Black Business School. Get 35% off their Prime Course and take control of your financial future. https://b1stockoptions.com/watsons --- What if you stopped waiting for permission to live your life? Carlos sits down with actress and wellness entrepreneur AJ Johnson for a candid conversation about travel, purpose, relationships, spirituality, aging, and living life on her own terms. AJ talks about how Ghana became her introduction to Africa, why she stopped waiting for Hollywood to take her around the world, and how her New Year, New You retreats helped her create a life built around exploration and transformation. She also gets personal about relationships, polyamory, dating younger men, and why she refuses to put her life on hold waiting for the "right" person. From mortality and friendship to the powerful name she received in West Africa, AJ shares what it means to embrace reinvention, fearlessness, and purpose at every stage of life. 👉 What are you still waiting for permission to do? Tell us in the comments. Timestamps 00:00 Intro: AJ Johnson 00:44 Where Is AJ's Happy Place? 00:50 Why Ghana Changed Everything 01:26 Stop Waiting for Work to Take You Around the World 02:07 New Year, New You Retreat 02:45 Is There More to Life? 03:00 Living Without Permission 04:00 Relationships & Finding Love 06:30 AJ on Polyamory 07:52 Stop Waiting for Someone Else 08:18 Dating Younger Men 09:41 The Life She Almost Lived 10:43 Loss, Aging & Mortality 12:05 AJ's Dream Superhero Role 12:38 The Name That Changed Her Perspective 13:16 Becoming a Fearless Pioneer 13:46 Final Reflections

🎙️ This Episode is Sponsored by Ethos — Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. 👉 Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/carlos ✅ Application times may vary. Rates may vary. “I don’t think the president of the United States should be a woman.” Ann Coulter is back with Carlos Watson for another conversation that goes places you probably won't expect. They talk about Donald Trump, the Epstein files, the 2028 election, gender and presidential leadership, immigration, and the political forces shaping America. Coulter reflects on getting Trump's 2016 victory right, why she believes his prosecutions helped fuel his comeback, and why she thinks his handling of the Epstein controversy raises questions. She also tells Carlos the bizarre story of meeting Jeffrey Epstein long before the scandal became public—including the time he picked her up in a limousine and invited her into his home. The conversation gets even more provocative as Coulter explains why she doesn't support a woman as president, who she thinks could shape the next election, and what she believes America needs most right now. It's funny, uncomfortable, controversial, and completely unfiltered. 👉 Do you agree with Ann Coulter's prediction for America's political future—or do you see things differently? Tell us in the comments. Timestamps 00:00 Ann Coulter's Controversial Opening 00:37 Carlos Meets Ann Coulter 01:01 Trump & Getting the 2016 Election Right 01:28 The Poll That Got It Wrong 02:19 Why Coulter Thinks Trump Won 02:48 Trump's Policies vs. His Personality 03:10 Trump & the Epstein Files 04:11 Why Trump Doesn't Like Criticism 04:47 Who Could Be Behind Epstein? 05:44 Coulter's Prediction for 2026 06:26 Ann Coulter's Epstein Story 06:45 The Day She Met Jeffrey Epstein 07:38 Inside Epstein's House 08:51 Coulter's 2028 Presidential Pick 09:08 Why She Doesn't Want a Woman President 09:30 Gender, Power & Leadership 26:34 Quick-Fire Questions 27:43 Coulter's Favorite Political Speeches 28:27 Final Thoughts The political and Epstein-related claims discussed in this episode reflect the speakers' views and recollections and should not be taken as independently established facts

🎙️ This Episode is Sponsored by Ethos — Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. 👉 Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/carlos ✅ Application times may vary. Rates may vary. And a big thanks to our partner, Dose. Try Dose today and get 35% off with code CARLOS. https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS — In this episode, I sit down with former CIA intelligence officer Keith Mahoney, whose decades in intelligence, private security, and global risk management have given him a unique perspective on espionage, leadership, geopolitics, and the hidden forces shaping world events. This conversation goes far beyond spy movies. Keith shares what it was really like working in intelligence, why he believes leadership is learned—not born—and the lessons his father taught him about resilience, failure, and pushing forward even when life knocks you down. He also explains how intelligence agencies think, why disinformation is one of the most powerful tools in modern warfare, and what separates the world's top intelligence services. We also explore some of today's biggest geopolitical questions, including U.S.-China relations, Russia, Israel, cyber espionage, economic warfare, artificial intelligence, and the future of global conflict. Keith offers his personal views on topics ranging from Jeffrey Epstein and international intelligence operations to why he believes tomorrow's wars will be fought as much through economics and technology as with traditional weapons. Whether you agree or disagree with his conclusions, this conversation challenges conventional thinking and offers a fascinating look into a world that most people never get to see. At its core, The CARLOS WATSON Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and the conversations we're often told not to have. If an episode makes you think, challenges your perspective, or encourages meaningful discussion, we'd love for you to be part of the community. Here's how you can support the show: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and exclusive content. 👉 Check out our shop and represent the community wherever you go. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you! Sharing this episode with one friend is one of the best ways to help us grow. Join the community: Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecarlospodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecarlospodcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/thecarlospodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast X: https://x.com/carlospodcast Follow Keith Mahoney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-mahoney-5178bb