Former CIA Spy: How to Read Anyone, Think Clearly, and Protect Yourself

Today, a former spy and the former Chief of Disguise for the CIA is taking you inside the heart-pounding world of espionage and the secret life she lived working undercover for 30 years.

Jonna will share the tactics and strategies you need to read anyone and spot a liar, offer a powerful warning about the state of the world today, and give you practical wisdom to find courage and face life’s hardest moments.

For decades, Jonna helped intelligence officers assume new identities, disappear in plain sight, and carry out high-risk operations.

Jonna created disguises convincing enough to fool the President of the United States and the Secret Service.

Together, Jonna and her late husband, Tony Mendez, co-authored the bestselling book Argo about the CIA operation he led - the true story that inspired the Academy Award-winning film Argo.

But what makes this conversation so powerful is not just the spy stories.It is Jonna’s deeply personal reflection on courage, reinvention, trust, loss, and what it means to keep going when life feels scary or uncertain.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why courage does not come first and how confidence and preparation create it
- How to stay calm under pressure
- What 30 years in the CIA taught Jonna about trusting your intuition
- The signs that someone may be trying too hard to convince you of a lie
- Why direct eye contact is not the lie detector most people think it is
- How Jonna would change the smallest details to make someone disappear in plain sight
- Why you are never starting over when you make a major change
- How to stop underestimating yourself and aim higher
- Why nothing meaningful is accomplished alone
- How taking small steps can help you face problems that feel too big to solve

Jonna will tell you that courage is not something you either have or you do not. It comes from knowing what to do, preparing yourself, and confronting the things that scare you.

After today, you'll understand how to build confidence, trust yourself under pressure, and have the courage to reinvent your life…at any age.

For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-425/

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I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode.

In this episode:
00:00 Meet the Guest
05:21 What the Chief of Disguise At The CIA Really Does
06:42 Incredible Spy Gadgets Used At The CIA
09:55 How To Change Careers Without Starting Over
14:07 The Incredible True Story Behind Argo
24:22 How Are Secret Agents Recruited For The CIA?
29:28 How To Completely Change Your Identity
35:06 How To Disguise Yourself Like a Spy
38:55 How To Stay Calm Under Pressure
42:26 CIA Spy Tells The Craziest Story About Crossing a Border
49:40 How To Tell If Someone Is Lying
53:26 How To Reinvent Yourself at Any Age
54:35 What To Do When The Future Feels Scary
59:21 How To Become More Courageous
01:03:05 It’s Never Too Late, Jonna’s Message at 81

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This episode is brought to you by Apple Card.

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