How spies read you

Steven Bartlett's The Diary of a CEO has built its appeal around intimate conversations with people who have unusual stories or expertise. The format can sometimes drift into self-help territory, but its strength is Bartlett's ability to turn specialised knowledge into questions about ordinary life.

The episode, Ex-CIA Reveals What Spies Know About You, featuring former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou is a compelling example. The 33-min episode asks: what do spies understand about human nature that the rest of us miss?

Kiriakou discusses how intelligence work teaches people to notice subtle behavioural signals, assess trustworthiness and recognise deception. The takeaway is that reading people is not some mystical spy superpower; it is largely about paying attention to what most of us overlook.


Bartlett is at his best when he lets the guest's experience carry the conversation rather than forcing a takeaway. There is also an unsettling reminder that skills used by intelligence professionals have applications far beyond spycraft.

Engaging without being breathless, this is a good introduction to the podcast's broader proposition: sometimes the most revealing way to understand ourselves is to listen to someone whose job has been understanding everyone else.