Former CIA Spy: How to Eliminate Self-Doubt, Build Confidence, and Protect Yourself in Today’s World
Summary
Mel Robbins interviews Jonna Mendez, the former CIA Chief of Disguise, who shares thrilling stories from her three-decade espionage career. Mendez reveals how she created convincing disguises, fooled President George H.W. Bush, and helped execute the Argo extraction. She also discusses spy gadgets, the psychology of recruitment, and offers wisdom on courage, change, and trusting your intuition.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Jonna Mendez, former CIA Chief of Disguise
From secretary to spy: Jonna's unexpected career path
Advice on career changes and overcoming ceilings
The true story behind the movie Argo and the Canadian Embassy
Recruiting spies: MICE (Money, Ideology, Coercion, Ego)
Sponsor break: iHerb, iXL, and Function Health
Disguise techniques: Masks, wigs, and tricking the President
Exfiltrating a family across a border with a Billy Joel tape
Sponsor break: Nutrafol, Babbel, and Quince
Surviving danger: Intuition, training, and mental escape
Detecting lies and trusting your intuition
Reinvention, global threats, and the state of the world
The true meaning of courage and women in the CIA
Outro, bloopers, and final sponsor messages
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