The James Altucher Show

• Inside the Cartel: The Longest Undercover FBI Operation with Martin Suarez and Ian Frisch

  A Note from JamesThis is a crazy story. Martin Suarez holds the record for the longest continuous undercover assignment in FBI history. He went undercover as a cartel drug lord—smuggling billions of dollars’ worth of cocaine while posing as “Manny.” At one point, the story even starts with a gun to his head, convinced his cover was blown.The book Inside the Cartel: A True Crime Tale of Espionage, Undercover Operations, and a War Against Billionaire Drug Lords—co-authored with journalist Ian Frisch—captures it all. Martin’s voice may be difficult to catch at times because he’s been battling ALS, but every word is worth hearing. Ian also joins to help tell the story. This conversation had me on the edge of my seat.Episode DescriptionFormer FBI agent Martin Suarez spent more than a decade living undercover inside Colombian cartels. Known to the underworld as “Manny,” he laundered money, smuggled cocaine, and survived assassination attempts—all while secretly working for the U.S. government.In this episode, James sits down with Suarez and his co-author Ian Frisch to explore how an ordinary Navy veteran became the FBI’s ultimate undercover agent, why deception works in high-stakes negotiations, and what lessons from cartel infiltration apply to everyday life.What You’ll LearnThe psychological techniques Martin used to maintain his cover for years inside violent cartels.How undercover work creates “alternate realities” to control narratives and shift blame.Why confidence and self-belief are critical in negotiation, business, and personal life.The role of deception and patience in both undercover work and real-world persuasion.How Martin and his family managed the risks and sacrifices of a life lived undercover.Timestamped Chapters[03:00] A gun to the head: the moment Martin thought his cover was blown[07:00] Surviving a cartel hitman[10:00] From Navy to FBI: the start of an undercover career[12:00] Why Martin was the “perfect” undercover agent[14:00] Smuggling versus intelligence gathering: the FBI’s strategy[16:00] How to move cartel shipments without breaking cover[18:00] The art of deflecting blame and creating alternate realities[22:00] Cartel power and control in Colombia[23:00] U.S. government ties and the Iran-Contra era[25:00] Using FBI agents as “girlfriends” to gather intelligence[27:00] Facing long-term risks—and the bigger battle with ALS[30:00] Marriage, trust, and sacrifice during undercover life[32:00] Art theft undercover operation in Europe[36:00] Fooling even the CIA with a perfect legend[41:00] How legends are built in the digital age[44:00] Negotiation, seduction, and cartel psychology[45:00] Ian’s lessons on confidence and self-convincing[47:00] Applying undercover strategies to everyday life[49:00] The role of greed in cartel decision-making[50:00] Marriage, grounding, and long-term support[51:00] Are cartel leaders truly evil—or just highly educated?Additional Resources📖 Inside the Cartel by Martin Suarez and Ian Frisch✍️ Ian Frisch’s journalism and other workSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• [Bonus] Brian Keating on Humility, Chutzpah, and the Arrow of Time

  Episode DescriptionRight after wrapping up their main conversation, James and Brian hit record again for a bonus session. What came out is an unfiltered talk on humility, arrogance, and the strange mix of traits needed to achieve great things. From the wisdom of the Talmud to the Dunning–Kruger effect, they explore why even Nobel Prize winners wrestle with imposter syndrome.James shares how writing books requires a mix of blind confidence and humility, while Brian connects scientific resilience to obsession, quests, and flow states. The two also talk candidly about the challenges of writing and publishing science books in today’s world—and Brian previews his bold new project exploring Jim Simons, “Chern–Simons Theory,” and the very arrow of time itself.What You’ll LearnWhy success requires balancing humility with courage—and sometimes arrogance with ignoranceHow Nobel Prize winners secretly struggle with imposter syndromeWhy writing books demands both blind confidence and ruthless editingThe difference between obsession and quest when pursuing successWhat “Chern–Simons Theory” reveals about time, space, and the structure of the universeTimestamped Chapters[02:00] Humility, chutzpah, and the Talmud’s two pockets[03:00] Writing, Dunning–Kruger, and the blindness needed for progress[05:00] Imposter syndrome—even after winning the Nobel Prize[06:00] Resilience, grad school, and the limits of Goggins-style toughness[07:00] Obsession vs. quest: two paths to achievement[08:00] Flow states, joy, and Nobel Prize winners at play[09:00] The cost of careers that don’t allow flow[10:00] The challenges of science publishing in the age of AI[11:00] James on downloads, inspiration, and writing talks in his sleep[12:00] The genius spirit, loneliness, and Hemingway’s advice[13:00] Why science books lean on unprovable ideas[14:00] String theory, quantum entanglement, and perennial sellers[15:00] Jim Simons, Chern–Simons Theory, and the arrow of timeAdditional ResourcesBrian Keating – Official WebsiteInto the Impossible: Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner (Volume 2) – AmazonDonna Strickland – Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 – Nobel Prize BiographyCal Newport – Deep Work – AmazonAli Abdaal – Feel Good Productivity – AmazonRyan Holiday – Perennial Seller – AmazonChern–Simons Theory (Mathematical Physics Overview) – WikipediaJim Simons Biography (The Man Who Solved the Market) – AmazonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• How to Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner with Prof. Brian Keating

  Episode DescriptionJames sits down once again with cosmologist Brian Keating—longtime friend of the show and author of Into the Impossible: Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner. In this candid conversation, they challenge each other’s views on focus, curiosity, and the trade-offs of staying in your lane. Brian shares behind-the-scenes lessons from interviewing Nobel Prize winners, the thinking behind his new “Keating Test” for AI, and why communication matters as much as discovery in science.This episode isn’t about self-help clichés. It’s about real-world insights you won’t hear anywhere else—whether it’s why guarding your time is the most important skill, how to use flow states to sharpen your career, or why great breakthroughs depend on questioning the work of those who came before.What You’ll LearnWhy Brian created the “Keating Test” as a new measure for true artificial intelligenceHow Nobel Prize winners balance intense focus with curiosity across disciplinesWhy communication skills matter as much as scientific discovery for lasting impactHow to guard your time from “time bandits” and apply the power of saying “no”Practical ways to find your lane—or combine lanes—while still pursuing flow and masteryTimestamped Chapters[02:00] The Keating Test: AI, free will, and the act of survival[06:00] Humor, history, and reclaiming the “worst joke ever told”[08:00] Friendship, TEDx, and 11 years of conversations[09:00] Lessons from Nobel Prize winners: beyond self-help habits[10:00] Publishing with Scribe/Lioncrest and connections to James and David Goggins[12:00] Into the Impossible, Volume One: why distilling Nobel wisdom matters[13:00] Imposter syndrome, Alfred Nobel, and Volume Two’s focus[15:00] Donna Strickland, LASIK, and the power of saying no[18:00] Stay in your lane—or widen it? A debate on mastery and curiosity[23:00] Newton, Pascal, and the discipline of sitting in a room[26:00] Regrets, diversification, and finding flow[28:00] Crystallized vs. fluid intelligence in the age of AI[31:00] The importance of novelty—and the Lindy test[35:00] Math, reality, and the unreasonable effectiveness of ideas[38:00] Teaching quantum computing: bridging theory and life skills[43:00] From cryogenics to code: skills that outlast AI[47:00] Why communication defines success in science[50:00] Doing things that don’t scale: relationships, meteorites, and networks[52:00] The missed opportunities of office hours—and how to build relationships[54:00] Reading theses, genuine curiosity, and non-scalable networking[55:00] Into the Impossible, Volume Two: life lessons and scientific breakthroughs[57:00] How old is the universe? The cosmic controversy[59:00] Gravitational waves, BICEP2, and losing the Nobel Prize[61:00] Dust, data, and the Simons Observatory’s quest for origins[63:00] What comes next: Jim Simons’ legacy and Brian’s future bookAdditional ResourcesBrian Keating – Official WebsiteInto the Impossible: Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner (Volume 2) – AmazonInto the Impossible: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner (Volume 1) – AmazonLosing the Nobel Prize – AmazonDavid Goggins – Can’t Hurt Me – AmazonSteven Pressfield – The War of Art – AmazonArthur Brooks – From Strength to StrengthJim Simons Biography (The Man Who Solved the Market) by Gregory Zuckerman – AmazonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• From Deep Blue to Bittensor — Why Subnets Are the Next Internet Boom

  A Note from JamesI’ve been on and off writing. From 2004 to 2021, I wrote one to two books a year, without fail. Since then, nothing. But I’ve been working on an idea: obsession. When I’m not obsessed, I can’t do much—sometimes not even the basics. But when I am obsessed, I can turn that energy into real outcomes: a business, a book, a skill, sometimes success, sometimes failure.This episode comes from a recent conversation I had with the Ventura Labs team. We talked about obsession, but also about AI, crypto, and how those obsessions have led to building TAO Synergies ($TAOX), a public company on Nasdaq. I’d love to hear your thoughts: should I write this as a book? Reach out on Twitter or anywhere.Episode DescriptionJames Altucher joins the Ventura Labs Podcast to explore the link between obsession, creativity, and execution. From contributing to IBM’s Deep Blue in the 90s to co-founding TAO Synergies, James shares how obsessions with chess, AI, and crypto have shaped his life and career.The conversation covers the philosophy behind decentralized AI, the rise of treasury strategies, and why writing down ten ideas a day can change everything. This episode isn’t about trends—it’s about frameworks: how to spot real opportunities, how to build around them, and how to know when obsession is worth pursuing.What You’ll LearnWhy obsession can be both a weakness and a superpower—and how to channel it productively.How Bittensor ($TAO) creates decentralized AI opportunities at a fraction of traditional costs.The mechanics of treasury companies and how TAO Synergies is building its playbook.The risks and rewards of subnet investing, and how tokenomics actually drive value.Lessons James learned from failure, from HBO web series experiments to company collapses, and why generating ideas daily can reset your career.Timestamped Chapters02:15 – Introduction02:58 – What is Bittensor06:24 – AI background and Deep Blue09:34 – Chess interest and journey11:46 – $TAOX inspirations and getting TAO-pilled14:09 – TAO Synergies origin story16:57 – Reaching 100M and playbook19:41 – Treasury strategies and validators22:02 – Launching TAO Daily25:51 – Bitcoin adoption and involvement29:32 – Subnet investing and analysis30:59 – Token warnings and TAO demand35:46 – Subnet proposals and increases37:36 – Successful sectors and examples40:04 – Yanez and Metanova43:17 – Decentralization benefits46:13 – AI jobs and countering fears49:34 – Beneficial sectors: AI and stablecoins53:59 – Bryan Johnson documentary55:17 – Starting podcast and interviews57:14 – Interests and obsessions01:00:56 – Daily writing obsession and origins01:03:47 – Confidence and opinions01:07:33 – Company failures and lessons01:10:42 – HBO series and 3AM show01:14:26 – Hesitancy, regrets, pivotal points01:17:38 – Advice on time and experimentsAdditional ResourcesTAO Synergies: @TAOSynergiesTAO Daily (community news hub): taodaily.ioNaval Ravikant – AngelList founder and Bitcoin advocateVentura Labs Podcast (YouTube): @VenturaLabsPodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Rick Harrison: The Pawn Business, Hidden Histories, and the Best Model in Banking

  A Note from JamesThe man, the myth, the legend—Rick Harrison. You know him as the star of Pawn Stars, the reality show based on the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. The show has been running for over 21 seasons, and Rick himself has become the godfather of the pawn business.I even joined Rick and Chumlee on their own podcast, Pawn After Dark, which was a blast. On this episode, Rick shares the ins and outs of the pawn world—why he thinks it’s the best business model ever, how it’s really the oldest form of banking, and why every object in his shop is more than just an item—it’s a story.Episode DescriptionRick Harrison didn’t just create one of the most successful reality shows of all time—he’s spent decades running the world’s most famous pawn shop. In this episode, Rick and James explore why pawn shops have been a cornerstone of finance for centuries, how collectibles get their value, and why storytelling is the real currency behind every object.From Rolex watches to cowboy hats with mobster histories, Rick breaks down how he decides what’s valuable, how emotions shape the market, and why gold has remained the ultimate store of value for over 6,000 years.What You’ll LearnWhy the pawn business is “the oldest form of banking” and how it still thrives today.How items gain value not just from material, but from the stories attached to them.Why so many Americans rely on pawn shops over banks and payday lenders.The economics of Rolex watches, diamonds, and gold in the pawn industry.How Pawn Stars became a global hit and what keeps the show fresh after 750+ episodes.Timestamped Chapters[01:00] A Note from James: introducing Rick Harrison[02:00] The legacy of Pawn Stars and 21 seasons on TV[04:15] Why Rick still loves his job after 750 episodes[05:30] Every object is a story: the cowboy hat with a mob connection[06:15] Pawn shops as the oldest form of banking[07:20] Why millions of Americans rely on pawn shops instead of banks[09:15] Rolexes, lawyers, and quiet transactions[10:30] How Rick values collectibles, art, and gold[11:45] Diamonds, divorces, and why jewelry stores buy from pawn shops[13:10] Charlie Chaplin’s pawn shop comedy and the stigma shift[14:00] Lab-grown diamonds, fakes, and what people really want[15:30] The emotions (and fights) inside pawn shops[17:10] Silverware, grandma’s heirlooms, and misplaced expectations[18:30] When sentiment meets market value[20:00] The most expensive items Rick has for sale[21:15] Civil War coins, rare history, and collectors’ obsessions[22:30] How U.S. money once carried fine art[23:00] Gold vs. silver: why gold endures as the ultimate store of value[24:15] The making of Pawn Stars and its runaway success[25:15] Why the show works: family-friendly, educational, and fun[26:00] Rick on Chumlee, drama, and why the show will keep goingAdditional ResourcesPawn Stars on History Channel – Pawn Stars Official SitePawn After Dark (Rick’s podcast) – Pawn After DarkGold & Silver Pawn Shop (Las Vegas) – gspawn.comCharlie Chaplin’s The PawnshopSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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