What’s REALLY Going On Behind the Scenes of the CIA, the Media, and the U.S. Government? On Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, former CIA agents and intelligence officers Andrew & Jihi Bustamante (creators of the EverydaySpy podcast, authors of Shadow Cell: An Insider Account of America’s New Spy War & popular guests on Diary of a CEO & The Joe Rogan Experience) pull back the curtain in this explosive, no-holds-barred conversation. From the moment you marry a spy (can you ever truly trust your partner?) to the shocking 4 categories of lies the CIA teaches—Mayim & Jonathan dive deep into the secretive world of espionage, national security, and the collapse of trust in modern institutions. Andrew and Jihi break down the shrinking middle class caused by American politics post-Trump, what it means for our future, whether the U.S. is moving closer to dictatorship (and if so, can we stop it?), and why the wealthy elite are leaving the U.S. (and which countries they’re fleeing to). These whistleblowers expose what the CIA doesn’t want you to know: The 4 categories of lies every CIA officer is trained to tell The agency’s current use of psychics and Cold War-era remote viewing programs The loneliness and psychological toll of living a covert life How the news & media is manipulated—and why even “trusted” outlets are failing us Post-Trump politics: is the U.S. sliding toward dictatorship or already in it? Why wealthy elites are fleeing America (and where they’re going) The global fallout if a U.S. president is jailed, and what it means for our standing The CIA’s take on Israel, rising global conflicts, and the risk of world war How AI is dehumanizing warfare and reshaping the battlefield Why Epstein’s case continues to expose cracks in our institutions Andrew and Jihi also reveal how influence, persuasion, and dialogue can still be used productively—even in a fractured society. From Venezuela’s collapse as a warning sign to the everyday challenge of separating real news from propaganda, this is more than an interview—it’s a wake-up call. This interview is a wake-up call! Get the truth behind headlines, corruption, and the secret machinery of the U.S. government & change the way you see everything!

What’s REALLY Going On Behind the Scenes of the CIA, the Media, and the U.S. Government? On Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, former CIA agents and intelligence officers Andrew & Jihi Bustamante (creators of the EverydaySpy podcast, authors of Shadow Cell: An Insider Account of America’s New Spy War & popular guests on Diary of a CEO & The Joe Rogan Experience) pull back the curtain in this explosive, no-holds-barred conversation. From the moment you marry a spy (can you ever truly trust your partner?) to the shocking 4 categories of lies the CIA teaches—Mayim & Jonathan dive deep into the secretive world of espionage, national security, and the collapse of trust in modern institutions. Andrew and Jihi break down the shrinking middle class caused by American politics post-Trump, what it means for our future, whether the U.S. is moving closer to dictatorship (and if so, can we stop it?), and why the wealthy elite are leaving the U.S. (and which countries they’re fleeing to). These whistleblowers expose what the CIA doesn’t want you to know: The 4 categories of lies every CIA officer is trained to tell The agency’s current use of psychics and Cold War-era remote viewing programs The loneliness and psychological toll of living a covert life How the news & media is manipulated—and why even “trusted” outlets are failing us Post-Trump politics: is the U.S. sliding toward dictatorship or already in it? Why wealthy elites are fleeing America (and where they’re going) The global fallout if a U.S. president is jailed, and what it means for our standing The CIA’s take on Israel, rising global conflicts, and the risk of world war How AI is dehumanizing warfare and reshaping the battlefield Why Epstein’s case continues to expose cracks in our institutions Andrew and Jihi also reveal how influence, persuasion, and dialogue can still be used productively—even in a fractured society. From Venezuela’s collapse as a warning sign to the everyday challenge of separating real news from propaganda, this is more than an interview—it’s a wake-up call. This interview is a wake-up call! Get the truth behind headlines, corruption, and the secret machinery of the U.S. government & change the way you see everything!

In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, we are revisiting our episode with Kel Mitchell. Kel Mitchell (All That, Kenan & Kel, Good Burger, author of Blessed Mode: 90 Days to Level Up Your Faith) joins us to discuss his early career as a 90’s Nickelodeon star and the major life events that shaped him into a youth pastor and the man of faith he is today. He details his class clown and theatre beginnings, finding his comedy partner in Kenan Thompson, and the impact of the diversity shown on All That. Kel draws comparisons between his childhood in the southside of Chicago where he lost loved ones to gun and gang violence and the trauma young celebrities face in Hollywood. He discusses getting married at an early age and dealing with anxiety stemming from confusion over whether people loved him for his comedy characters or his true self. Kel opens up about his suicide attempt, how his faith led him to pursue a path toward mental wellness, and his journey to becoming a youth pastor. Mayim and Kel consider the mental health impact of living in communities touched by violence and intergenerational trauma.

Can You REALLY Talk to the Dead? MIT Neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart Says Yes—And Brings the Science to Prove It What happens when one of the world’s leading MIT neuroscientists, Dr. Tara Swart (Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan and author of The Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe) loses her husband and begins receiving undeniable messages from the beyond? In this groundbreaking episode of Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, Dr. Tara Swart opens up about her journey from respected neuroscientist and leadership advisor to spiritual explorer after the sudden loss of her husband, Robin. Known globally for her work on neuroplasticity, brain science, and intuition, Dr. Swart reveals how grief led her to a profound awakening: vivid dreams, ancestral connections, angel numbers, and even a visitation she refuses to dismiss as hallucination. She blends her rigorous background in neuroscience with her lived experience, challenging us to rethink the boundaries between science and spirituality. Dr. Tara Swart breaks down: Neuroscience of Intuition: How to train your brain to tune into instincts and signs Near Death Experiences (NDEs) and why the brain may be filtering out reality Grief and trauma in the body: Why talk therapy alone isn’t enough The surprising link between creativity, movement, and trauma healing Why altered states of consciousness don’t require drugs The health benefits of ancestral healing and spiritual connection Why beauty acts as a healing frequency for the brain The thin line between mental illness and genius Why she believes in angel numbers—and how they’ve shaped her decisions Her most radical theory: Consciousness may not live in the brain at all This isn’t just another conversation on neuroscience. Dr. Tara Swart pushes us to expand the limits of what it means to be human by merging brain science, spirituality, and the mysteries of consciousness into a powerful roadmap for life after loss, trauma, and fear.

Exclusive Substack Release! We originally posted this episode to our Substack Breakers ONLY and we thought it was time we shared with YOU! Subscribe at bialikbreakdown.substack.com for more exclusive content like this and more! We sat down with our friend Dan Harris (author of 10% Happier, journalist, and meditation teacher) for a raw, unscripted conversation about anxiety, meditation, and what it really means to live with more calm and connection. What began as Mayim confessing her nerves quickly unfolded into an exploration of habit formation, the messy reality of meditation practice, and why “success” doesn’t mean never feeling anxious again. Dan shared personal stories of facing claustrophobia, panic on planes, and the unexpected childhood memories that surfaced through brainspotting and therapy. Jonathan weighed in on consciousness, body memory, and the ways stress embeds itself in us—and how practices like EMDR or somatic work can help release it. The conversation didn’t stop there. We also touched on: Why perfection isn’t the goal of meditation—and why simply “showing up” matters The difference between trauma, stress, and the everyday burdens of being human The role of visualization and faith (secular or otherwise) in rewiring the brain How relationships and connection shape our survival, health, and happiness Dan’s upcoming book about redefining love, not just as romance, but as the essential force behind our well-being and even our survival as a species We hope this live encourages you to judge yourself a little less, and lean on others a little more.

Could Simulation Theory be the key to uniting science and spirituality once and for all? Dr. Rizwan Virk (MIT professor, video game pioneer, and bestselling author of The Simulation Hypothesis) joins Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown to explore whether we’re living inside a computer simulation and why this idea may be the most important breakthrough of our time. From bridging ancient spiritual wisdom with modern quantum physics, to explaining life’s glitches, suffering, and precognitive dreams, Dr. Virk unpacks why simulation theory could radically change the way we see reality. In this mind-bending podcast episode, Mayim & Jonathan dive into: Why Rizwan Virk believes simulation theory is more spiritual than you think The surprising connections between quantum physics, religion, and near-death experiences The Virtual Reality moment that convinced Virk the simulation might be real “Glitches in the Matrix” and the Mandela Effect explained Are precognitive dreams & near-death experiences proof of the simulation? Could aliens or future humans be running the simulation? What’s beyond the simulation? Are we about to be unplugged? Whether you're spiritual, scientific, religious, or just simulation-curious, this is the rabbit hole you've been waiting for. Get ready to question everything on this week's MBB!

What’s REALLY Going On Behind the Scenes of the CIA, the Media, and the U.S. Government? On Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, former CIA agents and intelligence officers Andrew & Jihi Bustamante (creators of the EverydaySpy podcast, authors of Shadow Cell: An Insider Account of America’s New Spy War & popular guests on Diary of a CEO & The Joe Rogan Experience) pull back the curtain in this explosive, no-holds-barred conversation. From the moment you marry a spy (can you ever truly trust your partner?) to the shocking 4 categories of lies the CIA teaches—Mayim & Jonathan dive deep into the secretive world of espionage, national security, and the collapse of trust in modern institutions. Andrew and Jihi break down the shrinking middle class caused by American politics post-Trump, what it means for our future, whether the U.S. is moving closer to dictatorship (and if so, can we stop it?), and why the wealthy elite are leaving the U.S. (and which countries they’re fleeing to). These whistleblowers expose what the CIA doesn’t want you to know: The 4 categories of lies every CIA officer is trained to tell The agency’s current use of psychics and Cold War-era remote viewing programs The loneliness and psychological toll of living a covert life How the news & media is manipulated—and why even “trusted” outlets are failing us Post-Trump politics: is the U.S. sliding toward dictatorship or already in it? Why wealthy elites are fleeing America (and where they’re going) The global fallout if a U.S. president is jailed, and what it means for our standing The CIA’s take on Israel, rising global conflicts, and the risk of world war How AI is dehumanizing warfare and reshaping the battlefield Why Epstein’s case continues to expose cracks in our institutions Andrew and Jihi also reveal how influence, persuasion, and dialogue can still be used productively—even in a fractured society. From Venezuela’s collapse as a warning sign to the everyday challenge of separating real news from propaganda, this is more than an interview—it’s a wake-up call. This interview is a wake-up call! Get the truth behind headlines, corruption, and the secret machinery of the U.S. government & change the way you see everything!

What’s REALLY Going On Behind the Scenes of the CIA, the Media, and the U.S. Government? On Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, former CIA agents and intelligence officers Andrew & Jihi Bustamante (creators of the EverydaySpy podcast, authors of Shadow Cell: An Insider Account of America’s New Spy War & popular guests on Diary of a CEO & The Joe Rogan Experience) pull back the curtain in this explosive, no-holds-barred conversation. From the moment you marry a spy (can you ever truly trust your partner?) to the shocking 4 categories of lies the CIA teaches—Mayim & Jonathan dive deep into the secretive world of espionage, national security, and the collapse of trust in modern institutions. Andrew and Jihi break down the shrinking middle class caused by American politics post-Trump, what it means for our future, whether the U.S. is moving closer to dictatorship (and if so, can we stop it?), and why the wealthy elite are leaving the U.S. (and which countries they’re fleeing to). These whistleblowers expose what the CIA doesn’t want you to know: The 4 categories of lies every CIA officer is trained to tell The agency’s current use of psychics and Cold War-era remote viewing programs The loneliness and psychological toll of living a covert life How the news & media is manipulated—and why even “trusted” outlets are failing us Post-Trump politics: is the U.S. sliding toward dictatorship or already in it? Why wealthy elites are fleeing America (and where they’re going) The global fallout if a U.S. president is jailed, and what it means for our standing The CIA’s take on Israel, rising global conflicts, and the risk of world war How AI is dehumanizing warfare and reshaping the battlefield Why Epstein’s case continues to expose cracks in our institutions Andrew and Jihi also reveal how influence, persuasion, and dialogue can still be used productively—even in a fractured society. From Venezuela’s collapse as a warning sign to the everyday challenge of separating real news from propaganda, this is more than an interview—it’s a wake-up call. This interview is a wake-up call! Get the truth behind headlines, corruption, and the secret machinery of the U.S. government & change the way you see everything!

In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, we are revisiting our episode with Kel Mitchell. Kel Mitchell (All That, Kenan & Kel, Good Burger, author of Blessed Mode: 90 Days to Level Up Your Faith) joins us to discuss his early career as a 90’s Nickelodeon star and the major life events that shaped him into a youth pastor and the man of faith he is today. He details his class clown and theatre beginnings, finding his comedy partner in Kenan Thompson, and the impact of the diversity shown on All That. Kel draws comparisons between his childhood in the southside of Chicago where he lost loved ones to gun and gang violence and the trauma young celebrities face in Hollywood. He discusses getting married at an early age and dealing with anxiety stemming from confusion over whether people loved him for his comedy characters or his true self. Kel opens up about his suicide attempt, how his faith led him to pursue a path toward mental wellness, and his journey to becoming a youth pastor. Mayim and Kel consider the mental health impact of living in communities touched by violence and intergenerational trauma.

Can You REALLY Talk to the Dead? MIT Neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart Says Yes—And Brings the Science to Prove It What happens when one of the world’s leading MIT neuroscientists, Dr. Tara Swart (Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan and author of The Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe) loses her husband and begins receiving undeniable messages from the beyond? In this groundbreaking episode of Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, Dr. Tara Swart opens up about her journey from respected neuroscientist and leadership advisor to spiritual explorer after the sudden loss of her husband, Robin. Known globally for her work on neuroplasticity, brain science, and intuition, Dr. Swart reveals how grief led her to a profound awakening: vivid dreams, ancestral connections, angel numbers, and even a visitation she refuses to dismiss as hallucination. She blends her rigorous background in neuroscience with her lived experience, challenging us to rethink the boundaries between science and spirituality. Dr. Tara Swart breaks down: Neuroscience of Intuition: How to train your brain to tune into instincts and signs Near Death Experiences (NDEs) and why the brain may be filtering out reality Grief and trauma in the body: Why talk therapy alone isn’t enough The surprising link between creativity, movement, and trauma healing Why altered states of consciousness don’t require drugs The health benefits of ancestral healing and spiritual connection Why beauty acts as a healing frequency for the brain The thin line between mental illness and genius Why she believes in angel numbers—and how they’ve shaped her decisions Her most radical theory: Consciousness may not live in the brain at all This isn’t just another conversation on neuroscience. Dr. Tara Swart pushes us to expand the limits of what it means to be human by merging brain science, spirituality, and the mysteries of consciousness into a powerful roadmap for life after loss, trauma, and fear.

Exclusive Substack Release! We originally posted this episode to our Substack Breakers ONLY and we thought it was time we shared with YOU! Subscribe at bialikbreakdown.substack.com for more exclusive content like this and more! We sat down with our friend Dan Harris (author of 10% Happier, journalist, and meditation teacher) for a raw, unscripted conversation about anxiety, meditation, and what it really means to live with more calm and connection. What began as Mayim confessing her nerves quickly unfolded into an exploration of habit formation, the messy reality of meditation practice, and why “success” doesn’t mean never feeling anxious again. Dan shared personal stories of facing claustrophobia, panic on planes, and the unexpected childhood memories that surfaced through brainspotting and therapy. Jonathan weighed in on consciousness, body memory, and the ways stress embeds itself in us—and how practices like EMDR or somatic work can help release it. The conversation didn’t stop there. We also touched on: Why perfection isn’t the goal of meditation—and why simply “showing up” matters The difference between trauma, stress, and the everyday burdens of being human The role of visualization and faith (secular or otherwise) in rewiring the brain How relationships and connection shape our survival, health, and happiness Dan’s upcoming book about redefining love, not just as romance, but as the essential force behind our well-being and even our survival as a species We hope this live encourages you to judge yourself a little less, and lean on others a little more.

Could Simulation Theory be the key to uniting science and spirituality once and for all? Dr. Rizwan Virk (MIT professor, video game pioneer, and bestselling author of The Simulation Hypothesis) joins Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown to explore whether we’re living inside a computer simulation and why this idea may be the most important breakthrough of our time. From bridging ancient spiritual wisdom with modern quantum physics, to explaining life’s glitches, suffering, and precognitive dreams, Dr. Virk unpacks why simulation theory could radically change the way we see reality. In this mind-bending podcast episode, Mayim & Jonathan dive into: Why Rizwan Virk believes simulation theory is more spiritual than you think The surprising connections between quantum physics, religion, and near-death experiences The Virtual Reality moment that convinced Virk the simulation might be real “Glitches in the Matrix” and the Mandela Effect explained Are precognitive dreams & near-death experiences proof of the simulation? Could aliens or future humans be running the simulation? What’s beyond the simulation? Are we about to be unplugged? Whether you're spiritual, scientific, religious, or just simulation-curious, this is the rabbit hole you've been waiting for. Get ready to question everything on this week's MBB!