KGB spy explains how he got caught | Jack Barsky and Lex Fridman

[@ziggy-pk8zz]

I love seeing two spies talk

[@Vegasprimetime]

Stellar comment

[@Scrilla01]

lmao....I was thinking the other day what if this trip for Lex to Ukraine/Russia was just his move to exit the US cause its getting hot lol

[@lennoxrass9071]

hahaha yea best one yet

[@DJKrol-pv8ft]

Watching two spies talk on a Spy network propaganda machine

[@michaelumphlettee7054]

Lol

[@BobbyBigallo]

Lex is great at letting his guest tell a story without interrupting them. Awesome.

[@nickkuiper32]

He is very calm in his mind (at least so it appears), that is something a lot of interviewers/hosts lack. More often then not the host will make it too much "his" show.

[@Chipsandsalsa183]

Honestly hes gotta be one of the best hosts ever.

[@mikemiller659]

@@Chipsandsalsa183 ???

[@nigo8159]

Dude in fucking great storyteller how you gon give all the credit to lex 😂

[@elijahmasquelier1238]

He really is a fantastic interviewer. A good interviewer has to know when to talk and what to ask, but much more importantly, when not to talk and just let the guest guide the conversation. He does both of these very well; that’s why I and many love his podcast.

[@swasho2939]

Finally a real interview with a former spy. Love Joe, but there's only so much Mike Baker I can take

[@pinchnloaf]

Mike baker friggin sucks

[@BH-gh6qm]

This guy takes wayyyy too long to say absolutely nothing. boring as fuck, its like an interview with biden . hes lost it

[@kylehoutby7]

Last word should be "fake"

[@lulumoon6942]

Any Mike Baker is too much. Low level car salesmen BS artist.

[@pt190]

Yea he’s become to mainstream at this point. There’s always a few

[@distant4766]

First time watcher. If this is how business is conducted then I'm gonna keep watching. Letting a person just speak and not interrupting. Most folks are just waiting to speak. This is uncut without reaction or interference. 1 love bruv.

[@omaryohan7694]

Consistently some of the best interviewees.

[@thelucienleighton]

fuck cnn lol

[@sealife564]

How does Lex know/find these people? Just such a wide , great variety.

[@mrblack9791]

look listen i do not know

[@VincitOmniaVeritas7]

The ape expert wasn’t great when he tried to translate his observations to humans.

[@ceezy1548]

Him talking about his daughter is so incredibly relatable. I have two sons and I love them dearly but when my daughter was born, it’s almost indescribable. That little girl managed to get the lid shut on the jar that had the one last bit of light left in me before it could vanish. She’s currently 4 and I owe her my soul, my very humanity. I wouldn’t have left either.

[@ilikesoccer5799]

cuz u can be all soft and soppy cuz its ur kid and its good for daughters to do that

[@Benny.13]

When my son was born

[@henrymagana5538]

My son came first and a few years later my daughter came. Now my saying is "My son made me a man and my daughter made me a gentleman" from Henry Magana

[@dfgiuy22]

Calm down, don't brag. Kiddo's are awesome though. Just be a good dad dude. Have fun getting your nails done! It's important to them :)

[@CE-vd2px]

I know what you mean because I have a dog that is female. Incredible feeling of love

[@captainscarlett1]

I've read a lot of spy novels and autobiographies and what he casually talks about, dead drops, one-time pads, SW radio, all rings so true. It'd be a great movie.

[@stevep8485]

Alan Alda should play him!

[@ImperiumLibertas]

Any suggestions? I find this stuff extremely interesting.

[@IwanRobertsYT]

Working for the KGB early life, then makes FBI Agent godfather of his child later life. Everyone respects this guy, true hard worker and overal nice guy

[@SeriouslyIssues]

100% understand what he's saying about being a father. Everything changed when my daughter was born. One day I was one person living one life the next day I left it all behind moved a week later with my girlfriend and baby and never looked back.

[@andrewdenton7901]

Crotch goblins save lives.

[@SeriouslyIssues]

@andrewdenton7901 🤣🤣🤣 100% federal inmate to PTA meetings and dressing up as a fairy for birthdays 😆 🤣

[@ONEMANUNITX]

As soon as he mentioned his daughter I nearly cried. I know that pain. And mines 18months as well. And such pain happened to me at 6months .

[@makemegood1]

Hope your days get better

[@hoondaily270]

Don’t be a spy in reality we should have a no tolerance death penalty for spies

[@yellowcake2478]

He is right about daughters

[@bobbye7353]

Something only a MAN with a baby daughter could possibly fathom

[@micahmoody9615]

@ yellow cake he also mentions his “German family” received his money once they thought he passed.

[@gtaopman6678]

You think as soon as the camera is turned off he turned to Lex and asked So, How is your operation going comrade?

[@yeslek]

I LOVE that he def knows his stuff AND has examples of his expertise/awareness, yet is a rare one who doesn't come across as a braggy know-it-all, like in so many YT interviews. How interesting, enjoying this!

[@jaimeweezer6260]

It’s so cool to see Lex find his own footing in this space . Now he is leading it . American dream realized

[@MAYNOR82]

American dream realized: Report back to mother Russian.

[@ci7alex1]

⁰

[@ginnar8702]

Called the "American dream", because you have to be asleep in order to believe it.

[@PRODIGY5369]

I really enjoyed this insight and conversation when it 1st went live. I drive for a living and good podcasts help the miles roll unnoticed. I enjoyed it so much I listened to it again today. 🇬🇧

[@keithandlinus]

Lex, this is one of the best interviews you've done. I have thoroughly enjoyed this conversation. Thank you.

[@delavan9141]

What conversation? Did you even watch this? He seemed to be half asleep during this clip, occasionally tossing in a lame comment. Definitely not his best.

[@krissykatportal]

Agreed. Great interview!

[@nobody6032]

@@delavan9141 I think that you're confused about what am interview is.

[@anFy81]

the red dot that's some movie material right there

[@doomfanboy9413]

that laugh after he hinted at the agent taking half of his life savings lmao he would of done the same shit if it was him.

[@delavan9141]

He was laughing at the corruption that permeated the society he had left behind, like, "Ha, so typical!"

[@planobest8120]

Dudes deep ops and everything he said was bullshit lol. He went over got some chick preggo claimed he loved her and the child and claimed he hates his ex wife and his country stole his retirement sounds like a cover story to me. That guy who didn’t let him into the CIA hq was smart motherfucker was trying to pull off a triple agent maneuver and plant listening devices or something.

[@thecat7105]

Lex is really stepping up both the guests and quality of podcasts

[@joelexline9]

@@tacotom3492 stop going too deep, I'm a "conspiracy" guy myself but you can't think EVERYTHING is fake and a lie, thats not true and quite the pessimistic existence

[@michaelhenry8890]

“One day my wife and I got into a terrible fight and I chose to deploy the nuclear option.” Been there comrade. A lot of us have.

[@MarcusVinicius-mk4wr]

My father speaks seven languages has a masters a bachelors and a doctrine in three different majors and growing up we would always fly over sees weekly to the states. He always has his hair parted to the side and wears a lot of suites. As a kid I always thought he was a spy. It just made sense. Turns out he worked as a free lancer for time magazine. What ever that means.. looking back now it’s kinda silly. With that said I have three passports growing up completely filled up with travel I don’t remember. I guess it’s a logical suspicion.

[@oiitzME1266]

Sounds like Cia especially after you mentioned him working for a magazine as that has actually been used as a front in the past

[@Ryo-sd9rx]

It's your story bro. Might as well make it interesting

[@TheIrishBosnian]

Imagine you were correct. Lol

[@scottfay3553]

Hes a spy

[@scottfay3553]

@@oiitzME1266 Time magazine CNN all CIA ops

[@BlessedWithLuck]

As a first time viewer, the stories you guys both have draw me in to continue watching. Great videos bro.

[@bunghoekilla5958]

If you're a Russian you are probably thinking traitor, but he saw the American way and fell in love and sacrificed his home country for his new wife and kids. As a guy/man that's pretty respectable to me 💯

[@Buskyb]

He is german tho...

[@highliter97]

@@Buskyb but he was working for the Russians.

[@delavan9141]

Spies aren't traitors unless they go over to the other side in order to damage their own country. He did nothing to damage his former country, as far as we can tell from this clip.

[@kevinprzy4539]

@@Buskyb Yeah but he worked for the Russian government, if a Canadian who worked for the US government betrayed them a lot of Americans would call him s traitor.

[@divisiona3974]

@@Buskyb East Germany. That was basically Russia back then.

[@mcm2366]

His story reminds me of the spy show The Americans. What an incredible life he’s lived and an equally incredible memory. Excellent story teller.

[@barigiassi]

Hall of fame show. Highly recommend

[@pmenchions]

@@barigiassi Oh yes, it was riveting stuff. The only flaw was when Kerry Russell tried to speak Russian. Thankfully it was very brief!

[@thokim84]

To be a spy, telling a story is skill #1.

[@sageg58]

He literally inspired it

[@theuniversejr]

reminds me of the show "The Blacklist" he might actually be the real Raymond Reddington 🤔 lol

[@Jroc412]

The fact the he was hiding documents in central park is mind blowing to me for some reason. And the beam he had to pass by every day looking for a message. Wild.

[@planobest8120]

I’m beginning to think this guys job was to be a decoy spy. Hiding notes in trees like a child? Lol wtf

[@CAST1LLO]

@@planobest8120 And that is exactly why it works.

[@brettvaughn1058]

I watched this 2 yrs ago and just watched again. Lex is a superb interviewer because he doesn't interrupt and distract when content is is uploading. Good job!

[@matthewanderson1308]

This is the most fascinating thing I've seen on youtube. I cannot stop.

[@sherryneglia4804]

My grandfather was German. The similarities between him and this guy are amazing. Really makes me miss him

[@ronjeremy1232]

He was a dirty spy?

[@saymynamesaymyname6070]

@@ronjeremy1232 youre dirty

[@dimadobrik4516]

How does him being german play any role at all?

[@Supercatzs]

this guy was recruited in east-germany so that would make sense

[@DiviAugusti]

@@dimadobrik4516 This agent is East German.

[@halfdayofthejackal9372]

"you have to take it (a death threat from the KGB) seriously .. to some degree" hahahahahahaha

[@SharkWithFreakinLaserBeam]

That's slightly missing the point though... what they said had 2 meanings

[@srfrg9707]

What makes a good spy is both surviving his career and still present himself as an agreeable person despite all the crimes he committed. The usual retirement facility for a spy is the bottom of a lake.

[@ReanuKeevesAus]

Bottom of a lake or a deep hole in a massive forest. The worst fate though is the Black Site if they want info out of you!

[@nobody6032]

I bet it's often times burned or melted with acid.

[@briguy2556]

I just want to start painting red circles everywhere now and see who gets spooked

[@SiFi5478]

😂

[@spacesuitor]

Never try to out-spook the spook.

[@jf7243]

What a fascinating interview. This gentleman is a singular example of the capacity of the human spirit to deceive, lie, murder, thieve, destroy, steal, murder and whatever else for supposedly worthy causes. And yet to repent, cast oneself upon God and to live worthily for love and family is possible.

[@matthewmathis7050]

I mean. He lived for love and quit the KGB before “casting upon god”. Not sure I agree with your viewpoint here as it slants heavily towards your bias.

[@tuttutteddy8889]

really recommend barsky book to anyone who hasn’t read it, great to see him get some love. he deserves it!

[@dansdiesel767]

Such a great interview

[@waseem7195]

Is this dude not a cautionary tale of why these agencies get rid of their own agents once their time is up.

[@bryansmith6939]

If you leave the service when you’re 40+ … chances of you doing real damage to your employed country is low as the information, tactics and even agents have changed. Leaving the service in your 20s/30s… those are the assassinations you hear of.. all their info in new/still relevant

[@ClappOnUpp]

They gotta take advantage everytime they can get information like this. Its invaluable to understanding soviet operations even if it's old and sometimes repetitive of another account.

[@killtrocity6857]

This interview is truly a master piece

[@FoulBundy]

He's 100% on the daughter thing; it changes you.

[@cdtape]

Binged watched the whole interview with this guy, very interesting story

[@mrnobody6118]

then why are you watching clips??

[@ganjahiwalker2641]

How do you binge watch 1 interview

[@holymacarenafin2319]

@@ganjahiwalker2641 dont get up before its done. Use your two braincels lol

[@Angelthedog]

Great video , Lex. Good for you , Barsky.

[@DB-yk2pt]

I remember how paranoid I was and the measures my family and myself took when I was an undercover narcotics agent . I can't imagine living how he did for all those years.

[@twashingtonjr91]

Narc

[@DB-yk2pt]

@@twashingtonjr91 that's exactly what I was ...

[@DopamineClips28]

Thank you for your service putting scum in prison lots of drug dealers responsible for many deaths due to overdoses caused by them.

[@DB-yk2pt]

@@twashingtonjr91 not really. We targeted high level dealers. Not street level. The experience is invaluable. Not just for law enforcement but for life skills. When I started I was wanting to change the world. I did eventually realize that the war on drugs was an endless cycle. We will never arrest our way out of addiction. Once I left narcotics I was the detective for the DA's office. After arresting 2 deputies for killing an inmate and seeing how quickly everyone turned against me it opened my eyes. I left law enforcement as a detective sgt . I lost faith in what I was doing. I'm now much more at peace and make better money tbh.

[@nickvargas6587]

@@DB-yk2pt let us congratulate Drugs, on winning the war on Drugs.

[@WilliamFontaineJr]

Thanks again, great watching.

[@dipster14]

Crazy. Back when i was in middle school i wanted to be a spy myself so this interview is gold to me

[@DrRisto__TWITCH]

Now “spies” are as easy as you making yourself the Cattle … tracking yourself 25/8

[@jamiestwrt]

@@DrRisto__TWITCH nicely put

[@Freddie-Moses]

Would love to see Oleg Gordievsky interviewed....but you would have to find him first! He's still number 1 on Russia's hit list

[@Legendary_Football]

Great story from Mr. Barsky, and another great episode. TY Lex!

[@planobest8120]

Yeah but with joe the guests can see themselves in his shiny polished tanned head. That’s gotta count for something.

[@RawOlympia]

thnx so much ... lived there then, it's nostalgic to listen to ... such an interview!

[@haroldi.6450]

You can learn alot from his mannerisms and body language, the way he talks, the way he tells stories. Fascinating

[@jonvladimirtsev3002]

Yes, Lex is awesome about letting his guests express themselves ...

[@jesusguzman5126]

Loved this one Lex

[@bryandonahue4347]

Surprised this guy is still alive

[@AU88]

Really enjoyed Mr. Barsky’s memoir, “Deep Undercover.” Real-life spy stuff, and a touching story of redemption.

[@Ryan-9000]

"I can't come back I have aids" haha genuis.

[@deathstarresident]

The Americans must be inspired by him. I loved how they made that series and always thought they must know someone who was a former spy to get to that level of detail

[@ReanuKeevesAus]

What?

[@deathstarresident]

@@ReanuKeevesAus ROFL sorry “The Americans” it’s a TV series about Russian Spies living in USA

[@RawOlympia]

@@deathstarresident Never heard of it and love him, thnx!

[@rajathnaik2136]

2 Agents, one modern, one old, such class😎

[@tomgreen1721]

His life would make a kick Ass movie

[@johnclark5491]

Love that he found God and is living in truth now

[@ADUB0017]

That was an incredible story

[@BirdDawg1]

Another excellent clip from Lex.

[@1971jwing]

USA, land of second chances. Paradigmaticlee very interesting to spend so much of your mind in constant anxiety. The determination in humans is sometimes insipid and therefore unworthy of praise, but not in this case. Great health to all.

[@jimmyjohnjuan]

I can see this being a movie. But I not an action. Purely drama depicting him going from a KGB agent and the emotional toll of being a father. Then the final scene him talking about 7 years ago I finally became a us citizen on this pod.

[@RIPxBlackHawk]

The connections of this German train conductor are the best in comparison to what he does

[@richardmacdonald2842]

Wow factor for me. Amazing interview Lex.

[@dpat41356]

He actually found the stash of money and passport.

[@davidm7818]

that was his “one time pass”

[@Subdriverboy]

Ex 2.0 was an employee of Pinkerton Computer Consultants and had as her customer Jack Barsky at Prudential. She loved telling Jack Barsky stories and once said he commented about one of my novels. Years later, long after we were divorced, she told me that Barksy was a KGB spy and she was super freaked out.

[@davidm7818]

huh?

[@Carbie69ner]

He is going to get the Putin interview and his career is going to explode. Hopefully in a good way

[@DBFIU]

In my opinion his career already exploded. But interviewing putin would be Nobel prize winning stuff if he did it and made peace in ukraine 🤘

[@DBFIU]

@Yarp Yarp congrats, you can read.

[@artcurious807]

we can make peace in Ukraine easily, just stop selling weapons to Ukraine and stop starting color revolutions. create a DMZ and recognize Donbas independence

[@ucfkid67]

Love how lex let's him run free with chatting instead of Joe where he constantly interrupting

[@jonhylow1239]

3:54 Good interview and I like the man, but how we actually define having or living a good life and is this even possible, under parameters like this, in a system, like this ? How many definitions of a good life are there and how many of those people actually can potentially achieve those goals, in a system like this ? and if there are some universal parameters that would define it for everybody, shouldn`t we do more, to integrate them into our daily lifes and systems ?! Isn`t it pathetic, that this is completely irrelevant for politicians and responsible people and most probably for at least 97 % of all people, in general, I´d guess.

[@TheCho22]

I've met people in prison who are more free than people outside. I've met people with nothing who act as though they have everything. It's a personal experience subject to the expectations, entitlements, and resulting responses created in one's own mind.

[@dspirea]

well you offered a problem without a solution? what are the tenants of the universally 'good' life? can you name one?

[@TheCho22]

@@dspirea There's no such thing as a universally good life and that's my point. It's subjective.

[@chickencharlie1992]

If society had no problems then politicians would have nothing to promise.

[@Originalchili]

@@dspirea to break it down, some people can live a life in a mansion in California and that can be the best life for them where they get the most out of life, then there's other people who wish to live a life in the middle of the woods, hunting and fishing to make a fulfilling life, these are two very different people, with very different ideas on what constitutes living a good life, and neither are wrong

[@ciarantiger]

Watched all the clips. Class 💯

[@titrecords2294]

Imagine the characters of the people making the dead drop for him to pick, or the guys who find you to whisper in your ears or the guy taking half the loot 😂 geez 🙄 I love spy movies

[@pokey8667]

Lex's interviews are next Level!🤙👍

[@slimguy94]

Really good interview

[@tjmcmaster]

Ex spy being honest about being a spy.... Lol

[@pgpro8691]

That’s like a movie.. dude finds a red dot message on a railing he was designated to look at on way to work every day

[@BrandonSmith-qx8jx]

Everything is like a movie to the low IQ.

[@danielmeuler2877]

Its a beautiful story of love changing a cold dead heart into a man that would now do anything to protect those 2 big eyes. Its a real life Grinch, heart growing 3x story.

[@tonymcflattie2450]

Fun fact, the spy who shagged me was based on this story

[@sjkba]

This is so much better than any history book!

[@kevinrice7635]

Genuine spy vs spy! Great 👍 story 👏

[@jonathanhall1823]

I only realized now that I read his memoir almost two years ago…that book still lives in somewhere in my mind.

[@davidabbett7011]

Captivating . . . . simply captivating.

[@Whiskey04]

Great interview!

[@sherryneglia4804]

My thing would be , my issue, apprehensions, whatever, would be constantly wondering if I could trust my Russian handlers. What if they were just getting me up there to Canada to exterminate me? I'd almost rather be in an American prison forever than a Russian gulag, or just a ditch in Canada lol

[@Originalchili]

I feel like if they wanted to kill you they wouldn't tell you to go to Canada, they would poison you or kill you in a way where it looks like a accident

[@OldSch00l71]

They would only do that if they felt you betrayed them and if thats the case there’s nowhere you can run, FSB is pretty scary with those poisonings of these ex spies. But they woudnt kill you for no reason.

[@redsofaanimation]

This is an amazing interview!!

[@USAisAFK]

Beautiful hearing him talking about his love for his daughter.

[@tylerrr.]

An interesting and well spoken guest. Would enjoy sitting down and having a few beers with him, I'm sure he's got some crazy stories!

[@pokey8667]

Lex is a flipping boss. My dream is to either interview or be interviewed by Lex! Just a spectacular asset to humanity!💖

[@OoO-rf2gt]

Cringe.

[@pokey8667]

@@OoO-rf2gt cringe to your cringe.🤙

[@OoO-rf2gt]

@@pokey8667 OK "pick me" 😆

[@breadman5048]

Yeah I don’t get it - he’s a pretty basic interviewer.. has good guests though

[@blicleak1101]

He has good guests but he is below average at what he does. He has no ide what he is talking about. For example, he likes to talk about a few quotes he read on goodreads from Nietzsche and he has no clue what they mean, just goes with the most superficial nonsense. I say it because Nietzsche was basically the subject of my postgraduate program and it hurts my brain.

[@mobstercreep7286]

I love the last part where he jokes about maybe being part Irish. I think that’s the American culture we speak of. Acceptance of other cultures is our culture

[@pubgod4203]

Lex getting ready for Russia 👀🔥

[@marshalllapenta7656]

The plan didn’t fail(the soviets betrayed him) -I’ve been saying this both sides give up their own just to see how each side reacts!

[@danerwinde7717]

this guy changed my perception of the soviet union/KGB

[@lulumoon6942]

We're all just people, most often being used by a system that finds us shockingly replaceable. Technology is only hastening our end.

[@Broseftoast]

“My reentry into the human race” talking about his daughter and deciding to leave his former life. What a great quote

[@Glory_inthe_3rd77]

Very best part of this if indeed what he means by Christian is he believes the King James Bible is actual recorded history and the word of God and he has his faith on what Jesus Christ did for him (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV) if that is what he means by he is a Christian now then that is the very best part of what I have learned about this man in this video. Thank Jesus!!! And to that man welcome to reality and the family.

[@scottfay3553]

I really appreciate this mans work!! HEs true hero

[@MChiave]

I have a feeling that he knew that the FBI had moved next door, and made that confession in the kitchen purposefully.

[@scumballer6656]

I had the exact same thought.

[@artcurious807]

well, at least it was for the good of his family. in America we(the CIA/Neo-Cons) fake discovering WMD and start illegal wars that cause 500,000 women and children to get yeeted in Iraq. then drone strike Afghan children into red paste because of our own political chaos.

[@blicleak1101]

I have a feeling this guy LIES A lot because no way FBI would react like that to a literal ENEMY.

[@natejanousek4062]

I fully understand what he meant when he was speaking about his baby girl. Nothing like the love a father had for his daughters

[@osifox8119]

What an amazing story of the human experience.

[@danpaulrose1]

Lex turned my elbow to the far left. I tapped... He's a special young man.

[@lilslicknick93]

I never knew that McDonalds was even making houses and properties like his MC-MANSION he mentioned !

[@MontegaB]

Interesting to hear him talk about getting info from the shortwave stations :)

[@FredericFreedom]

Probably coded too

[@gingerbreadmun3876]

Always wondered what the guy who did the voice for Elma Fudd looked like

[@mattosborne1366]

goddamn. now I can't unhear it..

[@Makabert.Abylon]

Elma? Is that Elmer’s wife?

[@dpe4]

Damn this was interesting. Lex and Jack; Thank you,

[@josephpadula2283]

Reminds me of the part of the book Witness when the look at the spy W Chambers saw his daughters ear and stopped being a communist!

[@josephpadula2283]

And became a Quaker Christian.