What's up, guys? Today I'm hitting you with a truly essential conversation featuring Andrew Bustamante. This guy's not just a former covert CIA intelligence officer—he's become one of the most sought-after experts on modern espionage, national security, and global power. With everything that’s exploding right now between the U.S., Iran, China, and Russia, I could not wait to get his perspective.Andrew is breaking down how the new world order is shaping up in real time—why China’s playing a long, strategic game, what the real stakes are in the U.S.-Iran conflict, and how economic warfare and public perception matter more than ever. If you've ever wondered what global power really means today, or how to navigate a world that's changing at crazy speed, this episode will give you the frameworks and mental models you need to make sense of it all.I hope you guys get as much out of this episode as I did recording it with Andrew. If you find it valuable, please drop us a review—it’s the best way to support the show and make sure we continue to bring bold, unfiltered conversations right to you. I'm Tom Bilyeu, and welcome to Impact Theory.00:00 - Welcome and intro: Why meeting with Andrew Bustamante was urgent with global tensions00:20 - What China Learned While US Fights Iran05:24 - The global scramble: How 157 countries are hedging against US dollar and US tech; why the “portfolio split” just got real09:06 - The “Suez Canal moment” for the US: Why losing grip in the Strait of Hormuz is historic19:15 - How global perception shifts when threats (“economic D-Day”, anyone?) become empty—China’s new confidence in resisting American pressure31:08 - From American Dream to “Red Dream”: How Xi Jinping’s CCP is remaking global aspirations, and the chilling influence on wavering democracies40:45 - Why China WANTS conflict close to its home turf (South China Sea)—and what happens if the US ever takes the bait53:21 - Does China see itself in decline? The real calculus behind demographics, technology, and whether they’re just waiting for the world to come back to themWhat's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here:Want my help starting a business?<a href="https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder?utm_campaign=Podcast%20Offer&utm_source=podca[%E2%80%A6]d%20end%20of%20show&utm_content=podcast%20ad%20end%20of%20show" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Join me here inside Zero To Founder</a>Sign up for my AI Masterclass:&nbsp; <a href="https://tombilyeu.com/ai-masterclass?utm_campaign=Live%20Masterclass&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=evergreen" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AI Masterclass</a>FOLLOW TOM:Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/</a>Tik Tok:<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en</a>Twitter:<a href="https://twitter.com/tombilyeu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://twitter.com/tombilyeu</a>YouTube:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu</a>Cash App: Download Cash App Today: <a href="https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/v6nymgjl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/v6nymgjl </a>#CashAppPod*Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit <a href="http://cash.app/legal/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cash.app/legal/podcast</a> for full disclosure.Quince: Free shipping and 365-day returns at <a href="https://quince.com/impactpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://quince.com/impactpod</a>Whatnot: Download the Whatnot app today and get free shipping on your first order.Ketone IQ: Visit <a href="https://ketone.com/IMPACT" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ketone.com/IMPACT</a> for 30% OFF your subscription orderEthos: Get a free quote at<a href="https://ethos.com/impact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://ethos.com/impact</a>Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code IMPACT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: <a href="https://incogni.com/impact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://incogni.com/impact</a>&nbsp;ATT Business: Switch to AT&T Business at <a href="https://incogni.com/impact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://</a><a href="http://business.att.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">business.att.com</a>Pique: 20% off at <a href="https://piquelife.com/impact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://piquelife.com/impact</a>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

Ex-CIA Spy: The Iran War Was China's Trap — And We Walked Right In

Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews