In the last episode, former CIA officer Andrew Bustamante shared two books that changed his life—Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card and Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin. Today, we’re doing something brand new. In this special episode of Books That Changed My Life, host Chris Collins welcomes Andrew back—this time alongside his wife and partner, Jihi Bustamante. Like Andrew, Jihi is a veteran of the CIA and co-founder of EverydaySpy.
Together, they’ve co-authored a powerful new spy thriller called Shadow Cell, and they’re here to talk about the book, the writing process, and the real-life experiences that inspired it. This conversation goes beyond just the story on the page. Andrew and Jihi open up about what it was like to write a novel together while balancing their personal history in covert operations, their business, and their marriage. You'll hear how Shadow
Cell became more than just a book—it became a reflection of their shared values, experiences, and the life they’ve built after intelligence work. It’s a candid and captivating look into the minds of two people who’ve lived lives most of us can only imagine—and chose to tell a story together.
Want to learn more from Andrew? Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/42dDXMc
Read Andrew’s CIA book ‘Shadow Cell’: https://geni.us/ShadowCellBook
Follow Andy on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante
Explore Spy School: https://everydayspy.com/
Support Andy's sponsor Axolt Brain: https://axoltbrain.com/andy
Listen to the podcast: https://youtube.com/@UCpuzFvHij2JVyMq1CX1qyQQ