Sean Ryan, a former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor who built one of the world’s largest podcasts, recounts a life spanning elite special operations, covert intelligence work, a descent into Colombian drug networks, addiction recovery through ibogaine, a terrifying psychedelic experience he describes as visiting hell, subsequent supernatural oppression and exorcisms, and a resulting spiritual transformation that now orients his platform toward faith, family, and integrity over growth at all costs.
Military and intelligence career
Enlisted in the Navy at 17, completed BUD/S (rolling back once, taking ~9 months), SEAL Qualification Training, and earned his Trident; served 5.5 years with deployments to Haiti (2004, post-Aristide chaos), Afghanistan (after Operation Red Wings, the largest SEAL loss at the time), and Iraq.
In Iraq (2005–06), his platoon was farmed out to conventional units to hunt IED cells and suicide bombers; they killed targets within 24 hours of each operation, which became his final deployment.
Left the SEALs feeling unfulfilled by the lack of direct action; became a real estate agent (inspired by Trump’s How to Get Rich), failed, then entered government contracting — State Department, then CIA via Blackwater, then SOC, then direct CIA contract with no middleman.
Describes SEAL training as forging extreme stress tolerance, personal drive, and a realization of human potential far beyond normal limits, but also instilling an adrenaline addiction and a hard-drinking, fighting culture.
Podcasting, political capture, and platform manipulation
Built a top-tier podcast (150–200M monthly views, #1 on YouTube multiple times, #3 on Spotify) but notes his show never appears in YouTube’s “Popular Podcasts” section, which he attributes to early commentary on terrorism that triggered algorithmic suppression.
Believes intelligence agencies place moles inside platforms (YouTube, Meta, TikTok) under cover of regular employment to influence visibility and narratives.
Argues the Trump administration “crushed it” using podcasts in the election cycle; afterward, many influencers were “captured” by proximity to power — photographed at White House events, holding Epstein binders — creating a tribal appearance that compromises independent thought.
Declines all such invitations (Air Force One, Mar-a-Lago, White House dinners) because “the minute that happens, you’ve hit the ceiling” and lose freedom to criticize future decisions.
Suspects guests are planted on podcasts: unknown figures suddenly get massive traction, make precise geopolitical predictions across dozens of shows, then text hosts “I told you so” — a signature of intelligence operations seeding narratives.
Offered Kamala Harris’s team an open-format interview (they’d set topics); they declined after negotiations. Trump had no guidelines. Now disillusioned with Trump (“gone against what he said he’d do”) and sees both parties as “one and the same.”
Military colleagues believe U.S. policy in Iran/Israel serves Israeli interests, not American; Ryan agrees and sees U.S. alienating allies (e.g., Canada/Keystone pipeline) while China watches the U.S. “self-destruct in real time.”
Unlikely to engage in 2028 unless a viable third party emerges; wants to pivot content toward a multi-year Bible series and a “50 States in 50 Days” project documenting domestic poverty to challenge foreign-aid priorities.
Colombia: adrenaline, drug networks, and a near-arrest
At 34, after CIA contracting, moved to Medellín (started in Cartagena) for two years of heavy drinking and cocaine use; driven by adrenaline addiction and disgust with civilian opinions on war.
Never dealt drugs directly; the rush came from infiltrating networks, climbing dealer hierarchies in Barrio Antioquia (cheapest/best cocaine, inaccessible to taxis, multiple police checkpoints).
On a 3–5 day bender, threw a large stack of cash off the “Puente de los Locos” bridge into a homeless camp, causing a mob scene; barely escaped.
Doorman Freddy (whom Ryan always tipped generously with cash, clothes, groceries) warned him police had his passport photos, knew his movements, and had planted a bug in the light fixture outside his penthouse with an observation post across the street.
Scrubbed the apartment, ran a surveillance detection route (SDR) through internet cafes, bought multiple tickets, and fled within 12 hours, never returning.
Did not quit cocaine immediately; toned down but chased adrenaline in Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras (San Pedro Sula, then “most dangerous place on Earth”).
Turning points: friendship, therapy, and ibogaine
Best friend leaving contracting with severe opiate addiction became Ryan’s purpose; to help him, Ryan had to clean up himself — they made progress, but the friend ultimately died years later.
Began therapy (ego blow, but no local friends, nothing to lose); found it powerful — verbalizing problems to an unbiased listener let him solve them in real time, plus accountability.
First ibogaine treatment (after podcast launch, with 6-month-old son): sought presence, not addiction cure. Took a pill (from a Gabonese group), followed next day by 5-MeO-DMT.
Result: effortless cessation of alcohol, sleeping meds, Adderall; could compartmentalize business stress and be fully present with family. “Never been better” — 4+ years sober, no vices.
Second ibogaine (~3 months ago): “I know I visited hell. It was more real than anything I’ve experienced.”
The hell experience and supernatural oppression
During the 5-MeO-DMT session: total emptiness, no God/Christ, maximum fear/anxiety, felt like eternity (~90 minutes), body contorted in ways “the human body shouldn’t do.”
A Marine Raider friend (told not to attend) peered in and said he’d never seen a human body do that, despite combat experience.
Ryan believes psychedelics can yield real insights (business, relationships) but also open a forbidden spiritual realm — “naked in a world we don’t understand” — where entities can access you.
Since then: recurring nightmares destroying his family, vivid dream of a Catholic bishop sending cryptic homosexual advances (never met him), waking with hatred for the Church.
Praying the Libra Cristo regimen (6 AM, noon, 6 PM) + St. Michael prayer → picture frame flew off wall at in-laws’ house in Maine.
Same morning, took Communion at Mass → immediate allergic reaction (face burning, veins popping, beet-red) within seconds — impossible for normal allergy.
Friend/protector “Hendo” witnessed both events; Ryan says such synchronicities have occurred in sequences for 3 months.
Two priests (spiritual mentors) performed multiple exorcisms (Latin and English); they diagnose oppression (external attacks on family, health, faith, finances) not possession (loss of bodily/mind control).
Exorcisms involve prayer series to provoke reactions that narrow down the affliction; Ryan is still in the process.
Spiritual transformation and cost of alignment
All of this drew Ryan and his wife deeper into Catholicism; he reads Bible (~half, understands 5–10%), plans a multi-year podcast series on every book.
Night before first episode with Cardinal Burke (high-ranking prelate), the supernatural events began — Ryan takes the timing as confirmation: “I am supposed to be doing this.”
Advertisers pulling out: a long-term life-insurance sponsor canceled because they “don’t advertise on faith-based content,” despite targeting family-oriented audiences. Ryan sees this as spiritual warfare — entities with power over platforms pressuring him to stop.
“No more pretending. I know what this is: a battle between good and evil for my soul.” Prays multiple times daily to “release oppression”; told he’ll know when it’s won (“very apparent”).
Family toll: wife Katie has witnessed events, stands by him, but it’s “rough” — she wonders if he’s crazy, what happens next, what she thinks at night.
Many elite operators (SEALs, Delta, SF) privately reached out: “I thought I was the only one” — Ryan believes he’s just the only one articulating it.
Business philosophy, family, and current goals
New venture: Glacier — privacy/security mobile app (VPN, secure DNS blocking data-broker harvesting, burner numbers). Born from solving his own problem; turned down many offers waiting for the “right deal.”
Podcast cadence: two episodes/week unsustainable with family/travel; moving to one/week.
Goal: show people they can ask hard questions, hold themselves accountable, admit mistakes, and stand for beliefs without catastrophic repercussions — “courage is contagious.”
Good life = creating memories with wife and kids; money removes financial stress but brings new stress; peace and happiness cannot be bought.
“Look for the power plays. Hold off for the right deals. Only do what you really believe in. The quick money is all shit.”
Warning to younger builders: business can destroy family. Kids grow fast; you only get one shot. If you’re not there, someone else will be everything to them.
Admits guilt/regret: “I’m very close with my kids, but I could be closer.” Still figuring balance; conclusion is to work smarter, say no to good-but-not-right deals, and prioritize presence.
Closing answer to “What is love?”: “Love is what you’re willing to die for.” → “My family.”
