Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Public Goods: publicgoods.com/lex and use code LEX to get $15 off - NetSuite: netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour - Blinkist: blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium - MasterClass: masterclass.com/lex to get 15% off - Onnit: lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off 3:15 - Early years 37:32 - Phishing and social engineering 55:36 - SolarWinds cyberattack 1:01:23 - Future social engineering fears 1:04:04 - Early cybercrimes 1:16:38 - Cybercrime entrepreneurship 1:20:06 - ShadowCrew 1:51:10 - Dark web 1:59:56 - ShadowCrew arrested 2:11:55 - Cybercrime 2:17:02 - Love 2:49:06 - Prison 3:17:18 - Life after prison 3:39:06 - Advice for young people 3:40:30 - Hope for the future 3:43:59 - Meaning of life
@@npc2172 Ali G (if he can stop himself pontificating for 5 minutes) for shiz. Louis CK would be amazing but I doubt he’s doing any podcast; love him but he’s too much of a control freak …Ricky Gervais would be good as would Hugh Laurie.
I'm glad he's seen the error of his ways, but I keep coming back to the people whose retirement accounts he robbed. Think about that. Working your entire life towards this goal and having it stolen from you. And then the guy who does it gets to act like a hero for turning his life around and yucking it up with Lex for 4 hours. Something about that just bothers me.
I see your side well, but when look at how much congress representatives, like Pelosi and pretty much all of them come into office poor and with in a couple years are worth millions at our expense makes this guy look like small potatoes,, Just sad for us the citizens
I had this exact same thought. As interesting as this guy is he has ruined lives. We turn people like this into celebrities, while people like us who try to do good for others get shit on in life. It's like when criminals start a legit business and get praised for turning their life around, well yeh... you stole a shit load of money from people, you have the cash to start your own business.
Yeah I just saw his episode of koncrete, and clicked on this one immediately after finishing that entire episode. It’s the same story but I’m watching anyway for the details that may be in this episode that wasn’t in that one lol
I’m Just a normal middle class dad, husband .. with two little children. Will never rob a person . Will get robbed in my 401k by the corporate system . I’ll never appear on a podcast. But I’d like to think my life and other young dad’s life’s is what matters most . Walking a straight a line . Being boring . Really “Loving” others
Some people have been there and done that, and when they get bored, sometimes they go on a hike, sometimes they steal millions of dollars just to see if they can. Boredom is crazy.
The lives of young fathers may matter most to you and those young fathers, but the lives of young fathers surely don't matter most in an objective sense or to many others in their own subjectives. My childless life and what I care about matters most to me. While I wouldn't rob anyone, I'm quite happy to make a profit to the point of ripping someone off if I can - all so I can have a more enjoyable life - and I don't care who I gouge a profit from. I do not care about the next generation, and what matters most to me is having a pleasurable time in my own life. Other smaller, more basic lifeforms will inevitably outsurvive humans, so reproducing as a human is futile, and in my opinion is quite selfish.
This was an incredibly fascinating conversation. Lex, you are KILLING these, please more of these cyber security/cyber criminal sit downs, they're fire
What's wrong w you. This dude stole masses of money from individuals. Not corporations from regular people. You should hate him not praise him cause he paid for his crime in prison. He didn't pay anyone back! He's a piece of garbage who should be made to pay back that lady he defrauded with the elephant.
@@ninajefferson4018 nowhere in my comment did I say I liked him. I liked the conversation. Reading comprehension is essential. I also showed appreciation for Lex. If you don’t like the content, you can always watch something you enjoy. Wish you the best
What's wrong w you. This dude stole masses of money from individuals. Not corporations from regular people. You should hate him not praise him cause he paid for his crime in prison. He didn't pay anyone back! He's a piece of garbage who should be made to pay back that lady he defrauded with the elephant.
This guest came out of left field, Lex. Great job. People need to know that this type of story is a real thing in the US, the richest country on Earth. It's a surreal world we live in.
But is this story real? The speaker is a self-labeled master manipulator. After listening to him speak for 5 minutes... I mean, there's just no way I can know for sure if important elements of his story are true.
What's wrong w you. This dude stole masses of money from individuals. Not corporations from regular people. You should hate him not praise him cause he paid for his crime in prison. He didn't pay anyone back! He's a piece of garbage who should be made to pay back that lady he defrauded with the elephant.
I can imagine a lot of people will think he’s cool while he’s laughing and joking like he doesn’t care what he’s done, he doesn’t seem sorry, he’s never to be trusted, but people will still fall for his bs, he’ll still manipulate people in a different way. He really is a narcissistic psychopath
How anyone would believe this guy is anything other than a Narc/psychopath is beyond me. He literally is enjoying his time reliving his sad and useless escapades. Such a BS artist. He’s criminal, manipulative and finds himself fascinating.
Absolutely the very best interview I've heard. Lex, this interview has been positively entertaining with educational insight as to the behavioral motivation, actions and consequences, for better or worse of a decent human being. I feel Brett is a success in many ways, more than I'll ever know. His story has inspired me on this quiet Sunday afternoon. Lex, I gave you 3 hours by listening to the interview and I'm certain I've spent my time wisely. This interview has reinforced to me that most decisions are made "to arrive at a destination by means of least resistance" whether metaphorically or not, changes are made due to lifes' impedances or a fear of consequences. I believe that when life becomes unmanageable , a person can truly do good for others and themselves and hopefully create change. I appreciate your work . Thank you for sharing the awesome results of your time and efforts. I'm certain what you do is not easy . You're truly a professional. Well done and thank you. Best Regards, LTH
"If you're addicted to something, you can not love anything else, except the addiction" - This line hit me on so many levels, and has put a lot into perspective
@Brett Johnson Great to have you in the comments, Bret. Thanks for the podcast. That point on addiction really resonated with me and it can be addiction to anything, like work.
listen the fuck up randy whateverthefuck name travis, cable tv died in the 1980's. since then, it has been fake propaganda created by the fbi to brainwash us into buying products so that they can support their overseas operations
I can listen to this guy tell stories all day long. Lex has a knack for finding these people, sitting them down and getting the best from them. Always wondered why his podcasts were so long, now I know why. Compelling interview.
When you grow up in a cycle of dysfunction, drugs, and crime, your thinking and behavior will always be colored by this. Unless you’ve experienced it firsthand, it’s hard to grasp how difficult it is to break these norms. Congrats to this man for changing his life. These stories need to be told so those of us that have experienced it see examples of ones that make it out.
It's unfortunate because he will always have to live with what he's done. He grew up, and he's lucky to have done so because many criminals are not given that opportunity. He's addicted to the nature of crime, that's why he's doing what he does today, by helping catch the bad guys. Fortunately he's realized and had the opportunity to realize that being in prison isn't fun. I agree with you, and for most people it is impossible to break their habits.
@@god_is_good493 I’m glad for you. I’ve known a lot of people, some in my own family, that used religion or a 12 step program to overcome. whatever your difficulties are, keep and use whatever helps you stay clean or fly straight. As they say, "the program doesn’t work, unless you work it." I’m not a believer, or did not use religion, but I do like the saying " to each their own". all religious texts can help you be better. we just have to be sure we are using what can help people, and not the parts that hurt and tear down.
textbook narcissism, psycopathy and antisocial personality disorder. the glibness, charm, recklessness, disregard for authority, manipulation of every character in his story. amazing interview - Lex just allowed him to speak
It’s actually Borderline. Borderline in men encompasses narcissism (grandiosity), psychopathy (factor 2), antisocial is psychopathy all with Borderline pathology organization (incredibly dangerous). His mother, by his description, is Borderline too, but more female typology. Borderline Personality Disorder is strongly associated with Native American admixture. Kentucky has high amounts of native Indian in the Anglo population. Johnny Deep also from Kentucky had a similar Borderline mother.
I fell asleep with YT running in the background, I started having this crazy dream, and woke up and this guy was telling his story which was part of my dream…. This is crazy!
This is actually a common occurrence among many people. Outside stimuli has a big effect on how your brain processes information while you are in different states of sleep. REM sleep is where the brain is influenced by outside stimuli the most.
What's wrong w you. This dude stole masses of money from individuals. Not corporations from regular people. You should hate him not praise him cause he paid for his crime in prison. He didn't pay anyone back! He's a piece of garbage who should be made to pay back that lady he defrauded with the elephant.
This was incredible. As somebody who started his life off not as a choirboy much like Brett Johnson did. This podcast brought back a lot of memories of the old me. And he's absolutely right and I don't know if it's former criminals only that want to live their life in this fashion. But he is absolutely 1000% correct. It's all about how can I benefit somebody else. Service over self. Famous quote that help change my life in a very dark time was from Gandhi and he said "if you want to find yourself lose yourself in the service of others" that's probably a paraphrase and you're welcome to Google the exact quote. But it changed my life. Just like this man. Unfortunately I did not have to go through what he did to get myself on track. I did unfortunately have to deal with the Secret Service and I can say they were extremely professional and very good at what they did. But if anybody's reading this take my word for it and Brett Johnson's word for it and try your best to help others, make the world a better place to live in, open doors for old people when you're not having a good day. The getting is in the giving. Thank you for listening to my TED talk. Lol
@@BCNS3388 That's a really hard one to justify given all the amazing people he has interviewed. I would say with a little more thought it feels the most relevant to current events. With all the lie's, scams, and world changing tech out there this episode gives many a glimpse of how it operates behind closed doors. Brett's honesty was refreshing.
I can relate to his childhood. I was selling drugs at 12 to pay all the bills for my mom and moved out to live on my own at 14 and continued to selling massive amounts until I turned 18 and could get a job without a parent's signature. I took a huge pay cut but was able to get a license and buy a house and move to the county, start a landscaping business and I'm still in that house 22 years later. Now I have a metal fabrication shop.
@@dreckigerdan3739 One might hurt others. Drug don't directly hurt anyone else but those taking it. They know the risk. A person buying a weapon illegally, is very likely to go out and kill someone. Terrible example.
I think around 2:10, when opens up about lying, I first time felt love towards him. He is smart, he knows what he has done. If only all these smart griminals used their power to change the world to good. If anyone, I assume they know how to do it. Don't you? Peace and love man, not suffering.
This guy is happy where he is now, and would not change anything in his past because he would not be where he is now... He caused so much pain and suffering and we, as society, are feeding him now. He doesn't deserve to be concerned a hero!
And what if you made a list of your shortcomings, rules and laws you’ve broken? What if you shared them publicly? How do you imagine the people would think of you?
@@Cookieisaqueer Sounds like you don't believe in redemption. That being your opinion you're obviously entitled to, but you don't fundamentally get to dictate the inner state of any individual; regardless of their actions. Especially when your virtues are predicated on the belief of being better than someone. If you truly believe in what you say, then your problem wouldn't be with the individual, rather the justice system as a whole. What is the purpose of serving a sentence then, if not to pay for what you've done?
He would not change anything in his past, because he can't. This is a foolish statement. To me this seems to be made to invoke a reaction because it literally has no other purpose or meaning. Him not deserving being 'concerned a hero' is a valid opinion, yet I've not seen a single comment stating this. Again, stated to invoke a reaction. Saying anyone doesn't deserve, or denying an individual happiness regardless of their actions, only reflects upon your own poor sense of worth. How can you find happiness unless you accept things, including the past, as they are?
@@jaredcrenshaw7665 : Bustamante is very creepy former CIA . Run his name on TH-cam . Invest ~ four hours listening to Bustamante and you will be intellectually exhausted. He is EVIL !!
This might be one of my favourite interviews to date. Not only is Brett an incredible story teller (and has an incredible story) but I feel, it is only on the Lex Fridman podcast that a conversation can hold the vulnerability and complexity of the human condition. I am always so appreciative of the way Lex interviews with heart, with holding that space for the guest to speak their truth. That silent support, that space leaves so much room for emotion and beauty. Thank you for creating that space Lex. Thank you Brett for your truth.
This guy is getting a lot of pleasure telling his stories... I get the sense he still doesn't care about the hurt & trauma he has caused. I would believe he understands the gravity of his choices if he spent the rest of his life working to pay those poor people back. I appreciate the calm & quiet Lex maintains. He let's the guy spill & spill & spill.
I kinda have feeling we are hearing a lot of untrue stories that aren't really ways to find out if what he says is true or not. He was supposedly this amazing theatre student. He is very skilled with his words.
@@victorblock3421 I do believe that people can change & see the error of their thinking but I agree with you. He hasn't changed. You can see be how much he's enjoying telling his stories &... when he gets emotional talking about the prostitute he shacked up with he's selfishly crying for himself.
@@rawgasmiclove I certainly believe people can reform themselves from bad/negative things but it depends a lot on the motivation that person had or what their moral compass is. I make mistakes every day and made some big ones in the past but shame and my moral compass brought me back from the brink and set me straight. I didn't need counseling or any of that. Being more mature helped. The key is no bad screw ups and greatly exceed bad stuff with good stuff.
@@brettjohnsonshow How do you feel about the comments that assess your personality? Especially those that remain skeptical… It must feel a bit irritating to be faced with people who are confident that they know the “real” Brett…
@@laurakosch First, thank you for listening. I appreciate it. As far as the negative comments? Well, I cannot control those, nor would I want to. The positive response far outweighs the negative, so I'm pleased. That said, some of the negative comments do cause me to think if the person were watching the same interview as others
@@brettjohnsonshow These comments mainly reveal the speakers’ own hearts. In our house, the one rule we have is no mind reading. We cannot know what is in someone else’s heart, or what is motivating them. To accuse someone in this way is arrogant and foolish.
Lex, I really like your interviews with criminals that turned their lives around. Like this one with Brett Johnson and Roger Reaves. Its very interesting.
Roger Reaves interview was one of my top 10 podcast episodes ever. It was like listening to Bob Ross paint stories about cocaine trafficking. Incredible.
@@chrisruskai9341 Again I love this! You’ve so sweet and short summed up my novelette!! Exactly it feels as if he may never be capable of truly being a permissive or trash his criminal minded justifications of being a predator even after himself being traumatized. Thank you I appreciate this well said comment!!!!
Lex. You handle each person before you with grace, with curiosity, with warmth, and with love. In return you have cultivated what has become a beautiful place of refuge and sanity in a divisive world. I hope you appreciate what a gift this is for us
Every thing that Brett says is important in life.... is exactly what he said is important to an active criminal. Social enginering is this man's forte... and after listening to this entire interview.... I can tell that Lex has been hooked... full line... and sinker. Quite frankly, after shaking Brett's hand.... I'd still count my fingers.
Lex, you have become such an amazing interviewer. The way you steer the interview, ask the right questions at the right time; I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate you and the work you put into this podcast. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Lex.
As I perused this, I reflected on the significance of having a strong role model. Overcoming challenges often involves shattering the confines of our perspectives and habits, embracing a life guided by sincerity and truthfulness.
Sometimes the attention one gets from telling a surreal, extremely intense true story, can trigger a person to continue with different stories that may be totally fraudulent. Amazingly enough, the man seems to have some serious things to feel guilt or shame for. These childhood stories can be true; if so, is it an excuse for some sociopathic tendencies but my attitude towards this , is at what point in your life do you stop making excuses and start building a new set of healthy memories. I wish him luck, And God Bless
When Lex said, “I always wear my heart on my sleeve. If I get hurt for it? That’s life” how sorrowful that we live in a world where some people that are so unconditionally full of love have to coexist with people that only know hate and dishonesty. Sadly, we can only hope that love overshadows the hate. Keep grinding Lex 🤟🏼
@@malikialgeriankabyleswag4200 I don’t even know what that means? I just meant like there is happiness and sadness, it sucks that really good people encounter the worst of the worst of other people sometimes. I don’t have to agree… since it’s also a personal view, I haven’t met too many good people in my life but that doesn’t mean I don’t know that good people are out there/exist
Everyone is evil in the wrong circumstances. And the other way round. People that are unaware aren't aware of being unaware. Everyone thinks they are justified in their actions.
@@nicoleselsky7273 I know I'm just saying sometimes when we get fed up of the bad things we like to escape to this very well defined world of good people here vs evil people there.. and then we get tricked into wars lol
@@selbstbestimmt My sentiments exactly, Not much emotionally centered,( sympathy/ empathic) expression, with Brett. The dudes got an attitude, of not my fault, look at my bad upbringing. BS, He knew the difference between right and wrong, but chose to do wrong. I'm, not getting any real vibes of compassion or regret, from this predator,he was stealing vunerable ppls life savings. DISPICABLE
Yup, my thoughts exactly. My dad was a con artists and I see it a lot here. I get a sense of it every time I talk to him. Good story teller, lots of laughs and things to get you comfortable/think they're close friends. They get the guard down really quickly. I don't think to my dad much or for long for this reason. Once he's got me comfortable, it's always asking to burrow money or buy him this and that.
Lex in your opening commentaries exactly how u feel, your podcast is amazing and I hear it more and more everyday and I appreciate you for at least trying to get through to some, to create a better understanding for all of us thank you ❤️✌️🐜
People may think he’s exaggerating about how things are around here but I can assure you it’s even worse now then what he’s explaining. As hard as that is to believe. Kudos to this guy for not letting the toxicity of eastern Kentucky keep him down forever because most people around here stay here until they die.
I feel like I just heard the most persuasive psychopath on earth. It’s stunning how much I want to enjoy his shocking and terrifying stories told with such laughter.
Most psychopath's merely hide the fact that they are so; Therefore you have to study those in your life and especially public figures who "have you" under their guise.
Especially important episode. Keep getting reformed citizens, rebels, and critics. Alongside the awesome giants these episodes really help provide a honest, helpful insight of humanity.
This was the first time I’ve heard a Lex Fridman podcast and I gotta say I really enjoyed it. I’ll be talking about it with friends as well as finding another episode. Very entertaining and I enjoy the questions Lex asks.
The more I watch Lex, the more I am liking him and getting hooked on his podcast. Used to be a JRE fan for years but I’ve switched to Lex, I trust him more and I think it’s a better program.
Lex you’ve quickly become one of my favorite channels. Love all the different aspects of life you touch on and for some reason it’s all topics I’m interested in. Hope you never quit!
As it happens, I watched the interview with Chris Tarbell then this one. Chris mentioned that he didn't have any anger towards the people he took down, but that Brett really pissed him off. It would be a very interesting show to see Lex moderate a back-and-forth style Q&A between Chris and Brett. I'm sure they would venture into some engaging technical areas, but the conversation around actions and their consequences would be intriguing. This idea would probably be something Lex could do with many of his guests since he talks with such wide ranging subjects. His calm and deliberate demeanor would most definitely produce some great conversations.
@@RichardCranium321 Maybe... Brett has an amazing ability to understand systems and , I'd say, to instinctively identify vulnerabilities. Chris is a protector with an ambush predator's patience. He'll poke and prod and eventually find that one thing that let's him get his man. Both men have genuine skills and those skills come with upsides and downsides for those around them depending on how they're utilized. They have different moral compasses. That's why I think it would make for a good talk, as long as there's a moderator who can keep them on track and away from each other's throats. I see a possibility of genuine hostility developing in the absence of third party guidance.
This is one of the very few if not only 4 hour interview i can watch in one sitting; and even come back to and revisit, and still not be bored. Any other interviews from this guy?
Best episode/guest yet! I absolutely loved every minute of this one. It's been a minute since I've had a chance to sit & watch one of your episodes in it's entirety & I could instantly see that you've been working very hard at honing this particular craft of yours & I just want to let you know that I, for one am very impressed & just as grateful. Keep 'em coming, Lex
I work in a Hospital that specialises in treating cancer. Some might think that it is quite a depressing job but no. From day 1 it felt like I was (and still am) with my second family. What a beautiful, warm and place to live my working life in. Helping ourselves and others together, as Brett just said. Thank you Lex and Brett for solidifying what I definitely felt and believed but didn't 100% know, until now.
I gotta say Brett makes me a bit uncomfortable, he reminds me in ways of the other psychopaths that I have met in my life. It's hard for me not to imagine him as a manipulator and dangerous individual. I see every indication that it is still a fundamental piece of his personality, it seems to me that you would really be relying on Brett to decide not to take advantage of you if you were to lower your guard around him or were not sufficiently guarded from him. I would think that about all it would take would be for him to be feeling a bit lazy, or bored for him to turn to manipulations that could have negative consequences for his targets, mentally or otherwise. I see in him a kind of insecure confidence that to me appears like coping with vast insecurity, but is presented as joy and strength and secret celebration of the domination of others, and the superiority of duping and harming others without them understanding what is happening. This kind of charm that everyone in the comments is responding to so well is nothing new, this is what a charismatic psychopath is like. Now imagine yourself under their spell and you decide that you want to trust them wholeheartedly, big mistake, big mistake. This isn't about shaming Brett, this is about how easily most of us are guided away from good judgement. I don't think you can trust Brett anymore than you can trust a rattlesnake loose on a bus, you know maybe the snake just wants to curl into the corner and be left alone, are you going to put your trust in that when your getting on that bus, the question is are you still going to get on that bus? You say no, but if the snake was as persuasive as Brett I think a lot of these people in the comments would be overjoyed to sit on the bus with the charismatic rattlesnake.
Of course he hasn't completely changed, he was nearly pure evil, he's not going to suddenly become reformed even if he truly genuine wants to, which is impossible to verify. Your suspicions or hesitation are completely sound. Reputation & record matters for a reason. And it *really* matters. I would never trust this kind of person. Save your trust for people who have earned it.
@@bowlofsoup12 stop crying if you aren't able to read more than 6 words its because your attention span is fucked up from watching all these tictocs and reels - its your problem :D
Being a "very good social engineer", as he says, in conjunction with what he's known for and what he brags about, the smart move would be to disbelieve everything he says. Bringing my own experience with social engineers/manipulators into focus, my sensors go off when he talks. What makes this most interesting, and lends to his ability to social engineer, he even explains how he's engineering us, the audience, as he does so @ 44:50
Reminds me if that scene from A Scanner Darkly... "See, the guy never really posed as any of it. He only posed as a worldfamous imposter. Turns out he just pushed a broom at Disneyland, until he read about this actual world-famous imposter, and he thought, I can pose as all those things, then he thought, hell, I'll just pose as an imposter. Save a lot of time, a lot easier. Made almost as much money as the real imposter with books and movie rights."
The famous charm of the sociopath is chillingly on display. Lovable, infectious laugh. The pain he caused is touched upon but eventually lost in the entertaining recounting of his adventures.
I don’t agree with what he did, but he can definitely tell a story. This was educational and insightful. Nearly 4 hours and I was hooked the entire time. It was a roller coaster of emotions but in the end I feel more hopeful for people in general, and I really appreciate Lex letting him speak openly and not interrupting during deep moments of the guy’s life story.
Hey Lex could you please tell Brett that there's an opening for a leadership position at the Thieves Guild, I already have too much on my plate as Archmage of the college
Brett, thank you. Thank you for working so hard to tame your self identified addiction to cyber crime and be the decent person you seem to have revealed. After you've done all those harmful things, it would be hard for me to trust you, so I'm especially thankful for the people who did trust you and gave you chances to be your better self. Wishing you ever more strength and stability to continue that path. At many points in the interview I caught glimpses of what looked like a still-scared little boy who is freaked out by his violent and criminal mother and his unprepared and unskilled father. It's tempting to imagine that your childhood caused your life of crime. I'm not sure that's how it works, since many criminals come from perfectly fine childhoods, but I want you to know I see your little boy and I wish I could convince him that he's OK and worth love and affection. If you see him, maybe you can tell him yourself.
I was planning on watching 5-10 mins jjsut to see what this guy was about. and i stayed the whole fucking show. Amazin conversation. i'll be definetely following brett's podcast
I woke up listening to this podcast, dreaming about Prisons, and I learned 2 main things: 1. Listening to Lex Fridman's podcast's while sleeping makes you go trippin' 2. Never ever tell a prison inmate or guard or anybody that you're in there for "some computer crimes" even if you're a cybercriminal xD
Yes! I had same experience but Lex had Donald Hoffman talking about reality. My dreams were of what he was talking about with consciousness and interfaces like what he was saying was directing my dream. When I woke up I was trippin and felt like I understood everything Hoffman was talking about in the pod. I went back and tried to watch the podcast again since i hadn't watched it prior to autoplay during sleep. When I really watched it while awake it made no sense. It was such a strange feeling I had waking up like things finally made sense and then just went away thru out the day.
This guy is like the Breaking Bad version of Dave Ramsey 🤣. Amazing story this should be a movie - It’s like Catch Me If You Can meets Shawshank Redemption meets Breaking Bad meets Wolf Of Wall St
This has got to be one of Lex's best. Lex and his guests give us all hope. Brett is an amazing speaker with an amazing story. This stuff is worth 4 hours of seat time. If you doze off, rewind and try again.
Agreed, JRE isn't eben a "good" podcast. It's brutish, low information value and appeals to the masses. Most of the time it's no more than the live-stream of a man-cave.
I am a therapist. I have worked in private practice and with people getting out of prison. I did CBT both types of spaces. I believe it makes a difference. I have listened to this 2 times. I find it fascinating. I have been a therapist for 25 years.
Please incorporate as much DBT as you can, especially explaining mindfulness or making book recommendations like "Mindfulness in Plain English" or "Wherever You Go There You Are" or even "Mindfulness Through Depression." If you don't want to buy Marsha Linehan's books I know that "DBT Skills and Training Manual: Second Edition" is easily found online as a free pdf with a Google search. I still don't understand why this information as well as Brené Brown's research aren't being taught everywhere.
Interesting: Social Engineering; knowing people's responses, what they care about and knowing how to exploit their interests. It can be useful if used constructively or manipulative if misused. Fascinating study; I'm so glad you became of value to the U.S.A Government in helping to catch other Cyber criminals. You're responsible for what you do as a grown up, sorry that your childhood was so hard.
This man’s childhood sounds horrible. He can laugh about it now but imagine it was traumatic. If this guy did grow up normally I wouldn’t believe him. Glad he was able to take all that has happened and make it out. Sometimes it takes a good woman to believe in you.
I'll Have to admit this was one of the best. To the Host You rate yourself as one of the Best. Your guest put a new light on criminal backgrounds. This was a tough one to vote on. Who was better in this podcast? Brett Thank you for opening my mind. Lex keep up what you're doing. Thank you both! Nice Job! 👍
About 2 1/2 hours in I forgot I was even watching a Lex Fridman interview. Had a split second doing other things, I almost thought I was watching a movie.
Lex, love your interviews. As a retired bank robber I and well versed in the Criminal World, I appreciate your willingness to engage with and give voice to those who have made mistakes. I would only say that everyone has a sad story. Its about responsibility and choice. I agree, everyone is close to being a criminal at some time or another. Some though, embrace it and want to brag about it, others learn from it and move on. This guy is neither rehabilitated nor remorseful. He is sociopathic and a con artist. Does it make him a bad guy? I don't know him. I do know hundred people like him. If you want to interview criminals look to murderers or people who caught large cases but came from nothing. Those are the ones who either have lost their humanity and look for it every day or made survival decisions that seemed like an only option. Love your shows.
I dont know why i missed out on this episode but just like to say Thanks to Lex and Brett for this episode…What a roller coaster ride of emotions and at the end of the day we will everything for the right person and in return just wanted to loved.
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0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions:
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3:15 - Early years
37:32 - Phishing and social engineering
55:36 - SolarWinds cyberattack
1:01:23 - Future social engineering fears
1:04:04 - Early cybercrimes
1:16:38 - Cybercrime entrepreneurship
1:20:06 - ShadowCrew
1:51:10 - Dark web
1:59:56 - ShadowCrew arrested
2:11:55 - Cybercrime
2:17:02 - Love
2:49:06 - Prison
3:17:18 - Life after prison
3:39:06 - Advice for young people
3:40:30 - Hope for the future
3:43:59 - Meaning of life
@@tannerannichiarico7255 shhh
His stripper girlfriend likely never stopped doing drugs. She hid it better.
@@npc2172 Ali G (if he can stop himself pontificating for 5 minutes) for shiz. Louis CK would be amazing but I doubt he’s doing any podcast; love him but he’s too much of a control freak …Ricky Gervais would be good as would Hugh Laurie.
Lex, this is very similar to gunmo's interview th-cam.com/video/g6igTJXcqvo/w-d-xo.html
@@tannerannichiarico7255 nah but like he would if he could
I'm glad he's seen the error of his ways, but I keep coming back to the people whose retirement accounts he robbed. Think about that. Working your entire life towards this goal and having it stolen from you. And then the guy who does it gets to act like a hero for turning his life around and yucking it up with Lex for 4 hours. Something about that just bothers me.
Retirement accounts are covered, they’re fine.
I see your side well, but when look at how much congress representatives, like Pelosi and pretty much all of them come into office poor and with in a couple years are worth millions at our expense makes this guy look like small potatoes,,
Just sad for us the citizens
Dang… you ain’t wrong
I had this exact same thought. As interesting as this guy is he has ruined lives. We turn people like this into celebrities, while people like us who try to do good for others get shit on in life. It's like when criminals start a legit business and get praised for turning their life around, well yeh... you stole a shit load of money from people, you have the cash to start your own business.
N😅hh m i gt ini😮 nn
Oh man, the diversity of interviewees, this is such a special channel!
Try Soft White Underbelly channel
oh wow, that's a great channel, thanks for the rcmd!
Almost like he learned from Rogan lol
@@ALCRAN2010 great channel for individual stories, but doesnt do intellectual education as far as i know
@@AJ-pc9gu I guess the challenge is upon us, the commentators, to come up with our own unique conclusion.
It’s rare u can listen to someone you’ve never heard of for nearly 4 hours and immediately want another 4. This was off the charts
Exactly. I was so hooked.
@@jasonf3963 1
Not really, what keeps you hooked is wanting to know how a criminal can rip you off . In hopes they won't get you.
Yeah I just saw his episode of koncrete, and clicked on this one immediately after finishing that entire episode. It’s the same story but I’m watching anyway for the details that may be in this episode that wasn’t in that one lol
@@watchprayact2069 or how you can be the criminal 👀
I’m Just a normal middle class dad, husband .. with two little children. Will never rob a person . Will get robbed in my 401k by the corporate system . I’ll never appear on a podcast. But I’d like to think my life and other young dad’s life’s is what matters most . Walking a straight a line . Being boring . Really “Loving” others
Some people have been there and done that, and when they get bored, sometimes they go on a hike, sometimes they steal millions of dollars just to see if they can. Boredom is crazy.
This was boring to read. It's like you guys are watching hour of porn and then complaining your wife doesn't get the recognition she deserves.
The lives of young fathers may matter most to you and those young fathers, but the lives of young fathers surely don't matter most in an objective sense or to many others in their own subjectives. My childless life and what I care about matters most to me. While I wouldn't rob anyone, I'm quite happy to make a profit to the point of ripping someone off if I can - all so I can have a more enjoyable life - and I don't care who I gouge a profit from. I do not care about the next generation, and what matters most to me is having a pleasurable time in my own life. Other smaller, more basic lifeforms will inevitably outsurvive humans, so reproducing as a human is futile, and in my opinion is quite selfish.
Absolutely. "Boring dads" are my favourite people. I married one. Salt of the Earth.
@@kdjnhdojgdjjdhrge7824Yikes 😬
Best Lex Fridman episode ever. This guy could carry 8 hours of material. Well done. Esp staying out of his way and letting him talk.
Qwww
Best for me was Escobar’s pilot mule
My thoughts exactly
@@jt9907 no t a
@@jt9907 no t a
This was an incredibly fascinating conversation. Lex, you are KILLING these, please more of these cyber security/cyber criminal sit downs, they're fire
What's wrong w you.
This dude stole masses
of money from
individuals. Not
corporations from
regular people. You
should hate him not
praise him cause he
paid for his crime in
prison. He didn't pay
anyone back! He's a piece
of garbage who should
be made to pay back that
lady he defrauded with
the elephant.
@@ninajefferson4018 nowhere in my comment did I say I liked him. I liked the conversation. Reading comprehension is essential. I also showed appreciation for Lex. If you don’t like the content, you can always watch something you enjoy. Wish you the best
Reed book John macfee
@@ErvNoelProduction at the moment cybercrime is even more dificult
@@ErvNoelProduction
Whatev Erv.
Lex BY FAR has the greatest introductions ever. They are so graceful, unequivocally precise, and greatly capturing. Rock on sir.
What's wrong w you.
This dude stole masses
of money from
individuals. Not
corporations from
regular people. You
should hate him not
praise him cause he
paid for his crime in
prison. He didn't pay
anyone back! He's a piece
of garbage who should
be made to pay back that
lady he defrauded with
the elephant.
@@ninajefferson4018 Talking about Lex get off the pipe and stop looking for a fight
You mean unequivocally?
@@leuquim yes I did! Ty for the catch sir.
Very well said! Per usual it took me a Novelette to express your short and sweet and deeply meaningful perspective!!! Love this!!!
Why do I keep getting Lex Friedman on auto play after every damn yt video I watch.
Do you watch Rogan regularly?
lol same
Yeah fall asleep and here’s lex. You can disable his channel being recommended to you. Had this issue with kitboga and it’s solved
Same thing happens when im watching tim pool or something alike, it starts playing CNN MSNBC
I always wake up to him no matter what I was listening to before I fell asleep
This guest came out of left field, Lex. Great job. People need to know that this type of story is a real thing in the US, the richest country on Earth. It's a surreal world we live in.
"Richest country on earth" has a red flag and white cross. Economic wealth has been drained from us citizens for a long long time
The US is the 8th ranked richest. Get your head out of your ass lol
Care to elaborate?
@Black2th that is
But is this story real? The speaker is a self-labeled master manipulator.
After listening to him speak for 5 minutes... I mean, there's just no way I can know for sure if important elements of his story are true.
This is the best podcast I've ever came across. I love the diversity of ppl he's able to bring on here it's actually impressive
This one and Soft White Underbelly on TH-cam
What's wrong w you.
This dude stole masses
of money from
individuals. Not
corporations from
regular people. You
should hate him not
praise him cause he
paid for his crime in
prison. He didn't pay
anyone back! He's a piece
of garbage who should
be made to pay back that
lady he defrauded with
the elephant.
@@MrDonpasqualino I'll have to check that one out as well....used to watch jre til he went to Spotify but lex definitely gets great guests on here
@@MrDonpasqualino kw
@@jonmarquis4952
he😊😊j 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊in
Seriously sat here and watched entire 3 hours and 47 minutes of this epicness ♾☀️🖤 thanks lex appreciate your time and consideration!!!
Same so amazing
This podcast is like listening to a movie like 'Blow'! Amazing!! Tanx a lot @lex
Click the ellipses (three dots in top right hand screen) and change the playback speed to 2. Cuts time in half ;)
You skipped the last 25 seconds? What's wrong with you?! Lol ...this is an amazing interview.
Same. First time, too.
I can imagine a lot of people will think he’s cool while he’s laughing and joking like he doesn’t care what he’s done, he doesn’t seem sorry, he’s never to be trusted, but people will still fall for his bs, he’ll still manipulate people in a different way. He really is a narcissistic psychopath
How anyone would believe this guy is anything other than a Narc/psychopath is beyond me. He literally is enjoying his time reliving his sad and useless escapades. Such a BS artist. He’s criminal, manipulative and finds himself fascinating.
Ya, it's obvious. When he pays his victims back and stops telling his story with glee, maybe I will change my mind, but probably not.
All the laughing is psychotic to me!
Soo
But he's soo good at storytelling
Absolutely the very best interview I've heard. Lex, this interview has been positively entertaining with educational insight as to the behavioral motivation, actions and consequences, for better or worse of a decent human being.
I feel Brett is a success in many ways, more than I'll ever know. His story has inspired me on this quiet Sunday afternoon.
Lex, I gave you 3 hours by listening to the interview and I'm certain I've spent my time wisely.
This interview has reinforced to me that most decisions are made "to arrive at a destination by means of least resistance" whether metaphorically or not, changes are made due to lifes' impedances or a fear of consequences. I believe that when life becomes unmanageable , a person can truly do good for others and themselves and hopefully create change.
I appreciate your work . Thank you for sharing the awesome results of your time and efforts. I'm certain what you do is not easy . You're truly a professional. Well done and thank you.
Best Regards,
LTH
Don't forget those 47 minutes too
Also this guys learned to code.
Brett's honestly and cohones shined brightest in this one sir. Lex does absolutely amazing in every interview, that's a given
If this is the best you haven’t seen very good interviews before.
Well Brett has turned his story into a novel basically so that he can sell it.
nothing beats elon interview tho😙
"If you're addicted to something, you can not love anything else, except the addiction" - This line hit me on so many levels, and has put a lot into perspective
Amen to that!
The problem if You look bret in his eyes ,by the way blue means snakes oilsman
@Brett Johnson ok “Brett Johnson” I’m sure you’re really experienced with drugs 💀🤣 is this something you talked about in bible study?
@Brett Johnson Great to have you in the comments, Bret. Thanks for the podcast. That point on addiction really resonated with me and it can be addiction to anything, like work.
Addiction is the progressive narrowing of what brings you joy.
At the minimum.... this is 1000x better than anything you've ever watched on cable TV.
listen the fuck up randy whateverthefuck name travis, cable tv died in the 1980's. since then, it has been fake propaganda created by the fbi to brainwash us into buying products so that they can support their overseas operations
If you like these kid of stories you should follow these 2 channels
-Matt Cox True Crime
-Koncrete
00
000
@@justinesmith3498 0
If you let TH-cam autoplay run long enough it will always find a lex video without fail.
Lol, I wake up almost every morning to a Lex video. 😂🤣😂🤣😂
I’ve been waiting for someone to say this I thought it was just me
Man I was watching HOTD lore it took me here 😂😂
Hahaha fell asleep with my earbuds in and just woke up to this 😂
I swear
I can listen to this guy tell stories all day long. Lex has a knack for finding these people, sitting them down and getting the best from them. Always wondered why his podcasts were so long, now I know why. Compelling interview.
When you grow up in a cycle of dysfunction, drugs, and crime, your thinking and behavior will always be colored by this. Unless you’ve experienced it firsthand, it’s hard to grasp how difficult it is to break these norms. Congrats to this man for changing his life. These stories need to be told so those of us that have experienced it see examples of ones that make it out.
Said well my friend
It's unfortunate because he will always have to live with what he's done. He grew up, and he's lucky to have done so because many criminals are not given that opportunity. He's addicted to the nature of crime, that's why he's doing what he does today, by helping catch the bad guys. Fortunately he's realized and had the opportunity to realize that being in prison isn't fun. I agree with you, and for most people it is impossible to break their habits.
Truth!!! I've lived it and overcome a difficult childhood and young adulthood by testimony and faith in Jesus Christ.
1
@@god_is_good493 I’m glad for you. I’ve known a lot of people, some in my own family, that used religion or a 12 step program to overcome. whatever your difficulties are, keep and use whatever helps you stay clean or fly straight. As they say, "the program doesn’t work, unless you work it."
I’m not a believer, or did not use religion, but I do like the saying " to each their own". all religious texts can help you be better. we just have to be sure we are using what can help people, and not the parts that hurt and tear down.
textbook narcissism, psycopathy and antisocial personality disorder. the glibness, charm, recklessness, disregard for authority, manipulation of every character in his story. amazing interview - Lex just allowed him to speak
So true
It’s actually Borderline. Borderline in men encompasses narcissism (grandiosity), psychopathy (factor 2), antisocial is psychopathy all with Borderline pathology organization (incredibly dangerous). His mother, by his description, is Borderline too, but more female typology.
Borderline Personality Disorder is strongly associated with Native American admixture. Kentucky has high amounts of native Indian in the Anglo population. Johnny Deep also from Kentucky had a similar Borderline mother.
Truth
Exactly what I thought
@@xKarenWalkerx so borderline Personality Disorder is a racial trait now or just correlated to bad living environment???
I commend you for what you are doing with your channel. Thank you for allowing us to hear stories straight from the people who lived them.
I fell asleep with YT running in the background, I started having this crazy dream, and woke up and this guy was telling his story which was part of my dream…. This is crazy!
Same here!
Also
This is actually a common occurrence among many people. Outside stimuli has a big effect on how your brain processes information while you are in different states of sleep. REM sleep is where the brain is influenced by outside stimuli the most.
Same. Wild police chase dream.
Crazy exact same thing here lol
Brett is an excellent story teller. Thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Thank you Lex and Brett for this fantastic episode.
What's wrong w you.
This dude stole masses
of money from
individuals. Not
corporations from
regular people. You
should hate him not
praise him cause he
paid for his crime in
prison. He didn't pay
anyone back! He's a piece
of garbage who should
be made to pay back that
lady he defrauded with
the elephant.
He's lying
@@ninajefferson4018don't be mad at someone because they don't hate someone enough, that's a bad reason.
This was incredible. As somebody who started his life off not as a choirboy much like Brett Johnson did. This podcast brought back a lot of memories of the old me. And he's absolutely right and I don't know if it's former criminals only that want to live their life in this fashion. But he is absolutely 1000% correct. It's all about how can I benefit somebody else. Service over self. Famous quote that help change my life in a very dark time was from Gandhi and he said "if you want to find yourself lose yourself in the service of others" that's probably a paraphrase and you're welcome to Google the exact quote. But it changed my life. Just like this man. Unfortunately I did not have to go through what he did to get myself on track. I did unfortunately have to deal with the Secret Service and I can say they were extremely professional and very good at what they did. But if anybody's reading this take my word for it and Brett Johnson's word for it and try your best to help others, make the world a better place to live in, open doors for old people when you're not having a good day. The getting is in the giving. Thank you for listening to my TED talk. Lol
Hand's down the best conversation I have seen in a podcast. Much love to you both! Thank you for sharing.
@@BCNS3388 That's a really hard one to justify given all the amazing people he has interviewed. I would say with a little more thought it feels the most relevant to current events. With all the lie's, scams, and world changing tech out there this episode gives many a glimpse of how it operates behind closed doors. Brett's honesty was refreshing.
I can relate to his childhood. I was selling drugs at 12 to pay all the bills for my mom and moved out to live on my own at 14 and continued to selling massive amounts until I turned 18 and could get a job without a parent's signature. I took a huge pay cut but was able to get a license and buy a house and move to the county, start a landscaping business and I'm still in that house 22 years later. Now I have a metal fabrication shop.
and do you wonder how many people died because of your drugs?
@dreckigerdan3739 Why would he? Not once in my life have I met a dealer who forces anyone to buy..
@@kittiesandcolas7957 by your logic it's also okay to sell weapons, do even understand what kinda bullshit you wrote?
@@kittiesandcolas7957 🤣
@@dreckigerdan3739 One might hurt others. Drug don't directly hurt anyone else but those taking it. They know the risk. A person buying a weapon illegally, is very likely to go out and kill someone. Terrible example.
Love Brett's openness. Sharing history, no matter how challenging, helps so many!!
He lies that’s why it’s exciting. Just sounds like every other b.s. artist. Total garbage not a human being.
I think around 2:10, when opens up about lying, I first time felt love towards him. He is smart, he knows what he has done. If only all these smart griminals used their power to change the world to good. If anyone, I assume they know how to do it. Don't you? Peace and love man, not suffering.
This guy is happy where he is now, and would not change anything in his past because he would not be where he is now...
He caused so much pain and suffering and we, as society, are feeding him now. He doesn't deserve to be concerned a hero!
agreed
He has served his time. He is allowed to be satisfied with who he is.
And what if you made a list of your shortcomings, rules and laws you’ve broken?
What if you shared them publicly?
How do you imagine the people would think of you?
@@Cookieisaqueer Sounds like you don't believe in redemption. That being your opinion you're obviously entitled to, but you don't fundamentally get to dictate the inner state of any individual; regardless of their actions. Especially when your virtues are predicated on the belief of being better than someone. If you truly believe in what you say, then your problem wouldn't be with the individual, rather the justice system as a whole. What is the purpose of serving a sentence then, if not to pay for what you've done?
He would not change anything in his past, because he can't. This is a foolish statement. To me this seems to be made to invoke a reaction because it literally has no other purpose or meaning. Him not deserving being 'concerned a hero' is a valid opinion, yet I've not seen a single comment stating this. Again, stated to invoke a reaction. Saying anyone doesn't deserve, or denying an individual happiness regardless of their actions, only reflects upon your own poor sense of worth. How can you find happiness unless you accept things, including the past, as they are?
Lex this has got to be one of your best interviews ever. Elon musk, bustamante and this guy. I have listened to all 3 interviews like 30x each
Thank you for listening!
Bustamante?
That dude us a total slimy scammer.
@@jaredcrenshaw7665well he is a government agent. Thats their game lol
Bustamante and Johnson are CREEPS .
Musk is a MONSTER .
@@jaredcrenshaw7665 :
Bustamante is very creepy former CIA .
Run his name on TH-cam .
Invest ~ four hours listening to Bustamante and you will be intellectually exhausted.
He is EVIL !!
It is terrifying that such a compelling and articulate person could be so casually evil.
I'm skeptical
i couldn't agree more.
Master social engineer
It is also terrifying how casually evil his mother is to her own child.
Articulate? Hahahaahah
This might be one of my favourite interviews to date. Not only is Brett an incredible story teller (and has an incredible story) but I feel, it is only on the Lex Fridman podcast that a conversation can hold the vulnerability and complexity of the human condition. I am always so appreciative of the way Lex interviews with heart, with holding that space for the guest to speak their truth. That silent support, that space leaves so much room for emotion and beauty. Thank you for creating that space Lex. Thank you Brett for your truth.
Good point and well said.
This guy is getting a lot of pleasure telling his stories... I get the sense he still doesn't care about the hurt & trauma he has caused. I would believe he understands the gravity of his choices if he spent the rest of his life working to pay those poor people back. I appreciate the calm & quiet Lex maintains. He let's the guy spill & spill & spill.
I kinda have feeling we are hearing a lot of untrue stories that aren't really ways to find out if what he says is true or not. He was supposedly this amazing theatre student. He is very skilled with his words.
i disagree
He wouldn't do what he did if he had any moral compass. Incarceration didn't change him.
@@victorblock3421 I do believe that people can change & see the error of their thinking but I agree with you. He hasn't changed. You can see be how much he's enjoying telling his stories &... when he gets emotional talking about the prostitute he shacked up with he's selfishly crying for himself.
@@rawgasmiclove I certainly believe people can reform themselves from bad/negative things but it depends a lot on the motivation that person had or what their moral compass is. I make mistakes every day and made some big ones in the past but shame and my moral compass brought me back from the brink and set me straight. I didn't need counseling or any of that. Being more mature helped. The key is no bad screw ups and greatly exceed bad stuff with good stuff.
This is a fantastic interview.. It certainly not the only one. I'm glad I found this podcast.. thanks for your dedication and hard work
Thank you for listening!
@@brettjohnsonshow
How do you feel about the comments that assess your personality? Especially those that remain skeptical…
It must feel a bit irritating to be faced with people who are confident that they know the “real” Brett…
@@laurakosch First, thank you for listening. I appreciate it. As far as the negative comments? Well, I cannot control those, nor would I want to. The positive response far outweighs the negative, so I'm pleased. That said, some of the negative comments do cause me to think if the person were watching the same interview as others
@@brettjohnsonshow
These comments mainly reveal the speakers’ own hearts.
In our house, the one rule we have is no mind reading. We cannot know what is in someone else’s heart, or what is motivating them.
To accuse someone in this way is arrogant and foolish.
@@laurakosch Thank you. Truly
Lex, I really like your interviews with criminals that turned their lives around. Like this one with Brett Johnson and Roger Reaves. Its very interesting.
Roger Reaves interview was one of my top 10 podcast episodes ever.
It was like listening to Bob Ross paint stories about cocaine trafficking. Incredible.
@@CincyPharmer underrated Bob Ross comment!
It makes you wonder though. Did he turn it around or is it another scam?
They aren't 'turning their lives around'. They get caught and then go where the money is.
@@chrisruskai9341 Again I love this! You’ve so sweet and short summed up my novelette!! Exactly it feels as if he may never be capable of truly being a permissive or trash his criminal minded justifications of being a predator even after himself being traumatized. Thank you I appreciate this well said comment!!!!
Lex. You handle each person before you with grace, with curiosity, with warmth, and with love. In return you have cultivated what has become a beautiful place of refuge and sanity in a divisive world. I hope you appreciate what a gift this is for us
Every thing that Brett says is important in life.... is exactly what he said is important to an active criminal.
Social enginering is this man's forte... and after listening to this entire interview.... I can tell that Lex has been hooked... full line... and sinker.
Quite frankly, after shaking Brett's hand.... I'd still count my fingers.
I get this episode in my autoplay queue everyday. At this point ive seen it like 5 times completely
Lex this is upper level conversation. You’re a legend for this one. So good
at first glance, i passed over Lex multiple times. But man, he has me hooked. Mindful, interesting, and inquisitive.
Lex, you have become such an amazing interviewer. The way you steer the interview, ask the right questions at the right time; I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate you and the work you put into this podcast. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Lex.
As I perused this, I reflected on the significance of having a strong role model. Overcoming challenges often involves shattering the confines of our perspectives and habits, embracing a life guided by sincerity and truthfulness.
Imagine what this guy has done that he's not telling.
That’s a good point
Probably next level degenerate sex and drugs.
I’m sure there’s a few bodies he isn’t talking about
Can you imagine what devastation he could do!
Sometimes the attention one gets from telling a surreal, extremely intense true story, can trigger a person to continue with different stories that may be totally fraudulent.
Amazingly enough, the man seems to have some serious things to feel guilt or shame for. These childhood stories can be true; if so, is it an excuse for some sociopathic tendencies but my attitude towards this , is at what point in your life do you stop making excuses and start building a new set of healthy memories. I wish him luck, And God Bless
When Lex said, “I always wear my heart on my sleeve. If I get hurt for it? That’s life” how sorrowful that we live in a world where some people that are so unconditionally full of love have to coexist with people that only know hate and dishonesty. Sadly, we can only hope that love overshadows the hate. Keep grinding Lex 🤟🏼
I don't agree with your dualism
@@malikialgeriankabyleswag4200 I don’t even know what that means? I just meant like there is happiness and sadness, it sucks that really good people encounter the worst of the worst of other people sometimes. I don’t have to agree… since it’s also a personal view, I haven’t met too many good people in my life but that doesn’t mean I don’t know that good people are out there/exist
Everyone is evil in the wrong circumstances. And the other way round. People that are unaware aren't aware of being unaware. Everyone thinks they are justified in their actions.
@@novictim Oh I like this
@@nicoleselsky7273 I know I'm just saying sometimes when we get fed up of the bad things we like to escape to this very well defined world of good people here vs evil people there.. and then we get tricked into wars lol
This is a great interview and the fact that it is in all likelihood another act of social engineering makes it all the more interesting.
I was thinking about that too. This guy doesn't think anything like me, but why do I like him so much?!
@@SilentShiba because he is a great con Artist
The power of psychopaths.
@@selbstbestimmt My sentiments exactly, Not much emotionally centered,( sympathy/ empathic) expression, with Brett. The dudes got an attitude, of not my fault, look at my bad upbringing. BS, He knew the difference between right and wrong, but chose to do wrong. I'm, not getting any real vibes of compassion or regret, from this predator,he was stealing vunerable ppls life savings. DISPICABLE
Yup, my thoughts exactly. My dad was a con artists and I see it a lot here. I get a sense of it every time I talk to him. Good story teller, lots of laughs and things to get you comfortable/think they're close friends. They get the guard down really quickly. I don't think to my dad much or for long for this reason. Once he's got me comfortable, it's always asking to burrow money or buy him this and that.
Lex in your opening commentaries exactly how u feel, your podcast is amazing and I hear it more and more everyday and I appreciate you for at least trying to get through to some, to create a better understanding for all of us thank you ❤️✌️🐜
People may think he’s exaggerating about how things are around here but I can assure you it’s even worse now then what he’s explaining. As hard as that is to believe. Kudos to this guy for not letting the toxicity of eastern Kentucky keep him down forever because most people around here stay here until they die.
I feel like I just heard the most persuasive psychopath on earth. It’s stunning how much I want to enjoy his shocking and terrifying stories told with such laughter.
Most psychopath's merely hide the fact that they are so; Therefore you have to study those in your life and especially public figures who "have you" under their guise.
100 💯
most psychopaths are persuasive, they just don't let you in on the lie, so you assume they're normal.
Hard to believe. Thinking Bret’s acting skills were masking some truth in his story.
I think the mom is the worst.
Especially important episode. Keep getting reformed citizens, rebels, and critics. Alongside the awesome giants these episodes really help provide a honest, helpful insight of humanity.
Not condoning what the guy did obviously but this is one of Lex's best interviews IMO
This almost 4 hours, but I can't stop watching. What an fantastic interview.
now you see how he could easily manipulate and scam people lol
This was the first time I’ve heard a Lex Fridman podcast and I gotta say I really enjoyed it. I’ll be talking about it with friends as well as finding another episode. Very entertaining and I enjoy the questions Lex asks.
I am not sure if I have heard a better podcaster/interviewer.
Joe Rogan has always been my favorite and one of his interviews with Lex led me here. Now I have two favorite podcast hosts.
The more I watch Lex, the more I am liking him and getting hooked on his podcast. Used to be a JRE fan for years but I’ve switched to Lex, I trust him more and I think it’s a better program.
Lex challenges his guest on a human level that we can all relate to
Lex is light years more intelligent than Joe…and Joe isn’t a dummy
Thats because Lex doesn't tell the same 10 anecdotes every episode
@@ericvoots or make every conversation about trans or the pandemic
As many people have stated prior, Lex is the intellectuals JRE :P
Lex you’ve quickly become one of my favorite channels. Love all the different aspects of life you touch on and for some reason it’s all topics I’m interested in. Hope you never quit!
❤
As it happens, I watched the interview with Chris Tarbell then this one. Chris mentioned that he didn't have any anger towards the people he took down, but that Brett really pissed him off. It would be a very interesting show to see Lex moderate a back-and-forth style Q&A between Chris and Brett. I'm sure they would venture into some engaging technical areas, but the conversation around actions and their consequences would be intriguing. This idea would probably be something Lex could do with many of his guests since he talks with such wide ranging subjects. His calm and deliberate demeanor would most definitely produce some great conversations.
Would love this.
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 I’d like to see that.
I could see how Brett would piss him off 😂😂 that’s a good idea though I would watch
brett > chris
@@RichardCranium321 Maybe... Brett has an amazing ability to understand systems and , I'd say, to instinctively identify vulnerabilities. Chris is a protector with an ambush predator's patience. He'll poke and prod and eventually find that one thing that let's him get his man. Both men have genuine skills and those skills come with upsides and downsides for those around them depending on how they're utilized. They have different moral compasses. That's why I think it would make for a good talk, as long as there's a moderator who can keep them on track and away from each other's throats. I see a possibility of genuine hostility developing in the absence of third party guidance.
Lex really shedding a light on a lot of the dark corners of our society. Great work here.
This is one of the very few if not only 4 hour interview i can watch in one sitting; and even come back to and revisit, and still not be bored.
Any other interviews from this guy?
Best episode/guest yet! I absolutely loved every minute of this one. It's been a minute since I've had a chance to sit & watch one of your episodes in it's entirety & I could instantly see that you've been working very hard at honing this particular craft of yours & I just want to let you know that I, for one am very impressed & just as grateful. Keep 'em coming, Lex
This is probably the most beautiful conversation I have ever heard in my entire life… I will never forget this one!
Bravo.
This is going to be a good one. Plus 3hrs. Love how you do longer content lex. Ok let's check this out!
One of the most incredible podcasts I’ve ever seen hands down. Extremely affecting, deep, and dripping with wisdoms.
yes,agreed
Every time I fall asleep I randomly wake up to these videos playing. Why, I have no clue. I never watch them when I’m awake.
Thank You Lex ! These Podcast have really been a beacon of hope for me ! Thank for doing you and being you !
💯✌️
This guy has lived an insane life. Thanks for the honesty Brett.
He prolly sugar coated and left plenty out he is a manipulator. I will give him the benefit of the doubt but lets be real here.
I think he is not honest. You might be tricked here.
Sorry but you realise you are the type he would have con'd right lol
@@rootbeer4888 he knows his shit w scams but i dont believe much about his story
As someone who grew up with a pathological liar father, I urge you to be on the side of caution when believing anything this guy says. Stay safe
I work in a Hospital that specialises in treating cancer. Some might think that it is quite a depressing job but no. From day 1 it felt like I was (and still am) with my second family. What a beautiful, warm and place to live my working life in. Helping ourselves and others together, as Brett just said. Thank you Lex and Brett for solidifying what I definitely felt and believed but didn't 100% know, until now.
Brett's honesty is there for everyone to see.
Hopefully you’re being sarcastic 😅 Dudes full of shit
2:13:50 "Crime is an addiction......" This answers a question I needed answered. Super great conversation.
Lex is special in a special way man. I'd love a chance to sit down and talk to this dude about what ever the hell came up. WE LOVE YA LEX!
So it is about you 😂😂😂
What? @@aleks71438
I gotta say Brett makes me a bit uncomfortable, he reminds me in ways of the other psychopaths that I have met in my life. It's hard for me not to imagine him as a manipulator and dangerous individual. I see every indication that it is still a fundamental piece of his personality, it seems to me that you would really be relying on Brett to decide not to take advantage of you if you were to lower your guard around him or were not sufficiently guarded from him. I would think that about all it would take would be for him to be feeling a bit lazy, or bored for him to turn to manipulations that could have negative consequences for his targets, mentally or otherwise. I see in him a kind of insecure confidence that to me appears like coping with vast insecurity, but is presented as joy and strength and secret celebration of the domination of others, and the superiority of duping and harming others without them understanding what is happening. This kind of charm that everyone in the comments is responding to so well is nothing new, this is what a charismatic psychopath is like. Now imagine yourself under their spell and you decide that you want to trust them wholeheartedly, big mistake, big mistake. This isn't about shaming Brett, this is about how easily most of us are guided away from good judgement. I don't think you can trust Brett anymore than you can trust a rattlesnake loose on a bus, you know maybe the snake just wants to curl into the corner and be left alone, are you going to put your trust in that when your getting on that bus, the question is are you still going to get on that bus? You say no, but if the snake was as persuasive as Brett I think a lot of these people in the comments would be overjoyed to sit on the bus with the charismatic rattlesnake.
Of course he hasn't completely changed, he was nearly pure evil, he's not going to suddenly become reformed even if he truly genuine wants to, which is impossible to verify. Your suspicions or hesitation are completely sound.
Reputation & record matters for a reason. And it *really* matters. I would never trust this kind of person. Save your trust for people who have earned it.
And i bet you like to listen to yourself speak
Good assessment. Given the way he was raised, it's not hard to see why he is this way.
@@bowlofsoup12 stop crying if you aren't able to read more than 6 words its because your attention span is fucked up from watching all these tictocs and reels - its your problem :D
“Takes one to know one”
Hard to believe he became a criminal having such a fine upstanding mother in his life.
My mom does things similar but not as extreme. In terms of manipulation not selling drug nd illegal activities
Plenty of people have horrible parents but don't end up being a complete scumbag
Sounds like a case of a mother with Borderline Personality Disorder
We can assume someone abused him as a child
I detect your sarcasm, but it’s truly sad for children to endure adult issues 26th year teaching elementary. :-(
Being a "very good social engineer", as he says, in conjunction with what he's known for and what he brags about, the smart move would be to disbelieve everything he says.
Bringing my own experience with social engineers/manipulators into focus, my sensors go off when he talks.
What makes this most interesting, and lends to his ability to social engineer, he even explains how he's engineering us, the audience, as he does so @ 44:50
Very interesting imma have to go back n check it….
Reminds me if that scene from A Scanner Darkly...
"See, the guy never really posed as any of it. He only posed as a worldfamous imposter. Turns out he just pushed a broom at Disneyland, until he read about this actual world-famous imposter, and he thought, I can pose as all those things, then he thought, hell, I'll just pose as an imposter. Save a lot of time, a lot easier. Made almost as much money as the real imposter with books and movie rights."
He's a POS, still full of it.
Just yuck!
@@CDE2022 he’s definitely 2 faced going against his own crew. Trust no one
Seems like most people watching this video have met sociopaths in real life. Just don't know it yet.
The famous charm of the sociopath is chillingly on display. Lovable, infectious laugh. The pain he caused is touched upon but eventually lost in the entertaining recounting of his adventures.
Yeah it’s worth seeing so we can recognise it. Sad for the victims loosing their savings
Incredible interview and story telling. As I listened to it I couldn’t help but picture Lester from GTA5 speaking 😂
Lex is really good at asking the questions that will get interesting philosophical and/or emotional answers.
This was one of my favorite guests you've had on. So entertaining.
I don’t agree with what he did, but he can definitely tell a story. This was educational and insightful. Nearly 4 hours and I was hooked the entire time. It was a roller coaster of emotions but in the end I feel more hopeful for people in general, and I really appreciate Lex letting him speak openly and not interrupting during deep moments of the guy’s life story.
Brett you are a born teacher. You are not only smart, but compelling. Lex thanks for the long form dives you offer. Outstanding .
Hey Lex could you please tell Brett that there's an opening for a leadership position at the Thieves Guild, I already have too much on my plate as Archmage of the college
Wait I’m the grey fox now soooo what’s wrong with the guild?
STOP
You have violated the law!
I'd help out but I'm tending to my knee. It took an arrow 🥸
I will be awaiting him in Riften, unless you see the meeting more fit for Whiterun.
What In the secret code is going on here?
Brett, thank you.
Thank you for working so hard to tame your self identified addiction to cyber crime and be the decent person you seem to have revealed. After you've done all those harmful things, it would be hard for me to trust you, so I'm especially thankful for the people who did trust you and gave you chances to be your better self. Wishing you ever more strength and stability to continue that path.
At many points in the interview I caught glimpses of what looked like a still-scared little boy who is freaked out by his violent and criminal mother and his unprepared and unskilled father. It's tempting to imagine that your childhood caused your life of crime. I'm not sure that's how it works, since many criminals come from perfectly fine childhoods, but I want you to know I see your little boy and I wish I could convince him that he's OK and worth love and affection. If you see him, maybe you can tell him yourself.
I was planning on watching 5-10 mins jjsut to see what this guy was about. and i stayed the whole fucking show. Amazin conversation. i'll be definetely following brett's podcast
I did the exact same thing! Lol
100% same here
This is a great podcast, please disregard any mean messages, this is just another perspective that we wouldn't have without you Lex.
I woke up listening to this podcast, dreaming about Prisons, and I learned 2 main things:
1. Listening to Lex Fridman's podcast's while sleeping makes you go trippin'
2. Never ever tell a prison inmate or guard or anybody that you're in there for "some computer crimes" even if you're a cybercriminal xD
I woke up listening to Theo Von and Duncan Trussel. Much nicer experience lol.
Yes! I had same experience but Lex had Donald Hoffman talking about reality. My dreams were of what he was talking about with consciousness and interfaces like what he was saying was directing my dream. When I woke up I was trippin and felt like I understood everything Hoffman was talking about in the pod. I went back and tried to watch the podcast again since i hadn't watched it prior to autoplay during sleep. When I really watched it while awake it made no sense. It was such a strange feeling I had waking up like things finally made sense and then just went away thru out the day.
You shouldn't listen to any media while sleeping. That programs your subconscious mind. I recommend just white noise, to sleep
@@04dram04So wouldn't the smartest thing be to let something educational play.
No way! It happened to you too? I swear it happened to me as well!
Supremely interesting guest. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for keeping me up until 1 am. I would like a part 2 diving more into the modern world of cyber crime and the fight against it.
I listened to the whole thing! So fascinating!!!!! Thank you
Listened to this whole thing while programming my college assignment about web security and preventing hacking/exploits. :D
This is actually a really good PSA for cybersecurity.
This guy is like the Breaking Bad version of Dave Ramsey 🤣.
Amazing story this should be a movie - It’s like Catch Me If You Can meets Shawshank Redemption meets Breaking Bad meets Wolf Of Wall St
😂😂 literally same voice
Holy crap! I thought the EXACT SAME THING!! 🤣
😂😂
Dam....
Perhaps Hollywood screenwriter will pick upp om this imterview and present new movie idea, "The Social Engineer"
One of the best interviews to date. We need more of these kind of guests.
Thank you so much for listening. I appreciate it
This has got to be one of Lex's best. Lex and his guests give us all hope. Brett is an amazing speaker with an amazing story. This stuff is worth 4 hours of seat time. If you doze off, rewind and try again.
I’ve become such a big lex fan recently I’m beginning to think this is hands down the best podcast. Better than JRE for so many reasons
Agreed, JRE isn't eben a "good" podcast. It's brutish, low information value and appeals to the masses. Most of the time it's no more than the live-stream of a man-cave.
@@daisy9181 what's your point? Both things are true...
This is one of the most engaging podcasts I have ever listened to what a story. Thanks for sharing.
I am a therapist. I have worked in private practice and with people getting out of prison. I did CBT both types of spaces. I believe it makes a difference. I have listened to this 2 times. I find it fascinating. I have been a therapist for 25 years.
@hoi-polloi905 😂
Please incorporate as much DBT as you can, especially explaining mindfulness or making book recommendations like "Mindfulness in Plain English" or "Wherever You Go There You Are" or even "Mindfulness Through Depression." If you don't want to buy Marsha Linehan's books I know that "DBT Skills and Training Manual: Second Edition" is easily found online as a free pdf with a Google search. I still don't understand why this information as well as Brené Brown's research aren't being taught everywhere.
I want some therapy 🥱
Cbt? Cock and ball torture
Interesting: Social Engineering; knowing people's responses, what they care about and knowing how to exploit their interests. It can be useful if used constructively or manipulative if misused. Fascinating study; I'm so glad you became of value to the U.S.A Government in helping to catch other Cyber criminals. You're responsible for what you do as a grown up, sorry that your childhood was so hard.
This is one of the best podcasts I've ever listened to.
This man’s childhood sounds horrible. He can laugh about it now but imagine it was traumatic. If this guy did grow up normally I wouldn’t believe him. Glad he was able to take all that has happened and make it out. Sometimes it takes a good woman to believe in you.
@@e.proteusyinyang.e5237 That sucks you had to endure all that, I promise you that there are good people in this world. Don't give up!!
Youd have to laugh at it to get the weight off
Yasssssss
OMG I feel for the child in him as well as his poor little sister!
*Despite the economic crisis,this is a Still a good time to invest in stock and Crypto****
I'll Have to admit this was one of the best. To the Host You rate yourself as one of the Best. Your guest put a new light on criminal backgrounds. This was a tough one to vote on. Who was better in this podcast? Brett Thank you for opening my mind. Lex keep up what you're doing. Thank you both! Nice Job! 👍
I absolutely loved the podcast! I'm so glad that he turned his life around and for the best! 🙏
Congratulations 🎉
You have been socially engineered!
@@Mike-bs5pi lol
About 2 1/2 hours in I forgot I was even watching a Lex Fridman interview. Had a split second doing other things, I almost thought I was watching a movie.
Lex, love your interviews. As a retired bank robber I and well versed in the Criminal World, I appreciate your willingness to engage with and give voice to those who have made mistakes. I would only say that everyone has a sad story. Its about responsibility and choice. I agree, everyone is close to being a criminal at some time or another. Some though, embrace it and want to brag about it, others learn from it and move on. This guy is neither rehabilitated nor remorseful. He is sociopathic and a con artist. Does it make him a bad guy? I don't know him. I do know hundred people like him. If you want to interview criminals look to murderers or people who caught large cases but came from nothing. Those are the ones who either have lost their humanity and look for it every day or made survival decisions that seemed like an only option. Love your shows.
I dont know why i missed out on this episode but just like to say Thanks to Lex and Brett for this episode…What a roller coaster ride of emotions and at the end of the day we will everything for the right person and in return just wanted to loved.