Former CIA officer John Kiriakou appeared as a guest on Zeteo on May 28–29, 2026. Meanwhile, his media rounds also brought him to This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, where host Theo Von introduced him to discuss his career and espionage history, noting that hearing about his past "makes that all more meaningful to you, so you show up for it differently."
During the interview, Kiriakou did not hold back on his motivations for choosing a dangerous life in intelligence over a mundane career path. "Oh, listen, I'm an adrenaline junkie. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have these stories in my past," he told Theo Von, adding that when his first wife wanted him to sell car insurance in Ohio, he replied: "I would rather cut my throat than move to Ohio and sell insurance with your cousin Dean."
While Theo Von focused on the personal grit and psychological demands of espionage, other platforms like Zeteo have zeroed in on Kiriakou's whistleblowing legacy and political commentary. This contrast highlights a split in coverage: one side treats him as a colorful, rogue adventurer with wild stories, while the other positions him as a serious critic of state power.
As Kiriakou continues his press run, his ability to pivot between lighthearted defiance and heavy geopolitical critiques will keep him in high demand across the podcast landscape.