Shawn Ryan: There's A Battle For Your Soul, It's Happening Right Now

What happened in this episode?

Shawn Ryan, a former US Navy SEAL and government contractor turned podcast host, tells Steven Bartlett that he believes modern online media and politics are vulnerable to influence operations. Ryan alleges that podcasters and influencers can be ‘captured’ through public proximity to power, and claims some podcast guests may be ‘planted’ to seed narratives designed to go viral in short clips. He also says his show is absent from YouTube’s ‘popular podcasts’ surface despite what he describes as 150–200 million monthly views, suggesting—without offering proof—that internal actors at platforms can shape visibility.

In a political segment, Ryan says Kamala Harris’s team engaged in talks about appearing on his programme but objected to topics and ultimately withdrew, while he says Donald Trump set no interview guidelines. Ryan adds he has since become disillusioned with Trump, saying the president has not delivered on promises, and he expresses pessimism about the US outlook in Iran, adding that colleagues believe the US is acting for another country’s interests.

Ryan gives a detailed personal account of a period in Colombia driven by adrenaline-seeking and heavy drug use, including being warned police had allegedly bugged his apartment and fleeing within hours. The conversation then centres on Ryan’s recent ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT experience, which he says felt like ‘hell’ and triggered months of nightmares and what he calls supernatural incidents. He says he has undergone multiple exorcisms and is moving further into Catholicism, while claiming an advertiser cancelled due to his shift towards faith-based content.

What are the key points?

• Shawn Ryan alleges political operatives can ‘capture’ influencers by drawing them into photographed proximity to power; he says he refuses White House invites.
• Ryan claims some podcast guests may be ‘planted’ to insert specific narratives, including geopolitical predictions intended for clipping and virality.
• He says his show does not appear in YouTube’s ‘popular podcasts’ section despite claimed high viewership, and suggests platform curation may be involved.
• Ryan says Kamala Harris’s team discussed an appearance but objected to proposed topics and backed out; he says Trump imposed no interview guidelines.
• Ryan says he has changed his view of Trump and sees no ‘positive outcome for America’ in the Iran situation; he reports colleagues believe US action serves another country’s interests.
• Ryan recounts heavy drug use and alleged police surveillance in Colombia, saying he ran counter-surveillance checks and left within 12 hours.
• Ryan describes a psychedelic experience he believes exposed him to a ‘spiritual realm’, followed by exorcisms and a shift towards Catholic practice; he says an advertiser cancelled over faith content.

Who is speaking?

Named speakers identified in Egleze's source-linked moments from this episode.

• Shawn Ryan

Which topics are covered?

How is this page sourced?

Programme

Diary of a CEO

Published

1 October 2026

Duration

1h 39m

Original episode

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