Brett Johnson: US Most Wanted Cybercriminal | Lex Fridman Podcast  

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

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.

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

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.

Hard to believe he became a criminal having such a fine upstanding mother in his life.

Oh man, the diversity of interviewees, this is such a special channel!

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.

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 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.

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.

"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

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

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

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

This was an incredibly fascinating conversation. Lex, you are KILLING these, please more of these cyber security/cyber criminal sit downs, they're fire

Hand's down the best conversation I have seen in a podcast. Much love to you both! Thank you for sharing.

Idk how this channel keeps popping up on my auto play. I usually let RU-vid auto play for hours, and lately about half the time I do this I see an interview from this channel. I'm always waking up to it or falling asleep to it. But today, this interview actually caught my attention. I'm going to subscribe now, and go down the rabbit hole of interviews I've missed!!

Seriously sat here and watched entire 3 hours and 47 minutes of this epicness ♾☀️🖤 thanks lex appreciate your time and consideration!!!

Lex BY FAR has the greatest introductions ever. They are so graceful, unequivocally precise, and greatly capturing. Rock on sir.

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

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.

It is terrifying that such a compelling and articulate person could be so casually evil.

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.

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.

I literally sat the whole interview and oh man was this a good one thanks for sharing

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

At the minimum.... this is 1000x better than anything you've ever watched on cable TV.

Lex is really good at asking the questions that will get interesting philosophical and/or emotional answers.

So, as the owner of a Cybersecurity Provider firm that works to ensure guys like this aren't successful, I deal with guys like Brett daily. Ask him this... .did he go back and pay back ANY of his victims? NOPE. He's still bragging. The answer here is this.... If they sound like a used car salesman, walk away.

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

Brett is an excellent story teller. Thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Thank you Lex and Brett for this fantastic episode.

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!

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 ❤️✌️🐜

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 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.

I cannot relate to any of his story...at the same time I find it fascinating!! I hope Brett has a much better life today. The lessons he has to of learned...amazing. Amazing story. Thank you for sharing.

I listened to the whole thing! So fascinating!!!!! Thank you

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.

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!

What a great episode 🙏🏻 A lot of lessons to be learnt from it. Thank you for sharing Lex!

One of the best interviews to date. We need more of these kind of guests.

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 a great interview and the fact that it is in all likelihood another act of social engineering makes it all the more interesting.

Brett you are a born teacher. You are not only smart, but compelling. Lex thanks for the long form dives you offer. Outstanding .

I had the pleasure of being given a Top-Secret classified briefing on Cybersecurity as it relates to industry in 2021 (in light of Colonial Pipeline). After that briefing I bought: 6 month supply of rations (rice, salt, supplements) with supplements A 9mm pistol with 1000 rounds of ammo Water filter system Backlog of prescription meds (3 months best I can get)

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.

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.

What an opening👏👏👏 Can't wait to hear more stories like this, thank you Brett!

His story about snapping put of nowhere reminds me of that recent story of that guy jumping over the Judge's tsble to attack her out of nowhere. Maternal parental abuse is less talked about but often creates monsters.

Imagine what this guy has done that he's not telling.

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 🤟🏼

Of all the interviews Lex has done (that I’ve watched) I remember this one more than any.

This mans truth and Story, must be made in to a movie ! Its complete with such honesty, and a youthful, and heartbreaking love story ! Its actually such a beautiful love story this is the second time ive listened to this complete episode ! I can hear his heart continue to break as he tells the story !

Love Brett's openness. Sharing history, no matter how challenging, helps so many!!

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.

I have watched this interview, in an enthralled state about four times. I love Brett and this talk. Yet I question why is this talk promoted to such a degree that more and more millions of humans have now listened to it? I have already heard it and loved it and Brett, bien sûr. Why is this talk being promoted so much by the AI algorithms? Why does it want me to watch it again and again? Don't get me wrong I love Brett. Many hearts I send to Brett and Denise.

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! 👍

Lex really shedding a light on a lot of the dark corners of our society. Great work here.

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

Brett has such an interesting story man. A good example of how all of us can turn things around in a positive way, no matter what

Fascinating interview. Gonna look into Brett further. I don’t like the interviewer’s style but appreciate his effort and access to this type of insight.

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

Lex this is upper level conversation. You’re a legend for this one. So good

Lex, is was a fantastic interview bud. Nice job. Super proud of you. You are truly a delight and I love you so much.

It took three different sittings to watch this interview. Damn that honest eight. I took so much away from both of you. Lex, you're just so chill. You love love. Awe, be still my heart. Brett, you ooze charisma. A paradox INDEED. Aside from the criminal man, when you spoke of never loving anything more than the addiction. How one cheats themself of real human connection to another. FUCKING OUCH. I'm still choking back tears, but for the first time maybe ever, I'm ready to face me. Funny were a person gets a pearl. I'm a FUCKING liar. It's exhausting. Thank You. I hope for you PEACE & LOVE & LIGHT

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.

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.

Congratulations Bret for overcoming “life”! I don’t usually watch a whole interview, but you are such an inspiration that I watched the entire interview. You are in my best thoughts!❤

thank you lex... your long form podcasts just helped me through a dark time...on the other side of that. thanks man

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

This almost 4 hours, but I can't stop watching. What an fantastic interview.

I watched the whole interview closely hoping to see real remorse, it’s very clear that this was all just bragging and proud of what he did, and still is proud about the things and amounts he pulled off

Wow what a great interview. Probably one of longest ive ever listened to / watched (i did over about 3 evenings). At the end, i was a little sad it was over. Helps me maintain my hope in people and great wisdom at the end there. So enjoyed both your interactions together - thank you very much gentlemen. PS at the end of the Bret Johnson interview for a second there i thought you were about to share a quote from the King James Bible! 📚 😂 ❤

This is going to be a good one. Plus 3hrs. Love how you do longer content lex. Ok let's check this out!

This is actually a really good PSA for cybersecurity.

Lex that intro was beautiful that’s the perfect way to explain how we should all treat people and ourselves. I appreciate you and your heart felt way of thinking. You use not your heart and brain not just the brain like so many others

That was the most interesting,engaging guest you have ever had on your show. Well done lex.

at first glance, i passed over Lex multiple times. But man, he has me hooked. Mindful, interesting, and inquisitive.

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

This is a great podcast, please disregard any mean messages, this is just another perspective that we wouldn't have without you Lex.

I pray for this man. It seems he recognizes how terrible he has been in his past, and I truly hope he works towards change in his life. I see a great person underneath all this trauma and unfortunate habitual behavior, hopefully it can shine through irrefutably through time and effort.

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.

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

Riveting conversation. Thank you both

I have listened to this guys interview a lot, I think this is the best interview ever, Brett has had a colorful life, as we would say in Ireland, he is some craic 👍🏼

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?

Thank You Lex ! These Podcast have really been a beacon of hope for me ! Thank for doing you and being you !

You just can’t help but LOVE this guy. Anything he talks about is interesting, and the way that he talks about ANYthing makes you interested.

Fantastic story and lessons… Brett is Dave Ramsay’s voice twin. I kept hearing Dave talking about debt and income and getting rid of car payments while he talked. 😅

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.

I’ve just now seen this episode last week and I’ve watched this episode twice and I love the Brett Johnson Show. I work in tech and I’m learning a lot from your show

Some might despise this guest, but he's highly intelligent and carries a metric ton of real life wisdom. We should all be happy that he's supposedly turned his life around.

This guy has lived an insane life. Thanks for the honesty Brett.

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.

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.

The biggest issue for me with scammers, is that it has made me have to take lots of precautions when dealing with all business I do. And that over cautious hoops I ask customers or sellers jump through, will often highly offend, people that are actually honest people.

That thing he said about his dad coming from a good family into this abuse that he didn't know how to get out of is the best most accurate description of a situation I went through with my ex.... I seen the problems, red flags, I seen it all but I already promised "I'd ride or die" and thought I could fix it, I could show her what good is and change her.... Biggest EPIC fail EVER!! 🤣🤦‍♂️

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

thank you so much for posting this! I have a lot of trouble falling asleep, this helped so much, I was OUT like a sleeping baby, thank you!

Aye buddy! I'm born and raised right in your neck of the woods! Me and my family are Harlan County natives, born and raised majority across Pine Mountain in the middle of nowhere; Greasy Creek. 💙South-Eastern KY, Appalachia💙