I Tried to Become a Spy… Then Someone Poisoned Me Overseas | Ep. 120 Zach Hanson
What started as a dream of working in international intelligence turned into something straight out of a movie. Zach Hansen lived throughout Russia and Central Asia, worked alongside the U.S. Department of State, traveled the world, survived being detained overseas, and eventually woke up in an ambulance after allegedly being poisoned with rat poison by someone he trusted. In Episode 120 of the Wild Chaos Podcast, Zach shares the unbelievable story of surviving betrayal, navigating foreign countries, experiencing Russian culture firsthand, nearly pursuing a career in intelligence, and ultimately discovering what really matters most—faith, family, fatherhood, and purpose. Along the way we discuss: • Being poisoned overseas • Living in Russia • Trying to become an intelligence officer • Russian culture vs. American media • Organized crime encounters • AI before it became mainstream • Why college isn't always the answer • Homeschooling • Fatherhood • Faith • Building a meaningful life after failure If you enjoyed Zach's story, be sure to check out his book at *[www.zacharyhanson.me](http://www.zacharyhanson.me)**, where he shares more of his experiences living overseas, pursuing purpose, and the lessons that shaped his life. You can also follow Zach on Instagram **@letmedielearning* for insights on faith, family, leadership, and lifelong learning. CHAPTERS: 0:00 The Poisoning Cold Open 0:45 Meet Zach And The Wild Resume 5:10 Growing Up Southern And Restless 9:12 College Pressure And Authority Issues 13:06 Learning Russian And Moving Abroad 14:45 Partying And Fighting In Russia 17:18 What Americans Get Wrong About Russia 21:21 A Bentley Ride Into The Underworld 24:15 Back Home And The College Filler Trap 25:11 Trying To Join The CIA 28:47 Kyrgyzstan And Getting Jumped 32:02 Teaching English In The Republic Of Georgia 34:43 Dating Trouble Before Austria 37:14 The Dinner That Turned Dark 39:26 Hospitalized After Suspected Rat Poison 44:59 Austria And The Theater Of Diplomacy 56:43 Arab Spring And Death Threats 59:22 Back To The US And A Fast Marriage 1:02:55 Her FBI Career And VCAC Reality 1:08:13 When The Protector Is The Predator 1:18:33 Parenting Guardrails And Homeschool Debate 1:31:01 Divorce And Starting Over In Idaho 1:42:53 Why AI Dependence Feels Dangerous 1:51:40 Data Centers And The Trust Problem 1:59:02 Trades, Grit, And The College Scam 2:26:16 Trapping Becomes The New Obsession 2:32:25 Hunting Ethics And Animal Activists 2:41:50 Raising Kids Outdoors The Right Way 2:55:08 The Vasectomy Story And Closing 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 incredible stories of resilience and organized chaos! / @wildchaospod Please visit our website to get more information: https://wildchaosshow.com/ 🔗 Stay Connected With Us. Facebook: / thewildchaospodcast Instagram (The Wild Chaos Podcast): / wildchaospodcast Instagram (Bam): / bambam0069 TikTok: / wildchaospodcast Website: https://wildchaosshow.com/ 📩 For business inquiries: [email protected] ============================= 🎬Suggested videos for you: ▶️ • Matthew Sidwell’s Untold Story: Torture, M... ▶️ • Cybersecurity Expert Exposes Risks of Mine... ▶️ • LEO Trauma, Healing & Biohacking Recovery:... ▶️ • How a Mandate Ended a 21-Year Career: Fire... ▶️ • Navy SEAL Builds $100M Empire & Erases Mil... ▶️ • Surviving a Cult-Like Youth Program: Jacin... ▶️ • Failing Forward: Inside NAVY SEAL Training... ▶️ • Charged by a Bear at Six Feet | Jenn Rivet... ================================= ✅ About The Wild Chaos Podcast. Welcome to The Wild Chaos Podcast, where real, raw, and remarkable stories are shared. Hosted by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Bam Marshall, this podcast gives a voice to extraordinary people who’ve faced chaos and come out stronger. For Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: [email protected] 🔔 Want to hear from real survivors? Subscribe now and get inspired by remarkable stories of strength and resilience / @wildchaospod ================================= poisoned overseas rat poison survivor international survival story Russia podcast living in Russia Russia vs America American in Russia former spy CIA stories FBI stories Department of State foreign intelligence international travel true survival story true crime podcast faith podcast Christian men fatherhood podcast career advice life after college betrayal story near death experience Wild Chaos Podcast Bam Marshall #WildChaosPodcast #TrueStory #Russia #SurvivalStory #NearDeathExperience #Podcast #Fatherhood #Faith #MensPodcast I Tried to Become a Spy… Then Someone Poisoned Me Overseas | Ep. 120 Zach Hanson He Survived Rat Poison, Russia, and an International Nightmare | Ep. 120