#113 - Ex-FBI Agent Reveals the Pattern of Evil He Saw for 24 Years with Eric Robinson

In this episode of the State of Mind Mental Health Podcast, I sit down with Eric Robinson — a man who spent 24 years in the FBI, 15 of them as a SWAT operator, after starting his career as a Baptist pastor. I ask him how a person makes that leap, and the answer surprised me: he left the pulpit because he couldn't stop carrying other people's pain. Two straight years of daily stress headaches that vanished the day the FBI accepted him. From there we go deep. Eric walks me through what 24 years of investigating drugs, gangs, organized crime, crimes against children, and counterterrorism taught him about human nature — and why he thinks most of us have a poor imagination for the evil we're all capable of. We talk about staying calm under pressure (he says he never once felt fear on an operation, and explains exactly why), the one habit that made him better at his job and his life — curiosity — and a line that's stuck with me ever since: "you affect you more than I affect you." I also share more of my own story than usual: getting convicted at 16, getting sober at 30, and how a relationship with something bigger than me helped put my life back together. This one runs the full range — heavy, funny, philosophical, and genuinely practical. Eric's memoir, Irreverent: From Saving Souls to Chasing Sinners in the FBI, is out this fall. Find him at https://preachertobreacher.com/ If something here lands, pick one idea and practice it this week. Live with courage, clarity, and compassion. Please like, comment, subscribe, and share this with someone who might find it helpful. [00:00] From the pulpit to the FBI [04:00] Good, evil, and who actually wants to change [10:00] Why we can't imagine the evil in ourselves [22:00] Responsibility, self-awareness, and getting sober [28:00] Leading with love: humanizing the "other" [33:00] Terrorism, politics, and the clash of civilizations [43:00] "You affect you more than I affect you" [47:00] Staying calm under fire — and the truth about guns [54:00] You don't need to change the world [58:00] Curiosity, the book, and where to find Eric Free 1-month of the Meditation App - Waking Up https://dynamic.wakingup.com/guestpass/SC58BD912 Please Subscribe to my YouTube - YouTube Subscription Link Disclaimer Professional medical care and psychotherapeutic services are not offered on this Youtube channel. It is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such condition. Seeking professional support is encouraged if you think you have an issue and that you want help.