Chase Your Adventure: Faith, Leadership & Life Insights from Jeffrey Sanow of the CIA

Seek Go Create - The Leadership Journey for Christian Entrepreneurs and Faith-Driven Leaders

What do a CIA officer and the Apostle Paul have in common? In this episode of Seek Go Create, host Tim Winders sits down with Jeffrey Sanow, a former senior intelligence officer whose adventures took him across the globe—including over 100 missions to Syria, along the storied road to Damascus. Discover how deep faith, leadership under pressure, and a passion for adventure shaped Jeffrey’s extraordinary journey from a small-town Ohio farm to the heart of international intelligence. Tune in to hear powerful stories about real-life transformation, the value of cultural respect, and the courage it takes to follow your calling—no matter where it leads. This is a conversation that will both inspire and challenge the way you think about adventure, purpose, and conviction.

"Whatever your adventure is, let loose the dogs of adventure and chase it." - Jeffrey Sanow

Access all show and episode resources HERE

About Our Guest:

Jeffrey Sanow is a former senior intelligence officer with the CIA, where he undertook over 100 missions to Syria and built a distinguished career spanning multiple continents. With deep operational experience in complex, high-stakes environments, he has lived and worked in more than ten countries, including extensive roles across North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Jeffrey brings a unique blend of international business acumen, Peace Corps service, leadership expertise, and a rich spiritual perspective. He is the author of "Humint for Humanity," a book that explores the human side of intelligence and global engagement, offering readers rare insights into integrity, courageous decision-making, and the transforming power of adventure.

Reasons to Listen:

1. Unique Insights from a Former CIA Officer: Discover rarely-heard stories and perspectives from Jeffrey Sanow’s 100+ missions in Syria, and his experiences living and working in over 30 countries around the world.
2. Adventure, Faith, and Transformation: Hear how deep personal faith, leadership under pressure, and real-world adventure intersect, including Sanow’s reflections on walking the biblical road to Damascus and how it impacted his worldview.
3. Practical Lessons on Culture and Connection: Gain valuable advice on building respect and understanding across cultures, the power of learning local languages, and the importance of chasing one’s own adventure—wherever it may lead.

Episode Resources & Action Steps:

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Humint for Humanity: A Journey Into the World Less Traveled by Jeffrey Sanow: Purchase at Amazon
2. Jeffrey Sanow’s Website: Connect, read reviews, and learn more about his work and experiences - jeffreyssanow.com
3. The Peace Corps: Organization discussed as a valuable path for adventure, service, and growth - peacecorps.gov

Action Steps for Listeners:

1. Pursue Adventure, Big or Small: Take Jeffrey's advice to “let loose the dogs of adventure.” Whether it's traveling somewhere new, embracing a fresh project, or simply approaching daily routines with a spirit of curiosity, make adventure an intentional part of life.
2. Show Cultural Respect by Learning the Local Language: If you’re traveling or working internationally, commit to learning simple greetings and conversational basics in the local language—this shows respect and often opens doors to new relationships.
3. Reflect on Your Motivations: Consider whether you are running toward something or away from something in your life or career. Take some time to journal or discuss with a friend what motivates your choices and how you can align them with your sense of purpose and adventure.

Key Lessons:

1. Chase Your Adventure, Big or Small - Jeffrey emphasizes the importance of embracing life as an adventure—whether it's traveling to far-off countries or simply going to the grocery store. The key is to actively seek out adventure in everyday life rather than letting opportunities pass by.
2. Learning the Language is a Sign of Respect - One of Jeffrey's major takeaways from his global travels is how learning even a little bit of the local language can build trust and respect in other cultures. It opens doors, builds relationships, and often leads to unexpected opportunities and kindness.
3. True Leadership Empowers Others to Fail and Succeed - Jeffrey shares a story from his CIA experience about the importance of empowering team members to take initiative and risk failure. It's through supporting others and allowing space for mistakes that real growth and success happen.
4. Personal Transformation Comes from Both Running Away and Running Towards - He openly discusses how, at first, he was running away from a life he didn’t want, but eventually realized he was running towards adventure and new chapters. Recognizing whether you’re running from something or towards something is a crucial part of self-discovery and transformation.
5. Human Connection Bridges Cultural Divides - Throughout his career, especially in intelligence and Peace Corps work, Jeffrey found that forging genuine human connections—working side by side, showing respect, and being curious—breaks down barriers and reveals our shared humanity, no matter how different our backgrounds.

Episode Highlights:

00:36 Introducing Jeffrey Eno: From CIA to Spiritual Insights

02:10 Jeffrey's Early Life and Career Journey

03:46 Global Adventures and Cultural Experiences

14:48 The Value of Learning Local Languages

21:07 Insights on the Peace Corps

30:30 The Peace Corps Experience

30:53 Running Away or Running Towards?

32:12 Chasing Adventure

35:09 Balancing Family and Adventure

40:36 The Road to Damascus

48:59 Insights on the CIA

06:54 Human Intelligence for Humanity

59:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources for Leaders from Tim Winders & SGC:

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