When you ask someone what they do for a living, you usually expect the standard answers—teacher, lawyer, maybe something in tech. But every now and then, someone drops a career so unexpected you can’t help but lean in, hanging on to every juicy detail.
That’s exactly how we felt when we discovered Robert Kerbeck, a real-life corporate espionage spy. Yep, you read that right. His undercover work taught him wild lessons about people, business, and psychology that are seriously mind-blowing.
Lauryn and Michael of The Him & Her Show thought so too, which is why they invited him on the podcast to unpack his one-of-a-kind story. You can catch the full episode below, but for now, consider this your mission briefing:
Meet Robert Kerbeck: Former Corporate Spy and Author of RUSE
In this post, we’ll tell you all about who Robert Kerbeck is, his crazy backstory, and what he’s doing now. He’s seriously one of the most interesting people The Him & Her Show has ever invited on the podcast!
Who Is Robert Kerbeck?
Robert Kerbeck is now an author, consultant, and media contributor. However, he’s still best known for his past life as an actor-turned-corporate spy. His story plays out more like a Hollywood movie than real life. For years, his “day job” involved going undercover to extract confidential information from some of the largest Wall Street firms, providing his clients with a competitive edge in business strategy. Pretty cool, right?
Why Is Robert Kerbeck Popular?
Corporate Espionage Spy by Day, TV Actor by Night
In the early 1990s, Robert Kerbeck was a struggling actor in Los Angeles. Unlike many aspiring Hollywood types, he actually landed some solid roles. You could catch him on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Melrose Place, ER, NYPD Blue, and even an exercise video. Still, acting gigs weren’t consistent enough to pay the rent, so he needed a “survival job” to bridge the gaps between projects.
He took a position researching companies for high-level executive recruiting firms. This essentially involved gathering publicly available info for clients: calling HR departments, pulling organizational charts, and scouring what was then the brand-new Internet. But Kerbeck quickly realized something… He could get much more by using his acting chops, posing as a consultant, recruiter, or other business professional to trick executives and employees into revealing insider details. (He even once pretended to be someone from the White House to get some info.)
Before long, Kerbeck had turned full-on con artist—but not in an illegal way. This form of social engineering, called “rusing” or “pretexting,” gave his clients the intel they needed to make smart business decisions. He helped manage billions of dollars in his role as a corporate spy, a position he essentially invented himself.
You can hear more about how this all went down? Jump into the podcast episode where he talks about gathering information and secrets as a corporate spy.
Author of RUSE and Other Books
Robert Kerbeck is a great storyteller. Of course, he has super interesting personal experiences everyone wants to hear about. However, he also has a love for gathering information and communicating it in a productive way. So, since he retired from corporate spying, he’s also written three popular books that are all on our must-read list:
- My Life of Crime: Essays and Stories – A collection of personal essays and short stories that explore Kerbeck’s experiences as a corporate spy, a Hollywood actor, and more.
- Malibu Burning: The Real Story Behind LA’s Most Devastating Wildfire – An award-winning nonfiction account of the 2018 Woolsey Fire in California.
- RUSE: Lying the American Dream from Hollywood to Wall Street – His memoir about working as a corporate spy while pursuing acting, pulling back the curtain on both Hollywood and Wall Street deception.
Interviews, Trainings, and Speaking Engagements
Because his background is so unique, Kerbeck is frequently invited to interviews, trainings, and speaking engagements. He shows companies how to avoid falling for tricks that expose sensitive information, while also covering topics like cybersecurity threats, personal risk, ethical boundaries, surviving setbacks, and turning your skills into unexpected opportunities.
His advice and insight are relevant to everyone, too! Here’s him on the Him & Her Show telling listeners how to avoid scams and spying in emergencies.
Encounters with Hollywood Elite
Kerbeck is also known for crossing paths with some of the biggest stars of the ’90s. No, he doesn’t have any juicy stories about Hollywood sex parties like Damon Lawner. But he has run into Paul Newman, George ClooneDamon Lawnery, Jennifer Lopez, Al Pacino, Yoko Ono, and more.
He also had infamous encounters with O.J. Simpson and Kevin Spacey. As a young actor, Spacey made unwanted advances toward him, a pattern later echoed by other actors recalling similar experiences. Kerbeck met O.J. Simpson just days before Nicole’s murder, and even then, the tension was palpable. You can hear more about his Damon Lawner on the podcast.
What Does Robert Kerbeck Do?
Founder
Robert Kerbeck actually founded the Malibu Writers Circle. In this workshop-style group, writers can come together to finish novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, and pilots.
Author
He writes memoirs and nonfiction books, sharing stories from his career in corporate espionage and his experiences in Hollywood.
Speaker
He gives talks on social engineering, cybersecurity, and personal resilience, combining his storytelling and actionable lessons.
Consultant
He advises companies on how to protect sensitive information and defend against the very social engineering tactics he once used himself!
Commentator
He provides expert insights to media outlets on corporate espionage, scams, and cybersecurity threats.
Contributor
He writes essays and articles for publications, offering personal reflections and investigative reporting.
You need to hear about Robert Kerbeck and his mind-blowing path to success!
From Hollywood sets to Wall Street boardrooms, Robert Kerbeck has lived a life most people can only imagine. Today, he channels that experience into writing, speaking, consulting, and sharing insights that help others navigate deception, risk, and opportunity. Whether you’re tuning into the Robert Kerbeck podcast with TSC, reading his books, or hearing him speak, one thing is clear: Kerbeck’s story proves that truth can be stranger (and more valuable) than fiction.
Want more Him & Her Show episodes like this? Listen next to The Laws of Human Nature, Self-Love & Empathy, Narcissism, What Motivates Us, and Amor Fati with author Robert Greene.