Overview of I can finally talk about this...
In this segment, Shawn Ryan explains why he became intensely focused on digital privacy and secure communications after his work as a Navy SEAL and CIA contractor. He frames the discussion as a personal announcement about a new privacy-focused tool he helped develop: the Glacier app, designed to help users protect their phone number, reduce tracking, and secure internet activity.
Why Shawn Ryan Says Privacy Matters
Ryan says his background in intelligence made him wary of how much information can be extracted from phones and online activity. He describes operating in high-surveillance environments where multiple intelligence services were active and emphasizes that this experience shaped his long-term concern about device security.
He also ties that concern to his podcasting work, explaining that The Shawn Ryan Show has led him to communicate with:
- military and intelligence contacts
- political figures
- heads of state
- foreign resistance leaders
- officials in sensitive geopolitical regions
Because of that, he says protecting his team’s communications became a priority.
The Glacier App: Main Features
Ryan presents Glacier as a simplified privacy app built with help from former intelligence and tech professionals. He highlights three main functions:
1. Burner numbers
- Users can generate a temporary number with a chosen area code
- The number can be discarded immediately if it gets abused, sold, or spammed
- He positions this as useful for both high-profile users and everyday people dealing with nonprofits, political campaigns, retailers, or other businesses that share phone numbers
2. Secure DNS
- Intended to reduce tracking while browsing
- Ryan uses the familiar example of ads appearing after talking near a phone about a product
- He claims the app has already blocked over 1,000 web trackers on his phone by mid-afternoon
3. U.S.-based VPN
- Ryan says the VPN does not collect user data
- He argues many popular VPNs promoted on podcasts are owned by foreign companies, which he views as a privacy risk
Core Message
Ryan’s central argument is that privacy is not paranoia; it is protection. He frames the Glacier app as a practical, easy-to-use solution for people who want more control over:
- who can contact them
- how their phone number is shared
- what data is collected while browsing
- how exposed their device is to tracking
Availability
He says Glacier is available:
- on the App Store for iOS
- at theglacierapp.com
- on Android soon, with a signup link for notifications
Notable Takeaway
This is less a traditional interview or discussion and more a direct product pitch grounded in Shawn Ryan’s intelligence background and concerns about modern digital surveillance. The recurring theme is simple: protect your data before someone else uses it against you.