Episodes
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SummaryRobert Gates (Website; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to reflect on the 75th Anniversary of the CIA. He served 8 U.S. presidents. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceHis reflections on the CIA at 75How the CIA’s story intersected with his own His take on the organization’s strengths and weaknesses The complex intl. environment the CIA must now help America navigateReflectionsTwists of fateIdentity and institutions And much, much more…Episode NotesRobert M. Gates is the first career officer in the CIA’s history to rise from entry level employee to Director. He spent 27 years at CIA, nine of those at the NSC. More recently, he was the first Secretary of Defense to be asked to remain in office by a newly elected president. In all, he served 8 presidents. Wouldn’t you love to know his take on the CIA at 75? Well, we’ve made that happen for you!He was born in Wichita, Kansas, served in the U.S.A.F. and he received his undergraduate education at William & Mary, his masters from Indiana University, and his doctorate from Georgetown University. He was formerly the President of Texas A&M University and the current Chancellor of William & Mary. And…The academic institutions Dr. Gates has been associated with all have quite different capacities of football stadium: Georgetown University’s Cooper Field can hold 3,750; William & Mary’s Zable Stadium can hold 12,259; Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium can hold 52,626; and Texas A&M’s Kyle Stadium can hold a whopping 102,733. What could we infer about Dr. Gates, college sports, or the United States from this information? Well, that would be thinking like an intelligence analyst.Quote of the Week"I've led four very big, very different institutions and like all of them I always saw where places where CIA could be better. But I always loved the place, and I always was proud to work there and proud of the people that I knew…they were probably the smartest, most honest people I've ever met and worked with." – Robert Gates.Resources*Andrew’s Recommendation*“Reorganization in the Intel. Community,” DCI Gates (1992)Watch this prescient clip on historical naivete, or if you’re hardcore, the entire congressional testimony*SpyCasts*“Dealing with Russia” – with Jim Olson (2022)“I was a Presidential Daily Briefer on 9/11” – with Mike Morell (2021)*Beginner Resources*History of CIA, CIA (n.d.) [website]CIA Director’s Portrait Gallery, CIA (n.d.) [online gallery]Impact of President G.H.W. Bush’s Foreign Policy, MSNBC (2018) [13 min. video]At 75, CIA Back Where it Started, Countering Kremlin, G. Myre, NPR (2022) [5 min. audio]BooksSpymasters: CIA Directors, C. Whipple (S&S, 2020)Duty, R. Gates (Vintage, 2015) [Def. Sec. memoir]A World Transformed, Bush & Scowcroft (Knopf, 1998)From the Shadows, R. Gates (S&S, 1996) [CIA memoir]Power & Principle, Z. Brzezinski (FS&G, 1983) [Gates was Z.B.’s Special Asst. at the NSC during the Carter era]ArticlesA More Realistic Strategy for the Post-Cold War Era, R. Gates, WaPo (2022)Creation of the Central Intelligence Group, M. Warner, SII (1996) VideoLegacy of the G.H.W.B. Administration, CFR (2016)Book Talk: From the Shadows, R. Gates, C-Span (1996)DocumentaryThe Spymasters, Showtime (2015)CuratorialPocket History of CIA, CIA (2014)Primary SourcesBiden Speech on 75th Anniversary of the CIA (2022)Robert Gates on CIA and Openness (1992)Nomination of Gates to be DCI (1991)Adm. Roscoe, First CIA Director Dies (1982) CIA Review of the World Situation (1947)Lester to Truman re Centralized Intelligence (1947) National Security Act (1947)*Wildcard Resource*North by Northwest (Hitchcock, 1959)We hear the first explicit mention of “CIA” in a major movie “FBI. CIA. ONI. We’re all in the same alphabet soup.”Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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SummaryHugh Wilford joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his new book. Hugh is a professor, author, and leading CIA historian. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceImperial influences on American intelligenceKey figures in CIA history “Wild” Bill Donovan & British influenceGroton School’s impact on CIA leadersReflections Inherited historyChallenging established narrativesAnd much, much more … Resources SURFACE SKIM*Spotlight Resource*The CIA: An Imperial History, Hugh Wilford (Basic Books, 2024)*SpyCasts*The British Monarchy and Secret Intelligence with Rory Cormac and Richard Aldrich (2024)The Past 75 Years with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)The 75th Anniversary of the CIA with former Director Robert Gates (2022)DEEPER DIVEBooksA Question of Standing: The History of the CIA, R. Jeffreys-Jones (Oxford University Press, 2022) Spymasters: CIA Directors, C. Whipple (S&S, 2020)A Brief History of the CIA, R. Immerman (Wiley, 2014)Primary Sources Sherman Kent Obituary (1986)Maj. Gen. Edward G. Lansdale to go to South Vietnam (1965) CIA Review of the World Situation (1947)Lester to Truman re Centralized Intelligence (1947) National Security Act (1947)Intelligence Remarks of Major General William J. Donovan (1946)*Wildcard Resource*Kim (1901) by Rudyard KiplingAs Hugh mentions in this interview, this book was the inspiration behind Kermit Roosevelt Jr.’s nickname, Kim. Harold Adrian Russell Philby, the infamous member of the Cambridge Spy Ring better known as Kim Philby, took inspiration from the same source. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episodes manquant?
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Summary
Robert Shaw joins Andrew to discuss his experience working as an accredited Battlefield tour guide. Bob’s career in the British Army spanned over 25 years.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
Becoming a battlefield tour guide
IEDD and Intelligence Work in Northern Ireland
Hypothetical WWIII scenarios
Special Forces, TECHINT, & the Bin Laden Raid
Reflections
Learning from history
Interpretation and understanding
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“One of the things about being an IEDD operator, our intent of course is investigation. And part of that is asking questions, lots of them, and getting, in a sense, answers and then following off and chasing trails or rabbit holes … It's good to be able to question everything and work out why it's there and does it fit … So it does really help with battlefield touring.” – Bob Shaw.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
Alan Turing: Codebreaker, Visionary, Enigma with Andrew Hodges (2024)
The Real Ian Fleming with Nicholas Shakespeare (2024)
ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: The D-Day Deception with National WWII Museum Curator Corey Graff (2023)
St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023)
The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy (2022)
DEEPER DIVE
Explore the Sites and Battlefields Discussed
Thames House
Vauxhall Cross
Bletchley Park
Monument to SOE Agents
The Old War Office Building
The Admiralty Building
Beaumanor Hall
Battle of Arnhem / Operation Market Garden
The Khyber Pass
The Falklands Conflict
Abbottabad Raid / Operation Neptune Spear
Battle of Stalingrad
*Wildcard Resource*
The Battle of Gettysburg is perhaps one of the most well-known and most visited battlefields in the United States.
Take a virtual tour of this historic American site here – Tour guidance by Bob not included.
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SummaryAnna Slafer (LinkedIn, Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the history of the International Spy Museum. Anna was one of SPY’s first employees when the museum opened in 2002. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceBuilding the International Spy MuseumMilton Maltz: the visionary behind SPY The role of historians and curators Creating exhibits on espionage Reflections Institutional memory and evolutionThe challenges and joys of storytelling And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“We structured the museum so people could understand: How does [spying] work? Who does it? What is my role? And we wanted to look at the good, the bad, and the ugly.” – Anna Slafer. Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*The World’s Preeminent Collection of SPY Artifacts with Laura Hicken and Lauren VonBechmann (2024)Secrets Revealed – Curators Alexis and Andrew on SPY’s Pop-Up Exhibit (2023)Peter Earnest Memorial: Spook, CIA Spokesman, Spy Museum Director (2022)*Beginner Resources*A look at the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C., FOX 5 Washington DC, YouTube (2023) [5 min. video]About the Collection, International Spy Museum (n.d.) [Short article]About Museums, American Alliance of Museums (n.d.) [Short Q&A]DEEPER DIVEArticlesCracking the Spy Museum Code to Revitalize Stale Learning, J. A. Manning, Medium (2023)A Reimagined Spy Museum in Washington Doesn’t Flinch From the Darker Side, S. Shane, The New York Times (2019)From For-Profit to Nonprofit: Evolution of the International Spy Museum, E. Merritt, American Alliance of Museums (2019)Spy Museum salutes '50 years of Bond Villains,' T. Wells, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2012)Role of museums in managing design education: a case study, H. Lee, International Journal of Education Through Art (2009)Museum visitors hit the D.C. streets in spy game, B. Zongker, Seattle Times (2009)*Wildcard Resource*Museums have been a critical element of community building and historical memory for centuries. One of the world’s first curators was a woman named Ennigaldi-Nanna from modern day Iraq. Dating from 530 B.C., Ennigaldi-Nanna’s museum of Mesopotamian artifacts is thought to be the world’s oldest museum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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SummaryLieutenant General Anthony Crutchfield (Ret.) (LinkedIn, Wikipedia) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his time as the Deputy Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command. PACOM covers 52% of the globe. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceThe role of intelligence in military operationsEthical dilemmas in command decisionsReflections on the impact of mentorship and outreach The importance of remaining aware in today's pervasive worldReflections The challenges of leadershipHard work, determination, and resilienceAnd much, much more …Quotes of the Week“I worked hard at everything I did. If somebody asked me to do a job, I didn’t say, ‘That’s not my job,’ I didn’t complain. There were places that I was sent that I didn’t want to go, but I went – And I didn’t complain about it…I did the best that I could and it was recognized.” – Anthony Crutchfield.Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*Leading United States Central Command with General Frank McKenzie (2024)CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023)Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023)DEEPER DIVEBooksThe Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century, K. F. McKenzie (Naval Institute Press, 2024)Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, D. Petraeus & A. Roberts (Harper, 2023) Strategy in Crisis: The Pacific War, J. T. Kuehn (Naval Institute Press, 2023) Fire on the Water: China, America, and the Future of the Pacific, R. J. Haddick (Naval Institute Press, 2014)Primary Sources U.S. Defense Infrastructure in the IndoPacific: Background and Issues for Congress (2023)Pacific Partnership Strategy (2022)Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States (2022)*Wildcard Resource*PACOM is, by far, the largest geographical combatant command. The smallest, on the other hand, is the U.S. Central Command. Listen to our interview with General Frank McKenzie, 14th commander of CENTCOM, here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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SummaryJonathan B. Smith (X; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the application of intelligence to entrepreneurship. Jonathan is an entrepreneur, author, and business strategist.What You’ll LearnIntelligenceBuilding high-performance teamsCase officers vs. entrepreneurs Networking and overcoming operational challengesCuriosity as a key trait for successReflections The will to succeed The power of listening and empathyAnd much, much more …Quotes of the Week“I often switch languages …I'll speak from a medical CEO's perspective versus a financial services CEO perspective. And people, when you use their language, they tend to lean in. They're like, “Oh, you understand me.” It's fascinating – People don't want to know how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Jonathan B. Smith.Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*The Cyber Behavioral Profiler with Cameron Malin (2024) The FBI Hostage Negotiator with Chris Voss (2024) Spying and Start-Ups with former Assistant Director of the CIA John Mullen (2022)From the CIA to Strategic Cyber with Hans Holmer (2022)*Beginner Resources*What Do Entrepreneurs Actually Do? Foundation for Economic Education, YouTube (2019) [3 min. video]What is EOS? Entrepreneurial Operating System (n.d.) [Fact sheet]Case Officer, Central Intelligence Agency (n.d.) [Job description]DEEPER DIVEBooksSell Like A Spy: The Art of Persuasion from the World of Espionage, J. Hurewitz (Diversion Books, 2024)Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, C. Voss & T. Raz (Harper Business, 2016)Optimize for Growth: How to Scale Up Your Business, Your Network and You, J. B. Smith (Chief Optimizer, 2015)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Summary
Ean Forsythe joins Andrew to discuss the history of Cuban intelligence. Ean is the Counterintelligence and Security Center Chair at the National Intelligence University.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The history and evolution of Cuban intelligence
Case studies, including Ana Montes, Kendall Meyers, and the Cuban Five
Counterintelligence strategies and challenges
The role of Cuban intelligence during the Cold War
Reflections
Ideology and the power of ideas
Offensive vs. defensive play
And much, much more …
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
Code Name Blue Wren: Cuban Spy Ana Montes with Jim Popkin (2023)
The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023)
Dealing with Russia – A Conversation with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022)
DEEPER DIVE
Books
Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy—and the Sister She Betrayed, J. Popkin (Hanover, 2023)
To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence, J. M. Olson (Georgetown University Press, 2021)
United States-Cuban Relations: A Critical History, E. M. Dominguez (Lexington, 2008)
Primary Sources
Report on the Convictions and Disproportionate Sentences Imposed on the Cuban Five (2014)
USA: The Case of the Cuban Five (2010)
Inspector General Review of Ana Montes Investigation (2005)
US vs. Marta Rita Velazquez (2004)
Ana Montes Statement During Trial (2001)
FBI Arrests DIA Employee (2001)
Selection and Training of Cuban Intelligence Agents Abroad (1964)
Cuban Intelligence Information Report (1964)
*Wildcard Resource*
Watch Erin bake Ana Montes’ famous cheesecake recipe and dive deeper into Ana’s story in SPY's Declassified Desserts video!
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SummaryEliot Higgins (X; Wikipedia) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the work of Bellingcat. Eliot founded the open-source investigative website in 2014. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceBellingcat’s approach to “investigative journalism” The rise of OSINT as a tool of journalism Bellingcat’s relationship with intelligence agencies Case studies from Bellingcat’s past, including the Skripal Case and the MH17 flight investigationReflections Leading by exampleAccessibility and accountabilityAnd much, much more …Quotes of the Week“When I first started doing this work ... I would present geolocation and stuff on stage. The reaction was like I was doing magic tricks, but my point was that. This isn't magic – This is something that you can do and recreate and understand.” - Eliot Higgins.Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*Digital Innovation and the Next Frontier of Intelligence with Jennifer Ewbank (2024)The Future of OSINT and the Intelligence Community with Jason Barrett (2024) U.S. Army Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) with Dennis Eger & Shawn Nilius (2024)Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023)DEEPER DIVEBooksOSINT Techniques: Resources for Uncovering Online Information, M. Bazzell (2023) Deep Dive: Exploring the Real-world Value of Open Source Intelligence, R. L. Baker (Wiley, 2023)We Are Bellingcat: The Online Sleuths Solving Global Crimes, E. Higgins (Bloomsbury, 2022)Primary Sources Map of Civilian Harm in Ukraine (2024)Death of Sinwar Report (2024)The IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026 (2024)DoS Open Source Intelligence Strategy (2024)MH17 Investigation (2019)Skripal Report (2018) *Wildcard Resource*The fable of Belling the CatThe inspiration behind Bellingcat’s name, the moral of this story is simple – It’s one thing to suggest a solution or idea, but it’s a whole other beast to actually take action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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SummaryCameron Malin (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss cyber and behavioral profiling. Cameron was the creator and founder of the FBI’s Cyber Behavioral Analysis Center. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceThe historical origins of behavioral profilingApplying behavioral profiling to counterintelligence and cyber threatsNature vs. Nurture in criminal behaviorThe future of deception and cyberwarfare Reflections The complexity of the human mindThreat evolutionAnd much, much more …Quotes of the Week“We need to think about cybersecurity as not just hacking and malware and the obvious tangible or known weapons that are used, it includes mental malware … Deep fakes and disinformation, things that can cause erroneous decision making that are just as powerful.” – Cameron MalinResources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*The FBI Hostage Negotiator with Chris Voss (2024)A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 1 with Dr. Ursula Wilder (2024)A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 2 with Dr. Ursula Wilder (2024)“How Spies Think” – 10 Lessons in Intelligence with Sir David Omand (2020)DEEPER DIVEBooksDeception in the Digital Age: Exploiting and Defending Human Targets through Computer-Mediated Communications, C. Malin et. al. (Academic Press, 2017)Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber, and the Invention of Criminal Profiling, M. Cannell (Minotaur Books, 2017)Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, J. Douglas & M. Olshaker (1995) Primary Sources Lone Offender Terrorism Report (2019)A Study of Pre-Attack Behaviors of Active Shooters in the United States Between 2000 and 2013 (2018)FBI Jack the Ripper Profile (1988)Criminal Investigation: A Practical Handbook (1907 translation)UK Parliamentary Debates (1888)*Wildcard Resource*Mindhunter (2017-2019)While not perfectly accurate, this TV show (heavily inspired by the book of the same name, listed above) is a truly excellent watch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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SummaryChris Voss (X; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the art of negotiation. Chris formerly served as the FBI lead international hostage negotiator. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceThe very basics of negotiation, including the phrase “Never split the difference”The art of Tactical Empathy Case studies from Chris’ career, including the Dos Palmas kidnappingsTechniques in ethical interrogationReflections Pressure makes diamondsHuman nature & understanding “the other side”And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“Never take advice from somebody that you wouldn’t trade places with. Never take directions from somebody who hasn’t been where you’re going … I’m coachable, but I know who to be coached by.” – Chris Voss. Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*James Foley: Journalist, ISIS Hostage, Son with His Mother Diane Foley (2024)A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 1 with Dr. Ursula Wilder (2024) A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 2 with Dr. Ursula Wilder (2024)The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023)The FBI Way - Counterintelligence Spy Chief Frank Figliuzzi (2021)DEEPER DIVEBooksAmerican Mother, C. McCann and D. Foley (Etruscan Press, 2024)The Siege, B. Macintyre (Crown, 2024)Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, C. Voss & T. Raz (Harper Business, 2016)Primary Sources A Proclamation on U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day (2024)Executive Order on Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home (2022)FBI Hostage Rescue Team Policy Guide (2019) DOS Foreign Affairs Manual: Hostage Taking and Kidnappings (2018)5 Leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group Indicted (2002)Hostage Negotiation: A Matter of Life and Death (1983) Current Status of the Hostage Crisis and the Implications of US Policy Options (1980) *Wildcard Resource*Want to learn even more? Check out Chris’ MasterClass on the Art of Negotiation. And while you’re there, tune in to MasterClass’ other intelligence and espionage-related courses featuring insights from John Douglas, Michael Morrell & more, and Condoleezza Rice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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SummaryJim Himes (Website; X) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the U.S. House Intelligence Committee. Jim has served as the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s 4th congressional district since 2009. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceThe House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Its role and operationsThe importance of bipartisan collaborationTransparency and accountability in intelligence Congressman Himes' personal experiences during 9/11, its impact on his career in intelligence, and 9/11’s impact on intelligence at largeReflections Public trust and earning confidencePartnership and cooperationAnd much, much more …Quotes of the Week“I get asked all the time, ‘Oh my gosh, you see all the threats. Do you sleep at night?’ … Yes, I do see with particularly exquisite detail the threats against us. I also get to see the detail of the assets and the people that we deploy against those threats. And because I get to see with great detail the assets and the tools that we have to address those threats, yes, I do sleep at night. Not because they will ever be perfect, but because these are incredibly dedicated people, the technology is amazing, and it is commensurate with the threats out there.” -Jim HimesResources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*Digital Innovation and the Next Frontier of Intelligence with Jennifer Ewbank (2024)The Future of OSINT and the Intelligence Community with Jason Barrett (2024)The Future of NATO with Leon Panetta and Expert Panel (2024)CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)DEEPER DIVEBooksSies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence, A. B. Zegart (Princeton University Press, 2022)The Secret World: A History of Intelligence, C. Andrew (Yale University Press, 2019)The First Congress: How James Madison, George Washington, and a Group of Extraordinary Men Invented the Government, F. M. Bordewich (Simon & Schuster, 2016)Primary Sources House Intelligence Committee COVID-19 Report (2022)Unclassified Summary of the Second Interim Report on the Origins of the COVID-19 Pandemic (2022)House Intelligence Committee Report on Russian Active Measures (2018)Snowden Report (2016)The 9/11 Commission Report (2004) H. Res. 658 (1977)*Wildcard Resource*One of Connecticut’s very first representatives was a gentleman named Roger Sherman. Sherman is unique not only for being one of Jim’s congressional predecessors but also because he is the only person to have signed all four great state papers of the United States. These include: The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Articles of Association, and the Constitution. As a bonus, he also signed the 1774 Petition to the King. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Summary
Jennifer Ewbank (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the integration of technology within intelligence. Jennifer recently retired from her role as Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The qualities and skills of great digital leadership
Risk management in intelligence
The roles, responsibilities, and emotional toll of the Chief of Station
The integration of technology across CIA operations
Reflections
Humility and lifelong learning
Leadership in dynamic arenas
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“Intelligence isn't about knowing exactly what's going to happen … It's about delivering a decision advantage to our policymakers. Decision advantage doesn't mean that I can tell you precisely what's going to happen and when. You never have perfect information, and you have to be able to move still. You can't be paralyzed by a desire to seek that last detail when, particularly in digital tech space, like the world is moving rapidly all around you.” – Jennifer Ewbank.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
The Future of OSINT and the Intelligence Community with Jason Barrett (2024)
Cybersecurity in The White House with Camille Stewart Gloster (2024)
Espionage and the Metaverse with Cathy Hackl (2023)
How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023)
DEEPER DIVE
Primary Sources
The IC OSINT Strategy (2024)
2024 Report on the Cybersecurity Posture of the United States (2024)
National Cybersecurity Strategy (2023)
Ethical Frameworks in Open Source Intelligence (2022)
*Wildcard Resource*
ChatGPT isn’t the only AI tool in our toolboxes anymore. In this episode, Jennifer mentioned Osiris, an AI tool that helps Agency staff analyze and sort mass amounts of information.
If you’re feeling similarly overwhelmed at work and looking for your own AI assistant, check out this list of the best AI productivity tools and start making your life easier!
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Summary
Pete Langman and Nadine Akkerman join Andrew to discuss espionage in Elizabethan England. Pete and Nadine are authors of the new book Spycraft: Tricks and Tools of the Dangerous Trade from Elizabeth I to the Restoration.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
Spymasters of the Elizabethan era
Techniques in forgeries, invisible inks, and seal-making
The impact of spies on important historical events like the Spanish Armada
The connections between espionage and religious tension
Reflections
Creativity & Innovation
The risks and dangers of early espionage
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“Spies are involved with bribery. They cheat and they lie, so it’s immoral, and often there are things that are just illegal in other instances, such as forgery of documents. Other people would get their ears clipped or their noses slit if they forged documents.If you are a spy, you are being asked to do that on the job. So it's a dangerous game and the lines are very thin.” – Nadine Akkerman.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*Spotlight Resource*
Spycraft: Tricks and Tools of the Dangerous Trade from Elizabeth I to the Restoration, N. Akkerman & P. Langman (Yale University Press, 2024)
*SpyCasts*
The British Monarchy and Secret Intelligence with Rory Cormac and Richard Aldrich (2024)
Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023)
The Information Battlespace – Foreign Denial and Deception with Bill Parquette (2022)
So, You Want to Be a Codebreaker? with Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh (2021)
DEEPER DIVE
Primary Sources
Natural magick, Smithsonian Digital Library (1658)
Page of Ciphers Used by Mary Queen of Scots, UK National Archives (1586)
Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots in Sheffield Castle to Elizabeth I, British Library (1582)
Mary, Queen of Scots to Sir William Cecil, UK National Archives (1570)
De Furtivis Literarum notis (1563)
*Wildcard Resource*
Use this invisible ink recipe from the UK National Archives to send your own secret messages.
You may recognize this heat method from one of Erin’s favorite movies, National Treasure (2004), where a secret message is revealed on the back of the Declaration of Independence.
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SummaryJason Barrett (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the integration of open-source intelligence into the American Intelligence Community. Jason is the first-ever OSINT Executive. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceHistorical examples of OSINTThe evolution of Open Source IntelligenceThe challenges and unique opportunities OSINT presentsThe future of OSINT within the Intelligence Community Reflections Trust and transparency Efficiency in intelligence gatheringAnd much, much more …Quotes of the Week“We're living in an age when credibility and trust is really important to build. This is an opportunity for the IC to really build that trust, I think in important ways. So, it's an area I think you will see more of us being more transparent in our work.” – Jason Barrett. Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*U.S. Army Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) with Dennis Eger & Shawn Nilius (2024)Cybersecurity in The White House with Camille Stewart Gloster (2024)David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023)Irregular Warfare & Intelligence with IWC Director Dennis Walters (2023)DEEPER DIVEBooksOSINT Techniques: Resources for Uncovering Online Information, M. Bazzell (2023) Deep Dive: Exploring the Real-world Value of Open Source Intelligence, R. L. Baker (Wiley, 2023)Open Source Intelligence Methods and Tools: A Practical Guide to Online Intelligence, N. A. Hassan & R. Hijazi (Apress, 2018)Primary Sources The IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026 (2024)DoS Open Source Intelligence Strategy (2024) Ethical Frameworks in Open-Source Intelligence (2022) Open-Source Intelligence, Department of the Army (2012) Department of Defense OSINT Instruction (2010)*Wildcard Resource*You’ve probably practiced OSINT techniques many times before – Think, Facebook stalking your old college friends to see what they’re up to. Many video games also involve the usage of open-source collection techniques: Return of the Obra Dinn (2018) is one such critically acclaimed video game. The game, set on an early 19th-century ship, challenges its player to solve the mystery of what happened to the crew onboard by piecing together scraps of information from journal entries and related documents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Summary
Tim Tate (Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the Spycatcher Affair. Tim is a best-selling author and award-winning filmmaker.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
Peter Wright: His background and motives
The contents of Spycatcher including the exposure of alleged soviet moles
The UK’s efforts to keep their secrets secret
The lasting effects of the Spycatcher Affair
Reflections
Personal secrecy vs. public security
Censorship and free speech
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
"[Wright] found truly acres of paperwork from old files which had been disregarded and hadn't been properly followed up on and leads that hadn't been properly followed. And when he pulled at them, those threads of evidence, and when he chased it down, what he found, as often as not, was genuine reason to suspect that the penetration, the widespread penetration, was real and serious.” – Tim Tate
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Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*Spotlight Resource*
To Catch a Spy: How the Spycatcher Affair brought MI5 in from the Cold, Tim Tate (Icon Books, 2024)
*SpyCasts*
The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023)
St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023)
The Information Battlespace – Foreign Denial and Deception with Bill Parquette (2022)
Dealing with Russia – A Conversation with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022)
DEEPER DIVE
Books
To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence, J. Olson (Georgetown University Press, 2021)
Traitors Among Us: Inside the Spy Catcher's World, S. A. Herrington (Harvest Books, 2000)
The Spycatcher Affair, C. Pincher (St. Martin’s Press, 1988)
Spycatcher, P. Wright (Heinemann, 1987)
Primary Sources
Peter Wright Case (Part 1) (1987)
Peter Wright Case (Part 2) (1987)
Retired Spy Claims Cover Up in British Service (1984)
The Hollis Affair (1981)
The “Zinoviev” Letter Investigation (1924)
The Zimmermann Telegram (1917)
*Wildcard Resource*
Areopagitica (1644) by John Milton
Illegally published in the UK in protest to the Licensing Order of 1643, this polemic has since become one of the most influential documents defending the right to free speech and free publication.
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Summary
Rachel Noble joins Andrew to discuss her role as Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate. Rachel is the first woman to hold this position.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The Australian Signals Directorate: Its purpose and mission
The true story of the Pine Gap spy facility
Leadership in Intelligence
The SIGINT origins of the Five Eyes alliance
Reflections
The value of team
The importance of work-life balance
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“Women lead differently. We talk differently, we engage in different ways. And I've had to learn to own that about myself and not be tempted to try to be like the guys, compete with them on their own terms, or to adopt male behaviors in order to be heard … [Doing that] doesn't really help other women who might come after me.” – Rachel Noble.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
Codebreaking and Codemaking Down Under with John Blaxland and Clare Birgin (2024)
Australian National Day Special: Intelligence Down Under with John Blaxland (2024)
SPY CHIEFS: Director-General of Security Mike Burgess - ASIO, Australia & America (2022)
Keeping Secrets/Disclosing Secrets with Spy Chief turned DG of Australia’s National Archives David Fricker (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
What is SIGINT? YouTube (2020) [2 min. video]
Who we are, Australian Signals Directorate (2020) [Short article]
Our Agencies, National Intelligence Community of Australia (n.d.) [Overview of each agency in the Australian IC]
DEEPER DIVE
Primary Sources
REDSPICE Blueprint (2022)
Report of the Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security (1977)
Australian Treaty Series: Five Power Defence Agreements (1971)
Australian Treaty Series: Agreement between the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of the United States of America relating to the Establishment of a Joint Defence Space Research Facility (1966)
Policy file containing Cabinet approval of establishment of Joint Intelligence Organisation and participation of New Zealand Government (1946)
ASD Role and effectiveness of Signals Intelligence in World War II (1945)
*Wildcard Resource*
Rachel mentioned in this podcast episode that one of her favorite treats when coming to the States are Snickerdoodles – A delectable sugar cookie showered in cinnamon-sugar topping.
In the cookie world, snickerdoodles are a more recent invention with their first written mention being in an 1889 cookbook. Learn more about the history of cookies here!
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Summary
Neil Bradbury (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the deadly history of poison and espionage. Neil is an author and biochemist.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
How different poisons affect the human body
The usage of poisons as a covert assassination method
The deaths of defectors Alexander Litvinenko and Georgi Markov
The Soviet Union’s Lab X and the production and research of poisons on the state level
Reflections
The double edge of creativity
The necessity for research and experimentation
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“In order to counteract lots of the poisons, you have to know how they work, and you have to be able to develop your own. So, yes, undoubtedly, Western governments are just as actively involved in creating these chemicals and also the antidotes to them.” – Dr. Neil Bradbury.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*Spotlight Resource*
A Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them, Neil Bradbury (St. Martin’s Press, 2022)
*SpyCasts*
The Murder of an IRA Spy with Henry Hemming (2024)
I Helped Solve the Final Zodiac Killer Cipher with David Oranchak (2024)
The North Korean Defector with Former DPRK Agent Kim, Hyun Woo (2023)
Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023)
DEEPER DIVE
Books
Poison: The History of Potions, Powders and Murderous Practitioners, B. Hubbard (Welbeck Publishing, 2020)
Poison: A History: An Account of the Deadly Art and its Most Infamous Practitioners, J. Davis (Chartwell Books, 2018)
The KGB's Poison Factory: From Lenin to Litvinenko, B. Volodarsky (Zenith Press, 2010)
Primary Sources
Press Release on the Poisoning of Alexei Navalny (2020)
Update on the Use of Nerve Agent in Salisbury, UK (2018)
The Litvinenko Inquiry (2016)
Situation Report on Piesteritz (1953)
Analysis of Madame Lefarge’s Arsenic Trial (1840)
*Wildcard Resource*
This week’s companion song can only be Waterloo Sunset (1967) by The Kinks.
Heralded as one of the most beautiful songs of the swingin’ sixties, “Waterloo Sunset” is appropriately incorporated into the title of Neil’s chapter on the assassination of Georgi Markov, which took place on London’s Waterloo Bridge.
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Summary
Jefferson Morley and Mark Zaid join Andrew in a debate over the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Mark and Jeff are longtime friends and colleagues with very different viewpoints of what truly happened on November 22nd, 1963.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The lasting questions surrounding the Kennedy assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald’s intelligence connections
The Warren Commission and the JFK Assassination Records
The strangest theories Mark and Jeff have heard, and the most plausible explanations of who killed President Kennedy
Reflections
Public distrust and the search for truth
Reactions and responses to tragedy
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
”That's why I think they probably have something to hide. Because it doesn't make sense otherwise … If they had access to that kind of straightforward story, we would get that.” – Jefferson Morley.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
The Skinny on American Intelligence & the Law with D.C. “Super Lawyer” Mark Zaid (2024)
Rise of Devils: The Origins of Modern Terrorism with James Crossland (2024)
Havana Syndrome – A Panel featuring Nicky Woolf, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Mark Zaid (2023)
The Past 75 Years with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Lee Harvey Oswald, Britannica (2024) [Short biography]
JFK Files: What we're learning from newly released Kennedy assassination records, CBS News, YouTube (2022) [6 min. video]
Kennedy Assassination Timeline, The Sixth Floor Museum (n.d.) [Timeline of events]
DEEPER DIVE
Books
The Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government, D. Talbot (Harper Perennial, 2016)
JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters, J. W. Douglass (Touchstone, 2010)
Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA, J. Morley (University Press of Kansas, 2008)
Primary Sources
President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act (1992)
Select Committee on Assassinations Report (1978)
Warren Commission Report (1964)
LBJ Address to Congress (1963)
Interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald (1963)
JFK Autopsy Report (1963)
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection
*Wildcard Resource*
Test how you would do in Kennedy’s shoes by playing 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 – A two-player board game that tests your quick-thinking strategy and conflict resolution skills.
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Summary
Jefferson Morley and Mark Zaid join Andrew in a debate over the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Mark and Jeff are longtime friends and colleagues with very different viewpoints of what truly happened on November 22nd, 1963.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The lasting questions surrounding the Kennedy assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald’s intelligence connections
The Warren Commission and the JFK Assassination Records
The strangest theories Mark and Jeff have heard, and the most plausible explanations of who killed President Kennedy
Reflections
Public distrust and the search for truth
Reactions and responses to tragedy
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
”That's why I think they probably have something to hide. Because it doesn't make sense otherwise … If they had access to that kind of straightforward story, we would get that.” – Jefferson Morley.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
The Skinny on American Intelligence & the Law with D.C. “Super Lawyer” Mark Zaid (2024)
Rise of Devils: The Origins of Modern Terrorism with James Crossland (2024)
Havana Syndrome – A Panel featuring Nicky Woolf, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Mark Zaid (2023)
The Past 75 Years with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Lee Harvey Oswald, Britannica (2024) [Short biography]
JFK Files: What we're learning from newly released Kennedy assassination records, CBS News, YouTube (2022) [6 min. video]
Kennedy Assassination Timeline, The Sixth Floor Museum (n.d.) [Timeline of events]
DEEPER DIVE
Books
The Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government, D. Talbot (Harper Perennial, 2016)
JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters, J. W. Douglass (Touchstone, 2010)
Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA, J. Morley (University Press of Kansas, 2008)
Primary Sources
President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act (1992)
Select Committee on Assassinations Report (1978)
Warren Commission Report (1964)
LBJ Address to Congress (1963)
Interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald (1963)
JFK Autopsy Report (1963)
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection
*Wildcard Resource*
Test how you would do in Kennedy’s shoes by playing 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 – A two-player board game that tests your quick-thinking strategy and conflict resolution skills.
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SummaryHenry Hemming (X, Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the case of Frank Hegarty, a British spy operating within the IRA. Henry is a bestselling espionage author. What You’ll LearnIntelligenceEspionage and the role of MI5 within the TroublesThe story of Frank Hegarty, a British spy working in DerryFreddie Scappaticci, or Stakeknife, and Operation KenovaThe moral implications of spyingReflections Sacrifice, risk, and trustThe nuances of conflict And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“This is where it becomes, morally, much more complex. What’s difficult … is that most of the handlers who were faced with these decisions didn't have adequate training. They didn't know what the law said. They didn't know exactly what the limits were to what they could and could not do … And suddenly, as we're beginning to find out, mistakes were made.” – Henry Hemming. Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*Irish Garda Intelligence Chief with Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn (2023) Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023)The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy (2022)*Beginner Resources*Why is Ireland Divided? History Matters, YouTube (2022) [3 min. video]What You Need to Know About The Troubles, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article] A Brief History of Ireland, T. Lambert, Local Histories (n.d.) [Short article] DEEPER DIVEBooksStakeknife's Dirty War: The Inside Story of Scappaticci, the IRA’s Nutting Squad, and the British Spooks who Ran the War, R. O’Rawe (Merrion Press, 2023)The Intelligence War against the IRA, T. Leahy (Cambridge University Press, 2020)Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, P. Radden Keefe (Anchor, 2020)Primary Sources Operation Kenova Interim Report (2024)Report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry (2010)The Good Friday Agreement (1998)The Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985)IRA Green Book (1977) Guerrilla Warfare Handbook for IRA Volunteers (1956)*Wildcard Resource*Much of the events mentioned in this week’s episode take place in Derry, or Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Check out one of Erin’s favorite TV shows, Derry Girls – It tells the story of a young group of friends growing up in Derry during the Troubles. The town loved the show so much, they erected a mural to immortalize the five fictional friends that represented so many of their own upbringings in Derry.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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