Episodes
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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 Youâll LearnIntelligenceBellingcatâs approach to âinvestigative journalismâ The rise of OSINT as a tool of journalism Bellingcatâs relationship with intelligence agencies Case studies from Bellingcatâs past, including the Skripal Case and the MH17 flight investigationReflections Leading by exampleAccessibility and accountabilityAnd much, much more âŠQuotes of the WeekâWhen 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 â This is something that you can do and recreate and understand.â - 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 Bellingcatâs name, the moral of this story is simple â Itâs one thing to suggest a solution or idea, but itâs a whole other beast to actually take action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Missing episodes?
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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 FBIâs Cyber Behavioral Analysis Center. What Youâll 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 âŠQuotes of the WeekâWe 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.â â 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)âHow Spies Thinkâ â 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 Youâll LearnIntelligenceThe very basics of negotiation, including the phrase âNever split the differenceâThe art of Tactical Empathy Case studies from Chrisâ career, including the Dos Palmas kidnappingsTechniques in ethical interrogationReflections Pressure makes diamondsHuman nature & understanding âthe other sideâAnd much, much more âŠQuotes of the WeekâNever take advice from somebody that you wouldnât trade places with. Never take directions from somebody who hasnât been where youâre going ⊠Iâm coachable, but I know who to be coached by.â â 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 Chrisâ MasterClass on the Art of Negotiation. And while youâre there, tune in to MasterClassâ 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 Connecticutâs 4th congressional district since 2009. What Youâll 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 9/11âs impact on intelligence at largeReflections Public trust and earning confidencePartnership and cooperationAnd much, much more âŠQuotes of the WeekâI get asked all the time, âOh my gosh, you see all the threats. Do you sleep at night?â ⊠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.â -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 Connecticutâs very first representatives was a gentleman named Roger Sherman. Sherman is unique not only for being one of Jimâs 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 Youâll 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 âŠQuotes of the WeekâWe'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.â â 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*Youâve probably practiced OSINT techniques many times before â Think, Facebook stalking your old college friends to see what theyâre 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
â”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
â”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 Youâll 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 âŠQuotes of the WeekâThis is where it becomes, morally, much more complex. Whatâs 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.â â 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 IRAâs Nutting Squad, and the British Spooks who Ran the War, R. OâRawe (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 weekâs episode take place in Derry, or Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Check out one of Erinâs favorite TV shows, Derry Girls â 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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Summary
Brett Forrest and Warren Strobel join Andrew to discuss reporting intelligence. Brett and Warren are national security reporters for The Wall Street Journal.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The intelligence learning curve
Stories from the front lines of modern conflicts and critical moments
The unique challenges that come with reporting on intelligence, and ...
The risks, including being a target of espionage
Reflections
Privacy and protection
The power, and danger, of sharing information
And much, much more …
Episode Notes
This week on SpyCast, Andrew was joined in the studio by Brett Forrest and Warren Strobel, intelligence correspondents at the Wall Street Journal. As SpyCast listeners will know, issues of intelligence and espionage are constantly going on all around us – But how does the public stay in the know and up to date on the latest cases and news from around the world? Well, that's where these two come in.
Quotes of the Week
“It's about knocking on every possible door that you can imagine, that you can come up with, that you can dig up. And, all you're hoping for is one of those doors to open. You know, you knock on a hundred doors, you get 99 doors to open. You just want that one door to open because that's where the information is. That's where the source is. So, I don't know if I would call that luck, I would call that persistence.” - Brett Forrest
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
Zelensky, Ukraine, and Intelligence with Simon Shuster (2024)
China’s Corporate Spy War with CNBC’s Eamon Javers (2023)
My Life Looking at Spies & the Media with Paul Lashmar (2021)
The Women of NatSec Journalism – 6 Leading Journalists (2017)
*Beginner Resources*
A Brief History of Journalism in America, M. A. McIntosh, Brewminate (2022) [Short article]
A History of The Wall Street Journal, G. Hughes, Historic Newspapers (2021) [Short article]
What Is Journalism and Why Does it Matter? CTRL-F, YouTube (2018) [3 min. Video]
DEEPER DIVE
Books
Spies, Spin and the Fourth Estate, P. Lashmar (EUP, 2021)
Spies and the Media in Britain, R. Norton-Taylor (IBT, 2018)
Spinning Intelligence, R. Dover and M. Goodman (CUP, 2009)
Articles
How Cuba Recruits Spies to Penetrate Inner Circles of the U.S. Government, B. Forrest & W. Strobel, The Wall Street Journal (2024)
Reporters who covered U.S. invasion of Iraq reflect on impact of war, N. Schifrin & Z. Warsi, PBS News (2023)
Russian Spy or Ukrainian Hero? The Strange Death of Denys Kiryeyev, B. Forrest, The Wall Street Journal (2023)
In Ukraine, New Reports of War Crimes Emerge as Russians Retreat From Kyiv Area, B. Forrest, The Wall Street Journal (2022)
Questioning the Case for War, C. A. Preble, CATO Institute (2018)
CIA Intercepts Underpin Assessment Saudi Crown Prince Targeted Khashoggi, W. Strobel, The Wall Street Journal (2018)
Video
Lost Son with Brett Forrest, International Spy Museum, YouTube (2023)
Ukrainians in Bucha reflect on horrors and brutality suffered at hands of Russian forces, PBS News (2023)
Primary Sources
It is time to do everything to make the war crimes of the Russian military the last manifestation of this evil on earth - address by the President of Ukraine (2022)
UN Report on the Killing of Civilians in Ukraine (2022)
McClatchy (Knight Ridder) Iraq Intelligence Archive (2001-2007)
Reporting the War (2005)
*Wildcard Resource*
Shock and Awe (2017)
Starring James Marsden as Warren Strobel!
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SummaryGeneral Frank McKenzie (Biography, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his new book, The Melting Point. General McKenzie was the 14th commander of the United States Central Command. What Youâll LearnIntelligenceCombatant commands and their purposeLeading CENTCOM, Central CommandThe role of intelligence in military leadership The US withdrawal from AfghanistanReflections Learning from the lessons of history The importance and impact of leadership And much, much more âŠQuotes of the WeekâWhat that leads you to is really, intelligence. It paints that picture and it describes the operational environment within which you can operate. So here's the risk. If you're an aggressive commander ⊠There's a temptation to lean on intelligence to tell you what you want to hear, shape the information ⊠In the back of your mind, you need to recognize, you can't go into it with what I would call confirmation bias.â â General Frank McKenzie.Resources SURFACE SKIM*Spotlight Resource* The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century, Kenneth F. McKenzie (Naval Institute Press, 2024)*SpyCasts*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)Irregular Warfare & Intelligence with IWC Director Dennis Walters (2023)*Beginner Resources*CENTCOM, Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024) [Encyclopedia entry]Why the Middle East is so important to the US, BBC World Service, YouTube (2024) [10 min. video]Combatant Commands, U.S. Department of Defense (n.d.) [Brief overviews of the 11 Unified Combatant Commands]DEEPER DIVEPrimary Sources Retirement Ceremony Honors CENTCOM Commander (2022)U.S. Central Command Statement on the Realignment of the State of Israel (2021)Memorandum Re: January 2020 Airstrike in Iraq Against Qassem Soleimani (2020)Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan (2020)Remarks by President Trump on the Death of ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (2019) Goldwater-Nichols Act (1986)*Wildcard Resource*Letter from Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant (1863)In this famous letter, Lincoln congratulates Major General Grant on his leadership during the Siege of Vicksburg, a critical success for the Union army. Perhaps not often done by a president, Lincoln here admits his strategy was wrong, and praises the intellect and military prowess of Grant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Summary
An expert panel of world leaders gathered at the International Spy Museum to discuss the importance of NATO today and in the future. Panelists included former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Latvian President Edgars RinkÄviÄs, among others.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
Threats facing Baltic countries, including Russia
The importance of NATO support for Ukraine
Maintaining stability during political turmoil
NATO’s growth and where it still needs to evolve in the 21st century
Reflections
The power of global partnerships
The impact of honest leadership
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“In the old days, NATO was kind of a place where everybody did their talking points and then left. But for the first time in a very long time, NATO is more than just a forum. It is a security alliance that is very important to protecting world peace.” – Leon Panetta.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
Zelensky, Ukraine & Intelligence with Simon Shuster (2024)
CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)
Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023)
NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence & Security with David Cattler (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Why are the Baltic states strategically important for NATO? A. Sytas, Reuters (2023) [Short article]
Ukraine conflict: Simple visual guide to the Russian invasion, BBC (2022) [Short article]
The Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact | History, YouTube (2017) [3 min. video]
DEEPER DIVE
Primary Sources
Statement by the North Atlantic Council on recent Russian hybrid activities (2024)
Joint letter to DoD for Urgent Ukraine Aid (2024)
Address by the President to Ukrainians at the end of the first day of Russia's attacks (2022)
Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the situation at the Poland-Belarus border (2021)
Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Estonia (2003)
Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Latvia (2003)
Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Lithuania (2003)
The North Atlantic Treaty (1949)
*Wildcard Resource*
Our international panelists in this week’s episode hail from the beautiful countries of Latvia, Estonia, and Croatia. To learn more about the history and culture of these countries, take virtual tours of their national museums or libraries here:
Hrvatski povijesni muzej, Croatian History Museum
Latvijas NacionÄlÄ bibliotÄka, National Library of Latvia
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Estonian National Museum
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SummaryCamille Stewart Gloster (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss her career in cyber. Camille was the first Deputy National Cyber Director for Technology & Ecosystem for the White House. What Youâll LearnIntelligenceThe intersections between technology and lawThe origins of the cyber threatThe importance of cyber educationBuilding a diverse cyber workforceReflections Challenging narratives and normsStrategic educationAnd much, much more âŠQuotes of the WeekâAnother part of the problem is having a conversation where people understand that they do a lot of this work every day. Honing those skills and being intentional about them and then applying them to a career means a transition from a hobby to something more concrete. And that narrative piece of making cybersecurity not seem so overwhelming is a big part of the work as well.â â Camille Stewart Gloster. Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*Indian Intelligence & Cyber â A Conversation with Sameer Patil, ORF Mumbai (2023)Espionage and the Metaverse with Cathy Hackl (2023)The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran (Part 1 of 2) (2022)The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran (Part 2 of 2) (2022)Trafficking Data: The Digital Struggle with China with Aynne Kokas (2022)*Beginner Resources*What is Cybersecurity? CISA (2021) [Short article]What is Cyber? Marketing Business Network, YouTube (2019) [2 min. video]Why Is Cybersecurity Important? CompTIA (n.d.) [Short article]DEEPER DIVEPrimary Sources 2024 Report on the Cybersecurity Posture of the United States (2024)National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy: Initial Stages of Implementation (2024)Executive Order on Preventing Access to Americansâ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern (2024)National Cybersecurity Strategy (2023)National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (2023)National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy (2023)CHIPS Act (2022)Executive Order on Improving the Nationâs Cybersecurity (2021)*Wildcard Resource*Test your cybersecurity awareness with this #BeCyberSmart crossword from the Center for Development of Security Excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Summary
Michael Collins joins Andrew to discuss the National Intelligence Council. Michael is the NIC’s current acting chair.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The role of the National Intelligence Council
National Intelligence Officers and their work around the world
The products of the NIC, including the Annual Threat Assessment
The importance of Intelligence Diplomacy and objective analysis
Reflections
The power of collaboration
Staying grounded and optimistic
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“In the analytic product, the first paragraph says: Here's the bad thing. Second paragraph says: This is what the bad thing means for the United States. Third paragraph is: What can be done to stop the bad thing, or more importantly, to identify an opportunity. I have to be optimistic. If I weren't, I wouldn't be in this job.” – Michael Collins.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
Telling Americans About China (and Intelligence) with Sara Castro (2024)
CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)
The Past 75 Years with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)
The National Intelligence University with its President Scott Cameron (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
America’s Intelligence Community, Explained, Washington Post, YouTube (2014) [2 min. video]
What is Intelligence Analysis and Why is It So Important? National American University (n.d.) [Short article]
Members of the IC, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (n.d.) [List of agencies]
DEEPER DIVE
Primary Sources
2024 Annual Threat Assessment (2024)
IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026 (2024)
2023 National Intelligence Strategy (2023)
Updated Assessment of Anomalous Health Incidents (2023)
Global Trends 2040 (2021)
National Intelligence Estimates on Climate Change (2021)
*Wildcard Resource*
This week’s guest shares a name with another intelligence professional: Michael Collins (1890-1922), a prominent leader of Irish independence.
You may remember this Michael Collins from his involvement in the 1916 Easter Rising, but did you know he was also the Director of Intelligence for the Irish Republican Army? Check out some of “The Squad’s” spy gadgets and artifacts here.
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Summary
Jason Barlow (X; Biography) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the iconic James Bond vehicles. Jason is the longstanding editor-at-large at Top Gear.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
How the “Bond car” phenomenon came to be
Ian Fleming’s love for cars
The different “nationalities” of Bond cars
What it’s like to be behind the wheel of some of these iconic cars
Reflections
The making of pop culture
The “personality” of cars
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“Something strange happens in popular culture, where worlds kind of collide and cars assume these sorts of statuses far in excess of what they're actually doing in the movies. I find it fascinating as a process. Nobody can predict how these things are going to go and it's wonderful when these things do happen.” – Jason Barlow.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*Spotlight Resource*
Bond Cars: The Definitive History, Jason Barlow (BBC Books, 2021)
*SpyCasts*
The Real Ian Fleming with Nicholas Shakespeare (2024)
The James Bond Collector with Mike VanBlaricum (2024)
Bond After Fleming, the Continuation of an Icon with Mark Edlitz (2023)
70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007 (Part 1 of 2) (2023)
70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007 (Part 2 of 2) (2023)
*Beginner Resources*
A Complete List of James Bond Cars, J. Osborn, Man of Many (2023) [List of cars]
Aston Martin DB5 and 007 - A Special Bond, Aston Martin, YouTube (2021) [1 min. video]
Why are cars interesting anyway? R. Meester, Medium (2021) [Short article]
DEEPER DIVE
Cars Mentioned
Aston Martin DB5
AMC Hornet
Mustang Mach 1
Lotus Esprit
Aston Martin V8
Toyota 2000GT
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
BMW 750iL
*Wildcard Resource*
“Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz …”
We’ve now firmly established that film can immortalize cars for decades to come. Well, it’s the same in music – Think “Little Red Corvette” by Prince, or “Ol’ 55” by Tom Waits. Perhaps one of the most iconic cars in music is Janis Joplin’s 1964 psychedelic Porsche, now remembered fondly through her 1971 song “Mercedes Benz.”
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