SpyCast, the official podcast of the International Spy Museum, is a journey into the shadows of international espionage. Each week, host Sasha Ingber brings you the latest insights and intriguing tales from spies, secret agents, and covert communicators, with a focus on how this secret world reaches us all in our everyday lives. Tune in to discover the critical role intelligence has played throughout history and today. Brought to you from Airwave, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum.
The Spy Museum does not endorse, approve, or support the opinions stated by guest speakers. Statements made by speakers do not represent the position or opinion of the International Spy Museum.
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“Two Decades at the International Spy Museum” – with Anna Slafer
Episode 661
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 • Duration 53:03
Summary
Anna 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 Learn
Intelligence
Building the International Spy Museum
Milton Maltz: the visionary behind SPY
The role of historians and curators
Creating exhibits on espionage
Reflections
Institutional memory and evolution
The 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 DIVE
Articles
Cracking 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.
Leadership & The United States Pacific Command with Ret. Lieutenant General Anthony Crutchfield
Episode 660
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 • Duration 57:14
Summary
Lieutenant 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 Learn
Intelligence
The role of intelligence in military operations
Ethical dilemmas in command decisions
Reflections on the impact of mentorship and outreach
The importance of remaining aware in today's pervasive world
Reflections
The challenges of leadership
Hard work, determination, and resilience
And 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 DIVE
Books
The 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!
The Future of OSINT and the Intelligence Community with Jason Barrett
Episode 651
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 • Duration 01:03:29
Summary
Jason 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 Learn
Intelligence
Historical examples of OSINT
The evolution of Open Source Intelligence
The challenges and unique opportunities OSINT presents
The future of OSINT within the Intelligence Community
Reflections
Trust and transparency
Efficiency in intelligence gathering
And 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 DIVE
Books
OSINT 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.
From the Vault: "The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence" – with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy
Episode 532
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 • Duration 01:03:33
Summary
Thomas Leahy (Website; LinkedIn) and Eleanor Williams (Website; Twitter) join Andrew to discuss the intelligence war during “the Troubles.” Thomas lives in Cardiff and Eleanor lives in Belfast.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The Troubles through the lens of intelligence
Some key intelligence players in the Northern Ireland conflict
How the IRA and the British Army adapted organizationally
The role intelligence played in the end of the conflict
Reflections
The fluid nature of motivations and intentions
How historic narratives shape and constrain the here-and-now
And much, much more…
Episode Notes
From the late 60’s to the late 90’s Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries, and the British and Irish states, were engaged in a period known as “the Troubles”: a struggle to define or redefine the future of the island of Ireland. This is an issue with deep and complex roots, but the intelligence dimension of the period known as the Troubles is fascinating and often overlooked.
To help us get our head around it all, Andrew sat down with two specialists to discuss all things intelligence and the Troubles: from the role that MI5 and MI6 played, to the Force Research Unit and the RUC Special Branch, through to how the IRA played the counterintelligence game and the role that informers, agents and moles, such as the notorious “Stakeknife,” played.
Thomas is the author of the Intelligence War Against the IRA, while Eleanor is a doctoral candidate comparing intelligence use during the Northern Irish and Colombian conflicts.
And…
The head of the Republic of Ireland’s police and security intelligence force, the Garda Síochána, is Drew Harris. Drew Harris was a career Royal Ulster Constabulary officer whose father, also a career RUC officer, was killed by the IRA in 1989. He was the first external appointee from outside the Garda.
Quote of the Week
"What's their [IRA] main role in this intelligence conflict?...one of the key points here…the IRA was quite highly regional regionalized. That's actually quite key to explain why British intelligence had some difficulties against them…Initially, it was set up similar to armed forces. It would have brigades, battalions and companies…the IRA operated this kind of army structure up to 1975…the IRA then switched to this new strategy…And part of this was to prevent mass infiltration, which had started to become a problem, particularly in Belfast pre-1975. So, what it adopted in Belfast and Derry was a cell structure." – Thomas Leahy
Resources
Books
The Intelligence War Against the IRA, T. Leahy (CUP, 2020)
Britain’s Secret War Against the IRA, A. Edwards (Merrion, 2021)
Thatcher’s Spy, W. Carlin (Merrion, 2019)
The Accidental Spy, S. O’Driscoll (Mirror, 2019)
Snitch! S. Hewitt (Continuum, 2010)
Infiltrating the IRA, R. Gilmour (LB&C, 1998)
Fifty Dead Men Walking, M. McGartland (Blake, 1997)
Best Books on the Troubles (Five Books)
Articles
The Murky World of Spying During the Troubles, J. Ware, Irish Times (2017)
Alternative Ulster: How Punk Took on the Troubles, T. Heron, Irish Times (2016)
Audio
MI5 Chameleon Infiltrated New IRA
Documentary
Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History, BBC (2019)
The Spy in the IRA, BBC (2017)
Web
Operation Kenova
MI5 in Northern Ireland
Primary Sources
IRA-MI6 Intermediary: Interviews with Brendan Duddy (2009)
Good Friday Agreement (1998)
Downing Street Declaration (1993)
Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985)
Thatcher Speech at Airey Neave Memorial (1979)
IRA Green Book (1977)
PM Wilson & Thatcher discuss N. Ireland (1975)
Secret Meetings Between Government and IRA (1972)
Senator E. Kennedy, Ulster is Britain’s Vietnam (1971)
IRA Reports on Intelligence Informants (1922)
W.B. Yeats, “Easter: 1916” (1921)
Oral Sources
Duchas Oral History Archive (2014)
Wildcard Resource
“Murals of Northern Ireland” (4500+ Photographs)
From the Vault: "Black Ops: The Life of a Legendary CIA Shadow Warrior" - with Ric Prado
Episode 528
Tuesday, January 3, 2023 • Duration 01:08:02
Summary
Enrique “Ric” Prado (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his new memoir “Black Ops.” One of the most renowned CIA officers of his generation tells his story.
Book
You can buy Ric’s book, Black Ops, and support the International Spy Museum’s mission here.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
His time as CIA Counterterrorist Chief of Operations which included 9/11
His career battling communist insurgents and Islamic terrorists on multiple continents
His experience living in “Contra” camps during the Nicaraguan Revolution
His time as Dep. Chief of Station and co-founding member of the Bin Laden Task Force
Reflections
Conquering your emotions to stay focused in a crisis
His journey fleeing the Cuban Revolution as a young boy to CIA via USAF Pararescue
And much, much more…
Episode Notes
Ric Prado spent twenty-four-years in the CIA – and what a twenty-four years it was. His first 36 months were in the jungles of Central America as the first CIA officer to live among the “Contras,” including a period with the Miskito Native people; indeed, the photos he took ending up on the desk of CIA Director Bill Casey. So, what was it like at the pointy end of the Reagan Doctrine’s anti-communist spear, or as CIA Counterterrorist Center Chief of Ops during 9/11?
To find out, and to hear more about Ric’s storied career, Andrew sat down with him for this week’s episode. One of the meanings of the noun “legend” is “a story coming down from the past.” Many people who were in the business at the CIA and elsewhere will have heard the stories that come down from the past re Enrique “Ric” Prado, but now we all have a chance to hear Ric set the record straight in his own words.
And…
If Ric’s communist uncle hadn’t alerted the family that his school intended to send him off to the Soviet Union as a promising student for further education…if he hadn’t taken an Oceanography class at Miami Dade College and met someone who led him to USAF Pararescue…if he hadn’t been tipped off that he was to be killed in a Contra camp during the night and extricated himself from the situation…as Bob Dylan said, summing up so much of the human condition, “one more time, for a simple twist of fate.”
Quote of the Week
"The wiring was there and the mentoring from my dad…then the trip to the orphanage. And then definitely when I got into pararescue…being one of our special operations forces, the training is very, very intense…And making it through SERE school, making it through mountain climbing school. There's a certain level of conquering your emotions that you have to do…But I think that the most important thing was that I believed in what I was doing." – Ric Prado
Resources
SpyCast Episodes
In the CT Center on 9/11, C. Storer
A Life in the CIA, Hank Crumpton
Interview with Cofer Black
CT, Nicholas Rasmussen
CT Strategy: P. Bergen & C. Costa
Rethinking CT: J. Blazakis
Books
The Reagan Doctrine, J. Scott (DUP, 1996)
The Real Contra War, T. Brown (UOP, 2001)
Insurgency to Stability, “The Philippines,” Rabasa et al., (RAND, 2011)
Shining Path’s Politics of War, C. Degregori (UWP, 2012)
Red Revolution: Philippine Guerillas, G. Jones (Routeledge, 2019)
The Shining Path, Starn & Serna (Norton, 2019)
US Relations with Latin America (Five Books)
Articles
“Shining Path Leader Dead,” BBC (2021)
“Nicaragua Veers to Dictatorship,” J. Cordoba, WSJ (2021)
Documentaries
Nicaragua Was Our Home (L. Shapiro, 1985)
Ballad of the Little Soldier (W. Herzog, 1985)
Primary Sources
President Carter to Somoza (Brown, 1979)
Reagan Covert Ops. Nicaragua (NSA, 1981)
US Aid to Nicaragua (1982)
Reagan Covert Ops. Nicaragua (Brown, 1983)
Goldwater to Casey, “I’m Pissed Off” (Brown, 1984)
Reagan State Of The Union (APP, 1985)
Reagan Address Nicaragua (ReaganLib, 1986)
Contras Lost Congress (WaPo, 1986)
25 Years of the NPA (Hartford, 1994)
Wildcard Resource
The Clash, Sandanista (Album, 1980)
“The Third Option” – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson (Part 2 of 2)
Episode 570
Tuesday, December 27, 2022 • Duration 48:01
Summary
Loch Johnson (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss covert action aka “The Third Option.” He is the author of over 30 books on intelligence.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
What is covert action
Four types of covert action
Foreign policy options: “War Power,” “Treaty Power,” and “Spy Power.”
Examples of CA: Guatemala (1954), Indochina (1965), Afghanistan (2001), Iran (2020)
Reflections
Accountability
The value of learning from past mistakes
And much, much more …
Episode Notes
There is perhaps no better guest to join Andrew in this week’s exploration of covert action than Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia Loch Johnson. Loch’s latest book, The Third Option: Covert Action and American Foreign Policy, examines the history of the complicated and sometimes controversial usage of covert action by the U.S. international affairs.
Loch’s decades-long career in foreign policy and intelligence has brought him to the forefront of some of the most seminal moments within US intelligence reform: he served as special assistant to the chair of the Church Committee, staff director of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence Oversight, and worked directly with the chair of the Aspin-Brown Commission.
In this two-part episode of SpyCast, Andrew and Loch unpack what makes a covert action operation successful, and how we can learn from intelligence failures and past mistakes.
And…
How many people have a society named after them? Loch does!
Quote of the Week
"History doesn't like to be shaped, it has a power all of its own, but we try to shape it at least at the margins, and we do that through covert action, sometimes called the third option…and it really comes in four packages. Package number one is propaganda… And then comes political covert actions…Thirdly is economic covert action…And then fourthly, and most dramatically, are paramilitary operations. These are war-like activities." – Loch Johnson.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*Featured Resource*
The Third Option, L. Johnson (Oxford, 2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Covert Action, E. Rosenbach & A. Peritz, Belfer Center (2009) [Background Memo]
Looking back at the Church Committee, National Constitution Center (2019) [Blog Post]
The Iran-Contra Affair, B. Craig, The Miller Center (2017) [Article]
*SpyCasts*
The Spymaster’s Prism: CIA Legend Jack Devine (2021)
First Casualty: Inside the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11 (2021)
Author Debriefing: The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service (2012)
DEEPER DIVE
Books
A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA and Poland, S. Jones (W.W. Norton, 2018)
The Church Committee Confronts America's Spy Agencies, L. Johnson (UP of Kentucky, 2015)
The Brilliant Disaster: JFK, Castro, and the Bay of Pigs, J. Rasenberger (Scribner, 2012)
Executive Secrets: Covert Action and the Presidency, W. Daugherty (UP of Kentucky, 2006)
Covert Action, G. Treverton (1987)
Articles
The Disturbing Story Of The Heart Attack Gun Invented By The CIA During The Cold War, M. Dunn, All That’s Interesting (2022)
Video
Iran-Contra: Reagan’s Scandal and the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power, US National Archives (2015)
‘Covert Action’ By U.S. To Assist Ukraine Could Be In Play, MSNBC News (2022)
Primary Sources
Commission on the U.S. Intelligence Community (1994-1996)
Senate Select Committee with Respect to Intelligence Activities (1976)
“Huge C.I.A. Operation Reported in U.S. against Antiwar Forces," S. Hersh, NYT (1974)
FBI Records: COINTELPRO (1956-1971)
Note on U.S. Covert Actions
*Wildcard Resource*
A 90s cartoon, evil beings threaten humanity, only the Wild C.A.T.s can save them: i.e., Covert Action Teams!
“Covert action” as a concept has become part of the entertainment industry
“The Third Option” – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson (Part 1 of 2)
Episode 569
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 • Duration 49:40
Summary
Loch Johnson (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss covert action aka “The Third Option.” He is the author of over 30 books on intelligence.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
What is covert action
Four types of covert action
Foreign policy options: “War Power,” “Treaty Power,” and “Spy Power.”
Examples of CA: Guatemala (1954), Indochina (1965), Afghanistan (2001), Iran (2020)
Reflections
Accountability
The value of learning from past mistakes
And much, much more …
Episode Notes
There is perhaps no better guest to join Andrew in this week’s exploration of covert action than Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia Loch Johnson. Loch’s latest book, The Third Option: Covert Action and American Foreign Policy, examines the history of the complicated and sometimes controversial usage of covert action by the U.S. international affairs.
Loch’s decades-long career in foreign policy and intelligence has brought him to the forefront of some of the most seminal moments within US intelligence reform: he served as special assistant to the chair of the Church Committee, staff director of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence Oversight, and worked directly with the chair of the Aspin-Brown Commission.
In this two-part episode of SpyCast, Andrew and Loch unpack what makes a covert action operation successful, and how we can learn from intelligence failures and past mistakes.
And…
How many people have a society named after them? Loch does!
Quote of the Week
"History doesn't like to be shaped, it has a power all of its own, but we try to shape it at least at the margins, and we do that through covert action, sometimes called the third option…and it really comes in four packages. Package number one is propaganda… And then comes political covert actions…Thirdly is economic covert action…And then fourthly, and most dramatically, are paramilitary operations. These are war-like activities." – Loch Johnson.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*Featured Resource*
The Third Option, L. Johnson (Oxford, 2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Covert Action, E. Rosenbach & A. Peritz, Belfer Center (2009) [Background Memo]
Looking back at the Church Committee, National Constitution Center (2019) [Blog Post]
The Iran-Contra Affair, B. Craig, The Miller Center (2017) [Article]
*SpyCasts*
The Spymaster’s Prism: CIA Legend Jack Devine (2021)
First Casualty: Inside the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11 (2021)
Author Debriefing: The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service (2012)
DEEPER DIVE
Books
A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA and Poland, S. Jones (W.W. Norton, 2018)
The Church Committee Confronts America's Spy Agencies, L. Johnson (UP of Kentucky, 2015)
The Brilliant Disaster: JFK, Castro, and the Bay of Pigs, J. Rasenberger (Scribner, 2012)
Executive Secrets: Covert Action and the Presidency, W. Daugherty (UP of Kentucky, 2006)
Covert Action, G. Treverton (1987)
Articles
The Disturbing Story Of The Heart Attack Gun Invented By The CIA During The Cold War, M. Dunn, All That’s Interesting (2022)
Video
Iran-Contra: Reagan’s Scandal and the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power, US National Archives (2015)
‘Covert Action’ By U.S. To Assist Ukraine Could Be In Play, MSNBC News (2022)
Primary Sources
Commission on the U.S. Intelligence Community (1994-1996)
Senate Select Committee with Respect to Intelligence Activities (1976)
“Huge C.I.A. Operation Reported in U.S. against Antiwar Forces," S. Hersh, NYT (1974)
FBI Records: COINTELPRO (1956-1971)
Note on U.S. Covert Actions
*Wildcard Resource*
A 90s cartoon, evil beings threaten humanity, only the Wild C.A.T.s can save them: i.e., Covert Action Teams!
“Covert action” as a concept has become part of the entertainment industry
“Spying and Start-Ups” – with former Assistant Director of the CIA John Mullen
Episode 568
Tuesday, December 13, 2022 • Duration 59:42
Summary
John Mullen (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his life and career. He was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
How John was recruited
Life as an adrenaline addict in the CIA
Case officers vs. entrepreneurs
How China spies on corporate America
Reflections
Atlantic vs. Pacific outlook
Quantum
And much, much more…
Episode Notes
The Pacific Theater of WWII was imprinted on John Mullen as a young boy. He grew up in Seattle on the West Coast and had family members who remembered Boeing factories under camouflaged nets. He had two family members who were killed in that theater in the 1940s.
John went on to have a stellar CIA career - but one that always had an eye to the East. He went on the become the Assistant Director for Asia and the Pacific, leading all clandestine activity across this huge region, and spent time as a CIA Station Chief in the Far East. He has since co-founded his own firm and is currently engaged in protecting innovation at Strider Technologies as an Executive Vice President.
Ever wondered what it’d be like to join the CIA or to leave it to work in corporate America?
I have a feeling John might be able to help…
And…
Business intelligence, competitive intelligence, product intelligence, workforce intelligence: in case you haven’t noticed – intel is everywhere these days!
Quote of the Week
Honestly, in my 30 years, at CIA, there were probably less than two handfuls of days. I woke up and wasn't excited about going to work. – John Mullen.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*Andrew’s Recommendation*
The Pacific War, WELT (2021) [documentary]
*Beginner Resources*
What We Know About China’s Spy Agency, Bloomberg (2019) [4 min video]
Start Ups Backed by the CIA and Pentagon, CB Insights (2016) [short web article]
Brian Cox Explains Quantum Mechanics in 60 secs, BBC, (2014) [60 sec video]
DEEPER DIVE
*SpyCasts*
CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer with Mike Susong, Part 1 (2022)
CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer with Mike Susong, Part 2 (2022)
From the CIA to Strategic Cyber with Hans Holmer (2022)
My Global Career as a Female FBI Agent with Kathy Stearman (2021)
Books
China Unbound: A New World Disorder, J. Chiu (House of Anansi Press, 2021)
Quantum Computing for Everyone, C. Berhardt (MIT, 2020)
Chinese Espionage Operations and Tactics, N. Eftimiades (Vitruvian Press, 2020)
Spies for Nimitz: Joint Military Intelligence in the Pacific War, J. Moore (Naval Institute Press, 2004)
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality, J. Gribbin (Bantam Books, 1984)
Articles
Chinese intelligence officer sentenced to 20 years in prison in espionage case, R. Legare, CBS News (2022)
The World-Changing Race to Develop the Quantum Computer, S. Witt, The New Yorker (2022)
Paradigm Shift: China’s State Capitalism Is Not Colliding With Its Technological Ambitions, Strider (2021)
Video
Made in Beijing: The Plan for Global Market Domination, FBI (2022)
China's New Quantum Computing Breakthrough Shocks American Scientists, YouTube (2022)
Seattle’s Waterway to the World, YouTube (2017)
Primary Sources
Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States (2022)
The Information War in the Pacific, 1945, J. Williams (2002)
The Art of China Watching, G. Solin (1996)
*Wildcard Resource*
The American Battle Monuments Commission maintains 26 military cemeteries and memorials in 17 different foreign countries around the world that honor Americans that served in World War I and World War II. If you have a family member buried abroad, you can utilize ABMC’s Burial Search to locate their records.
“Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal & Love” – with Henry Schlesinger
Episode 567
Tuesday, December 6, 2022 • Duration 01:00:48
Summary
Henry Schlesinger (Rare Bird Books) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss two of the most mysterious and alluring forces in human history: sex and spying. He is a journalist and author proudly based out of NYC.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The impact of sexpionage on history
Debunking common “honey trap” myths
Examples of weaponized seduction and leveraged love
Cyber honey traps and digital sexpionage
Reflections
Psychological implications of love and lies
The relationship between pop culture myths and historical truth
And much, much more …
Episode Notes
Sex. Espionage. Sometimes they both overlap by accident...but sometimes it's entirely intentional. From Samson and Delilah in the Bible to the Profumo Affair that rocked British society in the 1960’s, they are a heady and dramatic combination.
But how is sex used in modern espionage? How do the professionals combine them, if indeed they do? What myths surround the use of both? How have men and women used sex and seduction to spy?
To answer these questions and more, Andrew sat down with Henry Schlesinger to discuss his newest book, Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal, and Weaponized Love, which explores the fascinating relationship between sex and spying.
And…
You know about Benjamin Franklin in Paris as a “bon vivant, wily diplomat and aging lion,” but read Henry’s article about him as the “Founding Forger” engaged in disinformation and fake news during the Revolution!
Quote of the Week
“The thing about espionage is that it encompasses the best in human beings and the worst and everything in between.” – Henry Schlesinger.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*Andrew’s Recommendation*
“Security Implications of Polygraph Derived Homesexual Fantasies”
See how much social mores have changed since 1985
*Featured Resource*
Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal, and Love, Henry R. Schlesinger (Rare Bird, 2022)
*Beginner Resources*
The Stasi Spies Who Traded Sex for Secrets, Oliver Moody, The Times (2022) [Article]
Romeo Spies, CIA (2018) [Article]
The Brilliant MI6 Spy Who Perfected the Art of the ‘Honey Trap’, Hadley Meares, Atlas Obscura (2017) [Article]
The History of the Honey Trap, Philip Knightly, Foreign Policy (2010) [Article]
DEEPER DIVE
*SpyCasts*
Mata Hari, The Spy with Dr. Julie Wheelwright (2019)
Sexpionage with H. Keith Melton (2009)
*Books*
The Last Goodnight: A World War II Story of Espionage, & Betrayal, H. Blum (Harper, 2017)
In the Garden of Beasts, E. Larson (Crown, 2011)
Stalin's Romeo Spy, E. Draitser (Northwestern, 2010)
Femme Fatale: Love, Lies, and Mata Hari, P. Shipman (Harper, 2008)
*Articles*
MEA staffer ‘honey trapped’: What’s the role of sex in spying?, A. Bhaskar, The Indian Express (2022)
The making of an iconic image: Christine Keeler, 1963, Victoria and Albert Museum (n.d.)
Christine Keeler obituary: the woman at the heart of the Profumo affair, P. Sanford, The Guardian (2017)
The Honeytrap That Ensnared One Marine in a Sexpionage Case, C. Burgess, ClearanceJobs (2022)
How to Use Sex Like a Russian Spy, P. Sullivan, Foreign Policy (2010)
*Video*
Spy History: King Goujian and the Boiled Seeds (2021) [Short Story]
Spies & Spymasters Happy Hour | Soviet Romeo Spy Dmitri Bystrolyotov (2020) [SPY Program]
The Spy Who Loved Me: When East German Spies Broke Hearts In The Cold War (2017) [Documentary]
*Primary Sources*
Delilah Betrays Samson, Judges 16, The Bible
Sexpionage: Why We Can't Resist Those KGB Sirens, M. Dobbs, The Washington Post (1987)
CIA Cover Exposed in Ghana, S. Meddis, USA Today (1985)
Spying Casts Shadow Over Talks, R. Beeston & B. Gertz, The Washington Times (1987)
Soviets Still Employed at Embassy in Moscow, B. Gertz, The Washington Times (1987)
Testimony of George Karlin aka Yuri Krotkov (1969)
*Wildcard Resource*
From Russia With Love (1963)
Bond: Honey Trapped or Honey Trapper? A little bit of both!
“The FBI & Cyber” – with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran (Part 2 of 2)
Episode 566
Tuesday, November 29, 2022 • Duration 38:18
Summary
Bryan Vorndran (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss how the FBI has adapted to the digital age. As Bryan says, “We are not your grandparents FBI.”
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The evolution of the FBI and cyber
Weakening cyber adversaries
Motivations behind creating and distributing malware
How to keep your information safe from cyber attacks
Reflections
Adapting to change within the intelligence field
The value of a passionate and committed team
And much, much more…
Episode Notes
When Bryan Vorndran attended the FBI Academy in 2003, cyber was not on his personal radar, nor was it on Quantico’s vigorous training schedule. Now, almost 20 years later, Bryan serves as the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Division.
What changed in those 20 years to bring Bryan to the forefront of the cyber battlefield, and how have the tactics and strategies used in this used in this field evolved alongside the ever-changing face of cyber?
Tune into this week’s SpyCast episode to find out!
The FBI has historically been associated with law enforcement and criminal justice. How does cyber fit into this world, and what is the FBI’s strategy for defending the country against cyber adversaries?
And…
Check out the FBI Cyber's Most Wanted list. A look through the details on each of these wanted posters can give you a better idea of the vast array of cyber-crimes committed around the world.
Quotes of the Week
“We will not arrest our way out of the ransomware problem. We are not going to arrest our way out of the Russia China Nation state cyber vector problem. Right? It's just not going to happen. But again, national tool power is something we will always do, but there has to be a way to degrade the ecosystem to make their life more challenging.” – Bryan Vordran.
Resources
*SpyCasts*
Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization – with Eric Escobar, Part 1 (2022)
Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization – with Eric Escobar, Part 2 (2022)
From the CIA to Strategic Cyber - with Hans Holmer (2022)
CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer – with Mike Susong (2022)
Cyberattacks, Espionage & Ransomware – Inside Microsoft’s MSTIC (2021)
The Cyber Zeitgeist – Cyberwire Host Dave Bittner (2021)
*Beginner Resources*
What is cybersecurity?, IBM (n.d.) [Article]
How does Malware Work?, Peter Baltazar, Malware Fox (2021) [Article]
Director Wray on FBI Cyber Strategy, FBI (2020)
Books
Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War, Fred Kaplan (Simon & Schuster, 2017)
Spam Nation: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime, Brian Krebs (Sourcebooks, 2015)
DarkMarket: How Hackers Became the New Mafia, Misha Glenny (Vintage, 2012)
The FBI: A History, Rhodri Jefferys-Jones (Yale, 2007)
Articles
FBI: Beware of Cyber-Threat from Russian Hacktivists, Phil Muncaster, Info Security (2022)
Web shell attacks continue to rise, Microsoft Security (2021)
Thingbots: The Future of Botnets in the Internet of Things, Paul Sabanal, Security Intelligence (2016)
Video
Inside the FBI: Decoding the Cyber Threat (2022)
Made in Beijing: The Plan for Global Market Domination (2022)
FBI Oregon Cyber Jobs: Cyber Special Agent (2022)
Life on an FBI Cyber Squad (2020)
The Evolving Attack Surface (2020)
Primary Sources
Oversight of the FBI Cyber Division (2022)
Sodinokibi/REvil Ransomware Defendant Extradited to United States and Arraigned in Texas (2021)
Bryan A. Vorndran Named Assistant Director of the FBI Cyber Division (2021)
The FBI’s Role in Cyber Security (2014)
*Wildcard Resource*
Quiz: Test your knowledge of the FBI in pop culture!
Apple Podcasts
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10/07/2026
#94
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
26/06/2026
#98
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
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