Explore every episode of the podcast SPYCRAFT 101
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 225. How the FBI Caught China's Most Prolific Spy Family with James Gaylord | 08 Dec 2025 | 01:23:42 | |
Today, Justin welcomes retired FBI supervisory special agent James Gaylord. Jim spent nearly 32 years with the FBI, including six years supervising a counterintelligence squad at the Los Angeles Field Office's Santa Ana Resident Agency. If you're a longtime listener of the podcast, you might remember Jim as one of our earliest guests from episode 12, recorded nearly four and a half years ago. Today he's back to talk about two of the most famous cases he ran as case agent. It's the story of The FBI's hunt for China's most prolific spy family. Chi Mak, his family, and Greg Chung were US citizens operating at the behest of the People's Republic of China government and its intelligence services, targeting some of the most sensitive American military knowledge in use at the time. Catch Jim's original appearance on Ep 12: Life in FBI Counterintelligence here. Connect with Jim: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Chi-Groundbreaking-Pursuit-Prolific/dp/1493091964 Connect with Spycraft 101: Kruschiki Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 224. Secrets, Scandals, and Salvation: Spying for China with Gregg Bergersen | 01 Dec 2025 | 01:24:49 | |
Today Justin sits down with Gregg Bergersen. Gregg spent 19 years in the Department of Navy's office of Naval Intelligence as an intelligence research specialist. He was then asked to join the Department of Defense as a weapons systems policy analyst at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in Arlington, Virginia, where he oversaw complex command control, communication, computer intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance foreign military sales programs managed by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. In February, 2008, Gregg was arrested on charges of espionage for which he was later sentenced to 57 months in prison. While serving his sentence, Gregg dedicated his life to the Lord and now works to provide hope to prisoners through spiritual development courses. Over the past 10 years, he served as the director of a Texas prison ministry with nearly 100 volunteers providing hope to the lost and the least in our society at dozens of prisons. Over 20,000 prisoners have graduated from his courses. Gregg is here today to discuss his work as a civilian analyst for the Office of Naval Intelligence, Navy International Programs, and Defense Security Cooperation Agency, as well as the personal relationship which slowly transformed into espionage and incarceration that changed his life for the better. Connect with Gregg: Connect with Spycraft 101: Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 215. From World War II Radio Operator to the OG Drug Kingpin with Dr. David Tuch | 29 Sep 2025 | 01:00:02 | |
Today Justin speaks with Dr. David Tuch. David is a technology entrepreneur and author. His writing uncovers overlooked stories at the intersection of organized crime and espionage. David is originally from New York and has lived in England and France, but now resides in Brookline, Massachusetts with his wife and children. He's here to discuss his new book about Harold Derber, a merchant sailor and radio operator during World War II who was later involved in some of the most pivotal events of the early Cold War and became one of the earliest kingpins of international drug trafficking. Connect with David: Check out the book, The Wireless Operator, here. Connect with Spycraft 101: Subtack: spycraft101.substack.com Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 127. Modern Espionage Tales with The Gunfighter Project | 25 Dec 2023 | 01:16:23 | |
In this bonus episode, Justin shares his interview from The Gunfighter Project podcast. With host B, he discusses espionage stories that sound too incredible to be true. The Gunfighter Project features members of some of the world's most elite military units. It's a conversational show where professionals from around the world share their expertise to help you protect yourself and your family and stay prepared for everyday dangers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 126. The Arab Section: Israel's First Spies with Matti Friedman | 18 Dec 2023 | 01:03:33 | |
Justin's guest this week is Matti Friedman. Matti has worked as a correspondent for the Associated Press and his work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Smithsonian Magazine, and elsewhere. He's also the author of four nonfiction books covering subjects related to the formation of Israel and the conflicts that followed the birth of that nation. Today Matti tells the story of four men who worked undercover as part of the Arab Section, a tiny group of Jewish spies who operated with no support, no funding, and facing almost impossible odds during the tumultuous months in 1948 when Israel declared independence and faced the combined armies of the Arab nations surrounding it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 125. From the SAS to the World of Private Intelligence with Robert Lancaster | 11 Dec 2023 | 01:06:04 | |
This week Justin talks with Robert Lancaster. Robert served in the British Army from 1977 until 1989, including time spent with 22nd SAS, and then in the Australian Army as a reserve special forces soldier. In 1991, he founded Lancaster's Global Risk Consultancy based in Australia, which has offered a wide variety of security surveillance, business intelligence, and counterintelligence services all over the world. His previous clients include governments, multinational corporations, publicly listed companies, law firms, and major industrial and mining concerns. Today Robert explores the world of privatized intelligence gathering and how it relates to and differs from the actions of national organizations and agencies. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 124. Double Agent: How I Caught a Russian Spy with Naveed Jamali | 04 Dec 2023 | 00:54:38 | |
This week Justin sits down with Naveed Jamali. Naveed is currently an editor at large for Newsweek, where he reports on national security issues. Naveed grew up in New York City, where his parents owned a small business selling technical journals and other hard to find publications. This inadvertently put them in touch with Russian agents working under diplomatic cover at the Soviet mission to the United Nations, who were constantly seeking information on American research and development across a wide variety of issues. And it led Naveed himself to become the linchpin in an amazing FBI operation to catch one of these Russian agents in an act of espionage. Today he discusses his time as a double agent working for both the FBI and the Russian GRU. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 123. The Unsung Icarus of the French Resistance with Peter Dowding | 27 Nov 2023 | 00:58:55 | |
Today Justin talks with Peter Dowding. Peter worked as a solicitor and barrister for many years in Australia, beginning in 1966. He also served in various positions with the Labour Party and was elected to serve as the 24th Premier for Western Australia from 1988 until 1990. Peter is here to tell the story of his uncle Bruce who was studying in Paris when Germany invaded duriNg WWII and felt the call to contribute in any way that he could. Bruce served in uniform, was captured, escaped, joined the French resistance, and even served at the behest of Britain's MI9. His life was cut tragically short during the war, as were so many others. Peter has spent years researching his uncle's life and contributions during the war. Escape is an option. Save 10% with code SPYCRAFT101 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 122. How Polish Counterintelligence Officers Penetrated Foreign Embassies with Tomasz Awlasewicz | 20 Nov 2023 | 01:34:50 | |
This week's guest is Tomasz Awasiewicz. Tom is an author, journalist, and expert on counterintelligence who has taught courses at the SWPS University of Social Sciences in Warsaw and elsewhere. Currently, he focuses on the Cold War-era intelligence and counterintelligence units of the Polish People's Republic. Today, Tom discusses a covert unit of Polish counterintelligence officers who specialized in penetrating foreign embassies to steal their secrets. The unit was filled with safe crackers and second story men who paid an incredible price for their years of service to their government in a high-risk, high-reward mission. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 121. How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World with Alex Joske | 13 Nov 2023 | 01:05:35 | |
This week Justin is joined by Alex Joske. Alex is an analyst and researcher who focuses on the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party. He has worked for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and has also written articles which have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and with NBC News. Today he's here to discuss the incredible effort China has put into influencing world opinion over the past few decades, and how they've successfully lulled so many people and governments into a false sense of security and complacency as to their true intentions. You might recognize a name we talk about today: Katrina Leung, the infamous triple agent who allegedly marreid her FBI handler. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Soteira Systems Escape is an option. Save 10% with code SPYCRAFT101 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 120. A Life in State Department Counterintelligence with Robert Booth | 06 Nov 2023 | 01:26:09 | |
This week Justin sits down with Robert David Booth. Robert served as a special agent with the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security all over the world for nearly 30 years, in locations like Beijing, Geneva, Tokyo, Haiti, and Paris. He was the deputy director for the Office of Counterintelligence from 1996 until 2002, and afterwards served as a consultant for the same office until 2012. Today Robert shares about his career with the State Department and several of the very famous and infamous espionage cases he worked on over the years. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Soteira Systems Escape is an option. Save 10% with code SPYCRAFT101 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 119. Rampant Assassination in the Roman Empire with Colonel Rose Mary Sheldon | 30 Oct 2023 | 00:58:51 | |
Repeat guest Rose Mary Sheldon taught history as a professor at Virginia Military Institute for more than 25 years and is a world renowned expert on intelligence activities in the ancient world. She earned her Ph. D. from the University of Michigan in 1987, and has published several books and many articles over the years, as well as serving as an editor for The International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, and Small Wars and Insurgencies, and The Journal of Military History. Today Rose Mary discusses the lives and deaths of the first five Roman emperors and the internal security measures they put in place to protect themselves with varying degrees of success. A staggering 75% of Roman emperors died by assassination. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Soteira Systems Escape is an option. Save 10% with code SPYCRAFT101 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 118. World War II's Serial Killer: The Crimes of Marcel Petiot | 23 Oct 2023 | 00:41:15 | |
In this solo episode, Justin tells the story of a notorious serial killer active in France during World War II who effectively used the war itself as cover for his crimes. But Marcel Petiot was much more than just a murder. He was a conman, a thief, a doctor, a politician, a target for the Gestapo, and possibly even a source of information for a little known U. S. intelligence organization known as The Pond. Petiot was finally convicted of 26 murders (though his death toll is thought to be between 60 and 200) and put to death by guillotine in Paris in 1946. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 214. The MI6 Spy at the Heart of the Nazi Regime with Tim Willasey-Wilsey | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:55:01 | |
Today Justin sits down with Tim Willasey-Wilsey Tim is a visiting professor of War Studies at King's College London, and Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. He served for many years as a foreign office diplomat in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. He has also published numerous articles and reviews in the national and international press, and for academic institutions and think tanks. He's here today to discuss the story of William de Ropp, who successfully earned the trust of members at the highest levels of the Nazi party in the 1930s, including Hitler himself prior to the beginning of World War II. Connect with Tim: kcl.ac.uk/people/tim-willasey-wilsey-cmg Check out the book, The Spy and the Devil, here. Connect with Spycraft 101: Subtack: spycraft101.substack.com
Use code GBCSpycraft to save 20% on your subscription. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 117. The Lumumba Plot with Stuart Reid | 16 Oct 2023 | 00:57:15 | |
This week's guest is Stuart Reid. Stuart is a graduate of Dartmouth college and has worked at Foreign Affairs Magazine for the past 15 years, where he's now an executive editor. He's also written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, Businessweek, Politico Magazine, Slate, and other publications. Today he discusses his new book, The Lumumba Plot. It centers ontThe very short and tragic career of the Republic of the Congo's first prime minister after gaining independence from Belgium in 1960. Patrice Lumumba served for just a few months before he was ousted from his position, arrested, tortured, and eventually executed. He was caught up in the international power struggle between the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Nations, and the Belgian government Have you ever wanted to feel what it's like to operate in the shadows? Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 116. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations in West Germany with Michael Honegger | 09 Oct 2023 | 00:47:51 | |
Today's guest is Michael Honegger. Michael is a professional photographer and author. He spent much of his youth growing up in West Germany in the 1960s. His father was an officer with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Michael knew almost nothing of his father's career at the time, but there were a lot of clues that he was involved in some very important and very secretive work. Years later, Michael embarked on a quest to learn more about his father's work and put it into the larger context of the Cold War. On the podcat and in his book, Michael shares stories, records, and photos, both from his own family's years in West Germany, the archives of the East German Stasi, and from the Berlin Spy Museum. Have you ever wanted to feel what it's like to operate in the shadows? Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 115. Protecting International Defectors with Joe Augustyn | 02 Oct 2023 | 01:00:37 | |
This week Justin sits down with Joe Augustyn. Joe was a member of the Central Intelligence Agency's clandestine service for 28 years, working as a case officer in several locations and later as Chief of Station on three different occasions. After the September 11th attacks, he was appointed the deputy associate director of CIA for Homeland Security until the standup of the brand new Department of Homeland Security in November, 2002. He's also been credited as being one of the original architects of what is now called the National Counterterrorism Center. Joe even served as Chief of Staff for the Deputy Director for Operations, where he monitored and helped manage the CIA's covert action programs. Today, he dives into one of his assignments as Director of the CIA's Defector Resettlement Center, responsible for the resettlement of high level defectors granted entry into the United States. In particular, they discuss Aleksandr Zaporozhsky, the KGB agent who notoriously gave up Alrich Ames. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Centurion Combat Simulations Have you ever wanted to feel what it's like to operate in the shadows? Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 114. Death and the Dangers of Clandestine Work Part II | 25 Sep 2023 | 00:35:47 | |
This week, Justin covers four mysterious espionage deaths. In most of these cases, the exact nature of the events that came to pass is still up for debate. He dives into chilling and complex stories from Cold War Germany to Czechoslovakia, Washington DC, and Scotland. Unfortunately in these cases, we often never find answers. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 113. Spies in Uniform: The Military Liaison Missions in Berlin | 18 Sep 2023 | 00:33:54 | |
This week, Justin shares the story of the military liaison missions in post-war Germany, or the spies in uniform. If you're a longtime listener, you might recall episode number 23 with Aden Magee, who participated in these missions himself and wrote a book about it titled Cold War Wilderness of Mirrors. Today Justin gives broader overview of the subject today because it was such a unique mission that could only have taken place in a divided Germany caught between the two nuclear superpowers. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 112. Mark of the Maker with Mark Stheiner, Tom Krein, and Sean Kendrick | 11 Sep 2023 | 02:05:07 | |
This week, Justin shares his interview from the Mark of the Maker Podcast, with hosts Mark Stheiner, Tom Krein, and Sean Kendrick. It's a podcast about knives by knifemakers, discussing everything forging and creation to collecting and history. They dove into some of the most interesting weapons from Justin's book, Covert Arms. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 111. The Priest Who Funneled Weapons from Gaddafi to the IRA with Jennifer O'Leary | 04 Sep 2023 | 00:48:00 | |
Today, Justin sits down with Jennifer O'Leary. Jennifer is an award-winning investigative reporter for BBC Northern Ireland's current affairs program called Spotlight. She has investigated a wide variety of stories, including money laundering by organized crime, criminal conspiracy to export horses unfit for human consumption into the food chain, and the secret intelligence war between the state and the IRA. This week Jennifer tells the story of Father Patrick Ryan, a Catholic priest who helped funnel weapons and money from Muamar Gaddafi in Libya and the Irish Republican Army during the troubles. Jennifer was the first person that Father Ryan ever opened up to publicly about his incredible story. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 110. The Mysterious Death of an Anti-Communist Danish Diplomat | 28 Aug 2023 | 00:33:35 | |
In this solo episode, Justin shares a confusing and twisted story he's posted about before on his Instagram page. This is the mysterious death of a Danish diplomat on Long Island in November, 1959. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 109. Spy Hunter: How I Caught Robert Hanssen with Eric O'Neill | 21 Aug 2023 | 01:22:18 | |
This week Justin talks with author, attorney, public speaker, security expert, and former FBI agent Eric O'Neill. Eric is the founder of the Georgetown Group, a premier investigative services and security firm. In law, he specializes in national security matters. But long before that, he was a young investigative specialist with the FBI. In December of 2000, he was unexpectedly pulled off his normal duties for a special assignment, which would arguably be one of the most important ever in the history of the bureau. He was going to go undercover against one of the FBI's own senior special agents who was suspected of spying for the Russian government: Robert Hanssen. Eric's experiences and contributions to Hanssen's capture would later serve as inspiration for the feature film Breach. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 108. The Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi | 14 Aug 2023 | 00:26:55 | |
In another solo episode, Justin covers a relatively recent assassination. This is the story of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and dissident who was murdered in 2018 after being lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 213. Beyond the Leak: Life, Justice, and Redemption with Reality Winner | 15 Sep 2025 | 01:43:00 | |
Today Justin speaks with Reality Winner. Reality enlisted in the US Air Force after high school and served as a cryptolinguist assigned to the National Security Agency where she translated audio recordings in Pashtu and Dari from Afghanistan. Following her first enlistment, she was hired as a private contractor working at a different NSA facility in Augusta, Georgia. In June, 2017, she was arrested after leaking a classified report to The Intercept media outlet. Her story became a media sensation, and since then, she has been the subject of a 2021 documentary, as well as two film adaptations released in 2023 and 2024. She's here today to discuss her life, her arrest, and her incarceration, which she wrote about in her new memoir titled, I Am Not Your Enemy. Connect with Reality: IG: @reazlepuff Check out the book, I Am Not Your Enemy, here. Connect with Spycraft 101: Subtack: spycraft101.substack.com
Use code GBCSpycraft to save 20% on your subscription. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 107. British Covert Action with Rory Cormac | 07 Aug 2023 | 01:09:57 | |
This week Justin sits down with Rory Cormac. Rory is a professor of international relations at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, specializing in secret intelligence and covert action. He's also given presentations at #10 Downing Street, he UK Ministry of Defense, the US State Department, and the Pentagon. In addition to teaching, he's written five books focusing on British history, covert action, and statecraft. Today, he discusses British covert activities in the post-World War II era. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 106. Fighting for the Truth: A Green Beret's Death with Michelle Black | 31 Jul 2023 | 01:39:46 | |
This week's guest is Michelle Black (no relation). Michelle is a mother to two boys and the widow of Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, who was killed in an ambush along with three other Special Forces soldiers in Niger, Africa in October, 2017. Michelle sought answers in the aftermath of her husband's death, but only found more questions. She eventually decided to find out for herself what really happened to her husband, and learned that bad assumptions, bad intelligence, and bad decisions at several levels resulted in terrible consequences for the men on the ground. I invited Michelle onto the podcast to tell the story, not just of the ambush that cost the lives of four men and changed countless others, but also the search for the truth behind an investigation which seemingly sought to protect those who were most responsible for the events of that terrible date. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 105. Thrive Unafraid with Kelly Sayre and Doug Patteson | 24 Jul 2023 | 00:59:12 | |
This week, Justin shares his interview from the Thrive Unafraid podcast, hosted by situational awareness expert Kelly Sayre and former CIA case officer Doug Patteson. You may remember Doug from episode two of the podcast in which he discussed his life in the CIA. On their show, Justin discusses how to defend yourself against common manipulation techniques and the importance of personal resilience. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 104. The Bill Buckley Story: Kidnapped by Hezbollah in Lebanon with Fred Burton | 17 Jul 2023 | 00:54:08 | |
This week Justin welcomes repeat guest Fred Burton. Fred is the former Deputy Chief of the Counter-Terrorism and Protective Intelligence Division for the US State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, and is currently the executive director of the Onyx Center for Protective Intelligence. He's also the author of four non-fiction books about counterterrorism and intelligence matters. Today, Fred discusses the murder of CIA Station Chief William F. Buckley in Hezbollah's War Against America. A CIA officer and Special Forces veteran, Bill was kidnapped and murdered in Lebanon in the 1980s in an event that changed the Central Intelligence Agency and US policy towards Lebanon forever. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 103. Smuggling Weapons for the IRA with John Crawley | 10 Jul 2023 | 01:11:15 | |
Today, Justin speaks with John Crawley. John grew up in the United States in an Irish immigrant family, and after returning to Ireland for several years he became committed to the cause of Irish independence, vowing to return to join the IRA. After a stint in the USMC as a recon Marine, he brought his combat training back with the intent to fight back against British occupying forces in Northern Ireland. John spent years in an active service unit before coming back to the US again to purchase arms and ammunition for the cause. Upon his return to Ireland, he and his shipmates were betrayed by an informant and arrested, and he spent 10 years in prison. On the podcast, John discusses his life and struggles with the Irish Republican army. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 102. The Rise of American Intelligence with Nicholas Reynolds | 03 Jul 2023 | 01:02:44 | |
This week, Justin has a conversation with Nicholas Reynolds. After graduating from Oxford University in the 1970s, he served in the US Marine Corps as an infantry officer, and later as a historian. Nick retired from the Reserves as a colonel and the officer in charge of field history. He also served with the Central Intelligence Agency, including as the historian for the Agency's museum at their headquarters in Langley. Today, Nick dives into the origins of the modern intelligence community in the months leading up to, and then during American's involvement in WWII He gives an overview of the key decisions made along the way and the key personalities that would shape the intelligence community for decades to come. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 101. Episode 101 - Looking Back and Looking Forward | 26 Jun 2023 | 00:27:19 | |
In a special retrospective for episode 101 of the podcast, Justin discusses the lessons he's learned along the way. From getting into contact with incredible guests to growing an audience to some of his favorite episodes, we take a look back at how Spycraft 101 got where it is today. Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc. SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 100. The Disappearance of Bob Levinson with Barry Meier | 19 Jun 2023 | 00:53:27 | |
This week, Justin sits down with Barry Meier. Barry is a veteran reporter who has written for the New York Times and received the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, along with other members of the New York Times staff. He's also the first journalist to bring significant attention to the dangers of abuse of the prescription drug, Oxycontin, with his book Pain Killer, which was first published in 2003. Today, Justin and Barry discuss the story of a former FBI agent turned private investigator named Robert Levinson, who went missing in 2007 while on an assignment on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, and the years long ordeal his family went through as they sought answers from both the American and Iranian governments. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 99. Industrial Espionage: The Downfall of a Great American Company with Aaron Stark | 12 Jun 2023 | 01:04:12 | |
Today, Justin speaks with Aaron Stark. Aaron served in the US Army as an Apache helicopter pilot, including on two tours in Afghanistan. He finished his term of service teaching at his alma mater, West Point Military Academy, as an assistant professor of economics after completing his Master's in Business administration at Harvard University, and he now works as a chief of staff at a Fortune 500 tech company. Today, Aaron is discussing the story of the Waltham Watch Company, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, and how they were targeted by the Swiss watch industry at a time when Waltham was poised to dominate the global market through its development and use of cutting edge technology, leaving the antiquated Swiss industry far behind. A pair of Swiss spies infiltrated the company in a last ditch effort to save their own nation's failing industry and succeeded beyond anyone's expectations. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 98. Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin with James Stejskal | 05 Jun 2023 | 01:07:54 | |
Today, Justin chats with author, veteran, and former CIA case officer James Stejskal. James enlisted in the US Army in 1973 and served for more than 20 years, including with the now famous Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin in the 1970s and 80s. Among other assignments, he was severely wounded in Somalia in 1992 and medically retired from the Army in 1996, after which he joined the CIA as a case officer, where he spent nearly another 15 years. Now fully retired from government service, James has written several non-fiction books. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 212. Operation Gideon: Inside the Failed Venezuelan Coup with Jen Gatien | 08 Sep 2025 | 00:56:33 | |
Today Justin sits down with Jen Gatien. Jen is a filmmaker and producer based in New York City. Some of her film credits include Hound Dog starring Dakota Fanning and Robin Wright, Holy Rollers starring Jesse Eisenberg, and For Ellen starring Paul Dano. In her spare time, Jen serves as a board member on the Lower East Side Girls Club, as well as a volunteer for Pup Stars Dog Rescue and the Mercer Houston Dog Run. She's here to discuss her new documentary film, Men of War, which is debuting this week on streaming video on demand services. It's the story of the Ill-fated Operation Gideon, which took place in May, 2020. A small group of former Army Special Forces soldiers teamed up with Venezuelan rebels to stage a coup against the government of Nicholas Maduro. But the plan went awry immediately and nearly everyone involved was either killed or arrested, which further inflamed tensions between Venezuela and the United States. Connect with Jen: IG: @deerjen Connect with Spycraft 101: Subtack: spycraft101.substack.com
Use code GBCSpycraft to save 20% on your subscription. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 97. Defecting from the USSR with Olga Sheymov | 29 May 2023 | 01:24:32 | |
This week, Justin chats with Olga Sheymov. Olga has worked in high technology, on arts projects, and as a television producer. Her TV credits include the Long-Running series Russia Today, produced from 1997 until 2015, and Your Source TV among other projects. But long before she began her media career, Olga and her husband Victor Sheymov defected to the US and were smuggled out of the Soviet Union and into the Carpathian Mountains by a team from the Central Intelligence Agency in 1980. Victor was a high ranking member of the KGB and proved to be an incredibly valuable source of information for the US government for years to come, although their relationship with the CIA and FBI encountered many problems, to say the least. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 96. Tradecraft in Private Investigations with Jon and Alex of Fenrir Group | 22 May 2023 | 01:34:08 | |
Today Justin sits down with Jon and Alex from Fenrir Group. They're licensed private investigators based in Atlanta, Georgia, who offer a wide range of services, including skip tracing, process, serving bond recovery, and boutique litigation support. Not only have they successfully closed hundreds of cases of all types, but they've also developed a very large online following and have been featured in articles with Vox, Vice, and the Discovery Plus series Secrets, Lies and Private Eyes. This episode is meant to emphasize how much crossover there is between the tradecraft we normally associate with espionage and the tactics and techniques private investigators use on a daily basis in their own line of work. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 95. Spying to Fight Apartheid in South Africa with Sue Dobson | 15 May 2023 | 01:24:47 | |
Today Justin sits down with Sue Dobson. Sue grew up in Pretoria, South Africa during the apartheid era and witnessed firsthand the brutality and oppression of the government at that time. As a young woman, she decided to take action and join the outlawed African National Congress to do her part to improve the lives of Black South Africans. She was eventually sent to Moscow for nearly a year of training in surveillance, intelligence gathering, and weapons before returning to South Africa as a spy for the ANC. Once there, she lived a cover as an apolitical journalist while building relationships and reporting back to her handler in the ANC. In the end, her cover was blown and she barely escaped the country with her life. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 94. The Tip of the Spear in the War on Terror with Erick Miyares | 08 May 2023 | 01:24:28 | |
Today Justin sits down with Marine Corps and US Army Intelligence veteran Erick Miyares. Erick spent nearly 30 years in the US service, deployed to some of the most dangerous corners of the world. Now that he's transitioned out of the military, he has found a new mission helping members of the very same units he served with face the personal challenges brought on by so many years of unrelenting combat and separation from their families. Today he shares his experiences in the War on Terror, and the effect it had on him, his family, and his fellow service members. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 93. A Murder Plot Gone Wrong: Secret Experiments, Biological Weapons, and Apartheid | 01 May 2023 | 00:38:34 | |
In this solo episode, Justin dives into a failed professional hit on a businessman in Irvine, California in the 1980s. The botched job involved the CIA, FBI, ATF, and the Apartheid government of South Africa and ultimately uncovered a cache of buried machine guns, stockpiles of biological weapons, and a conspiratorial relationship between an American doctor and South Africa's illicit biological warfare program known as Project Coast. Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc. SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 92. MI6 Ensnared in German Counterespionage with Norman Ridley | 24 Apr 2023 | 01:25:01 | |
This week Justin sits down with author Norman Ridley. Today they discuss a counterespionage incident that occurred at the beginning of World War II. Two senior members of British Intelligence were ensnared in a German trap in Venlo, Netherlands in November, 1939. This was a devastating blow to MI6, just as the largest war in history was beginning. Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game. SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 91. North Korean Espionage | 10 Apr 2023 | 00:52:23 | |
This week, Justin shares another solo episode. He covers a brief history of espionage and covert operations run by or against North Korea. These stories involve other power players like Russia, Japan, and more. Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 90. An OSS Rescue Operation in Northern Italy with Jack Chappell | 03 Apr 2023 | 01:04:49 | |
This week, Justin sits down with journalist and Vietnam veteran Jack Chappell. After leaving active duty, he covered the Western White House during the Nixon administration. Jack is also the son of Howard Chappell, an OSS officer who served in Northern Italy at the end of WWII. Howard's story is told in the book The Brenner Assignment by Patrick O'Donnell. Justin met Jack in person last fall at Arlington National Cemetery during the unveiling of the OSS Memorial in section two of the cemetery. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 89. Strife in Northern Ireland: The IRA and South Armagh with Toby Harnden | 27 Mar 2023 | 01:16:55 | |
Today, Justin sits down with return guest Toby Harnden. Toby served as an officer in the British Royal Navy, graduated from Oxford University, worked as a foreign news correspondent in 33 different countries, and has focused on terrorism and war throughout his career. Toby is back on the podcast to talk discuss the IRA and South Armagh. It's an examination of the troubles of Northern Ireland, focusing on just a single county i and the incredible violence, strife, and human tragedy that occurred or originated there. Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc. SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 88. World War I Terrorism on American Soil with Chad Millman | 20 Mar 2023 | 01:08:12 | |
Today Justin sits down with Chad Millman, Chief Content Officer of the Action Network and the host of the very popular sports betting podcast, The Favorites. Before founding the Action Network, Chad was the editorial director for ESPN Digital and Editor-in-Chief of ESPN Magazine. Chad also an author with seven books published. Most of Chad's work has centered around sports, but today he discusses one that tells the story of German sabotage operations inside the United States during World War I, which took place while the United States was still officially a neutral country. The story culminates in the largest terrorist attack within the United States prior to September 11th, 2001. Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. 15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 211. The Mysterious Death of Double Agent Ralph Sigler | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:32:59 | |
Today's episode is another solo episode where Justin shares his own research with you. This time he's talking about Ralph Sigler, a US Army warrant officer, and one of the best double agents in Army history who died under mysterious circumstances in a Maryland hotel room in 1976. We briefly discussed Sigler's death way back in episode 76 in December, 2022, but Justin decided this case was worth a much more in-depth exploration. Once you finish this episode, if you'd like to learn more, checkout his article about the case along with photos and the bibliography on Patreon page or Substack. Read the article on Justin's Substack page here: https://spycraft101.substack.com/p/death-of-a-double-agent Or find it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/death-of-double-137703109 Connect with Spycraft 101: Subtack: spycraft101.substack.com
Use code GBCSpycraft to save 20% on your subscription. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 87. Rescuing North Korea: The Story of Adrian Hong with Bradley Hope | 13 Mar 2023 | 01:29:06 | |
Today Justin sits down with Bradley Hope, an author and reporter who has covered topics like the The Arab Spring. He's also written several books along with his co-authors. Bradley's latest book is the story of an incredible confrontation between an activist organization and the Kim regime in North Korea, which culminated in an incident at the North Korean Embassy in Madrid, Spain in 2019. The fallout from this event was heard and seen around the world and led to enormous consequences for everyone involved, but the origins of this event began more than 16 years earlier in the spring of 2002, when an idealistic 19 year old student at Yale University named Adrian Hong first learned of the plight of the citizens of North Korea and decided to do something about it. Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc. SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 86. Hemingway and the NKVD with Dr. Frederick H. White | 06 Mar 2023 | 01:12:41 | |
Today Justin chats with Dr. Frederick H. White. Dr. White is professor of Russian and Integrated Studies at Utah Valley University. He's also a fellow of the UVU Center for National Security. He's published eight books and more than 45 academic articles on Russian literature, film, and culture. Dr. White onto the podcast has done extensive research into the life of Ernest Hemingway, one of America's most famous authors and cultural figures. But did you know he also spent time working for the KGB's precursor, the NKVD? Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 85. Answering More of Your Espionage Questions | 27 Feb 2023 | 00:42:58 | |
This week, Justin answers more listener questions from Instagram. He dives into the USS Halibut and Operation Ivy Bells and takes us to Spain to dissect Operation Mincemeat. Then, he shifts to the Pacific Theater of World War II to discuss the role Japanese Americans played in the war. To close out, Justin shares the true story behind the Netflix series The Spy. Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc. SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order. Centurion Combat Simulations Have you ever wanted to feel what it's like to operate in the shadows? Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||