The Unknown Knowns – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

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#IntelligenceAnalysis #Leadership #CriticalThinking #Psychology #DecisionMaking #Influence

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Intelligence 101-ish (Part 3): Turning Chicken into Beef

Episode 15

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 • Duration 13:44

The Intelligence Cycle has shaped intelligence analysis for decades. But what if it only tells part of the story?

In the final episode of the Intelligence 101-ish series, Dr Angela Lewis explores why intelligence is better understood as a dynamic system than a linear process. Using an unforgettable cooking disaster as a metaphor, Angela explains why following the steps is not the same as understanding how the whole system works.

This concluding episode challenges one of intelligence's most familiar models and offers a fresh way of thinking about complexity, decision-making and professional tradecraft.

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Intelligence 101-ish (Part 2): Pay Attention to the Signs

Episode 14

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 • Duration 16:48

How do intelligence professionals turn scattered information into something decision makers can actually use?

In Part 2 of the Intelligence 101-ish series, Dr Angela Lewis introduces one of the most influential frameworks in intelligence analysis: the Intelligence Cycle. From planning and collection to analysis, dissemination and feedback, Angela explains how intelligence moves from a simple question to an informed assessment. Along the way, she explores why intelligence is not about certainty or prediction but about reducing uncertainty, evaluating competing explanations and helping leaders make better decisions.

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Intelligence 101-ish (Part 1): Power Ballads Spell Trouble

Episode 14

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 • Duration 16:08

What is intelligence? Contrary to popular belief, it has very little to do with spies, secrets or James Bond.

In the first episode of a new three-part series, Dr Angela Lewis explores what intelligence actually is, why experts still debate its definition and why its real purpose is not collecting information but helping people make better decisions under conditions of uncertainty.

Drawing on everything from Michael Bay's Armageddon (1998) to corporate security and everyday leadership, Angela explains the difference between data, information, research, and intelligence. She explores why intelligence is not about predicting the future with certainty but about creating decision advantage when the future is unclear.

Whether you're an intelligence professional, a business leader or simply curious about how better decisions are made, this episode provides a practical introduction to one of the world's most misunderstood disciplines.

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When the Point Gets in the Way of the Point

Episode 14

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 18:09

What if the examples we remember most are distracting us from the lesson they were meant to teach?

In this episode of The Unknown Knowns, Dr Angela Lewis explores how people learn, why certain ideas stick and what separates genuine expertise from simple familiarity.

Starting with an unexpected piece of student feedback, Angela examines concepts such as salience, schema formation and transfer, explaining why we often struggle to recognise familiar patterns when they appear in unfamiliar settings. From Marvel films and intelligence failures to leadership challenges and everyday decision-making, she explores how the same cognitive dynamics show up across very different contexts.

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The Power of Asking Why | Lessons from the CIA with Darrell Blocker PART 2

Episode 13

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • Duration 30:55

In Part 2 of their conversation, Dr Angela Lewis is joined once again by former CIA officer Darrell Blocker to explore the habits and mindsets that underpin effective judgment. Building on their earlier discussion about intuition and expertise, Angela and Darrell examine the role of curiosity, observation and critical questioning in intelligence work and everyday decision-making. Drawing on stories from nearly three decades in the CIA, Darrell explains why the simple question "why?" remains one of the most powerful tools available to analysts, leaders and anyone seeking to understand people more deeply.

The conversation explores pattern recognition, human behaviour, non-verbal communication and the importance of developing systems that help us think more clearly under pressure. Angela and Darrell also discuss the relationship between experience and instinct, the value of self-awareness and why expertise is often the result of disciplined curiosity rather than natural talent.

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Trusting Your Instincts | Lessons from the CIA with Darrell Blocker PART 1

Episode 12

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • Duration 37:10

In this two-part series, Dr Angela Lewis is joined by Darrell Blocker, a former CIA officer with 28 years of experience in intelligence operations and leadership.

In part 1, they will explore one of the most misunderstood concepts in professional decision-making: intuition. Is it simply a gut feeling, or is it something built through years of experience, observation and training? Drawing on stories from intelligence work, Angela and Darrell discuss how professionals develop pattern recognition, why expertise often feels instinctive and how trusted mental frameworks help people make effective decisions in uncertain environments. They examine the relationship between experience and judgment, the importance of learning what "normal" looks like and why some of the best decisions happen before we can fully explain them.

This conversation offers valuable insights for anyone interested in leadership, intelligence, decision-making and the development of professional expertise.

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17% Processing Power

Episode 11

Wednesday, June 10, 2026 • Duration 19:16

In this episode of The Unknown Knowns, Dr Angela Lewis explores a deceptively simple question: why do some messages land while others fail?

Drawing on intelligence tradecraft and organisational psychology, Angela examines how audience, context, and professional culture shape the reception of information. From briefing senior executives to building credibility in new environments, she explores why effective communication is about more than transmitting information. It is about creating understanding.

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Thinking in Systems

Episode 10

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • Duration 18:48

In this episode of The Unknown Knowns, Dr Angela Lewis explores why some of the most persistent problems resist simple solutions.

Rather than focusing on individual events or decisions, Angela examines how systems shape behaviour, outcomes and risk. From organisational challenges to geopolitical crises, she explains how feedback loops, incentives and interconnected relationships can create patterns that are difficult to see when we focus only on immediate causes.

The episode explores why well-intentioned interventions can produce unexpected consequences and how adopting a systems perspective can help leaders, analysts and decision-makers better understand complexity. By stepping back from individual events and examining the broader environment, we can often identify the forces truly driving change.

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Tiny Orange Paws

Episode 9

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 • Duration 10:46

In this episode of The Unknown Knowns, Dr Angela Lewis examines how assumptions shape interpretation and why slowing down the decision-making process can often reveal what people initially miss. The episode draws on concepts to explain how analysts can structure information to improve understanding rather than simply delivering facts. Angela also explores the growing role of AI in analytical environments and why context, sequencing and understanding the consumer remain essential human skills in intelligence work.

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