Podcasts about humint

It's November of 1983, the closest the world came to nuclear war, some may argue even closer than the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Yet the Able Archer 1983 exercise incident is relatively unknown by comparison. A series of events that started with the Soviet shootdown of a Korean Air Lines plane, ended with not one but two almosts, when it came to accidental nuclear war. This included a simulated nuclear release authority request that may have been seen in Moscow as the prelude to a first strike. How these events unfolded was a result of heightened Cold War tension, antagonism, and miscommunication. Brian Morra was a US Air Force intelligence officer who had a front row seat to this, and sits down with guest host Dr. Mark Jacobson to discuss how the world came to the brink of nuclear war.  Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

Since its emergence in 2014, the Wagner Group operated as the Kremlin's shadow army, deploying mercenaries across Africa and the Middle East. It gave Vladimir Putin plausible deniability, expanding Moscow's geopolitical influence by propping up leaders through military assistance and securing Moscow's economic interests through weapons deals and access to natural resources. UN experts and human rights organizations accused the mercenaries of disappearances, torture, executions, mass graves, rape, and pillaging. Three years ago this week, its financier and leader Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a failed rebellion. He then died an untimely death, and Putin's security services moved to assert direct control of the paramilitary. This week, Sasha sits down with expert Candace Rondeaux to discuss Wagner's successor, Africa Corps, which has kept the expeditionary force in Africa and Ukraine. The author of Putin's Sledgehammer: The Wagner Group and Russia's Collapse into Mercenary Chaos, she discusses Africa Corps' struggles and conquests as it helps keep Putin's war machine churning. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

Welcome to another episode of Death Don't Do Fiction, the AIPT Movies podcast! The podcast about the enduring legacy of our favorite movies! It's June, so that means it's time for our “Junesis” series! Where we cover movies based on/revolving around video games! In this week's episode, Alex, Tim, and first time guest Gordon Jones discuss the first ever video game movie sequel, 1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation! Daddy issues! Cyber Ninjas! A hot goth baddie! Animalities! A lady with four arms kinda! Speedy sleeve removal! Goofy cybernetically-enhanced arms! Abundant flips! Evil eyebrows! Weird gyroscopic transport spheres! Surprise landmarks! Fun miniature FX! Cheesy designs and poorly executed CGI monsters! Excessive use of possibly one sandpit! Fun sets! Extra budget for campiness! An occasionally imposing villain! Awkward attempts to emulate gameplay! Shockingly few fatalities! An iconic soundtrack that does a lot of heavy lifting! Very noticeable recasting! Nearly-great fight scenes featuring stunt performances from future action movie legends Tony Jaa and The Furious director Kenji Tanigaki! All that and more in this infamous sequel that resulted in Paul W.S. Anderson holding onto the Resident Evil franchise like his life depended on it! In addition, the gang shares some spoiler-free thoughts on Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride, Backrooms, and Travis Knight's Masters of the Universe, while Alex declares his new found love for the filmography of Korean director Ryoo Seung-wan, including Humint, Veteran, I, the Executioner, The City of Violence, The Battleship Island, and Escape from Mogadishu! You can find Death Don't Do Fiction on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. As always, if you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave us a positive rating, subscribe to the show, and tell your friends! The Death Don't Do Fiction podcast brings you the latest in movie news, reviews, and more! Hosted by supposed “industry vets,” Alex Harris and Tim Gardiner, the show gives you a peek behind the scenes from two filmmakers with oddly nonexistent filmographies. You can find Alex on Twitter, Bluesky, or Letterboxd @actionharris. This episode's guest, Gordon Jones, can be found on instagram @heyitzjonesy. Tim can't be found on social media because he doesn't exist. If you have any questions or suggestions for the Death Don't Do Fiction crew, they can be reached at aiptmoviespod@gmail.com, or you can find them on Twitter or Instagram @aiptmoviespod. Theme song is “We Got it Goin On” by Cobra Man.

It's the summer of 2006, and former DEA Agent Jeffrey James Higgins is your guide to an audacious HUMINT operation against an Afghan narco-terrorist. But in a lawless part of the world, the life of a lawman is a dangerous one - and success is always tempered by tragedy. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The FBI won't discuss exactly how Chinese spy Xu Yanjun came to the attention of special agents. Xu was handling a GE Aviation engineer in Ohio who specialized in composite fan-blade technology. That engineer, David Zheng, had been approached by an official from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, on LinkedIn with a request to give a presentation. So Zheng ended up traveling from his home in Ohio to China in the summer of 2017. Zheng delivered a talk on aviation technology and met officials from China's Ministry of State Security. That meeting included Xu, who paid Zheng's travel expenses and gave him a stipend. U.S. officials found Zheng carrying thousands in cash on his way back. Over the next year, Cincinnati-based FBI Special Agent Bradley Hull was part of a team that flipped Zheng to lure Xu out of China and, ultimately, into an American prison cell. Xu was the first Chinese spy to be extradited to the United States to stand trial. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

Now that drug cartels can be labeled foreign terrorist organizations, how do you dismantle one? As part of his 26 years at the Drug Enforcement Administration, retired Special Agent Chris Feistl was on a team that brought the demise of the Cali Cartel in Colombia. One of the world's biggest crime syndicates, the cartel earned billions each year. From selling marijuana in the 1970s, to harder drugs in the decades that followed, the so-called “Godfathers of Cali” bribed judges, lawmakers, police commanders, and military officers. They used Boeing 727s to haul drugs outside of Colombia, and they even funneled millions to a candidate who won the 1994 presidential election, effectively buying the race. The details are told in Chris' book After Escobar and Season 3 of Netflix's Narcos. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

Recently retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after 24 years as a special agent, Eric Robinson worked a range of crimes including white collar, counterterrorism, crimes against children, gangs, drugs, and public corruption. He served as a SWAT operator, a firearms instructor, and a tactics instructor. Eric will soon release his first book, a collection of the humorous, surprising, and intriguing moments from his career. The memoir combines his years in law enforcement with his career prior to the Bureau. Eric joined the FBI after 12 years in Christian ministry, to include pastoring a Baptist church in Western NY. With a background as a pastor and years of experience in HUMINT, recruiting and developing informants, Eric is a gifted and easy speaker. He uses humor to disarm and a quick wit to win people over.

Shawn Johnson graduated from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, with a degree in Criminal Justice before earning his Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was immediately accepted into the FBI, trained at the FBI Academy, and assigned to the Seattle Division. There, he worked on the Green River Serial Murder investigation before joining the Violent Crimes Squad, where he investigated bank robberies, fugitives, interstate theft, extortions, and kidnappings. His legal background also led to service as Assistant Chief Division Counsel. Johnson later joined the National Security Squad, working counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations, including joint overseas investigations with the United States Army and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Returning to the Violent Crimes Squad, he played a key role in the Hollywood investigation, helped establish the Puget Sound Violent Crime Task Force, served as Bank Robbery Coordinator, and authored the Division's Bank Robbery Response Plan. After transferring to the Milwaukee Division's Madison Resident Agency, he focused on drug conspiracy investigations, employing sophisticated surveillance techniques that contributed to major takedowns of drug organizations in Chicago and Madison. Following 9/11, he managed the newly established Madison Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), overseeing federal and local efforts to investigate international terrorism. Johnson later returned to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where he instructed new agents in criminal investigations, counterterrorism investigations, and Human Intelligence (HUMINT). His final FBI assignment was with the Directorate of Intelligence, training agents in HUMINT policy and procedures. Upon retiring from the FBI, he founded Wolf & Owl LLC, where he continues to train FBI personnel in support of the Bureau's mission to protect the United States. Steven Meyers was the partner and principal accomplice of Scott Scurlock, better known as "Hollywood," the notorious bank robber responsible for a string of high-profile bank heists in the Seattle area during the 1990s. Over the course of four and a half years, Meyers worked closely with Scurlock and their crew in planning and executing 19 bank robberies that resulted in the theft of more than $2.3 million. Beyond participating in the operation, Meyers helped develop the plans, create disguises, and support the methods that allowed the crew to evade law enforcement for years. Meyers and Scurlock were deeply involved in every aspect of the enterprise, including planning operations, laundering money, and acquiring vehicles and equipment. As Scurlock's closest collaborator, Meyers gained a unique understanding of the man behind the "Hollywood" persona and the motivations that drove one of the Pacific Northwest's most infamous crime sprees. In 2023, Meyers was featured in the Netflix documentary *How to Rob a Bank*, providing firsthand insight into the robberies and the inner workings of the crew. Today, he joins retired FBI Special Agent Shawn Johnson—the lead investigator who helped solve the case—to share the untold stories behind the Hollywood robberies and offer perspectives from both sides of one of the most remarkable bank robbery investigations in modern history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone." This is the end of the announcement Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight David Eisenhower had prepared in June 1944 in case the D-Day landings failed. He never had to deliver it, but the fact that he wrote it tells you all you need to know about how precarious the success of the invasion really was. And at the center of that uncertainty was something no army could control: the weather. This is the premise of the new major motion picture Pressure, the story of the small team of meteorologists trying to predict the unpredictable. Guest host Dr. Mark Jacobson sits down with the screenwriter of Pressure, David Haig, and the film's co-writer and director, Anthony Maras, to discuss how a simple weather forecast proved to be a critical piece of intelligence. *Note: It is Joan Clarke, not Joy. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

Navigating the Shadows: Inside the Underbelly with Eric Robinson Recently retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after 24 years as a special agent, Eric Robinson worked a range of crimes including white collar, counterterrorism, crimes against children, gangs, drugs, and public corruption. He served as a SWAT operator, a firearms instructor, and a tactics instructor.  Eric will soon release his first book, a collection of the humorous, surprising, and intriguing moments from his career. The memoir combines his years in law enforcement with his career prior to the Bureau. Eric joined the FBI after 12 years in Christian ministry, to include pastoring a Baptist church in Western NY.With a background as a pastor and years of experience in HUMINT, recruiting and developing informants, Eric is a gifted and easy speaker. He uses humor to disarm and a quick wit to win people over.Links:http://www.preachertobreacher.com/https://www.instagram.com/_eric_robinson/Tagspodcast for creatives,creative podcast,podcast creator interviews,professional podcast,creative podcasts,podcast host interviews,creative podcast ideas,Books,Communication,Crime,Current Events,FBI Agent,Law Enforcement,Religion,Terrorism,Trauma Recovery,True CrimeSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page

Karen Schaefer retired from the CIA in 2019, after 26 years of service. She started out in Latin America and ended with a stint at the FBI. In between, she earned numerous intelligence awards and held key positions that spanned operational, supervisory, and policy roles. Her many job titles included Chief of Base in Iraq and Director of Intelligence Programs in the White House's National Security Council. But what was it all really like? Sasha sat down to talk about how Karen's career began, how she navigated being one of the few women in the room, and how she brought different intelligence agencies together. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit: https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.

Brothers Drew and Eric discuss the 2026 Korean action thriller spy movie "Humint." Yes yes yes yes, this film has everything… It's really good but it's "a lot." Along the way they mention Far East geography and "The Long Way…" documentary series with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.   Housekeeping starts at 1:15:00 wherein Drew discusses his upcoming trip to England and his eldest's upcoming first year of High School.   File length 1:23:47 File Size 69.7 MB   Theme by Jul Big Green via SongFinch Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts Listen to us on Stitcher Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Send your comments to show@notinacreepyway.com Visit the show website at Not In A Creepy Way  

In 1947, a new civilian intelligence agency was established: the CIA. But a series of intelligence failures undermined its credibility. The White House and Congress were up in arms, and a new mission was formed- to recruit Ivy League professors with uncanny skills. Leaving their so-called Ivory Tower, the academics brought new ways of thinking about national security to the CIA, helping the United States navigate the complexities of the Cold War. In one year, the academics' analysis revolutionized the service, cementing the CIA as one of America's finest agencies. Political scientist Peter Grace, author of The Intelligence Intellectuals, sits down with Sasha to unpack how these bright minds shaped the Agency. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.

It's 1864, and against the backdrop of the US Civil War- a war the Confederacy is losing- a group of spies and saboteurs have set up a base in Montreal, Canada. Today we would call this a sanctuary or a safe haven. Canada would become home to several infamous Confederate missions, some of which are detailed in Tim Wendel's novel Rebel Falls. While this book is fictional, it's grounded in several real-life stories. Guest host Dr. Mark Jacobson sits down with Tim Wendel as he takes us across the border into the world of Civil War espionage. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.

In 2009, Bowe Bergdahl walked away from his Army post in eastern Afghanistan, only to be abducted and held hostage until 2014. He was captured by the Taliban and then handed to the Haqqani network, an aligned terrorist group. US officials said they kept Bergdahl locked in a metal cage in total darkness after he tried to escape. By 2012, the US government was turning to Tony Shaffer for help. The retired military intelligence officer had directed several special mission task forces that conducted black operations. Now, Tony was asked to create a track-two, non-official scheme to help secure Bergdahl's release. This was a ploy that pulled in Congress, backchannels in Pakistani intelligence, and British and American media outlets. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

The Boys are back with a truckload of movies to talk about! Joined by writer, friend, and guest of the show Pete Volk, they talk the new with THE SIN TRADE, THE BUTCHER'S BLADE, and HUMINT, as well as the old with the likes of THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, THE CORRUPTOR, and BULLITT! All that, plus movie soundtracks, Steven Seagal, and more await in a new A4E!Also, please check out friend of the show Matthew Essary's gofundme here, to help him on his road to recovery to secure funds for much needed medicine. Find Us on these Platforms:Guest- Pete Volk: Bluesky/Letterboxd/PV GuideThe Boys-Action For Everyone: Twitter/BlueSky/Twitch/InstagramMichael Scott: BlueSkyVyceVictus: Twitter/BlueSky/Instagram/LetterboxdLiam O'Donnell: Twitter/InstagramMax Deering: Twitter/Bluesky/Letterboxd/Polygon/Neonsplatter/Fangoria/DiscussingFilm, Muckrack

One of the more notorious German spies of the 20th century, Lothar Witzke lived a life of intrigue: from escaping the death penalty in the First World War to joining the Nazi party in the Second. It's a story that Robert Hornick and Paul Friedland stumbled on by chance. With help from Witzke's grandchildren and by digging through archives, these lawyers pieced together Witzke's story, sifting fact from fiction and figuring out what made this infamous figure tick. Citizen of the Shadows: The Lives and Lies of Lothar Witzke is out now. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

We just finished Humint on Netflix, and while we've talked about the length before, we have to give credit where it's due: this story is awesome. In this Flix and Giggles breakdown, Basil and Keo explore the "really dark" heart of this espionage thriller.We're discussing how the film prioritizes psychological stakes over physical ones, and why the narrative was strong enough to keep us hooked for the full two hours, even if we still think a 90-minute cut would have been lethal. From the interesting world-building to the bleakness of the final act, we're explaining why Humint is a must watch for fans of gritty storytelling.

A high-level intelligence and national security podcast analyzing the full lifecycle of spy networks, including recruitment, covert operations, counterintelligence, double agents, and systemic collapse. This episode explores CIA and FBI case studies, HUMINT tradecraft, information warfare, and modern digital espionage, revealing how intelligence systems are built, compromised, and rebuilt. Ideal for listeners interested in espionage strategy, global security, covert operations, psychological manipulation, and advanced intelligence analysis.

It's a story that journalist and veteran Stephen Harding uncovered: a secret component of the FBI's “European Operation,” whereby agents traveled abroad working undercover to track down American citizens who had betrayed their country during World War II. These traitors ran the gamut, from spreading propaganda for the Fascists and the Third Reich, to starting Nazi spy rings. What became of them is just as varied. Stephen pieced together the mission and targets by interviewing the relatives of FBI agents, sifting through British archives, and making Freedom of Information Act requests. It's all documented in his new book, G.I. G-Men.   Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

Confusion and controversy are growing around the intelligence community's handling of Havana Syndrome. This is what the government refers to as Anomalous Health Incidents, or AHIs. The mysterious health condition has left a group of American spies, diplomats, and service members with serious brain injuries. Many believe Russia's hand is at play. But an intelligence community assessment from 2023 said most agencies concluded it is “very unlikely” a foreign adversary was behind the affliction. It hasn't changed its stance despite new details coming to light. As Sasha first reported, the US government bought and has been testing a weapon that some scientists believe is likely the cause of these brain injuries. Sasha reached out to the CIA, which declined to comment then and declines to comment now. Accusations of a cover-up have been mounting, from inside the House Intelligence Committee to journalists covering AHI. Reporter Michael Weiss is part of a team that uncovered new information. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.

Get to know John Chronological Experiences - John grew up in Ogden, Utah.  He was the oldest of six brothers and one sister.  After serving a church mission in the Canary Islands in Spain, John went to basic combat soldier training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. He then proceeded to Ft. Sam Houston, TX to be trained as a combat medic and a surgical technician and was the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his class.  He served with the Utah 144th Combat Support Hospital.  John went to Weber State University and earned a B.A. degree in psychology. During college, John worked part time on campus for the Services for Students with Disabilities, reading college text books for blind students. John stayed busy by also participating with the folk dance team, the institute chorale, a fraternity, the LDSSA committee, and the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) where he finished as Honor Graduate, class of 1997. Following a successful Army ROTC Advanced Camp and ranking in the top 5% of the nation, John was commissioned as an Army Intelligence Officer.  After receiving his Top Secret Security Clearance and finishing his Tactical Intelligence Officer training in Ft. Huachuca, AZ, he was stationed at Ft. Gordon, GA with the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade. Here he served as a Company Executive Officer, Battalion Maintenance Officer, and Headquarter Company Executive Officer.  John was deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1999 for Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTFSWA).  He worked directly with the commander, Major General Schmidt, during Operation Desert Fox.  He worked in the Joint Air Operations Center during real-time flight operations over Iraq and briefed the commander during these missions when Saddam Hussein was still in power.  John was also responsible for theater-wide combat search and rescue (CSAR) operations.  John was the liaison to the Saudi Arabian government officials as well as the French and British military officials who were part of the coalition.  He produced and disseminated the releasable multinational force intelligence information for these partners.   After several years of active duty, John again joined the Utah Army National Guard and his unit was activated to pull security at the Olympic Village for the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics and Paralympics following the 911 attack.  He worked directly with the Presidential Secret Service as well as the directors of intelligence and foreign dignitaries for various security functions. In 2002, John was deployed to war-ravaged Bosnia and Herzegovina as Operations Officer for Security Force 12. He led a counter intelligence team and nine human intelligence teams, consisting of Army Rangers, HUMINT collectors, and local interpreters.  His teams produced intelligence information that was used by President Bush and Dick Cheney as justification for the second war in Iraq (declassified by Dick Cheney).  John loved serving his country, but frequent absences were hard for a family with young children.  So after a 10 year military career, he separated and finished his master's degree in business marketing. John spent several years working in various business ventures and industries including the National Federation of Independent Business. This is a small business lobbying group where he met with hundreds of business owners to understand their challenges with taxes, burdensome regulations, workers' compensation costs, and government overreach. Most recently, John has worked for major pharmaceutical and medical companies like Novo Nordisk and Myriad Genetics in pharmacogenomics testing.  He has received many national awards and recognitions for his leadership and performance.    During these decades, John enjoyed serving in his faith in various capacities and particularly as a scout master and ecclesiastical leader for his church.  This time working with the youth has been some of his favorite years.  Feeling the need to serve in all aspects of his life, he has also served for the past 20 years as a state delegate, county delegate, and precinct chair for Precinct SY11 in the Republican Party. Family - John is most grateful for his wife, Carrie. They have been married for 30 years and have six children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter.  He is honored that his three eldest children currently serve their country in the Army.  John has always tried to instill the value and blessings of serving in all capacities and for these reasons, he has felt the need to give more during a very turbulent time in our country. Faith - Above all, John considers himself a disciple of Jesus Christ.  This is fundamental to everything he does.  His faith, his family, and his freedoms are his greatest fundamental priorities.                   Hobbies & Fun Facts - John loves reading, writing, and studying. He is fascinated with eschatology and scripture, including Apocryphal texts. He loves to see how current world events align with scripture and sees prophecy being fulfilled in our day. He enjoys history and science and loves a good documentary. John loves playing basketball, softball, football, tennis, and soccer. He enjoys snow skiing, kayaking, cliff diving, and sky diving. He loves an ice plunge in a cold mountain lake. He still loves to do backflips on skis in his 50s, to the dismay of his wife. He loves hiking, canyoneering, camping, backpacking, fishing, gardening, and landscaping. He once made news on Disappointment Peak Grand Teton after a half ton boulder dislodged and landed on him breaking both his legs, among other injuries, but was miraculously saved. Rescuers needed a 300 foot rope and a helicopter to hoist him off the mountain. Working with youth has always been a priority for John and he especially enjoyed being a Scoutmaster. He is an Eagle Scout and helped many youth earn theirs. John saved two lives using the Heimlich Maneuver that he learned in scouts. He also loves coaching youth in soccer, basketball, and tennis. John enjoys a good workout and does marathons, triathlons, and Spartan obstacle course races. He once placed 51st out of 3999 contestants and 2nd in the 45-50 age category in a Spartan Super Race. He plays the piano and percussion/drums and has taught drum lessons. He has played in bands and once performed a drum set solo at the Venetian in Las Vegas for over a thousand people. He loves writing and composing music on the Clavinova and has composed several soft-pop songs. John loves to dance and will be seen on the dance floor at every work social or wedding reception. He loves to sing and do karaoke. John has worked many interesting jobs with his entrepreneurial spirit including the following: selling golf balls as a kid, washing dishes and prep cooking at Carol's Kitchen restaurant, building a house from foundation to finish work in high school construction, and peeling logs by hand. He worked for Mr. Mac, Matrix Marketing, Office Max, RGIS Inventory Specialists, Bell Janitorial sales, NFIB political lobby consulting, Buckeye International chemical sales management, and K-Designer remodeling. He once worked as a paid Girl Scouts instructor for high-risk girls in downtown Ogden. He was an EMT and a surgical tech and has assisted in a wide variety of surgeries. At WSU Disability Services, he assisted blind students. He is up for any challenge including wearing the Deranged Easter Bunny outfit for a company presentation in front of 500+ peers as well as wearing the same said outfit to a job interview at Kneader's restaurant. John is known for being fearless and is always up for a good adventure. He is known for his work ethic and is always willing to volunteer. John believes we should enjoy all the ups and downs in life, that pain is gain, and that integrity and service are paramount attributes to develop.https://www.johntaylor4utah.com/about

He may dress like he's on a vacation in Hawaii, but Palmer Luckey has been busy designing weapons for the Pentagon. He founded California-based defense technology firm, Anduril, in 2017, named after a sword from the Lord of the Rings and, according to Palmer, is 20% veteran owned. He is promising a marked shift: faster, cheaper, and more agile systems to fight the wars of today and tomorrow. This comes after Palmer designed the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset, at age 19, revolutionizing the world of virtual reality. Palmer sat down to talk with Sasha about how Anduril's work also supports the US intelligence community, an essential part of mission readiness.  *Note: ISR refers to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

We're kicking off with the latest pulse-pounding thriller from South Korean action maestro Ryoo Seung-wan. Streaming now on Netflix, Humint takes us to Vladivostok, where a South Korean agent (Zo In-sung) and a North Korean official (Park Jeong-min) find themselves in a deadly game of "human intelligence" gone wrong.Fun Flix Fact: This film completes director Ryoo's "Overseas Location" trilogy, following The Berlin File and Escape from Mogadishu. If you love the kinetic "gun-fu" of John Woo, you'll notice several stylistic nods—Ryoo has described this film as his ultimate homage to the Hong Kong action legend!Production Trivia: To get that authentic, gritty feel of the North Korea-Russia border, the production spent months filming in extreme cold. The cast reportedly had to use special heated suits under their costumes to keep their muscles from seizing up during those breathless hand-to-hand fight scenes.To celebrate a decade of South Korean cinematic excellence, we're revisiting the 2016 masterpiece The Wailing. It's the film that took the "possession" genre, mixed it with police procedural and folk horror, and left us all staring at the screen in stunned silence.The Ritual: The intense, bone-shaking shaman ritual scene took four days to film. Actor Hwang Jung-min performed the sequence with such intensity that many of the extras—and even some of the crew—felt physically unsettled, wondering if they were accidentally summoning something real!For this week's Hidden Gem, we're recommending the gnarly "family horror" flick Dust Bunny. It marks the feature directorial debut of Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and stars the incomparable Mads Mikkelsen as a hitman who is hired by an eight-year-old girl to kill the monster under her bed.Fun Flix Fact: This is a mini Hannibal reunion! Fuller wrote the role of the hitman specifically for Mads Mikkelsen. When Mads read the script, his only note was that his co-star, Sophie Sloan, was so good he wanted her to keep her thick Scottish accent—but she ended up teaching herself a perfect American accent via TikTok in just two weeks!Visual Magic: The film was heavily inspired by the "Amblin" era of the 80s (The Goonies, Gremlins). To capture that "scary-but-enchanted" look, the production team used practical puppets for the "Dust Bunny" monster, ensuring that when it rises from the floorboards, it has a terrifying, tangible weight.And if that's not enough entertainment for you, we've even thrown in new trailers to watch and what you can catch on streaming. Press play for the friendliest film discussions this side of Hollywood! It's all the movies you love, the facts you need, and the banter you crave.Don't miss a single review! Hit that Subscribe button, tell a friend, and join The Flixters family!00:00 Intro 2:58 Shoutouts5:27 Movie News14:05 New on Streaming16:56 New Trailers26:14 Anniversary Corner29:29 Humint Review38:23 Hidden Gem (Dust Bunny)44:23 OutroThis episode is proudly sponsored by Zencastr. Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Aidan Larkin speaks with Tara Kavanaugh, a federal investigator with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and liaison to the FBI's dark‑web opioid task force. Tara draws on a career spanning HUMINT work in the Middle East, signals intelligence at the NSA and crypto‑enabled investigations at USPIS to explain how modern crime moves across the mail system, the dark web, and digital‑asset ecosystems. She outlines the realities of mail‑based fraud, fentanyl supply chains, dark‑web vendor activity, and the growing “scamdemic,” while highlighting how postal data and blockchain analytics help identify offenders. They also discuss inter‑agency collaboration, investigative tooling and why asset recovery remains central to disrupting harm.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Early Career & Intelligence Background04:40 – USPIS Crypto Investigations06:45 – FBI Liaison Role & Dark‑Web Opioid Task Force12:50 – Using Postal Intelligence to Strengthen Federal Cases15:30 – Blockchain Tracing Patterns, Playbooks & Criminal Methods21:45 – Agency Readiness, SOPs & Evolving Crypto Capabilities25:45 – Crypto ATMs, Victim Risks & the Growing “Scamdemic”32:40 - The Modern Investigator's Toolkit & Global Collaboration

Half-truths. Lies. Distrust. And spying. These were part and parcel of the tenuous relationship between Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin - the “Big Three” who were eventually brought together by their opposition to Adolf Hitler during World War II. From London, British historian Tim Bouverie lays out the complicated dynamics of this coalition. His new book, Allies at War: How the Struggles Between the Allied Powers Shaped the War and the World, is out now.  Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

Jonna Mendez knows how to blend in and when to stand out. Starting out as a secretary at the CIA, she left as its Chief of Disguise. Her career took her into denied areas, where her special abilities assisted in a variety of high stakes operations - collecting on the adversary, recruiting and exfiltrating agents, and staying on the cutting edge of technology. She sits down with Sasha to discuss stories, many of which she has never shared before. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

In this episode of Coffee Talk with Bryan and Marie, we sit down with Army Veteran Stephen Page whose path spans military intelligence, elite martial arts competition, and small‑business leadership. Born and raised in Preston, Idaho, he served on Active Duty in the U.S. Army from 2008–2012 as a 35M (HUMINT), deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After transitioning out of the military, he helped run a small business while competing in martial arts at the highest levels — earning titles at U.S. Nationals and the Pan‑Ams in Olympic Taekwondo, along with a Brown Belt in Judo and a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu.Today, he owns and operates Venom Tactical Techniques, Training & Consulting (VT3C), providing emergency management, preparedness, security, tactical, and first‑aid training for communities and organizations. Join Bryan and Marie for a grounded, high‑energy conversation about service, discipline, entrepreneurship, and building skills that save lives.

In the 1960s, the CIA lost a plutonium-fueled generator on top of a mountain in India. The generator was supposed to power an unmanned listening station, intended to pick up signals from China's missile tests. But when mountaineers ascended the near 26,000-ft Nanda Devi – under the guise of studying the environment – weather got in their way. They left the nuclear device behind and months later, when they returned, it was gone. New York Times reporter Jeffrey Gettleman reconstructed this event with a team of journalists. The story took about seven years, thousands of miles, and earning the trust of many men who had grown old and have since passed away. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

Human intelligence is a complex, multi-faceted capability—reasoning, learning, problem-solving, and abstract thought—marked by profound self-awareness and adaptability. Orchestrated by the brain's frontoparietal network, it integrates perception, memory, and language to navigate real-world environments. And unlike artificial intelligence, it's distinguished by emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, and real-time, autonomous, general-purpose cognition.Few people personify these qualities more vividly than our guest, Don Weber—a global communication strategist, human intelligence (HUMINT) expert, and executive coach whose life tells a story of survival, reinvention, and mastery. For over 15 years, Don worked in international intelligence operations across 90+ countries, operating under multiple identities and navigating environments where one wrong move could have cost him his life. During his years as a U.S. government field operative under the George Bush administration, he gathered intelligence across South America, Africa, and Europe—working with organized crime figures, foreign agents, and volatile political networks. One of his covers placed him inside Antwerp's diamond trade circles and other uniquely challenging arenas, where he learned to build rapport across diverse groups others could not. After leaving intelligence work, he dedicated his life to helping others communicate authentically and lead with awareness.Over the past decade, he has become one of Europe's most respected executive communication coaches, training royalty, EU diplomats, ambassadors, senior politicians, and Fortune 500 executives across major European capitals. Trained in martial arts for real-life situations, Don learned techniques to disable or neutralize threats when necessary. He combines that practical training with lifelong meditation practice, blending the discipline of combat with the stillness of mindfulness to create a grounded, authentic approach to leadership and communication.CONTACT DETAILS: Business: Don Weber CoachingWebsite: https://drwebercoaching.thinkific.com/ https://drwebercoaching.com/ Social Media Address LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-weber YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/drwebercoaching Remember to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss "Information That You Can Use." Share Just Minding My Business with your family, friends, and colleagues. Engage with us by leaving a review or comment on my Google Business Page. https://g.page/r/CVKSq-IsFaY9EBM/review Your support keeps this podcast going and growing.Visit Just Minding My Business Media™ LLC at https://jmmbmediallc.com/ to learn how we can help you get more visibility on your products and services. 

When you're sitting alone, and you want company or advice, have you ever turned to Artificial Intelligence? Chip Usher, who spent 32 years in the CIA, has been looking at AI companions. The tech companies behind them claim they offer comfort and reliability. Chip says they mostly come from China, and eventually they will be used to collect personal data on users, building a roadmap for recruiting and influence. Chip has conducted research on the threat through his role as the Senior Director for Intelligence at a nonprofit called the Special Competitive Studies Project.  Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.

Today on Joe Oltmann Untamed, we're unraveling the escalating war with Iran, Operation Epic Fury is live, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Trump's strikes have taken out key nuclear targets, but Iran hit back hard, killing four U.S. service members and wounding dozens more in attacks on bases in Kuwait and beyond. We're unpacking the real-time chaos: Saudi Aramco reportedly hit by kamikaze drones, the Strait of Hormuz closed, U.S. carrier Abraham Lincoln taking missile fire, and allies like Spain and the UK refusing to let us use their bases for offensive ops. This isn't a skirmish, it's a full-on conflict with massive energy and global fallout.I'm sitting down with Sergeant Nic Phelps, a medically retired USAF veteran who flew MQ-1 Predators, ran interrogations in Iraq, helped rewrite the Army's field manual, and worked closely with General Petraeus. Nic brings razor-sharp insight from the front lines of drone ops and HUMINT to break down Iran's proxy playbook, drone swarm threats, gaps in our ISR, and what happens if we keep hammering IRGC and nuclear sites. We're asking the tough questions: Are we exploiting captured operatives enough? Are we too kinetic and not enough on financial/logistical disruption? And how do we honor the fallen without spiraling into a wider war?This episode is a gut-punch reality check. Four American heroes lost this week, Iran refusing to back down, and the world watching to see if we have the resolve to finish what we started. From battlefield tactics to the human cost, we're laying it all out with no filter. Tune in for the unvarnished truth from a combat vet who's been there because this fight is here, it's now, and it's not over. You won't want to miss it.

Children grew up reading Roald Dahl's tales of giant peaches and chocolate factories. Adults know about the controversy surrounding the antisemitic statements he made in his later years. But before becoming one of the most successful children's authors of all time, Dahl worked for MI6, seducing Washington socialites and cozying up to the First Family. He did this to gather intelligence and exert influence for Winston Churchill in the early days of World War II. Writer Aaron Tracy delves into Dahl's complicated life in his new podcast, The Secret World of Roald Dahl, and sat down with Sasha to discuss Dahl's forays into espionage. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.

Katrina Leung, code name Parlor Maid, received nearly two million dollars from the FBI for being their top China informant. But little did the Bureau know… she was a double agent, collecting intelligence for China's Ministry of State Security. Not only that, she was also sleeping with her FBI handler, James J. Smith (J.J.). For nearly two decades, J.J. covered up reports that raised red flags about her. That's where retired FBI agent Steven Conley comes in. He worked for J.J. in the LA field office and then became Katrina's new handler, and soon realized she wasn't exactly providing useful information. Ultimately, he helped extract two painful confessions in a case that damaged the FBI's reputation for years.  Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

What if the person making your work life miserable isn't just difficult—but following a predictable pattern you were never taught to recognize? In this eye-opening episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O'Sullivan sits down with Lena Sisco—former military interrogator at Guantanamo Bay and expert in dark psychology—whose unflinching take on toxic workplaces will make you see that impossible boss in a completely different light.  Lena shares how she went from aspiring archaeologist to interrogating terror suspects, why her narcissistic boss threw a laptop across a C-suite meeting then got her fired while the company protected him, and why her neighbor's daughter stayed trapped in an abusive marriage for 10 years over an incident involving crackers. With striking honesty, she explains why she lived with anger for a year over that firing, why taking up physical space literally drops your stress hormones, and why kindness became her secret weapon in the interrogation room.  Together, Cathleen and Lena explore what manipulation actually looks like in daily interactions, why you cannot change someone with a personality disorder no matter how reasonable you are, and the hard truth about when systems protect bad behavior. This conversation is for anyone dealing with a boss who never gets held accountable, stuck doubting yourself in a toxic relationship, or ready to stop giving manipulative people free rent in your head—because sometimes the most powerful move isn't proving you can handle it, it's recognizing the pattern and walking away.   Episode Timeline: 00:08:10 Why she wrote The 13 Power Moves of Dark Psychology  00:14:04 What dark psychology actually is  00:22:14 The abuse cycle: fear, love bombing, and guilt trips  00:28:01 Her narcissistic boss threw a laptop in a C-suite meeting  00:32:38 Why she got fired for holding him accountable  00:40:55 Teaching empathy to a Marine Corps colonel  00:57:24 The physical shift that drops cortisol instantly  01:05:53 The SBIR feedback tool for accountability  01:12:42 Her first day at Guantanamo Bay  01:23:15 Why kindness became her interrogation superpower  01:33:50 Three accurate tells that someone is lying to you    Key Takeaway: You Can't Change a Narcissist—You Can Only Change How You Show Up: Personality disorders are in someone's DNA and neural pathways. No amount of reasoning, fairness, or empathy will change them. The only thing you control is whether you stay in that dynamic or protect yourself by setting boundaries and walking away.  Kindness Isn't Weakness—It's the Most Powerful Tool You Have: Lena's interrogation breakthrough came from taking off a detainee's handcuffs and offering tea, not from yelling or intimidation. Being kind to someone who's lying or manipulating you takes the strongest willpower—and it actually works because it disarms them while keeping you in control of the conversation.  Taking Up Physical Space Literally Drops Your Stress Hormones: When you uncross your arms, plant your feet, lift your chin, and open your palms, your cortisol drops and your confidence rises. Before any difficult conversation, reset your body first—because when you feel small physically, your whole demeanor gets smaller. Move your body, move your mind.  If Someone Can't Answer a Simple Yes or No Question, They're Probably Lying: Truthful people have no problem with direct answers. Liars dodge, embellish, and avoid committing because they can't take accountability. Watch for shoulder shrugs on definitive statements, head shakes that don't match their words, and rambling non-answers—these are the most accurate tells that someone isn't being honest with you.   About Lena Sisco: Lena Sisco is a communication and human behavior expert working with leaders and organizations navigating high-stakes conversations and complex decision-making. A former Department of Defense–certified military interrogator and Naval Human Intelligence Officer, Lena served during the Global War on Terror, conducting hundreds of interrogations that shaped her expertise in rapport-building, elicitation, and truth-seeking under pressure. She later founded The Congruency Group and Sector Intelligence, translating elite HUMINT tradecraft into practical tools for leadership, negotiation, and influence. Lena brings hard-won experience in reading behavior, managing uncertainty, and leading with clarity when the stakes are high. Today, she works with professionals who want to communicate with confidence and authority in moments that matter most.   Connect with Lena Sisco: Website: https://www.lenasisco.com/  Website: https://www.thecongruencygroup.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-sisco-8a31b451  Book: https://www.lenasisco.com/books  TruthScan AI: https://www.thecongruencygroup.com/truthscanai    Connect with Cathleen O'Sullivan:  Business: https://cathleenosullivan.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-osullivan/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LegendaryLeaderswithCathleenOS     FOLLOW LEGENDARY LEADERS ON APPLE, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS.

Before Delta Force captured Nicolás Maduro, Bryan Stern went on a secret mission in Venezuela. The veteran and Purple Heart recipient was there to extract opposition leader María Corina Machado, who had been living in hiding for her own safety. Bryan was trying to get María to Oslo to accept her Nobel Peace Prize. This daring operation – named Operation Golden Dynamite after Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite – involved land, sea, and air. This is just one of many high-stakes evacuations Bryan has conducted through his nonprofit organization, Grey Bull Rescue. Sasha and Bryan sat down to discuss the operation, just a few days after he returned from Venezuela. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit: https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.

A 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Argentina opened the world's eyes to Hezbollah's presence in Latin America. But the Iranian proxy, a US-designated terrorist group, has operated in the region since the 1980s. This started in the Tri-Border Area of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, earning the nickname "the United Nations of crime." The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has said Hezbollah's revenues in Central and South America fund its External Security Organization, which plans their terrorist plots overseas. Wes Tabor, a former DEA agent, knows all about it. He was part of a landmark case that exposed their ties to drug cartels and financial institutions. Wes takes us into the present, describing how the US's removal of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela impacts Hezbollah's presence in the Western Hemisphere. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, former Marine counterintelligence operator and Paralympic silver medalist Dennis Connors joins Marcus to discuss the true meaning of perseverance beyond grit. Dennis shares insights from his time in special operations, his journey through PTSD and stroke recovery, and how vulnerability, discipline, and community create sustainable high performance in leadership and life. Episode Highlights [2:31] The Intelligence Behind Special Operations - Dennis explains his role in human intelligence collection for special operations and why keeping servicemen safe was the number one priority—not just gathering information. [26:30] The Four Pillars of Perseverance - Dennis breaks down why grit alone isn't enough for long-term success and introduces his framework: vulnerability, self-love, disciplined action, and community. [46:00] Leading Leaders: The Transition from Operator to Mentor - A powerful discussion on what it means to lead leaders, the importance of empowering your team, and why asking for help is one of the most powerful leadership tools. [57:54] The Road to LA 2028 - Dennis shares his goal to win Paralympic gold at the 2028 LA Games and the challenges Paralympic athletes face in funding their Olympic dreams while maintaining careers. Dennis Connors is a Paralympic silver medalist, two-time para cycling world champion, and former Marine counterintelligence operator who served with special operations forces. After suffering strokes that left him paralyzed, Dennis rebuilt his life through adaptive sport and now works as a keynote speaker and leadership coach. He's a TEDx speaker whose talk on redefining perseverance challenges the traditional "grit mentality" and offers a more sustainable framework for overcoming adversity. Dennis helps military, corporate, and athletic organizations translate high-performance lessons into practical leadership insights. Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who later embedded with the CIA, Wes Tabor worked to dismantle criminal networks in Central and South America - think gangs like MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, and Tren de Aragua. In 2006, he was stationed in Guatemala, a transit corridor for South American cocaine to enter the US. It was during this time that he created a gang intelligence system to help identify gang members, using biodata and records from regional prisons and police departments. As confirmed by two retired DEA agents, the FBI then took the database and made it their own. This is how it happened. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

This January marks the anniversary of the conclusion of Operation Just Cause, which began days before Christmas, on December 20th, 1989, when about 27,000 US troops deployed to Panama. Their mission was to capture Panama's notorious dictator, General Manuel Noriega, whom the US had indicted for drug trafficking. Noriega had also been suppressing unarmed demonstrators, gathering intelligence on the local population, and harassing Americans- wielding weapons from the Soviet bloc. International Spy Museum Executive Director Chris Costa was an intelligence officer on the ground during the invasion, and he takes us from the first mortar to the moment when Noriega surrendered to US forces. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org,  This show is brought to you by Goat Rodeo, N2K Networks, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. 

When The Night Manager aired in 2016, it was an instant success. Based on the 1993 John le Carré novel of the same name, the series centered on former British soldier Jonathan Pine. In the show, Pine is recruited by MI6 to infiltrate the secret network of a notorious arms dealer. Ten years later, the series returns, despite the fact le Carré never wrote a sequel before he died. Georgi Banks-Davies, the director of this second season, gives us a behind the scenes look at how the series charts new territory for Pine in the world of espionage.  Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org,  This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For SpyCast's 20th year, we're kicking off the season with Brian Carbaugh. After serving in the CIA for over two decades, he retired as Director of the Special Activities Center- the Agency's arm for covert action, where some of the boldest and most dangerous work happens with authorization from the president. This is a world few know about firsthand, and even fewer can discuss. Brian sits down with Sasha to give an inside look at the job, which he held from 2017 to 2021-pivotal years in the United States and around the world. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, N2K Networks, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From August to December 2016, then Marine Special Operations Officer Ivan Ingraham lived on an assault ship off the coast of Sirte, a city in northern Libya that lies between Tripoli and Benghazi. It was the hometown of Muammar Gaddafi, who invested in Sirte before dying there during Libya's first civil war. In the midst of a second civil war, ISIS had filled a power vacuum and overrun the city, sending its civilians fleeing. At the request of Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord, the United States provided support. Ivan led a five-man special operations team attached to a Marine Expeditionary Unit to help push ISIS out. The mission was known as Operation Odyssey Lightning. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the CIA headquarters in Langley, you will find Kryptos, a large curved copper panel that holds the letters to four encrypted messages. The first three messages- K1, K2, and K3- were solved in the nineties, but K4 continued to mystify cryptographers for decades. That is until Jim Sanborn, the artist who created Kryptos, decided to auction off the plain text and the coding charts that can crack the very code to K4. This week, guest host Flora Warshaw sits down to talk with Bobby Livingston, the auctioneer who recently sold Jim Sanborn's private Kryptos archive for a staggering amount. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit:  https://www.spymuseum.org/x And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org,  This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bob Wallace was appointed Deputy Director of the CIA's Office of Technical Service in 1995 and became its director three years later. In other words, he was the CIA's “Q.” The storied office dealt in microdots and secret writing, creating innovations that spanned concealments, forged documents, surveillance equipment, covert communications, and special weapons. In this interview, Sasha and Bob sit down to discuss the tactics and innovations he has never shared before, ranging from the low-tech to the Internet Age, to the devices and techniques used in the Global War on Terrorism. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org,  This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The CIA's book club, known by the codename QRHELPFUL, was a secret 35-year program born of the fear that communism would dominate the globe. About 10 million books were smuggled into the Soviet Union during the Cold War, transported by trucks and yachts, in tins and luggage, and even dropped from balloons. The agency believed that the literature could win hearts and minds, turning citizens of the Soviet Bloc into dissidents. It's all documented in author Charlie English's new book, The CIA Book Club, the first narrative account of this program. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org,  This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, California-based engineer Chi Mak quietly stole secrets on war-fighting technologies. He and his family members shared the intelligence with spies in China, giving Beijing astounding insights they hadn't earned. Former FBI Special Agent James Gaylord takes us back to the elaborate investigation in 2004. Evidence gathered by his squad, call sign “SARA-4,” broke a string of FBI failures in the courtroom. Chi went to prison, but new problems arose. Jim's account is documented in his book, Chasing Chi. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org,  This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chase Hughes is a leading expert in human behavior analysis, influence, and persuasion, with over 20 years of experience as a U.S. Navy veteran. He developed groundbreaking programs like the "Behavior Pilot Program" for HUMINT, "CuePrime" for interrogation behavior analysis, and the "Pre-Violence Indicators Index" for detecting pre-attack behaviors. Author of the bestselling "The Ellipsis Manual: Analysis and Engineering of Human Behavior," Hughes consults for law enforcement, the military, Fortune 500 executives, and more. As a member of "The Behavior Panel" on YouTube, he educates on body language and deception detection. Internationally board-certified in clinical hypnotherapy, he advocates for ethical use of behavioral science in leadership, security, and personal development, drawing from his military background to create life-saving systems like "The Hostile Hospital" and "Tactical Psychology." Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Buy PSYOP Now - ⁠https://psyopshow.com⁠ Preorder Now - ⁠https://callofduty.com⁠ ⁠https://americanfinancing.net/srs⁠ NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-781-8900, for details about credit costs and terms. ⁠https://tryarmra.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://aura.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://betterhelp.com/srs⁠ This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. ⁠https://bunkr.life⁠ – USE CODE SRS Go to https://bunkr.life/SRS and use code “SRS” to get 25% off your family plan. ⁠https://shawnlikesgold.com⁠ ⁠https://hillsdale.edu/srs⁠ ⁠https://ketone.com/srs⁠ Visit https://ketone.com/srs for 30% OFF your subscription order. ⁠https://mypatriotsupply.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://patriotmobile.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://prizepicks.onelink.me/lmeo/srs⁠ ⁠https://ROKA.com⁠ – USE CODE SRS ⁠https://tractorsupply.com/hometownheroes⁠ ⁠https://ziprecruiter.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://gemini.com/srs⁠ Sign up for the Gemini Credit Card: https://Gemini.com/SRS #GeminiCreditCard #CryptoRewards #Advertisement This episode is sponsored by Gemini. All opinions expressed by the content creator are their own and not influenced or endorsed by Gemini. The Bitcoin Credit Card™ is a trademark of Gemini used in connection with the Gemini Credit Card®, which is issued by WebBank. For more information regarding fees, interest, and other cost information, see Rates and Fees: gemini.com/legal/cardholder-agreement Some exclusions apply to instant rewards; these are deposited when the transaction posts. 4% back is available on up to $300 in spend per month for a year (then 1% on all other Gas, EV charging, and transit purchases that month). Spend cycle will refresh on the 1st of each calendar month. See Rewards Program Terms for details: gemini.com/legal/credit-card-rewards-agreement Checking if you're eligible will not impact your credit score. If you're eligible and choose to proceed, a hard credit inquiry will be conducted that can impact your credit score. Eligibility does not guarantee approval. The appreciation of cardholder rewards reflects a subset of Gemini Cardholders from 10/08/2021 to 04/06/2025 who held Bitcoin rewards for at least one year. Individual results will vary based on spending, selected crypto, and market performance. Cryptocurrency is highly volatile and may result in gains or losses. This information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Consult with your tax or financial professional before investing. Chase Hughes Links: Website - https://chasehughes.com YT - https://www.youtube.com/@chasehughesofficial IG - https://www.instagram.com/chasehughesofficial FB - https://www.facebook.com/chasehughesofficial The Behavior Panel - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBehaviorPanel Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Chase-Hughes/author/B06VW1H89K Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices