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Iron Butterfly — Government
Iron Butterfly

Stories from the most powerful women you’ve never heard of.
Eighty years ago, Eloise Page joined the OSS, trailblazing a path for what ultimately became the United States Intelligence Community. She rose the ranks from secretary to case officer, defying the norms of her time, and eventually became the first female Chief of Station at CIA. Along the way, Eloise earned the code name “Iron Butterfly.”
These are the women who have shaped our world, and whose influence continues to ripple through time, space, and generations.

Copyright: © Iron Butterfly Media

Latest Episodes:

Kristin Wood: The Conductor Jun 07, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are thrilled to share the incredible story of Kristin Wood. Kristin brings with her 20 years of career experience from CIA, with service in the analysis, operations, and digital innovation directorates as she pursued transforming and building new capabilities within the agency. She was a President’s Daily Brief briefer for Vice President Cheney and his National Security Advisor, in addition to building and leading CIA’s Advanced Analyst Program, served as the Deputy Chief of a Middle East-focused operations division. She concluded her government service as the Deputy Director of the Innovation and Technology Group at the Open Source Center.

Kristin is now the CEO and President of The Grist Mill Exchange, which is a platform that allows commercial data providers and government customers to connect seamlessly to acquire data and information for the use within Federal government. We are so excited to share her story.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melissa Smislova: Bumblebee May 24, 2022

Show notes

On this week's episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are proud to welcome Melissa Smislova, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A). Melissa brings decades of intelligence expertise with her, known for her work on the Soviet Union and North Korea.

Prior to her service at DHS, she worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), earning several awards along the way such as the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation, the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, and the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB) 1998 Killian Award. Melissa embodies what it means to be a selfless and unapologetic woman in intelligence, balancing both fierce yet nurturing attributes within the Intelligence Community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Janaki Kates: Spy Mom May 11, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are thrilled to welcome our friend, Janaki Kates. Janaki is a national security consultant with nearly two decades of government experience and is passionate about expanding missions and growing diverse workforces. She began her career at the CIA as an analyst focusing on foreign space programs. She then went on to focus on foreign weapon systems, counterproliferation, and counterintelligence. Janaki has served at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of State, and the National Security Council. Most recently, she served as the Director of Government Affairs for the Intelligence Program at Northrop Grumman.

Janaki shares her story with the common theme of taking life by the reins as a professional, wife, mom, friend, and mentor. She is tough yet unafraid to share a laugh.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Bean Buitta: Eagle Ears Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

This week on the Iron Butterfly Podcast, we are proud to welcome Lauren Bean Buitta, founder and CEO of Girl Security, a nonpartisan, non-profit building equitable pathways in national security for girls, women, and gender minorities. Lauren has worked for a think tank and founded a consulting firm prior to Girl Security, and is associated with a number of prestigious councils and committees. Lauren is a mom to two amazing humans and was named one of the “50 Women Making the World a Better Place.” In this episode, she bravely and courageously shares her story.

Please note that this episode includes some content that may be graphic and shocking to listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special Episode: Virginia Hall (The Intrepidus Eagle) Mar 18, 2022

Show notes

On this special episode, we open Season 4 featuring Lorna and Brad Catling, family members of the legendary Virginia Hall. Virginia worked with the United Kingdom’s Clandestine Special Operations Executive (SOE) and American Office of Strategic Services (OSS), aiding the French Resistance during WWII. She went on to work with the CIA where she ultimately retired from the clandestine services. Virginia was the most highly decorated female civilian in WWII and paved the way for women in the Intelligence Community.

Her family shares her breathtaking story of bravery, resilience, and grit on this week’s season opener of Iron Butterfly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suzanne Heckenberg: Y Flyer Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

This week on the Iron Butterfly Podcast, we are proud to welcome Suzanne Heckenberg for our Season 3 finale!

Suzanne is the President of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), as well as the Intelligence and National Security Foundation. She oversees a host of INSA's strategies ranging from finance, to events, to corporate partnerships. She previously served as the organizations first Chief Operating officer, working to expand INSA from the inside and promote diversity and inclusion within the IC. This week, she shares her remarkable story with us.

Join us for a fantastic Season 3 finale of the Iron Butterfly Podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

La’Naia Jones: Bikram Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are proud to welcome La’Naia Jones, Deputy Chief Information Officer at the National Security Agency. She serves with previous experience as the Acting Chief Information Officer of the Intelligence Community, the Chief of Transformation and Transition in partnership with the Department of Defense, in addition to her background in IT leadership.

La’Naia joins us and proudly shares her winding path into the IC and how following her passions and working hard led her where she is today. Join us for this special episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jackie Barbieri: Pearl of Delphi Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

This week on the Iron Butterfly podcast, we're joined by Jackie Barbieri, the Founder & CEO of Whitespace, a spatial data analytics company. With a history of supporting the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community as an intelligence analyst. Jackie shares her winding path with us through her academic endeavors at Georgetown University, her desire to serve her country in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and with her unique linguistic strengths in Spanish, Arabic, and Italian.

In this episode, Jackie shares her purpose and passion for unlocking the value of data sets in order to understand human activity as well as improving human security everywhere. Join us in listening to Jackie's story.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quiet Bear, Ruski Frog, Sidewinder, and Titanium Shark Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

In this very special edition of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we sat down with three incredible individuals whose stories are shaped by the loss of their parents in their service to the United States. We spoke with Marie Mickley, an adventure-loving, adrenaline-junkie turned law student at the University of Wisconsin, Jacob Centeno, a professional storyteller, with the title of founder and CEO of Poor Bear Stories, a video production company in Orlando, FL, and Alison Spann, another professional storyteller based on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where she is a news anchor.

In this episode, we speak with beneficiaries of the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation, Special Operations Warrior Foundation and Defense Intelligence Memorial Foundation, non-profit organizations that support the families of fallen CIA officers and special operations forces who are killed in action. Marie, Jacob, and Alison all share their stories of bravery, sacrifice, and growth, alongside what the U.S. Intelligence Community means to them.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Grunspan: Time Traveler Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

Rachel Grunspan joins us this week on the Iron Butterfly podcast, bringing her over 20 years experience at the CIA. She has impacted the Agency as a cyber-threat analyst, a game and simulation designer, an executive manager, and most recently, as Dean for CIA's Digital University. She believes in increasing the creative capacity of individuals and organizations to best close intelligence and national security gaps.

Join us for an exciting episode of the Iron Butterfly as we delve into Rachel's unique and exciting career in intelligence gaming and the digital world as it relates to intelligence, and how she has provided innovation throughout her career.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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