SpyCast

Latest Episodes:

“Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West” – with Calder Walton Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

Summary

Calder Walton (Website, Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the 100-year intelligence war between the United States and Russia. Calder is the author of the new book, SPIES.

EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

The epic clash of intelligence systems
Russia’s assassination program then and now
The roots of Putinism
China as “the Soviet Union on steroids”

Reflections

Cold War 2.0
Could it have been otherwise?

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week

My conclusion, unfortunately, Andrew, is that looking at this large sweep of history that we have, not so much a Putin problem today, but a Russia problem. And the Russia problem has been persistent over a hundred years, which is why it makes me very cautious about speculation … Unfortunately, it seems to me that the Putin and the people he surrounds himself with in the Kremlin are all cut from this very similar cloth as he is.

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

Headline Resource

SPIES: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West, Calder Walton (Simon & Schuster, 2023)

SpyCasts

Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023)
Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023)
Becoming a Russian Intelligence Officer with Janosh Neumann (2022)
The Spies Who Came in From the Cold with Chris Costa and John Quattrocki at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago (2022)
Dealing with Russia with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022)
CIA Legend Jack Devine on Countering Russian Aggression (2012)

Beginner Resources

Putin’s Revisionist History of Russia and Ukraine, I. Chotiner, New Yorker (2022) [Short article]
Has Putin's war failed and what does Russia want?, P. Kirby, BBC (2023) [Short article]
The Cold War Explained in 15 Minutes, YouTube (2021) [15 min. video]

EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

DEEPER DIVE

Books

Russian Intelligence, K. Riehle (NIU, 2022)
Putin’s People, C. Belton (William Collins, 2021)
Between Two Fires, J. Yaffa (Duggan Books, 2020)
The New Cold War, E. Lucas (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2014)

Primary Sources

The Putin Files, CBS (n.d.)
Memorandum of Conversations (Rise of Putin)
Clinton with Putin (2000)
Clinton with Putin (2000)
Clinton with Yeltsin (1999)
Clinton with Yeltsin (1999)
Clinton with Putin (1999)
Madelaine Albright with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov (1999)
Clinton with Putin (1999)
Clinton with Yeltsin (1999)

Oral Histories

U.S. Ambassadors to Moscow
John Huntsman (2017-2019)
John F. Tefft (2014-2017)
Michael McFaul (2012-2014)
John Beryle (2008-2012)
Alexander Vershbow (2001-2005)
James F. Collins (1997-2001)
Thomas R. Pickering (1993-1996)
Jack F. Matlock (1987-1991)

Wildcard Resource

Putin Strikes: The Coming War for Eastern Europe
A two-player board game where one commands the Kremlin’s forces and the other an international polyglot force. Trippy or what?

EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: “The D-Day Deception” – with National WWII Museum Curator Corey Graff Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

Summary

Cory Graff (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter, LinkedIn) to discuss the D-Day deception operation to mask the landings at Normandy. Cory is a Curator at The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Deception tactics used by the Allies
The core deception operations BODYGUARD and FORTITUDE
The German secret agents who became British “double agents”
The “Ghost Army” and General Patton’s fictitious First U.S. Army Group
Intelligence in the World War II Museum

Reflections

Appearance and intention
The essential unknowability of the world

And much, much more …

EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Quotes of the Week

“During the evenings, French Resistance is taking over and blowing up train tracks and sort of funneling people this way. And that's another thing to talk about when we talk about D-Day is, intelligence was gained from French citizens beforehand. And the night of the 5th & 6th, we witnessed something like a thousand points of sabotage within the area directed at the Germans.” – Cory Graff on the French Resistance’s contribution to D-Day

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

Andrew’s Recommendation

The D-Day episode of the landmark documentary The World at War (“Morning: June-August 1944 (Ep. 17 of 26)”)

SpyCasts

St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023)
Hitler’s Trojan Horse – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West (2023)
Nazis on the Potomac with former National Park Service Chief Historian Bob Sutton (2022)
The Nuclear Doomsday Machine – with Sean Maloney on Cold War Emergency Plans (2022)

Beginner Resources

Here’s what happened on D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion ever undertaken, CNN (2021) [1 min. video]
When and How Did World War II End?, R. Wilde, ThoughtCo (2020 [Short article]
The 10 Things You Need to Know about D-Day, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [10 quick facts]

DEEPER DIVE

EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Primary Sources

General Eisenhower’s Order of the Day, National Archives (1944)
In Case of Failure Message from Gen. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Presidential Library (1944)
Overlord – Anvil Papers, Eisenhower Presidential Library (1944)
Report of the 82nd Airborne Division, “Operation Neptune”, Eisenhower Presidential Library (1944)
Neptune Monograph, The D-Day Story Museum (1944)

Wildcard Resource

The crossword panic of 1944!
In the run up to D-Day important codenames such as “Omaha,” “Overlord,” “Mulberry,” and “Neptune,” appeared in the Daily Telegraph newspaper crossword puzzle. Was someone signaling the Allies plans to the Germans? We don’t think so...but one possible explanation involves loose-lipped soldiers, a WWI veteran schoolteacher, and some naughty schoolboys!

EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

From the Vault: “El Chapo, the War on Drugs & Intelligence” – with Trial Reporter Noah Hurowitz May 30, 2023

Show notes

Summary

Noah Hurowitz (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss infamous drug kingpin El Chapo. A weak link in his cybersecurity set-up would help bring him down.

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

El Chapo’s internal surveillance operation
The cartel’s use of cryptography to keep communications covert
How cybersecurity enabled then brought down El Chapo
The role of the infamous DFS – a corrupt and now disbanded intelligence agency

Reflections

Technology – early adopters vs. counter responders
The changing nature of crime enabled by emerging technologies – spyware, drones, etc.

And much, much more…

Episode Notes

Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, aka El Chapo (shorty) because of his 5-foot 6-inch frame, was called by one of the agents chasing him, “the godfather of the drug world.” So, how did a low-level drug dealer from a provincial state rise to try and subvert the Mexican government to his will? What was the intelligence game that played out with regards to El Chapo? How did the cartels use spytech, tradecraft and cybersecurity to stay one step ahead of the law? How was he caught?

To answer these questions and more, Andrew sat down with Noah Horowitz who covered the trial of El Chapo in Brooklyn for Rolling Stone magazine. Noah is also the author of the recent book El Chapo, and his work has appeared in the Village Voice, the Baffler and New York Magazine.

And…

In the El Chapo trial, question No.57 asked prospective jurors, “Are you familiar with Jesus Malverde?” If you are not familiar with this angel of the poor (el ángel de los pobres) as well as the Sinaloan narcos (el narcosantón), then you can find out why this question would be relevant here, here, here and here.

Quote of the Week

"So, in addition to encrypted communications…he was also installing spyware on Blackberry devices that El Chapo was giving out to his lieutenants and his girlfriends and his wives. And then EL Chapo was able to use this, the spyware program to see what was on their phones. He was able to see their text messages. He was able to see their locations. He was even able to remotely activate their mic and listen to them. And he loved that…it was like a toy to him almost. He became obsessed with it." – Noah Hurowitz

Resources

Headline Resource

El Chapo, N. Hurowitz (S&S, 2021)

SpyCasts

Drug Cartels, Sleeper Cells, the Waco Siege & the Mob - Dennis Franks (2021)

Books

Dope: History of the Mexican Drug Trade, B. Smith (W.W. Norton, 2021)
Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs & Cartels, I. Grillo (Bloomsbury, 2021)

Primary Sources

Primary Source Collections

The Mexican Intelligence Digital Archives (MIDAS)
Inside The Cartel: Key Documents (LAT)

Wildcard Resource

“The Original Indigenous People of Sinaloa”
To understand Joaquín Guzmán Loera, starting at the year of his birth, 1957, might be enough; but to understand “El Chapo” it might help to go deeper still…

“70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special” - with Alexis Albion on 007 (Part 2 of 2) May 23, 2023

Show notes

Summary

Curators Alexis (LinkedIn) and Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) use James Bond artifacts in SPY’s collection to discuss all things 007. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Ian Fleming novel, Casino Royale.

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Bond vs. Real Life Spies
The birth of James Bond
Ian Fleming’s intelligence past
Bond and MI6

Reflections

What makes a character timeless?
Pop culture mirroring real life

And much, much more …

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Episode Notes

This week on SpyCast, curators Andrew and Alexis join forces to put the past 70 years of Bond into historical perspective. To help frame their conversation, our collections team brought out a fantastic selection of Bond artifacts for Andrew and Alexis to interact with during the recording of this episode.

Quotes of the Week

“I think in general the spy genre always has to have one foot, often two, in the real world. It's part of what makes that genre appealing and not science fiction. It takes place in the real world. And whether that is, you know, some of the technology or real-world threats, it has to be relatable and recognizable in that sense.” – Alexis Albion.

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

SpyCast’s

Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023)
Secrets Revealed with Curators Alexis and Andrew on SPY’s Pop-Up Exhibit (2023)
CIA Officers Turned Authors with David McCloskey and James Stejskal (2022)
The Spy of the Century with Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022)
My Life Looking at Spies and the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022)

Beginner Resources

MI6 History & Facts, Encyclopedia Britannica (2022) [Brief history of MI6]
The Evolution of James Bond, Fandom Entertainment, YouTube (2021) [15 min. video]
Ian Fleming, Famous Authors (n.d.) [Short biography]

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Primary Sources

Primos Bionic Eye, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021)
James Bond’s Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Watch, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021)
007 Fragrance Commercial, YouTube (1965)
James Bond Action Pak Toy Commercial, American Character, YouTube (1964)
Aston Martin DB5, Collection of the International Spy Museum (1964)
The Zimmermann Telegram, National Archives (1917)

Wildcard Resource

Everyone has a favorite James Bond theme song. If you just can’t choose just one, check out The Ultimate James Bond Medley – A production from Alchemistic Records featuring all 25 Bond songs.

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

“70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special” - with Alexis Albion on 007 (Part 1 of 2) May 16, 2023

Show notes

Summary

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Bond vs. Real Life Spies
The birth of James Bond
Ian Fleming’s intelligence past
Bond and MI6

Reflections

What makes a character timeless?
Pop culture mirroring real life

And much, much more …

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Episode Notes

Quotes of the Week

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

SpyCast’s

Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023)
Secrets Revealed with Curators Alexis and Andrew on SPY’s Pop-Up Exhibit (2023)
CIA Officers Turned Authors with David McCloskey and James Stejskal (2022)
The Spy of the Century with Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022)
My Life Looking at Spies and the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022)

Beginner Resources

MI6 History & Facts, Encyclopedia Britannica (2022) [Brief history of MI6]
The Evolution of James Bond, Fandom Entertainment, YouTube (2021) [15 min. video]
Ian Fleming, Famous Authors (n.d.) [Short biography]

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Primary Sources

Primos Bionic Eye, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021)
James Bond’s Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Watch, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021)
007 Fragrance Commercial, YouTube (1965)
James Bond Action Pak Toy Commercial, American Character, YouTube (1964)
Aston Martin DB5, Collection of the International Spy Museum (1964)
The Zimmermann Telegram, National Archives (1917)

Wildcard Resource

Everyone has a favorite James Bond theme song. If you just can’t choose just one, check out The Ultimate James Bond Medley – A production from Alchemistic Records featuring all 25 Bond songs.

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

“St. Ermin’s Hotel, London” – The History of a Legendary Spy Site, with Stephen Duffy May 09, 2023

Show notes

Summary

Stephen Duffy (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the spy stories of St. Ermin’s Hotel in London. It includes links to SOE, MI6, Ian Fleming, and the Cambridge 5.

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

The origins of the SOE
MI6 and the SOE in the hotel during WWII (bad neighbors!)
Incredible female spies of WWII
St. Ermin’s Cambridge Five connection
The history of the hotel

Reflections

The stories a hotel could tell if it could talk
Proximity to power

And much, much more …

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Episode Notes

During World War II, the hotel was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive – a crucial element in his initiative to “set Europe ablaze.” Notorious spies Kim Philby and Donald Maclean were known to enjoy a drink at the hotel bar while sharing secrets with their Soviet handlers. And that’s not all – to learn the rest, you’ll have to listen to the episode.

Quotes of the Week

“That’s where Burgess, MacLean, and Philby at different times met their Russian handlers in plain sight and sat there and spoke normally. Didn't talk out the side of their mouths, didn't have red carnations and copies of the Financial Times under their arm. They just passed over their information, their paperwork or whatever, in plain sight to everybody.” – Stephen Duffy.

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

SpyCasts

Hitler’s Trojan Horse – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West (2023)
Nazis on the Potomac – with former National Park Service Chief Historian Bob Sutton (2022)
SPY@20: The Spy of the Century – Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022)
The Beverly Hills Spy – with The Hollywood Reporter’s Seth Abramovitch (2022)

Beginner Resources

MI6 History & Facts, Encyclopedia Britannica (2022) [Brief history of MI6]
World War 2 Chronology, B. Johnson, Historic UK (n.d.) [Timeline of Britain in WWII]
How Churchill Led Britain to Victory in the Second World War, J. Taylor, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article]
The St. Ermin’s Autobiography, St. Ermin’s Hotel (n.d.) [Pamphlet]

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Primary Sources

File Release: Cold War Cambridge spies Burgess and Maclean, UK National Archives (2015)
Alexander Simitch Stevens Oral History, Imperial War Museum (1992)
Basil Davison Oral History, Imperial War Museum (1988)
My Silent War, K. Philby (1967)
SOE Training Advice on Disguise, UK National Archives (n.d.)

Wildcard Resource

The cocktail menu at St. Ermin’s Caxton Bar features a number of spy-related references, including Bond’s signature drink. To learn more about this “shaken, not stirred” beverage, check out this article for a brief history of the Vesper Martini.

FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE

Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler May 02, 2023

Show notes

Summary

David Cattler (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss NATO’s intelligence response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. David currently serves as NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security.

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Intelligence & NATO
NATO’s response to the war in Ukraine
How NATO is adapting to evolving technologies
NATO’s purpose and mission

Reflections

Support and trust between nations
Global collaboration

And much, much more …

Episode Notes

Last February, SpyCast brought you an episode featuring David Cattler, focused on his role as NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security. Only a few weeks after that episode was published, Russia invaded the Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, catalyzing the first war on European soil since World War II. Only three weeks ago, NATO gained their newest member of the alliance, Finland, with the hopes of ratifying Sweden’s membership soon.

This week, we bring David back on to discuss how his position has evolved and changed alongside the war in Ukraine, and how NATO is responding to the ongoing crisis. What impact does the inclusion of Finland (and hopefully Sweden) make on the European continent? Tune in to find out more.

And…

With Finland’s recent membership, NATO is currently comprised of 31 independent nations. Out of these 30, only one member state doesn’t have a standing army – Can you guess which? Hint: It’s Iceland!

Quotes of the Week

"It's not just about Ukraine. It really is about what kind of world we all want to live in. There are rules and the rules really do establish that nations of people have rights to be free. To make decisions for themselves, to be sovereign, to be safe within their own borders. To be free from harm and certainly free from being threatened in the way that we've seen here." – David Cattler.

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

SpyCasts

Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023)
How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023)
Dealing with Russia with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022)
NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security with David Cattler (2022)

Beginner Resources

What is NATO and why is Finland joining?, BBC News (2023) [Short article]
Russia-Ukraine Relations in 60 Seconds, CBC News (2022) [1 min. video]
The Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact | History, YouTube (2017) [3 min. video]

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

Summary

R. Kent Tiernan joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the seven-year covert operation to execute Mary Queen of Scots. Kent is the author of The Walsingham Gambit.

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

The spy plot to trap Mary, Queen of Scots
Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s spymaster
16th century intelligence tactics
The importance of recruiting agents from your opponent’s camp
The Denial and Deception Committee

Reflections

Religious conflict
Temperament and statecraft

And much, much more …

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

Episode Notes

Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn, survived no less than 9 elaborate plots against her life. In an era of religious conflict and constant power struggles, it was perhaps more important than ever to run an effective intelligence service.

Guest Bio

R. Kent Tiernan previously served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force, and an assistant professor of history at the United States Air Force Academy. Kent also served as the Vice Chairman and Staff Director of the Foreign Denial and Deception Committee before retiring in 2014 at the rank of Senior National Intelligence Service officer.

Quotes of the Week

Our analysts do a wonderful job, but it's very difficult for them because they're looking for continuity or congruity in the information, uh, in order to come up with an answer or a best evaluation of truth. Our job was looking for incongruities in the information. Uh, things that didn't make sense the other evidence was leaning one way, but then we'd get a bit of evidence, and it just didn't make sense to what we were seeing, uh, normally.

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

Featured Resource

The Walsingham Gambit: Deception, Entrapment, and Execution of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, R. Kent Tiernan (Lexington Books, 2022)

SpyCasts

The Denial and Deception Committee – with Bill Parquette
The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence - with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy (2022)
So, You Want to Be a Codebreaker? - with Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh (2021)
The Spymaster’s Prism - with CIA Legend Jack Devine (2021)

Beginner Resources

A beginner’s guide to the Babington Plot, M. Mayhew, The History Press (n.d.) [article]
Biography of Mary Queen of Scots, E. Castelow, Historic UK (n.d.) [article]
Queen Elizabeth I, B. Johnson, Historic UK (n.d.) [article]
Elizabeth I’s Problem with Religion, YouTube (2021) [5 min. video]

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

Primary Sources

Drawing of Mary, Queen of Scots’ Execution by Robert Beale, British Library (1587)
Page of Ciphers Used by Mary Queen of Scots, UK National Archives (1586)
Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots in Sheffield Castle to Elizabeth I, British Library (1582)
Mary, Queen of Scots to Sir William Cecil, UK National Archives (1570)
Letter from Elizabeth I to Mary, Queen of Scots, British Library (1568)
Elizabeth I to Mary, Queen of Scots, UK National Archives (1567)

Wildcard Resource

Elizabeth I famously had a sweet tooth – A habit that would eventually cause her teeth to go black in an era of subpar dentistry. One of her favorite sugary treats was candied violets – A less popular snack nowadays, but just as tasty!

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

“Irregular Warfare & Intelligence” - with IWC Director Dennis Walters Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

Summary

Dr. Dennis Walters (LinkedIn; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the Irregular Warfare Center and its ties to intelligence. Dennis is the current Acting Director of the IWC.

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

The need for an Irregular Warfare Center
The Irregular Warfare Center’s mission
What role intelligence plays in irregular war
Creating unique solutions for unique situations
How do intelligence and Special Operations blend together?

Reflections

Education as a strategic tool
Creative problem solving

And much, much more …

Episode Notes

This week on SpyCast, the IWC’s Acting Director Dr. Dennis Walters joins Andrew in a conversation about all thing's irregular warfare. What is irregular warfare, and how does it differ from conventional warfare? What is the mission of the IW Center, and what tools and tactics do they employ to accomplish this? Tune in to find out.

And…

Want to keep your enemies at bay, try an irregular approach – throw a “Scorpion Bomb” at them: yes, it is literally a glass jar filled with scorpions. The tactic was resurrected by ISIS.

Guest Bio

Dr. Dennis Walters is the acting Director of the Irregular Warfare Center. He served in the United States Army for 26 years, with time spent in the Army Intelligence Corps and in command of a Special Forces Operations Detachment in the Balkans. Upon his retirement from the Army, Dennis worked to build a network of irregular warfare experts that would culminate in the Department of Defense Regional Defense Fellowship Program. He has also instructed college courses on irregular warfare at the National Defense University and Regent University. He speaks fluent Russian.

Quotes of the Week

"It varies based on region, based on country, based on culture. And that's the part that we have not done well on the U.S. side, really factoring in all of those social implications of how you structure programs to make a country more stable, more resilient, more leaning towards the ideals that support a global community. That's the part that I think that we were missing in some cases." – Dr. Dennis Walters.

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

SpyCasts

Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023)
“The Third Option” – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson, Part 1 (2022)
“The Third Option” – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson, Part 2 (2022)
Al Qaeda, DOD & the 9/11 Commission with Bonnie Jenkins and Alexis Albion (2022)
Afghanistan, the Mujahedeen, Al Qaeda – My Time at CIA and State with Diana Bolsinger (2021)

Beginner Resources

Lessons from the Ukraine Conflict on Conventional War, ABC News (2022) [4:24 video]
What is Hybrid Warfare? GeoVane (2019) [3:57 video]
Maximizing the Potential of American Irregular War, C. Cleveland et al.,The Hill (2023) [op-ed]
Irregular Warfare, D.Safire, New York Times (2008)

“Havana Syndrome” – A Panel featuring Nicky Woolf, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Mark Zaid Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

Summary

This week’s episode is the result of a collaboration with The Sound, a recent limited series podcast exploring the so-called Havana Syndrome. The guests are host and investigative journalist Nicky Woolf (Twitter), former senior CIA operations officer and sufferer Marc Polymeropoulos (Twitter), and attorney and advocate Mark Zaid (Twitter).

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

What Havana Syndrome is
Who it is affecting
Theories to explain it
The role of intelligence organizations

Reflections

The unending search for truth
Humanity in the intelligence field

Quotes of the Week

"There’s a betrayal I felt when the CIA didn't give me the medical attention that I needed. You know, if you're not feeling well and an employee comes to you, send 'em to the doctor. And they weren't able to do that. And to me, that's just a leadership fail for the ages." – Marc Polymeropoulos.

Resources

SpyCasts

The Past 75 Years: A History of the CIA with Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)
Dealing with Russia with Jim Olson (2022)
One of the CIA’s Most Decorated Field Officers with Marc Polymeropoulos (2021)
NatSec and the Law with Mark Zaid (2018)

Beginner Resources

Havana Syndrome: What We Know, B. Tau and W. P. Strobel, The Wall Street Journal (2023) [Short article]
What is the “Havana Syndrome?”, Brut America, YouTube (2022) [3 min. video]
What is Havana Syndrome?, B. Cuffari, News Medical (2022)

Video

Who or What is Behind Havana Syndrome?, Al Jazeera, YouTube (2022)
Early Victims of ‘Havana Syndrome’ Speak Out About Ongoing Health Struggles, NBC News, YouTube (2021)

Primary Sources

Updated Assessment of Anomalous Health Incidents, National Intelligence Council (2023)
Anomalous health Incidents: Analysis of Potential Causal Mechanisms, IC Experts Panel (2022)
Senate Hearing on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, U.S. Senate (1978)
Kissinger Telephone Conversation with Ambassador Dobrynin, National Security Archive (1975)
Samuel Koslov Memorandum to the State Department, “Biomedical Phenomena,” National Security Archive (1965)

Wildcard Resource

Havana Syndrome is an example of a toponymic term in the medical field – A name that comes from a geographic place. For more on medical etymology, check out this article that shares the backstory of the name of 7 well-known conditions.

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Summary

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Reflections

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

*Headline Resource*

*SpyCasts*

*Beginner Resources*

DEEPER DIVE

Books

Primary Sources

Oral Histories

*Wildcard Resource*

Summary

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Reflections

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

Andrew’s Recommendation

*SpyCasts*

*Beginner Resources*

DEEPER DIVE

Primary Sources

*Wildcard Resource*

Summary

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Reflections

And much, much more…

Episode Notes

Quote of the Week

Resources

Headline Resource

*SpyCasts*

Books

Articles

Websites

PBR (Projects, Briefs, Reports)

Primary Sources

Primary Source Collections

*Wildcard Resource*

Summary

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Reflections

And much, much more …

Episode Notes

Quotes of the Week

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

*SpyCast’s*

*Beginner Resources*

Primary Sources

*Wildcard Resource*

Summary

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Reflections

And much, much more …

Episode Notes

Quotes of the Week

Resources

SURFACE SKIM

*SpyCast’s*

*Beginner Resources*

Primary Sources

*Wildcard Resource*

Summary

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Headline Resource

SpyCasts

Beginner Resources

Wildcard Resource

SpyCasts

Beginner Resources

Wildcard Resource

SpyCasts

Wildcard Resource

SpyCast’s

Beginner Resources

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SpyCast’s

Beginner Resources

Wildcard Resource

SpyCasts

Beginner Resources

Wildcard Resource

SpyCasts

Beginner Resources