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SPYCRAFT 101

English, History, 1 season, 167 episodes, 10 hours, 11 minutes
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Welcome to your clandestine classroom.
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165. Secrets of the Subcontinent: Post-Colonial Intelligence in India with Dr. Paul McGarr

Today Justin talks with Dr. Paul McGarr. Paul is a researcher, lecturer, and author who has focused particularly on security and intelligence interventions by the U.S. and U.K. governments into the global south. He's published more than two dozen articles in professional journals over the past 15 years and teaches several courses on intelligence and diplomacy at King's College London. He is also a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Asiatic Society.  He's here to discuss the story of the often overlooked history of intelligence, espionage, and covert operations which took place in India during the Cold War, as well as how those events shaped India's place in the world today.Connect with Paul:[email protected]/X: @Paul_McGarrLinkedIn: Paul McGarrCheck out the book, Spying in South Asia, here.https://a.co/d/9AFbtZAConnect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
9/16/20241 hour, 13 minutes, 42 seconds
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164. An OSS Memoir Reborn with Jacek Waliszewski

Today's guest us Jacek Waliszewski. Jacek is an Army Special Forces warrant officer.  During his career, he has served primarily with 10th Group and has deployed 18 times on three different continents to date and trained more than 2, 500 soldiers worldwide in special operations tactics and strategies. He's also published two novels. He's here to discuss his newest book, the true memoirs of an OSS agent on the ground in Southern Europe in 1944, working with local partisans in the fight against Axis forces. It's also the story of the origins of modern U.S. special forces.Connect with Jacek:IG: @jw_jack_official @codenamespikeGoFundMe: Code Name: SPIKE the moviehttps://www.gofundme.com/f/code-name-spike-the-movie?qid=df4b1499d5a074929ec6d0c1d1afab37Check out the book, Code Name SPIKE, here.https://www.amazon.com/CODE-NAME-SPECIAL-FORCES-GROUNDBREAKING/dp/B0D52QP3G3Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Support the show
9/9/20241 hour, 3 minutes, 32 seconds
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163. Covert Captures: Bringing Spies Back Alive

In this solo episode, Justin discusses how the world's intelligence agencies have captured foreign case officers, spies, and even their own defectors alive after they've already escaped to other countries. Killing a target in another country is difficult enough, especially when they are enjoying the security of the host nation that welcomed them in, but it's often even more difficult than that to get them back alive. Different methods have been used over the years, and despite all the planning and preparation that goes into it, it often goes wrong at the critical moment—sometimes the target escapes, and other times they are inadvertently killed during the operation. Today, Justin shares five instances from the Cold War and beyond where these kidnappings or renditions occurred. Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the Show.
9/2/202441 minutes, 45 seconds
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162. The Foundations of American Intelligence with Dr. Mark Stout

Justin's guest today is Dr. Mark Stout, who has held many positions, both inside and outside the U.S. intelligence community. He's worked as an intelligence analyst for the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research for the CIA, and was a civilian employee for the U.S. Army at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. He was also the historian for the International Spy Museum from 2010 until 2013, and was the director of the Master's in Arts Program for Global Security Studies at John Hopkins University, former and founding president of the North American Society for Intelligence History. He's also authored and edited several books, and his articles have been published in many professional journals over the years. He's returned to the podcast to discuss his new book on U.S. intelligence before WWII.Hear Mark's first appearance on episode 44, A Secret US Intelligence Organization: Mysteries of the Pond, here.Connect with Mark:Bluesky: @markstout.bsky.socialCheck out the book, World War I and the Foundations of American Intelligence, here. https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700635856/Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Support the Show.
8/26/202457 minutes, 59 seconds
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161. The Self-Proclaimed Spy Who Went Broke with Constance Huff

Today Justin talks with Constance Huff. She retired from the U.S. Army as a Chief Warrant Officer IV. Connie spent more than 24 years in Army Intelligence, holding three occupational specialties, Interrogator, CI Special Agent, and Case Officer. She spent the majority of her career in counterintelligence, where she specialized in counterespionage investigations and operations. Connie was a senior instructor for the U. . Army's Advanced Foreign Counterintelligence Training course, which was a 15 week course where journeyman level special agents were taught advanced investigation skills, physical surveillance, and offensive CI operations. Connie was named as the Department of Defense's Investigator of the Year in  1992. She earned a Master's degree in education from Boston University and is currently a senior instructor with CTCI Training Partners, which provides training to public and private organizations on counterterrorism and counterintelligence matters.On the eve of Operation Desert Storm, she and her team investigated Specialist 4 Albert Sombalay after learning he'd approached several foreign embassies. offering information on the U. S. Army's plans and movements in Kuwait, as well as their chemical warfare capabilities. Connie and her team pulled off a successful investigation that resulted in a long prison sentence for a traitor inside the U.S. Army.Connect with Connie:ctcitraining.orgConnect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the Show.
8/19/20241 hour, 22 minutes, 37 seconds
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160. How the FBI Sabotaged Soviet Tech Spies with Zach Dorfman

Today Justin is joined by Zach Dorfman. Zach is a national security reporter whose work has appeared in Politico, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and many other publications. He received his Bachelor's degree from Skidmore College and a Master's degree in International Relations and Affairs from the University of Chicago. Zach is a former senior fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. He's also the host of the Spy Valley Podcast from Project Brazen, which debuted last year, about a Cold War era spy in the heart of Silicon Valley. This week he discusses his newest article, published on August 4th of this year. It's the story of Operation Entering, a highly successful and never before reported operation against Soviet bloc intelligence operatives targeting U.S. technology in the early 1980s.Connect with [email protected]/X: @zachsdorfmanSpy Valley Podcast: brazen.fm/podcasts/spy-valleyCheck out Zach's Politico story: "Moscow’s Spies Were Stealing US Tech — Until the FBI Started a Sabotage Campaign" here.And his new Rolling Stone article: "The CIA Sent Him Deep Undercover to Spy on Islamic Radicals. It Cost Him Everything" here. Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Support the Show.
8/12/202451 minutes, 19 seconds
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159. Inside North Korea: Recovering American Remains with Bill Boik

Today Justin sits down with William Boik. Bill served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve for more than 30 years before retiring in 2005  at the rank of colonel. Over the course of his military career, he served in various positions in the armor branch and in military intelligence in South Korea, Germany and the U.S. From  2001 to 2018, Bill was a senior civilian at the Defense POW MIA Office, later known as the Defense POW MIA Accounting Agency, first as the Director of Global Affairs and then as a Senior Plans Officer. Among his roles at the  defense POW MIA Accounting Agency were serving as the POW MIA advisor to the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait and serving as the DOD representative to the Gulf war tripartite commission, which would meet in Geneva, Switzerland. Bill retired in 2018 with 43 years of government service. He has Master's degrees in International Relations, Strategic Intelligence, and Strategic Security Studies, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Georgetown University for International Relations. He is an author of two books as well. In this interview, Bill discusses two incredibly unique missions he performed in 2001 and 2002, when he led teams into North Korea to recover the remains of U.S. personnel still missing in action from the Korean War. During each of these month long recovery missions, Bill was the senior U.S. government official in Pyongyang, North Korea. Bill is not speaking as an official representative of any government agency or organization and only as an individual.Connect with Bill:usedmilitarybooks.comCheck out Bill's book on North Korean medals and decorations here.https://a.co/d/8GnXuoHConnect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the Show.
8/5/20241 hour, 31 minutes, 58 seconds
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158. Unraveling the Octopus: Espionage, Conspiracy, and Murder with Christian Hansen

Today Justin is joined by Christian Hansen. Christian is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and now lives in New York City, where he has worked as a photojournalist since 2007. His work has previously appeared in The New York Times. In 2013, he began to follow a thread of a story about the unexpected death of a writer pursuing his own story in West Virginia in 1991. That turned into a decade-long quest that connects the intelligence community, military, Reagan administration, private corporations, an unsolved triple homicide in 1981 near Palm Springs California, and another unsolved murder in San Francisco in 1982.  His years of research culminated in a four part documentary series, which premiered on Netflix this past March, called American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders. Christian is here to discuss his 10-year-long investigation into the death of journalist Danny Casolaro and the work he was engaged in leading right up to the day of his death. Connect with Christian: IG: @christianhitehansenen  Twitter/X: @Yo_ChristianCheck out The Octopus Murders on Netflix here.https://www.netflix.com/title/81168725Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the Show.
7/29/202452 minutes, 16 seconds
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157. How to Rebuild a Life: Burned by Spanish Intelligence in Syria with Luis Munar Duran

Today Justin sits down with Luis Munar Duran. Luis received his law degree from the University of Valencia in Spain and was a practicing attorney for nearly 20 years beginning in 1998. He's also a certified pilot and served as a reserve officer in the Spanish Air Force. Luis also has extensive training and experience in security and human rights issues. In 2012, After traveling to Aleppo, Syria to build a refugee camp and help train guerrilla fighters there, Luis was recruited by the Spanish intelligence agency known as CNI to gather intelligence on their behalf in Syria. But despite his efforts and the risks that he took, the relationship eventually turned sour and left Luis very regretful that he'd cooperated with them at all. Today he discusses his experiences in Syria, both before and after he was recruited by the CNI, and what he did to rebuild his life and reputation in the years afterwards.Connect with Luis:Check out Luis's book, Syria...Carne de cañon, only available in Spanish, here.https://www.amazon.com/Siria-carne-ca%C3%B1on-patria-Spanish/dp/B0D669H62WConnect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the Show.
7/22/202459 minutes, 35 seconds
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156. From Incarceration to Exoneration: The Kevin Barry Artt Story with Dan Lawton

This week Justin talks with Dan Lawton. Dan received his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and graduated with his Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center in 1986 and has been practicing and a practicing attorney in San Diego, California for many years. He's also taught at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law since 2001 and has written articles and short fiction, which have appeared in numerous publications. Today Dan tells the story of Kevin Barry Artt, a young man who was convicted of a murder he did not commit in Northern Ireland in 1983, and who subsequently escaped from prison and went into hiding in the United States for many years until he was captured again in 1997.  His story of exoneration and delayed justice has to be heard to be believed.  Connect with Dan:abovethegroundbook.comTwitter/X: @DanLawtonwriterCheck out Dan's book, Above The Ground, here.https://www.amazon.com/ABOVE-GROUND-Troubles-Northern-Ireland/dp/1960332260Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
7/15/20241 hour, 48 seconds
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155. The Hunt for the Assassin Who Killed Sweden's Prime Minister with Jan Stocklassa

Today just talks to Jan Stocklassa. Jan is an author and journalist focusing on large scale affairs in international politics. He served as a diplomat for Sweden in the Czech Republic from 1997 until 2003, and later helped found a newspaper paper in Prague. Jan spent more than a decade researching the 1986 murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, a case which is now officially closed but which still deserves a lot of attention and perhaps to be reopened and reinvestigated. Connect with Jan:stocklassa.comFacebook: Jan StocklassaWatch Jan's documentary series, The Man Who Played with Fire, on Max, Discovery+, or PrimeVideo.Check out the book here.https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Played-Fire-Larssons/dp/1542092949/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DIDldO-Hdk4FJqmz1iiXrliAr0WM-SCqw8Fjw90H1e5CMvGEWumPmmNHW3Zw-PnDs5fL9Df893JhB2wqNOrhX4KxROhwgkLiL9fcF7gqNlTPKPQROigCR9o3M9qZsbBYzMI25AiI_H8tdWva50p8InYTH2HzZE07IJygQr0ZyWRuNsC6JUPrf-iWA-7MNUGdD8zcknFrFyOXS57N97h37w.8tJgmDWDgm4pjKNlXXRacTm6Wjt-LCi7Qro1epveU5M&qid=1720403405&sr=1-1Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Grayman Briefing ClassifiedUse code GBCSpycraft to save 20% on your subscription.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
7/8/202453 minutes, 16 seconds
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154. The Truth Behind Operation Eagle Claw with James Stejskal

Today, Justin talks with returning guest James Stejskal. James enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1973 and served for more than 20 years, including with the now famous Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin in the 1970s and 80s, among many other assignments. He was severely wounded in Somalia in 1992 and medically retired from the Army in 1996, after which he joined the CIA as a case officer, where he spent nearly another 15 years. Now fully retired from government service, James has written several non fiction books as well as a new series of novels called The Snake Eater Chronicles. Today, he discusses the role Detachment A played in Operation Eagle Claw to rescue American hostages in Tehran in 1980. Although Eagle Claw is a very well known historic event, Detachment A's part has never been known in detail, until James now.Check out James's first appearance on episode 98, Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin, here.Connect with James:[email protected] (for any books and signed copies!)jamesstejskal.wordpress.com/Facebook: James Stejskal WriterCheck out James's latest book on Operation Eagle Claw, Mission Iran, here.https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Iran-Special-Forces-Operation/dp/1636243339Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.The Battles We Pick - A podcast about advocacy and organizingChangemakers talk about how social and political change really happens.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyGrayman & CompanyLook good and keep a low profile, but stay protected and capable no matter what.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
7/1/202450 minutes, 38 seconds
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153. The Year of Four Emperors with Rose Mary Sheldon

Today Justin chats with Rose Mary Sheldon. This is her third time on the podcast. Rose Mary taught history as a professor at Virginia Military Institute for more than 25 years, and is a world renowned expert on intelligence activities in the ancient world. She earned her PhD from the University of Michigan in 1987 and has published several books and many articles over the years, as well as serving as an editor for the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence in Small Wars and Insurgencies and the Journal of Military History.  Today she covers the lives and deaths of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty, who came after the Julio-Claudian emperors  discussed last time, along with the internal security measures they put in place to protect themselves from assassination with varying degrees of success. Check out episode 81, Espionage In Ancient Rome, here. And hear episode 119, Rampant Assassination in the Roman Empire, here.Connect with Rose Mary:vmi.academia.edu/RSheldonGet your copy of Guarding the Caesars here.https://amzn.to/3VY8N96Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.Grayman Briefing ClassifiedUse code GBCSpycraft to save 20% on your subscription.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
6/24/202443 minutes, 40 seconds
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152. The Spy Erased from History with Raymond Batvinis

Justin talks with retired FBI special agent Raymond J. Batvinis. Ray served in the FBI from 1972 until 1997, working in counterterrorism and counterintelligence, including on the investigations into Ronald Pelton and the Walker spy ring. Shortly after 9/11, he returned to teach the basic counterintelligence course at the FBI Academy at Quantico.  Since retiring, Ray has worked as a historian and author. He's published articles on intelligence history in scholarly journals and on his website, FBIstudies.com.  You might remember Ray from his previous appearance on the podcast for episode 66. Today, he discusses the story of William Weisband, an almost completely forgotten Soviet spy who was nonetheless one of their most valuable assets in the United States before, during, and after World War II.Listen to Ray's first appearance on episode 66, The Early Days of FBI Counterintelligence, here.https://www.buzzsprout.com/1780478/11509131Connect with Ray:fbistudies.comCheck out his book, Agent Link, here.https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Link-Professional-Intelligence-Education/dp/1538184907Connect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Grayman Briefing ClassifiedUse code GBCSpycraft to save 20% on your subscription.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
6/17/202456 minutes, 36 seconds
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151. How The Allies Cracked Germany's Codes with Charles Lachman

Today Justin chats with Charles Lachman.  Since 1998, Charles has been the executive producer of the nationally syndicated news magazine Inside Edition. He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC,  History Channel, Lifetime, C SPAN, and other local and national media. He's also the author of four non fiction books and one crime novel. Today he discusses the story of an almost impossible mission for the U. S. Navy to locate, disable, and capture a mostly intact U Boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and the men who pulled it off. It's also the story of the crew of the German U Boats themselves, the hardships they endured, and how they nearly turned the tide of the entire war itself.Connect with Charles:charleslachman.comCheck out his book, Codename Nemo, here.https://www.amazon.com/Codename-Nemo-U-Boat-Elusive-Machine/dp/1635768713/Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
6/10/202458 minutes, 21 seconds
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150. The President's Kill List with Dr. Luca Trenta

Today Justin sits down with Dr. Luca Trenta. Luca is an associate professor in international relations at Swansea University in Wales, and is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Higher Education Academy. He's written extensively on the subjects of covert action and assassination as tools of foreign policy. He is the host of the Out of the Shadows podcast with eight episodes available now, and he has appeared on four episodes of the Secret Wars Uncovered series on the History Channel.  Today he discusses his book, The President's Kill List, which was just published on May 31st, 2024. It's a thorough history of U. S. government involvement in the assassination of foreign officials from the early Cold War through the present day.  These operations, both successful and unsuccessful, have played a major role in American foreign policy and world affairs on many occasions. Connect with Luca:swansea.ac.uk/staff/l.trentaTwitter/X: @LucaTrentaCheck out The President's Kill List here. Use code NEW30 for 30% off.https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-president-s-kill-list.htmlConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Grave InjusticeThe makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court and the cases they are hearing are no...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyHistory by MailWho knew? Not me! Learn something new every month. Use code JUSTIN10 for 10% off your subscription.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
6/3/20241 hour, 4 minutes, 35 seconds
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149. The Fall of a Clandestine Financier with Peter Butt

This weak Justin chats with Peter Butt. Peter is an author and award -winning documentary filmmaker. He is the founder of Black Wattle Films and his work has appeared on BBC, National Geographic, The History Channel and elsewhere. Peter has focused particularly on the Cold War, the nuclear arms race and espionage activities, particularly in Australia. Today he discusses his work investigating Frank Nugan and Michael John Hand, founders of the Nugan Hand Bank. Their small financial institution quickly grew and opened branches all over Asia and Australia and financed drug smugglers, arms traffickers, and clandestine intelligence operation, but it all came to a head in 1980 with law enforcement investigations, the death of one of the founders, and the disappearance of the other. Connect with Peter:blackwattlefilms.com.auCheck out Peter's book, Merchants of Menace, here.https://www.amazon.com/Merchants-Menace-Story-Nugan-Scandal/dp/0992325285Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.S.O.E. ExpeditionsFollow in the footsteps of legends and retrace some of the most famous operations of WWII.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
5/27/20241 hour, 1 minute, 11 seconds
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148. Japan's British Spy on American Soil with Ronald Drabkin

This week Justin is joined by Ronald Drabkin. Ron earned his Bachelor's Degree from Duke University and his Master's from UC Berkeley. Since then, he's worked in the tech industry, first with Intel Corporation and later as an entrepreneur and investor. He's also written peer reviewed articles on espionage history in Japan. Today he discusses his first book, published earlier this year, titled Beverly Hills Spy. It's the story of Frederick Rutland, a veteran pilot and aviation pioneer, who left the British Royal Navy to work with the fledgling Japanese aviation industry in the 1920s. Rutland's contributions over the coming years helped them leap forward and better prepare for their coming war with their greatest adversary, United States Navy, fleet based at Pearl Harbor.Connect with Ron:X/Twitter: @DrabkinRonCheck out Ron's book, Beverly Hills Spy, here.https://www.amazon.com/Beverly-Hills-Spy-Double-Agent-Helped/dp/0063310074Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.History by MailWho knew? Not me! Learn something new every month. Use code JUSTIN10 for 10% off your subscription.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
5/20/202443 minutes, 36 seconds
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147. A Mother at War: Shannon Kent's Duty, Sacrifice, and Humanity with Joe Kent

Today, Justin talks with Joe Kent. Joe spent 20 years in the United States Army, serving in the Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces, and later other elite units within Joint Special Operations Command, before retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer III. His time in the service included 11 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. It was during one of those deployments that he first met Shannon Smith, the woman he would later marry.  Shannon was a trailblazer within the special operations community who excelled at everything she put her mind to and made an unforgettable impact on the lives of everyone around her. Today Joe discusses his book, Send Me: The True Story of a Mother at War. It's the story of Shannon Kent's life, her family, her career, and her tragic death in northern Syria in January, 2019. Connect with Joe:joekentforcongress.comIG: @joekent16jan19Check out Joe's book on Shannon, Send Me, here.https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063039893/keywords=biography?tag=harpercollinsus-20Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.History by MailWho knew? Not me! Learn something new every month. Use code JUSTIN10 for 10% off your subscription.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
5/13/202437 minutes, 55 seconds
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146. Civil War Special Operations Units with Patrick K. O'Donnell

This week Justin talks with Patrick K. O'Donnell. Patrick is a combat historian who has covered the war in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004, where he was armed and participated in the battle alongside U. S. Marines. He is an expert on special operations units and irregular warfare. He's published 13 books so far on combat history, covering stories from the American Revolution, World War II. The Global War on Terror and more. He's also the author of the Brenner Assignment, related to episode 90 of the podcast with Jack Chappell, the son of OSS officer Howard Chappell, who was one of the primary subjects of Patrick's book. Today Patrick discusses his newest book, The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln's Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby's Rangers, and the Shadow War that forged America's Special Operations. It's the story of some of the most fascinating figures from both sides of the American Civil War and how their contributions shaped that conflict and its aftermath. Connect with Patrick:The Unvanquished comes out May 7th. Check it out it out here.The Unvanquished by Patrick K. O'DonnellConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.History by MailWho knew? Not me! Learn something new every month. Use code JUSTIN10 for 10% off your subscription.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
5/6/202452 minutes, 30 seconds
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145. Capturing Lothar Witzke: German Spy, Saboteur, and Assassin with Bill Mills

This week, Justin speaks with Bill Mills. Bill holds a B.A. in History from Framingham State University and has written four nonfiction books about espionage during the First World War. Along the way, he has amassed a significant private collection of original documents, photos, and artifacts related to espionage during that war. Today he shares story of Germany's highly-coordinated and highly-effective sabotage campaign against the United States during World War I.  Ships, warehouses, and factories across the country were damaged or destroyed by brand new types of destructive devices and a skilled team of saboteurs who evaded capture time and time again until they met their match facing a handful of world class agents from the U. S. Army's Military Intelligence Section. Connect with Bill:Check out Bills most recent book, Agent of the Iron Cross, here.https://amzn.to/3WdLRTGConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to "To Die For" wherever you listen to podcasts.History by MailWho knew? Not me! Learn something new every month. Use code JUSTIN10 for 10% off your subscription.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the Show.
4/29/202454 minutes, 5 seconds
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144. How Cuba and The Cold War Made Miami with Vince Houghton and Eric Driggs

This week Justin interviews Vince Houghton and Eric Driggs. Vince grew up in Miami, Florida, and is a veteran of the U. S. Army, where he served in The Balkans. He went on to receive a master's degree and PhD in Diplomatic and Military History from the University of Maryland. He spent more than six years as the historian and curator for the International Spy Museum in Washington, D. C., and is now the director of the National Cryptologic Museum, located on the National Security Agency campus at Fort Meade, Maryland.  Eric also grew up in Miami and earned his bachelor's degree from Brown University and his Master's degree from Harvard Kennedy School.  He has worked as a Cuba analyst at the University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies and later served in the US Coast Guard as a Governmental and External Affairs officer. He's currently a congressional liaison for the United States Southern Command, which oversees all US military activities and operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean.They're here today to tell the story of Miami, Florida in the second half of the 20th century and beyond, and how much the city itself was shaped by the CIA, the CIA. By Cuban exiles, and by the conflicts that define the Cold War.Listen to Vince's first episode, number 130: Nuking the Moon with Vincent HoughtonConnect with Vince and Eric:Vince on Twitter/X: @IntelHistorianCheck out Vince and Eric's book, Covert City, here. Dropping Tuesday, April 23rd.https://www.amazon.com/Covert-City-Cold-Making-Miami/dp/1541774574Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.History by MailWho knew? Not me! Learn something new every month. Use code JUSTIN10 for 10% off your subscription.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to To Die For on March 26th wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
4/22/20241 hour, 23 minutes, 5 seconds
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143. Friendly Intelligence in the Falklands with Nick van der Bijl

Today just chats with Nick van der Bijl. Nick served for 24 years as a regular in the British Army in military intelligence, security, and later as an infantry officer in the Territorial Army. He saw active service in Northern Ireland, Belize, and with the 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands Conflict. Since leaving the service, Nick has published 23 books on military history, covering several different conflicts and eras. This week he discusses his experiences during the Falklands war between Argentina and the United Kingdom, which lasted for 74 days, beginning in April, 1982. Nick was on the ground as a non commissioned officer in the intelligence section of the 3 Commando Brigade as British forces fought to retake the islands and worked to build the intelligence picture for commanders making life and death decisions every day.Check out Nick's book, My Friends, The Enemy, here.https://www.amazon.com/My-Friends-Enemy-Intelligence-Falklands/dp/1445694182Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Tenderfoot TVReal. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to To Die For on March 26th wherever you listen to podcasts.History by MailWho knew? Not me! Learn something new every month. Use code JUSTIN10 for 10% off your subscription.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
4/15/20241 hour, 14 minutes, 17 seconds
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142. The Cover Up of the Tragic USS Liberty Incident with Phillip F. Tourney

This week Justin sits down with Phillip Tourney. Phil enlisted in the U. S. Navy in February 1964. He served two tours on the USS Mauna Kea in the waters off Vietnam, then transferred to the USS Liberty, where he served three more tours. In June 1967, he was aboard the Liberty as a petty officer third class when the ship came under attack by Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. For his actions that day, he received a Bronze Star with "V" Device and a Purple Heart.  Since then, Phil has published three books about the attack on the USS Liberty. He is currently serving as the President of the USS Liberty Veterans Association.  Today Phil discusses the events of June 8, 1967 and their aftermath, and the cover up that soon followed from both the U.S. and Israeli governments.Connect with the Liberty Veterans Association:usslibertyveterans.orgConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Tenderfoot TV Real. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to To Die For on March 26th wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
4/8/202459 minutes, 42 seconds
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141. Benedict Arnold: America's Most Famous Traitor with Aaron Stark

This week Justin talks with returning guest Aaron Stark. Aaron served in the U S army as an Apache helicopter pilot, including on two tours in Afghanistan. He finished his term of service teaching at his alma mater West Point Military Academy as an assistant professor of economics after completing his master's in business administration at Harvard University. Today he discusses Benedict Arnold, the most famous traitor in American history. Arnold served as a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War until his shocking defection to the British Army.Listen to Aaron's first appearance on episode 99: Industrial Espionage: The Downfall of a Great American Company with Aaron Stark See Arnold and Andre's meeting sites here: https://www.aaronstarkbooks.com/arnold-andre/project-three-sng7y-3tr4lConnect with Aaron:aaronstarkbooks.comLinkedIn: Aaron StarkTwitter: @DisruptingTimeConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Tenderfoot TV Real. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to To Die For on March 26th wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
4/1/20241 hour, 1 minute, 14 seconds
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140. An Atomic Soviet Spy with Ann Hagedorn

This week Justin talks with Ann Hagedorn. Ann is a former staff writer for the Wall Street Journal and an award winning author of six narrative nonfiction books ranging in topics from thoroughbred horse racing to international kidnapping to unsung heroes of America's anti slavery movement and to the high drama of the tumultuous year 1919.  She's a graduate of Denison University and holds a master's degree from the University of Michigan and Columbia University, plus an honorable honorary doctorate from Denison.  Today, Ann tells the story of an almost completely unknown Soviet spy who infiltrated the Manhattan Project facilities at Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Dayton, Ohio and did so without raising any major suspicions for several years after his return to the Soviet Union. Connect with Ann:annhagedorn.comCheck out her book, Sleeper Agent, here.https://www.amazon.com/Sleeper-Agent-Atomic-America-Away/dp/1501173944Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Tenderfoot TV Real. Powerful. Storytelling. Tune in to To Die For on March 26th wherever you listen to podcasts.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
3/25/20241 hour, 7 minutes, 14 seconds
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139. Freddie Scappaticci: IRA Turncoat with Richard O'Rawe

This week Justin talks with Richard "Ricky" O'Rawe, a former member of the Irish Republican Army. Since leaving the IRA, Ricky has worked as a peace advocate and has written several nonfiction books as well as two novels about The Troubles.  Today Ricky shares the story of Britain's greatest intelligence coup during The Troubles: the recruitment of Freddie Scappaticci, the man who ran the IRA's internal security unit. He vetted all the IRA recruits and hunted down informants within the ranks, all while reporting everything he saw, did, and learned to British intelligence. Connect with Ricky:Check out his book, Stakeknife's Dirty War, here.https://www.amazon.com/Stakeknifes-Dirty-War-Scappaticci-Nutting/dp/1785374478Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
3/18/202458 minutes, 38 seconds
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138. The Defection of a Communist Spy Queen with Kathryn Olmsted

This week Justin sits down with Dr. Kathryn Olmsted.  Kathryn is a professor of history at the University of California, Davis, where she has taught since 2001. She's published five books and many journal articles focusing on the political and cultural history of the United States since World War I. Today she discusses the story of Elizabeth Bentley, a spy and agent handler for the Communist Party of the United States and for the Soviet Union from the late 1930s through World War II.  But in 1945, she broke ties with both organizations and walked into an FBI field office to alert them to the presence of a massive and almost completely unknown espionage ring that had penetrated the U.S. government at many different levels.  She became a media sensation and helped to alert Congress and the American public to the new Cold War that they found themselves in with the USSR.Connect with Kathryn:Check out her book, Red Spy Queen, here.https://www.amazon.com/Red-Spy-Queen-Biography-Elizabeth/dp/0807827398Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Support the show
3/11/202451 minutes, 15 seconds
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137. The Hitman, the Dissident, and the Detective with Ray Martinez

This week, Justin sits down with Ray Martinez. Ray served three consecutive terms as mayor of the city of Fort Collins, Colorado between 1999 and 2005. He was later elected to the Fort Collins City Council, serving a term from 2015 through 2019.  Ray is an active member of several local advisory boards in the Fort Collins area. He's also the author of 15 books and he is the founder of RM Consulting Inc., where he provides consulting services in many different areas, including writing and publishing, business development, marketing, public relations, and more.  But long before Ray began his service as an elected official, he was a police officer and detective with the Fort Collins police department for 25 years beginning in 1974. Today, he's here to discuss what was arguably the biggest case of his career, which began one night in October, 1980 with a wife's frantic call reporting that her husband had been shot in their apartment. From there, it spiraled into a massive story involving international arms traffickers, an ex-Army Special Forces hitman, and a North African dictator and the Central Intelligence Agency. Connect with Ray:raymartinez.comConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.S.O.E. Expeditions Follow in the footsteps of legends and retrace some of the most famous operations of WWII.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
3/4/202458 minutes, 51 seconds
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136. A Vietnamese Agent Hidden for 20 Years with Dr. Larry Berman

Today Justin talks with Dr. Larry Berman. Larry is a professor emeritus at the University of California, Davis. He has published four books dealing with the history of America's involvement in the Vietnam War. His work has also been featured on C-SPAN, The History Channel, and Vietnam: A Television History.  Today Larry discusses the incredible double life of Phạm Xuân Ẩn,  Time Magazine reporter and Vietnamese communist agent. It's the story of a spy in South Vietnam who went undiscovered for 20 years, even as he worked his way into the highest levels of the South Vietnamese government, the international media and the U. S. Military Assistance Command. Ẩn was a solo agent who gained the trust of everyone who knew him, and used that trust to deliver priceless information to the North Vietnamese time and time again.Connect with Larry:larryberman.netCheck out Larry's book, Perfect Spy, here.https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Spy-Incredible-Vietnamese-Communist/dp/0060888393Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Cloaked Entry Co. Are you ready to learn practical skills used by covert operatives? Use code SPYCRAFT101 for $50 off.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
2/26/20241 hour, 11 minutes, 15 seconds
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135. General James Wilkinson: American Traitor with Howard Cox

Today Justin talks with Howard W. Cox. Howard is a former federal prosecutor, criminal investigator, and senior intelligence service officer. After graduating from Georgetown University Law Center, he served as a trial attorney for the U. S. Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps, followed by many other investigative and prosecutorial assignments throughout The federal government, his final position before retiring from federal service was as the assistant inspector general for investigations at CIA. Howard has come on the podcast discuss his general James Wilkinson's betrayal of the young USA and escape from justice. It's the story of the highest ranking federal employee to ever be investigated for espionage. As the commander in chief of the United States Army, Wilkinson served for more than 40 years under America's first four presidents, all while acting as a secret agent for the government of Spain.Connect with Howard:[email protected] out Howard's book, American Traitor, here.https://www.amazon.com/American-Traitor-Wilkinsons-Betrayal-Republic/dp/1647123429Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Whale Hunting Newsletter Read about the world's richest and most dangerous individuals, often unknown to the public.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
2/19/20241 hour, 14 minutes, 31 seconds
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134. North Vietnamese and Viet Cong Intelligence with Dr. David Strachan-Morris

This week, Justin sits down with Dr. David Strachan-Morris. David is a lecturer in intelligence and security at the University of Lancaster, where he runs the M. A . in Intelligence and Security program, as well as being Director of Distance Learning for the School of History, Politics, and International Relations. Before embarking on an academic career, he served in the Intelligence Corps in the British Army and worked at intelligence management roles in the private security industry in Iraq.  Today, David shares his work on the subject of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong intelligence activities during the Vietnam War. Connect with David:Twitter/X: @DrDavidSMLinkedIn: David Strachan-Morris, Ph.D., SFHEA, FISRM, MSecIIConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Whale Hunting Newsletter Read about the world's richest and most dangerous individuals, often unknown to the public.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
2/12/202443 minutes, 8 seconds
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133. A Double Agent in the Canadian Mounted Police with Justin Ling

This week's guest is Justin Ling. Justin is an award winning investigative journalist whose work has appeared in Vice, Maclean's Foreign Policy, and The Globe and Mail, among other publications. He's also the author of the book Missing from the Village, which is about Toronto based serial killer Bruce MacArthur and has hosted two seasons of the Uncover Podcast for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Today, Justin dives into a story he wrote in April, 2021 titled "The Rise and Fall of a Double Agent". It's the story of Cameron Ortiz, a senior member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who was arrested after a classified document was found in the possession of a businessman providing encrypted phones to criminal organizations worldwide.Connect with Justin:substack.com/@justinlingConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Whale Hunting Newsletter Read about the world's richest and most dangerous individuals, often unknown to the public.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
2/5/20241 hour, 3 minutes, 9 seconds
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132. Noel Field: Stalin's Last American Spy with Kati Marton

This week, Justin sits down with Kati Marton. Kati is an author, journalist, and correspondent who has worked with National Public Radio and later ABC News, where she was the Bureau Chief in Germany. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Times of London, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, and many other publications. She has also published nine books and has served as an advocate for human rights all over the world, including as the chair of the International Women's Health Coalition and on the board of directors for the International Rescue Committee.  I invited Kati onto the podcast to discuss the story of Noel Field, a State Department Foreign Service officer and devoted communist ideologue, who was part of a Soviet spy network inside the U.S. government in the years leading up to World War II.  Noel ultimately suffered tremendous consequences for his role as a spy, but not as a result of a trial in the U.S. Instead, despite his unfailing loyalty to the communist party, he spent years in a Hungarian prison as a suspected double agent.Connect with Kati:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kati_MartonCheck out Kati's book, True Believer, here.https://www.amazon.com/True-Believer-Stalins-Last-American/dp/1476763763Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
1/29/202449 minutes, 44 seconds
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131. A Bombing in Sheridan Circle with Alan McPherson

This week Justin chats with Dr. Alan McPherson. Alan is a historian of U.S. foreign relations at Temple University and the director of the Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy. He received his Ph.D. in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his M.A. in history from San Francisco State University.  He has also published 11 books and dozens of articles on U. S. foreign relations, particularly regarding Latin America. Today Alan discusses a story which culminates in a bombing in Washington, D.C. in September 1976, which took the lives of two people and wounded a third. The perpetrators were linked to the government of General Augusto Pinochet and to the Central Intelligence Agency.Connect with Alan:X/Twitter: @AlanMcPherson1Check out his book, Ghosts of the Sheridan Circle, here.https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Sheridan-Circle-Washington-Assassination-ebook/dp/B07NMVXD24Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
1/22/20241 hour, 21 minutes, 29 seconds
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130. Nuking the Moon with Vincent Houghton

Today, Justin sits down with Vince Houghton. Vince is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Balkans. He went on to receive a Master's Degree and PhD in Diplomatic and Military history from the University of Maryland. He spent more than six years as the historian and curator for the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC, and is now the director of the National Cryptologic Museum located on the National Security Agency campus at Fort Meade, Maryland. This week Vince discusses Nuking the Moon: And Other Intelligence Schemes and Military Plots Left on the Drawing Board.  As you can already surmise from that title, it's a close look at some of the most incredible plans never put into action spanning the 20th century and beyond. Connect with Vince:Twitter: @IntelHistorianCheck out Nuking the Moon here.https://www.amazon.com/Nuking-Moon-Intelligence-Schemes-Military/dp/0525505172Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
1/15/20241 hour, 19 minutes, 50 seconds
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129. The Cambridge Five with Dr. Paul Winter

This week Justin sits down with Dr. Paul Winter. Paul is an independent historian, an author who specializes in wartime intelligence and military history, and a Red Team consultant. He's published articles in several journals and has written two books about World War II called D Day Documents and Defeating Hitler, as well as a third book called First In, Last Out, The Post War Organization, Employment, and Training of Royal Marines Commandos.  He has also been an affiliated academic with the British Royal Marines, assisting with professional military education and officer career development, and was a member of the Land and Littoral Strike Team at the Maritime Warfare Center in Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. Today, Paul discuses a subject he has previously taught a course on: the Cambridge Five, arguably the most famous spiring of the Cold War.  They were a group of men who did an astonishing amount of damage to British Intelligence and the Foreign Office, and all of them were recruited while studying at Cambridge University in their youth.Connect with Paul:IG: @drpaulwinterConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Support the show
1/8/20241 hour, 4 minutes, 33 seconds
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128. A POW Spy Ring in Vietnam with Jim Stockdale

This week Justin's guest is James B. Stockdale II. Jim has worked in public education for many years, including as an independent school headmaster, public school district superintendent, and as a distinguished educator for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. He's also the son of U. S. Navy aviator, Admiral James B. Stockdale. Admiral Stockdale was shot down over North Vietnam in September 1965. and would go on to spend more than seven years as a prisoner of war in Hualap Prison,  better known as the Hanoi Hilton.  While there, not only did he persevere without breaking in the face of torture and interrogation by his captors, but he did something that shouldn't have been possible, and something that was one of America's most closely guarded secrets for decades afterwards. He established covert communications with the CIA and created a spy ring within the prison itself.  I invited Jim onto the podcast to discuss his father's years of imprisonment during the Vietnam War and the espionage network he formed, formed inside the Hanoi Hilton against all odds.Connect with Jim:jimstockdale.comConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
1/1/20241 hour, 42 minutes, 10 seconds
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127. Modern Espionage Tales with The Gunfighter Project

In this bonus episode, Justin shares his interview from The Gunfighter Project podcast. With host B, he discusses espionage stories that sound too incredible to be true.  The Gunfighter Project features members of some of the world's most elite military units. It's a conversational show where professionals from around the world share their expertise to help you protect yourself and your family and stay prepared for everyday dangers. Connect with The Gunfighter Project:linktr.ee/thegunfighterprojectIG: @the_gunfighterprojectConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
12/25/20231 hour, 16 minutes, 23 seconds
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126. Israel's Original Spies with Matti Friedman

Justin's guest this week is Matti Friedman. Matti has worked as a correspondent for the Associated Press and his work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Smithsonian Magazine, and elsewhere. He's also the author of four nonfiction books covering subjects related to the formation of Israel and the conflicts that followed the birth of that nation. Today Matti tells the story of four men who worked undercover as part of the Arab Section, a tiny group of Jewish spies who operated with no support, no funding, and facing almost impossible odds during the tumultuous months in 1948 when Israel declared independence and faced the combined armies of the Arab nations surrounding it.Connect with Matti:Twitter: @MattiFriedmanCheck out Matti's book, Spies of No Country, here.https://www.amazon.com/Spies-No-Country-Secret-Israel/dp/1616207221Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Support the show
12/18/20231 hour, 4 minutes, 41 seconds
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125. Privatized Intelligence Gathering with Robert Lancaster

This week Justin talks with Robert Lancaster. Robert served in the British Army from 1977 until 1989, including time spent with 22nd SAS, and then in the Australian Army as a reserve special forces soldier. In 1991, he founded Lancaster's Global Risk Consultancy based in Australia, which has offered a wide variety of security surveillance, business intelligence, and counterintelligence services all over the world. His previous clients include governments, multinational corporations, publicly listed companies, law firms, and major industrial and mining concerns. Today Robert explores the world of privatized intelligence gathering and how it relates to and differs from the actions of national organizations and agencies. Connect with Robert:lancasters-global.comIG: @plantagenet_manorConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.The Fandalorians: Teachers by Day, Nerds by NightThree long-term friends and teachers debate, bicker, and banter about all things fandom.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyA podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Support the show
12/11/20231 hour, 7 minutes, 56 seconds
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124. Double Agent: How I Caught a Russian Spy with Naveed Jamali

This week Justin sits down with Naveed Jamali. Naveed is currently an editor at large for Newsweek, where he reports on national security issues. Naveed grew up in New York City, where his parents owned a small business selling technical journals and other hard to find publications. This inadvertently put them in touch with Russian agents working under diplomatic cover at the Soviet mission to the United Nations, who were constantly seeking information on American research and development across a wide variety of issues. And it led Naveed himself to become the linchpin in an amazing FBI operation to catch one of these Russian agents in an act of espionage. Today he discusses his time as a double agent working for both the FBI and the Russian GRU.Connect with Naveed:Twitter: @NaveedAJamaliIG: @navjamaliThreads: @navjamaliCatch Unconventional here.https://www.newsweek.com/unconventional/naveedjamaliCheck out Naveed's book, How To Catch a Russian Spy, here.https://www.amazon.com/How-Catch-Russian-Spy-American/dp/1476788820#:~:text=How%20to%20Catch%20a%20Russian%20Spy%20is%20the%20one%2Dof,Miami%20Vice%20and%20Magnum%20P.I.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.A podcast from SPYSCAPE.A History of the World in Spy Objects Incredible tools and devices and their real-world use.Support the show
12/4/202355 minutes, 45 seconds
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123. The Unsung Icarus of the French Resistance with Peter Dowding

Today Justin talks with Peter Dowding. Peter worked as a solicitor and barrister for many years in Australia, beginning in 1966. He also served in various positions with the Labour Party and was elected to serve as the 24th Premier for Western Australia from 1988 until 1990. Peter is here to tell the story of his uncle Bruce who was studying in Paris when Germany invaded duriNg WWII and felt the call to contribute in any way that he could.  Bruce served in uniform, was captured, escaped, joined the French resistance, and even served at the behest of Britain's MI9. His life was cut tragically short during the war, as were so many others. Peter has spent years researching his uncle's life and contributions during the war.Connect with Peter:IG: @peterdowdingauthorCheck out Peter's book, Secret Agent, Unsung Hero, here. https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Agent-Unsung-Hero-Dowding/dp/1399055437Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.True Spies Podcast Want to hear more unique espionage stories? Check out the True Spies Podcast.Soteira Systems Escape is an option. Save 10% with code SPYCRAFT101Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
11/27/202359 minutes, 58 seconds
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122. How Polish Counterintelligence Officers Penetrated Foreign Embassies with Tomasz Awlasewicz

This week's guest is Tomasz Awasiewicz. Tom is an author, journalist, and expert on counterintelligence who has taught courses at the SWPS University of Social Sciences in Warsaw and elsewhere. Currently, he focuses on the Cold War-era intelligence and counterintelligence units of the Polish People's Republic. Today, Tom discusses a covert unit of Polish counterintelligence officers who specialized in penetrating foreign embassies to steal their secrets. The unit was filled with safe crackers and second story men who paid an incredible price for their years of service to their government in a high-risk, high-reward mission.Connect with Tom:[email protected] Tom's book, Niewidzialni (best translated to Invisible), is not yet available in English but you can get it in Polish here.https://www.amazon.com/Niewidzialni-Najwi%C4%99ksza-tajemnica-slu%C5%BCb-specjalnych/dp/8326832804Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
11/20/20231 hour, 34 minutes, 50 seconds
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121. How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World with Alex Joske

This week Justin is joined by Alex Joske. Alex is an analyst and researcher who focuses on the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party. He has worked for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and has also written articles which have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and with NBC News. Today he's here to discuss the incredible effort China has put into influencing world opinion over the past few decades, and how they've successfully lulled so many people and governments into a false sense of security and complacency as to their true intentions. You might recognize a name we talk about today: Katrina Leung, the infamous triple agent who allegedly marreid her FBI handler. Connect with Alex:Twitter: @alexjoskeLinkedIn: Alex JoskeCheck out Alex's book, Spies and Lies, here.https://www.amazon.com/Spies-Lies-Chinas-Greatest-Operations/dp/1743797990Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
11/13/20231 hour, 5 minutes, 35 seconds
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120. A Life in State Department Counterintelligence with Robert Booth

This week Justin sits down with Robert David Booth. Robert served as a special agent with the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security all over the world for nearly 30 years, in locations like Beijing, Geneva, Tokyo, Haiti, and Paris. He was the deputy director for the Office of Counterintelligence from 1996 until 2002,  and afterwards served as a consultant for the same office until 2012.  Today Robert shares about his career with the State Department and several of the very famous and infamous espionage cases he worked on over the years.Connect with Robert:Email: [email protected] Check out his book, State Department Counterintelligence, here.https://www.amazon.com/State-Department-Counterintelligence-Leaks-Spies/dp/1612542158Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off!Soteira Systems Escape is an option. Save 10% with code SPYCRAFT101Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
11/6/20231 hour, 26 minutes, 9 seconds
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119. Rampant Assassination in the Roman Empire with Colonel Rose Mary Sheldon

Repeat guest Rose Mary Sheldon taught history as a professor at Virginia Military Institute for more than 25 years and is a world renowned expert on intelligence activities in the ancient world. She earned her Ph. D. from the University of Michigan in 1987, and has published several books and many articles over the years, as well as serving as an editor for The International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, and Small Wars and Insurgencies, and The Journal of Military History. Today Rose Mary discusses the lives and deaths of the first five Roman emperors and the internal security measures they put in place to protect themselves with varying degrees of success. A staggering 75% of Roman emperors died by assassination.Check out episode 81, Espionage In Ancient Rome with Colonel Rose Mary Sheldon, here.Check out Rose Mary's latest book, Kill Caesar!, here.https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Caesar-Assassination-Early-Empire/dp/1538114887Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.True Spies Podcast Want to hear more unique espionage stories? Check out the True Spies Podcast.Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off!Soteira Systems Escape is an option. Save 10% with code SPYCRAFT101Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
10/30/202359 minutes, 54 seconds
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118. World War II's Serial Killer: The Crimes of Marcel Petiot

In this solo episode, Justin tells the story of a notorious serial killer active in France during World War II who effectively used the war itself as cover for his crimes. But Marcel Petiot was much more than just a murder. He was a conman, a thief, a doctor, a politician, a target for the Gestapo, and possibly even a source of information for a little known U. S. intelligence organization known as The Pond. Petiot was finally convicted of 26 murders (though his death toll is thought to be between 60 and 200) and put to death by guillotine in Paris in 1946.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
10/23/202341 minutes, 15 seconds
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117. The Lumumba Plot with Stuart Reid

This week's guest is Stuart Reid. Stuart is a graduate of Dartmouth college and has worked at Foreign Affairs Magazine for the past 15 years, where he's now an executive editor. He's also written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, Businessweek, Politico Magazine, Slate, and other publications. Today he discusses his new book, The Lumumba Plot.  It centers ontThe very short and tragic career of the Republic of the Congo's first prime minister after gaining independence from Belgium in 1960. Patrice Lumumba served for just a few months before he was ousted from his position, arrested, tortured, and eventually executed. He was caught up in the international power struggle between the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Nations, and the Belgian governmentCheck out the first chapter and the prologue of The Lumumba Plot here.  https://thelumumbaplot.subscribemenow.comConnect with Stuart:stuartareid.comTwitter: @stuartareidConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.True Spies Podcast Want to hear more unique espionage stories? Check out the True Spies Podcast.Centurion Combat Simulations Have you ever wanted to feel what it's like to operate in the shadows?Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
10/16/202358 minutes, 18 seconds
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116. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations in West Germany with Michael Honegger

Today's guest is Michael Honegger. Michael is a professional photographer and author. He spent much of his youth growing up in West Germany in the 1960s. His father was an officer with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Michael knew almost nothing of his father's career at the time, but there were a lot of clues that he was involved in some very important and very secretive work. Years later, Michael embarked on a quest to learn more about his father's work and put it into the larger context of the Cold War. On the podcat and in his book, Michael shares stories, records, and photos, both from his own family's years in West Germany, the archives of the East German Stasi, and from the Berlin Spy Museum.Connect with Michael:michaelhoneggerphotos.comIG: @michaelhoneggerphotosCheck out Michael's book, Need to Know, here.https://blowuppress.eu/collections/bup-publications/products/the-need-to-knowConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.True Spies Podcast Want to hear more unique espionage stories? Check out the True Spies Podcast.Centurion Combat Simulations Have you ever wanted to feel what it's like to operate in the shadows?Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
10/9/202348 minutes, 54 seconds
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115. Protecting International Defectors with Joe Augustyn

This week Justin sits down with Joe Augustyn. Joe was a member of the Central Intelligence Agency's clandestine service for 28 years, working as a case officer in several locations and later as Chief of Station on three different occasions. After the September 11th attacks, he was appointed the deputy associate director of CIA for Homeland Security until the standup of the brand new Department of Homeland Security in November, 2002. He's also been credited as being one of the original architects of what is now called the National Counterterrorism Center. Joe even served as Chief of Staff for the Deputy Director for Operations, where he monitored and helped manage the CIA's covert action programs. Today, he dives into one of his assignments as Director of the CIA's Defector Resettlement Center, responsible for the resettlement of high level defectors granted entry into the United States. In particular, they discuss Aleksandr Zaporozhsky, the KGB agent who notoriously gave up Alrich Ames.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
10/2/20231 hour, 37 seconds
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114. Death and the Dangers of Clandestine Work Part II

This week, Justin covers four mysterious espionage deaths. In most of these cases, the exact nature of the events that came to pass is still up for debate. He dives into chilling and complex stories from Cold War Germany to Czechoslovakia, Washington DC, and Scotland. Unfortunately in these cases, we often never find answers.Check out episode 76,  Death and the Dangers of Clandestine Work, here.https://www.buzzsprout.com/1780478/11919106Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
9/25/202335 minutes, 47 seconds
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113. Spies in Uniform: The Military Liaison Missions in Berlin

This week, Justin shares the story of the military liaison missions in post-war Germany, or the spies in uniform. If you're a longtime listener, you might recall episode number 23 with Aden Magee, who participated in these missions himself and wrote a book about it titled Cold War Wilderness of Mirrors. Today Justin gives broader overview of the subject today because it was such a unique mission that could only have taken place in a divided Germany caught between the two nuclear superpowers.Check out episode 23, Secrets of the Cold War from 1947 to 1990 with Aden Magee.https://www.buzzsprout.com/1780478/9465623Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Listen to The Compass of PowerAnd ask where the politicians are coming from.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show
9/18/202334 minutes, 36 seconds
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112. Mark of the Maker with Mark Stheiner, Tom Krein, and Sean Kendrick

This week, Justin shares his interview from the Mark of the Maker Podcast, with hosts Mark Stheiner, Tom Krein, and Sean Kendrick. It's a podcast about knives by knifemakers, discussing everything forging and creation to collecting and history. They dove into some of the most interesting weapons from Justin's book, Covert Arms.Connect with Mark of the Maker:IG: @markofthemakerConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
9/11/20232 hours, 5 minutes, 7 seconds
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111. The Priest Who Funneled Weapons from Gaddafi to the IRA with Jennifer O'Leary

Today, Justin sits down with Jennifer O'Leary. Jennifer is an award-winning investigative reporter for BBC Northern Ireland's current affairs program called Spotlight. She has investigated a wide variety of stories, including money laundering by organized crime, criminal conspiracy to export horses unfit for human consumption into the food chain, and the secret intelligence war between the state and the IRA. This week Jennifer tells the story of Father Patrick Ryan, a Catholic priest who helped funnel weapons and money from Muamar Gaddafi in Libya and the Irish Republican Army during the troubles. Jennifer was the first person that Father Ryan ever opened up to publicly about his incredible story.Want to learn more? Get a free sample of Jennifer's book: https://thepadre.subscribemenow.com/Connect with Jennifer:Twitter: @Jen_O_LearyLinkedIn: Jennifer O'LearyCheck out Jennifer's book, The Padre, here.https://www.amazon.com/Padre-Story-Irish-Priest-Gaddafis/dp/1785374613Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off!SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
9/4/202348 minutes
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110. The Mysterious Death of an Anti-Communist Danish Diplomat

In this solo episode, Justin shares a confusing and twisted story he's posted about  before on his Instagram page. This is the mysterious death of a Danish diplomat on Long Island in November, 1959.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
8/28/202333 minutes, 35 seconds
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109. Spy Hunter: How I Caught Robert Hanssen with Eric O'Neill

This week Justin talks with author, attorney, public speaker, security expert, and former FBI agent Eric O'Neill. Eric is the founder of the Georgetown Group, a premier investigative services and security firm. In law, he specializes in national security matters. But long before that, he was a young investigative specialist with the FBI. In December of 2000, he was unexpectedly pulled off his normal duties for a special assignment, which would arguably be one of the most important ever in the history of the bureau. He was going to go undercover against one of the FBI's own senior special agents who was suspected of spying for the Russian government: Robert Hanssen. Eric's experiences and contributions to Hanssen's capture would later serve as inspiration for the feature film Breach.Connect with Eric:Twitter: @eoniellIG: @ericoneill.officialCheck out his book, Gray Day, here.https://www.amazon.com/Gray-Day-Undercover-Mission-Americas/dp/0525573526Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.History Nerds UnitedLet's make history fun again! Come listen to interviews with today's best authors.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show
8/21/20231 hour, 23 minutes, 2 seconds
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108. The Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi

In another solo episode, Justin covers a relatively recent assassination. This is the story of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and dissident who was murdered in 2018 after being lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
8/14/202326 minutes, 55 seconds
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107. British Covert Action with Rory Cormac

This week Justin sits down with Rory Cormac. Rory is a professor of international relations at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, specializing in secret intelligence and covert action. He's also given presentations at #10 Downing Street, he UK Ministry of Defense, the US State Department, and the Pentagon. In addition to teaching, he's written five books focusing on British history, covert action, and statecraft.  Today, he discusses British covert activities in the post-World War II era.Connect with Rory:Twitter: @rorycormacCheck out his book, Disrupt and Deny, here.https://www.amazon.com/Disrupt-Deny-Special-Pursuit-British/dp/0198784600/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
8/7/20231 hour, 9 minutes, 56 seconds
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106. Fighting for the Truth: A Green Beret's Death with Michelle Black

This week's guest is Michelle Black (no relation). Michelle is a mother to two boys and the widow of Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, who was killed in an ambush along with three other Special Forces soldiers in Niger, Africa in October, 2017. Michelle sought answers in the aftermath of her husband's death, but only found more questions. She eventually decided to find out for herself what really happened to her husband, and learned that bad assumptions, bad intelligence, and bad decisions at several levels resulted in terrible consequences for the men on the ground. I invited Michelle onto the podcast to tell the story, not just of the ambush that cost the lives of four men and changed countless others, but also the search for the truth behind an investigation which seemingly sought to protect those who were most responsible for the events of that terrible date.Connect with Michelle:IG: @michelleblack71Facebook: Author Michelle BlackCheck out Michelle's book, Sacrifice, here.https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Gold-Widows-Fight-Truth/dp/0593190939Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
7/31/20231 hour, 39 minutes, 46 seconds
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105. Thrive Unafraid with Kelly Sayre and Doug Patteson

This week, Justin shares his interview from the Thrive Unafraid podcast, hosted by situational awareness expert Kelly Sayre and former CIA case officer Doug Patteson. You may remember Doug from episode two of the podcast in which he discussed his life in the CIA. On their show, Justin discusses how to defend yourself against common manipulation techniques and the importance of persona resilience.Listen to Doug's episode, The Reality of Life in the CIA,  here.https://www.buzzsprout.com/1780478/8574153Check out Thrive Unafraid here.thediamondarrowgroup.com/podcastConnect with Kelly:thediamondarrowgroup.com IG: @thediamondarrowgroupTwitter: @sayre_kellyConnect with Doug: IG: @texasspydadTwitter: @GrayManActualConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
7/24/202359 minutes, 12 seconds
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104. The Bill Buckley Story: Kidnapped by Hezbollah in Lebanon with Fred Burton

This week Justin welcomes repeat guest Fred Burton. Fred is the former Deputy Chief of the Counter-Terrorism and Protective Intelligence Division for the US State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, and is currently the executive director of the Onyx Center for Protective Intelligence. He's also the author of four non-fiction books about counterterrorism and intelligence matters. Today, Fred discusses the murder of CIA Station Chief William F. Buckley in Hezbollah's War Against America. A CIA officer and Special Forces veteran, Bill was kidnapped and murdered in Lebanon in the 1980s in an event that changed the Central Intelligence Agency and US policy towards Lebanon forever.Connect with Fred:officialfredburton.comTwitter: @fred_burtonIG: @officialfredburtonFred's book, Beirut Rules, here on Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Beirut-Rules-Station-Hezbollahs-Against/dp/1101987464Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
7/17/202354 minutes, 8 seconds
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103. Smuggling Weapons for the IRA with John Crawley

Today, Justin speaks with John Crawley. John grew up in the United States in an Irish immigrant family, and after returning to Ireland for several years he became committed to the cause of Irish independence, vowing to return to join the IRA. After a stint in the USMC as a recon Marine, he brought his combat training back with the intent to fight back against British occupying forces in Northern Ireland. John spent years in an active service unit before coming back to the US again to purchase arms and ammunition for the cause. Upon his return to Ireland, he and his shipmates were betrayed by an informant and arrested, and he spent 10 years in prison. On the podcast, John discusses his life and struggles with the Irish Republican army.Download a free sample ofJohn's book, The Yank, here: https://theyank.getresponsepages.com/Or purchase a copy here: https://amzn.to/46wKhyQConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
7/10/20231 hour, 11 minutes, 15 seconds
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102. The Rise of American Intelligence with Nicholas Reynolds

This week, Justin has a conversation with Nicholas Reynolds. After graduating from Oxford University in the 1970s, he served in the US Marine Corps as an infantry officer, and later as a historian. Nick retired from the Reserves as a colonel and the officer in charge of field history. He also served with the Central Intelligence Agency, including as the historian for the Agency's museum at their headquarters in Langley. Today, Nick dives into the origins of the modern intelligence community in the months leading up to, and then during American's involvement in WWII He gives an overview of the key decisions made along the way and the key personalities that would shape the intelligence community for decades to come.Connect with Nick:nicholasreynoldsauthor.comCheck out Nick's book, Need to Know, here.https://www.amazon.com/Need-Know-World-American-Intelligence/dp/0062967479Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
7/3/20231 hour, 2 minutes, 44 seconds
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101. Episode 101 - Looking Back and Looking Forward

In a special retrospective for episode 101 of the podcast, Justin discusses the lessons he's learned along the way. From getting into contact with incredible guests to growing an audience to some of his favorite episodes, we take a look back at how Spycraft 101 got where it is today.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
6/26/202327 minutes, 19 seconds
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100. The Disappearance of Bob Levinson with Barry Meier

This week, Justin sits down with Barry Meier. Barry is a veteran reporter who has written for the New York Times and received the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, along with other members of the New York Times staff. He's also the first journalist to bring significant attention to the dangers of abuse of the prescription drug, Oxycontin, with his book Pain Killer, which was first published in 2003. Today, Justin and Barry discuss the story of a former FBI agent turned private investigator named Robert Levinson, who went missing in 2007 while on an assignment on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, and the years long ordeal his family went through as they sought answers from both the American and Iranian governments.Connect with Barry:barrymeierbooks.comCheck out Barry's book, Missing Man, here.https://amzn.to/3NwlwdJConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.History Nerds UnitedLet's make history fun again! Come listen to interviews with today's best authors.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
6/19/202354 minutes, 11 seconds
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99. Industrial Espionage: The Downfall of a Great American Company with Aaron Stark

Today, Justin speaks with Aaron Stark. Aaron served in the US Army as an Apache helicopter pilot, including on two tours in Afghanistan. He finished his term of service teaching at his alma mater, West Point Military Academy, as an assistant professor of economics after completing his Master's in Business administration at Harvard University, and he now works as a chief of staff at a Fortune 500 tech company. Today, Aaron is discussing the story of the Waltham Watch Company, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, and how they were targeted by the Swiss watch industry at a time when Waltham was poised to dominate the global market through its development and use of cutting edge technology, leaving the antiquated Swiss industry far behind. A pair of Swiss spies infiltrated the company in a last ditch effort to save their own nation's failing industry and succeeded beyond anyone's expectations.Connect with Aaron:aaronstarkbooks.comLinkedIn: Aaron StarkTwitter: @DisruptingTimeDownload a free sample of Aaron's book here: https://disruptingtime.subscribemenow.com/Check out Aaron's book, Disrupting Time, here.https://amzn.to/42G6aINConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.AgriFutures On AirThe official podcast channel for AgriFutures Australia. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show
6/12/20231 hour, 4 minutes, 59 seconds
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98. Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin with James Stejskal

Today, Justin chats with author, veteran, and former CIA case officer James Stejskal. James enlisted in the US Army in 1973 and served for more than 20 years, including with the now famous Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin in the 1970s and 80s. Among other assignments, he was severely wounded in Somalia in 1992 and medically retired from the Army in 1996, after which he joined the CIA as a case officer, where he spent nearly another 15 years. Now fully retired from government service, James has written several non-fiction books.Connect with James:Facebook: James Stejskal WriterCheck out James' book, Special Forces Berlin, here. https://amzn.to/42ioGqsConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.AgriFutures On AirThe official podcast channel for AgriFutures Australia. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show
6/5/20231 hour, 8 minutes, 40 seconds
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97. Defecting from the USSR with Olga Sheymov

This week, Justin chats with Olga Sheymov. Olga has worked in high technology, on arts projects, and as a television producer. Her TV credits include the Long-Running series Russia Today, produced from 1997 until 2015, and Your Source TV among other projects. But long before she began her media career, Olga and her husband Victor Sheymov defected to the US and were smuggled out of the Soviet Union and into the Carpathian Mountains by a team from the Central Intelligence Agency in 1979. Victor was a high ranking member of the KGB and proved to be an incredibly valuable source of information for the US government for years to come, although their relationship with the CIA and FBI encountered many problems, to say the least. Tower of Secrets: A Real Life Spy Thriller - https://amzn.to/3owC6BDTower of Secrets II: Tiebreaker: https://amzn.to/3OF9HUrConnect with Olga:olgaarts.comallegoryofnature.comConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
5/29/20231 hour, 24 minutes, 32 seconds
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96. Tradecraft in Private Investigations with Jon and Alex of Fenrir Group

Today Justin sits down with Jon and Alex from Fenrir Group. They're licensed private investigators based in Atlanta, Georgia, who offer a wide range of services, including skip tracing, process, serving bond recovery, and boutique litigation support. Not only have they successfully closed hundreds of cases of all types, but they've also developed a very large online following and have been featured in articles with Vox, Vice, and the Discovery Plus series Secrets, Lies and Private Eyes. This episode is meant to emphasize how much crossover there is between the tradecraft we normally associate with espionage and the tactics and techniques private investigators use on a daily basis in their own line of work.Connect with Alex and Jon:fenrir-group.comJon's IG: @unique_skillsetAlex's IG: @w.aspPodcast IG: @wantedpodcastSupport the show
5/22/20231 hour, 34 minutes, 8 seconds
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95. Spying to Fight Apartheid in South Africa with Sue Dobson

Today Justin sits down with Sue Dobson. Sue grew up in Pretoria, South Africa during the apartheid era and witnessed firsthand the brutality and oppression of the government at that time. As a young woman, she decided to take action and join the outlawed African National Congress to do her part to improve the lives of Black South Africans. She was eventually sent to Moscow for nearly a year of training in surveillance, intelligence gathering, and weapons before returning to South Africa as a spy for the ANC. Once there, she lived a cover as an apolitical journalist while building relationships and reporting back to her handler in the ANC. In the end, her cover was blown and she barely escaped the country with her life. Download a free sample of Sue's book, Burned: The Spy South Africa Never Caught, here: https://burned-suedobson.subscribemenow.com/Or purchase a copy in paperback or Kindle format here: https://amzn.to/3p9gkUv Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
5/15/20231 hour, 24 minutes, 47 seconds
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94. The Tip of the Spear in the War on Terror with Erick Miyares

Today Justin sits down with Marine Corps and US Army Intelligence veteran Erick Miyares. Erick spent nearly 30 years in the US service, deployed to some of the most dangerous corners of the world. Now that he's transitioned out of the military, he has found a new mission helping members of the very same units he served with face the personal challenges brought on by so many years of unrelenting combat and separation from their families. Today he shares his experiences in the War on Terror, and the effect it had on him, his family, and his fellow service members.Connect with Erick:IG: @erick.miyaresLinkedIn: Erick MiyaresConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
5/8/20231 hour, 24 minutes, 28 seconds
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93. A Murder Plot Gone Wrong: Secret Experiments, Biological Weapons, and Apartheid

In this solo episode, Justin dives into a failed professional hit on a businessman in Irvine, California in the 1980s. The botched job involved the CIA, FBI, ATF, and the Apartheid government of South Africa and ultimately uncovered a cache of buried machine guns, stockpiles of biological weapons, and a conspiratorial relationship between an American doctor and South Africa's illicit biological warfare program known as Project Coast.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
5/1/202338 minutes, 34 seconds
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92. MI6 Ensnared in German Counterespionage with Norman Ridley

This week Justin sits down with author Norman Ridley.  Today they discuss a counterespionage incident that occurred at the beginning of World War II. Two senior members of British Intelligence were ensnared in a German trap in Venlo, Netherlands in November, 1939. This was a devastating blow to MI6, just as the largest war in history was beginning. Check out Norman's book, The Venlo Sting, here.https://www.amazon.com/Venlo-Sting-MI6s-Deadly-Fiasco/dp/1636242073Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show
4/24/20231 hour, 25 minutes, 35 seconds
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91. North Korean Espionage

This week, Justin shares another solo episode. He covers a brief history of espionage and covert operations run by or against North Korea. These stories involve other power players like Russia, Japan, and more.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
4/10/202352 minutes, 23 seconds
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90. The Son of an OSS Officer with Jack Chappell

This week, Justin sits down with journalist and Vietnam veteran Jack Chappell. After leaving active duty, he covered the Western White House during the Nixon administration.  Jack is also the son of Howard Chappell, an OSS officer who served in Northern Italy at the end of WWII. Howard's story is told in the book The Brenner Assignment by Patrick O'Donnell. Justin met Jack in person last fall at Arlington National Cemetery during the unveiling of the OSS Memorial in section two of the cemetery.Check out The Brenner Assignment by Patrick O'Donnell here.https://www.amazon.com/Brenner-Assignment-Patrick-K-ODonnell/dp/0306818418Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
4/3/20231 hour, 4 minutes, 49 seconds
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89. Strife in Northern Ireland: The IRA and South Armagh with Toby Harnden

Today, Justin sits down with return guest Toby Harnden. Toby served as an officer in the British Royal Navy, graduated from Oxford University, worked as a foreign news correspondent in 33 different countries, and has focused on terrorism and war throughout his career. Toby is back on the podcast to talk discuss the IRA and South Armagh. It's an examination of the troubles of Northern Ireland, focusing on just a single county i and the incredible violence, strife, and human tragedy that occurred or originated there.Listen to Toby's first episode, number 17: 9/11 and Beyond with Toby HarndenConnect with Toby:tobyharnden.comTwitter: @tobyharndenCheck out Toby's book, Bandit Country: The IRA & South Armagh, here.https://www.amazon.com/Bandit-Country-IRA-South-Armagh/dp/0340717378Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
3/27/20231 hour, 16 minutes, 54 seconds
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88. World War I Terrorism on American Soil with Chad Millman

Today Justin sits down with Chad Millman, Chief Content Officer of the Action Network and the host of the very popular sports betting podcast, The Favorites. Before founding the Action Network, Chad was the editorial director for ESPN Digital and Editor-in-Chief of ESPN Magazine. Chad also an author with seven books published. Most of Chad's work has centered around sports, but today he discusses one that tells the story of German sabotage operations inside the United States during World War I, which took place while the United States was still officially a neutral country. The story culminates in the largest terrorist attack within the United States prior to September 11th, 2001. Connect with Chad:chadmillman.comTwitter: @chadmillmanCheck out Chad's book, The Detonators, here.https://www.amazon.com/Detonators-Secret-Destroy-America-Justice/dp/0316734969Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
3/20/20231 hour, 8 minutes, 12 seconds
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87. Rescuing North Korea: The Story of Adrian Hong with Bradley Hope

Today Justin sits down with Bradley Hope, an author and reporter who has covered topics like the The Arab Spring. He's also written several books along with his co-authors. Bradley's latest book is the story of an incredible confrontation between an activist organization and the Kim regime in North Korea, which culminated in an incident at the North Korean Embassy in Madrid, Spain in 2019. The fallout from this event was heard and seen around the world and led to enormous consequences for everyone involved, but the origins of this event began more than 16 years earlier in the spring of 2002, when an idealistic 19 year old student at Yale University named Adrian Hong first learned of the plight of the citizens of North Korea and decided to do something about it.Connect with Bradley and Project Brazen:projectbrazen.comCheck out his book, The Rebel and the Kingdom, here.https://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Kingdom-Secret-Mission-Overthrow/dp/0593240650Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
3/13/20231 hour, 29 minutes, 6 seconds
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86. Hemingway and the NKVD with Dr. Frederick H. White

Today Justin chats with Dr. Frederick H. White. Dr. White is professor of Russian and Integrated Studies at Utah Valley University. He's also a fellow of the UVU Center for National Security. He's published eight books and more than 45 academic articles on Russian literature, film, and culture. Dr. White onto the podcast has done extensive research into the life of Ernest Hemingway, one of America's most famous authors and cultural figures. But did you know he also spent time working for the KGB's precursor, the NKVD?Connect with Frederick:academia.edulinkedin.com/in/frederick-h-white-2b4aa926?trk=people-guest_people_search-cardConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
3/6/20231 hour, 12 minutes, 40 seconds
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85. Answering More of Your Espionage Questions

This week, Justin answers more listener questions from Instagram. He dives into the USS Halibut and Operation Ivy Bells and takes us to Spain to dissect Operation Mincemeat. Then, he shifts to the Pacific Theater of World War II to discuss the role Japanese Americans played in the war. To close out, Justin shares the true story behind the Netflix series The Spy.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Centurion Combat Simulations Have you ever wanted to feel what it's like to operate in the shadows?Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
2/27/202342 minutes, 58 seconds
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84. POWs Left Behind in Vietnam

In this solo episode, Justin shares his research into a question that haunted America for decades after the end of the Vietnam War: whether any living prisoners of war were left. It's a subject that has spawned many books, articles, and films, and it has evoked a lot of passion from people whose husbands, fathers, brothers and sons went off to war but never came home. Listen an learn why it was believed that somewhere left behind and what efforts went into finding them in the months and years and decades after the war ended.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Centurion Combat Simulations Have you ever wanted to feel what it's like to operate in the shadows?Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
2/20/202345 minutes, 23 seconds
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83. The Murder of an OSS Officer with Pate McMichael

This week Justin chats with Pate McMichael. Pate is the Associate Director of the School of Journalism at the University of Arizona and worked as a freelance magazine journalist in Georgia for 15 years. He's also written two books. Today, Pate is here to discuss the murder of an OSS officer named Major William Holohan, who was killed by his own men while serving behind enemy lines in northern Italy in 1944.Connect with Pate:patemcmichael.comIG: @patemcmichaelCheck out Pate's book, Operation Chrysler, here.https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Chrysler-Stolen-Behind-During/dp/B086G11XSKConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
2/13/20231 hour, 5 minutes, 27 seconds
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82. America's Most Damaging Female Spy with Jim Popkin

This week just sits down with Jim Popkin, former senior investigative reporter and producer at N NBC News and on air correspondent. Jim's articles have appeared in publications like Washington Post Magazine, Wired, Newsweek, Slate, The Guardian, Washingtonian, and on National Public Radio. Jim is also an author, and today he's here to talk about Anna Montez, a Cuban spy who spent more than 16 years as an intelligence analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency.  Anna had already been recruited to work for Cuban Intelligence as one of their spies within the US government before she joined DIA, to the eventual shock of her peers, her superiors, and most importantly her family.Connect with Jim:jimpopkin.combluewrenbook.com Twitter: @JimPopkinCheck out Jim's book, Code Name Blue Wren, here.https://www.amazon.com/Code-Name-Blue-Wren-Dangerous/dp/1335449884Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
2/6/20231 hour, 1 minute, 28 seconds
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81. Espionage In Ancient Rome with Colonel Rose Mary Sheldon

This week Justin is joined by Colonel Rose Mary Sheldon, previous history professor at Virginia Military Institute world-renowned expert on intelligence and espionage in the ancient world. She earned her PhD from the University of Michigan and has published several books and many articles over the years, as well as serving as an editor for the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, Small Wars and Insurgencies, and The Journal of Military History. Today, she discusses intelligence collection tactics and strategy in Ancient Rome.Check out Colonel Sheldon's book, Intelligence Activities in Ancient Rome, here.https://www.amazon.com/Intelligence-Activities-Ancient-Rome-Verify/dp/0415452716Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
1/30/20231 hour, 1 minute, 50 seconds
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80. The President, The Prosecutor, and The Spy with Justin Webster

Today Justin speaks with with journalist and documentary filmmaker Justin Webster. Justin was a business reporter in the 90s before the release of his debut film on soccer team FC Barcelona in 2004. Since then, he's directed several more award-winning documentaries. Today he's here to discuss a six part series he created on the life and death of Alberto Nisman, a federal prosecutor in Argentina who was found dead at home in January, 2015. Nisman died hours before he was scheduled to testify on a 1994 antisemitic terrorist attack in Buenos Aires that killed dozens and wounded hundreds more, implicating Argentinian President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in covering up supposed Iranian involvement. Connect with Justin:jwproductions.tvTwitter: @Justin_JWPNisman: The President, The Prosecutor, and The Spy is currently available on Netflix. You can watch it here. https://www.netflix.com/title/80197991Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
1/23/202359 minutes, 49 seconds
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79. An NSA Spy Unknown for Decades with John Whiteside

Today Justin sits down with author and retired FBI special agent John Whiteside III. Since leaving the FBI after working 30 years of Cold War counterintelligence cases, John has worked as a private investigator and as a government consultant. Today, John discusses one of the highest profile cases of his career: the discovery and arrest of Robert Steven Lipka. Lipka was an Army solider assigned to the NSA who spent the mid 60s passing classified documents to the Soviet government. His acts of espionage weren't uncovered until 1992. when an investigative tip surfaced from a completely unexpected source, leading John and his fellow investigators into a lenghty investigation until they finally put Lipka under arrest. Connect with John:johnwhitesidebooks.comCheck out John's book, Fool's Mate, here.https://www.amazon.com/Fools-Mate-Espionage-National-Security/dp/1493597051Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
1/16/20231 hour, 17 minutes, 35 seconds
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78. The Spy Who Divided the CIA with Howard Blum

This week, Justin brings on journalist and author Howard Blum.  Howard studied at Stanford University where he received both his bachelor's and master's degree and has worked as a reporter for the New York Times where he was nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize. More recently, he was a contributing editor for Vanity Fair. He's also the author of several best selling non-fiction books, several of which have been optioned for films.  Today, Howard tells the story of the mysterious death of a senior agency employee, which might not have been a death at all. The employee was hunting a mole during the Cold War, but his quest notoriously divided the CIA into two factions--those who believed him, and those who thought he was a victim of a complex web of disinformation woven by his KGB source.Connect with Howard:howardblum.comTwitter: @HowardBlumCheck out Howard's book, The Spy Who Knew Too Much, here.https://www.amazon.com/Spy-Who-Knew-Too-Much/dp/0063054213#:~:text=Tennent%20%E2%80%9CPete%E2%80%9D%20Bagley%20was%20once,himself%20to%20be%20the%20mole.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
1/9/202340 minutes, 54 seconds
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77. Answering More of Your Espionage Questions

This week, Justin answers questions you've submitted via Instagram. He dives into  the deaths of Spanish espionage agents in Iraq and covers the story an American revolutionary. Tune in to hear about the weapons real spies carry every day, how Hollywood adapts real espionage events, and more. Keep a look out on Instagram for your next chance to submit your biggest questions about clandestine work.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
1/2/202345 minutes, 36 seconds
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76. Death and the Dangers of Clandestine Work

In this solo episode, Justin dives into some of the most intriguing and suspicious deaths related to espionage in the last 80 years.  While the USA and the USSR never saw combat with each other during the Cold War, their clandestine operations resulted in many casualties and fatalities over the years. Apparent suicides, murders without explanation, and plane crashes abound.  Some of these deaths appear straightforward, but become suspicious when an informed eye takes a closer look.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
12/26/202256 minutes, 14 seconds
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75. An International CIA Pilot with Lee Gossett

This week, Justin has his first repeat guest. Lee Gossett is back to talk CIA missions. Lee first joined us for episode 13. In his last episode, Lee and Justin dove into Lee's time as a smoker jumper and the years he spent working for Air America in the Secret War in Laos, and this time Lee is sharing stories of his time flying all over the world for the CIA after Air America went under. From Laos to El Salvador, Columbia, Honduras, and more, Lee has seen it all and lived to tell the tale.Check out Lee's first interview in episode 13 here.https://www.buzzsprout.com/1780478/9032468Connect with Lee:Check out his book, Smoke Jumper to Global Pilot: a True Odyssey, here. Available soon on Kindle. https://www.amazon.com/Smokejumper-Global-Pilot-True-Odyssey/dp/0578614715Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
12/19/202257 minutes, 53 seconds
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74. The Most Dangerous Year on Earth with Brian Morra

This week, Justin chats with author and Air Force intelligence veteran Brian Morra. Brian was an intelligence officer in the US Air Force and Air Force Reserve for 15 years before shifting his focus  to the aerospace and defense industry, where he spent many years managing intelligence programs. Brian finally retired as a senior Vice President at the end of 2016 and began writing his debut novel. Today, we focus on a  pivotal event that took place 1983, what some historians call the most dangerous year on Earth. This  a little-known Soviet fiasco brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Brian's book, The Able Archers, covers this event and his real experience as a young intelligence officer dealing with its repercussions in real time.Connect with Brian:brianjmorra.comRead a free sample of Brian's book, The Able Archers, here.https://the-able-archers.subscribemenow.com/Buy the book here.https://www.amazon.com/Able-Archers-Brian-J-Morra/dp/1646635647Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
12/12/20221 hour, 29 minutes, 42 seconds
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73. The Truth about Snowden with Anonymous

Today Justin sits down with anonymous source known as Sarah.Sarah is veteran member of the special operations and intelligence community, having served as an NCO with the US Air Force for more than 10 years. She has also worked as an Arabic linguist, spending much of her time in the Middle East and Africa. She is a reputable source Justin knows personally, and has requested anonymity in the episode due to privacy concerns.For the first time, we'll really dive in to 21st century intelligence and espionage from the realities of the Snowden case to the threat of Chinese hegemony.For more information, check out Unrestricted Warfare, the literature mentioned in this episode, here.https://Unrestricted-Warfare.subscribemenow.comConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
12/5/20221 hour, 11 minutes, 37 seconds
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72. An Activist Escaping Panama with Kimberly Muse

This week, Justin speaks with Kimberly Muse, daughter of Kurt Muse. Kim grew up in Panama, where her father was became the leader of a group of activists in protesting against General Manuel Noriega via radio transmissions. Their work caught the attention of the CIA, and they even received support from the agency for their efforts.In spring of 1989, Kurt was suddenly arrested at Panama City Airport as he was returning from a trip to the United States. His family and cohorts fled to the US, but Kurt was imprisoned at Carcel Modelo for nine months until a tactical Delta Force mission, Operation Acid Gambit, came to the rescue.  Kurt later wrote a best selling memoir of his activism and rescue.Connect with Kim:IG: @k9odin_the_malRead a free sample of Kurts's book, Six Minutes to Freedom, here.https://six-minutes.subscribemenow.com/Buy the book here.https://www.amazon.com/Six-Minutes-Freedom-Kurt-Muse/dp/0806528044Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
11/28/20221 hour, 36 minutes, 1 second
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71. Tracking Down an Iraqi Bioweapons Expert with Stephen Monteiro

This week Justin sits down with former police officer, Navy officer, and US Secret Service special agent Stephen Monteiro. Steve spent 20 years in the Secret Service, where he was a member of the Presidential Protective Division at the Clinton White House, among other assignments.After retiring from federal service and continuing on as a contractor, Steve was tasked with a mysterious case that would become a year's long journey to track down and retrieve a Iraqi microbiologist and anthrax expert Thamer Abdul Rahman Imran. Thamer was skittish, having been burned by the US once before, and located in one of the most dangerous places in the world, but his knowledge had the potential to help prevent future biological weapons attacks on the United States. Connect with Steve:stephenphillipmonteiro.comTwitter: @StevePMonteiroRead the first chapter of Steve's book, The Gray Bird of Baghdad, here.https://gray-bird.subscribemenow.com/Buy the book here. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NPTNWXP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
11/21/20221 hour, 6 minutes, 45 seconds
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70. Demoralize and Deceive: OSS Psychological Warfare with Ann Todd

This week, Justin sits down with historian and author Ann Todd. From working at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia,  to writing and consulting for the National Geographic Society and giving presentations for the National Park Service on the history of the OSS, Ann is an expert.Ann joins us today to discuss OSS action in the "forgotten theater" of WWII, China-Burma-India, as well as the people who made it possible. Principally, Elizabeth "Betty" P. McIntosh and her black propaganda operations to blackmail and demoralize the enemy in an incredible display of psychological warfare. Connect with Ann:[email protected] the preface and introduction of Ann's book, OSS Operation Black Mail, here.https://spycraft101-OSSOperationBlackMail.subscribemenow.com/Buy the book here.https://www.amazon.com/OSS-Operation-Black-Mail-Imperial/dp/1682471500Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.15-Minute Cold War Use your forces to attack opponents and defend yourself in this new card game.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
11/14/202257 minutes, 29 seconds
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69. A Scottish Civilian Up Against a Nazi Spy Ring with Dr. Andrew Jeffrey

Today, Justin sits down with author and researcher, Dr. Andrew Jeffrey. Alongside his historical books, Andrew has made on-air contributions for British, Dutch and French documentaries and is a former Royal Navy Reservist, and a volunteer Lifeboatman with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Andrew's latest book tells the tale of a Scottish civilian Mary Curran, who spotted the suspicious activity of Nazi spy Jessie Jordan. Mary's quick wit, alertness, and instincts broke down a long established espionage network spanning both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.Connect with Andrew:You can read the the preface to Andrew's book, A Taste For Treason, completely free here.https://spycraft101-dbb75.gr8.com/You can purchase the book here.https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Treason-Letter-That-Smashed/dp/1780277881Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
11/7/20221 hour, 33 minutes, 46 seconds
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68. A CIA Traitor's Last Asset with Bryan Denson

This week, Justin chats with investigative reporter and author Bryan Denson. Focusing on true crime, scandals, and government corruption, Bryan has spent his career reporting for publications like The House Post, Reader's Digest, Newsweek, The Los Angeles Tomes, and the Oregonian. He's also written three nonfiction book series on infamous criminals like Aldrich Ames and the Unibomber, as well as other historical nonfiction. Today, Bryan and Justin discuss the story of notorious CIA traitor Jim Nicholson--and how he trained his son Nathan from  behind bars to finish his work. Connect with Bryan:bryandenson.comCheck out Bryan's book, The Spy's Son, here.https://www.amazon.com/Spys-Son-Highest-Ranking-Convicted-Espionage/dp/0802125190/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
10/31/20221 hour, 27 minutes, 14 seconds
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67. TRIGON: The Hero Who Betrayed the Soviet Union with Alejandra Suárez Ogorodnik

This week, Justin chats with Alejandra Suárez Barcala Ogorodnik. Alejandra  was born in Madrid in 1975 and currently works in Spain in the medical industry as a disease area specialist. She never knew her father growing up, and her mother told her he was a German mathematician who was killed in an automobile accident when Alejandra was a baby. When she was a teenager, she slowly began to uncover and unravel the truth of her father's identity--and what happened to him. Alejandra's father was Alexander Ogorodnik, also known by his code name, TRIGON. Alexander was a KGB officer who turned on his home country to spy for the CIA after becoming disillusioned with Soviet communism and cruelty. Once betrayed and apprehended, Alexander took his own life with a cyanide pill he had requested from his case officer.Connect with Alejandra:trigonhero.blogspot.comConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
10/24/20221 hour, 10 minutes, 27 seconds
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66. The Early Days of FBI Counterintelligence with Raymond Batvinis

Today, Justin sits down with  retired FBI special agent Raymond J. Batvinis, who served in the FBI for 25 years, from 1972 until 1997. Raymond worked primarily in counterterrorism and counterintelligence, and shortly after the 9/11 attacks, he returned to teach the Basic Counterintelligence course at the FBI Academy at Quantico.During his career, he worked on several very high profile espionage cases, including the investigations into Ronald Pelton and the Walker spying. Since retiring, Raymond has worked tirelessly as a historian, author, and researcher. He's published a number of scholarly articles on intelligence history and two books since 2007.Connect with Raymond:fbistudies.comCheck out his book, The Origins of FBI Counterintelligence, here.https://www.amazon.com/Origins-FBI-Counterintelligence-Raymond-Batvinis/dp/0700616535Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
10/17/20221 hour, 34 minutes, 46 seconds
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65. Killing Castro: The Unlikely Alliance between the CIA and the Mob with Thomas Maier

 This week, Juston sits down with Thomas Maier. Thomas is an author and award-winning investigative journalist, having worked at NewDay since 1984. He has also written several historical books, including When Lions Roar about the Churchills and the Kennedys, and Masters of Sex, which was produced as a series on Showtime for four years. His latest book, Mafia Spies, details the inside story the inside story of the relationship between several senior figures in organized crime in the early 1960s and members of the Central Intelligence Agency who wanted Fidel Castro dead, as well as their unlikely and temporary alliance.Connect with Thomas:[email protected] with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine Laboratories Your new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
10/10/20221 hour, 3 minutes, 54 seconds
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64. The OSS, Uranium in the Congo, and the Atom Bomb with Kathryn Hogue

This week Justin sits down with Kathy Hogue, daughter of World War II OSS agent Doc Hogue. Her father's service includes one of the most important and least understood missions of WWII--the mining of the uranium that built the atomic bomb. Kathy herself is also very accomplished, having worked for the Department of Defense for over a decade, enrolled at the US Navy Postgraduate School, and worked for a private firm doing research for the Pentagon. She brings a uniquely educated inside perspective to her father's work thanks to family stories, documents, and her own experience in the national defense.Doc is featured heavily in Spies in the Congo, a book by Susan Williams. Check it out here.https://www.amazon.com/Spies-Congo-Americas-Atomic-Mission/dp/1610396545/ref=asc_df_1610396545/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312028586631&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6320094131748795910&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9051708&hvtargid=pla-467484235344&psc=1Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
10/3/20221 hour, 41 minutes, 39 seconds
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63. Thwarting Lenin's Global Communist Plot with Giles Milton

This week, Justin sits down with author and historian Giles Milton. A fellow of the Royal Historical Society in London, Giles has written 11 nonfiction books and three novels. Today, they focus on his book Russian Roulette to tell the story of the British MI6 spies who stopped Lenin from spreading the communism on a truly global scale after the Bolshevik Revolution.Connect with Giles:gilesmilton.comIG: @gilesmiltonTwitter: @GilesMilton1Check out Russian Roulette here.https://www.amazon.com/Russian-Roulette-British-Thwarted-Revolution/dp/1620405687 Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
9/26/20221 hour, 11 minutes, 35 seconds
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62. The Pinkterons: Notorious Thugs, Detectives, and Spies with Dr. Paul O'Hara

This week, Justin chats with Dr. Paul. O'Hara. Paul is an associate professor at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, teaching a wide range of compelling history courses.  Paul and Justin discuss the Pinkerton Detective Agency, the most famous and most notorious detective agency in us history. From its origins to its scandals, near downfalls, and recent activities, The Pinkertons have helped shape American history from antebellum to the modern day. Much of what's covered today take place in the mid and late 1800s, but the Pinkertons are still around.Connect with Paul:xavier.edu/history-department/directory/stephenpaul-oharaCheck out Paul's book, Inventing the Pinkertons, here.https://www.amazon.com/Inventing-Pinkertons-Spies-Sleuths-Mercenaries-ebook/dp/B01K996N8O/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
9/19/20221 hour, 24 minutes, 8 seconds
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61. Solving the Murder of a CIA Case Officer with Michael Pullara

This week, Justin sits down with trial lawyer Michael Pullara. Michael has faced formidable foes in the court room, from the US Department of Defense to criminals with connections to the Italian mob. But today, Michael and Justin discuss the case of CIA case officer Freddie Woodruff, who was shot and killed on assignment in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Michael knew Freddie's family and began investigating his implausible situation on their behalf, but soon became determined to uncover the truth. In 10 years of research, ventures overseas, and deep digging, Michael uncovered deception at the hands of Georgian authorities whose reports on the incident were entirely false. He even confronted the president of Georgia himself. Finally, in 2018, Michael published a book about Freddie's unfortunate fate--and the truth.Connect with Michael:simonandschuster.com/authors/Michael-PullaraBy his book, The Spy Who Was Left Behind, here. https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1501152149?tag=simonsayscomConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
9/12/20221 hour, 35 minutes, 57 seconds
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60. Flying for the CIA: a Continental Air Services Contractor with Toby Scott

Spycraft 101 is back!In this episode, Justin sits down with former smoke jumper and Continental Air Services employee, Toby Scott. They dive in to all things smoke jumping and discuss his work in Southeast Asia during the secret war in Laos. Toby was also involved in Operation Cold Feet in the Arctic Circle, among many other daring missions and and global events. He was close friends fellow smoke jumper, Continental Air Services employee, and eventual CIA case officer Jerry Daniels. Justin and Toby discuss Jerry's unfortunate fate, and the events that led him there.Justin was interviewed on Mark of the Maker this week! Give it a listen here:Mark of the Maker Episode 89https://markofthemaker.com/2022/09/04/episode-89-justin-black-of-spycraft101/Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
9/5/20221 hour, 43 minutes, 11 seconds
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An Important Spycraft 101 Announcement

This week, Justin releases a quick public service announcement to let listeners know of a short upcoming hiatus.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
8/22/20229 minutes, 8 seconds
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59. Honey Traps: Seduction as Espionage with Henry Schlesinger

This week, Justin talks with author Henry Schlesinger on the topic of a notorious espionage strategy: the honey traps. Honey traps utilized seduction, from male or female spies, to glean information, create scandal, or acquire money. They've been used in intelligence for centuries--perhaps even millennia. Henry shares several stories of some of the mist influential espionage seductions in history, from femme fatales to purposeful scandals designed to distract the public.Connect with Henry:Twitter: @SpiesVespersConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
8/15/20221 hour, 6 minutes, 37 seconds
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58. Spies In the Space Race

In this episode, Justin describes espionage activity in the decades-long race to the stars between the United States and the Soviet Union. The two superpowers devoted significant time, resources, and manpower to outshining each other in technological advancement in aerospace. So much occurred in this time period that it would be impossible to cover it all in one episode, so Justin highlights particularly riveting stories, anecdotes, and events that have piqued the interest of curious minds. He hopes to return to this topic in the future, ideally with an expert guest.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
8/8/202250 minutes, 32 seconds
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57. The American Comandante Liberating Cuba with Michael Sallah

This week, Justin chats with investigative editor, veteran reporter, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and author Michael Sallah. Michael tells the story of William Morgan, an ex-paratrooper who went to Cuba in 1957 to help revolution efforts against then-dictator  Fulgencio Batista. Morgan worked alongside the likes of Che Guevara, leading an entire guerilla himself. When the revolution ended and Castro's rule turned authoritarian, Morgan teamed up with Olga Rodriguez to try to liberate the country once again.Connect with Michael:Email: [email protected] out Michael's book, co-authored with Mitch Weiss,  The Yankee Comandante, here.https://www.amazon.com/Yankee-Comandante-Courage-Americans-Liberate/dp/0762792876Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
8/1/20221 hour, 15 minutes, 13 seconds
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56. The Last Cold War Mole with Robert Baer

Today, Justin sits down with legendary CIA case officer and author Robert Baer. Robert served all over the world between the late 1970s and late 1990s, spending much of his time in the middle east. He has written several nonfiction books about his experiences, including See No Evil, the book that inspired the 2005 film Syriana, for which he helped write the screenplay. George Clooney's character Robert Barnes is directly inspired by Robert himself. Robert's latest book, The Fourth Man, tries to unravel the mystery of a suspected high-level mole in the US government, still operating after three infamous moles were uncovered.Connect with Robert:Check out Robert's latest release, The Fourth Man, here.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
7/25/202248 minutes, 23 seconds
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55. Answering Your Questions

In this special episode of Spycraft 101, Justin answers questions listeners have submitted on Instagram. Tune in to hear stories of espionage in New Zealand, highly-successful operations, weapons and gadgets (including the fake scrotum concealment device), and more. If you submitted a question that wasn't answered, look out for our next Q & A episode.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
7/18/202242 minutes, 53 seconds
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54. Hunting Che Guevara with Felix Rodriguez (Part Two)

This week, Justin returns with retired CIA paramilitary operations officer, Felix Rodriguez. Felix took part in many of the pivotal events of the Cold War from covert action against Fidel Castro in Cuba to operations in the Vietnam War and Laos to supporting to the Contras in Nicaragua. Today, Felix shares Che Guevara's failures as well as stories of Felix's time spent in Vietnam and Nicaragua. He also gives details on his own testimony before Congress, as well as an unlikely friendship with a former Cuban intelligence officer. A bonus episode detailing time Felix spent interviewing Che Guevara after his capture is available now on Patreon.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
7/11/20221 hour, 26 minutes, 28 seconds
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53. Hunting Che Guevara with Felix Rodriguez (Part One)

In this episode, Justin sits down with retired CIA paramilitary operations officer, Felix Rodriguez. Felix took part in many of the pivotal events of the Cold War from covert action against Fidel Castro in Cuba to operations in the Vietnam War and Laos to supporting to the Contras in Nicaragua. Most famously, he was one of two Cubans that took part in the hunt for Che Guevara in Bolivia. Today, Felix shares his journey to the CIA, what it was like growing up in Cuba as the likes of Guevara and Castro took power, and more.  A bonus episode detailing time Felix spent interviewing Che Guevara after his capture is available now on Patreon.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
7/4/20221 hour, 3 minutes, 37 seconds
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52. Capturing a Japanese War Criminal with Chris Carola

This week, Justin sits down with journalist Chris Carola. Chris spent many years following the story of Jack Wilpers, one of the last surviving men on a team of World War II soldiers that captured Hideki Tojo, prime minister of Japan during WWII and a convicted war criminal. Jack was difficult to get ahold of, but Chris never backed down. Hear about Jack's interesting upbringing, his journey to counterintelligence, and key details of the events that led to Tojo's capture--and  Jack's CIA career to follow.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
6/27/202250 minutes, 25 seconds
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51. The Youngest Green Beret in Vietnam with Terry McIntosh

Today, Justin sits down with Terry McIntosh. Terry enlisted in the army at age 17, and joined special forces at age 18. He soon became one of the youngest men to wear a green beret in Vietnam. Terry was involved in the infamous Green Beret Affair, in which a Vietnamese double agent was identified and killed by his special forces team. Terry shares his journey to special forces, his experiences in the war, including serving on a special forces A-team and earning a combat badge.Connect with Terry:Email: [email protected] out his book, The Youngest Green Beret, here.Learn more about Terry's missionary nonprofit: usajourney.ushttps://www.amazon.com/YOUNGEST-GREEN-BERET-Vietnam-1968-1969/dp/173151784XConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
6/20/202255 minutes, 31 seconds
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50. Espionage in Nazi-Occupied Czechoslovakia with George Bearfield

Today, Justin chats with writer, academic, and engineer George Bearfield. George is the grandson of Jaroslav Bublík, one of the last men to parachute into Bohemia and Moravia (now Czechoslovakia) in World War II. Jaroslav and his cousin Josef conducted espionage operations in the region while it was occupied by Nazi Germany until Josef was famously killed in Prague soon after assassinating German SS officer Reinhard Heydrich. George dives into the details of their dangerous parachute missions, the legacy they left in modern Czechia, and the rest of his grandfather's life.An extended edition of this episode featuring 11 minutes of additional interview content, including more on Operation Anthropoid and Heydrich's assassination, is available now on Patreon.Connect with George:Twitter:  @GeorgeBearfield@TheLastParachutist IG: @TheLastParachutistCheck out George's book, Foursquare: The Last Parachutist, here.https://www.amazon.com/Foursquare-Last-Parachutist-George-Bearfield/dp/1527286568Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
6/13/20221 hour, 28 seconds
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49. The Life of a Cuban-Born CIA Shadow Warrior with Ric Prado

This week, Justin chats with Enrique "Ric" Prado, a retired case officer and Paramilitary operative of the CIA.  Ric is also the author of his memoir, Black Ops.  Ric dives into his career, from fleeing the Peter Pan Project and his home country of Cuba to serving in Nicaragua with the Contras, including past guest Mike Lima AKA Luis Moreno.  Soon after his time in Latin America and a few years in the Phillippines, Ric was contracted by the CIA to form the very task force that eventually took down Osama bin Laden. Outed by newspapers as CIA in 2009, Ric is the highest-ranking American covert operator to share his story publicly.An extended edition of this episode, featuring 26 minutes of additional interview content, is available now on Patreon.Check out Episode 34: Life as a Nicaraguan Contra with Luis Moreno for more on the Contras, the Sandinistas, and Nicaraguan counterrevolution.Connect with Ric:ricprado.comBuy his book, Black Ops:  The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior, here.https://www.amazon.com/Black-Ops-Life-Shadow-Warrior/dp/1250271843LinkedIn: Enrique (Ric) PradoConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101 Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
6/6/20221 hour, 23 minutes, 19 seconds
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48. The Halyard Mission: Rescuing American Airmen in Serbia with John Capello

This week, Justin sits down with John Capello, former Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and air attache and founder and president of the Halyard Mission Foundation. The mission itself involved rescuing over 500 US airmen from occupied Serbia in WWII with the help of Serbian nationals.  John shares his own experiences as an air attache in Israel and Serbia. Each country posed difference challenges and attitudes due to differences in the progress of their relationships with the US. Then, John dives into the true story of the Halyard Mission--including just how important the Serbs were to the mission's success. This incredible military feat operated in secret right under the enemy's nose with no losses over a period of five months thanks to protection from brave Serbian civilians. Connect with John:halyardmission.orgConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
5/30/20221 hour, 6 minutes, 12 seconds
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47. The Story of Spycraft 101

In this episode, Justin reflects on the one-year anniversary of the Spycraft 101 Podcast. He details the history of Spycraft 101 from book ideas to the Instagram account finally the podcast, and gives shoutouts to those who have helped him along the way. Tune in for this special anniversary retrospective from your favorite espionage enthusiast.Previous episodes mentioned this week:Episode 01 - The Life and Lies of Fritz Joubert Duquesne with Andrew Blasco (here)Episode 02 - The Reality of Life in the CIA with Doug Patteson (here)Episode 03 - The Man in Moscow with Michael D. Sellers (here)Epsiode 43 - The Assassins Immortalized on Russia's Stamps with Mark Pruett (here)Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
5/23/202234 minutes, 34 seconds
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46. Finding Che Guevara: Clandestine in the Congo with Jim Hawes

This week Justin chats with author and former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor Jim Hawes. Jim served in Vietnam and worked with the CIA in the Congo to counter the spread of communist  ideals and anti-western rebel activities. Today, Jim tells his story and shares details of his experiences, from becoming a SEAL and early in the life of the program to his role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident and finally locating Che Guevara, among several intelligence feats. Connect with Jim:Check out his book, Cold War Navy SEAL, here.https://www.amazon.com/Cold-War-Navy-SEAL-Communist/dp/151073418XConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
5/16/202241 minutes, 47 seconds
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45. The Women of Britain's Special Operations Executive with Dr. Kate Vigurs

This week Justin sits down with author and Historian Dr. Kate Vigurs. Kate shares the story of the women hired by Britain's Special Operations Executive, a mysterious organization that operated during World War II to conduct sabotage, reconnaissance, and espionage missions in occupied Europe. These brave women had to prove themselves as strong and worthy of dangerous work to compete with their male colleagues.  From members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force to women who were heard speaking excellent French at parties, female SOE personnel came from all walks of life. The work of the SOE and the women who joined it ultimately contributed to Allied victory and the fall of the Nazi regime.Connect with Dr. Vigurs:katevigurs.comTwitter: @historical_kateCheck out her book, Mission France, here.https://www.amazon.com/Mission-France-True-History-Women/dp/030020857XConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the showSupport the show
5/9/202258 minutes, 11 seconds
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44. A Secret US Intelligence Organization: Mysteries of the Pond with Dr. Mark Stout

This week, Justin sits down with author, professor, historian and former intelligence analyst for the state department and the CIA, Dr. Mark Stout.  Today, Mark shares his research on a mysterious early US intelligence entity known as the Pond. The Pond was a secret organization operating between 1942 and 1955, though its existence wasn't formally acknowledged by the US government until 2001. Headed by John V. Grombach, the Pond's unique espionage style was markedly different from the OSS and the CIA, though the quality of its intel has been brought to question. In the end, Grombach was his own worst enemy as his stark world view led to personality clashes  with the CIA, ultimately playing a major role in the end of the Pond.Connect with Mark:spymuseum.orgTwitter: @WWIPhDCheck some of Mark's articles on War on the Rocks, here.https://warontherocks.com/author/mark-stout/Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
5/2/202257 minutes, 28 seconds
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43. The Assassins Immortalized on Russia's Stamps with Mark Pruett

Today, Justin sits down with business expert, university instructor, and author Mark Pruett. Mark dives into the world of Russia's stamp men--counterintelligence heroes hailed for their victories and honored for their work by having their faces immortalized on national postage. Mark tells the true stories of the heinous acts these Cheka (secret police) committed, covers their unfortunate endings, and asks why Putin chose to reinvigorate Chekist nationalism through postal propoganda.Connect with Mark:markwpruett.comCheck out Mark's book, Putin's Boys: The Stamp Men, here.https://www.amazon.com/Putins-Boys-Stamp-Mark-Pruett/dp/1734498900/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=h0Zs2&pf_rd_p=91202c6f-1c11-4e3d-b51a-3af958cedd30&pf_rd_r=NWH18WHEMMP1B8ZD7VZP&pd_rd_r=f259ac65-4432-43c4-a46f-d95104974740&pd_rd_wg=1eVVN&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dskConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
4/25/20221 hour, 10 minutes, 14 seconds
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42. A Father Lost in the Invasion of the Bay of Pigs with Janet Ray

Today, Justin chats with Janet Ray. Janet lost her father, Pete Ray, when his plane was shot down by Cuban defenses in the invasion of the Bay of Pigs, an effort to retake Cuba from Castro. Met with lies and secrecy from the US government, Janet spent years finding answers on what happened to father as well as other men who didn't come home--including fighting to have their remains returned from Cuba. Justin hopes her story can shed light on how espionage and covert operations affect families around the world.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonDownload the free eBook: The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice: here.https://spycraft101-400d7.gr8.com/Support the show
4/18/20221 hour, 21 minutes, 36 seconds
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41. Russia's Revenge in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution with Shane Partlow (Part II)

Tune back in for part two of Justin's interview with former diplomat and former non-commission officer in the United States Marine Corps, Shane Partlow. In this installment, Shane gets into the nitty gritty of Ukraine's 2014 Maidan Revolution, following the Euromaidan protests against former president Viktor Yanukovych. He discusses efforts to stay hidden at protests and rallies as well as what happened when the Yanukovych regime suddenly fell and Russian troops made an opportunistic play to invade Crimea.Connect with Shane:Twitter: @Shane_PartlowCheck out the book Shane read from, Christopher Smith's Ukraine's Revolt, Russia's Revenge, here.https://www.amazon.com/Ukraines-Revolt-Russias-Revenge-Revolution/dp/0815739249Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonDownload the free eBook: The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice: here.https://spycraft101-400d7.gr8.com/Support the show
4/11/202259 minutes, 14 seconds
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40. Russia's Revenge in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution with Shane Partlow (Part I)

This week Justin chats with former diplomat and former non-commission officer in the United States Marine Corps, Shane Partlow. Shane was an assistant defense attache in the Ukraine during their 2014 Maidan Revolution, following the Euromaidan protests against former president Viktor Yanukovych. Shane recounts the events that led to violence, corruption within the central government, and his own experiences as a Marine at the embassy. This interview is split into two parts, so be sure to tune in next week to hear more of Shane's account, including how the tables turned as revolution went on and Russia stepped into the ring.Connect with Shane:Twitter: @Shane_PartlowCheck out the book Shane read from, Christopher Smith's Ukraine's Revolt, Russia's Revenge, here.https://www.amazon.com/Ukraines-Revolt-Russias-Revenge-Revolution/dp/0815739249Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonDownload the free eBook: The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice: here.https://spycraft101-400d7.gr8.com/Support the show
4/5/202258 minutes, 56 seconds
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39. Intelligence Agencies of the Soviet Bloc: The Czechoslovakian Secret Police

Today, Justin describes research on an intelligence agency unique to one of the countries that makes up the former Soviet Bloc: Czechoslovakia's Státní Bezpečnost, also know as the StB. Hear stories of StB success from the 1940s to the 1980s, including suppression of rebellion and scuffles with MI6 and the CIA. Brutal and shockingly effective, the StB was one of Western intelligence's most formidable but little-known adversaries of the Cold War. Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonDownload the free eBook: The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice: here.https://spycraft101-400d7.gr8.com/Support the show
3/28/202240 minutes, 38 seconds
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38. An 11-Year-Old Convicted and Executed as a Spy with Ian Townsend

Today, author Ian Townsend shares the harrowing story of young Dickie Manson. Along with his mother, stepfather, uncle, and a family friend, Dickie was convicted as a spy and executed in during World War II. When the Australian government could not reinforce its troops in Rabaul, New Guinea, it left over a thousand Australian citizens behind, many of whom were tried for espionage by the Japanese. Though Americans and Australians alike forget the importance of the battle for Rabaul in the Pacific,  it serves as a startling reminder that there are few real winners in war--and many more emotional casualties than we dare to think.Connect with Ian:iantownsend.com.auBy his book, Line of Fire, here.https://www.booktopia.com.au/line-of-fire-ian-townsend/book/9781460750926.html?SUBID1=&SUBID2=&clickid=yCCXWJWu5xyIUmYwXw0GD0odUkGTaqzXPz4HTs0&bk_source_id=345721&utm_campaign=Ian%20Townsend&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=APD&bk_source=APDConnect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonDownload the free eBook: The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice: here.https://spycraft101-400d7.gr8.com/Support the show
3/21/20221 hour, 8 minutes, 11 seconds
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37. A Hollywood Spy: The Story of Boris Morros with Jonathan Gill

Today, Justin interviews educator and author Jonathan Gill on the riveting tale of Boris Morros. A refugee of the Bolshevik Revolution turned film producer in the Golden Age of Hollywood, Boris was a mysterious and remarkable man. While many details of his life are thought to be exaggerated and the absolute truth remains unclear, Boris led a unique and eventful life. He became a Soviet spy during the Cold War only to turn on the USSR and act as a double agent for the United States. Tune in for an episode full of twists and turns.Connect with Jonathan:Get the book, Hollywood Double Agent, here.https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Double-Agent-Morros-Producer/dp/1419747916#:~:text=OK-,Hollywood%20Double%20Agent%3A%20The%20True%20Tale%20of%20Boris%20Morros%2C%20Film,Spy%20Paperback%20%E2%80%93%20April%2013%2C%202021&text=Find%20all%20the%20books%2C%20read%20about%20the%20author%2C%20and%20more.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonDownload the free eBook: The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice: here.https://spycraft101-400d7.gr8.com/Support the show
3/14/20221 hour, 12 minutes, 38 seconds
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36. Assassination by Poisoning: Russia & The Soviet Union

Today, Justin shares riveting stories about the  poisons and people that enabled several Soviet and Russian assassinations. From chemistry to radioactivity, learn about the way poison has captivated Russian power players since 1918.  Hear of poison-coated bullets, the dangers of cyanide, and why we don't really know how many died at the hands of these methods.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonDownload the free eBook: The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice: here.https://spycraft101-400d7.gr8.com/Support the show
3/7/202247 minutes, 54 seconds
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35. The Story of a Soviet Defector with Alexandra Costa

Today, Alexandra Costa shares the story of her defection from the Soviet Union. Also known as Yelena Mitrokhina, Alexandra was wife to the first secretary of the Russian Embassy in the US.  She discusses growing up in the USSR, the real dangers of defecting, and her treatment by both the FBI and the CIA. Ultimately, Alexandra chose a better future for herself and her children despite immense risk. From teaching Marxism to young communists to peacefully renouncing the Soviet Union and becoming and entrepreneur, her life story is full of twists and turns.Check out Alexandra's book, Stepping Down from the Star, here.https://www.amazon.com/Stepping-Down-Stars-Soviet-Defectors/dp/0399131957Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
2/14/20221 hour, 8 minutes, 6 seconds
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34. Life as a Nicaraguan Contra with Luis Moreno

Today, Luis Moreno gives a firsthand account of his experiences in Nicaragua. A prominent figure among The Contras, Luis survived unbearable violence and horrible tragedy. He gives insight on the practice of guerilla warfare, the reality of resistance, and the atrocities of war. Beginning his career in Nicaragua's Guardia Nacional as an officer, Luis describes the events that led him to escape at the end of the 1979 revolution and provides personal details on darker aspects of the counter-revolution.Thanks to the Spycraft 101 podcast, Luis was able to reconnect with a friend from his Contras days who was with him when he was gravely injured, losing his arm.See photos of Nicaraguan military history, including the counterrevolution: Alberto D Garcia (Nicaragua Historia En Fotos) on FacebookConnect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
2/7/20221 hour, 11 minutes, 22 seconds
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33. The True Story of the Portland Spy Ring with Trevor Barnes

Today, Justin chats with former BBC senior reporter and producer, and now author, Trevor Barnes on the details of the Portland Spy Ring. This rare case involves stolen identities, money-hungry traitors, and more. When MI5 first discovered evidence and documents linking a Canadian man to espionage activities, they couldn't have expected what was to come. A combination of legal agents working via the embassy and illegal dead doubles, this complex KGB tale is more twisted than fiction.Connect with Trevor:Twitter: @trevorwbarnesCheck out Trevor's book, Dead Doubles, here.https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Doubles-Extraordinary-Worldwide-Notorious/dp/0062856995Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
1/24/20221 hour, 41 minutes, 32 seconds
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32. Espionage in Academia and Higher Education with Daniel Golden

Today, prolific journalist Daniel Golden dives into espionage recruitment at universities around the world. Faculty, staff, and students alike are often approached by covert operators from both sides of a conflict or interest, particularly international students. Another key group includes professors and adjuncts who, while American citizens, may be immigrants or otherwise have ties to countries of interest. Dan relates a specific story regarding a Chinese-American professor in Florida who was approached the FBI and told he could be fired for some previous transgressions, or retain his position and his tenure if he chose to be an FBI informant.Connect with Daniel:Check out his book, Spy Schools, here.https://www.amazon.com/Spy-Schools-Intelligence-Secretly-Universities/dp/1627796355Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
1/11/20221 hour, 1 minute, 2 seconds
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31. The CIA Men Tortured in Fidel Castro's Cuba

In this solo episode, Justin dives into the story of three CIA men who survived against the odds in Havana, Cuba. As service technicians, their role was to set up surveillance equipment to monitor Castro's Cuba.  The situation quickly turned sour,  but all three agents stood their ground for almost three years before returning home without compromising their identities or the agency.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
1/3/202240 minutes, 21 seconds
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30. A Counterintelligence Agent Turned Romanov Heir with Tim Tate

Today, prolific author and journalist Tim Tate shares the story of Polish Intelligence Officer Michael Goleniewski. A figure in James Angleton's complicated time with the CIA, Goleniewski was an expert counterintelligence agent who identified over a thousand Soviet Bloc spies across Europe and provided their details to the CIA and MI5. His complex story takes a rather interesting turn towards the end of his career when he claims to be the long-lost heir to Russia's final Czars, Alexei Romanov. What began as a play to claim the mythical Romanov fortune ends in true madness as Goleniewski becomes convinced that he really IS Alexei.Connect with Tim:timtate.co.ukTwitter: @TimTateBooksCheck out Tim's book, Agent Sniper, here.https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Sniper-Super-Ruthless-Despised/dp/1250274664Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
12/27/20211 hour, 46 minutes, 10 seconds
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29. Communist Indoctrination of American POWs with Brian D. McKnight

Today, author and scholar Brian McKnight delves into Chinese treatment of American prisoners of war during in Korea. Following the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1954, 23 American POWs refused repatriation to the United States. McKnight delves into what made them want to live in China--namely mandatory communist indoctrination while they were kept prisoner. By playing upon the reality of inequities these men faced while living in poverty under capitalism, Chinese soldiers were able to convince many the alleged upward mobility afforded by communism was reason enough not to return home. Check out Brian's book, We Fight For Peace, here.https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Peace-Twenty-Three-Prisoners-Turncoats/dp/B06XFY3TQL/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1639608099&refinements=p_27%3ABrian+McKnight&s=books&sr=1-1Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
12/20/20211 hour, 13 minutes, 8 seconds
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28. The Complicated Case of James Angleton with Jefferson Morley

Today, journalist, author, and expert Jefferson Morley shares unique details on the life and career of one of of the most controversial CIA figures: James Angleton. Angleton was the CIA'S chief of counterintelligence for two decades, from 1954 to 1974. He's known for his unique connections to the Italian elite post World War II, his close relationship with Israel, and his obsession over a potential mole within the CIA. Angleton was a brilliant and complicated man, but at times his paranoia seemed to get the best of him.Connect with Jefferson:jeffersonmorley.comdeepstateblog.orgTwitter: @jeffersonmorleyBuy his book on Angleton, The Ghost, here.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
12/13/20211 hour, 10 minutes, 24 seconds
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27. The Unlikely Alliance between the CIA and Ex-Communist Polish Intelligence with John Pomfret

Today, author and journalist John Pomfret shares details about the true story of an interesting alliance involving Polish spies aiding the United States. After years of working against each other, ex-communist spies in Poland following a democratic election ended up working hand in hand with the country they'd been pinned against for most of the Cold War.Connect with John:johnpomfret.comTwitter: @JEPomfretCheck out his book, From Warsaw with Love, here.https://www.amazon.com/Warsaw-Love-Forging-Unlikely-Alliance/dp/1250296056Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
11/29/202153 minutes, 27 seconds
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26. The Green Beret Defector with Greg Walker

Today, author and former special forces officer Greg Walker shares the little-known story of a David Baez, a green beret defector. Baez was a Nicaraguan national whose father was killed by U.S.-backed President Samosa after voicing his displeasure with inequalities that had risen under Samosa's rule. After immigrating the U.S. and joining the Army (and then Special Forces), Baez found himself in El Salvador watching the country he served try to re-institute the rule of a dynasty that had done personal harm to his own family. Baez defected to Nicaragua in support of Sandinista revolutionary forces--despite the danger it posed to his American brothers in arms.Connect with Greg:LinkedIn: Gregory WalkerCheck out Part 1 of Greg's series on Baez, A defector in place: The strange and terrible saga of a Green Beret Sandinista, here.https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/defector-place-strange-terrible-saga-green-beret-part-greg-walker/Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
11/22/20211 hour, 28 minutes, 1 second
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25. An Amoral Intelligence Superstar in Korea with Blaine Harden

Today, author and renowned journalist Blaine Harden tells the unique story of Donald Nichols, a young intelligence officer operating in Korea. Nichols was known for being big, powerful, and morally ambiguous--but his accomplishments in Korea are virtually unknown. From warning General McArthur and the U.S. Army of the incoming Korean War (to no avail) to being falsely diagnosed with schizophrenia and undergoing electroshock therapy at the hands of the Air Force, Nichols lived a life full of surprises.Connect with Blaine:blaineharden.comCheck out Blaine's book on Nichols, King of Spies, here.https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143128868Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
11/15/20211 hour, 2 minutes, 30 seconds
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24. The Incredible Military Feat of Operation Jaque

Today, Justin sits down solo to discuss Operation Jaque. This noteworthy mission took place in Colombia, where the local military managed to rescue 15 hostages from the extremist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). FARC was known for its ruthlessness, and past rescue missions had resulted in death or injury for all but one hostage. In this unique situation, strategy percolated from the bottom of the ranks to the top, and the hostages (two of whom were Americans and a third a former Colombian presidential candidate) were successfully recovered thanks to unique intelligence.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
11/8/202140 minutes, 13 seconds
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23. Secrets of the Cold War from 1947 to 1990 with Aden Magee

Today, hear from author and counterintelligence professional Aden Magee. Aden discusses how Cold War espionage began in a relatively friendly manner and evolved into the high stakes stories we know today. Initial "liaison tours" served as methods of intelligence collection as tensions rose between the USSR and the other Allied powers. As boundaries on restricted areas were drawn, tours became more and more dangerous with the risk of Soviet or East German detention, vehicle ramming, and shooting of MLM officers who strayed too close to restricted lines.Connect with Aden:LinkedIn: Aden MageeCheck out Aden's book, The Cold War Wilderness of Mirrors, here.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09672Q27C/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
11/1/202157 minutes, 21 seconds
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22. Aerial Experiences in Cold War Reconnaissance with Robert Hopkins III

Today, hear about the real experiences of Cold War pilots from expert Robert Hopkins III. Through a combination of personal experience as an overflight pilot, intense research, and varying interviews he shares the reality of aerial Cold War reconnaissance. From the infamous U2 incident of 1960 to stories the public has hardly heard, Robert provides an inside look into the lives and missions of pilots and aerial teams during one of the tensest eras of US history. Connect with Robert:Twitter: @CobraBall3Check out Robert's book, Spy Flights and Overflights, here.https://www.amazon.com/Spyflights-Overflights-Strategic-Reconnaissance-1945-1960/dp/1902109503Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on AmazonSupport the show
10/25/20211 hour, 22 minutes, 34 seconds
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21. Highly Unusual Friendship: The Bond between a CIA Case Officer and a KGB Agent with Eric Dezenhall

Today, hear from author, crisis manager, and public relations expert Eric Dezenhall about one of the strangest friendships in Cold War history. Jack Platt and Gennady Vasilenko forged a strong brotherly connection despite their respective loyalties to the CIA and the KGB. They shared a love of shooting and a thirst for adventure, but one of their greatest feats is revealing the FBI's most notorious double agent: Robert Hanssen. Listen to hear stories of Jack and Gennady's misadventures and what it took to bring down one of the worst spies in history.Connect with Eric:dezbooks.netBuy Eric's book, Best of Enemies, here or here on Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Best-Enemies-Last-Great-Story/dp/1538761319Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/spycraft101)Support the show
10/18/202150 minutes, 23 seconds
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20. The True Story of the Poison Gun and the KGB Defector with Dr. Serhii Plokhy

Today, Dr. Serhii Plokhy shares the story of KGB assassin Bogdan Stashinsky. Stashinsky is best known for assassinating a man on a bridge using a gun that contained a poison pellet as opposed to a bullet, ultimately killing his target in a way that appeared to be natural causes. Following his defection, his case involved a highly publicized assassination trial in 1962. Thanks to his honesty, Soviet leaders were finally implicated in many of the killings they had ordered and the KGB was put under pressure to reform their cruel tactics.Check out Dr. Plokhy's book, The Man with the Poison Gun, here.https://www.amazon.com/Man-Poison-Gun-Cold-Story/dp/0465035906/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show
10/4/20211 hour, 11 minutes, 17 seconds
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19. Licensed to Kill: The Couple that Inspired James Bond with Dr. Richard Wooldridge

It's Mason, Peter Mason. Today, guest Dr. Richard Wooldridge dives into the interesting lives of talented MI6 agents Prudence and Peter Mason. Part of a specialized unit called the Baker Team that sought to even the score with war criminals who had faced no repercussions following World War II, Peter Mason was literally licensed by the British government to kill. Speculation suggests that Peter--who knew Ian Fleming himself--is the chief inspiration for the most famous fictional intelligence agent in our cultural lexicon: James Bond. And what about Prudence? Despite a slim information available, we know she played a formative part in many missions abroad (in high-stakes locations like British Palestine) thanks to her impressive linguistic skills.Check out the Combined Military Services Museum, founded by Dr. Wooldridge, here.https://cmsm.co.uk/Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show
9/28/202146 minutes, 43 seconds
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18. KGB Agent to US Informant: Nikolai Khokhlov

Today, Justin tells the story of former KGB officer Nikolai Evgenievich Khokhlov. Starting his career as a vaudeville performer before being recruited by pre-KGB Russian intelligence, Nikolai was highly skilled, and lived an incredible life. Hear all about his story from assassinating world leaders to testifying about the true cruelty of the KGB on national television.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show
9/20/202144 minutes, 55 seconds
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17. 9/11 and Beyond with Toby Harnden

Today, author and journalist Toby Harnden provides timely reflection on the events leading up to and following the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. Hear unique details on the CIA mission launched to avenge those lost, as well as an interesting comparison between the current state of global politics and the very beginning of the war on terror. Connect with Toby:www.tobyharnden.comTwitter: @tobyharndenCheck out Toby's book, First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11, here.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RYQY1KQ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show
9/13/202158 minutes, 20 seconds
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16. An NSA Agent Abroad with Dr. Eric Haseltine

In this episode, Dr. Eric Haseltine  (self-proclaimed neuroscientist gone bad) tells the story of NSA agent Charles Gandy. Gandy was part of an uncharacteristic collaboration between the CIA and the NSA to find out what was happening in Cold War-era Moscow. Secret information was constantly ending up in Soviet hands, and assets were compromised left and right. It's a true tale of American hubris (and psychology) Haseltine believes we can learn from today. There may be people out there who are smarter than we are--and have better tech. Instead of ignoring or laughing off these threats, it's imperative to investigate and prepare. Connect with Dr. Haseltine:www.drhaseltine.comCheck out Dr. Hasletine's book, The Spy in Moscow Station, here.https://www.amazon.com/Spy-Moscow-Station-Counterspys-Deadly/dp/125078137X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show
9/6/20211 hour, 5 minutes, 55 seconds
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15. Shadows of the Cold War: A Murder Investigation with Fred Burton

This week, Fred Burton shares details on the Cold War-era murder of an Israeli diplomat, Colonel Joe Alon, in the US. Fred is a former special agent and current executive director for the center for protective intelligence at ONTIC. Hear him share his personal connections to the case as well as what it took to finally solve who pulled the trigger. Connect with Fred:officialfredburton.comTwitter: @fred_burtonIG: @officialfredburtonFred's book, Chasing Shadows here on Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Shadows-Special-Lifelong-Assassin/dp/0230620558Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show
8/30/202142 minutes, 49 seconds
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14. The Despondent Rise and Joyful Fall of the Berlin Wall with Helena Merriman

This week, Author and BBC reporter Helena Merriman shares the story of the covert construction of the Berlin Wall, and the way it tore families apart. Hear heartbreaking accounts of "orphaned" children whose parents were alive and well on the other side, lovers separated, and the desperate measures East German citizens took in attempts to escape oppression. How many were able to flee?Helana's book, Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall https://www.amazon.com/Tunnel-29-Extraordinary-Escape-Beneath/dp/1541788842Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show
8/23/202152 minutes, 55 seconds
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13. From Forest Fires to CIA Resuppliers with Lee Gossett

Lee Gossett (friend of  Spycraft 101 alumnus Neil Hansen) shares his experience from starting his flight career as a smoke jumper fighting remote forest firs to flying for Air America, the CIA's secret airline, in Laos. Lee shares stories about friends who passed and what it was like flying above Laos and Vietnam. Do you know the difference between hard rice and soft rice? (Hint: one isn't actually rice.)Check out Lee's book:Smoke Jumper to Global Pilot: a True Odyssey here.https://www.amazon.com/Smokejumper-Global-Pilot-True-Odyssey/dp/0578614715Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show
8/16/202146 minutes, 44 seconds
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12. Life in FBI Counterintelligence with James Gaylord

What you do if you found the man responsible for sharing classified Navy secrets with the Chinese government? Former FBI agent James Gaylord shares his story.  From covert house searches to arresting Chinese spies at the airport tune in to this episode to hear what it's really like working counterterrorism for the FBI.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Buy the book: here on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Spy-Shots-Tales-World-Espionage/dp/B09BY3WH71/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628473373&sr=1-2Support the show
8/9/20211 hour, 16 minutes, 31 seconds
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11. The Sacrifices of Adolf Tolkachev: A Soviet CIA Asset with David E. Hoffman

In this episode, David E. Hoffman goes into detail on the long-running espionage of Russian radar scientist, Adolf Tolkachev. Tolkachev was so determined to bring down the USSR that he approached the CIA in Moscow himself and risked his life to bring the US hundreds of secret documents that would prove invaluable.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Support the show
7/26/20211 hour, 11 minutes, 58 seconds
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10. An Ex-KGB Spy in America with Jack Barsky and Chelsea Dittrich

In this episode, Jack Barsky tells of his time working against the US as a KGB spy. From dangerous situations and being followed by the FBI to the lie he told to 'retire' from the KGB, hear about Jack's work firsthand. His daughter, Chelsea, shares a unique perspective on what it's like to be a 'spy kid' in the real world.Chelsea's documentary: https://play.aetv.com/specials/the-spy-who-raised-me/full-specialConnect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Support the show
7/19/20211 hour, 7 minutes, 19 seconds
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9. The Butcher of Lyon: The Crimes of Klaus Barbie

In this solo episode, hear Justin tell the story of nazi hold out and eventual ally spy, Klaus Barbie. From WWII atrocities to giving up his own ex-SS colleagues and trying to take down the USSR, Barbie's life was continuously complicated thanks to his intelligence expertise and unique skills.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Support the show
7/12/20211 hour, 9 minutes, 13 seconds
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8. Counterterrorism and Special Forces with Steven Emerson

In this episode, author and journalist Steven Emerson shares inside information on covert military operation abroad during the Cold War era. Hear of covert organizations and secret missions you never knew happened, with unique details on the Screaming Eagles to Green Berets to Operation Eagle Claw. Have you ever heard of the Yellow Fruit Organization? Find Steven's Book, Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era, here.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Support the show
7/5/20211 hour, 20 minutes, 53 seconds
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7. The CIA and the Shah with Tim Tyler

In this episode of Spycraft 101, Tim Tyler shares details of the CIA's involvement in Iran following World War II. From constitutional action mistaken for coups to non-lethal missions after the Islamic fundamentalist revolution, Tim provides important background and context on events that still affect the global political climate today.Tim's books:Find The Decline and Fall of the Shah here.Find A History of Panama 1502-2002 here.Connect with Spycraft 101:IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Support the show
6/28/20211 hour, 7 minutes, 26 seconds
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6. The Inventions and Espionage of Leon Theremin with Dr. Albert Glinsky

In this episode, Dr. Albert Glinsky covers the life of Leon Theremin. Theremin invented the odd musical instrument that bears his name, but he also engaged in espionage in the US for the Soviet Union. His brilliance allowed him to invent a seemingly innocuous device known as The Thing, the world's fist covert listening tool. IG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Support the show
6/21/20211 hour, 29 minutes, 16 seconds
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5. Flying for the CIA's Secret Airline with Neil Hansen

In this episode, hear from Neil Hansen about what it was like flying for Air America in Southeast Asia. Neil spent his time working with and defending the Hmong people in Laos--and he disagrees with tales of POWs held there long after the end of the Vietnam War. After leaving Laos, Neil used his flight experience in unorthodox ways to raise the money to bring home 100+ refugees from Malaysia and other parts of the Pacific.Check out Neil's book: here on Amazon.Connect with Air America on Facebook: Air America Historical Social ClubIG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Support the show
6/14/20211 hour, 3 minutes, 30 seconds
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4. Cyanide Pills and Glowing Foxes with John Lisle

In this episode, hear about the birth of American international espionage: the OSS. From cyanide pills to radioactive glowing foxes, the the USA's first intelligence organization was full of unique dirty tricks thanks to its Research and Development director, Stanley Lovell. Connect with John: Twitter: @JohnLisleIG: @spycraft101Patreon: Spycraft 101Support the show
6/7/202156 minutes, 56 seconds
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3. The Man in Moscow with Michael D. Sellers

In this episode of Spycraft 101, hear from retired CIA agent and movie producer Michael D. Sellers about his time as an agent in Ethiopia, Moscow, and The Philippines.  What is really like to be ambushed  by the KGB when you meet up with an asset?IG: @spycraft101Support the show
5/31/20211 hour, 11 minutes, 41 seconds
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2. The Reality of Life in the CIA with Doug Patteson

In the second episode of Spycraft 101's double feature premiere, hear what it's really like to be a CIA case manager, with former agent Doug Patteson. Who's in more danger--a US agent or a foreign asset?IG: @spycraft101Connect with Doug:https://www.ingloriousamateurs.com/IG: @texasspydadSupport the show
5/24/202153 minutes
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1. The Life and Lies of Fritz Joubert Duquesne with Andrew Blasco

In the first episode of Spycraft 101's double feature premiere, hear about the infamous Fritz Joubert Duquesne from author Andrew Blasco. Was Duquesne really the man who killed Kitchener, or was it another intricate lie woven into his already eventful life?IG: @spycraft101Connect with Andrew:https://www.andrewblasco.com/IG: @andrew.joseph.blascoSupport the show
5/24/202142 minutes, 2 seconds
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SPYCRAFT 101 INTRO

Welcome to the Spycraft 101 Podcast, your clandestine clasroom.Support the show
5/12/202147 seconds