SPYCRAFT 101 (Justin Black)
Explorez tous les épisodes de SPYCRAFT 101
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Feb 2022 | 34. Life as a Nicaraguan Contra with Luis Moreno | 01:11:22 | |
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. | |||
| 14 Feb 2022 | 35. The Story of a Soviet Defector with Alexandra Costa | 01:08:06 | |
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. | |||
| 07 Mar 2022 | 36. Assassination by Poisoning: Russia & The Soviet Union | 00:47:54 | |
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. | |||
| 14 Mar 2022 | 37. A Hollywood Spy: The Story of Boris Morros with Jonathan Gill | 01:12:38 | |
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. | |||
| 21 Mar 2022 | 38. An 11-Year-Old Convicted and Executed as a Spy with Ian Townsend | 01:08:11 | |
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. | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | 39. Intelligence Agencies of the Soviet Bloc: The Czechoslovakian Secret Police | 00:40:38 | |
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. | |||
| 05 Apr 2022 | 40. Russia's Revenge in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution with Shane Partlow (Part I) | 00:58:56 | |
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. | |||
| 11 Apr 2022 | 41. Russia's Revenge in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution with Shane Partlow (Part II) | 00:59:14 | |
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. | |||
| 18 Apr 2022 | 42. A Father Lost in the Invasion of the Bay of Pigs with Janet Ray | 01:21:36 | |
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. | |||
| 25 Apr 2022 | 43. The Assassins Immortalized on Russia's Stamps with Mark Pruett | 01:10:14 | |
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. | |||
| 02 May 2022 | 44. A Secret US Intelligence Organization: Mysteries of the Pond with Dr. Mark Stout | 00:57:28 | |
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. | |||
| 09 May 2022 | 45. The Women of Britain's Special Operations Executive with Dr. Kate Vigurs | 00:58:11 | |
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. | |||
| 16 May 2022 | 46. Finding Che Guevara: Clandestine in the Congo with Jim Hawes | 00:41:47 | |
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. | |||
| 23 May 2022 | 47. The Story of Spycraft 101 | 00:34:34 | |
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. | |||
| 30 May 2022 | 48. The Halyard Mission: Rescuing American Airmen in Serbia with John Capello | 01:06:12 | |
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. | |||
| 06 Jun 2022 | 49. The Life of a Cuban-Born CIA Shadow Warrior with Ric Prado | 01:23:19 | |
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. | |||
| 13 Jun 2022 | 50. Espionage in Nazi-Occupied Czechoslovakia with George Bearfield | 01:00:28 | |
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. | |||
| 20 Jun 2022 | 51. The Youngest Green Beret in Vietnam with Terry McIntosh | 00:55:31 | |
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. | |||
| 27 Jun 2022 | 52. Capturing a Japanese War Criminal with Chris Carola | 00:50:25 | |
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. | |||
| 04 Jul 2022 | 53. Hunting Che Guevara with Felix Rodriguez (Part One) | 01:03:37 | |
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. | |||
| 11 Jul 2022 | 54. Hunting Che Guevara with Felix Rodriguez (Part Two) | 01:26:28 | |
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. | |||
| 18 Jul 2022 | 55. Answering Your Questions | 00:42:53 | |
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. | |||
| 25 Jul 2022 | 56. The Last Cold War Mole with Robert Baer | 00:48:23 | |
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. | |||
| 01 Aug 2022 | 57. The American Comandante Liberating Cuba with Michael Sallah | 01:15:13 | |
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. | |||
| 08 Aug 2022 | 58. Spies In the Space Race | 00:50:32 | |
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. | |||
| 15 Aug 2022 | 59. Honey Traps: Seduction as Espionage with Henry Schlesinger | 01:06:37 | |
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. | |||
| 22 Aug 2022 | An Important Spycraft 101 Announcement | 00:09:08 | |
This week, Justin releases a quick public service announcement to let listeners know of a short upcoming hiatus. | |||
| 05 Sep 2022 | 60. Flying for the CIA: a Continental Air Services Contractor with Toby Scott | 01:43:11 | |
Spycraft 101 is back! | |||
| 12 Sep 2022 | 61. Solving the Murder of a CIA Case Officer with Michael Pullara | 01:35:57 | |
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. | |||
| 19 Sep 2022 | 62. The Pinkterons: Notorious Thugs, Detectives, and Spies with Dr. Paul O'Hara | 01:24:08 | |
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. | |||
| 26 Sep 2022 | 63. Thwarting Lenin's Global Communist Plot with Giles Milton | 01:11:35 | |
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. | |||
| 03 Oct 2022 | 64. The OSS, Uranium in the Congo, and the Atom Bomb with Kathryn Hogue | 01:41:39 | |
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. | |||
| 10 Oct 2022 | 65. Killing Castro: The Unlikely Alliance between the CIA and the Mob with Thomas Maier | 01:03:54 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 17 Oct 2022 | 66. The Early Days of FBI Counterintelligence with Raymond Batvinis | 01:34:46 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 24 Oct 2022 | 67. TRIGON: The Hero Who Betrayed the Soviet Union with Alejandra Suárez Ogorodnik | 01:10:27 | |
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. | |||
| 31 Oct 2022 | 68. A CIA Traitor's Last Asset with Bryan Denson | 01:27:14 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 07 Nov 2022 | 69. A Scottish Civilian Up Against a Nazi Spy Ring with Dr. Andrew Jeffrey | 01:33:46 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 14 Nov 2022 | 70. Demoralize and Deceive: OSS Psychological Warfare with Ann Todd | 00:57:29 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 21 Nov 2022 | 71. Tracking Down an Iraqi Bioweapons Expert with Stephen Monteiro | 01:06:45 | |
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. | |||
| 05 Dec 2022 | 73. The Truth about Snowden with Anonymous | 01:11:37 | |
Today Justin sits down with anonymous source known as Sarah. 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. | |||
| 28 Nov 2022 | 72. An Activist Escaping Panama with Kimberly Muse | 01:36:01 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 12 Dec 2022 | 74. The Most Dangerous Year on Earth with Brian Morra | 01:29:42 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 19 Dec 2022 | 75. An International CIA Pilot with Lee Gossett | 00:57:53 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 26 Dec 2022 | 76. Death and the Dangers of Clandestine Work | 00:56:14 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 02 Jan 2023 | 77. Answering More of Your Espionage Questions | 00:45:36 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 09 Jan 2023 | 78. The Spy Who Divided the CIA with Howard Blum | 00:40:54 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 16 Jan 2023 | 79. An NSA Spy Unknown for Decades with John Whiteside | 01:17:35 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 23 Jan 2023 | 80. The President, The Prosecutor, and The Spy with Justin Webster | 00:59:49 | |
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. | |||
| 30 Jan 2023 | 81. Espionage In Ancient Rome with Colonel Rose Mary Sheldon | 01:01:50 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 06 Feb 2023 | 82. America's Most Damaging Female Spy with Jim Popkin | 01:01:28 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 13 Feb 2023 | 83. The Murder of an OSS Officer with Pate McMichael | 01:05:27 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 20 Feb 2023 | 84. POWs Left Behind in Vietnam | 00:45:23 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 27 Feb 2023 | 85. Answering More of Your Espionage Questions | 00:42:58 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 06 Mar 2023 | 86. Hemingway and the NKVD with Dr. Frederick H. White | 01:12:40 | |
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? 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. | |||
| 13 Mar 2023 | 87. Rescuing North Korea: The Story of Adrian Hong with Bradley Hope | 01:29:06 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 20 Mar 2023 | 88. World War I Terrorism on American Soil with Chad Millman | 01:08:12 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 27 Mar 2023 | 89. Strife in Northern Ireland: The IRA and South Armagh with Toby Harnden | 01:16:54 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 03 Apr 2023 | 90. An OSS Rescue Operation in Northern Italy with Jack Chappell | 01:04:48 | |
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. | |||
| 10 Apr 2023 | 91. North Korean Espionage | 00:52:23 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 24 Apr 2023 | 92. MI6 Ensnared in German Counterespionage with Norman Ridley | 01:25:01 | |
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. 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. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| 01 May 2023 | 93. A Murder Plot Gone Wrong: Secret Experiments, Biological Weapons, and Apartheid | 00:38:34 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 08 May 2023 | 94. The Tip of the Spear in the War on Terror with Erick Miyares | 01:24:28 | |
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. | |||
| 15 May 2023 | 95. Spying to Fight Apartheid in South Africa with Sue Dobson | 01:24:47 | |
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. | |||
| 22 May 2023 | 96. Tradecraft in Private Investigations with Jon and Alex of Fenrir Group | 01:34:08 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 29 May 2023 | 97. Defecting from the USSR with Olga Sheymov | 01:24:32 | |
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 1980. 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. 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. | |||
| 05 Jun 2023 | 98. Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin with James Stejskal | 01:07:54 | |
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. | |||
| 12 Jun 2023 | 99. Industrial Espionage: The Downfall of a Great American Company with Aaron Stark | 01:04:12 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 19 Jun 2023 | 100. The Disappearance of Bob Levinson with Barry Meier | 00:53:27 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 26 Jun 2023 | 101. Episode 101 - Looking Back and Looking Forward | 00:27:19 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 03 Jul 2023 | 102. The Rise of American Intelligence with Nicholas Reynolds | 01:02:44 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 10 Jul 2023 | 103. Smuggling Weapons for the IRA with John Crawley | 01:11:15 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 17 Jul 2023 | 104. The Bill Buckley Story: Kidnapped by Hezbollah in Lebanon with Fred Burton | 00:54:08 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 24 Jul 2023 | 105. Thrive Unafraid with Kelly Sayre and Doug Patteson | 00:59:12 | |
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 personal resilience. | |||
| 31 Jul 2023 | 106. Fighting for the Truth: A Green Beret's Death with Michelle Black | 01:39:46 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 07 Aug 2023 | 107. British Covert Action with Rory Cormac | 01:09:56 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 14 Aug 2023 | 108. The Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi | 00:26:55 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 21 Aug 2023 | 109. Spy Hunter: How I Caught Robert Hanssen with Eric O'Neill | 01:22:18 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 28 Aug 2023 | 110. The Mysterious Death of an Anti-Communist Danish Diplomat | 00:33:35 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 04 Sep 2023 | 111. The Priest Who Funneled Weapons from Gaddafi to the IRA with Jennifer O'Leary | 00:48:00 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 11 Sep 2023 | 112. Mark of the Maker with Mark Stheiner, Tom Krein, and Sean Kendrick | 02:05:07 | |
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. | |||
| 18 Sep 2023 | 113. Spies in Uniform: The Military Liaison Missions in Berlin | 00:33:54 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 25 Sep 2023 | 114. Death and the Dangers of Clandestine Work Part II | 00:36:09 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 02 Oct 2023 | 115. Protecting International Defectors with Joe Augustyn | 01:00:37 | |
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. The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! 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. | |||
| 09 Oct 2023 | 116. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations in West Germany with Michael Honegger | 00:47:51 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 16 Oct 2023 | 117. The Lumumba Plot with Stuart Reid | 00:57:15 | |
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 government 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. | |||
| 23 Oct 2023 | 118. World War II's Serial Killer: The Crimes of Marcel Petiot | 00:41:15 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 30 Oct 2023 | 119. Rampant Assassination in the Roman Empire with Colonel Rose Mary Sheldon | 00:58:51 | |
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. 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 SPYCRAFT101 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| 06 Nov 2023 | 120. A Life in State Department Counterintelligence with Robert Booth | 01:26:09 | |
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. 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 SPYCRAFT101 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| 13 Nov 2023 | 121. How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World with Alex Joske | 01:05:35 | |
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. 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 SPYCRAFT101 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| 20 Nov 2023 | 122. How Polish Counterintelligence Officers Penetrated Foreign Embassies with Tomasz Awlasewicz | 01:34:50 | |
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. 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. | |||
| 27 Nov 2023 | 123. The Unsung Icarus of the French Resistance with Peter Dowding | 00:58:55 | |
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. Escape is an option. Save 10% with code SPYCRAFT101 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| 04 Dec 2023 | 124. Double Agent: How I Caught a Russian Spy with Naveed Jamali | 00:54:37 | |
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. | |||
| 11 Dec 2023 | 125. From the SAS to the World of Private Intelligence with Robert Lancaster | 01:06:04 | |
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. | |||
| 18 Dec 2023 | 126. The Arab Section: Israel's First Spies with Matti Friedman | 01:03:33 | |
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. | |||
| 25 Dec 2023 | 127. Modern Espionage Tales with The Gunfighter Project | 01:16:23 | |
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. | |||
| 01 Jan 2024 | 128. A POW Spy Ring in Vietnam with Jim Stockdale | 01:42:10 | |
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. | |||
| 08 Jan 2024 | 129. The Cambridge Five with Dr. Paul Winter | 01:03:25 | |
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. | |||
| 15 Jan 2024 | 130. Nuking the Moon with Vincent Houghton | 01:19:50 | |
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: @IntelHistorian Check out Nuking the Moon here. https://www.amazon.com/Nuking-Moon-Intelligence-Schemes-Military/dp/0525505172 Connect with Spycraft 101: Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here. spycraft101.com IG: @spycraft101 Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.com Patreon: Spycraft 101 Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here. Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here. | |||
| 22 Jan 2024 | 131. A Bombing in Sheridan Circle with Alan McPherson | 01:21:29 | |
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. | |||
| 29 Jan 2024 | 132. Noel Field: Stalin's Last American Spy with Kati Marton | 00:49:44 | |
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. | |||