Journalists and intelligence operatives are actually quite similar.  We both recruit sources, collect data and figure out what it all means.  So, what is it like to cover terrorism for one of the world's leading dailies?  Borealis has a chat with New York Times reporter Eric Schmitt.

About my guest Eric Schmitt

Eric Schmitt is a senior writer covering terrorism and national security for The New York Times. Since 2007, he has reported on terrorism issues, with assignments to Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Africa, Southeast Asia among others. He is the co-author, with The Times’s Thom Shanker, of “Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda,” published in 2011.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]

As a trial in Toronto of a man accused ot running down and killing 10 people in 2018 continues we are seeing various arguments about both the mental competence of the accused and whether his act could inspire others.  Borealis sits down once again with incel specialist Naama Kates to look at what we can deduce from these hearings on incels.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About my guest Naama Kates:

Investigative journalist Naama Kates dives deep inside the incel community. Incel is shorthand for involuntary celibate.

►Listen to Naama's podcast The Incel Project

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]

We all see things at work we don't like.  We should have ways to talk about these issues, without airing dirty linen in public.  So, what about those who betray intelligence secrets?  What about Jonathan Pollard and Edward Snowden? Borealis looks at better ways to talk about concerns.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]

It seems that all Western media want to talk about when it comes to terrorism these days is the far right.  We need, or so many say, to shift out resources away from the jihadis we have been focused on for 20 years.  Should we?  What do the data say?  Borealis looks at what facts tell us about terrorism in late 2020.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]

Militants, militias, insurgents, sects. These are just some of the terms used to describe what are in reality terrorists.  Why the variation?  Borealis weighs in on the terminology used to talk about terrorists.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]

When you work in intelligence the first thing you learn is to say nothing publicly.  All that knowledge is supposed to go to your grave with you. Thankfully, there are people out there who write very good books on all matters intelligence and Nigel West is one of them.  He joins Borealis for a fascinating look at this murky world.

About my guest Nigel West

Nigel West is an author specialising in security, intelligence, secret service and espionage issues. He is the European Editor of the World Intelligence Review, published in Washington DC, and the editorial director of The St Ermin’s Press. In 1989 he was voted ‘The Experts’ Expert’ by the Observer.

►Check Nigel's  books on his website

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]

Canada’s cyber security agency has named China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as the ‘greatest strategic threats’ to Canada’s infrastructure, property and elections. I was invited on the Scott Thomspon Show to discuss this recent news and its impact for Canada.

►Listen to The Scott Thomspon Show

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]

As the trial of a Toronto man who drove a van down a busy street killing 10 gets underway doubt is raised as to whether he is mentally responsible.  More importantly, he may not be the incel (involuntary celibate) he claimed to be.  Borealis looks at why we should not call violent incels 'terrorists'.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]

While terrorism is an important issue it is not the only threat we face. To date, Borealis has focused almost exclusively on terrorism but it is time to broaden horizons. In this Quick Hits episode you'll hear what the new scope is as well as the new name for this short podcast!

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]

Tens of thousands of Western citizens left their homes to join terrorist groups abroad such as Al Qaeda and ISIS.  Many died, often killing many others in the process, while others are still active.  A third cohort are in some kind of captivity and some want to bring them back.  Borealis talks to David Malet, who has looked at this issue at great length.

About my guest David Malet

David Malet teaches Justice, Law and Criminology at the School of Public Affairs at American University. Previously he served as director of the Security Policy Studies Program at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. He also taught at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and at Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he was director of the Center for the Study of Homeland Security and the University Honors Program.

►Check David's book Foreign Fighters: Transnational Identity in Civic Conflicts

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - [email protected]