Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast! This week we are speaking again to Bryan Stern, founder and head of Grey Bull Rescue Foundation. Bryan has 25 years of military experience, including combat tours with the US Army and Navy. His specialisms include unconventional warfare, hostage rescue, and counterterrorism. During the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, Bryan organised flights to evacuate 117 US citizens after the US military had left. Since then, Grey Bull Rescue has conducted thousands of missions and rescued over 7,100 people from crises around the world. We spoke about breaking a US citizen out of a Russian FSB prison, operating where other won’t, and much more.

Find Grey Bull Rescue and Bryan Stern:

• greybullrescue.org
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• X
• Bryan Stern LinkedIn

Related Links:

• Warzone Extraction, China vs Taiwan and Project Dynamo with Bryan Stern
• What do Humanitarian NGOs and the Private Sector want from Intelligence? With E.

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Ric Prado teamed up with Grey Dynamics to give away signed copies of his book. The only thing you have to do to win is to comment “blackops” under the episode of this post. You will receive a DM with instructions!

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast! The week we are talking to Ric Prado, a former CIA paramilitary operations officer and clandestine Special Activities Division (SAD) operator. Ric spent 24 years in the CIA, operating in the Middle East, Latin America, and East Asia. During the war on terror, Ric served as Chief of Operations at the CIA Counterterrorist Center (CTC), as well as setting up the Bin Laden Task Force. Previously, he served as an elite US Air Force Pararescue man. His New York Times Bestseller book, “Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior”, tells his life story and extraordinary experiences along the way. We spoke about leaving Cuba as a refugee, experiences on operations, being in the CIA as 9/11 unfolded and much more.

Find Ric Prado

• ricprado.com
• LinkedIn

We Spoke About:

• 0:00 Ric Prado’s background
• 2:50 Leaving Cuba alone at the age of ten after the revolution
• 6:26 Having a mischievous streak and not fitting in
• 7:54 Ric’s first day at CIA headquarters
• 10:14 What was the onboarding process and first mission like?
• 13:32 What makes Cuban-Americans so patriotic?
• 17:53 Ric’s experience working with the Sandinista’s in Nicaragua
• 21:43 Studying to become a CIA officer and going to “the farm”
• 24:48 Going to work in Costa Rica
• 27:51 Experiencing 9/11 from inside the CIA
• 35:13 Experiencing the culture change in the CIA during the war on terror
• 40:10 Discussing Billy Waugh
• 45:50 Why do intelligence professionals in fiction get such a negative reputation?
• 48:17 Advice for young people
• 53:19 What Rick does now he has retired from the CIA
• 56:35 Cultural recommendations
• 1:00:34 Book Giveaway

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast! This episode looks at how to write a Killer Intelligence Report. It builds on many of the skills students learn in our intelligence fundamentals course. This is from our live workshop from the 6th of November. Presented by Marcel Plitcha, lead instructor of the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School. He is currently completing his PhD at St Andrews and is a former DOD Analyst and FBI contractor. We cover the key elements you need to understand how to write an effective intelligence report!

Check out the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School Courses

Find the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School Instructors:

• Marcel Plichta
• Ahmed Hassan

We spoke about:

• 1:31 Introduction
• 2:49 Who are we?
• 5:03 What’s the point of an intelligence report?
• 7:12 Is there a right way to do an intel report?
• 8:15 Front matter of a report
• 15:11 Introduction to report
• 20:03 The body of your report
• 20:44 Assessments
• 26:59 Evidence
• 33:40 Visual Elements
• 44:24 Structured Analytic Techniques (SATs)
• 53:07 Concluding a report
• 59:19 How strict are these rules?

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With security clearance, you can take a crucial role in our intelligence community. As a cleared member, you get access to Secret & Top Secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today!

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• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Google Podcast
• Amazon Podcast

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast! This week we are talking to Christoph Stegemann, former head of the Bundeswehr's HUMINT school. Christoph has worked across the German intelligence community in both the military and civilian agencies. In 2019, he moved on to work in Germany’s private intelligence sector. Since then he has gone onto to work corporate intelligence teams and worked to counter the use of performance enhancing drugs in professional sports. We spoke about working alongside different nations, not overly relying on technology, how the German private intelligence sector looks and much more.

Find Christoph Stegemann:

• LinkedIn

We spoke about:

• 0:00 Christoph’s background in the Bundeswehr and how he got into HUMINT
• 5:57 Differences in culture and approach compared to allied nations
• 8:55 Becoming head of HUMINT training in the Bundeswehr and understanding the tradecraft
• 10:54 Being trained to as both an agent handler and as an interrogator
• 12:14 How has German military intelligence changed over the war on terror and not overly relying on technology
• 18:16 What were the differences Christoph felt after transitioning between military intelligence and civilian agencies
• 21:02 How do you build a network in the private sector after working in public sector intelligence?
• 27:21 Christoph’s anti-doping work in the professional sports world
• 32:50 How does the German private intelligence sector look?
• 36:20 How was the war in Ukraine impacted the German private intelligence sector
• 38:53 Being able to communicate with stakeholders effectively in German corporate intelligence
• 41:42 What advice Christoph has for young people looking to work in the private intelligence sector
• 44:55 Christopher’s advice for those looking to work in government 
• 46:04 Tradecraft and Cultural recommendations 
• 54:03 Final Thoughts

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast. This week we are talking to Lewis Sage-Passant about the obscure and understudied world of private sector intelligence. Lewis is the Global Head of Intelligence at a major pharmaceutical company and an Adjunct Professor at Science Po. Previously, Lewis served in the British Armed Forces and worked in private intelligence roles in the energy, banking and software sectors. His new book, “Beyond States and Spies: The Security Intelligence Services of the Private Sector” provides an overview of corporate intelligence structures and functions. We discussed how intelligence interacts with different industries, industrial espionage, controversial firms and much more.

Find Lewis Sage-Passant:

• LinkedIn
• X

We Spoke About:

0:45 Lewis’ background

4:28 The differences between working in government and private intelligence

8:37 Lewis’ previous experience with a travel risk start-up

13:32 Why Lewis wrote his new book, Beyond States and Spies: The Security Intelligence Services of the Private Sector

18:06 What is the difference between in-house corporate intelligence teams and private intelligence vendors/service providers, and how do they interact?

21:23 The variety of private intelligence service providers

24:48 The role the oil and gas industry has played in developing in-house intelligence capabilities

26:40 Pharmaceutical companies have developed intelligence capabilities, how do they use them?

31:20 How does private sector intelligence interact with the professional sports industry?

34:15 What role does government play in the private sector in cases of state-sponsored industrial espionage

40:17 Is the line between state and private intelligence capabilities blurring, and will it lead to regulation?

44:25 How much can governments influence the activities of the private sector?

45:48 Cooperation on dual-use technologies and supply chain risk

48:29 Controversial private intelligence firms and tactics

52:05 Advice for people trying to get into private intelligence

56:28 Cultural recommendations

1:00:44 What did Lewis not cover in the book?

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast! This week, Marcel Plichta, the lead instructor of the intelligence school, joins us to discuss writing a killer intelligence report, the future of the course, and the feedback we have received.

Join our "How to Write a Killer Intelligence Report" workshop:

• Click here to register instantly!

We spoke about:

• 0:00 - How to write a killer intelligence report workshop
• 4:02 - Discussing the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School (GDIS) and feedback
• 14:54 - Future GDIS courses on HUMINT and Crypto Intelligence

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast. This is our first episode of season 4! This week we are talking to Raymond White, a former CIA senior operations officer. Raymond has spent over 25 years in the agency, in the directorate of analysis and directorate of operations. He has worked on issues such as Iran’s Nuclear capabilities, the Syrian civil war and North Korea. As well as training the next generation of intelligence officers. Since his career in the CIA, Raymond has founded Wolfpack Consulting. Teaching clients CIA methodology for optimal outcomes. We spoke about CIA priorities over the years, the role of HUMINT in modern intelligence operations, which agencies have most impressed him and more.

Find Raymond White:

• LinkedIn
• Wolfpack Consulting

We Spoke about:

• 0:00 - Ray’s background
• 7:39 - Beginning work in CIA operations
• 12:11 - Moving laterally in the agency
• 14:02 - Following Iran’s nuclear capabilities
• 14:52 - CIA culture over time and working during the global war on terror
• 17:48 - New era great power competiton and proxy warfare
• 23:21 - Confronting the changing landscape, priorities and the importance of HUMINT
• 29:15 - Which allied and adversarial foreign agencies have impressed Ray?
• 38:44 - Ray’s time supporting the development of the next generation of CIA officers
• 41:51 - Life after the CIA and entering the private sector
• 47:37 - Advice to young people looking to get into intelligence
• 53:03 - What Ray is reading and cultural recommendations

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With security clearance, you can take a crucial role in our intelligence community. As a cleared member, you get access to Secret & Top Secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today!

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• Spotify
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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! Today we are talking to Esther Atwell, a former linguist and collection manager who spent over a decade at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Esther has had a varied career beyond intelligence, working as a tutor, realtor and court interpreter on the island of Hawaii. We discussed working in the CIA and overseas, what it takes to work in intelligence, immigrating to the US and much more. Esther is also the partner of our previous guest, CIA operations officer John Atwell.

Find Esther Atwell:

• LinkedIn

We Spoke About:

• 1:10 - Early life, learning languages, tutoring, livining overseas and joining the CIA with her husband.
• 18:42 - Being an Operationally Certified Collection Management Officer
• 23:59 - The desired traits of someone wants to work in this field
• 28:47 - Esether's view on faith and not mourning over missed opportunity
• 33:30 - Immigrating to the US and sense of patriotic duty
• 40:05 - Esther on working in the CIA and overseas as a woman and someone with foreign heritage
• 45:50 - Advice for young people looking to work in intelligence
• 54:16 - Cultural recommendations

Related Links:

• Senior CIA Ops Officer John Atwell on Culture Change, Working with Five Eyes and Career Advice
• Canadian Intelligence, the ICC and Career Development with Kelly Wong

Advance Your Intelligence Career Today!

We are the first fully online intelligence school helping professionals to achieve their long term goals. Our school with tons of new material is currently under construction and will be out there very soon. Meanwhile, you can sign up and be the first to know when we launch, plus get exclusive tips and offers.

Get access to exclusive Grey Dynamics Reports

With security clearance, you can take a crucial role in our intelligence community. As a cleared member, you get access to secret & top secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today!

The Grey Dynamics Podcast is available on all major platforms!

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• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Google Podcast
• Amazon Podcast

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! This week we are talking to Michael Hawkes, a former 22 Special Air Service operator. Michael spent twenty four years in the British Army, twelve of which in the SAS. Including six in covert operations. He also served as a military advisor to UK's intelligence services. For the last twenty two years he has had a successful career in corporate security, working all over the world. We spoke about his experience in UKSF selection, his time in Northern Ireland, getting kidnapped in Bosnia and much more.

Find Michael Hawkes:

• Hawkes & Co.
• LinkedIn

We Spoke About:

• 0:00 - Introduction and Michael’s background
• 07:14 - Michael’s upcoming book
• 11:58 - First time in UKSF selection and fatal accidents during training
• 18:45 - Michael’s day one experience in 22 SAS
• 22:15 - Michael’s time in Northern Ireland and working undercover
• 41:58 - Michael’s time in Bosnia and getting kidnapped by Serbians
• 59:02 - Working as a CQB instructor and working alongside female operators
• 1:05:33 - Discussing surveillance activities
• 1:11:00 - Hawkes & Co.
• 1:26:51 - Should young people join the UK armed forces currently?
• 1:29:30 - Cultural recommendations

Advance Your Intelligence Career Today!

We are the first fully online intelligence school helping professionals to achieve their long term goals. Our school with tons of new material is currently under construction and will be out there very soon. Meanwhile, you can sign up and be the first to know when we launch, plus get exclusive tips and offers.

Get access to exclusive Grey Dynamics Reports

With security clearance, you can take a crucial role in our intelligence community. As a cleared member, you get access to secret & top secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today!

The Grey Dynamics Podcast is available on all major platforms!

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• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Google Podcast
• Amazon Podcast

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast. This week we are discussing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2022) in all its action packed Hollywood glory. As usual we'll be looking at the story from an intelligence perspective, digging into the games' realism, what it got right and what it got wrong.

Contents in Mission Order:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 6:27 - Strike
• 16:23 - Kill or Capture
• 19:23 - Wetwork and Tradecraft
• 29:29 - Borderline
• 33:31 - Cartel Protection
• 37:15 - Close Air and Hardpoint
• 42:18 - Recon by Fire
• 46:12 - Violence and Timing
• 49:05 - El Sin Nombre
• 53:37 - Dark Water
• 56:56 - Alone
• 1:00:00 - Prison Break
• 1:01:21 - Hindsight
• 1:02:57 - Ghost Team
• 1:05:01 - Countdown
• 1:08:46 - Ending
• 1:09:28 - Thoughts
• 1:20:49 - Cultural Recommendations

Previous Call of Duty Episodes:

• Call of Duty 4 – Modern Warfare, an Intelligence perspective
• Call of Duty Modern Warfare, an Intelligence Perspective (Pt. 2)
• Call of Duty Modern Warfare, an Intelligence Perspective (Pt. 3)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) an Intelligence Perspective

Advance Your Intelligence Career Today!

We are the first fully online intelligence school helping professionals to achieve their long term goals. Our school with tons of new material is currently under construction and will be out there very soon. Meanwhile, you can sign up and be the first to know when we launch, plus get exclusive tips and offers.

Get access to exclusive Grey Dynamics Reports

With security clearance, you can take a crucial role in our intelligence community. As a cleared member, you get access to secret & top secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today!

The Grey Dynamics Podcast is available on all major platforms!

• Grey Dynamics
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Google Podcast
• Amazon Podcast

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