Your intelligence team can tell you who fired the rocket. Almost none of them can tell you what it was, how it was built, or what’s coming next.

That gap has a name: TECHINT. And it’s the least understood discipline in the entire intelligence world.

This week I sat down with Travis Butson. 15 years with the New Zealand Defence Force, Air Force intelligence, and the man who built our new TECHINT course.

There is no equivalent of this course anywhere. I’ve looked.

In this episode:

• How Travis learned to think like the enemy, alone in an armoury with a Carl Gustaf and no doctrine to hold him back
• Tracking the adaptation cycles of improvised rocket systems in Iraq, and the Taji attack that changed how we think about insurgent capability
• Why one photo from a Chinese air show was worth more than classified reporting
• Op Spiderweb, drones, counter-UAS, and what happens when you underestimate a cunning enemy
• Why identifying a weapon system is the first minute of the job, not the job
• Inside the course: 15 modules, from the Battle of Thymbra to foreign materiel exploitation

Here’s the thing. Travis doesn’t just teach you to fish. He shows you how he fishes, then hands you the tackle box.

The course goes live on the 5th of July at the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School.

And that story about the Pantsirs in Sudan?

The one I couldn’t wrap my head around in 2023? You’ll want to hear how that ends.

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

Gabe Fanelli is back. Our Director of Training, 14 years active duty Army, Bronze Star recipient, SIGINT operator from West Africa to Syria, walks us through the new OSINT Operator Course, module by module.

This one is different. It is not a tools course. Tools go down. This is about building the analytical brain behind the tools: critical thinking, bias recognition, geo and chronological verification, the dark web, ad tech surveillance, corporate intelligence, and the ethics that hold all of it together.

We also went somewhere most podcasts will not go. AI in the kill chain. 900 strikes in 12 hours. The targeting deck for that girls’ school in Tehran. Palantir’s Maven Smart system. I wrote my dissertation on LLMs in the kill chain eight years ago, and the fact that the human is being removed further and further from the loop is not a future problem: it is a right now problem.

Gabe and I got into it on ad tech too. Your data broker probably knows your BMI. That should scare you.

The OSINT Operator Course is launching soon with a presale discount. If you work in intelligence, law enforcement, corporate security, compliance, or you just want to understand what is actually possible with open source data: this one is for you.

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

Gabriel Fanelli is back on the Grey Dynamics Podcast, and this time as our new Director of Training.

Look, I've been wanting to have this conversation since we first met. Gabe's trajectory is different from most people in the intelligence world. Bronze Star recipient, 14 years in the Army, former SOCOM instructor, fluent in Arabic, and now leading our training programs at Grey Dynamics. But what makes this conversation special isn't just his resume.

We went deep on this one. We talked about what it really means to be a crypto linguist, not the Hollywood version. But the actual work of listening to intercepted communications while sitting in a forward operating base in Syria. We talked about why he hated being stuck in a SCIF and how he found his way to tactical SIGINT work where he could actually connect with people on the ground.

But we also talked about languages in a way I haven't explored on this podcast before. Gabe's father was an archaeologist, and he grew up surrounded by Middle Eastern artifacts and culture. His love for Arabic didn't come from military necessity. It came from genuine fascination. And that makes all the difference when you're trying to connect with people. Whether you're an intelligence collector or just someone trying to understand the world better.

We touched on OSINT and where it sits in the intelligence ecosystem. Gabe's take is refreshing. OSINT isn't better than SIGINT or HUMINT, and those disciplines aren't better than OSINT. They're all sinew connecting different parts of the same body. The gatekeeping and chest-pounding about which INT is superior misses the point entirely.

And then we got philosophical. We talked about AI's role in intelligence work, about writing and how to convey complex ideas without sucking the humanity out of them, about the goal in life not being happiness but usefulness. Gabe wrote a book called The Resilient Dad after losing a friend to suicide, and his perspective on fatherhood, masculinity, and what it means to show up for people hit differently than most self-help nonsense you see online.

This is probably the most introspective conversation I've had on this podcast. Usually I'm just listening and learning from guests, but because Gabe and I are already friends, this felt more like two people thinking out loud together. If you're interested in intelligence tradecraft, if you care about language and cross-cultural communication. Or if you're just trying to figure out how to be a better human being in a world that's increasingly automated and disconnected—this one's for you.

And for those asking: yes, Gabe will be launching our Operational OSINT Fundamentals course soon, along with an open-source SIGINT course for people who want to get their feet wet in that world. More details are coming.

Listen now and see why I'm so excited to have Gabe on the team.

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

Even trained intelligence professionals make critical OPSEC mistakes in their personal lives.

In this episode, Ahmed Hassan sits down with Allen Pace, host of the OPSEC Podcast, to discuss the operational security vulnerabilities that compromise even the most experienced officers.

From burner phone misconceptions to the false security of Starlink, they dissect real-world examples of tradecraft failures.

Allen shares insights from his upcoming technical guide for intelligence teams, while Ahmed challenges the erosion of privacy rights in Europe and beyond.

Key topics include:

Why personal life is the widest OPSEC gap for professionals

Common burner phone mistakes that reveal identity

How your phone's sensors track you beyond what you realize

The Know Your Customer law's expansion into communications

Why Starlink isn't the "bulletproof" solution many believe

This is essential listening for intelligence professionals, security teams, and corporate leaders navigating digital vulnerability.

Sign up to the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School (GDIS) for Top Instructors, Practical Skills, and Real-World Application.

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.

https://school.greydynamics.com/

Get access to exclusive Grey Dynamics Reports

Get the Grey Dynamics security clearance to access our intelligence community and critical reports. As a cleared member, you get access to our 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!

https://greydynamics.com/membership-a..

#Intelligence #OPSEC #Privacy #CyberSecurity #OperationalSecurity #GreyDynamics #Podcast.

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

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast. This week, we welcome back Raymond White, a former CIA senior case officer with over 25 years of experience in the field. Raymond spent his entire career as a case officer focusing on counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism, earning the nickname “The Snow Leopard” within the agency. He also served as head of the CIA’s enterprise training program for aspiring case officers. Raymond has now created what he describes as the most comprehensive Human Intelligence (HUMINT) course available anywhere. We spoke about the course structure, the psychology and ethics of espionage, historical case studies like Oleg Gordievsky, for whom the course is designed for, and the potential for in-person training

Find Raymond White:

• Grey Dynamics
• Human Intelligence Fundamentals Course (coming soon)

Related Links:

• Former Senior CIA Officer Raymond White on HUMINT and Training the Next Generation - Episode 56
• Former CIA Collection Management Officer with Esther Atwell on Life
• Senior CIA Ops Officer John Atwell on Culture Change, Working with Five Eyes and Career Advice
• From the Defence Human Intelligence Unit to Recruitment with Mack
• Australian Intelligence, Demystifying HUMINT and Mental Health with D. - Episode 35
• Former German Military HUMINT Operator Christoph Stegemann - Episode 58

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

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast. Today, we kick off season five guest lineup with Scott Ryder, a former operator of the 2nd Commando Regiment with more than twenty years of experience in the Australian Army, including multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as domestic experiences with the Tactical Assault Group - East. Scott is not only a veteran but also an author. Today, we are covering some insights from his book “Forged in Fire: an Australian Commando's Story of Life and Death on the Frontline”, from the right way to write about special forces without compromising techniques and procedures to the real culture in tier one units.

• Instagram
• Forged in Fire: an Australian Commando's Story of Life and Death on the Frontline

• 2nd Commando Regiment: Australia’s Tier 1 Force Application Unit 
• Grey Dynamics Services: Intelligence Capability Development and Training 
• Grey Dynamics Services: Intelligence Reports
• Grey Dynamics Services: Intelligence Operational Support

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.

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!

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

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

Recording this from a hotel room in Amman because I couldn’t sleep and figured I’d update you all on where we’ve been and where we’re going.

We took a break this summer - mainly because my family comes first, full stop. But Grey Dynamics hasn’t been sitting still. We’ve grown significantly across all three domains:

1) Our reporting (which now includes human sources on every piece)

2) Our online school (which is getting a human intelligence course from Ray White, who ran the CIA’s famous “Farm”)

3) Our bespoke intelligence work

The big shift? We’re doubling down on “ground truth” - the human element that most intelligence work misses, especially in the global south.

I also need to be clear about Gaza. It’s genocide. Period. If that bothers you, don’t listen. There are receipts of what everyone said when it mattered, and I’ll take the professional costs that come with speaking up.

The podcast stays weekly, the company’s breaking records, and family remains the priority. That’s the update.

• LinkedIn
• Grey Dynamics Podcast

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.

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!

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

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

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast. Today, we are hosting an episode with Douglas London, a former clandestine service case officer and station chief with over three decades of experience in downrange assignments. London career with Langley ranged from recruiting assets in hostile environments to operating under official cover.

Douglas London is also a Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service where he teaches Intelligence and National Security Studies. During the episode, the author of “The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence” will share his insights on current tradecraft in human intelligence. 

• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile
• The Recruiter Book

• The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence
• Former Paramilitary Operations Officer Ric Prado on his life in the Shadows
• Grey Dynamics Intelligence Capability Development and Training
• Grey Dynamics Operational Support
• Grey Dynamics Open Source Intelligence Services
• Grey Dynamics Case Studies
• Grey Dynamics Story

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 

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

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

Welcome back to Grey Dynamics. Today, we are thrilled to announce the OpSec Podcast, a project from our cyber intelligence and operational security expert, which will be produced and edited in-house every couple of weeks. Allen, the show host, is a seasoned intelligence and defence professional with over twenty years of experience, including military service, government contracting and the private sector. 

Specialising in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) collection operations. Allen holds a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and top-tier certifications including CISSP and CASP+. Additionally, his career spans global assignments leading multinational teams and supporting mission-critical programs for the United States military and allied partners. Currently, he serves as a GEOINT advisor for the United States government and an OPSEC specialist in Grey Dynamics team. 

• LinkedIn Profile
• OpSec Podcast
• Intel Reports

• Grey Dynamics Intelligence Capability Development and Training
• Grey Dynamics Operational Support
• Grey Dynamics Open Source Intelligence Services
• Grey Dynamics Case Studies
• Grey Dynamics Story

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 

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

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

The Grey Dynamics Podcast welcomes you back. Today, we are doing another solo episode with important announcements. These include new school courses focused on Human Intelligence (HUMINT), as well as new podcasts and guides on Operational Security (OPSEC). Both of the initiatives are spearheaded by veteran intelligence officers and operators.

• LinkedIn
• Grey Dynamics Podcast

• Grey Dynamics Intelligence Capability Development and Training
• Grey Dynamics Operational Support
• Grey Dynamics Open Source Intelligence Services
• Grey Dynamics Case Studies
• Grey Dynamics Story

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.

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!

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

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