Grey Dynamics

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! Today, we are talking to John Atwell. John spent over twenty-three years of experience in operational and analysis roles at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Since leaving the agency, John has spent time as a consultant, become a columnist for the Haiwaii-Tribune Herald, became editor of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers and a college lecturer at Haiwaii Community College. We discussed the culture shift in CIA after 9/11, views on allied and adversarial agencies around the world, advice for a career in intelligence and much more.

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• 0:32 - John Atwell’s background
• 4:59 - What made John suitable for an operational role at CIA?
• 9:10 - The shift towards paramilitarism at CIA after 9/11
• 12:21 - Will CIA return to its pre-9/11 culture with its focus back to strategic targets?
• 15:04 - CIA and diversity
• 19:40 - Which international intelligence agencies was John impressed by during his career?
• 21:31 - Thoughts on adversarial intelligence agencies
• 23:44 - The growing use of intelligence and counter intelligence by non-state actors
• 26:56 - Is the swing to OSINT, geospatial and cyber at the detriment of HUMINT?
• 29:38 - Why John did not join the private sector after leaving the intelligence community
• 32:06 - John on working with his wife at CIA
• 33:08 - What advice would you give someone who wants a career in intelligence?
• 35:59 - Ahmed’s career journey
• 40:51 - Cultural Recommendations

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!

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! Today, we are talking to Kevin Riehle. Kevin has thirty years of experience in the US intelligence community and specialises in Russia and Counter Intelligence. Retiring in 2021, Kevin now works as an academic and author. He is currently a lecturer at the Brunel Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies (BCISS). Kevin's latest book, "The Russian FSB: A Concise History of the Federal Security Service", takes a detailed look at the service and its activities.

In celebration of Kevin's new book on the Russian FSB we have teamed up with him to give away two (2) copies of the book to members of our Community!

Follow the instructions and enter our competition for the chance to win a copy of The Russian Fsb: A Concise History of the Federal Security Service!

1. Click on the following Link to enter our Competition!

https://www.tropee.com/greydynamics

2. Complete any of the below to collect a 100 points to enter the giveaway!

A) Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

B) Join Grey Dynamics Newsletter!

C) Listen to the latest Podcast with our guest and book author, Kevin P. Riehle and Comment!

D) Follow Grey Dynamics on LinkedIn.

E) Follow Grey Dynamics on Instagram.

3. Go to the rewards tab, click on the Giveaway and click on the "Enter Draw" button!

The Competition will last for a week, ending at March 22nd 2024, 12 PM London Time.

Good luck!

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• 0:36 - Kevin’s background
• 5:09 - Who is the FSB?
• 7:32 - What is the FSB’s jurisdiction 
• 10:33 - How comparable is the FSB to intelligence organisations in the US and UK?
• 12:22 - Could an organisation similar to the FSB exist in a democracy?
• 13:52 - What are the functions of the FSB’s special operations units, Alpha and Vympel?
• 19:30 - What is SMERSH, and why is it being revived?
• 23:26 - Where does the FSB fit into Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy?
• 26:31 - How has the FSB’s ideology evolved?
• 31:22 - The FSB’s relationship with PMCs, far-right groups and hackers
• 34:44 - FSB corruption and criminal activity
• 41:50 - Kevin on counter intelligence
• 44:34 - How did Ahmed’s time at Brunel University, studying the Intelligence & Security Studies MA, impact his career?
• 47:19 - The importance of effective dissemination of intelligence
• 49:43 - Cultural recommendations 
• 52:59 - Advice to those seeking a career in intelligence

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/

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast. Today, we are trying something new! This is the first episode of Editor's Notes, where we keep you updated on what we're up to. We'll be discussing the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School, future podcast guests, our new website and what I'm reading. Enjoy!

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• Grey Dynamics Intelligence School
• University of Salford QUALITY CPD (QCPD) Accreditation
• Kevin Riehle - The Russian FSB

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!

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast! Today we have Drew Biemer back with us again. Drew is a strategic management and communications professional with 2 decades of experience in governmental, public and civil affairs. His prior experience includes congressional and gubernatorial campaign management, legislative staffing, executive protection, geopolitical risk management, investigations, intelligence, and public information. We spoke about how dark money gets into the political process, how nation-states interfere in third-world countries' elections, targeting using social media and much more.

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• 1:06 - The presidential nomination process
• 8:14 - How dark money gets into the US electoral process 
• 18:22 - How corporations interfere in the US political process
• 24:43 - Interference in other countries elections
• 28:40 - Psychological micro-targeting using social media
• 36:42 - The effect TikTok could have on US and other elections
• 48:28 - Ahmed and Drew’s experience concerning elections abroad
• 53:40 - Cultural recommendations
• 59:14 - Cultural observations

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!

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! Today, we are talking to Curtis Fox, former Green Beret, author, graduate of Georgetown University and currently a program manager. His book 'Hybrid Warfare: The Russian Approach To Strategic Competition & Conventional Military Conflict' is out now. We discussed some of the fascinating topics covered in it. Including how Russia has applied hybrid warfare in Ukraine since 2014, the collapse of effective cooperation between the FSB and GRU, as well as the destruction of Russia's special forces capability.

Disclaimer: All of Curtis Fox's opinions are his own and do not reflect the policy of the US Department of Defense or the US Government.

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• 0:55 - Why Curtis chose to join the Green Berets
• 4:26 - Deployments during the war on terror as part of 10th Special Forces Group
• 5:15 - Experiencing other cultures
• 6:23 - Observations on Somalia
• 13:01 - The legacy of French colonialism and Wagner’s activities in the Sahel
• 22:00 - Historical Russian strategy and hybrid warfare
• 32:38 - Did Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy work in Ukraine from 2014?
• 41:31 - The GRU, Salisbury and being cut out of planning for the 2022 invasion
• 48:09 - The FSB’s botched invasion plan and feeding the Kremlin bad intelligence
• 56:29 - The future of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy and destruction of their special forces capability
• 1:00:27 - Could Serbia use Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy themselves?
• 1:04:26 - Does the West underestimate the Iranians?
• 1:10:00 - Career advice for young people, including those looking to join special forces
• 1:13:58 - Advice to those looking to write a book
• 1:15:57 - How Grey Dynamics decides what topics to cover
• 1:21:24 - Cultural recommendations

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!

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! This week we are talking to Michael Blicher Soerensen. Michael is a veteran of the Danish army, specialising in electronic warfare and SIGINT. He is currently a global security site lead at Meta. We discussed what makes a good analyst, deploying to Iraq, corporate intelligence and much more. Enjoy!

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• 2:40 - Michael's background
• 5:15 - Opportunities after working in SIGINT and Electronic Warfare
• 9:17 - Killings your darlings
• 10:40 - Adjusting to work outside of the army
• 14:09 - Learning to build rapport with collegues in the workplace
• 16:22 - What makes a good intelligence analyst
• 20:21 - Discovering new career opportunities and staying open minded
• 24:49 - Michael’s experience on deployment
• 28:17 - Michael's experience working with allied intelligence counterparts
• 32:07 - Commentary on how training and background can heavily influence analyst’s perspectives
• 36:32 - Tailoring intelligence to the consumers needs and creating valuable products
• 38:08 - Issues in the field of OSINT
• 48:30 - Intelligence professionals being able to educate consumers on intelligence can and cannot do
• 51:30 - Competing with other internal and external intelligence professionals in the corporate world
• 1:01:50 - Lack of Tactical intelligence in the private sector
• 1:03:24 - Intelligence products currently consumed by in the corporate world
• 1:05:47 - Cultural Recommendations

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.

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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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! This week, we are talking to Mack! Mack is a former British Army Infantryman and Team Leader. He then went on to be recruited as an Intelligence Officer in the tri-service Defence Human Intelligence Unit (DHU). After leaving the armed forces, Mack became a recruiter. Spending some time working in the Private Equity space, before joining cyber specialists Trident Search, where he is now. We discussed transitioning from infantry to intelligence, Mack's time in DHU combatting the Islamic State, the importance of culture in the work environment and much more.

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• 0:33 - Mack’s background
• 6:02 - Bridging the gap between the military and the private sector
• 9:20 - Upskilling for veterans
• 10:14 - Lack of consensus on intelligence job titles
• 12:52 - Intelligence as a function constantly having to prove its worth
• 16:05 - Mack’s time in the infantry and transition to intelligence 
• 19:14 - Mack’s first tour as DHU
• 21:00 - Advice to people wanting to join DHU
• 23:07 - Referencing for employers as intelligence professionals and veterans
• 24:44 - Moving directly from the military to private equity
• 26:14 - The importance of culture in a workplace
• 29:41 - Moving to different countries to offer services
• 31:51 - Considering culture when recruiting
• 34:04 - What long-term career advice would Mack give to those looking to join the armed forces
• 37:05 - Getting into cyber as a route into intelligence
• 39:18 - Salary ranges in intelligence and cyber
• 45:02 - Mack asks Ahmed where he sees Grey Dynamics 2-3 years
• 50:14 - Cultural recommendations 
• 54:34 - Final thoughts

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.

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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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast! This week, we are talking to a risk management expert in the humanitarian sector. E. has previously worked in the military and private security sector in many countries and conflict zones. We'll discuss the opportunities presented during crisis, how humanitarian NGOs use intelligence and the complexity of navigating the current information space.

• 0:00 - Intro and E's background
• 5:13 - Getting into humanitarian security
• 7:26 - How the private sector can learn to see risk as an opportunity
• 9:00 - Why is the private sector so conservative with risk
• 14:23 - Is there space for the private and humanitarian sector to work closer together
• 16:50 - Does the humanitarian sector have anything to learn from the private sector in terms of their approach to security
• 19:17 - How organisations such as humanitarian NGOs can use intelligence to support their operations
• 21:01 - Overcoming the stigma associated with intelligence in the humanitarian sector
• 24:39 - How unhelpful the mystification of intelligence is
• 28:54 - How has OSINT impacted the humanitarian sector?
• 32:25 - How do humanitarian organisations navigate the complexity of the current information domain
• 40:31 - What are some of the tools and techniques E uses for his work
• 45:23 - Advice on getting into security risk management in the humanitarian sector
• 47:31 - What keeps E up at night
• 53:29 - The emerging weaponisation of refugees
• 59:32 - Cultural recommendations

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.

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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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast for season 3! We're kicking things off with a fascinating guest today, Pasha Munro. Pasha served as a Royal Marine Mountain Leader and Special Boat Service operator as part of UKSF in the British Armed Forces. Today, he is the director of operations at the private security company Black Box Global. Pasha has honed his skills in high-pressure environments, where precision, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence are paramount. His extensive experience in conducting complex operations and mitigating security risks allows him to provide invaluable guidance and leadership in safeguarding organisations and their assets.

You can find Pasha Munro on LinkedIn.

• 0:37 - Pasha’s background
• 4:34 - Becoming a Royal Marine
• 9:54 - First time in Special Forces selection
• 12:12 - Becoming a Royal Marine mountain leader and returning to Special Forces selection
• 15:35 - Joining the Special Boat Service (SBS)
• 18:31 - Why Pasha choose the SBS
• 19:18 - Training and earning his keep in the SBS
• 21:25 - Deploying to Afghanistan with the SBS
• 31:13 - Getting back into maritime activities
• 32:32 - The Afghanistan pullout
• 35:11 - Operational scenarios in the SBS
• 37:32 - The psychological aspect of being in the water
• 38:55 - Life after the SBS, office life and close protection
• 43:27 - Black Box Global
• 46:33 - Mentoring and advice
• 49:17 - Being able to switch off
• 50:52 - Advice to young people

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.

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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We're back to discuss the 2019 reboot of Call of Duty's Modern Warfare series! In this episode we'll be talking about the inspirations for the campaign, the controversies that made headlines, chemical weapons and much more.

Make sure to stay tuned for the first episode of season three, coming very soon!

You can find Marcel Plichta on:

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You can find Michael Elmer on:

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0:00 - Intro

1:27 - Context

5:54 - Marines vs. Spetsnaz in Kastovia

20:26 - The London Attack

27:07 - Russian occupation in Urzikstan

36:11 - US Marines and CIA search for Al-Qatala

38:03 - Storming of the US embassy in Urzikstan

44:27 - The Highway of Death

49:39 - The flashback 

52:20 - Designating the rebels as terrorists and intel briefings

58:05 - Second flashback

1:00:16 - Clandestine operation in Russia and going to get General Barkov in Moldova

1:09:25 - Summary

• The Wagner Group: The World’s Most Infamous PMC
• The KSSO: Russia’s Special Operations Command
• CIA Special Activities Center: The Third Option
• MARSOC Marine Raiders: Always Faithful, Always Forward
• SCO19: The ‘Trojans’ of London

• Episode 17: Call of Duty 4 – Modern Warfare, an Intelligence perspective
• Episode 18: Call of Duty Modern Warfare, an Intelligence Perspective (Pt. 2)
• Episode 19: Call of Duty Modern Warfare, an Intelligence Perspective (Pt. 3)

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