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Iron Butterfly
By Iron Butterfly MediaSociety & Culture
Iron Butterfly episodes
- Karen Gibson: Kumquat on her First Star, Beating Breast Cancer, and the Sergeant at Arms pt. 2
On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.
In this episode, we sit down with Karen Gibson, a retired United States Army Lieutenant General whose distinguished 33-year career spanned some of the most complex and high-stakes intelligence environments in the world. She held a wide range of joint and operational intelligence roles, ultimately rising to serve as Director of Intelligence (J2) at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Her leadership extended beyond intelligence by later serving in the unique and highly visible role of Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate.
She shares an inside look at the defining moments of her career, offering insight into the challenges of military leadership, intelligence operations, and navigating global conflict zones. At the heart of her story is a deeply personal journey—one that began in rural Montana, where she first imagined a life filled with purpose and adventure. From those early aspirations to the highest levels of military leadership, she reflects on the determination, resilience, and curiosity that shaped her path.
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/
45 min - Karen Gibson: Kumquat on a Rugged Upbringing, War Stories, and Tolkien’s Chick with the Sword pt. 1
On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.
In this episode, we sit down with Karen Gibson, a retired United States Army Lieutenant General whose distinguished 33-year career spanned some of the most complex and high-stakes intelligence environments in the world. She held a wide range of joint and operational intelligence roles, ultimately rising to serve as Director of Intelligence (J2) at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Her leadership extended beyond intelligence by later serving in the unique and highly visible role of Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate.
She shares an inside look at the defining moments of her career, offering insight into the challenges of military leadership, intelligence operations, and navigating global conflict zones. At the heart of her story is a deeply personal journey—one that began in rural Montana, where she first imagined a life filled with purpose and adventure. From those early aspirations to the highest levels of military leadership, she reflects on the determination, resilience, and curiosity that shaped her path.
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/39 min - Tish Long: Mimi on Creating an Intel Agency, as the First Female Director & Being a Step-Mom, pt 2
On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.
On this episode we’re joined by the incredible Tish Long, whose career reshaped what leadership looks like across the U.S. intelligence community. Tish served as the fifth Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), becoming the first woman ever to lead a major U.S. intelligence agency. In this wide-ranging conversation, she reflects on a career that spanned global operations, organizational leadership, the evolving role of intelligence and contributing to the re-shaping of the institutions that collect and distribute intelligence . The episode offers a thoughtful look at the challenges and opportunities of breaking barriers, building institutions, and leading with vision in one of the most demanding fields of public service.
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/53 min - Tish Long: Mimi on Becoming an Engineer, Being the Only Woman, & Conquering Public Speaking (pt 1)
On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.
On this episode we’re joined by the incredible Tish Long, whose career reshaped what leadership looks like across the U.S. intelligence community. Tish served as the fifth Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), becoming the first woman ever to lead a major U.S. intelligence agency. In this wide-ranging conversation, she reflects on a career that spanned global operations, organizational leadership, the evolving role of intelligence and contributing to the re-shaping of the institutions that collect and distribute intelligence . The episode offers a thoughtful look at the challenges and opportunities of breaking barriers, building institutions, and leading with vision in one of the most demanding fields of public service.
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/1 hr - Sue Gordon: Humble Servant on Sally Ride, Cancer Treatment, and Grief as a Doorway (pt 2)
On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.
This thoughtful and deeply human episode features an intimate, wide-ranging conversation with Sue Gordon. Drawing from her more than three decades of service at the CIA and NGA, Sue shares profound insights and personal anecdotes, including a life-changing "meet-cute" moment and her passion for Duke basketball. We explore her collaboration with Sally Ride, her journey through cancer treatment, and how experiencing grief unexpectedly opened a doorway to deeper purpose and leadership. The episode beautifully illustrates how both joyful and painful life experiences shape the leaders we become.
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/55 min - Sue Gordon: Humble Servant on Duke Basketball, a Meet Cute, and Early Career at CIA (pt 1)
On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.
This thoughtful and deeply human episode features an intimate, wide-ranging conversation with Sue Gordon. Drawing from her more than three decades of service at the CIA and NGA, Sue shares profound insights and personal anecdotes, including a life-changing "meet-cute" moment and her passion for Duke basketball. We explore her collaboration with Sally Ride, her journey through cancer treatment, and how experiencing grief unexpectedly opened a doorway to deeper purpose and leadership. The episode beautifully illustrates how both joyful and painful life experiences shape the leaders we become.
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/1 hr 4 min - Carmen Medina: Kind Rebel at Work on MI6, the Dawn of the Internet, and Male-Ordered Systems, Part 2
On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.
For part two, we continue our episode with Carmen Medina—a retired Senior Federal Executive with 32 years in the intelligence community and former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. Carmen shares powerful stories from her groundbreaking career, reflects on leadership and innovation inside the intelligence world, and offers an inside look at the experiences that shaped her journey. This two-part conversation sets the stage for the season, exploring the power, resilience, and quiet influence of women who helped shape history from behind the scenes.
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/41 min - Carmen Medina: Kind Rebel at Work on Curiosity, Her Puerto Rican Roots, and Being a Bad Bureaucrat
On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.
For episode one, part one, we’re joined by Carmen Medina—a retired Senior Federal Executive with 32 years in the intelligence community and former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. Carmen shares powerful stories from her groundbreaking career, reflects on leadership and innovation inside the intelligence world, and offers an inside look at the experiences that shaped her journey. This two-part conversation sets the stage for the season, exploring the power, resilience, and quiet influence of women who helped shape history from behind the scenes.
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/50 min - Inside The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies, Iron Butterfly's First Feature Documentary, Part 2
Welcome back for Part 2 of our Season 9 premiere of the Iron Butterfly Podcast that goes inside our first feature documentary film, The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies.
For five years, this podcast has been our way of amplifying stories from the most powerful women the world has never heard of. More than 100 episodes later, this community has grown into something much larger than we ever imagined.
You’ve seen our documentary trailer. You’ve heard our calls for support. And now, as we prepare to release our film to the world in 2026, we want to bring you inside our creative process and closer to the women at the center of this film. This project has always been shaped by the people who believe in it. It feels right to offer this season as a companion to the film, and to invite you along as we take this next step.
This season is our way of bringing you along for the ride.
In these two part episodes, we’re inviting you into deeper conversations with each woman from the film, covering her life, family, career, and the unseen moments that shaped who she is today. These are the parts of the story that don’t all fit into a 70-minute film, but deserve a home.
Thank you for walking with us. We’re proud to share this new chapter with you!
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
Apple: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/42 min - Inside The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies, Iron Butterfly's First Feature Documentary, Part 1
Today, we’re launching a special Iron Butterfly Podcast season that goes inside our first feature documentary film, The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies.
This season is our way of bringing you along for the ride.
In these two part episodes, we’re inviting you into deeper conversations with each woman from the film, covering her life, family, career, and the unseen moments that shaped who she is today. These are the parts of the story that don’t all fit into a 70-minute film, but deserve a home.
Thank you for walking with us. We’re proud to share this new chapter with you!
Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!
Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcast
YouTube: @IronButterflyMedia
Spotify: Iron Butterfly Podcast
Apple: Iron Butterfly Podcast
To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast
To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/53 min
About Iron Butterfly
From the publisher's feed
Stories from the most powerful women you've never heard of.
Eighty years ago, Eloise Page joined the OSS, trailblazing a path for what ultimately became the United States Intelligence Community. She rose the ranks from secretary to case officer, defying the norms of her time, and eventually became the first female Chief of Station at CIA. Along the way, Eloise earned the code name “Iron Butterfly.”
These are the women who have shaped our world, and whose influence continues to ripple through time, space, and generations.
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