SpyCast

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SpyCast episodes

February 04, 2025Campus Cloak-and-Dagger: Spies Targeting American Universities
For decades, colleges and universities have been a destination for espionage. Especially in recent years, the use of international students and faculty as spies on American campuses has been particularly daunting. Why do intelligence services, both foreign and domestic, target colleges and universities? And what is there to gain on these campuses? Award-winning journalist Daniel Golden, author of the book Spy Schools, describes the timeless game.

If you liked this episode, check out these links:
Secret History of History: Color Wars Part II with Catherine McKinley
Chinese Corporate Espionage - The Tale of the Tea Thief with Sarah Rose
Declassified Dessert | How to Make Cuban Spy Ana Montes’ Cheesecake
Queen of Cuba with Peter J. Lapp
SpyCast | “Making Sense of China, Taiwan, & America” – Pacific Intelligence with Bonny Lin

Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories:
https://sashaingber.substack.com/

And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by E-mail at [email protected],

This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.
28 min
January 28, 2025 Agent Zo: The woman who defied the Nazis and Communists
Agent Zo was the only female Polish resistance agent to reach London as a courier during WWII and the only female member of Poland's fabled 'Silent Unseen' paratroopers. Yet despite having researched Poland's wartime resistance movement, many of us have never heard of her. Why?

If you liked this episode, check out these links:
Agent Zo: The Extraordinary Woman Who Parachuted Into Nazi-Occupied Poland
Women Spies of WWII with Ellen McCarthy, Judith L. Pearson, and Erika Robuck
The Danger of the Femme Fatale Narrative
Code Name Madeleine with author Arthur J. Magida

Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories:
https://sashaingber.substack.com/

And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by E-mail at [email protected],

This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.
29 min
January 21, 2025How will President Trump handle intelligence in his second term?
Now that President Trump has been inaugurated, what can we expect for the intelligence community? On his first full day in his first term, he visited the CIA to voice support. But he has also displayed deep skepticism and accused spy agencies of undermining him. Beth Sanner is a highly decorated, retired career intelligence officer who briefed Trump with the President’s Daily Brief, a highly classified summary of the US most critical national security threats. She shares her thoughts on what lies ahead.

If you liked this episode, check out:
The President's Book of Secrets - Understanding the President’s Daily Brief (PDB) with David Priess
Hot Topics: Intelligence Challenges in an Election Year

Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories:
https://sashaingber.substack.com/

And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by E-mail at [email protected],

This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.
31 min
January 14, 2025How do you fool Russian Intelligence?
Former intelligence officer Bryan Stern describes the tradecraft he used on Russian intelligence and military services to rescue an American imprisoned in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
If you liked this episode check out these links to more hostage rescue stories:
SpyCast - James Foley: Journalist, ISIS Hostage, Son – with His Mother Diane Foley
Operación Jaque - The Daring Rescue Mission That Freed 15 Hostages
Spy Chat with Chris Costa | Guest: Ambassador Roger D. Carstens

Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories:
https://sashaingber.substack.com/

To learn more about Bryan’s work with Grey Bull you can visit greybullrescue.org.

And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by E-mail at [email protected].

This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.
29 min
December 31, 2024 Introducing the New Host: Sasha Ingber
Introducing the new host of SpyCast, Sasha Ingber! In this week’s episode, Sasha joined Erin in a conversation about her career and the future of the International Spy Museum’s flagship podcast. Now entering it’s 19th year, SpyCast will relaunch on January 14th with brand new episodes, featuring exciting spy stories and the latest intelligence from the shadowy world of espionage. Tune in to learn more about Sasha, our very first female host and the first host with a background in journalism.

As we look forward to our upcoming relaunch, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to those who have had a hand in uplifting SpyCast throughout the past 18 years. In particular, we’d like to thank our outgoing host Dr. Andrew Hammond, whose passion for the history of intelligence and genuine connection with each of our guests shined through each of the 200+ episodes he produced. A special thanks is also due to our friends at N2K Networks for their talented production and unwavering support of the podcast.

We can’t wait to introduce you all to the new era of SpyCast. See you in the new year!

Subscribe to Sasha’s Substack, HUMINT, here: https://sashaingber.substack.com/
21 min
December 17, 2024From the Vault: “The 75th Anniversary of the CIA” – with former Director Robert Gates
Summary
Robert Gates (Website; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to reflect on the 75th Anniversary of the CIA. He served 8 U.S. presidents.

What You’ll LearnIntelligence
His reflections on the CIA at 75
How the CIA’s story intersected with his own
His take on the organization’s strengths and weaknesses
The complex intl. environment the CIA must now help America navigate
Reflections
Twists of fate
Identity and institutions
And much, much more…

Episode Notes
Robert M. Gates is the first career officer in the CIA’s history to rise from entry level employee to Director. He spent 27 years at CIA, nine of those at the NSC. More recently, he was the first Secretary of Defense to be asked to remain in office by a newly elected president. In all, he served 8 presidents.
Wouldn’t you love to know his take on the CIA at 75? Well, we’ve made that happen for you!
He was born in Wichita, Kansas, served in the U.S.A.F. and he received his undergraduate education at William & Mary, his masters from Indiana University, and his doctorate from Georgetown University. He was formerly the President of Texas A&M University and the current Chancellor of William & Mary.
And…
The academic institutions Dr. Gates has been associated with all have quite different capacities of football stadium: Georgetown University’s Cooper Field can hold 3,750; William & Mary’s Zable Stadium can hold 12,259; Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium can hold 52,626; and Texas A&M’s Kyle Stadium can hold a whopping 102,733. What could we infer about Dr. Gates, college sports, or the United States from this information? Well, that would be thinking like an intelligence analyst.

Quote of the Week
"I've led four very big, very different institutions and like all of them I always saw where places where CIA could be better. But I always loved the place, and I always was proud to work there and proud of the people that I knew…they were probably the smartest, most honest people I've ever met and worked with." – Robert Gates.

Resources*Andrew’s Recommendation*
“Reorganization in the Intel. Community,” DCI Gates (1992)
Watch this prescient clip on historical naivete, or if you’re hardcore, the entire congressional testimony
*SpyCasts*
“Dealing with Russia” – with Jim Olson (2022)
“I was a Presidential Daily Briefer on 9/11” – with Mike Morell (2021)
*Beginner Resources*
History of CIA, CIA (n.d.) [website]
CIA Director’s Portrait Gallery, CIA (n.d.) [online gallery]
Impact of President G.H.W. Bush’s Foreign Policy, MSNBC (2018) [13 min. video]
At 75, CIA Back Where it Started, Countering Kremlin, G. Myre, NPR (2022) [5 min. audio]
Books
Spymasters: CIA Directors, C. Whipple (S&S, 2020)
Duty, R. Gates (Vintage, 2015) [Def. Sec. memoir]
A World Transformed, Bush & Scowcroft (Knopf, 1998)
From the Shadows, R. Gates (S&S, 1996) [CIA memoir]
Power & Principle, Z. Brzezinski (FS&G, 1983) [Gates was Z.B.’s Special Asst. at the NSC during the Carter era]
Articles
A More Realistic Strategy for the Post-Cold War Era, R. Gates, WaPo (2022)
Creation of the Central Intelligence Group, M. Warner, SII (1996)
Video
Legacy of the G.H.W.B. Administration, CFR (2016)
Book Talk: From the Shadows, R. Gates, C-Span (1996)
Documentary
The Spymasters, Showtime (2015)Curatorial
Pocket History of CIA, CIA (2014)Primary Sources
Biden Speech on 75th Anniversary of the CIA (2022)
Robert Gates on CIA and Openness (1992)
Nomination of Gates to be DCI (1991)
Adm. Roscoe, First CIA Director Dies (1982)
CIA Review of the World Situation (1947)
Lester to Truman re Centralized Intelligence (1947)
National Security Act (1947)
*Wildcard Resource*
North by Northwest (Hitchcock, 1959)
We hear the first explicit mention of “CIA” in a major movie
“FBI. CIA. ONI. We’re all in the same alphabet soup.”
1 hr 4 min
December 10, 2024“An Imperial History of the CIA” – with Hugh Wilford
Summary
Hugh Wilford joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his new book. Hugh is a professor, author, and leading CIA historian.

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
Imperial influences on American intelligence
Key figures in CIA history
“Wild” Bill Donovan & British influence
Groton School’s impact on CIA leaders
Reflections
Inherited history
Challenging established narratives
And much, much more …

Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*Spotlight Resource*
The CIA: An Imperial History, Hugh Wilford (Basic Books, 2024)
*SpyCasts*
The British Monarchy and Secret Intelligence with Rory Cormac and Richard Aldrich (2024)
The Past 75 Years with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)
The 75th Anniversary of the CIA with former Director Robert Gates (2022)
DEEPER DIVE
Books
A Question of Standing: The History of the CIA, R. Jeffreys-Jones (Oxford University Press, 2022)
Spymasters: CIA Directors, C. Whipple (S&S, 2020)
A Brief History of the CIA, R. Immerman (Wiley, 2014)
Primary Sources
Sherman Kent Obituary (1986)
Maj. Gen. Edward G. Lansdale to go to South Vietnam (1965)
CIA Review of the World Situation (1947)
Lester to Truman re Centralized Intelligence (1947)
National Security Act (1947)
Intelligence Remarks of Major General William J. Donovan (1946)
*Wildcard Resource*
Kim (1901) by Rudyard Kipling
As Hugh mentions in this interview, this book was the inspiration behind Kermit Roosevelt Jr.’s nickname, Kim. Harold Adrian Russell Philby, the infamous member of the Cambridge Spy Ring better known as Kim Philby, took inspiration from the same source.
55 min
December 03, 2024“The Battlefield Tour Guide” with Bob Shaw
Summary
Robert Shaw joins Andrew to discuss his experience working as an accredited Battlefield tour guide. Bob’s career in the British Army spanned over 25 years.

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
Becoming a battlefield tour guide
IEDD and Intelligence Work in Northern Ireland
Hypothetical WWIII scenarios
Special Forces, TECHINT, & the Bin Laden Raid
Reflections
Learning from history
Interpretation and understanding
And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“One of the things about being an IEDD operator, our intent of course is investigation. And part of that is asking questions, lots of them, and getting, in a sense, answers and then following off and chasing trails or rabbit holes … It's good to be able to question everything and work out why it's there and does it fit … So it does really help with battlefield touring.” – Bob Shaw.

Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
Alan Turing: Codebreaker, Visionary, Enigma with Andrew Hodges (2024)
The Real Ian Fleming with Nicholas Shakespeare (2024)
ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: The D-Day Deception with National WWII Museum Curator Corey Graff (2023)
St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023)
The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy (2022)
DEEPER DIVE
Explore the Sites and Battlefields Discussed
Thames House
Vauxhall Cross
Bletchley Park
Monument to SOE Agents
The Old War Office Building
The Admiralty Building
Beaumanor Hall
Battle of Arnhem / Operation Market Garden
The Khyber Pass
The Falklands Conflict
Abbottabad Raid / Operation Neptune Spear
Battle of Stalingrad
*Wildcard Resource*
The Battle of Gettysburg is perhaps one of the most well-known and most visited battlefields in the United States.
Take a virtual tour of this historic American site here – Tour guidance by Bob not included.
50 min
November 26, 2024“Two Decades at the International Spy Museum” – with Anna Slafer
Summary
Anna Slafer (LinkedIn, Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the history of the International Spy Museum. Anna was one of SPY’s first employees when the museum opened in 2002.

What You’ll LearnIntelligence
Building the International Spy Museum
Milton Maltz: the visionary behind SPY
The role of historians and curators
Creating exhibits on espionage
Reflections
Institutional memory and evolution
The challenges and joys of storytelling
And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“We structured the museum so people could understand: How does [spying] work? Who does it? What is my role? And we wanted to look at the good, the bad, and the ugly.” – Anna Slafer.

Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
The World’s Preeminent Collection of SPY Artifacts with Laura Hicken and Lauren VonBechmann (2024)
Secrets Revealed – Curators Alexis and Andrew on SPY’s Pop-Up Exhibit (2023)
Peter Earnest Memorial: Spook, CIA Spokesman, Spy Museum Director (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
A look at the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C., FOX 5 Washington DC, YouTube (2023) [5 min. video]
About the Collection, International Spy Museum (n.d.) [Short article]
About Museums, American Alliance of Museums (n.d.) [Short Q&A]
DEEPER DIVEArticles
Cracking the Spy Museum Code to Revitalize Stale Learning, J. A. Manning, Medium (2023)
A Reimagined Spy Museum in Washington Doesn’t Flinch From the Darker Side, S. Shane, The New York Times (2019)
From For-Profit to Nonprofit: Evolution of the International Spy Museum, E. Merritt, American Alliance of Museums (2019)
Spy Museum salutes '50 years of Bond Villains,' T. Wells, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2012)
Role of museums in managing design education: a case study, H. Lee, International Journal of Education Through Art (2009)
Museum visitors hit the D.C. streets in spy game, B. Zongker, Seattle Times (2009)
*Wildcard Resource*
Museums have been a critical element of community building and historical memory for centuries.
One of the world’s first curators was a woman named Ennigaldi-Nanna from modern day Iraq. Dating from 530 B.C., Ennigaldi-Nanna’s museum of Mesopotamian artifacts is thought to be the world’s oldest museum.
54 min
November 19, 2024Leadership & The United States Pacific Command with Ret. Lieutenant General Anthony Crutchfield
Summary
Lieutenant General Anthony Crutchfield (Ret.) (LinkedIn, Wikipedia) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his time as the Deputy Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command. PACOM covers 52% of the globe.

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The role of intelligence in military operations
Ethical dilemmas in command decisions
Reflections on the impact of mentorship and outreach
The importance of remaining aware in today's pervasive world
Reflections
The challenges of leadership
Hard work, determination, and resilience
And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“I worked hard at everything I did. If somebody asked me to do a job, I didn’t say, ‘That’s not my job,’ I didn’t complain. There were places that I was sent that I didn’t want to go, but I went – And I didn’t complain about it…I did the best that I could and it was recognized.” – Anthony Crutchfield.

Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
Leading United States Central Command with General Frank McKenzie (2024)
CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)
David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023)
Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023)
DEEPER DIVE
Books
The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century, K. F. McKenzie (Naval Institute Press, 2024)
Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, D. Petraeus & A. Roberts (Harper, 2023)
Strategy in Crisis: The Pacific War, J. T. Kuehn (Naval Institute Press, 2023)
Fire on the Water: China, America, and the Future of the Pacific, R. J. Haddick (Naval Institute Press, 2014)
Primary Sources
U.S. Defense Infrastructure in the IndoPacific: Background and Issues for Congress (2023)
Pacific Partnership Strategy (2022)
Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States (2022)
*Wildcard Resource*
PACOM is, by far, the largest geographical combatant command. The smallest, on the other hand, is the U.S. Central Command. Listen to our interview with General Frank McKenzie, 14th commander of CENTCOM, here!
58 min

About SpyCast

From the publisher's feed

SpyCast, the official podcast of the International Spy Museum, is a journey into the shadows of international espionage. Each week, host Sasha Ingber brings you the latest insights and intriguing tales from spies, secret agents, and covert communicators, with a focus on how this secret world reaches us all in our everyday lives. Tune in to discover the critical role intelligence has played throughout history and today. Brought to you by N2K Networks, Podville Media, and the International Spy Museum.