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What do foreign intelligence services and your social media feed have in common?

More than most people want to admit.

In this episode, we talk with Jennifer Ewbank — former CIA officer and former head of digital technology at the Agency — about cognitive freedom, manipulation, trust, and what espionage teaches you about the way influence actually works.

We get into the overlap between spycraft and algorithmic persuasion, why hostile actors and commercial platforms often pull the same psychological levers, and how outrage, distraction, and confirmation bias can quietly trap us in what Jennifer calls a comfortable cage. We also talk about deepfakes, the erosion of trust, cognitive liberty, and the practical habits people can build to protect their own minds.

If you've ever wondered whether your feed is informing you, influencing you, or just farming your nervous system for engagement… this one's for you.

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MAD Warfare™ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Edited and produced by Amine el Filali.

Visit madwarfare.com for extra giggles. Send dream guests, weird ideas, wishes, and sponsorship inquiries (yes, again) to [email protected].

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