Best The Cipher Brief Podcasts (2025)

1
Inside CIA’s Mission to Maximize Technology 32:59

2d ago32:59

32:59

CIA veteran Sheetal Patel helped stand up and then lead the spy agency’s Transnational and Technology Mission Center in 2022, at a time when there was no longer any denying that more outreach to the private sector and a better grasp of the technologies that were available had to become more of a focus if the Agency was to maintain its strategic adv…

1
The Paranormal Ranger 35:35

2d ago35:35

35:35

From 2007 – 2012, the Pentagon secretly funded a small program called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program tasked with investigating reports of military encounters with Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. In 2020, the Defense Department launched a new unit called the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force led by the U.S. Navy. And in 2…

1
One Man’s Journey from CIA to Hollywood Consultant 28:58

8d ago28:58

28:58

Former CIA Officer Gus Kangas knew from his time in the ROTC in college, that he wanted to be an Intelligence Officer. But a convergence of mission, technology, COVID and a CIA tragedy turned him in the direction of embracing Hollywood storytelling techniques, which later opened the door to him becoming a consultant on the Paramount+ show, “The Age…

1
How AI & Images are Impacting U.S. Intelligence 20:18

17d ago20:18

20:18

Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth sits at the helm of the Intelligence Agency that is helping war fighters and Intelligence analysts better understand the world and what’s beyond it. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) works intensely with the private sector to bring the most critical technological advances to the mission – not just here o…

1
The Determined Spy 32:16

22d ago32:16

32:16

Veteran journalist Douglas Waller is out with a new book “The Determined Spy: The Turbulent Life and Times of CIA Pioneer Frank Wisner. We will talk with Waller about his fascinating examination of the life of a brilliant man who was a standout member of the World War II OSS, one of the founders of the CIA, and a combatant in the nascent Cold War. …

1
The Russian Diplomat’s Wife 30:14

30d ago30:14

30:14

Ken Dekleva is no ordinary spy novelist. Not by a long shot. He is a doctor who served as a Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist with the State Department for 14 years. He is a Senior Fellow at the George HW Bush Foundation for US-China Relations, and a Salzburg Global Fellow. He brings his special insights to the fore in his third novel “The Russ…

1
Why We’re Still at War with Russia 33:48

1M ago33:48

33:48

Despite efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to warm U.S. relations with Moscow amid negotiations for Russia to end its war in Ukraine, Russian sabotage operations, active measures and Gray Zone activities are continuing around the world. Moscow has mastered the art of engaging in operations that push right up to the edge of war, without really c…

1
National Security Hollywood Style 49:08

1M ago49:08

49:08

When Walter Parkes co-wrote the movie War Games in 1983, he had no idea what he had launched. The movie about a teen hacker played by Matthew Broderick examined what might happen if someone breached the security systems around U.S. nuclear weapons. As it turned out, then-President Ronald Reagan saw the movie and asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff at t…

1
Raiding The Admiral’s Bookshelf 36:27

1M ago36:27

36:27

Admiral Jim Stavridis isn’t just a prolific writer – having written a number of both fiction and non-fiction books since retiring from the military where he served as former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe at NATO – he’s also an avid reader. His latest book, The Admiral’s Bookshelf brings those two worlds together as she shares the 25 books that h…

1
China Keeps Breaking Barriers on Artificial Intelligence 19:57

2M ago19:57

19:57

In this conversation, former Senior CIA Execuvite Chip Usher discusses the recent advancements made by the Chinese AI lab DeepSeq, particularly its new AI models that rival those of American companies like OpenAI. Usher, now the Senior Director for Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project, explains the significance of these developme…

1
The Traitor’s Tale 40:37

2M ago40:37

40:37

James Lawler was a highly-decorated CIA officer who conducted some legendary textbook level operations for the Agency. He now excels as a novelist and is out with his third work of fiction “The Traitor’s Tale: A Novel of Treachery Within the CIA.” We will talk with Lawler not only about the book – but about his career and how his art sometimes imit…

1
Story of a CIA Wife 29:04

2M ago29:04

29:04

In "Story of a CIA Wife," Rosie Mowatt-Larssen shares her journey from Germany to the United States, where her life took an unexpected turn when her husband joined the CIA. Suddenly immersed in a world of secrecy, Rosie grappled with anxiety and doubt as she adjusted to her husband's covert career. We will talk with her about the unique challenges …

1
Secret Servants of the Crown 43:43

3M ago43:43

43:43

Dr. Claire Hubbard-Hall has broken the code on how to discover and report on the remarkable history of women who have silently served British intelligence over the years. In her book “Secret Servants of the Crown: The Forgotten Women of British Intelligence” (published in the U.S. on February 25, 2025, tells heretofore untold tales of the real wome…

1
Former DEA Official Explains the New Terrorist Designation for Cartels 30:53

3M ago30:53

30:53

In this conversation, Mike Vigil discusses the recent designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government, a move he says is largely symbolic with little real impact on the cartels' operations. He highlights the complexities of U.S.-Mexico relations, the ongoing fentanyl crisis, and the risks of military escalation. Vig…

1
The Seismic Impact of Artificial Intelligence 25:50

3M ago25:50

25:50

Few people have the perspective that Lt. Gen Mike Groen (ret.) has when it comes to Artificial Intelligence and the impact it has and will have in the national security space. Before retiring from the military, Lt. General Groen served as Director of the Pentagon’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. Today, he’s ringing the alarm about AI. The mi…

1
The Eurasian Century 31:31

4M ago31:31

31:31

Hal Brands, a renowned expert on global affairs, talks with us about his new book: “The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World. Brands argues that Eurasia’s strategic geography can illuminate the contours of rivalry and conflict in today’s world. We will talk with him about what can be learned from Eurasian wars o…

1
Professional Courage - Telling It Like It Is 44:17

4M ago44:17

44:17

To say that retired Army Major General Jack Leide had a remarkable military career would be an understatement.. He has been inducted into four different halls of fame - the US Military Attaché Hall of Fame, the US Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s “Torch Bearers Hall of Fame” and the Army Foreign Area Officer Hal…

1
Target: Start Up: How Entrepreneurs in Tech are Targeted for Espionage 39:47

4M ago39:47

39:47

Michael Casey is Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, the part of the Director of National Intelligence that leads and supports the counterintelligence and security activities of the U.S. Government. NCSC produces the National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States and includes the National Insider Threat Tas…

1
The Penguin Press Publisher’s Perspective 31:31

4M ago31:31

31:31

Scott Moyers is a veteran executive of the publishing industry. Today he is Vice President and Publisher of Penguin Press. He has acquired and edited countless bestsellers – including many authored by Cipher Brief experts. He was also director of the New York office of the Wylie Agency – one of the most prominent and influential literary agencies i…

1
Giving Back to the Intelligence and Military Communities 31:31

5M ago31:31

31:31

The Cipher Brief has been honored to support a number of non-profit organizations over the years that have made giving back their mission – especially in the national security world. In this episode of State Secrets, we’re welcoming David Kramer, a self-described ‘regular guy who wanted to give back’ and Jeremy Morton, a former special operations o…

1
Jack Carr’s Transition from Navy SEAL to Author 59:49

5M ago59:49

59:49

Thriller writer Jack Carr didn’t just serve 20 years in the elite Navy SEALS teams – retire and write a book about his experiences. He retired from a career of service (as a sniper) and then followed his ‘other’ passion – writing. His first book, The Terminal List is now an Amazon Prime television series starring Chris Pratt. Since then, he’s writt…

1
Former Trump Ambassador on Why Ukraine ‘Must’ Win 32:53

5M ago32:53

32:53

Cipher Brief Expert and former Senior CIA Officer Glenn Corn is asking the questions of former Governor James Gilmore as this week’s guest host. Gilmore served as Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe under the first Trump Administration and says it’s critical that Ukraine wins this war.…

1
The Case for Overhauling the Department of Defense 39:36

5M ago39:36

39:36

The Hon. Gilman Louie has had quite the career in national security, one that – despite his family’s background of service – he wasn’t exactly planning on. Now the co-founder and managing partner of America’s Frontier Fund, a phone call early in his career set him on a path that would lead to a 30+ year career “in the business” as they say. Louie’s…

1
Mystery and Intrigue in 1930s Shanghai: Marty Petersen on the Creation of “City of Lost Souls” 31:10

5M ago31:10

31:10

Long-time CIA officer Marty Petersen is an acknowledged expert on Asia. He is a current Cipher Brief exert who writes frequently on Asian matters. But rather than focusing on modern day China policy for once, he has just published his first novel: City of Lost Souls which is set in 1932 Shanghai and tells of a private detective who helps a young wo…

1
On a Collision Course with China 26:44

5M ago26:44

26:44

Beijing is building its largest military since the 1930s and Matt Pottinger and his colleagues at Stanford are deeply concerned. First as a former journalist, and then as former Deputy National Security Advisor in the first Trump Administration, Pottinger has been watching what Chinese President Xi Jinping both says and does - for decades. He expla…

1
Yes, We’re in a National Security Crisis 37:22

6M ago37:22

37:22

Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and author Steve Blank thinks way outside the Washington DC beltway. The Stanford Professor who teaches courses on lean start-ups, innovation and the art of entrepreneurship – also blogs regularly. It may not be a state secrets that one of his blogs published earlier this year about why large organizations struggle with …

1
Admiral Stavridis Navigates The Restless Wave 43:29

6M ago43:29

43:29

Admiral Jim Stavridis (Ret.) is out with his fourteenth book, The Restless Wave - a tale of historical fiction taking place during World War II. Cover Stories co-host Suzanne Kelly caught up with the retired Admiral for a Cipher Brief Book Club virtual meeting to talk about just how much of ‘himself’ was written into his main character – about what…

1
The Accidental Joe: A Spy Novel That Really Cooks 25:10

7M ago25:10

25:10

Tom Straw is a former Top 40 radio disc jockey, TV weathercaster, and someone who has written and executive produced prime time and late night TV shows. He is also a best-selling writer of crime novels (under the pseudonym “Richard Castle,”) so friends like to say he can’t keep a job. For his latest gig he has served up a spy novel called “The Acci…

1
The Government Agency that actually is trying to get inside your head: Understanding DCSA’s Mission 45:01

7M ago45:01

45:01

The Defense Counterintelligence & Security Agency touches more than 90% of the personnel security background checks that help determine whether a job candidate receives a security clearance. But the agency has other missions as well, all focused on enhancing national security. State Secrets podcast host Suzanne Kelly talks with Director David Cattl…

1
Might of the Chain 29:47

8M ago29:47

29:47

We talk with retired Navy Rear Admiral Mike Studeman about his book “Might of the Chain: Forging Leaders of Iron Integrity about why trust in leaders in the public and private sector has sunk to all-time lows and his formula for restoring and keeping that trust.Drawing on his naval experience (and heritage) Studeman explains how every person in an …

1
The Many Lives of the Prisoner of Lies – Jack Downey 35:17

8M ago35:17

35:17

Jack Downey was an up and coming young Yale student. When he graduated in 1951, like a surprising number of his fellow Elis, he signed up to work for the CIA looking to serve and for adventure. A little more than a year later, during the Korean War, he found himself on a transport airplane attempting an “agent extraction” over China. The plane was …

1
Israel and the Law of International Armed Conflict 39:25

9M ago39:25

39:25

An Israeli airstrike against a school building in Gaza City earlier this month, killed nearly 100 people. Israel said the school served as an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility. Hamas – which regularly sets up operational headquarters in civilian areas - denies it. With so many innocent civilians killed, this is exactly the kind of st…

1
America’s Wake Up Call on National Security 40:57

9M ago40:57

40:57

General Jack Keane (Ret.) talks to State Secrets host Suzanne Kelly about the serious threat posed to the U.S. today, by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. And about how Americans need to take what’s happening in today’s world as a wake-up call and come together in ways we haven’t done since WWII, to ensure future U.S. national security.…

1
Tracking Putin's Propagandists - With Julia Davis 31:27

9M ago31:27

31:27

Julia Davis joins us to discuss her new book: “In Their Own Words: How Russian Propagandists Reveal Putin’s Intentions.” Davis regularly monitors Russian state TV and posts videos and writes columns providing translations and context about some of the crazy things are being fed to Russian viewers. We talk with her about the odd collection of TV hos…

1
The Arrest of Sinaloa Kingpin Ismael Zambada and Its Impact on the Drug Trade 31:55

9M ago31:55

31:55

In this episode of the State Secrets Podcast, Brad Christian interviews Mike Vigil, a former DEA Chief of International Operations, about the recent arrest of Ismael Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, and the implications for the drug trade and US-Mexico relations. They discuss the background of Zambada and the Sinaloa Cartel, the timing of…

1
Outgoing Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Reflects on today’s Very Real Terrorist Threat 41:16

10M ago41:16

41:16

Christine Abizaid, who has served as director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) for the past three years, sits down with State Secrets Podcast host Suzanne Kelly to talk about how the threat of terrorism has changed dramatically over the years and why the threat to Americans is still very real.…

1
TRM Labs and National Security: A View from Inside an Early Stage, Venture-Backed Startup 23:18

10M ago23:18

23:18

In this sponsored episode of the State Secrets podcast, host Suzanne Kelly talks with Sujit Raman, Chief Legal Officer at TRM Labs about how the private sector is working with government to address some of today’s most pressing national security challenges and how professionals like Raman, who also served as Associate Deputy Attorney General at the…

1
David Ignatius’ Phantom Orbit 23:02

10M ago23:02

23:02

David Ignatius is an award-winning columnist for the Washington Post, a frequent national security commentator on cable TV, and the author of New York Times bestselling novels. His twelfth novel, Phantom Orbit, like all the previous ones - reveals a deep understanding of the way governments and espionage agencies work. Many of his novels have presc…

1
At NATO Summit, Putin’s Greatest Weapon is still a Scare Tactic 19:37

10M ago19:37

19:37

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges (Ret.) Former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Europe, talks to State Secrets host Suzanne Kelly about this week’s NATO Summit in Washington DC, what Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky wants, what Europe needs to ensure its own future security and why Hodges thinks that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s greatest weapon is…

1
How Technology Impacts U.S. Intelligence 37:12

10M ago37:12

37:12

When former Google CEO Eric Schmidt launched the bipartisan Special Competitive Studies Project – known as SCSP - in 2021, he did it with the intention of bringing together the best and brightest minds in technology to make recommendations that would strengthen America’s long-term competitiveness in an increasingly complex world – a world where tec…

1
The Lights Are Going Out All Over Europe 42:06

10M ago42:06

42:06

In this episode of the State Secrets podcast, we’re talking with Cipher Brief Expert, Nick Fishwick, a former senior member of the British Foreign Office, about his column in The Cipher Brief titled, “The Lights are Going Out all over Europe”. Fishwick is talking about Europe’s relationship with Russia as it considers the possibility of war after M…

1
High Command with Retired General Frank McKenzie 40:49

11M ago40:49

40:49

In this episode of State Secrets, we’re talking with Cipher Brief Expert, retired General Frank McKenzie. General McKenzie served for forty-two years in the U.S. military as a Marine and retired as the fourteenth commander of U.S. Central Command. He also served as Director of the Joint Staff. Perhaps one of the missions he is best known for was ov…

1
The Art of Diplomacy - with Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat 34:06

11M ago34:06

34:06

Stuart Eizenstat is one of the most experienced diplomats in U.S. history. In this episode we talk with him about his new book “The Art of Diplomacy” in which he discusses some of the most important international agreements over the past 50 years. For his book, Ambassador Eizenstat interviewed about 150 key U.S. and foreign officials ranging from P…

1
Around The World With Former CIA Officer Edward Bogan 35:19

11M ago35:19

35:19

Former Senior CIA Officer Ed Bogan spent a decades-long career at CIA focused on the most urgent issues of our time ranging from counterterrorism to Russia in Ukraine. In this episode of State Secrets, Bogan shares his journey from law school to joining the CIA and his experiences in counterterrorism and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He emphasizes t…

1
If Confirmed - How to earn the consent of the Senate - with Arnold Punaro 34:58

11M ago34:58

34:58

Arnold Punaro spent 24 years as a U.S. Senate staffer including 14 years as the Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Since leaving government in 1997 he has advised the Senate, Department of Defense and other Executive Branch agencies on navigating the complex process of getting Senate approval for Presidentially appointed positio…

1
Is Russia Attacking U.S. Government Employees Using High-Energy Weapons? 41:29

12M ago41:29

41:29

“Havana Syndrome” - reported by hundreds of U.S. officials, diplomats, CIA Officers, FBI Agents and White House staff - as well as some members of their families – is described as including severe headaches accompanied by loss of balance and often followed by cognitive issues. Some doctors have concluded that the likely source is a directed energy …

1
The (Situation) Room Where It Happens 29:08

12M ago29:08

29:08

ABC News journalist George Stephanopoulos joins us to discuss his new book “The Situation Room: The Inside Story of President in Crisis.” As someone who became intimately familiar with the SITROOM during the Clinton administration, Stephanopoulos is our guide with stories about the crisis management center came to be created under JFK and shares dr…

1
Is the World on the Brink of World War III? A Conversation with author Dmitri Alperovitch 41:45

12M ago41:45

41:45

Dmitri Alperovitch likes to sound alarm bells when it comes to global security. He -- like many others -- started piecing together what was happening along the Russian border with Ukraine in late 2021 and predicted that Russia would indeed invade Ukraine. In his new book, World on the Brink, Dmitri shares his thoughts on how World War III might beg…

1
David Sanger’s New Cold Wars 37:24

1y ago37:24

37:24

Long-time New York Times correspondent joins us to his new book: “New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West” In the book, Sanger talks about the perilous times the United States finds itself – and the world of trouble presented by Russia, China - and their military, economic, and technological challen…

1
Ukraine's Bright Hope To Build Back Stronger 28:34

1y ago28:34

28:34

The Cipher Brief made its first reporting trip to Ukraine in February of 2022. That’s when we first met Tymofiy Mylovanov, the President of the Kyiv School of Economics. When we sat down with him then, Ukraine was preparing to mark one year since Russia’s brutal invasion. Mylovanov was sober at the time about what it would take to win the war and r…

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