The Jordan Harbinger Show

339: Michele Rigby Assad | My Secret Life in the CIA

Apr 16, 2020

Michele Rigby Assad, a former CIA operative and author, shares her thrilling journey from rural Florida to the shadowy world of espionage. She reveals whether undercover work is as glamorous as portrayed in movies and discusses the challenges of building trust with intelligence sources. Michele also candidly addresses her battle with imposter syndrome and the critical skills involved in navigating dangerous environments. With insights into counterterrorism and gender dynamics in the field, her experiences paint a gripping picture of life in the CIA.

01:07:22

Episode guests

Michele Rigby Assad

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Life in the Shadows: A CIA Couple's Journey

5min

From Rural Florida to CIA: A Journey of Self-Discovery

16min

Navigating Gender Dynamics in Counterterrorism

4min

Navigating High-Stakes Social Dynamics

13min

Surviving the Streets: CIA Ambush Training in Hostile Environments

4min

Survival in Crisis: Lessons from Ambush Training

7min

Navigating Danger: A CIA Officer's Journey

14min

Building Connections and Supporting the Show

3min

Michele Rigby Assad (@michelerigassad) is an international security consultant, trainer, and author of Breaking Cover: My Secret Life in the CIA and What It Taught Me about What’s Worth Fighting For.

What We Discuss with Michele Rigby Assad:

Is working undercover for the CIA as exciting as it looks in the movies?
How does an isolated Florida girl grow up to be a CIA operative in the Arab world?
What goes into gathering intelligence from terrorist sources, and what motivates them to cooperate with the CIA?
How did Michele overcome a strong case of imposter syndrome while working at the CIA?
What does it mean to “get off the X,” and why is it important to understand even if you think you’ll never be ambushed?
And much more…

Full show notes and resources can be found here: www.jordanharbinger.com/339

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