Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs S10 Ep24: From CIA to CEO with Rupal Patel
Jan 3, 2026
01:00:16
Former CIA analyst-turned-entrepreneur Rupal Patel joins Chris for a candid conversation about reinvention, resilience, and what it takes to build a life that actually fits. Rupal talks about identity shifts after leaving the intelligence world, why self-reflection matters more than motivation, and how community can make or break big transitions. She shares practical frameworks she uses with clients—including her unique approach to time management—and introduces the idea of “tactical ignorance”: cutting through noise, protecting your mental bandwidth, and focusing on what truly moves the needle. Rupal’s definition of success is simple, and tougher than it sounds: liking who you are.
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Learn more about Rupal: https://www.rupalypatel.com
Order From CIA to CEO: https://www.rupalypatel.com/from-cia-to-ceo.html
Follow Rupal’s Substack: https://rupalypatel.substack.com
Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.
Learn more about Rupal: https://www.rupalypatel.com
Order From CIA to CEO: https://www.rupalypatel.com/from-cia-to-ceo.html
Follow Rupal’s Substack: https://rupalypatel.substack.com
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Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird
Photo by Rupal Patel & CIA
Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.
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Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net
Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird
Photo by Rupal Patel & CIA
Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.