SPYCRAFT 101

This week's guest is Michelle Black (no relation). Michelle is a mother to two boys and the widow of Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, who was killed in an ambush along with three other Special Forces soldiers in Niger, Africa in October, 2017. Michelle sought answers in the aftermath of her husband's death, but only found more questions. She eventually decided to find out for herself what really happened to her husband, and learned that bad assumptions, bad intelligence, and bad decisions at several levels resulted in terrible consequences for the men on the ground. I invited Michelle onto the podcast to tell the story, not just of the ambush that cost the lives of four men and changed countless others, but also the search for the truth behind an investigation which seemingly sought to protect those who were most responsible for the events of that terrible date.Connect with Michelle:IG: @michelleblack71Facebook: Author Michelle BlackCheck out Michelle's book, Sacrifice, here.https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Gold-Widows-Fight-Truth/dp/0593190939Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNTProtect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

This week, Justin shares his interview from the Thrive Unafraid podcast, hosted by situational awareness expert Kelly Sayre and former CIA case officer Doug Patteson. You may remember Doug from episode two of the podcast in which he discussed his life in the CIA. On their show, Justin discusses how to defend yourself against common manipulation techniques and the importance of personal resilience.Listen to Doug's episode, The Reality of Life in the CIA,  here.https://www.buzzsprout.com/1780478/8574153Check out Thrive Unafraid here.thediamondarrowgroup.com/podcastConnect with Kelly:thediamondarrowgroup.com IG: @thediamondarrowgroupTwitter: @sayre_kellyConnect with Doug: IG: @texasspydadTwitter: @GrayManActualConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show

This week Justin welcomes repeat guest Fred Burton. Fred is the former Deputy Chief of the Counter-Terrorism and Protective Intelligence Division for the US State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, and is currently the executive director of the Onyx Center for Protective Intelligence. He's also the author of four non-fiction books about counterterrorism and intelligence matters. Today, Fred discusses the murder of CIA Station Chief William F. Buckley in Hezbollah's War Against America. A CIA officer and Special Forces veteran, Bill was kidnapped and murdered in Lebanon in the 1980s in an event that changed the Central Intelligence Agency and US policy towards Lebanon forever.Connect with Fred:officialfredburton.comTwitter: @fred_burtonIG: @officialfredburtonFred's book, Beirut Rules, here on Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Beirut-Rules-Station-Hezbollahs-Against/dp/1101987464Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNTProtect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Today, Justin speaks with John Crawley. John grew up in the United States in an Irish immigrant family, and after returning to Ireland for several years he became committed to the cause of Irish independence, vowing to return to join the IRA. After a stint in the USMC as a recon Marine, he brought his combat training back with the intent to fight back against British occupying forces in Northern Ireland. John spent years in an active service unit before coming back to the US again to purchase arms and ammunition for the cause. Upon his return to Ireland, he and his shipmates were betrayed by an informant and arrested, and he spent 10 years in prison. On the podcast, John discusses his life and struggles with the Irish Republican army.Download a free sample ofJohn's book, The Yank, here: https://theyank.getresponsepages.com/Or purchase a copy here: https://amzn.to/46wKhyQConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNTProtect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

This week, Justin has a conversation with Nicholas Reynolds. After graduating from Oxford University in the 1970s, he served in the US Marine Corps as an infantry officer, and later as a historian. Nick retired from the Reserves as a colonel and the officer in charge of field history. He also served with the Central Intelligence Agency, including as the historian for the Agency's museum at their headquarters in Langley. Today, Nick dives into the origins of the modern intelligence community in the months leading up to, and then during American's involvement in WWII He gives an overview of the key decisions made along the way and the key personalities that would shape the intelligence community for decades to come.Connect with Nick:nicholasreynoldsauthor.comCheck out Nick's book, Need to Know, here.https://www.amazon.com/Need-Know-World-American-Intelligence/dp/0062967479Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNTProtect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

In a special retrospective for episode 101 of the podcast, Justin discusses the lessons he's learned along the way. From getting into contact with incredible guests to growing an audience to some of his favorite episodes, we take a look back at how Spycraft 101 got where it is today.Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Clandestine LaboratoriesYour new favorite fragrance is here. I'm partial to Novochoc.SLNTProtect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

This week, Justin sits down with Barry Meier. Barry is a veteran reporter who has written for the New York Times and received the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, along with other members of the New York Times staff. He's also the first journalist to bring significant attention to the dangers of abuse of the prescription drug, Oxycontin, with his book Pain Killer, which was first published in 2003. Today, Justin and Barry discuss the story of a former FBI agent turned private investigator named Robert Levinson, who went missing in 2007 while on an assignment on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, and the years long ordeal his family went through as they sought answers from both the American and Iranian governments.Connect with Barry:barrymeierbooks.comCheck out Barry's book, Missing Man, here.https://amzn.to/3NwlwdJConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNTProtect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Today, Justin speaks with Aaron Stark. Aaron served in the US Army as an Apache helicopter pilot, including on two tours in Afghanistan. He finished his term of service teaching at his alma mater, West Point Military Academy, as an assistant professor of economics after completing his Master's in Business administration at Harvard University, and he now works as a chief of staff at a Fortune 500 tech company. Today, Aaron is discussing the story of the Waltham Watch Company, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, and how they were targeted by the Swiss watch industry at a time when Waltham was poised to dominate the global market through its development and use of cutting edge technology, leaving the antiquated Swiss industry far behind. A pair of Swiss spies infiltrated the company in a last ditch effort to save their own nation's failing industry and succeeded beyond anyone's expectations.Connect with Aaron:aaronstarkbooks.comLinkedIn: Aaron StarkTwitter: @DisruptingTimeDownload a free sample of Aaron's book here: https://disruptingtime.subscribemenow.com/Check out Aaron's book, Disrupting Time, here.https://amzn.to/42G6aINConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNTProtect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Today, Justin chats with author, veteran, and former CIA case officer James Stejskal. James enlisted in the US Army in 1973 and served for more than 20 years, including with the now famous Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin in the 1970s and 80s. Among other assignments, he was severely wounded in Somalia in 1992 and medically retired from the Army in 1996, after which he joined the CIA as a case officer, where he spent nearly another 15 years. Now fully retired from government service, James has written several non-fiction books.Connect with James:Facebook: James Stejskal WriterCheck out James' book, Special Forces Berlin, here. https://amzn.to/42ioGqsConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show

This week, Justin chats with Olga Sheymov. Olga has worked in high technology, on arts projects, and as a television producer. Her TV credits include the Long-Running series Russia Today, produced from 1997 until 2015, and Your Source TV among other projects. But long before she began her media career, Olga and her husband Victor Sheymov defected to the US and were smuggled out of the Soviet Union and into the Carpathian Mountains by a team from the Central Intelligence Agency in 1980. Victor was a high ranking member of the KGB and proved to be an incredibly valuable source of information for the US government for years to come, although their relationship with the CIA and FBI encountered many problems, to say the least. Tower of Secrets: A Real Life Spy Thriller - https://amzn.to/3owC6BDTower of Secrets II: Tiebreaker: https://amzn.to/3OF9HUrConnect with Olga:olgaarts.comallegoryofnature.comConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNTProtect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show