SpyCast

After the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan, the National Resistance Front rose up to defy them. We spoke with their leader Ahmad Massoud, who has overseen hundreds of military and intelligence-gathering operations. He’s following the footsteps of his father, who led his own resistance group, the Northern Alliance, until members of Al Qaeda assassinated him two days before they conducted the September 11 terrorist attacks.Fast forward to the mid-2000s, International Spy Museum executive director Chris Costa, then a human intelligence officer, worked with that group to develop intel on the Taliban and Al Qaeda.Now, in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal and Afghanistan’s collapse, Costa says the U.S. is losing an opportunity to support Massoud and the National Resistance Front.If you liked this episode, check out these links:Spy Chat with Chris Costa | Guest: Ali Maisam NazarySpy Chat with Chris Costa | Guest: Christine AbizaidSubscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He was an American spy before an American spy agency existed. NFL player Ernest Cuneo, a little known first generation Italian American, worked with British intelligence to convince the United States to join World War II, and helped lay the groundwork for modern day espionage. Thomas Maier traces Cuneo’s extraordinary life in his new book, The Invisible Spy, out March 25th. If you liked this episode, check out these links:Agent Link: The Spy Erased from History | With former FBI Counterintelligence ExpertThe Dirty Tricks Department with John LisleOperation Underworld with Matthew BlackSubscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org, This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A fourth year of war in Ukraine begins. But for Lt. Col. Kyrylo Berkal, who’s been fighting since Russia first invaded in 2014, the battle for his country has raged much longer. Now, he’s second in command of the elite Third Assault Brigade, which has played a major role in critical battles against Russia and continues to develop new technologies to both gather intelligence and enhance combat techniques. Kirt spoke to us between missions. During the conversation, he revealed his firsthand insights and experiences of the war as Ukraine keeps up the fight for independence.If you liked this episode, check out these links:An Evening with General David H. PetraeusSpy Chat with Chris Costa | Guest: Ambassador Roger D. CarstensSpyCast - “Zelensky, Ukraine & Intelligence” – with Simon ShusterSubscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories:https://sashaingber.substack.com/And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org, This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edda Fields-Black, a social historian and author, joins Harriet Tubman’s great-great-great-grandniece, Ernestine Martin-Wyatt, to discuss Tubman's extraordinary role as a Civil War spy. They delve into how Tubman's espionage efforts led to a pivotal raid that freed over 750 enslaved people. Edda shares insights into Tubman’s innovative tactics and leadership, while Ernestine emphasizes the importance of preserving Tubman’s legacy in the fight for freedom and democracy, even as discussions about her potential image on currency highlight ongoing struggles for representation.

North Korea is growing more dangerous, but no U.S. administration has been able to crack the code on its leader Kim Jong Un. Now, there’s even less incentive for Kim to negotiate because of the support he’s getting from Russia. So what will Kim do next, and where is he vulnerable? Jung H. Pak, a former CIA analyst who served as the country’s top diplomat for North Korea, takes us inside the mind of one of the world's most opaque leaders.If you liked this episode, check out these links:Virtual Spy Chat with Chris Costa | Guest: Dr. Jung H. PakAI and Emerging Technologies: Intelligence Opportunities & Challenges Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories:https://sashaingber.substack.com/And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org, This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, colleges and universities have been a destination for espionage. Especially in recent years, the use of international students and faculty as spies on American campuses has been particularly daunting. Why do intelligence services, both foreign and domestic, target colleges and universities? And what is there to gain on these campuses? Award-winning journalist Daniel Golden, author of the book Spy Schools, describes the timeless game. If you liked this episode, check out these links: Secret History of History: Color Wars Part II with Catherine McKinley Chinese Corporate Espionage - The Tale of the Tea Thief with Sarah Rose Declassified Dessert | How to Make Cuban Spy Ana Montes’ Cheesecake Queen of Cuba with Peter J. Lapp SpyCast | “Making Sense of China, Taiwan, & America” – Pacific Intelligence with Bonny Lin Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories:https://sashaingber.substack.com/And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org, This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Agent Zo was the only female Polish resistance agent to reach London as a courier during WWII and the only female member of Poland's fabled 'Silent Unseen' paratroopers. Yet despite having researched Poland's wartime resistance movement, many of us have never heard of her. Why?If you liked this episode, check out these links:Agent Zo: The Extraordinary Woman Who Parachuted Into Nazi-Occupied PolandWomen Spies of WWII with Ellen McCarthy, Judith L. Pearson, and Erika RobuckThe Danger of the Femme Fatale NarrativeCode Name Madeleine with author Arthur J. MagidaSubscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories:https://sashaingber.substack.com/And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org, This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this insightful discussion, Beth Sanner, a highly decorated retired intelligence officer and former director of the President's Daily Brief, shares her unique experiences briefing President Trump. She reflects on the complexities of presenting intelligence to a president influenced by social media and the importance of personal connections. Sanner also tackles the challenges of cyber warfare, potential negotiations with Putin over Ukraine, and the delicate balance between intelligence and political pressures, shedding light on the future of the intelligence community.

Former intelligence officer Bryan Stern describes the tradecraft he used on Russian intelligence and military services to rescue an American imprisoned in Russian-occupied Ukraine.If you liked this episode check out these links to more hostage rescue stories: SpyCast - James Foley: Journalist, ISIS Hostage, Son – with His Mother Diane Foley Operación Jaque - The Daring Rescue Mission That Freed 15 Hostages Spy Chat with Chris Costa | Guest: Ambassador Roger D. Carstens Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories:https://sashaingber.substack.com/To learn more about Bryan’s work with Grey Bull you can visit greybullrescue.org. And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing the new host of SpyCast, Sasha Ingber! In this week’s episode, Sasha joined Erin in a conversation about her career and the future of the International Spy Museum’s flagship podcast. Now entering it’s 19th year, SpyCast will relaunch on January 14th with brand new episodes, featuring exciting spy stories and the latest intelligence from the shadowy world of espionage. Tune in to learn more about Sasha, our very first female host and the first host with a background in journalism.As we look forward to our upcoming relaunch, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to those who have had a hand in uplifting SpyCast throughout the past 18 years. In particular, we’d like to thank our outgoing host Dr. Andrew Hammond, whose passion for the history of intelligence and genuine connection with each of our guests shined through each of the 200+ episodes he produced. A special thanks is also due to our friends at N2K Networks for their talented production and unwavering support of the podcast. We can’t wait to introduce you all to the new era of SpyCast. See you in the new year! Subscribe to Sasha’s Substack, HUMINT, here: https://sashaingber.substack.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices