Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode of The Live Drop, I talk with James Stejskal — a former U.S. Army Special Forces operator from Detachment “A” in Cold War Berlin who later worked in intelligence before turning to history and fiction. He’s the author of Special Forces Berlin and the Snake Eater Chronicles, and his latest books — The Ratcatcher and The Berlin Spy Guide — bring that same mix of lived experience and deep research. We dig into The Ratcatcher, a Berlin spy novel that fuses counterintelligence, crime, and military thriller — following the murder of a CI officer and the hunt for a U.S. traitor--the premise of which comes from a real case buried deep in the Stasi files. James talks about class and culture inside Cold War espionage — Ivy League analysts versus scrappy gumshoe operators — and what it really took to recruit sources behind the Wall. We also get into his research adventures in the archives, Berlin’s Cold War landmarks including a McDonalds, and how today’s Russia mirrors old Soviet tactics through imperial nostalgia and opportunism abroad.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 73 – The Invisible Spy: Ernest Cuneo and the Secret Machinations of American Power
This episode visits the untold life of Ernest Cuneo—a professional football player turned journalist, turned presidential fixer, turned invisible architect of wartime espionage. Before the CIA existed, Cuneo was already moving between the White House, British intelligence at Rockefeller Center, and the most powerful media outlets in the country. He leaked, spun, and buried stories. He brokered quiet alliances. He coordinated sabotage, propaganda, and double agents—then slipped back into obscurity.
Thomas Maier returns to The Live Drop to talk about his riveting new biography, The Invisible Spy, and the life of the man who helped shape the American intelligence apparatus from the shadows. We follow Cuneo from gridiron glory to Roosevelt’s secret inner circle, through the propaganda wars of WWII and into the paranoia of the Cold War. Along the way, we explore the cost of silence, the lure of anonymity, and how one man’s life reflected—and manipulated—the American century.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAtLXsh4sEg
My Substack: Propaganda Lessons from WWII, Mark Valley
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author John Lechner talks about his powerful new book, Death Is Our Business, a definitive investigation into Russia’s notorious private military company, the Wagner Group. With firsthand accounts, OSINT research, and a historian’s depth, Lechner traces Wagner’s evolution from covert operators in Ukraine to global players in Syria, Africa, and beyond.
The book opens with “Soldiers,” detailing Wagner’s early operations in Eastern Ukraine. The group’s early adoption of hybrid warfare tactics positioned Wagner as a deniable but essential extension of Russian force projection. Lechner highlights Wagner recruits—ex-soldiers, nationalists, and opportunists drawn to war by a mix of belief, desperation, and the promise of belonging.
In “Oil Men,” Lechner shifts focus to Wagner’s economic logic. From Syrian gas fields to African gold mines, Wagner leveraged military victories into lucrative contracts. The group effectively bankrolled itself through resource extraction deals, revealing how war and profit became indistinguishable in modern mercenary operations.
“Diplomats” explores Wagner’s expansion into the political sphere, particularly in fragile African states. Wagner’s combination of intimidation, diplomacy, and military threat reveals a new kind of state actor: both official and deniable.
In “Mercenaries,”The chapter compares Wagner to other modern paramilitary forces and underscores the absence of clear international frameworks for accountability. Wagner’s involvement in human rights abuses and alleged war crimes raise urgent legal and ethical questions about the future of privatized warfare.
“Liberators” looks at Wagner’s self-image. The group often justified its operations in Africa and the Middle East as counter-terrorism or anti-insurgency efforts. But beneath the liberation narrative, Lechner uncovers a darker story of extrajudicial killings, systemic abuse, and economic exploitation.
In “Heroes,” we get a rare look inside Wagner’s culture. Through interviews and leaked materials, Lechner reveals the motivations behind joining Wagner: nationalism, anti-Western sentiment, pay, and the desire for camaraderie. The chapter explores Wagner’s internal mythmaking—how it crafts a heroic, loyalist identity for its fighters.
“Traitors” Lechner chronicles the chaos, the confrontation with Moscow, and the fallout—including Prigozhin’s mysterious death in a plane crash. The group’s fate now remains in flux, with its remnants either disbanded or absorbed into Russia’s formal military apparatus.
In the Conclusion, Lechner reflects on what Wagner means for the future. Private military companies are no longer niche actors—they are shaping the modern battlefield.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
🎙️ The Live Drop – Episode 71: Kit Turner on the Cuban Revolution, Espionage, and Historical Fiction
In this episode, I speak with former intelligence officer and historical fiction author Kit Turner, whose latest novel Children of Outer Darkness dives deep into the origins of the Cuban Revolution. What begins as a conversation about Kit’s book quickly turns into a gripping exploration of insurgency, propaganda, and the murky world of mid-century espionage.
Kit shares how his background in counterinsurgency informed his portrayal of Cuba’s revolutionary figures, from Fidel Castro and Che Guevara to lesser-known but pivotal characters like Celia Sánchez and Vilma Espín. We discuss the revolution’s unlikely beginnings—a leaky yacht and a ragtag group of rebels—and the shadowy support from the CIA, GRU, and KGB during the Cold War chess match in the Caribbean.
We also explore the blend of fact and fiction in Kit’s work, including his stylistic influences from Graham Greene, Eric Ambler, and John Buchan, and why historical fiction can sometimes reveal deeper truths than memoirs—especially when you're still under a CIA publication review.
📚 Children of Outer Darkness is available via Warpath Press and anywhere books are sold. Illustrated with rare photos, it brings the revolution to life in a way that’s both vivid and unexpected.
🔗 Learn more at kitturnerauthor.com
Check out my Substack piece based on this interview: What the Cuban Revolution Can Teach Democrats.
More at https://markvalley.substack.com/
A classic British spy novel set in pre-revolutionary Cuba. A strong influence on Kit Turner’s writing style and subject matter.
A foundational spy thriller featuring fast-paced action and a civilian protagonist pulled into global intrigue. Turner admired its momentum and structure.
One of the novels that helped shape the modern espionage thriller genre. Ambler’s morally ambiguous characters and realistic spycraft inspired Turner’s tone.
A memoir by the legendary CIA operative involved in post-WWII counterinsurgency operations, especially in the Philippines and Vietnam. Turner cited this work while discussing how insurgencies are won or lost with people, not just weapons.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
My guest is a West Point classmate of mine, Chris Petty, a retired Brigadier General. He created the book and online resource Battle Digest to fill the gap in military history education, offering concise lessons from historic battles. A former Rugby player, he emphasizes how studying history builds battlefield awareness and strategic thinking. Each digest follows a clear structure, covering strategic context, maneuvers, tactical actions, and lessons learned, making evident the principles of warfare.
In this episode we discuss pivotal battles like Lexington and Concord, Yorktown, and the Alamo to show how intelligence, deception, and leadership shape outcomes. He points to examples like Washington’s Yorktown feint and the intelligence victory at Midway to stress the critical role of foresight. Reflecting on modern warfare, he emphasizes the importance of drones, intelligence, and learning from missteps in Iraq and Afghanistan. Petty argues that understanding history helps commanders recognize patterns and apply key principles like unity of command.
I share a legendary Chris Petty anecdote, whose service and work combine his passion for military excellence with a drive to make military history current and accessible.
12 Battles Every American Should Know, Chris Petty
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eric O'Neill is a leading cybersecurity expert, former FBI operative, attorney, and founder of The Georgetown Group and NeXasure AI — which works with organizations to protect themselves against cybercriminals—whose activity on the dark web constitutes the world’s third largest economy. Eric began his career in the FBI as a “ghost” — an undercover field operative tasked to surveil foreign and domestic spies and terrorists. In 2001, he brought down the nation’s first cyberspy: Robert Hanssen, a 25-year veteran of the FBI and a notorious Russian mole. This story is featured in the critically-acclaimed movie, Breach, and Eric’s book, Gray Day…
In this conversation we talk about how "there are no hackers, only spies" and how the crisis of cybercrime has been influenced by the best espionage attacks. We discuss some things you can do right not to protect yourself from cyber threats, some of what's happening on the dark web and how companies like Crowdstrike and Zscaler deploy defenses against cyberattacks. And lastly how cyber mirrors analog operations using trusted insiders and even deploys a familiar sounding tactic called 'honeytraps."
Currently, Eric is currently working on his new book, The Invisible Threat: Secrets from a Spyhunter in an AI World (HarperCollins, 2025) coming out next year.
Resources and Links:
The Invisible Threat, Eric O'Neill (advanced information)
Live Drop 69
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From bestselling author and the producer of the hit cable series Masters of Sex, Thomas Maier, comes a true story of espionage and mobsters, based on the never-before-released JFK Files.
In this episode Mark talks with author and journalist Thomas Maier about his book Mafia Spies--A fact based look at a sensational event in intelligence history when the CIA approached the mafia to assist in the assassination attempts on Cuba's dictator Fidel Castro. In the early 1960s, two top gangsters, Johnny Roselli and Sam Giancana, were hired by the CIA to kill Cuba's Communist leader, Fidel Castro, only to wind up murdered themselves amidst Congressional hearings and a national debate about the JFK assassination.
Mafia Spies revolves around the outlaw friendship of these two mob buddies and their fascinating world of CIA spies, fellow Mafioso in Chicago, Cuban exile commandos in Miami, beautiful Hollywood women, famous entertainers like Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack in Las Vegas, Castro's own spies in Havana and his double agents hidden in Florida, J. Edgar Hoover's FBI snooping, and the Kennedy administration's "Get Castro" obsession in Washington.
Thomas Maier is among the first to take full advantage of the National Archives' 2017-18 release of the long-withheld JFK files, many of which deal with the CIA's top secret anti-Castro operation in Florida and Cuba.
Also we talk about Maier's first foray into fiction, with his new crime novel, Montauk to Manhattan, Thomas Maier
Find more of Thomas Maier's work here ==> http://www.thomasmaierbooks.com/
Mafia Spies Official Trailer ==> AIRS JULY 16TH, 2024 ON PARAMOUNT PLUS
Summary paraphrased from promotional materials.
Live Drop 68 Thomas Maier
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Phil Gurski, an author and renowned Canadian intelligence professional. Phil worked as an analyst at the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), Canada's equivalent of the NSA, and as a senior strategic analyst at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). He contributes to the Ottawa Citizen and has published six books on counter-terrorism, including his recent work, The Peaceable Kingdom: A History of Terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present.
I interviewed Phil in an actual face to face Live Drop in the town of Russell, Ontario, where he talked about his forthcoming book on the Fenian Raids of the mid-19th century. The first terrorism threat Canada faced came from across the border from disgruntled Irish Nationalists after the American Civil War. In this wide-ranging discussion, we delve into a primer on the ramshackle but spirited Fenian Raids and explore the history of Canada, immigration along the border, Five Eyes intelligence sharing, modern terrorism threats, and the challenges facing the Canadian intelligence community at large. Turns out Canada doesn't have a CIA equivalent, nor a foreign intelligence collection mandate... only for direct threats to their national security.
Phil Gurski is the CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting. You can find him on X at @borealissaves, and on his blog and website borealisthreatandrisk.com
Live Drop Episode 67
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trevor Aaronson is an award winning investigative journalist and contributing writer to The Intercept. His podcast ALPHABET BOYS and the subject of his other works focuses on the use of informants in Law Enforcement. We discuss the use of sting operations and how the informant has evolved into a more proactive role over the last few decades. Season 2 of Alphabet Boys centers around a singular motivated informant who somehow ends up working for the FBI, DEA and, he claims, the CIA. Live Drop 66
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Professor Dahl asserts that the pandemic was a global failure of intelligence, including not only the traditional intelligence agencies that should have been able to do better, but perhaps even more importantly, a failure of the complex system of medical and public health surveillance that is designed to anticipate threats just like this one. He specifically cites a lack of warning and failure of receptivity.
Secondly, although the US and the rest of the world have taken some useful steps to improve our intelligence and warning about disease threats, we are still vulnerable to what experts say could be an even worse pandemic next time. We still have a 'Domaine Awareness Gap.'
Third, the lessons from the pandemic can and must be used to help us avoid other types of threats and challenges in the future, whether from climate change, natural disasters or man-made catastrophes.
Among his other recommendations we discuss how the NCMI, National Center for Medical Intelligence, can be enhanced as a central body to combine efforts of traditional intelligence agencies and information from the medical and public health sectors.
Professor Erik J Dahl, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
The Covid-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough, Erik J Dahl
National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brittany Butler is a former CIA targeting officer with first-hand knowledge in the recruitment and handling of spies, and dismantling of terrorist networks abroad. A staunch advocate Middle Eastern women's rights, Brittany has worked to protect the rights of disenfranchised Afghan women and girls, and works within her local community to resettle Afghan refugees. The first in a series, THE SYNDICATE SPY combines facts with fiction, of how female intelligence officers utilize both intellect and skills to see beyond religious and cultural barriers in order to bring peace to this war-torn region. Find Brittany on Socials: brittanycbutler.com @formerspyl
Please consider donating your time or efforts to Lutheran Services who are assisting Afghan refugees across the country.
And, Women For Afghan Women – Providing a safe environment for internally displaced women and families in Afghanistan.
City of Refugees by Susan Hartman - Chronicles the lives of refugees in an upstate New York city and their impact on the community.
Intellipedia - yeah, it really exists...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alma Katsu is an accomplished writer and intelligence professional with an extensive career spanning over 35 years. She has held senior analyst positions at various federal agencies, providing policy advice to military and government officials on national security issues. Additionally, she has worked as a senior technology policy analyst for the RAND Corporation and operates as an independent consultant and technology futurist, providing expert guidance to clients in both government and private industry.
In addition to her contributions to the fields of intelligence and technology, Katsu is also a celebrated author of historical fiction horror and short stories. Her spy novels RED WIDOW and RED LONDON , have garnered praise from intelligence professionals for their well crafted plot lines and engaging characters. Katsu draws inspiration for her characters from her extensive professional background, creating complex and believable personas that reflect the nuances of real-life intelligence operatives.
My conversation with Katsu delves into various topics, including artificial intelligence, her writing process, and what sets her books apart from others in the genre. Her unique perspective as an intelligence professional provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and national security, making her work both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. For those interested in exploring Katsu's work in greater detail, she hosts a podcast called Damned History, which provides historical context for her stories.
More information about Katsu and her writing can be found at almakatsubooks.com.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John Pomfret is the author of From Warsaw With Love: Polish Spies, The CIA and the Forging of a Unlikely Alliance
This book starts out in Los Angeles with a particularly effective Polish spy who’d penetrated the aerospace industry. Along with a history of U.S. and Polish collaboration dating back to the Colonial period, Pomfret identifies the threads of eventual cooperation between the intelligence organizations.
I'm interested about how Poland gained entry into NATO in 1996 along with Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. John’s book covers a little-known clandestine operation undertaken by the Poles to get Americans out of Baghdad. He reveals Poland's deft diplomatic maneuvering involving the U.S., Germany, and the Soviets that led to their entry into the alliance.
The results of this initiative can be seen in the Ukraine today. Had the Poles not actively sought membership in NATO decades ago, we may be looking at an entirely different landscape in Eastern Europe. More about the author at: https://www.johnpomfret.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find out more about the author here --> https://www.rebeccadonner.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's not often you get to meet your heroes. As an Operations Research major in college, I Idolized the Bletchley Park giants. Dr. Anthony Wells was trained by these greats like his mentor the cryptoanalyst Sir Harry Hinsley. Fifty years of working in the British intelligence community leaves Dr. Wells with plenty to talk about -- and quite a lot to be kept secret as well. We discuss his book BETWEEN FIVE EYES - Fifty Years Inside the Five Eyes Intelligence Community which reads like a historical witness of key events, and remains a lasting contribution to the institutional knowledge of the intelligence field. Anthony has another book to look out for --> Crossroads in Time: Philby and Angleton, The Story of Treachery. The first dedicated work to explore their treasonous relationship.
From the author's Amazon page:
Dr. Wells is the only living person to have worked for British Intelligence as a British citizen and U.S. Intelligence as an American citizen. He has worked in C4ISRT, counter terrorism, as well as asymmetric and irregular warfare. Dr. Wells has led programs in the U.S National Intelligence Community to mitigate the effects of terrorist and adversary attacks on personnel, infrastructure, political systems, and communities. He was trained in the 1960s by the most distinguished exponents of deception and other clandestine operations from the World War Two period. His mentors included Professor Sir Harry Hinsley, the Bletchley Park code breaker and operations specialist. Dr. Wells is a foremost expert in the science and art of modern Information and Deception Operations, in both the offensive and defensive modes. Dr. Wells while in the Royal Navy served in Washington DC with the US Navy and Intelligence Community, and at sea in the Third Fleet, US Pacific Fleet. He became Head of Special Programs in one of the lead British Intelligence Directorates and as a US citizen was the Technical Director of Fleet Battle Experiments Alpha and Bravo in the Pacific Fleet. He is a recognized expert on threats, strategy, and tactics in the INDOPACOM area of operations.
Dr. Wells is the third Chairman of the Board of the USS Liberty Alliance. He succeeded the late Admiral Thomas Moorer, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chief of Naval Operations, and the late Rear Admiral Clarence “Mark” Hill, distinguished battle group commander and naval aviator. He was made an honorary crew member of the USS Liberty by surviving crew members. USS Liberty is the most highly decorated warship in the history of the US Navy for a single action. He is an acknowledged expert on the Middle East, and the 1967 June War.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Though this episode was recorded in November of 2021, David's recollections and impressions of the Syrian Conflict are eerily similar to what's happening in Ukraine right now. A former CIA analyst, he's now a spy novelist to keep your eye on. David McCloskey reveals part of his process and some unique elements of craft that he brought to this auspicious first novel. Episode 58
From a CBS article by Kate Gibson, here are some links to help Ukranians:
Convoy of Hope. The disaster relief group says it's partnering with a local Polish organization to provide meals to refugees entering Poland, as well as to deliver food, water and other basics across the region. Donate here.
International Committee of the Red Cross. The Swiss-based organization is supporting the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross in helping those impacted by the war. Donate to the ICRC.
International Medical Corps. The first responders' organization has teams inside Ukraine and in the surrounding regions to offer medical and mental health services. Link to contribute.
Kyiv Independent. The English-language news site has launched a GoFundMe campaign asking for support.
UNICEF. The global group devoted to safeguarding children is working to provide humanitarian supplies to families without safe water or electricity due to the conflict. Contributions can be made here.
Voices of Children. The Ukraine-based charitable foundation has been offering psychological counseling, including art therapy, for children affected by war in the country's east since 2015, according to its site. The group is currently helping children and families across Ukraine, including helping with evacuations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author of The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Espionage, Doug London was happy to get right into his book's revelations and talk about his process. With 34 years of experience in the CIA, this memoir is rich with the authentic personal encounters of a case officer. Doug walks me through some of the many things going through a case officer’s mind during all stages of Spot, Assess, Develop, and ultimately Terminate—sounds more violent than it is.
Doug has a profound appreciation of those who’ve put their trust in him, and claims it’s an unethical job that has to be done with ethics. He continues to shares his thoughts on intelligence, espionage and current events at justsecurity.org.
From Hatchet Books:
This revealing memoir from a 34-year veteran of the CIA who worked as a case officer and recruiter of foreign agents before and after 9/11 provides an invaluable perspective on the state of modern spy craft, how the CIA has developed, and how it must continue to evolve.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a modern-day spy, Douglas London is here to explain. London’s overseas work involved spotting and identifying targets, building relationships over weeks or months, and then pitching them to work for the CIA—all the while maintaining various identities, a day job, and a very real wife and kids at home.
The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence captures the best stories from London's life as a spy, his insights into the challenges and failures of intelligence work, and the complicated relationships he developed with agents and colleagues. In the end, London presents a highly readable insider’s tale about the state of espionage, a warning about the decline of American intelligence since 9/11 and Iraq, and what can be done to recover.
---------------------------------------------------
Special Thanks to Tomio Toyama for your generous Paypal contribution !!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.