Change Agents with Andy Stumpf

This episode originally aired on January 3, 2024. On today's episode, Andy sits down with Nick Bryant, an investigative journalist, podcaster, author, and expert on human trafficking who is credited with helping to expose the widespread abuse of Jeffrey Epstein and his criminal associates. He is also the author of the book The Franklin Scandal: A Story of Powerbrokers Child Abuse & Betrayal. His n...

On today's episode, Lou Ferrante—former mobster turned author and speaker—joins Andy to unpack his remarkable transformation from a life of organized crime to one of personal growth and social insight. Lou shares raw and unfiltered stories from his early years in the mafia, revealing the inner workings of criminal networks, the code of loyalty that binds them, and how evolving technology is reshap...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with former CIA analyst Michael Shurkin to explore the agency’s post-9/11 focus on Africa and the emergence of jihadist movements in the Sahel. They unpack the rise of Al-Qaeda–linked groups in Mali, the regional dynamics that fueled instability, and how external actors like France and Russia shaped the conflict. The conversation highlights the day-to-day realiti...

On today's episode, Andy is joined by Bill Roggio—senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and editor of The Long War Journal—for a wide-ranging conversation on national security, starting with the complexities of firearm ownership in the U.S. and shifting into an in-depth analysis of the global jihadist threat. They trace the evolution of groups like the Taliban and al-Qaeda, ex...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with geopolitical strategist and author Peter Zeihan, founder of Zeihan on Geopolitics. They discuss Taiwan’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain and its relationship with China. The conversation covers the challenges the U.S. faces in reshoring manufacturing, China’s demographic trends, and the potential consequences of a military conflict over Taiwan....

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with Brandon Fugal, chairman of Colliers International in Utah and owner of Skinwalker Ranch. They discuss his transition from real estate to leading scientific investigations at the ranch, the site's unusual history, its former owner Robert Bigelow, and the ongoing research into unexplained phenomena. The conversation also covers government secrecy around UFOs a...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with former CIA officer John Kiriakou to discuss his path into the Agency, the unconventional recruitment process, and his firsthand experience with enhanced interrogation and rendition operations. Kiriakou shares the moral and ethical dilemmas he faced, what ultimately led him to speak out, and the personal consequences of becoming a whistleblower. The conversat...

In this episode of Change Agents, journalist Iona Craig shares her experience reporting from Yemen, one of the world’s most complex and dangerous conflict zones. With over a decade covering the Middle East, Iona offers firsthand insight into the origins and dynamics of the Houthi movement, the challenges of war reporting, and the impact of U.S. involvement in the conflict. She discusses the cultur...

On today's episode, Andy welcomes back investigative journalist Nick Bryant to examine the government’s refusal to release key information in the Jeffrey Epstein case. They discuss the broader implications of sealed files, political blackmail, and institutional silence, as well as the media’s selective coverage of the story. Bryant highlights the alarming scale of trafficking in the United States...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with retired Green Beret and former Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann, who served over 20 years in Army Special Forces conducting missions across Afghanistan, Iraq, and Latin America. After retiring, Scott founded The Hero’s Journey and became a leading advocate for veterans’ transition through storytelling. He and Andy discuss the origins of Operation Pineapple Expr...

On today’s episode, Andy is joined by Mike Rowe, television host, narrator, and founder of the Mike RoweWORKS Foundation. Best known for his show Dirty Jobs, Mike has spent years spotlighting the essential workers who keep the country running and advocating for the skilled trades through scholarships and public outreach. In this conversation, Mike talks about the growing labor shortage in America...

On the finale of Black Project, a surprise visit from a CIA agent and an aerospace executive sets a Stanford professor on an unexpected journey. What begins as a cryptic request quickly draws one of the world’s leading scientists into the covert world of crash retrieval operations—and onto the trail of a possible UFO crash site. Change Agents: Black Project is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: Firecr...

On today's episode, Andy sits down with Sarah Adams, a former CIA targeter, to discuss her journey from academia to the frontlines of counterterrorism. They unpack the complexities of intelligence work, the shifting dynamics of the Syrian conflict, and the influence of Iran and Russia in destabilizing the region. Sarah shares an unfiltered view on the current failures in intelligence gathering, th...

On the third episode of Black Project, the mysterious world of special access programs is uncovered, shedding light on the covert work being done by entities like Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, DARPA, and aerospace contractors. With questions mounting, the discussion turns to whether these organizations have developed UFO technology, and what might be hidden within these top-secret projec...

On today’s episode, Andy welcomes back investigative journalists Nathan Paul Southern and Lindsey Kennedy for a follow-up conversation on the rise of scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Nathan and Lindsey, involved with The Eyewitness Project, expose how these criminal networks exploit vulnerable people, launder money through legitimate industries like sports sponsorships, and use technology—includi...

On the second episode of Black Project, strange and unexplainable encounters with mysterious orbs are explored, with reports coming from fighter pilots, Navy sailors, and backcountry hikers. These orbs, first seen in the combat zones of World War II, have now sparked growing interest among some of the most powerful members of Congress. The stories surrounding these phenomena raise questions that c...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with Thomas Drake—a former senior executive at the NSA, Air Force veteran, software expert, whistleblower. While at the NSA, Drake exposed serious issues including multi-billion-dollar fraud, intelligence failures, and a secret post-9/11 mass surveillance program. He supported the use of ThinThread, a cost-effective and privacy-protecting tool, but it was rejecte...

On the debut episode of Black Project, the untold story of the military’s secret pursuit of anti-gravitic craft is revealed. From the mysterious death of a Nazi weapons expert, to strange comments from aerospace executives, and the disappearance of a scientist on the brink of a groundbreaking discovery—this episode uncovers the high-stakes world of hidden programs and covert experiments. Are these...

What's behind the UAP phenomenon, drone incursions, and UFO sightings? On the new Change Agents special four-episode docuseries Black Project, we talk with insiders, whistleblowers, and experts about special access programs, secretive aerospace industry breakthroughs, research into anti-gravity, and more. What if the technology isn't from another planet? What if it's ours? Black Project, hosted by...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with Annie Jacobsen, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling author known for her investigative work on government secrecy, military history, and national security. They dive into the stark realities of nuclear war, the differences between atomic and thermonuclear weapons, and the consequences of nuclear escalation. Jacobsen shares her research methods, insight...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with Scott Payne, a former FBI agent who went undercover to infiltrate The Base, a neo-Nazi extremist group. Scott shares how he gained the trust of members, the group's structure and recruitment methods, and the challenges of maintaining his cover in a highly suspicious environment. He also discusses The Base’s ideology, its use of digital platforms for communic...

On today's episode, Andy sits down with Ryan McBeth, a former U.S. Army infantryman for 20 years, specializing in anti-armor and heavy weapons. After his military service, he transitioned into software development, working on C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems for Accenture Federal Services. They discuss how U.S. military str...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down investigative reporter based in Mexico, Katarina Szulc to discuss the entrenched presence of cartels in Mexico and their growing influence beyond its borders. With firsthand reporting from the front lines in both Mexico and Canada, she exposes how these criminal organizations have embedded themselves in daily life, corrupted institutions, and expanded into a powe...

 On today’s episode, Andy sits down with ethical hacker Ryan Montgomery. Ryan is the founder of Montgomery Cybersecurity, a company focused on protecting individuals and organizations from online threats, and works with law enforcement agencies to track and expose online predators targeting children. Ryan also serves as a consultant for various tech companies, helping them strengthen their securit...

On today’s episode, Andy welcomes back Chris Dalby, an expert on human trafficking in sports, to uncover the alarming rise of fake agents exploiting young soccer players. Chris breaks down how these fraudulent agents, often connected to criminal syndicates, lure athletes with false promises of international contracts in Europe or the U.S. and ultimately trap them in human trafficking rings. To lea...