SPYCRAFT 101

This week, Justin sits down with John Capello, former Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and air attache and founder and president of the Halyard Mission Foundation. The mission itself involved rescuing over 500 US airmen from occupied Serbia in WWII with the help of Serbian nationals.  John shares his own experiences as an air attache in Israel and Serbia. Each country posed difference challenges and a...

In this episode, Justin reflects on the one-year anniversary of the Spycraft 101 Podcast. He details the history of Spycraft 101 from book ideas to the Instagram account finally the podcast, and gives shoutouts to those who have helped him along the way. Tune in for this special anniversary retrospective from your favorite espionage enthusiast. Previous episodes mentioned this week: Episode 01 - T...

This week Justin chats with author and former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor Jim Hawes. Jim served in Vietnam and worked with the CIA in the Congo to counter the spread of communist  ideals and anti-western rebel activities. Today, Jim tells his story and shares details of his experiences, from becoming a SEAL and early in the life of the program to his role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident and finall...

This week Justin sits down with author and Historian Dr. Kate Vigurs. Kate shares the story of the women hired by Britain's Special Operations Executive, a mysterious organization that operated during World War II to conduct sabotage, reconnaissance, and espionage missions in occupied Europe. These brave women had to prove themselves as strong and worthy of dangerous work to compete with their mal...

This week, Justin sits down with author, professor, historian and former intelligence analyst for the state department and the CIA, Dr. Mark Stout.  Today, Mark shares his research on a mysterious early US intelligence entity known as the Pond. The Pond was a secret organization operating between 1942 and 1955, though its existence wasn't formally acknowledged by the US government until 2001. Head...

Today, Justin sits down with business expert, university instructor, and author Mark Pruett. Mark dives into the world of Russia's stamp men--counterintelligence heroes hailed for their victories and honored for their work by having their faces immortalized on national postage. Mark tells the true stories of the heinous acts these Cheka (secret police) committed, covers their unfortunate endings,...

Today, Justin chats with Janet Ray. Janet lost her father, Pete Ray, when his plane was shot down by Cuban defenses in the invasion of the Bay of Pigs, an effort to retake Cuba from Castro. Met with lies and secrecy from the US government, Janet spent years finding answers on what happened to father as well as other men who didn't come home--including fighting to have their remains returned from C...

Tune back in for part two of Justin's interview with former diplomat and former non-commission officer in the United States Marine Corps, Shane Partlow. In this installment, Shane gets into the nitty gritty of Ukraine's 2014 Maidan Revolution, following the Euromaidan protests against former president Viktor Yanukovych. He discusses efforts to stay hidden at protests and rallies as well as what ha...

This week Justin chats with former diplomat and former non-commission officer in the United States Marine Corps, Shane Partlow. Shane was an assistant defense attache in the Ukraine during their 2014 Maidan Revolution, following the Euromaidan protests against former president Viktor Yanukovych. Shane recounts the events that led to violence, corruption within the central government, and his own e...

Today, Justin describes research on an intelligence agency unique to one of the countries that makes up the former Soviet Bloc: Czechoslovakia's Státní Bezpečnost, also know as the StB. Hear stories of StB success from the 1940s to the 1980s, including suppression of rebellion and scuffles with MI6 and the CIA. Brutal and shockingly effective, the StB was one of Western intelligence's most formida...

Today, author Ian Townsend shares the harrowing story of young Dickie Manson. Along with his mother, stepfather, uncle, and a family friend, Dickie was convicted as a spy and executed in during World War II. When the Australian government could not reinforce its troops in Rabaul, New Guinea, it left over a thousand Australian citizens behind, many of whom were tried for espionage by the Japanese....

Today, Justin interviews educator and author Jonathan Gill on the riveting tale of Boris Morros. A refugee of the Bolshevik Revolution turned film producer in the Golden Age of Hollywood, Boris was a mysterious and remarkable man. While many details of his life are thought to be exaggerated and the absolute truth remains unclear, Boris led a unique and eventful life. He became a Soviet spy during...

Today, Justin shares riveting stories about the  poisons and people that enabled several Soviet and Russian assassinations. From chemistry to radioactivity, learn about the way poison has captivated Russian power players since 1918.  Hear of poison-coated bullets, the dangers of cyanide, and why we don't really know how many died at the hands of these methods. Connect with Spycraft 101: IG: @spycr...

Today, Alexandra Costa shares the story of her defection from the Soviet Union. Also known as Yelena Mitrokhina, Alexandra was wife to the first secretary of the Russian Embassy in the US.  She discusses growing up in the USSR, the real dangers of defecting, and her treatment by both the FBI and the CIA. Ultimately, Alexandra chose a better future for herself and her children despite immense risk....

Today, Luis Moreno gives a firsthand account of his experiences in Nicaragua. A prominent figure among The Contras, Luis survived unbearable violence and horrible tragedy. He gives insight on the practice of guerilla warfare, the reality of resistance, and the atrocities of war. Beginning his career in Nicaragua's Guardia Nacional as an officer, Luis describes the events that led him to escape at...

Today, Justin chats with former BBC senior reporter and producer, and now author, Trevor Barnes on the details of the Portland Spy Ring. This rare case involves stolen identities, money-hungry traitors, and more. When MI5 first discovered evidence and documents linking a Canadian man to espionage activities, they couldn't have expected what was to come. A combination of legal agents working via th...

Today, prolific journalist Daniel Golden dives into espionage recruitment at universities around the world. Faculty, staff, and students alike are often approached by covert operators from both sides of a conflict or interest, particularly international students. Another key group includes professors and adjuncts who, while American citizens, may be immigrants or otherwise have ties to countries o...

In this solo episode, Justin dives into the story of three CIA men who survived against the odds in Havana, Cuba. As service technicians, their role was to set up surveillance equipment to monitor Castro's Cuba.  The situation quickly turned sour,  but all three agents stood their ground for almost three years before returning home without compromising their identities or the agency. Connect with...

Today, prolific author and journalist Tim Tate shares the story of Polish Intelligence Officer Michael Goleniewski. A figure in James Angleton's complicated time with the CIA, Goleniewski was an expert counterintelligence agent who identified over a thousand Soviet Bloc spies across Europe and provided their details to the CIA and MI5. His complex story takes a rather interesting turn towards the...

Today, author and scholar Brian McKnight delves into Chinese treatment of American prisoners of war during in Korea. Following the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1954, 23 American POWs refused repatriation to the United States. McKnight delves into what made them want to live in China--namely mandatory communist indoctrination while they were kept prisoner. By playing upon the reality of i...

Today, journalist, author, and expert Jefferson Morley shares unique details on the life and career of one of of the most controversial CIA figures: James Angleton. Angleton was the CIA'S chief of counterintelligence for two decades, from 1954 to 1974. He's known for his unique connections to the Italian elite post World War II, his close relationship with Israel, and his obsession over a potentia...

Today, author and journalist John Pomfret shares details about the true story of an interesting alliance involving Polish spies aiding the United States. After years of working against each other, ex-communist spies in Poland following a democratic election ended up working hand in hand with the country they'd been pinned against for most of the Cold War. Connect with John: johnpomfret.com Twitter...

Today, author and former special forces officer Greg Walker shares the little-known story of a David Baez, a green beret defector. Baez was a Nicaraguan national whose father was killed by U.S.-backed President Samosa after voicing his displeasure with inequalities that had risen under Samosa's rule. After immigrating the U.S. and joining the Army (and then Special Forces), Baez found himself in E...

Today, author and renowned journalist Blaine Harden tells the unique story of Donald Nichols, a young intelligence officer operating in Korea. Nichols was known for being big, powerful, and morally ambiguous--but his accomplishments in Korea are virtually unknown. From warning General McArthur and the U.S. Army of the incoming Korean War (to no avail) to being falsely diagnosed with schizophrenia...

Today, Justin sits down solo to discuss Operation Jaque. This noteworthy mission took place in Colombia, where the local military managed to rescue 15 hostages from the extremist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). FARC was known for its ruthlessness, and past rescue missions had resulted in death or injury for all but one hostage. In this unique situation, strategy percolated from the...