Spies Like Us

Crime and Conspiracy Network

Real Spies. Real Conversations. Join former CIA officer Brandon Blackburn and former counter-terrorism operative Mubin Shaikh as they share stories of their experiences living lives undercover, analyze current events related to national security , and even discuss their favorite spy movies and TV shows. And along the way they will talk with friends and former co-workers who join them for captivating conversation, and share first-hand accounts of espionage and intrigue. read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

#14 - Leadership Lesson from the CIA w/ Marc Polymeropolous
02-03-2022
#14 - Leadership Lesson from the CIA w/ Marc Polymeropolous
Marc Polymeropoulos has had to live with the consequences of decisions made under the most high-stress circumstances you can imagine as a senior intelligence officer in the CIA, retiring from his 26 years of service as one of the CIA’s most decorated field officers. This week he joins us to discuss how even though your crisis situations may not entail international counter terrorism as Marc’s did, in our age of social media and a 24-hour news cycle the consequences of mishandling a crisis can escalate quickly, leaving irreparable damage to a company’s reputation and bottom line in its wake.[FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA]TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SpiesPodINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/spiespod/*message us with ideas for topics you want to see us discuss![WATCH OUR TV SHOW on the CRIME & CONSPIRACY NETWORK]WATCH TV SHOW: https://solo.to/spieslikeusWatch the Spies Like Us tv show on-demand on the Crime and Conspiracy Network via iOS, Android, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, ROKU, VIZIO, and more to watch our video podcast, an EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL to the Crime & Conspiracy Network.[GUEST INFORMATION]If you would like to learn more about Marc Polymeropolous, his book, and his work, be sure to visit to the links below:Marc's Website: https://www.findingclarityintheshadows.com/Marc's Book, Clarity in Crisis: https://amzn.to/3IlQdOSMarc's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mpolymer[CREDITS]'Spies Like Us' is a Special Access Production & a Crime and Conspiracy Network Original Show Concept & Hosted by: Brandon Blackburn and Mubin ShaikhExecutive Producers: Brandon Blackburn and Jeff WhiteAssociate Producer & Editor: Jared OrdisEngineer: Chris DebonisAnnouncer: Kristina Wray
#12 - Spy Skills for Parenting w/ Former CIA Officer & Author, Christina Hillsberg
16-02-2022
#12 - Spy Skills for Parenting w/ Former CIA Officer & Author, Christina Hillsberg
The CIA trains its employees to be equipped to deal with just about anything. Shouldn't parents strive to do the same for their kids? This week, former CIA officer and author Christina Hillsberg joins us to share her distinctive approach to raising confident, security-conscious, resilient children, giving practical takeaways rooted in CIA tradecraft along the way, as her book License to Parent aims to provide parents with the tools necessary to raise savvier, well-rounded kids who have the skills necessary to navigate through life.[FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA]TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SpiesPodINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/spiespod/*message us with ideas for topics you want to see us discuss![WATCH OUR TV SHOW on the CRIME & CONSPIRACY NETWORK]WATCH TV SHOW: https://solo.to/spieslikeusDownload the Crime and Conspiracy Network app on your iOS, Android, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, ROKU, VIZIO, and more to watch our video podcast, an EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL to the Crime & Conspiracy Network. Just search Crime & Conspiracy in your app store.[GUEST INFORMATION]If you would like to learn more about Christina Hillsberg or her book "License to Parent", be sure to visit the links below:"License to Parent" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LfI0xyChristina's Website: https://www.christinahillsberg.com/Christina's Twitter: https://twitter.com/christinahillsbChristina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinahillsberg/[CREDITS]'Spies Like Us' is a Special Access Production & a Crime and Conspiracy Network Original Show Concept & Hosted by: Brandon Blackburn and Mubin ShaikhExecutive Producers: Brandon Blackburn and Jeff WhiteAssociate Producer & Editor: Jared OrdisEngineer: Chris DebonisAnnouncer: Kristina Wray
#10 - Identifying Sexual Predators Online w/ Roo Powell
02-02-2022
#10 - Identifying Sexual Predators Online w/ Roo Powell
Sexual Predators are targeting your children online. This week we are joined by Roo Powell, sex victims advocate, founder of the non-profit Safe from Online Sexual Abuse (SOSA), and star of the new documentary series on the Discovery Channel Undercover Underage to discuss the prevalence of sexual predation of minors online, how she conducts her undercover work to assist law enforcement in identifying these bad actors, and how these predators who come from all walks of life target children. [FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA]TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SpiesPodINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/spiespod/*message us with ideas for topics you want to see us discuss![WATCH OUR TV SHOW on the CRIME & CONSPIRACY NETWORK]WATCH TV SHOW: https://solo.to/spieslikeusDownload the Crime and Conspiracy Network app on your iOS, Android, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, ROKU, VIZIO, and more to watch our video podcast, an EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL to the Crime & Conspiracy Network. Just search Crime & Conspiracy in your app store.[GUEST INFORMATION]If you would like to learn more about Roo Powell & her work, be sure to visit the links below:'Undercover Underage" Discovery + Show: https://yhoo.it/3H3bwUQSOSA: https://sosatogether.org/[CREDITS]'Spies Like Us' is a Special Access Production & a Crime and Conspiracy Network Original Show Concept & Hosted by: Brandon Blackburn and Mubin ShaikhExecutive Producers: Brandon Blackburn and Jeff WhiteAssociate Producer & Editor: Jared OrdisEngineer: Chris DebonisAnnouncer: Kristina Wray
#9 - I Spied on North Korea w/ Ulrich Larsen
26-01-2022
#9 - I Spied on North Korea w/ Ulrich Larsen
As gaining insight into life in North Korea continues to be an elusive pursuit for intelligence agencies, one man has done what even the likes of the CIA has been unable to do- infiltrate North Korea from within. This episode Ulrich "the Mole" Larsen joins us to share his harrowing story of his decade-long mission infiltrating North Korea's illicit black market arms trade. From living in North Korea as a "friend of the regime" to brokering a multi-million dollar offshore land acquisition for weapons manufacturing, this is a story you do not want to miss![FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA]TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SpiesPodINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/spiespod/*message us with ideas for topics you want to see us discuss![WATCH OUR TV SHOW on the CRIME & CONSPIRACY NETWORK]WATCH TV SHOW: https://solo.to/spieslikeusDownload the Crime and Conspiracy Network app on your iOS, Android, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, ROKU, VIZIO, and more to watch our video podcast, an EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL to the Crime & Conspiracy Network. Just search Crime & Conspiracy in your app store.[GUEST INFORMATION]If you would like to learn more about Ulrich Larsen & the Mole Documentary be sure to visit the links below:The Mole Documentary: https://themolecph.com/Twitter, Ulrich Larsen: https://twitter.com/TheMoleUlrichInstagram, Ulrich Larsen: https://www.instagram.com/ulrich_themole_larsen/[CREDITS]'Spies Like Us' is a Special Access Production & a Crime and Conspiracy Network Original Show Concept & Hosted by: Brandon Blackburn and Mubin ShaikhExecutive Producers: Brandon Blackburn and Jeff WhiteAssociate Producer & Editor: Jared OrdisEngineer: Chris DebonisAnnouncer: Kristina Wray
#4 - Mental Health for Operatives w/ Former CIA Officer & Sound-Off Founder, William Negley
22-12-2021
#4 - Mental Health for Operatives w/ Former CIA Officer & Sound-Off Founder, William Negley
It is estimated that nearly 50% of operations personnel in our military, law enforcement, and intelligence communities who are in need of mental health support do not get the help they need. This episode we talk with former CIA Officer and the founder of the mental health support network for operators Sound-Off, William Negley, about the biggest obstacles preventing those in need of support from getting it, and why the stigma surrounding mental health support still exists. William also shares a personal story about his own experience that led him to develop Sound-Off.[FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA]TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SpiesPodINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/spiespod/*message us with ideas for topics you want to see us discuss![WATCH OUR TV SHOW on the CRIME & CONSPIRACY NETWORK]PODTV WEBSITE: solo.to/spiespodDownload the Crime and Conspiracy Network app on your iOS, Android, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, ROKU, VIZIO, and more to watch our video podcast, an EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL to the Crime & Conspiracy Network. Just search Crime & Conspiracy in your app store.[GUEST INFORMATION]Learn more about Sound-Off & William Negley by visiting https://sound-off.com/[CREDITS]'Spies Like Us' is a Special Access Production & a Crime and Conspiracy Network Original Show Concept & Hosted by: Brandon Blackburn and Mubin ShaikhExecutive Producers: Brandon Blackburn and Jeff WhiteAssociate Producer: Jared OrdisEngineer: Chris DebonisEditor: Hilmari GainesAnnouncer: Kristina Wray
#3 - I Was a KGB Spy in America w/ Jack Barsky
15-12-2021
#3 - I Was a KGB Spy in America w/ Jack Barsky
Hollywood writers have nothing on the real-life spy story of KGB agent turned American citizen Jack Barsky. On this episode Jack joins us to discuss how his upbringing in communist Germany shaped his anti-America beliefs, the training he underwent to go undercover in America, what the KGB thought of President Reagan, and how he was able to live in America posing as a citizen for nearly 20 years without being discovered. Ultimately becoming an ally and asset for the FBI and living as a proud American citizen today. [FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA]TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SpiesPodINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/spiespod/*message us with ideas for topics you want to see us discuss![WATCH OUR TV SHOW on the CRIME & CONSPIRACY NETWORK]PODTV WEBSITE: https://www.podtv.live/Download the Crime and Conspiracy Network app on your iOS, Android, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, ROKU, VIZIO, and more to watch our video podcast, an EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL to the Crime & Conspiracy Network. Just search Crime & Conspiracy in your app store.[GUEST INFORMATION]If you would like to learn more about this Jack Barsky, visit https://jackbarsky.com/[CREDITS]'Spies Like Us' is a Special Access Production & a Crime and Conspiracy Network Original Show Concept & Hosted by: Brandon Blackburn and Mubin ShaikhExecutive Producers: Brandon Blackburn and Jeff WhiteAssociate Producer: Jared OrdisEngineer: Chris DebonisEditor: Hilmari GainesAnnouncer: Kristina WrayQNcKcXmWusHB4r58blY1