CI Press – The Counterintelligence Podcast

Last Updated: 6 August 2026

Weekly conversations with former intelligence officers, FSOs, and national security professionals on counterintelligence, insider risk, and protecting what matters. Hosted by IXN Solutions, creators of 351X. New episodes every week. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.

Counterintelligence Podcast
CI Press – The Counterintelligence Podcast

Featured Episodes

Episode 120: Cold War Shadows, Counterintelligence Lessons from Vietnam to Berlin with COL (Ret) Stuart Herrington

Join hosts M. Scott Sparks and Jeremy J. Clark for a deep dive into the shadow world of espionage, influence operations, and counterintelligence as they sit down with COL(R) Stuart Herrington. Drawing from decades of firsthand experience spanning the Vietnam War through the height of the Cold War, Herrington offers a rare insider’s perspective on the evolving threats posed by foreign intelligence services and the enduring importance of protecting national security from within.

In this compelling conversation, Herrington reflects on lessons learned from the controversial Phoenix Program during Vietnam, detailing how intelligence operations shaped battlefield strategy and exposed the complexities of identifying enemy networks. He also recounts his role in Operation Lake Terrace, a high-stakes Cold War mission in West Berlin that revealed the sophisticated tactics used by hostile intelligence agencies to penetrate Western defenses.

The discussion then turns to one of the most damaging espionage investigations of the Cold War: the long-running Clyde Conrad espionage investigation in West Germany. Harrington explains how insider threats, personal vulnerabilities, and targeted recruitment efforts enabled adversaries to compromise sensitive NATO information over many years. Through these stories, he illustrates how intelligence services exploit human weaknesses, organizational blind spots, and complacency to gain strategic advantages.

Blending historical analysis with firsthand operational insight, this episode explores the enduring challenges of counterintelligence in an age of evolving geopolitical competition. Listeners will gain a greater understanding of how influence operations are conducted, why espionage remains a persistent threat, and why strong counterintelligence capabilities are more essential today than ever before.

Explore more counterintelligence insights in IXN Dispatch or learn how 351X supports insider threat programs.

Episode 115: Katherina Gonzales – Inside the Spy Catcher’s World: From FBI to CIA to NSA

On this episode of CI Press, hosts Jeremy Clark and Joseph Sheridan sit down with retired counterintelligence officer Kathy Gonzalez to break down the 2026 threat landscape – insider threat trends, evolving adversary tactics, and the enduring challenge of Russian “illegals.”

Drawing on more than two decades with the FBI, NSA, and CIA, Kathy brings a practitioner’s perspective to the human side of cyber operations – where trust, access, and behavior matter more than tools alone. She makes the case for standardized counterintelligence training, stronger interagency coordination, and a more unified approach to protecting emerging technologies and U.S. national interests.

Explore more counterintelligence insights in IXN Dispatch or learn how 351X supports insider threat programs.

Latest Episodes:

  • CI Press, Episode 136: Operation Secure Florida, How a State Took Counterintelligence Into Its Own Hands with Rep. Danny Alvarez
    by cipress
    Can a single state build its own counterintelligence defense, without waiting on Washington? Florida is trying. Hosts Joe Sheridan and Jeremy Clark sit down with Florida State Representative Danny Alvarez to break down Operation Secure Florida, a bold push to build state-level CI capability from the ground up. Alvarez pulls back the curtain on the gaps in local and state defenses, why 911 systems and law enforcement coordination need a hard modernization push, and how the National Guard and fusion centers are becoming frontline players in a fight that used to be purely federal. He makes the case for why […]
  • CI Press, Episode 135: Left of Recruitment, Rethinking 10 CI Assumptions
    by cipress
    What if the real risk window opens long before a formal recruitment pitch? On this episode of CI Press, hosts Dave Turner and Jeremy Clark challenge ten common counterintelligence assumptions and make the case for shifting focus "left of recruitment," to the conferences, LinkedIn messages, academic ties, consulting relationships, and supply-chain exposure where collection, influence, and cyber techniques quietly overlap. Dave and Jeremy unpack what it really takes to protect corporate and government "crown jewels," why adversary motivations go far beyond money, and how tradecraft and insider-risk programs need to evolve to catch activity earlier, before it becomes a full-blown […]
  • CI Press, Episode 134: Counterintelligence for the C-Suite
    by cipress
    Counterintelligence and insider risk are no longer theoretical concerns for business leaders. Organizations face increasingly sophisticated threats, from intellectual property theft and employee exploitation to insider activity and workplace violence, often with significant financial and operational consequences. In this episode, hosts Joseph Sheridan and Jeremy Clark examine what counterintelligence means for the C-suite and why executives need to understand not only what they are protecting, but who may want it, how they could get it, and how the organization would know it was being targeted. Listeners will learn practical steps C-suite leaders can take to strengthen their organizations, including: Identify […]
  • CI Press, Episode 133: Demystifying MICE — Money, Ideology, Compromise & Ego
    by cipress
    Why do trusted insiders betray their organizations? In this episode, Joe Sheridan, Scott Sparks, Dave Turner, and Jeremy Clark break down the MICE framework (Money, Ideology, Compromise/Coercion, and Ego) and examine how counterintelligence professionals use it to understand insider motivations. Through classic and recent case studies, we explore how these motivations can develop, how they manifest through behavior, and how insider threat tradecraft plays out in the real world. We also discuss the strengths and limitations of MICE, alternative frameworks such as RASCALS, behavioral indicators that may warrant attention, and the critical role of reporting vulnerabilities under SEAD-3. Most importantly, […]
  • CI Press, Episode 132: The Counterintelligence Wake-Up Call, Lessons from the 21 July 2026 HPSCI Hearing
    by cipress
    In this episode, hosts Joe Sheridan and Jeremy Clark take a closer look at the 21 July 2026, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) open hearing titled “25 Years After 9/11: Confronting the Next Generation of Threats.” Using the hearing as the foundation for the discussion, they examine the evolving counterintelligence threat landscape and what it means for the United States. The conversation explores warnings from national security leaders about state-backed threats from China and Russia, the rapid advancement of emerging technologies, and the growing threat of economic and industrial espionage. The hosts discuss how these challenges are increasingly […]
  • CI Press, Episode 131: Hollie Noveletsky on Why American Steel Is a National Security Issue
    by cipress
    In this episode, Jeremy Clark and Shawn Michaud sit down with Hollie Noveletsky, a second-generation owner of Novel Ironworks, former U.S. Army Reserve nurse, and congressional candidate, for a wide-ranging conversation about the intersection of American manufacturing, national security, and economic statecraft. Hollie shares her firsthand experience navigating federal trade cases and confronting the challenges facing America’s steel fabrication industry. She explains how China’s industrial policies, economic statecraft, and transshipment practices have contributed to the erosion of domestic manufacturing capacity and why the consequences extend far beyond the steel industry. The conversation explores why a strong domestic steel and fabrication […]
  • CI Press, Episode 130: Laatsch Case Review, DIA Analyst Attempts to Sell Classified Secrets
    by cipress
    Hosts Jeremy Clark and Ryan Rambo break down the espionage case of Nathan Vilas LAATSCH, a DIA Insider Threat specialist who tried to pass top-secret intelligence to a foreign country because of ideological opposition to the administration. The episode follows the FBI sting, the insider’s methods (handwritten notes, thumb drive, dead drop), and the arrest. The hosts highlight implications for insider threat detection, security clearance oversight, and lessons for counterintelligence professionals and coworkers to remain vigilant and report suspicious behavior. Originally aired in August 2025
  • CI Press, Episode 129: A Fireside Chat on Counterintelligence Covering Agent Programs
    by cipress
    In this episode, join the IXN Team for a fireside discussion on the vital role of the counterintelligence covering agent program. Tune in as they share gripping stories, insider insights, and expert perspectives on how these programs protect equities, outsmart adversaries, and strengthen security in an ever-evolving threat landscape. This episode originally aired in March 2025.
  • CI Press, Episode 128: Protecting America's Biomedical Research – Risks, Oversight, and Security
    by cipress
    In this episode, Jeremy Clark is joined by special guest Mike Shannon to examine the security and oversight challenges facing U.S. biomedical research. They discuss vulnerabilities within the NIH and affiliated BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories, review recent laboratory safety incidents, and explore the increasing risks posed by insider threats and foreign intelligence targeting of the U.S. research enterprise. The conversation also focuses on practical strategies for strengthening research security while supporting scientific innovation. Jeremy and Mike share recommendations for improving enterprise governance, enhancing the vetting of foreign visitors, conducting coordinated inspections and multidisciplinary risk assessments, and developing effective insider-threat and […]
  • CI Press, Episode 127: From Artillery to Counterintelligence, Dave Hammond's Journey
    by cipress
    In this episode, Dave Turner and Jeremy Clark sit down with Dave Hammond to explore a counterintelligence (CI) career spanning decades of global operations. From his start in the artillery to becoming a seasoned CI professional, Dave reflects on learning Dutch, conducting surveillance operations, and leading complex investigations across Europe. Along the way, he shares memorable field stories, hard-earned tradecraft lessons, and practical career advice on embracing new challenges, building diverse skills, and making calculated decisions. It's an honest conversation about mentorship, leadership, and what it really takes to succeed in the evolving world of counterintelligence. Whether you're an intelligence […]
  • CI Press, Episode 126: Ted Stanich, From the EPA to Mercyhurst, Shaping the Next Generation of Intelligence Analysts
    by cipress
    In this episode, Joe Sheridan and Dave Turner welcome Ted Stanich, former EPA Special Agent and current Director of Intelligence Studies at Mercyhurst University, for an in-depth conversation on the evolving role of intelligence in today's complex threat environment. Drawing on decades of experience in federal law enforcement, counterintelligence, and academia, Ted shares how intelligence capabilities can be built within organizations that have not traditionally viewed themselves as part of the intelligence community; from regulatory agencies and research institutions to private companies and critical infrastructure organizations. The discussion explores the growing importance of defensive counterintelligence, operational security for researchers and […]
  • CI Press, Episode 125: The Invisible Heist, How Nations Steal American Innovation with Mike Parrott
    by cipress
    In this episode, hosts Jeremy Clark and Mike Parrott explore the evolving world of economic espionage and the growing role nation-states play in targeting intellectual property, innovation, and strategic industries. We examine how foreign intelligence entities and state-backed actors systematically pursue trade secrets, research and development, and emerging technologies by exploiting vulnerabilities across universities, corporations, research institutions, and global supply chains. Through an analysis of high-profile espionage cases, the discussion explains the tactics used by nation-state adversaries, including cyber intrusions, insider recruitment, supply chain compromises, and academic collaboration used as a means of technology transfer. The episode also looks at […]
  • CI Press, Episode 124: Understanding Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance with Celia Hanley
    by cipress
    In this episode, hosts Joseph Sheridan and Jeremy Clark sit down with retired intelligence professional Celia Hanley to explore the growing challenge of ubiquitous technical surveillance (UTS), the expanding role of biometrics, and the implications of emerging technologies for operational security. Drawing on decades of experience in the intelligence community, Celia reflects on her career and explains how today’s interconnected digital ecosystem has transformed the surveillance landscape. From commercial data aggregation and artificial intelligence to ambient RF sensing and the future impact of quantum computing, she examines how persistent digital and physical signatures can expose intelligence personnel, corporate travelers, and […]
  • CI Press, Episode 123: Active Measures, How Russia Wages Modern Espionage and Information Warfare with Sean Wiswesser
    by cipress
    In this episode, hosts Joseph Sheridan and Dave Turner sit down with former CIA operations officer Sean Wiswesser for an inside look at Russia's intelligence apparatus, including the FSB, GRU, and SVR. Drawing on decades of intelligence and counterintelligence experience, Sean breaks down how these organizations operate, where they excel, and where their failures have shaped global events. The conversation explores the evolution of active measures, cyber intrusions, and AI-enhanced information warfare, revealing how foreign adversaries are targeting governments, corporations, and democratic institutions through increasingly sophisticated influence and espionage campaigns. Beyond the geopolitical landscape, the discussion turns to practical counterintelligence […]
  • CI Press, Episode 122: The Counterintelligence Referent Explained with David Stanley
    by cipress
    Join Ryan Rambo and Jeremy Clark as they sit down with David Stanley to explore his unexpected path into the world of counterintelligence. David shares how his career developed by accident, explains the critical role of the counterintelligence referent in protecting human operations, and breaks down the key motivations that drive espionage—including money, ego, and ideology. The conversation highlights why integrity, sound judgment, and practical tradecraft remain essential skills for anyone working in the field. The discussion also examines persistent challenges in counterintelligence, including unclear ownership, training gaps, and the need for well-structured teams that combine referents, collectors, and targeters […]
  • CI Press, Episode 121: From the Field to the Boardroom, Tom Chandler on Military CI and Corporate Security
    by cipress
    Join hosts M. Scott Sparks and Joseph Sheridan as they sit down with Tom Chandler, a seasoned intelligence professional who made the leap from military counterintelligence (CI) to architecting corporate CI and insider-threat programs from the ground up. Tom pulls back the curtain on what it takes to protect an organization from threats that often go undetected until it's too late. In this episode, Tom shares hard-won lessons on diversifying your risk tool portfolio, rigorously vetting supply-chain partners, and building a culture where employees feel empowered, not intimidated, to report suspicious activity to security professionals. He also makes the case […]
  • CI Press, Episode 120: Cold War Shadows, Counterintelligence Lessons from Vietnam to West Berlin with COL(R) Stuart Herrington
    by cipress
    Join hosts M. Scott Sparks and Jeremy J. Clark for a deep dive into the shadow world of espionage, influence operations, and counterintelligence as they sit down with COL(R) Stuart Herrington. Drawing from decades of firsthand experience spanning the Vietnam War through the height of the Cold War, Herrington offers a rare insider’s perspective on the evolving threats posed by foreign intelligence services and the enduring importance of protecting national security from within. In this compelling conversation, Herrington reflects on lessons learned from the controversial Phoenix Program during Vietnam, detailing how intelligence operations shaped battlefield strategy and exposed the complexities […]
  • CI Press, Episode 119: USMC CI/HUMINT Panel Discussion: Marines on Elicitation, AI, and Fieldcraft
    by cipress
    Former U.S. Marine Corps Counterintelligence and HUMINT professionals Mike Houle, Damon Mathews, Nick Vidulich, and Dan Williams join CI Press for a candid roundtable on the evolving state of CI/HUMINT operations. The panel discusses training gaps, elicitation techniques, and the challenge of maintaining perishable skills in an era with fewer overseas deployments and limited real-world collection opportunities. The conversation explores the balance between the art and science of counterintelligence, cultural awareness, and practical ways collectors can sharpen their tradecraft at home. The group also tackles modern challenges including social media, AI, resource constraints, and authority limitations offering practical insights for […]
  • CI Press, Episode 118: Universities as Battlegrounds, Unmasking Foreign Influence in Research with Mike Shannon
    by cipress
    Join hosts Joe Sheridan and Jeremy Clark for an in-depth conversation with former intelligence and National Institute of Health (NIH) official Mike Shannon as they examine the growing challenges facing America’s research enterprise. Drawing on decades of experience in national security and federal oversight, Shannon explains how foreign influence operations, overseas talent recruitment programs, undisclosed financial relationships, and underreported gifts to universities can create vulnerabilities within U.S. research institutions and federally funded science programs. The discussion explores the intersection of academic openness and national security, including how adversarial governments seek access to cutting-edge biomedical and technological research through partnerships, grants, […]
  • CI Press, Episode 117: From the Gulf War to DHS, the Counterintelligence Career of Vince Smith
    by cipress
    Join hosts Dave Turner and Jeremy Clark for a conversation with Vince Smith, a retired counterintelligence professional whose 42-year career spans the Nebraska National Guard, U.S. Army counterintelligence, and the Department of Homeland Security. Vince shares firsthand stories from the Gulf War, the evolution of Tactical HUMINT Teams, and the challenges of building insider threat and counterintelligence programs at DHS. He also discusses advising state and local fusion centers on emerging threats, including election security and rare earth mineral espionage. From mentorship and leadership to bureaucracy and personal sacrifice, this episode offers a candid look inside the realities of a […]