GRP 177-The Recruiter: My Conversation With Douglas London A 34 Year Veteran of The CIA

You can access the full episode below, or on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify(Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

We hear from a former CIA officer, Douglas London, who spent over 30 years working for the organization. London's growing up in the Bronx, gave him the street smarts necessary for specific roles in the government. We learn about the rigorous training pipeline for case officers and how the agency shifted focus after 9/11. London provides fascinating insights into the internal workings of the CIA, the sacrifices made by its officers, and the challenges and adversities they face in their work. We also discussed the emerging importance of OSINT. This podcast offers a glimpse into the world of intelligence and espionage, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in national security and the role of covert operations in America's foreign policy.

Main Takeaways

• Growing up in the Bronx 

• Joining the Marine Corps

• Becoming a CIA Officer

• OSINT

• Havana Syndrome

• China

• Russia

Get your copy of Douglas London's book:

The Recruiter

Follow Douglas on Twitter

@douglaslondon5

This episode is sponsored by 4 Patriots, a survival food company. You can visit ⁠⁠www.4patriots.com⁠⁠ and use the code RECON for 10% off

Connect With John Hendricks

⁠⁠www.globalrecon.net⁠⁠

⁠⁠www.instagram.com/igrecon ⁠⁠

Music provided by Caspian:

⁠⁠www.caspian.band

GRP 176-It is better to be on the move than being still: A Conversation with Sandra Eira A Sami Native At War In Ukraine

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

Sandra Eira, a Norweigan Sami native and volunteer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, is my guest for this week's podcast. She worked as a fisherman in the Barents Sea for ten years which is among the most dangerous professions in the world, before serving on the Sami Parliament in northern Norway. During her four years in the Parliament, she studied for a career as a health professional. 

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she immediately traveled to Kyiv to join the fight. Upon arrival, her team was sent to Moshun to halt the Russian advance toward Kyiv. In the ensuing chaos, she was separated from her unit and believed them to be killed during the heavy fighting. This resulted in her being the only medic in a mass casualty situation. After successfully repelling the Russian advance, she reunited with her unit, and they traveled to the southern front. Her team consists of former American Special Operators giving them a wide range of skills and allowing them to rotate in and out of different battles. We discussed their roles, including time spent in Bakhmut, the difficulty of pausing your life to go to war, and much more. Tune in. 

Main Takeaways

• Sami Tribe

• Working as a fisherman for ten years in the Barents Sea

• Serving in the Sami Parliament for four years

• Fighting in the battle of Moshun

• Serving in the southern front

• Serving in Bakhmut

Follow Sandra on all social platforms

@dirtydozeneira

This episode is sponsored by 4 Patriots, a survival food company. You can visit ⁠⁠www.4patriots.com⁠⁠ and use the code RECON for 10% off

Connect With John Hendricks

⁠⁠www.globalrecon.net⁠⁠

⁠⁠www.instagram.com/igrecon ⁠⁠

Music provided by Caspian:

⁠⁠www.caspian.band

GRP 175-Inside the War Against ISIS: A Soldiers Journey From The Italian Military To A Kurdish Special Unit

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.

GRP 175-Inside the War Against ISIS: A Soldiers Journey From The Italian Military To A Kurdish Special Unit

We hear from Alex Pineschi, a veteran of the Italian Mountain Troop who served a Kurdish Special Unit and spent five years fighting ISIS in Iraq. Pineschi worked counter-piracy operations in Africa as a security contractor before traveling to Iraq to help train troops in their fight against ISIS. He would eventually join a newly formed Special Operations unit and participate in several major battles, including the first phase to retake Mosul. This podcast provides a unique and insightful perspective on the ongoing fight against terrorism as an ideology. Pineschi owns a tactical training company and runs courses in Northern Italy and Switzerland.

We discussed western volunteers joining the war against ISIS and going to fight in Ukraine. We also talked about Alex's difficult transition back into Italian society and much more. Tune in. 

Main Takeaways 

• Italian Military 

• Working counter-piracy 

• Training Kurds in Iraq

• Joining a Special unit

• War Tourist

• The ideology of terrorism 

• Transition back into society 

Get a copy of Alex Pineschi's book, visit his website, and follow his social media:

⁠⁠PESHMERGA: FACING DEATH - The First-Hand account of the Italian volunteer that fought ISIS⁠⁠

⁠www.APTAC.it⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

This episode is sponsored by 4 Patriots, a survival food company. You can visit ⁠⁠www.4patriots.com⁠⁠ and use the code RECON for 10% off

Connect With John Hendricks

⁠⁠www.globalrecon.net⁠⁠

⁠⁠www.instagram.com/igrecon ⁠⁠

Music provided by Caspian:

⁠⁠www.caspian.band⁠

GRP 174-Big results Require Big Ambitions-A Conversation with HRT Operator Greg Shaffer

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, (all users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

Greg Shaffer, an author and retired FBI agent is joining me for this week's podcast. Shaffer spent ten years in the Coast Guard and twenty years at the FBI, working in various roles. He served as an Operator at the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), conducting operations around the globe. He spent several years working on a joint task force in a counter-terrorism role. Shaffer finished his career coordinating security for major sporting events in the Dallas, Texas, area.

We discussed his time working on the D.C Sniper case in 2002, where HRT Operators arrested the perpetrators. Shaffer explains why HRT deployed alongside the military's Special Mission Units to Afghanistan and Iraq. We also touched on Greg's time working on counter-terrorism investigations across Asia. Greg founded the Shaffer Security Group, providing various services, including training and security. Tune in

• Working drug seizures in the coastguard in south Florida alongside the DEA

• Joining the FBI

• Working in the San Franciso Field Divison on a drug and gang Task Force

• Joining HRT

• Working the D.C Sniper case

• Deploying overseas and working alongside Delta Force in Iraq

•  Working Counter Terrorism investigations at the National Terrorism Center

• Designing security for large-scale events

Get a copy of Greg Shaffer's book: 

Stay Safe: Security Secrets for Today's Dangerous World

Greg Shaffer: www.shaffersecuritygroup.com

@Shaffersecuritygroup on all social media platforms

This episode is sponsored by 4 Patriots, a survival food company. You can visit www.4patriots.com and use the code RECON for 10% off

Connect With John Hendricks

www.globalrecon.net

www.instagram.com/igrecon 

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspian.band

GRP 173-First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11 With Toby Harnden

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

Joining me for this week's podcast is a veteran foreign correspondent and author of First Casualty: The Untold Story Of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11 Toby Harnden. Harnden is a Royal Navy Veteran from the United Kingdom and has spent years covering wars in conflict zones worldwide. We discussed his journalism career, and he cut his teeth in Northern Ireland, covering the conflict there. He's also spent time in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The initial American response to the 9/11 attacks was a secret eight-man CIA squad called Team Alpha. Team Alpha rode into battle on horseback alongside the Afghan warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum. Mike Spann, an ex-Marine and member of Team Alpha, was the first American killed in combat in Afghanistan. We discussed his book in detail, including the role of Delta Force, The British Special Boat Service, and Army Green Berets in routing Al Queda during the early days of the war. Plus many more topics. Tune in.

         Main Takeaways

• Early Naval career

• Working with the Norweigan Navy

• Covering the conflict in Northern Ireland

• Imprisoned in Zimbabwe

• Alpha Team

• Mike Spann

This episode is sponsored by Ten Thousand, a men’s training brand.

Visit www.tenthousand.cc and enter code Global Recon for 15 % off

Connect with Toby Harnden 

www.tobyharnden.com

Connect With John Hendricks

www.globalrecon.net

www.instagram.com/igrecon 

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspian.band