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 academic institutions, and the expanding role of cyber threat intelligence in protecting people, information, and innovation. Ted also explains how organizations can better identify emerging risks, develop intelligence-driven decision-making processes, and foster a culture of security without sacrificing collaboration or innovation. Beyond organizational strategy, the conversation examines how universities can prepare the next generation of intelligence professionals. Ted discusses Mercyhurst University's hands-on approach to intelligence education, emphasizing real-world analytical experience, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and partnerships that equip students for careers across government, law enforcement, the private sector, cybersecurity, and research environments. Throughout the episode, listeners will gain practical insights into recognizing potential threats, responding effectively, and knowing when and how to report concerns. Whether you're a security professional, researcher, student, or organizational leader, this episode offers actionable guidance on applying intelligence principles to modern challenges while building resilience against an increasingly diverse range of threats.

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 historical intelligence successes such as the Farewell Dossier, illustrating how counterintelligence operations have influenced geopolitical competition and technological advantage. Beyond the history and case studies, the conversation explores the significant economic and national security consequences of state-sponsors intellectual property theft, from billions of dollars in commercial losses to the erosion of technological leadership and military competitiveness. The hosts explain how government respond through export control, foreign investment reviews conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), counterintelligence investigations, and public-private partnerships designed to protect critical technologies and sensitive research. Whether you’re interested in intelligence, cybersecurity, national security, or the global competition for technological dominance, this episode provides a practical overview of how economic espionage shapes today’s strategic landscape and why protecting innovation has become a central challenge for governments and industry alike.

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 other high-risk individuals. The discussion also highlights practical strategies for mitigating exposure, strengthening operational security, and adapting to a world where anonymity is increasingly difficult to maintain. Celia concludes with a call for counterintelligence-driven defenses, updated training and doctrine, and a comprehensive legislative framework to address the challenges posed by UTS across both government and industry.

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 challenges facing organizations today, from DCSA reporting and insider threat detection to the growing risks posed by human-enabled espionage and cognitive attacks. The discussion provides actionable insights for CEOs, security professionals, and government leaders on how to identify threats, strengthen reporting cultures, and build resilient defenses in an era of persistent foreign intelligence operations. Whether you're a security practitioner, executive leader, or simply interested in the modern intelligence battlefield, this episode delivers a timely and eye-opening examination of the threats shaping today's security environment.

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 or analysts. Looking ahead, David offers insights into how artificial intelligence, evolving workplace behaviors, and modern threat environments are reshaping the future of counterintelligence and the professionals tasked with defending against insider and external threats.

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 for why education and travel briefings aren't just HR checkboxes, but frontline defenses in today's threat landscape. Whether you're a security practitioner, a business leader, or simply curious about the invisible architecture keeping organizations safe, this conversation delivers practical, actionable intelligence straight from someone who's lived it on both sides of the fence.

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.

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 collectors, security professionals, and corporate partners on recognizing, reporting, and responding to emerging threats.

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, and talent initiatives. Shannon shares insights from his time investigating research security concerns tied to the NIH and discusses the difficulties universities, scientists, and government agencies face when balancing international collaboration with the need to protect sensitive research and taxpayer-funded innovation. Shannon also discusses the broader implications for public trust in science, federal grant oversight, and institutional accountability. The episode covers real-world examples of compliance failures, the cultural tensions between academia and security professionals, and the evolving role of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in safeguarding American research. Finally, Shannon outlines practical steps universities, policymakers, and researchers can take to strengthen transparency, rebuild trust, and better defend U.S. national and economic interests without undermining scientific progress and global collaboration.

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 life spent protecting national security.