The people behind the conversations
Guests & contributors
Researchers, writers, and practitioners who have shared their ideas here and on Covert Contact.
Explore guest conversations and contributions through the topic archives.
-
Covert Contact
Conversations on intelligence, espionage, national security, and the people behind the headlines.
-
Podcast
Audio conversations on intelligence, security, technology, and international affairs.
-
Intelligence
Intelligence analysis, collection, and espionage, from human judgment to AI-assisted workflows.
-
Interviews
Conversations with practitioners, researchers, and writers on intelligence, security, and international affairs.
-
AI
Practical experiments with AI agents, intelligence workflows, and the security risks of everyday AI use.
-
William J. Tucker
Counterintelligence specialist and longtime contributor on intelligence and national security.
-
Technology
How emerging technologies reshape intelligence, security, and the way we work.
-
Terrorism
Terrorist movements, attacks, and the limits and possibilities of counterterrorism.
-
Counterintelligence
Espionage cases, insider threats, and the work of protecting people, institutions, and information.
-
Russia
Russian espionage, influence operations, and security challenges, including narratives about Ukraine.
-
Guest Posts
Guest contributions exploring intelligence, history, and culture, including art’s role in Cold War espionage.
-
HowTo
Practical guides to AI-assisted research, information analysis, and supervising agent workflows.
-
Security
Digital and physical security, from personal precautions to institutional threats and policy.
-
Fred Burton
Author and former deputy chief of counterterrorism at the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service.
-
Prompt Engineering
Practical prompts for AI-assisted intelligence analysis, threat modeling, and examining disinformation.
-
China
Chinese espionage, intelligence cases, and competition over technology and space infrastructure.
-
Agentic AI
Practical ways to use AI agents for research and everyday work while keeping human oversight.
-
Coding
Hands-on projects using code and AI to manage models, process information, and analyze logs.
-
Politics
Elections, government accountability, and the intersection of political decisions with intelligence and security.
-
Art
Art at the intersection of intelligence, diplomacy, conflict, and everyday life.
-
Military
Military ethics, service and sacrifice, counterterrorism, and life after war.
-
Phil Walter
National security writer with experience in the military, intelligence community, and interagency.
-
Social Media
Online influence, intelligence analysis, and the use of social platforms in diplomacy and conflict.
-
Analysis
Methods for examining information, challenging narratives, and anticipating change with AI assistance.
-
Andrew Trabulsi
Entrepreneur, consultant, and co-editor of Warlords, Inc., exploring technology and global change.
-
Australia
Australian perspectives on cyber policy, encryption, counterterrorism, and special operations.
-
Dean Baratta
Intelligence professional who led the Analysis Bureau at New Jersey’s homeland security office.
-
Phillip Smyth
Researcher specializing in Iran-backed Shiite militias and Middle Eastern security.
-
Space
Space technology and strategy, from resilient infrastructure and military logistics to speculative fiction.
-
Strategy
Testing assumptions about conflict, adversary behavior, and the choices available to decision-makers.
-
Books
Espionage novels and conversations with their authors about spies, psychology, and intelligence bureaucracy.
-
Fiction
Stories that bring intelligence, AI, and imagined worlds into speculative fiction.
-
ISIS
The evolution of ISIS, its use of propaganda, and the challenges of countering its violence.
-
Counterterrorism
Approaches to confronting terrorism, from national policy and technology to local policing.
-
Data
Keeping intelligence analysis current and making sense of information from social media.
-
Hacking
Cyberattacks, ransomware, and the policies and precautions intended to reduce their impact.
-
Patrick Skinner
Former CIA case officer whose work connects counterterrorism and local policing.
-
Veterans
Military service, sacrifice, healing, and the transition to life after war.
-
Afghanistan
Conversations with Francesca Recchia about everyday life and independent art in Afghanistan.
-
AusDef Podcast Series
Conversations on Australian counterterrorism, cyber policy, encryption, and information warfare.
-
Crypto
Encryption, secure communications, and the policy debates over access to digital information.
-
Diplomacy
International relations and the role of agreements, public communication, and cultural exchange.
-
Donald Trump
The 2016 election and counterintelligence questions surrounding Donald Trump’s presidency.
-
Information Warfare
Propaganda, influence, and disruption, with a focus on understanding and building resilience.
-
Israel
Israeli diplomacy, intelligence, and regional relationships, including ties with the United States and UAE.
-
Law Enforcement
Policing, counterterrorism, and the tensions between investigative powers and secure communications.
-
Python
Using Python and AI to make log analysis less labor-intensive.
-
Scot Terban
Security researcher discussing cyber threats, intelligence, and personal security.
-
ChatGPT
Practical uses of AI chatbots in intelligence analysis, from better prompts to anticipating strategic surprises.
-
Defense
Military capabilities and emerging technologies, from special operations to suborbital aircraft and rocket logistics.
-
Edward Snowden
A counterintelligence discussion of the case for a pardon for Edward Snowden.
-
Encryption
Secure communications, surveillance debates, and the tools used to protect information.
-
Forecasting
Strategic foresight and the challenge of anticipating technological and security change.
-
Francesca Recchia
Independent researcher and writer exploring art, culture, and life in conflict-affected places.
-
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign debates and the security questions surrounding her email server.
-
Iran
Iran’s regional influence and the intelligence and security challenges surrounding it.
-
Julia Tatiana Bailey
Art historian exploring propaganda, diplomacy, and cultural exchange during the Cold War.
-
Max Abrahms
Terrorism researcher examining militant strategy and the political effectiveness of violence.
-
Misinformation
How misleading narratives spread and how individuals and institutions can respond.
-
Rocket Lab
Launch capabilities, rocket logistics, and their potential roles in military and space strategy.
-
Stilgherrian
Australian journalist covering technology, cybersecurity, and public policy.
-
Syria
Russia’s intervention in Syria and the regional implications of conflict and Kurdish politics.
-
Alex Finley
Former CIA officer and novelist who examines intelligence through satire.
-
Alignment
-
Alon Pinkas
Former Israeli diplomat offering perspective on Israel, the United States, and regional diplomacy.
-
Anthony Bourdain
Chef, author, and television host discussing food, travel, and the human consequences of conflict.
-
Clint Arizmendi
Researcher and practitioner examining information warfare and national security.
-
Cryptocurrency
Digital currencies at the intersection of investing, technology, and national security.
-
Espionage
Real-world spying cases and the people and dilemmas explored in espionage fiction.
-
Ethics
Ethical judgment in military service, intelligence, and the use of data and AI.
-
France
Counterintelligence threats and the challenges of responding to terrorist violence in France.
-
Gender
-
History
-
Howard Kaplan
Espionage novelist and author of The Damascus Cover and Bullets of Palestine.
-
Iraq
Iraq’s political consolidation and its relationship with Kurdish aspirations and regional pressures.
-
Islam
Conversations about Muslim identity, political Islam, and the challenges of democracy.
-
Kurdistan
Kurdish political aspirations and their place in Iraq’s regional and internal struggles.
-
Levi West
Terrorism researcher examining extremist movements, technology, and counterterrorism.
-
Lynnette Bukowski
Contributor supporting warriors and first responders through LZ Grace.
-
North Korea
Assessing North Korea’s military threat, strategic choices, and cryptocurrency operations.
-
Privacy
Protecting personal information through encryption and awareness of emerging AI threats.
-
Radio
Shortwave numbers stations and their enduring connection to clandestine communications.
-
Robert Rath
Writer exploring games, virtual reality, and the relationship between technology and conflict.
-
Russia-Ukraine
Using AI to examine Russian narratives about Ukraine and trace regional disinformation.
-
Saudi Arabia
Saudi-Iranian tensions and their place in a wider discussion of regional security.
-
Sci-Fi
Speculative fiction, including the story The Voice from Enceladus.
-
Scriven L. King
Security writer, podcaster, and Blogs of War contributor on policing and public safety.
-
Ukraine
Using AI to examine Russian narratives about Ukraine and map regional disinformation.
-
Aaron Mannes
Aaron Mannes is the author of Profiles in Terror: The Guide to Middle East Terrorist Organizations. His Veterans Day reflection explores Army traditions and a battalion change of command at Fort Bliss.
-
Africa
Journalism and conflict in East Africa, explored in conversation with Amanda Sperber.
-
AGI
-
AI Assisted
Reflections on the arrival of everyday AI agents and the need to use them cautiously.
-
Aki Peritz
Former CIA counterterrorism analyst and contributor on terrorism and intelligence.
-
Amanda Sperber
Journalist whose reporting explores conflict and life in East Africa.
-
Andy Priest
Contributor exploring international crisis policing and rapid intervention.
-
Andy Yen
ProtonMail co-founder and advocate for accessible encrypted communications.
-
Angie Gad
Middle East and terrorism analyst discussing identity, culture, and public service.
-
Apple
-
Asia
-
Blockchain
A conversation about cryptocurrency investing and the technologies behind it.
-
Brian Christopher Darling
Brian Christopher Darling has served in the U.S. Army in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar. His contribution examines H. R. McMaster’s Dereliction of Duty.
-
Business
-
Caitlin Fitz Gerald
Caitlin Fitz Gerald has written about foreign policy, the Middle East, and civil-military relations. Her contribution examines Saudi Arabia’s political and religious bargain and its implications for U.S. policy.
-
Canada
Lessons from the Ottawa attack about terrorism, public reactions, and perspective.
-
Chloe Diggins
Chloe Diggins co-authored “Is War in the Sixth Domain the End of Clausewitz?” with Clint Arizmendi. Their essay considers information operations, brain-computer interfaces, and the human mind as a domain of warfare.
-
Daniel Crowley
Lockpicking enthusiast and instructor introducing the craft and its security lessons.
-
David Gomez
Retired FBI agent bringing a law-enforcement perspective to security and privacy.
-
David Priess
Author and former intelligence briefer examining the President’s Daily Brief.
-
Egypt
-
Evanna Hu
Entrepreneur exploring data analytics, artificial intelligence, and national security.
-
Extremism
How terrorists use technology and the challenges this creates for those responding.
-
Film
Film analysis exploring psychology, character, and the world of espionage.
-
Ian Langford
Australian military officer with extensive special operations experience.
-
Jill S. Russell
Jill S. Russell is a military historian whose contributions examine gender in military affairs and the life and influence of Marie von Clausewitz. Her research has addressed logistics, subsistence, and American strategic culture.
-
Journalism
-
Korean
-
Linda Robinson
Author and journalist whose work explores U.S. special operations and modern warfare.
-
Lukman Faily
Diplomat who served as Iraq’s ambassador to the United States.
-
Maggie Gwynne
Former CIA officer offering perspective on intelligence careers and personal security.
-
Mathew Burrows
Strategic foresight specialist who helped produce the National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends reports.
-
Max Krohn
Keybase co-founder working on encryption and online identity.
-
Mentions
-
Mexico
Mexico in a broader discussion of the security outlook at the close of 2015.
-
Natalie Sambhi
Natalie Sambhi contributed a 2013 guide to Australian and Asia-Pacific defence and security voices on Twitter. The article brings together perspectives on regional politics, intelligence, and defence.
-
Naveed Jamali
Former double agent and co-author of How to Catch a Russian Spy.
-
Pauline Shanks Kaurin
Author of On Obedience, exploring military ethics and the responsibilities of citizenship.
-
Propaganda
Recognizing and countering misleading information and attempts to shape public understanding.
-
Quick Take
Brief commentary on developing events, including the Beirut explosion.
-
Robotics
-
Sean P. Sullivan
Sean P. Sullivan served in the U.S. Navy and the CIA’s Special Activities Division. His essay offers an inside view of an intelligence officer’s working day at CIA headquarters.
-
Shadi Hamid
Author and researcher exploring political Islam, democracy, and power in the Middle East.
-
SIGINT
-
Tara Maller
Tara Maller worked as a CIA military analyst focused on the Iraq insurgency. Her contribution examines ways to bring more women into cybersecurity and national security careers.
-
Tarek Fahmy
Tarek Fahmy contributed a firsthand account of Egypt’s 2011 revolution, covering January 25 through February 11. He was a political science student at the American University in Cairo when he wrote it.
-
The Grugq
Information security researcher discussing operational security, counterintelligence, and hacker tradecraft.
-
Turkey
The security implications of Turkey’s downing of a Russian military aircraft.
-
UAE
The Israel-UAE agreement and its implications for regional diplomacy.
-
Updates
Podcast commentary on security developments, including an assessment of the North Korean threat.
-
Wendy R. Anderson
Former defense official and documentary contributor exploring military service and sacrifice.