AFIO Podcast

AFIO Now Presents: Jonna Mendez

Former CIA Chief of Disguise, Jonna Mendez, discusses her latest book,
"In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked" with Linda Millis, former CIA, NSA, and ODNI. A courageous story of being a female spy at the height of the Cold War. She began her CIA career as a "contract wife" performing secretarial duties for the Agency. Yet Mendez had a talent for espionage and soon took on more significant roles at the Agency. She parlayed her interest in photography into an operational role overseas. She lived undercover and served tours of duty all over the globe, rising first to become an international spy and ultimately to Chief of Disguise at CIA's Office of Technical Service. 

Interview: Wednesday, 27 March 2024. Interviewed by Linda Millis and Hosted by AFIO President James Hughes. 

AFIO Now Presents: Alexander Rose

Author and historian Alexander Rose discusses his latest book "The Lion And The Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy." In 1861, soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, two secret agents — one a Confederate, the other his Union rival — were dispatched to neutral Britain, each entrusted with a vital mission. This is the untold tale of two implacable foes and their twilight struggle for the highest stakes involving the lucrative Cotton trade.

Interview: Tuesday, 13 February 2024. Host and Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.

AFIO Now Presents: James Roth

James Roth, author and former CIA Officer, on The Dead Drop: Espionage is a Dangerous Game for Amateurs, explores themes of duplicity and betrayal. The novel captures the human tension of real-world espionage with a memorable cast of characters. Former CIA Officer James Lawler wrote of the book: "...a riveting tale of spies, youthful idealism, and adult betrayal, which accelerates to a thrilling climax worthy of a major motion picture."

Interview on Friday, 9 February 2024. Host and Interviewer is AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations. The interview runs 22 minutes and includes several Q&As.

AFIO Now Presents: James Stejskal

In this episode, James Stejskal, Author, Military Historian, Conflict Archaeologist, former CIA, and Special Forces, discusses his book "Dead Hand" on what happens after Russia has won the war in Ukraine and is eyeing the Baltics. As the world stands on the precipice of war, a legendary CIA Officer rushes to meet a spy deep in the Kremlin, on an operation where failure could mean nuclear Armageddon. Recorded 12 December 2023. Interviewer and host: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.

AFIO Now Presents: Ronald Drabkin

In this episode, Ronald Drabkin, author of Beverly Hills Spy: The Double-Agent War Hero Who Helped Japan Attack Pearl Harbor, discusses the story of the WWI hero who became a fixture of high society in Golden Age Hollywood while acting as a double agent for the Japanese Empire as it prepared to attack Pearl Harbor. Recorded 01 Feb 2024. Host and Interviewer: James Hughes, AFIO President and former senior CIA Operations Officer. 

 

AFIO Now Presents: Jennifer Ewbank

In this new episode, Jennifer Ewbank discusses her position as the Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation and her responsibility for accelerating the development and integration of digital and cyber capabilities across all of CIA’s mission areas as well as building the digital acumen of the CIA workforce through training and education. Ms Ewbank retired from her CIA post shortly after this interview. Recorded 3 Jan 2024. Host: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer. Interviewer: Paul Hollingsworth PhD, former senior CIA Executive in Analysis and Operations and AFIO Board member.

AFIO Now Presents: Gordon Corera

In this episode, BBC National Security Correspondent Gordon Corera discusses his book "Operation Columba - The Secret Pigeon Service: The Untold Story of World War II Resistance in Europe." The book reveals the fascinating, untold story of how British intelligence secretly used homing pigeons as part of a clandestine espionage operation to gather information, communicate, and coordinate with members of the Resistance to defeat the Nazis in occupied Europe during World War II. Recorded 1 Dec 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer. 

AFIO Now Presents: Liza Mundy

In this new episode, award-winning journalist and New York Times-bestselling author Liza Mundy discusses her newest book "The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA."  Recorded 10 Nov 2023. Host: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer. Interviewer: Linda Millis, former Senior CIA, NSA, and ODNI Executive, current Assistant Professor at Marymount University and AFIO Board member.

AFIO Now Presents: Chip Beck

In this episode, former senior CIA operations officer and Naval Commander Chip Beck discusses his book "Final Days of Heroes: How a CIA Agent and his Cambodian Allies Fought, Defied, and Resisted the Khmer Rouge." Recorded 19 Oct 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer. 

AFIO Now Presents: Brian Morra

In this episode, Brian Morra - Former US Air Force Intelligence Officer and senior aerospace executive - discusses his book "The Able Archers," which is a work of fiction based on the 1983 Soviet nuclear war crisis wherein Soviet leaders were convinced that the U.S. was preparing to launch a surprise nuclear attack on the USSR under the cover of a NATO exercise titled “Able Archer.” Recorded 17 Oct 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.