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The Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) is a non-profit, non-political, educational association for current and former intelligence professionals and supporters of the US Intelligence Community. Part of our mission is to foster an understanding of the important role of intelligence in national security and to nurture student interest in careers across the many US intelligence agencies. To this end, the channel features podcast versions of our AFIO Now episodes - a series of recorded interviews and presentations that features experts, historians, and officers from across the US Intelligence Community who have fascinating stories to tell.
Episodes

Monday Jul 31, 2023
AFIO Now Presents: Brittany Butler
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
In this episode, Brittany Butler - a former intelligence officer - discusses her first novel, "The Syndicate Spy." Based on her experiences as a CIA targeting officer, the thriller tells the tale of two female spies as they race to uncover terrorist conspiracies and ultimately change the course of war. Recorded 2 May 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

Monday Jul 17, 2023
AFIO Now Presents: Shane Harris Part III
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
In his third episode, senior National Security Reporter for The Washington Post Shane Harris discusses the recent shocking events in Ukraine - from the Wagner Group's march towards Moscow, to missing Russian generals, to Putin's renewed threats to use tactical nuclear weapons. Recorded 7 July 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

Monday Jul 03, 2023
AFIO Now Presents: James Bamford Part I
Monday Jul 03, 2023
Monday Jul 03, 2023
In the first of a 2-part series for AFIO Now, award-winning journalist/author, James Bamford discusses his latest book, "Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America’s Counterintelligence." Bamford describes the expanding capability of foreign countries to conduct large-scale espionage within the US and how the FBI and other agencies are struggling to prevent it. Recorded 14 Apr 2023. Host: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer. Interviewer: John Quattrocki, AFIO Treasurer and former Senior FBI Officer.

Monday Jun 12, 2023
AFIO Now Presents: Alma Katsu
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Monday Jun 12, 2023
In this episode, Alma Katsu, a former intelligence officer and award winning author, discusses her newest novel Red London. The second book in this spy thriller series is set in a post-Putin Russia which has been financially devastated by its loss in the war with Ukraine. Alma also discusses her career experiences at NSA and CIA, gives pointers to women considering careers in the Intelligence Community, and reflects on the path that led to her success as a fiction writer. Recorded 29 March 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

Monday May 22, 2023
Monday May 22, 2023
In this final installment of a three-part series, acclaimed intelligence historian and author Nigel West discusses his book, "Hitler's Trojan Horse: The Fall of The Abwehr." Recorded 19 Jan 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

Monday May 01, 2023
AFIO Now Presents: Erik Dahl
Monday May 01, 2023
Monday May 01, 2023
In this episode, Naval professor and author Erik Dahl discusses his latest book, "The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough" which explores the roles that both traditional intelligence services, medical intelligence, and surveillance systems play in providing advance warning against public health threats ― and how these systems must be improved for the future. Recorded 2 March 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

Monday Apr 10, 2023
Monday Apr 10, 2023
In this second installment of a three-part series, acclaimed intelligence historian and author Nigel West discusses his book, "Hitler's Nest of Vipers: The Rise of The Abwehr." Recorded 19 Jan 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

Monday Mar 27, 2023
AFIO Now Presents: Todd Bennett
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Monday Mar 27, 2023
In this episode, historian, professor, and author Todd Bennett discusses his latest book - "Neither Confirm nor Deny: How the Glomar Mission Shielded the CIA from Transparency" - about the secret CIA mission using billionaire Howard Hughes's deep-sea mining vessel to retrieve a sunken Soviet sub. Recorded 1 Feb 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

Monday Mar 13, 2023
AFIO Now Presents: Vince Houghton and the National Cryptologic Museum
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Monday Mar 13, 2023
In his third episode for AFIO Now, Vince Houghton discusses his role as the Director/Curator of the National Cryptologic Museum and gives a sneak peek at the one-of-a-kind exhibits now on display at the newly reopened museum - including the The Hitler Enigma -- the only remaining B-variant Enigma --and the original Jefferson Cipher device. Recorded 20 Jan 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

Monday Feb 27, 2023
AFIO Now Presents: Nigel West Part I - Spies Who Changed History
Monday Feb 27, 2023
Monday Feb 27, 2023
In this first installment of a three-part series, acclaimed intelligence historian and author Nigel West discusses the captivating figures from his recent book, "Spies Who Changed History: The Greatest Spies and Agents of the 20th Century." Recorded 15 Jan 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.