Straight from the Shoulder
How might someone who worked at the CIA or NSA view what’s happening around the world? What can we learn about politics and risk from the intelligence vantage point- past and present? Straight from the Shoulder is a podcast that strives to analyze geopolitical events through the apolitical lens of intelligence officers. The podcast features commentary by Jack Devine, former Acting Deputy Director of Operations at the CIA and President The Arkin Group in conversation with Julia Stone, former government Intelligence Analyst and Senior Director at The Arkin Group. Listeners can expect a candid, non-partisan, and lively discussion that seeks to unravel the complex issues that threaten security and global stability.
Episodes
9 episodes
Warning Signals
In this episode, Jack and Julia discuss the US officials' Signal chat group debacle and why Jack thinks that there’s value in formality when it comes to government decision-making. Tune in for unique insights on:How government decis...
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Episode 9
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14:58
Terrorism: Then and Now/Home and Abroad
2025 began with a tragic, ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New Orleans that serves as a disturbing reminder of the enduring terrorism threat both at home and abroad. Join Jack and Julia as we discuss the evolution of terrorism over the past se...
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Episode 8
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36:39
Before the Handoff: What to Expect Leading Up to the Presidential Inauguration
In the immediate aftermath of the 2024 US elections, global leaders are recalibrating their political strategies and vying for President Trump’s good favor. But what can we expect over the course of the next two months before Trump takes office...
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Episode 7
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29:54
A Sprawling Web of War and Peace
On the cusp of the 2024 US presidential election, only one thing looks certain: the next US president is going to inherit two major ongoing wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. And right now, these wars appear to be expanding, not shrink...
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Episode 6
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20:00
Acts of Betrayal, Part One: Hearts and Minds
Betrayal is a complicated act of “deliberate disloyalty” that can shock and unravel the fabric of any relationship. But when an intelligence officer is caught working for the other side, the damage is amplified - shattering the hard-won trust a...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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36:01
Screen of Spies
Hollywood serves as a powerful recruiting mechanism for spy agencies like the CIA- using the screen to glamorize the work of intelligence operatives worldwide- but it also contributes to some of the biggest misunderstandings of what spies do an...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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25:48
Disinformed
Many Americans now consider disinformation to be a key national security threat, and disinformation topped the World Economic Forum’s list of short-term global risks for 2024. But what’s the history of disinformation and how is it increasingly ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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22:33
Held Hostage
Given that hostage taking is again in the spotlight after the October 7 Hamas attacks, what is the latest status of Washington’s hostage policy? What can we learn from a review of the past several decades of hostage crises worldwide? And is it ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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25:52
Straight from the Shoulder, Episode 1
“How is the world being reshaped by two active wars involving US allies in Europe and the Middle East? And what will the outcome of these conflicts mean in terms of the world we want to live in? Join us for a thoughtful discussion about these d...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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18:13