The CI-Press Podcast

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...

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...

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 pe...

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...

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 re...

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...

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 st...

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...

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 te...

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...

CI Press, the counterintelligence podcast by IXN Solutions.  Where security, compliance, and counterintelligence converge.

In this episode, Dave Turner and Ryan Rambo sit down with soon-to-be retired SGM TJ Trent to unpack a post-9/11 Army career shaped by multiple deployments and a transition from IT to cybersecurity. TJ brings a grounded perspective on the human side of cyber defense - why relationships with counterintelligence matter, how realistic training builds resilience, and what accountability actually looks like in high-pressure environments.

The conversation also dives into managing mental health and operational stress, along with TJ’s next cha...

On this episode of CI Press, hosts Jeremy Clark and Joseph Sheridan sit down with retired counterintelligence officer Kathy Gonzalez to break down the 2026 threat landscape - insider threat trends, evolving adversary tactics, and the enduring challenge of Russian “illegals.”

Drawing on more than two decades with the FBI, NSA, and CIA, Kathy brings a practitioner’s perspective to the human side of cyber operations - where trust, access, and behavior matter more than tools alone. She makes the case for standardized counterintelligence training, stronger interagency coordination, and a more unified approach to protecting emerging technologies and U.S. n...

Jeremy Clark is joined by Mike Parrott to unpack new intelligence assessments revealing how China and Russia conduct continuous, all-domain irregular warfare. From technology theft and academic exploitation to cognitive operations and proxy sabotage, this episode explores how these efforts aim to erode Western cohesion from within.

The discussion exposes key blind spots in Western counterintelligence and introduces “Counterintelligence Mindset 2.0”—a proposed framework built on anticipation, rapid adaptation, and proactive disruption, while remaining grounded in democratic values. Drawing from Mike’s extensive archive of research papers and data, this AI-generated episode offers a forward-looking look at how intellig...

Hosts Ryan Rambo and Jeremy Clark sit down with Bruce Bailey to unpack his early-2000s push to build and source electric motors in China—and the escalating challenges that came with it. Bailey describes navigating unreliable manufacturing standards, repeated quality control breakdowns, and growing concerns about forced labor within supply chains. He also recounts unsettling experiences with hotel surveillance, pressure to engage in bribery to keep operations moving, and a business partner with ties to the CCP that raised serious ethical and security red flags—factors that ultimately led him to abandon the venture.

Bailey then expl...

Hosts Scott Sparks and Jeremy Clark sit down with veteran counterintelligence officer Larry Knight, exploring the arc of his career across multiple eras of national security. The discussion highlights key cases he worked on and examines how the counterintelligence mission has evolved—from the Cold War, through the focus on counterterrorism, and now back to competition with near-peer adversaries.

Throughout the episode, Knight shares practical insights drawn from his experience, offering listeners a clearer understanding of the profession and its demands. He also provides advice for those interested in pursuing a career in counterintelligence, emphasizing adaptability, critical th...

Hosts Joseph Sheridan and Jeremy Clark open the episode with a focused discussion on Florida’s proposed counterintelligence bill, unpacking what it aims to do and why strong oversight mechanisms are critical. They explore the balance between security and civil liberties, highlighting how policy decisions in this space can have far-reaching consequences for public trust and government accountability.

The conversation then shifts to an in-depth interview with Robert Gummer, whose career spans Army intelligence, the FBI, and leadership of intelligence operations for the NFL before his current role as Deputy Chief at LA Metro. Gummer walks through hi...

Hosts Joseph Sheridan and David Turner sit down with veteran counterintelligence professional Robert Ansbach to unpack decades of intelligence tradecraft, Cold War operations, and modern espionage trends in Europe.

The conversation covers a survey of 70 convicted spies, ten modern spy archetypes, notable cases like General Dozier’s kidnapping and the betrayals of Clyde Conrad and James Hall, plus practical lessons, mentorship, and advice for today’s counterintelligence practitioners.

They also explore how evolving technologies, shifting geopolitical alliances, and the rise of hybrid warfare have reshaped the intelligence landscape, forcing agencies to adapt faster than ever befo...

Hosts Joe Sheridan and Jeremy Clark sit down with Karna McGarry, a former Central Intelligence Agency analyst and Office of the Director of National Intelligence attorney who now serves as Senior Vice President, Managed Services at Red5 Security. She shares her journey from government intelligence into the private sector and explains how corporations are increasingly building their own intelligence capabilities to navigate global risk.

The conversation explores the growing importance of Open-Source Intelligence, insider threat detection, and the evolution of corporate risk programs. Karna highlights how companies can move from reactive security to proactive intelligence, while balancing...

In this episode of CI Press, hosts Shawn Michaud and Jeremy Clark sit down with MG(R) Peter B. Andrysiak Jr. to examine today’s counterintelligence (CI) challenges and how military leaders can stay ahead of them.

The conversation explores emerging threats such as adversarial property acquisitions near military installations and the persistent risk of insider attacks, drawing on lessons from Fort Hood and operational deployments. MG(R) Andrysiak highlights the critical role of trust between commanders and CI professionals in identifying warning signs early and creating a culture where concerns are reported.

The episode al...

In this episode of CI Press, hosts Dave Turner and Ryan sit down with Anthony James, Senior Industrial Security Consultant at FSO Pros, to explore the real-world challenges Facility Security Officers face every day.

Anthony shares his journey from artillery and military intelligence into the world of industrial security, where he now helps cleared companies navigate the complexities of the National Industrial Security Program. The conversation dives into the DD-254 process, background investigations, common DCSA findings, and the administrative burden FSOs face managing clearances, foreign travel, incident reporting, and compliance across multiple government systems.

Anthony...

In this episode of CI Press, we sit down with Nick Vidulich, a Marine Corps counterintelligence veteran with more than two decades of service, to discuss the experiences that shaped his career and his approach to counterintelligence today.

Nick reflects on his 22-year journey in the Marine Corps, including deployments, post-blast analysis work, and his transition from SIGINT into the counterintelligence field. Along the way, he shares candid insights about the personal and professional challenges that many intelligence professionals face throughout a long career in national security.

The conversation also explores how those experiences translate...

In this episode of CI Press, we sit down with Danny Li - software engineer, entrepreneur, and host of the growing Danny Li Podcast. Danny was kind enough to host one of the cohosts, Ryan Rambo, as a guest on his show recently, so we wanted to return the favor and bring him on CI Press to share more of his story.

Danny recounts his journey from Ukraine to the United States, how faith and purpose shaped his path, and how he built a rapidly expanding podcast platform focused on leadership, military experience, and personal development.

CI Press, the counterintelligence podcast hosted by IXN Solutions, presents an interview with Tom O'Connor, a seasoned Army CI veteran. Tom recounts his path from being drafted during the Vietnam era to serving across Okinawa, Korea, Fort Huachuca, and high-level CI program leadership roles.

Throughout the episode, Tom shares frontline anecdotes, lessons on career development, the value of broad CI experience versus specialization, and practical advice for young agents on operational tradecraft, integrity, and personnel management.

In part three of this special three-part series, hosts M. Scott Sparks and Jeremy J. Clark continue their in-depth roundtable with retired U.S. Army CW5s and senior counterintelligence (CI) professionals Glenn Jones, Shawn Michaud, Mike Dye, and Traci Goodwin.

The panel tackles one of the most consequential organizational questions facing the CI enterprise today: Should counterintelligence transition to a single, unified career track, or preserve its specialized roles? Drawing on decades of operational experience and strategic leadership, they examine the advantages and risks of both models, exploring how force structure influences readiness, expertise, professional identity...

In part two of this three-part series, hosts M. Scott Sparks and Jeremy J. Clark continue their round table with retired U.S. Army CW5s and senior counterintelligence (CI) professionals Glenn Jones, Shawn Michaud, Mike Dye, and Traci Goodwin. What follows is an unfiltered, practitioner-level assessment of the current state of U.S. CI.

The panel tackles one of the profession’s most pressing challenges: talent retention. Drawing on decades of experience, they examine why highly trained CI professionals choose to leave, the institutional pressures that drive burnout or career transitions, and what leadership can do to...

In Part One of this three-part series, hosts M. Scott Sparks and Jeremy J. Clark convene a roundtable of retired U.S. Army CW5s and senior counterintelligence (CI) professionals Glenn Jones, Shawn Michaud, Mike Dye, and Traci Goodwin for an unfiltered, practitioner-level discussion on the state of U.S. counterintelligence.

Drawing on decades of CI experience, the panel tackles audience questions spanning the recent rise in espionage arrests, persistent interagency friction, and the broader debate over whether the nation needs a more unified CI authority. The conversation explores the leadership tension between the NCSC and the...

CI Press celebrates its 100th episode with IXN Solutions, introducing the term "Enterprise Risk Intelligence" as a clearer way to describe corporate counterintelligence. The hosts reflect on the podcast journey and explain how ERI protects enterprise value across critical infrastructure, technology, and academia.

The episode covers real-world examples of insider threats and IP theft, discusses proactive vs. reactive defenses, and emphasizes training, cross-functional programs, and human-domain monitoring to anticipate risk and protect advantage.

In this episode, hosts Joe Sheridan and Jeremy Clark sit down with Dr. Trei McMullen, combat veteran, counterintelligence professional, entrepreneur, and conservative candidate for Florida State House District 2, for a discussion on the evolving role of counterintelligence at the state level.

The conversation explores Florida House Bill 945 and the broader movement toward state-led counterintelligence initiatives. Drawing on his military background and private-sector experience, Dr. McMullen provides a practitioner’s perspective on how states are positioning themselves to better detect, deter, and mitigate foreign intelligence threats within their own jurisdictions.

The episode also addresses national security is...

In this episode of CI Press, hosts Joe Sheridan and Jeremy Clark sit down with Jess Hennessey, Deputy J2 for NORAD and USNORTHCOM, for a wide-ranging conversation on today’s evolving intelligence threat environment.

Hennessey traces her path from enlisted intelligence analyst to senior defense intelligence leader, offering a candid look at how adversaries are adapting, shifting from traditional cyber operations to increasingly sophisticated human-focused espionage and influence activities. The discussion explores border intelligence challenges, the complexity of integrating military services with civilian agencies, and the growing risks to U.S. critical infrastructure.

The episode al...

Hosts Dave Turner and Jeremy Clark sit down for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on the evolving landscape of modern counterintelligence. The discussion opens with a real-world case study, the Security Service of Ukraine’s disruption of a GRU drone attack, using it as a lens to examine how emerging technologies are reshaping intelligence threats and operational realities.

The episode also traces Ken Keppler’s three-decade career across Army Military Intelligence, the FBI, ODNI/NCSC, the private banking sector, and congressional oversight, drawing out hard-earned lessons on tradecraft, leadership, and institutional change. Together, the hosts explore why drones incr...

CI Press hosts Joe Sheridan and Jeremy Clark sit down with COL Dave Acosta to unpack the evolving counterintelligence fight inside today’s information battlefield.

Drawing on a career spanning information operations, deception, and counterintelligence, Dave discusses the rising tempo of adversary influence activity, recent disruptions, and why countering these threats demands a true whole of government approach. The conversation explores modern challenges including AI enabled influence, deepfakes, and algorithm driven manipulation, and what they mean for defenders.

The episode closes with practical takeaways for today’s CI professionals, including integrating information operations with counterintelligence, prep...

In this episode of CI Press, Joe Sheridan and Ryan Rambo sit down with Damon Mathews, a retired U.S. Marine Corps Counterintelligence and HUMINT professional, for a candid discussion on operational tradecraft, leadership, and emerging national security risks.

Damon shares his journey from enlistment to becoming a CI/HUMINT leader, recounting deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, conducting sensitive operations across CENTCOM, and confronting insider threats, contractor infiltration, and adversary targeting within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

Damon also outlines future priorities for counterintelligence professionals navigating an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Retired FBI Special Agent Brigg Barker joins CI Press to share frontline counterterrorism experience spanning the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings, post-9/11 investigations, and years of operational work targeting extremist networks.

In this episode, Brig breaks down his structured interviewing methodology (RQRD), explains how to identify stages of radicalization, and outlines the tactical roles individuals play inside terrorist cells. The discussion examines modern counterterrorism challenges, including online recruitment, lone-actor attacks, Salafi-inspired recruitment tactics, returning foreign fighters, and the national security risks tied to unvetted migration flows.

Brig also provides strategic insight into why portions of Africa...

In this episode of CI Press, hosts Joe Sheridan and Jeremy Clark sit down with LTG Anthony R. Hale for an in-depth conversation on the evolution of Army intelligence and counterintelligence (CI) in an era of great power competition. Drawing on nearly four decades of service, LTG Hale provides a candid and strategic perspective on where Army CI has been, where it is headed, and what must change to remain effective against sophisticated adversaries.

The discussion explores CI transformation and modernization across the Army, including early pilot programs that demonstrated the operational value of centralized CI authorities...

In this episode of CI Press, Mr. Andrew Evans, a former U.S. Army fixed-wing aviator and Director of the Army’s ISR Task Force, now the Directorate for Strategy and Transformation, joins the show to discuss his unconventional path to Pentagon leadership and his work within DAMI-ST.

Evans provides a candid look at how the Army is reshaping its acquisition culture, embracing calculated risk, and institutionalizing rapid modernization to deliver real operational capability to soldiers faster and at scale. He explains why incremental change is no longer sufficient and why dismantling legacy processes is essential to ma...

In this episode, cohosts Jeremy Clark and Ryan Rambo clearly differentiate counterintelligence (CI) and human intelligence (HUMINT): definitions, core purposes (CI defends inside the wire; HUMINT collects outside), tradecraft, placement vs access, and indicators of espionage like undue affluence, foreign contact, and behavioral changes. They cover practical corporate implications, insider-threat prevention, and the R3 approach — Recognize, React, Report — inviting listener feedback.

This is a replay of Episode 17, released in 2025.  

In this episode of CI Press, cohosts Ryan Rambo and Dave Turner sit down with Marine Counterintelligence veteran Dan Williams, who shares his unconventional journey from high-school dropout to a highly skilled CI, HUMINT, and technical operator supporting Marine Expeditionary Units, SEAL teams, and MARSOC.

Dan recounts frontline experiences from Kabul and Mosul, breaks down how Marine CI enables special operations and interagency missions, and offers hard-earned guidance for transitioning into the commercial sector—highlighting the importance of mentorship, relationship-building, and delivering real value to employers.

In this episode of CI Press, co-hosts Ryan Rambo and Scott Sparks sit down with retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent James “Jim” Gaylord to unpack his book Chasing Chi and the landmark espionage investigation of Chi Mak.

Jim walks listeners through the painstaking realities of counterintelligence work from opening an Unknown Subject (UNSUB) case and conducting trash pulls and covert entries, to securing FISA warrants and navigating complex courtroom strategy. The conversation highlights how years of disciplined tradecraft, combined with close interagency cooperation across NCIS, ICE, DOJ, and others, ultimately led to multiple espionage-related convictions.

Beyo...

CI Press examines the growing intersection of illicit massage businesses, human trafficking, and national security near U.S. military facilities. Experts detail how coercion, organized crime, and money laundering create vulnerabilities that jeopardize force protection and operational readiness.

Listeners will learn common indicators of illicit establishments, geographic hotspots, and why awareness and reporting by service members and leaders are critical to protect victims and mitigate counterintelligence risks.

In this episode, hosts Dave Turner and Jeremy Clark sit down with CW5(R) Mike Maroney, a counterintelligence (CI) professional whose career spans five decades. Mike reflects on his journey from the Cold War era through post-9/11 operations, sharing firsthand experiences from Germany, Afghanistan, and the Gulf, along with his pivotal role in shaping CI training, doctrine, and professional standards.

The conversation explores operational milestones such as recruiting sources inside Afghanistan, the impact of the Maroney Report on compromised operations, building Defensive Source Operations training, advising senior leaders, and the enduring principles of tradecraft, mentorship, and professional...