There is always a gap between how Hollywood depicts the intelligence business and reality. After 9/11, it was shockingly clear how little investment had been funneled to the Intelligence Community (IC) since the end of the Cold War. Siloed, fragmented, understaffed, and technically behind, there was a lot of catching up to do. We recount the stories of new and experienced IC professionals who began to take inventory of this technical debt.

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, please email us at: questions@unredactedpodcast.com

The Unredacted Podcast is a production of Dragon Forge Consulting. With the exception of the content provided under license or with the permission of the creator, all content, including but not limited to, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and any associated materials of The Unredacted Podcast are the exclusive property of DRAGON FORGE and are protected by United States and international copyright laws. DRAGON FORGE is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to this Intellectual Property.

Every generation has a touchstone historical tragedy. For some it was the Kennedy assassination. For others it is the Challenger disaster. If you were born before 2001, you probably have been asked. “Where were you on 9/11?” It was a singular event which reshaped a nation and thrust America into the twenty-year Global War on Terrorism. This episode reminds us of the events of that day and introduces us to our interviewees for the series.

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, please email us at: questions@unredactedpodcast.com

The Unredacted Podcast is a production of Dragon Forge Consulting. With the exception of the content provided under license or with the permission of the creator, all content, including but not limited to, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and any associated materials of The Unredacted Podcast are the exclusive property of DRAGON FORGE and are protected by United States and international copyright laws. DRAGON FORGE is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to this Intellectual Property.

Angry and scared, the American public demands the Intelligence Community be reformed. While the creation of an independent orchestrator of national intelligence had been discussed for years, there was widespread resistance; even after the deaths of nearly 3,000 people on 9/11. Nevertheless, Congress passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act establishing the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Our interviewees recount what the political environment was like and give us a behind the scenes look at how the ODNI was created.

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, please email us at: questions@unredactedpodcast.com

The Unredacted Podcast is a production of Dragon Forge Consulting. With the exception of the content provided under license or with the permission of the creator, all content, including but not limited to, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and any associated materials of The Unredacted Podcast are the exclusive property of DRAGON FORGE and are protected by United States and international copyright laws. DRAGON FORGE is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to this Intellectual Property.

The Unredacted Podcast is proud to present a special series, “From Tragedy to Transformation: Intelligence Reform After 9/11”. A small group of Intelligence Community professionals, never having known one another and some never having worked in government, joined in common cause to reform intelligence in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. We interviewed over 20 people who were a part of that movement. We asked them to look back over 25 years to examine that time and assess where the Community is and where it is going. These are their stories of anguish, bureaucracy, change, achievements, comradery, technology, joy, and hope for the future.

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, please email us at: questions@unredactedpodcast.com

The Unredacted Podcast is a production of Dragon Forge Consulting. With the exception of the content provided under license or with the permission of the creator, all content, including but not limited to, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and any associated materials of The Unredacted Podcast are the exclusive property of DRAGON FORGE and are protected by United States and international copyright laws. DRAGON FORGE is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to this Intellectual Property.

National security expert Trish Martinelli reveals why defense innovation isn't management theory—it's a combat skill. On this special SOF Week episode, Lindy Kyzer and Brian Drake sit down with the founder of The Difference LLC to explore her learnings from many years in Army leadership, DoD strategy, and why serious practitioners in the defense community approach innovation like a combat problem. They discuss the dangers of trendy thinking and what really works when organizational survival is at stake. Trish also gives us a preview into her project to develop a Top 100 Innovators list.

Music by Gramatik from the album #Digitalfreedom

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, please email us at: questions@unredactedpodcast.com

The Unredacted Podcast is a production of Dragon Forge Consulting. With the exception of the content provided under license or with the permission of the creator, all content, including but not limited to, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and any associated materials of The Unredacted Podcast are the exclusive property of DRAGON FORGE and are protected by United States and international copyright laws. DRAGON FORGE is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to this Intellectual Property.

This week, Lindy Kyzer and Brian Drake are remotely recording The Unredacted Podcast in beautiful Tampa for SOF Week. Lindy and Brian talk about what the Department of War’s largest annual conference offers, provide some color commentary on the “unique” marketing techniques they witnessed, and what attendees can expect from the numerous technical demonstrations from the defense industry. In that vein, they interview Nightwing's Vice President of Cybersecurity, Timothy Zentz. Tim brings a breadth of experience in both the government and financial sector to the cyber battlefield. In this episode, Brian asks Tim about how the challenges Special Operations Forces encounter in cyberspace, how artificial intelligence is changing the cybersecurity business, what unique vulnerabilities exist even on systems designed not to be connected to the Internet, and how Nightwing delivers military advantage in cyberspace.

Music by Gramatik from the album #Digitalfreedom

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, please email us at: questions@unredactedpodcast.com

The Unredacted Podcast is a production of Dragon Forge Consulting. With the exception of the content provided under license or with the permission of the creator, all content, including but not limited to, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and any associated materials of The Unredacted Podcast are the exclusive property of DRAGON FORGE and are protected by United States and international copyright laws. DRAGON FORGE is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to this Intellectual Property.

What is the "gray zone" and who is trying to understand it? Lindy Kyzer and Brian Drake give it a shot and they also get some help from national security expert and former Intelligence Officer Timothy "Tito" Torres. Brian interviews Tito on his personal and political exploration of U.S. foreign policy and how it intersects with the America First policy of the Trump Administration. Tito tells us about his international travels and interviews with political leaders, policy makers, military members, and intelligence professionals. He asks some hard questions about the future of American alliances and where the private sector may play a more prominent role in building coalitions to counter our enemies.

Music by Gramatik from the album #Digitalfreedom

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, please email us at: questions@unredactedpodcast.com

The Unredacted Podcast is a production of Dragon Forge Consulting. With the exception of the content provided under license or with the permission of the creator, all content, including but not limited to, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and any associated materials of The Unredacted Podcast are the exclusive property of DRAGON FORGE and are protected by United States and international copyright laws. DRAGON FORGE is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to this Intellectual Property.

Intelligence operations at the airport? Brian Drake and guest host Tyrome Smith explore what the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Intelligence Directorate actually does—and why it matters for U.S. national defense. Brian interviews the former Director of Intelligence for the TSA, Mary Quinn. Mary shares what this quiet, unseen intelligence operation does for the TSA and protect the public. She also goes runs through her experiences at the Defense Intelligence Agency at the National Media Exploitation Center, the Prisoner of War Recovery mission, and leadership lessons as a Senior Executive in both military and civilian intelligence services. Plus: how Iran tensions are reshaping the defense market and what new innovation models for emerging military-industrial base startups. Join us for an inside look at the Intelligence Community's most underrated work.

Music by Gramatik from the album #Digitalfreedom

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, please email us at: questions@unredactedpodcast.com

The Unredacted Podcast is a production of Dragon Forge Consulting. With the exception of the content provided under license or with the permission of the creator, all content, including but not limited to, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and any associated materials of The Unredacted Podcast are the exclusive property of DRAGON FORGE and are protected by United States and international copyright laws. DRAGON FORGE is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to this Intellectual Property.