Eric O'Neill: Former FBI Agent, Author of Gray Day and the Subject of Universal Studios’ feature film, Breach
Team Never Quit15 Jun 2022

Eric O'Neill: Former FBI Agent, Author of Gray Day and the Subject of Universal Studios’ feature film, Breach

In this week’s riveting episode, Marcus has a fascinating discussion with Eric O’Neill, former FBI counter-terrorism and counterintelligence operative. Eric played a major role in the arrest, conviction, and imprisonment of one of the most notorious spies in U.S. history - FBI agent Robert Hanssen - who was spying on behalf of the Soviet Union and Russia. Eric’s first-hand accounts of some of his day-to-day activities are events that movies are made of. He has written about his experiences in Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America's First Cyber Spy. Eric is also a public speaker and security expert who lectures internationally about espionage and national security, cybersecurity, fraud, corporate diligence and defense, hacking, and other topics.
In this episode you will hear:
  • My job at the FBI was to go undercover. I never came out of cover.
  • There were foreign intelligence officers (spies) who sometimes were some of our own who were spying for other countries.
  • My father told me “You have to chase your dreams, whatever they might be.”
  • I’m going to stop spies & terrorists before they kill our citizens.
  • I was at Quantico [Marine Corps Training Base]. You earn it and you feel like you earned it.
  • When my wife and I were dating and people would ask me what I do, I would say “I work for the Justice Department as a Geo-Political Analyst.” That would immediately end the inquiry.
  • There was an instance where a high-level spy was about to be arrested, and disappear, which told us there was a mole in our intelligence community.
  • The FBI went on a 22-year manhunt for a guy code-named Gray Suit, the biggest spy in U.S. history.
  • Each time you go after somebody who might be the target you’re after, you give them a derivative code name.
  • What made Robert Hanssen such a successful spy, is that he was a hacker. He learned how to break into computer systems.
  • When the FBI had not given him the role he wanted, he volunteered his services to the Russians and gave up 2 of our top spies in Russia for no money to prove he had access. One of them was executed, and the other was sentenced to hard labor.
  • Analysts are the cream of the crop in figuring out how to catch spies.
  • Hanssen was the best, most notorious spy in US history. He was the Michael Jordan of the spy world. Nobody did the damage he did.
  • I was always a bit of a hacker – fascinated by computer systems. Breaking security, not to steal, but so I could understand how to make them stronger.
  • My mother holds the record for the most time watching the movie “Breach.”

Episoder(462)

Cesalina Gracie: Grandchild of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Founder, Mindset Is Stronger Than Muscle, Climbing Mt. Everest (Rebroadcast)

Cesalina Gracie: Grandchild of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Founder, Mindset Is Stronger Than Muscle, Climbing Mt. Everest (Rebroadcast)

Mindset Matters. In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, we are honored to host a remarkable individual who has not only mastered the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but has also conquered the world's high...

10 Sep 20252h 11min

Anthony Robles: Unstoppable – The Wrestler Born With One Leg Who Became An NCAA Champion and Inspired The Nation

Anthony Robles: Unstoppable – The Wrestler Born With One Leg Who Became An NCAA Champion and Inspired The Nation

Unstoppable: Anthony Robles on Defying the Odds and Dominating the Mat In this week’s episode of the Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus, Melanie, and Hunter welcome NCAA wrestling champion and three-time...

3 Sep 202545min

TNQ Internal: Catch Up w/ us as we Discuss Our Summer, Current Events & More

TNQ Internal: Catch Up w/ us as we Discuss Our Summer, Current Events & More

TNQP Internal Episode – Summer of 2025 Recap   In this week’s special edition of the Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus, Melanie, and Hunter look back on the summer of 2025—a season filled with unforgett...

27 Aug 202555min

Robert Gallery: The Hidden Cost of the Game - An NFL Players Journey Through Glory, Trauma, and Redemption

Robert Gallery: The Hidden Cost of the Game - An NFL Players Journey Through Glory, Trauma, and Redemption

In the Trenches: The Journey of Robert Gallery from College Star to NFL Standout Join Marcus and Melanie as they welcome Robert Gallery, former NFL offensive lineman, College Football Hall of Famer, ...

20 Aug 20251h 43min

Toby Gutteridge: Royal Marine Survives A Shot Through The Neck - Life As A Quadriplegic & Motivational Speaker (Rebroadcast)

Toby Gutteridge: Royal Marine Survives A Shot Through The Neck - Life As A Quadriplegic & Motivational Speaker (Rebroadcast)

Life's Precious Second Chance. In this week's powerful episode, we are honored to have former Royal Marine Toby Gutteridge, an extraordinary individual who defied the odds after being paralyzed by a ...

13 Aug 20251h 16min

Randy Beausoleil: 34-Year Navy SEAL Vet on Blowing Up Noriega’s Boat & Leading Through Fire in Panama (Rebroadcast)

Randy Beausoleil: 34-Year Navy SEAL Vet on Blowing Up Noriega’s Boat & Leading Through Fire in Panama (Rebroadcast)

Join us for this week’s exhilarating episode of the Team Never Quit Podcast as Marcus sits down with Randy Beausoleil, a true American hero and former Navy SEAL of 34 years. In this gripping conversat...

6 Aug 20252h 6min

Rob O'Neal (Rebroadcast): Former SEAL Team 6 Who Shot Osama Bin Laden

Rob O'Neal (Rebroadcast): Former SEAL Team 6 Who Shot Osama Bin Laden

Mission Accomplished: Rob O'Neill on SEAL Team Six, Leadership, and Life After the Battlefield.  In this week’s episode, Marcus and Melanie Luttrell meet with one of the most highly decorated combat ...

30 Jul 20251h 43min

Chris Wyllie: Former Navy SEAL & Director of the LT Michael Murphy Museum - Freezing Surf Torture, Sacrifice, & Honoring the Fallen

Chris Wyllie: Former Navy SEAL & Director of the LT Michael Murphy Museum - Freezing Surf Torture, Sacrifice, & Honoring the Fallen

From the Teams to the Museum: Chris Wyllie’s Mission to Honor and Preserve the History, Legacy & Brotherhood of the U.S. Navy SEALs. This week, Marcus and Melanie are joined by Chris Wyllie, Executiv...

23 Jul 20251h 22min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
mikkels-paskenotter
foreldreradet
treningspodden
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-bisarr-historie
takk-og-lov-med-anine-kierulf
rss-kull
sinnsyn
fryktlos
rss-sunn-okonomi
hverdagspsyken
gravid-uke-for-uke
level-up-med-anniken-binz
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
hagespiren-podcast
rss-kunsten-a-leve