Grey Dynamics28 Jun 2024

Former CIA Collection Management Officer on Life with Esther Atwell – Episode 55

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! Today we are talking to Esther Atwell, a former linguist and collection manager who spent over a decade at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Esther has had a varied career beyond intelligence, working as a tutor, realtor and court interpreter on the island of Hawaii. We discussed working in the CIA and overseas, what it takes to work in intelligence, immigrating to the US and much more. Esther is also the partner of our previous guest, CIA operations officer John Atwell.

Find Esther Atwell:

We Spoke About:

1:10 - Early life, learning languages, tutoring, livining overseas and joining the CIA with her husband.
18:42 - Being an Operationally Certified Collection Management Officer
23:59 - The desired traits of someone wants to work in this field
28:47 - Esether's view on faith and not mourning over missed opportunity
33:30 - Immigrating to the US and sense of patriotic duty
40:05 - Esther on working in the CIA and overseas as a woman and someone with foreign heritage
45:50 - Advice for young people looking to work in intelligence
54:16 - Cultural recommendations

Episoder(78)

From Unconventional Warfare to Hybrid Warfare with former SF Operator Curtis Fox - Episode 45

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! Today, we are talking to Curtis Fox, former Green Beret, author, graduate of Georgetown University and currently a program manager. His book 'Hybrid Warfare:...

26 Jan 20241h 26min

Electronic Warfare, SIGINT and Corporate Intelligence with Michael Blicher Soerensen

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! This week we are talking to Michael Blicher Soerensen. Michael is a veteran of the Danish army, specialising in electronic warfare and SIGINT. He is currentl...

12 Jan 20241h 12min

From the Defence Human Intelligence Unit to Recruitment with Mack - Episode 43

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! This week, we are talking to Mack! Mack is a former British Army Infantryman and Team Leader. He then went on to be recruited as an Intelligence Officer in t...

22 Des 202356min

What do Humanitarian NGOs and the Private Sector want from Intelligence? With E. - Episode 42

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast! This week, we are talking to a risk management expert in the humanitarian sector. E. has previously worked in the military and private security sector in man...

15 Des 20231h 5min

Special Boat Service, Afghanistan and Close Protection with Pasha Munro

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast for season 3! We're kicking things off with a fascinating guest today, Pasha Munro. Pasha served as a Royal Marine Mountain Leader and Special Boat Service op...

8 Des 202358min

Episode 39: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) an Intelligence Perspective

We're back to discuss the 2019 reboot of Call of Duty's Modern Warfare series! In this episode we'll be talking about the inspirations for the campaign, the controversies that made headlines, chemical...

10 Nov 20231h 21min

Grey Dynamics Intelligence School: The Origins, Structure, and Vision for the Future

Welcome to the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School (GDIS). In this special podcast, we provide an all-encompassing look at our unique approach to intelligence training, discussing our origin story, cour...

14 Jul 202354min

Episode 38: Career Advice from Intelligence Professionals

Today we are rounding up the best advice we have had so far in season 2 of the podcast! Advice from professionals from across the industry, whether it be corporate, government, or non-profit, it's all...

7 Jul 20231h