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by The Cipher Brief
State Secrets is a weekly interview podcast featuring Cipher Brief experts and national security leaders.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 days ago33 min
2084: The Future of War, AI, Climate Conflict—and Humanity's Survival
What happens when artificial intelligence, climate disruption, geopolitical rivalry, and information warfare collide? In this episode of the State Secrets Podcast, Cipher Brief CEO Suzanne Kelly sits down with retired Admiral James Stavridis and bestselling author and former Marine Eliot Ackerman to discuss their new novel, 2084—the final installment in their acclaimed trilogy that began with 2034 and 2054. Drawing on decades of military, intelligence, and geopolitical experience, Stavridis and Ackerman explore a future shaped by climate-driven migration, AI-powered conflict, surveillance, shifting global power centers, and the growing competition for influence in the Arctic and beyond. They explain how fiction can serve as a strategic warning, helping readers imagine future crises before they become reality. The conversation also examines the risks of cognitive warfare, autonomous weapons, U.S.-China tensions, democratic resilience, and why—despite the challenges ahead—the authors remain cautiously optimistic about humanity's ability to navigate the century's biggest threats. If you care about the future of national security, technology, and global stability, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.
- 1 weeks ago31 min
Inside Jack Ryan: Ghost War — Director Andrew Bernstein on CIA Realism & Modern Espionage
What does it take to make a modern espionage thriller feel real? In this episode of State Secrets, Suzanne Kelly sits down with acclaimed director Andrew Bernstein to discuss Jack Ryan: Ghost War — the new feature-length installment of the iconic franchise that brings shadow conflict, intelligence operations, and geopolitical tension into sharp focus. Bernstein — whose work includes The Americans and Ozark — reveals how the production worked directly with the Central Intelligence Agency and MI6 to better understand the realities of intelligence work, the emotional toll of covert operations, and the evolving threats facing the West today. The conversation explores the balance between realism and entertainment, why intelligence professionals connected deeply with the film, and how today's gray zone conflicts — from cyber warfare to disinformation campaigns — are shaping modern storytelling. Bernstein also shares behind-the-scenes insight into filming unprecedented action sequences in central London and what it was like screening the movie at CIA headquarters.
- 2 weeks ago43 min
China, Cyber War & the Five Eyes Fight: Rachel Noble on the New Front Lines of National Security
Former Australian Signals Directorate Director-General Rachel Noble joins State Secrets with Suzanne Kelly for a rare insider's look at the cyber battles shaping modern national security. From China's targeting of critical infrastructure to Russia, Iran, AI-enabled threats, offensive cyber operations and the power of the Five Eyes alliance, Noble explains why the next conflict may already be underway - inside our networks. In this episode: Why the Australian Signals Directorate is one of the Five Eyes' most important cyber and intelligence partners How China is pre-positioning inside critical infrastructure and telecommunications networks Why cyber criminals and state-backed actors are increasingly blurring together What Russia, Iran and China are teaching the world about cyber conflict How AI is accelerating both cyber defense and cyber offense Why private sector companies may now be the first line of defense in modern conflict What citizens can do to strengthen national cyber resilience Why intelligence agencies need to better explain their mission to the public Become a Cipher Brief Subscriber+ for deeper national security insight from the experts shaping the conversation.
- 3 weeks ago31 min
The Narrative Kill Chain
Jennifer Ewbank dives deep into how algorithmic manipulation and AI are reshaping the battlefield of information. As threats evolve, our understanding of them must too. The convergence of technology and tactics is unprecedented, and it's vital to recognize the implications of this industrialized production of misinformation. The developments in AI could be a game-changer, enabling us to identify synthetic media at scale, offering a way to counter this threat without censorship. Is this the moment we redefine our approach to misinformation?
- 4 weeks ago24 min
CIA in Mexico: The Hidden Risks Behind U.S. Intelligence Missions
The reported deaths of two CIA officers in Mexico have sparked questions, sharp reactions, and widespread speculation. But what really happened - and what does it reveal about how U.S. intelligence operates in one of the world's most complex threat environments? In this in-depth conversation, Cipher Brief CEO Suzanne Kelly speaks with Ralph Goff, a six-time CIA station chief, who brings rare, firsthand insight into the realities of intelligence operations, the risks officers face, and the truth behind the headlines. Goff explains why the loss of intelligence officers - often far from traditional war zones - remains an enduring reality of the job. He also breaks down how the CIA works with foreign partners, why operations in Mexico are uniquely dangerous, and how missions continue even after tragedy strikes. This conversation also pulls back the curtain on how intelligence operations are actually authorized and conducted - dispelling Hollywood myths about rogue agents and revealing the legal, political, and operational constraints that govern every move.
- Apr 27, 202645 min
What the Future of Conflict Looks Like: Petraeus on Iran Endgame & Ukraine's Drone War
What does "success" look like in a conflict with Iran - and what comes next? In this in-depth conversation, General David Petraeus joins The Cipher Brief's Suzanne Kelly to unpack the military and strategic realities shaping today's most consequential conflicts. From the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to the unresolved risks around Iran's nuclear program, Petraeus explains what's at stake not just for the U.S., but for the global economy. But the real story? Ukraine. Petraeus calls it the true test case for the future of war - where drones, autonomy, and rapid innovation are redefining the battlefield in real time.
- Apr 6, 202632 min
Tradecraft and Deception: Understanding Russia's Intelligence Machine
In this episode of State Secrets, former CIA Senior Operations Officer Sean Wiswesser examines the evolution of Russian intelligence - from Soviet-era tradecraft to modern hybrid warfare. He unpacks Moscow's strategic mindset, its transactional relationships with partners like Iran, and its enduring focus on weakening democratic systems. With insights drawn from decades in the field, Wiswesser explains what most people misunderstand about Russia - and why that matters now more than ever.
- Mar 30, 202626 min
ISIS Reawakens: What the Bondi Attack Signals for Global Terror
A mass-casualty attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach in December 2025 shattered assumptions about the decline of ISIS - and raised urgent questions about what comes next. In this episode of State Secrets, Suzanne Kelly speaks with terrorism experts Levi West and Andrew Zammit to unpack what made this attack different: months of planning, coordinated tactics, and a clear alignment with evolving ISIS strategy. The discussion reveals a troubling shift - from isolated, impulsive attacks to more deliberate, semi-organized operations fueled by sophisticated propaganda and global events like the Gaza conflict. The group also examines how ISIS is leveraging English-language messaging, rebuilding momentum across regions like Afghanistan and the Sahel, and blurring the line between "inspired" and "directed" attacks. Most importantly, they explore what this means for U.S. and allied security services at a time when counterterrorism is no longer the top global priority. Bottom line: ISIS may look diminished - but the threat is adapting in ways that are harder to detect, disrupt, and defeat.
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About State Secrets
State Secrets is a weekly interview podcast featuring Cipher Brief experts and national security leaders.
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