This is Above Average Intelligence, a production of the DSR Network. Each week, host Marc Polymeropoulos is joined by leading experts from the intelligence community for expert analysis on the biggest security challenges around the world.
Latest episodes
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48 min
A View from Northern Europe, with former DDIS senior officer Jacob Kaarsbo
On this week's episode - the final episode of Above Average Intelligence - former Danish Defense Intelligence Service senior officer Jacob Kaarsbo (@jkaarsbo.bsky.social) (@JKaarsb…
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53 min
"Call It Like You See It" - A Wide-Ranging Chat with Former PDB Briefer and Senior Intelligence Officer Beth S…
On this week’s DSR Above Average Intelligence show, Marc (@mpolymer) is joined by Beth Sanner, former PDB briefer to President Trump and long time intelligence community senior exe…
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38 min
Will Europe Step Up on Ukraine?
In the midst of an unsure America on the world stage, can and will Europe step up on Ukraine? Which countries and leaders should we hope to lead? Will there be European military fo…
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38 min
The Goldilocks Strategy: Unpacking the Biden Legacy in Ukraine
As President Biden prepares to leave office, one of the most consequential foreign policy challenges of his administration remains unresolved: the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prof…
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32 min
"It's All About the Cable" - A Chat on the Arab Spring and Espionage Novels with Best-Selling Author I.S. Berr…
On today’s AAI podcast, Marc is joined by I.S. Berry (@isberryauthor) of The Peacock and the Sparrow fame. They discus the current Syria crisis, life as a case officer witnessing t…
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27 min
"We Defy:” A Chat with Former Green Beret Jack Murphy on his New Book Honoring the Heroes of the Special Force…
Marc sits down with former Green Beret Jack Murphy, author of the brand-new book, "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History," to talk about the book and why telling the…
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35 min
Trump's National Security Nominees at Center Stage in Washington - a Chat with the Atlantic’s Shane Harris
The Atlantic’s Shane Harris (X @ shaneharris , Bluesky @shaneharris.bsky.social) joins Marc to discuss Trump’s national security picks, the view from our European intelligence part…
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51 min
Is America Still the Bright, Shining City on the Hill?
On today’s podcast, CIA veteran Ed Bogan joins @mpolymer to ponder the US intelligence community in a Trump 2.0. How do we separate signal vs noise on the national security cabinet…
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32 min
Can the Corporate World - and the Rest of Us - Learn a Thing or Two from Spies? with Author and Consultant Jer…
Corporate security consultant Jeremy Hurewitz (@Selllikeaspy) joins Marc Polymeropoulos (@mpolymer) to discuss his new book "Sell Like a Spy: the Art of Persuasion from the World o…
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53 min
Election Eve Special - A Discussion with Investigative Journalist Michael Weiss
On the eve of the most consequential election of our lifetime, renowned investigative journalist Michael Weiss (@Michaelweiss) joins Marc (@mpolymer) to discuss the national securi…
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32 min
Israel Responds to Iran - So Now What Comes Next in the Middle East?
Veteran national security journalist Nancy Youseff (@nancyayouseff) joins Marc to discuss Israel’s strike on Iran, what Iran may do next, the plight of the hostages, and how coveri…
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54 min
A Chat With "Poet Laureate" of the CIA Ops Office Cadre, David McCloskey
“Everyday is a three legged stool of fear, joy and self-loathing:” our favorite espionage author David McCloskey (Twitter: @mccloskeybooks) joins Marc to discuss his new book “The…
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26 min
Sinwar is Dead: An Emergency Episode with Former CIA and DoD Senior Cfficial Mick Mulroy
Former CIA paramilitary officer, station chief, and senior DoD official Mick Mulroy joins Marc to discuss the demise of Hamas leader Yayah Sinwar. Responsible for the death of 46 A…
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43 min
Witnessing the Demise of Iran’s Proxies in Real Time: A Conversation with Renowned Terrorism Expert Matt Levit…
Former USG Intel analyst and current Washington Institute for Near East Policy senior official Matthew Levitt (@Levitt_Matt) joins Marc to discuss an extraordinary several weeks in…
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33 min
A Deep Dive into Life, Journalism, and Conflict Zones with National Security Reporter Sasha Ingber
National security correspondent and HUMINT Substack author Sasha Ingber @SashaIngber joins Marc to cover today’s foreign policy challenges from the Middle East to Europe. Additiona…
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30 min
From the Streets of Philly to the Halls of the DOJ With Award-Winning National Security Journalist Ken Dilania…
On today’s episode of Above Average Intelligence, Marc is joined by longtime friend, award-winning national security journalist, and current justice and intelligence correspondent…
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33 min
Across the Pond with Professor and former Intelligence Officer David Gioe
On today’s episode of Above Average Intelligence, David Gioe @GioeINT, former CIA officer and current British Academy Global Professor of Intelligence and International Security at…
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35 min
Lebanon on the Brink of Expanded War, with former DoD Official and PsyOp Veteran Alex Plitsas
As Israel conducts one of the most impressive kinetic intelligence operations of our time, former DoD official Alex Plitsas joins Marc to discuss the technical aspects of the opera…
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31 min
The Evolving and Complex Counterintelligence Landscape in 2024, with former NCSC Director William Evanina
Former Counterintelligence czar Bill Evanina joins Marc to discuss our nation’s greatest CI challenges, to include the staggering threat from an aggressive Chinese communist party,…
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31 min
"The Siege," a Chat with Legendary Intelligence Historian and Author Ben Macintyre
Ben Macintyre, bestselling author of non-fiction intelligence classics such as Rogue Heroes and The Spy and The Traitor, joins Marc to discuss his new book The Siege: A Six-Day Hos…