Watch: Life in the CIA
In the first episode of my new podcast, Outposts, I talk to CIA veteran Raymond White about his career, the world of espionage, and the new political realities of the Middle East
What does it take to be a spy? Who exactly is Syria’s new leader? And what do the movies get wrong? To answer these questions, I spoke to Raymond White, a 25-year veteran of the CIA. In this fascinating conversation, Ray shares his experiences working on the War on Terror, nuclear proliferation, and the fight against ISIS, recounting tales of high-stakes diplomacy, intelligence operations, and life on the world’s most volatile frontiers—from Syria's fractured political landscape to the psyche of its new leader.
We also explore the rising influence of regional powers, the psychological toll of intelligence work, and the mysterious phenomenon known as "Havana Syndrome"—an illness afflicting Western intelligence officers stationed in hostile regions. In an engaging discussion, Raymond contrasts Hollywood's portrayal of spies with the gritty reality of fieldwork, and why, in real life, it often all comes down to food.
