Operation Podcast: What the CIA's Latest Media Venture Can Teach Us About the Agency

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4.6 • 8.7K Ratings

🗓️ 24 January 2023

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For decades, the Central Intelligence Agency has cultivated its appeal as an organization shrouded in secrecy, engaged in cutting edge tech and no-holds-barred espionage in defense of the US. It’s an image that sells in Hollywood. The CIA also assisted in the making of some movies about some real life operations. But as the agency ages, it continues to strive to stay up to date. In 2022, when the CIA turned 75, the agency launched operation:podcast. Brooke speaks with David Shamus McCarthy, author of Selling the CIA: Public Relations and the Culture of Secrecy, about the latest venture for the agency and the CIA's long history of public relations initiatives.

Transcript

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0:00.0	For decades, the Central Intelligence Agency has cultivated its appeal as an organization
0:06.2	shrouded in secrecy, engaged in cutting-edge tech and no-holds-barred espionage in defense
0:13.2	of the United States of America.
0:16.0	It's an image that sells in Hollywood.
0:18.0	Over the next few months, we're going to teach you how to deceive.
0:23.0	Roll play.
0:24.4	Psychologically, assess.
0:27.0	Sell.
0:28.0	Exploit.
0:29.0	We're going to hand you the tools for black arts.
0:34.2	Not witchcraft, tradecraft.
0:37.4	You will be able to kill with a variety of weapons.
0:41.0	Or none at all.
0:44.4	You will become Bond James Bond.
0:48.5	Thank you, Mr. Clayton.
0:50.5	You're already roll playing.
0:52.0	That's good.
0:53.0	Are they still following us?
0:56.8	Yes.
0:57.8	Is there one of them?
1:00.8	Huh?
1:01.8	Is he looking at us?
	...

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