This podcast, it's a Costerton Touchstone production.

I'm John Curiochrist. Welcome to Deadrock, What Makes a Spy Tick.

This is another episode in our series, What Makes This Spy Tick?

I hope you've been following along from the start.

This is one of those podcast series that's telling a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. In the world of

spying, not knowing the whole story, that's the thing that catches up with you in the end. Of course,

however you're enjoying the podcast in whatever order, if there is an order, we thank you for listening,

seriously. And we especially thank you for liking, reviewing, sharing, and recommending the podcast.

We have grown exponentially in just the last couple of weeks. And that's all thanks to you. We appreciate it.

Now, where were we? Ah, right, Pakistan. My girlfriend at the time, another CIA

officer, met me at my apartment to help me pack for an assignment that might last a week or a month

or a year. I had no idea. There's a reason the agency encouraged people within the agency to

keep the entirety of their lives within the agency.

Before I get on that plane for Pakistan, let me tell you a little bit about dating at the CIA.

The CIA culture is such that they encourage CIA romances.

And they do that because both parties are cleared for top secret information.

That way you don't get in trouble when you accidentally let something slip over dinner

or while you're laying in bed at night.

You can talk about work.

And it's not just dating that the CIA wants you to do. It's pretty much

everything. For years when I was at the CIA, I was a member of a softball team in the CIA

softball league. If you are interested in music, there's a CIA choir, there's a CIA band,

...