Episode 83 (Audio Only) interview with retired CIA Officer Jerry O'Shea

Interview with CIA Officer Jerry O'Shea

Years of Service: 1984-2017

Jerry was recruited into the CIA in 1984. During that time, he worked undercover as an operations officer for over three decades. He served in Europe, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, as well as numerous war zones. He was a four-time Chief of Station running some of CIA’s largest and most critical missions abroad.

During this interview, Jerry discusses why and how he began working for the CIA and discusses some interesting stories he was a part of while trying to recruit human assets. Jerry provides a fascinating look into the gray and blurred lines of being a CIA Officer and tells an interesting story about how he broke the news to his children that not only was he a CIA Officer, but their mother also worked for the CIA. He gives his personal opinion about Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, as well as his take on other intelligence agencies worldwide.

Jerry is the co-host of the podcast Mission Implausible which can be found on platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify and is the co-founder of Spycraft Entertainment.

00:00 Introduction to Jerry O'Shea
01:09 Jerry's Podcast and Spycraft Entertainment
04:28 Realism in Hollywood Espionage Films
10:24 Jerry's Background and Journey to the CIA
20:11 Training at the CIA Farm
29:30 Field Operations and Moral Dilemmas
41:54 Moral Quandaries in Intelligence Work
43:27 Understanding the CIA's Structure
45:46 The Unsung Heroes of the Agency
49:57 CIA's Mission and Covert Actions
51:11 Recruiting Human Assets
01:07:52 Havana Syndrome: Real or Fake?
01:12:19 Sophisticated Operations and Mossad
01:16:19 Defending Interests in Their Neighborhood
01:17:05 Intelligence Failures and Successes
01:18:41 Global Intelligence Agencies: Competence and Challenges
01:20:12 Ruthless Tactics of Russian and Chinese Intelligence
01:23:41 North Korean Intelligence and Wildlife Trafficking
01:25:08 Opinions on Assange and Snowden
01:27:09 CIA Memorial Wall and Sacrifices
01:32:10 Family Life and Secrecy in the CIA
01:37:37 Dating and Relationships in the CIA
01:43:54 Reflections on Government and Ideologies
01:46:11 A Story from Afghanistan
01:58:00 Concluding Thoughts on Ideologies and Sacrifices