That part about the dinner party in 1986 and how the marine garden revealed he was compromised was such an enticing story itself

You guys should really timestamp the general subject matter covered. As a highly driven and aspiring Cyber Professional, the segment on China IS ABSOLUTELY NO JOKE. Would LOVE to hear more on this..

I am a national from PRC. I would like to thank him for acknowledging the Tiananmen Square while talking about the Olympics. It’s a scar that we bears deep in our mind, for every Chinese that loves freedom

@The Team House This is one of the best interviews you guys have done hands down. They teach Olson's CI commandments, (and the book is mandatory reading), in the FBI's counterintelligence training pipeline. Would be a good get if you guys could score an FBI counterintelligence interview to mirror this one.

I was at a conference a few years ago and Mr Olson was the main speaker. He was so incredible with all of his stories. I was blown away.

People dont understand that James has a huge library, it has just all been redacted

Excellent interview, definitely one of the most informative regarding his line of work. Thank you guys!

One of your best interviews so far, Jack and Dave. An amazing guest. Greetings from Germany

Dave and Jack, y'all are awesome. Thank you so much for all your interviews of those in the military, intelligence, and journalists.

I buy and read almost all of your guests' books. I'd heard about Olson's books, and checked, I'd ordered and read one, and now will get his second book. Nothing better than ex CIA officers' books, truly. This KZfaq channel is exceptional. Thankyou so much. I love ex CIA officers' books, they write so clearly, their books are the best. Hollywood needs to take things to the next level. Recruit these Chinese coming here to our universities for long range work for us. Put the ideas out there, make young Americans know about the Chinese long game and take up the gauntlet and put the idea right back into the Chinese students' minds to give back to USA....someday. Anyways, Hollywood needs to get into some new long range good ideas that longer range turn things around.

Big James Olson fan. He’s a solid guy all the way around.

Another Great Guest! Well Done, Team House...

Lol. We’re not talking about that one! 😂😂 Great interview guys.

Those interested in learning more about Victor Sheymov (mentioned at 40:15 mark), read Tower of Secrets and Tiebreaker. Both are written by Victor. Sadly Victor has passed away, but his wife Olga is still alive and is a very good artist. She has done an interview for the Cold War museum.

I thought I knew a lot about the agency until I heard this interview. Excellent job guys!

Fantastic interview! Love this man! I plan on buying both of his books.

An amazing ep 150 gentlemen, this topic is so crucial, especially the China section, we must do more

Fantastic Job Fella's. This is a American Hero

Hey, Bush School! Did my outside field for my PhD at Bush School with Drs. Scheussler and Castillo. Gig 'Em Aggies!

Thank you Gents, great interview. Awesome insights. Surreal existence, amazing sense of duty to country and agency.

Great interview…bring James back. He really should read some more…that bookshelf is empty. All kidding aside, one of my favorite interviews…great job guys.

What a great interview. I really enjoyed it. I'm also a J. Olson fan! Greetings from Mexico

fascinating. thank God for men and women like Olson. thank u.

This is the guy that put Jason Bourne through TreadStone program lol j/k.

Mr Olson's an true American hero!

Mr Olson is a true patriot and helped us to win the Cold War. Thank you for your service and sacrifices.

Well done. Great interview!

You are so right to start with the origin story

Really awesome interview. This is the kind of guy that allows us to truly sleep at night. Top shelf professional. the part of Marty Peterson was awesome after watching her interview. That's cool stuff man.

Ironic that those with the best stories to tell are sworn not to spill the beans, which makes them even more enticing.

Another excellent guest guys, thank you! Would you recommend reading Fair Play first?

He gave the best speech hands down by anyone given at Texas Boy’s State of 23. I’ll hopefully meet him when I attend bush school

“We didn’t realize we have a problem ummm….. until the 1990’s” 😂😂 you mean as soon as the Soviet problem ended we needed a new “boogeyman”???? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

This guy is just wow, deep intellectual capacity, next CIA director

Very good interview, conversation.

The privateer idea was smart.

CIA’s old website was so much better than the new Generation-Z website.

Another great one! , thanks fellas.

I'm a lawyer. That's why I don't trust lawyers.

I like this old guy, he knows how it's done.

Amazing interview. Cheers from 🇨🇦

Great interview

Bush shirt is ironed well... great interview

I absolutely love this interview. Wow, this stuff is just amazing. I could not imagine one of the CIA's top guy loosing his grip on reality and the insanity that must have went on under his command during that time. The especially in such a lauded organization. I would love the opportunity to just sit and speak with Mr. Olsen and listen to his stories. This brings back memories of this beauty I had an intense fling with, while stuck in Bagram Air-Base while I was with the 101st. I was trying to get back to my unit in Nuristan Province, but also kicking back and having a great time. "Whoever has been to Bagram knows that place was a little city." Yeah, so I met this real beautiful lady who happens to be in intelligence and we had a real intense fling for the two weeks I was there. We had some real interesting conversations and she told me things that should never have been spoken, not to me anyway lol. Nothing crazy, but it did put perspective on some things that were happening around that time. This was back, at the end of '07. I also remember her taking me by this black site the agency ran out of Bagram. It was a little compound within a compound. I remember her telling me stories about it. I wish we stayed in touch, but it was just as well. One day I was able to hitch a ride on this small tin can that was heading back to where my unit was in Nuristan Province to deliver mail. I will never forget riding in the back of that thing lol. Anyway, I saw her for the last time and said my goodbyes and that was it. The last time I ever saw her. Stuff like that would just happen over there. In Iraq too. Man, some great times. Back to Mr. Olsen though. I need to purchase his books, because his story sounds amazing to me and I really could kick back on some porch and shoot the shit with him and listen to his stories for hours. I love this kind of stuff. Thanks for doing what you guys do and putting together great interviews. I really dig your show and Shawn Ryan's.

Excellent episode

How many times I almost commented but “only 9 years “ lmao 🤣🤣🤣 only in ‘Merica!!!!

Great pod

Awesome book! Awesome American! So inspiring. And yes, extremely scary.

Earned a sub

You know, as an anthropologist, I can tell you that, culturally the PRC have a comfort with duplicity that American culture does not. Where saving face has to do with how something 'appears' generally, rather than the truth from specificity. What I'm suggesting is that the US make this subtle mental shift when combatting PRC infiltration on all levels. If we know the PRC has weaknesses in their focus on R&D theft, then why not create fake and ongoing pockets or nets that make them feel like they are successfully stealing inaccurate R&D? Moreover, duplicity and passive aggression are culturally constructed values in PRC culture, and THAT CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION is what the US needs to get really good at if we want to proactively defeat the PRC espionage threat. What's more is that in terms of 'futures' development, Russia and China are playing the long game and we are not. Civilian US citizens interpret futures development like this: 'This other country is willing to invest in me educationally and in other ways. My own country is not willing to invest in me.'. However myopic or inaccurate those perceptions are, the filter of civilian US students interprets the US counterintel behavior this way (even though the students themselves are not consciously aware of their own beliefs). Additionally, there is a reason Engineering programs within the US is dwindling, leaving a vacuum for engineering students from Mainland China at Universities. The PRC long game in futures development would include sabotage of potential US engineering students...Maybe you guys should look into that?

Netflix should make another The Americans TV Series... but based on China or Cuba... make it a Comedy

If anyone hasn’t watched “The Good Shepard” please treat yourself to a decent depiction of the birth of CI.

1:09:10 if this was todays time u wouldnt get recruite

The company narc wasn't very popular??? No way!!!!! 🤯

He wrote a book which was very good!

😂😂😂 corn seed? We can’t just be humane and share the ability to make food? Btw, I don’t want to be eating hybrid corn

When I was much younger and I learned about James Angleton. I just knew he was a Russian mole. Still think it to this day. Aw man. I thought he was gonna talk about his time at the Daily Planet.

Americans need to use all of our Technology to keep Jim Olsen Young . ;)

great interview, what are the other books at around 1:28:00 we are supposed to be reading. My book shelf looks similar with all the titles at this stage. I need a new shelf.

I wonder if he ever saw “The Company” with Michael Keaton, and if he did what he thought about it…

I am interseted in this mans opinion or analysis on whet Russia is doing now with the invasion and pre invasion of Ukraine. Is our CIA up to snuff?

China.... sure, Russia sure, Isr.... Noooooo!

I like Mr Olson. He’s a pro and seems like everything I realistically imagined a CIA officer & patriot would be. In the modern day, there are a lot of INTEL and special ops soldiers elbowing into the social media sphere to get their stories out. While I enjoy the voyeurism I also don’t like that they talk so much. I assume they are careful but still. There’s something unsavory about telling stories online.

I seriously just want to know why all the shelves are empty, but just a few

I would ask this guy so now that the USSR is gone what do you think about the threat from the USSA? I also wonder if the team house has tried to get an interview with Mr. Smith? Hopefully he is recovering from his TDS.

It would be interesting to know what India is also doing. High tech California is full of Chinese and Indian nationals

Nice malt you guys are drinking,? Laphroaig malt ( peaty tasting) great interview 👍

I have ever looked at Cuba as the most interesting addition which could ever be made to our system of States. ***** Her addition to our Confederacy is exactly what is wanting to advance our power as a nation to the point of its utmost interest. Thomas Jefferson James Madison warned us regarding a European power’s future interest in Cuba, “might make a fulcrum of that position against the commerce and security of the US”. The Monroe Doctrine was greatly influence by the history and political possibility of Cuba. “These islands (Cuba and Puerto Rico) are natural appendages to the North American Continent. Cuba in almost sight of our shores, from a multitudes of consideration has become an object of transcendent importance to the commercial and political interest of our Union.” John Quincy Adams In 1845, President James Polk offered to purchase Cuba from Spain. “Our attitude as a nation and our position on the globe render the acquisition of certain possessions (Cuba) not within our jurisdiction, eminently important to our protection, if not in the future essential for the preservation of the rights of commerce and peace of the world.” President Franklin Pierce On April 3, 1854, Secretary of State Marcy was authorized to offer Spain US$130,000,000 for Cuba. That is equivalent to US$430 billion TODAY. The Ostend Manifesto addressed to Secretary of State Marcy recommended every effort should be made to purchase Cuba. It went on to argue that the US should annex Cuba in order to have peace with Spain and to preserve the Union. Future President James Buchanan was one of its Authors. President Buchanan continued to pursue the Cuba Purchase question which had been complicated by the question of bringing in another Slave State to the Union.

Great interview. Listening to espionage folks talk disdainfully about the morals/politics/ethics of "other" espionage folks, though, is kind of like listening to one group of fetishists defend their own "thing" while happily casting aspersions on enthusiasts of other fetishes. Can't quite put a finger on it (no puns intended), but it's all just.... just....off. Also, even though so much of what gets done in the service of country is laudable, it's hard to get away from the unsettling revelation of its corollary ie the hijacking of any given governmental enterprise by forces looking to twist it all to their own advantage, ultimately poisoning everything. Vietnam...a prime example of the MIC at work cynically recruiting and manipulating patriots and heroes. One bad choice leading to another, by way of necessity and/or design. And from what moral high ground? And to what ultimate end? Very gray worlds indeed. Cheers.

A shocking personal story your guest related about Angleton (that’s primary source stuff there). I imagine it’s nearly impossible to cast doubt on the alignment of a sitting counterintelligence chief but I think these things must be reviewed over time and hopefully someone is doing that post-mortem. I’ve also come to assume what in hindsight seems obvious, that Halperin and Ellsberg were Soviet assets, likely recruited during their Ivy League foreign policy studies/fellowships in the 1960s.They were working for Kissinger when they wrote their “report” which content was overly pessimistic and ommitted or ignored the brilliant successes and effects of the cross border efforts that it seemed so eager to condemn. By 1968, NVN and their Soviet allies badly needed relief from those devastating operations, particularly after Tet failed. It was well known that the Soviets supported anti-war social movements here at that time and what better vehicle than the national press releasing “top secret” documents “proving” the war was a failure and that government was concealing that fact. While some may think it’s not fair to accuse dead men (or nearly so), espionage is so pervasive in our beloved democratic state that as much as we love/revere/defend freedom we must be just as vigilant and coldly introspective about counterintelligence to protect it. Of the four men I mention, surely it is fair to say at least that they had a lifelong fascination with socialism/communism; Wikipedia states that Halperin’s last job was to work for Soros’ Open Society foundations/affiliates. Hmm...

Completely agree with peril

Americans are holy lambs. Ethics and America are poles apart.CIA got screwed up during nuclear test at Pokhran in India.Got completely fooled by Indian intelligence.

Agreed

Rather be back in so ho than down here on the farm, damit now i need GNR brb

As far as leaks go by US personnel in ALL professions, leaking is copious and unacceptable. All US businesses and agencies must tighten up on willful and coercive informational leaking. But, why would we? Our own government allows the reselling of US constituents' data via the internet and online software, tech companies, communications companies, etc. While the US gov't doesn't protect it's citizens from data leaks at the most miniscule level, then why would you guys expect your employees to not leak?

it's ironic how sensitive America is to racial stereotyping (in this case particularly against china) when most asian cultures are very up-front and blunt about their distrust and dislike of that particular nation's military and political aims. I say this as someone who from elementary school through college and my twenties was close friends with mostly asian students (either exchange students or affluent kids sent here to study by their parents). I even had a small business helping wealthy exchange students write and proofread their essays. In 2016 many of these chinese students i knew where throwing up memes about how if you didn't like the election results, just move to china where you have no vote (and thus are never disappointed). Also during this time it became obvious that the explosion in the British Columbia housing market was almost entirely due to chinese money being spent in the names of the children as a way to offshore money into assets outside china. Meanwhile, friends from other nearby nations - particularly my Thai, Taiwanese, Singaporean and Vietnamese friends) would constantly point out stories of how chinese investment in their countries had turned into chinese influence down the road---and not in a good way.

What steps can we take in our daily lives to combat spying?

man that would be a great job

I'm sure he knows a few I know that live in MD. One involved in Iran Contra and the other worked for conde rice at the wh. You know one has the WW2 pt boat. Very interesting as we would get briefing on Chinese attempting action to steal us secrets.

Blue Stahli pulled the black card, too. "Death Will Have to Die" by Blue Stahli. Meanwhile, he's going to make my sisters' brains into mush. Death should go on trial. Why not? He's in the future music club. I'm not allowed. I'm not musical. My prose is simple. This is why I'm a parasite, btw.

I was under the impression that the CIAs official stance was that the "Farm" didn't exist?

If the FBI is overwhelmed with Chinese cases maybe they should stop wasting their time investigating conservatives and send those agents to help .

Hello Sir, You look very serious kinda makes me nervous.

If your names sasha and your a male in your early 20s to late 60s in his an probably even in our time 9 times out of 10 that guys a kgb or fsb person

Bad Bad to the Bone

Imagine if you will; a young man, thinking of himself in terms of national security or national defense. Now try harder. Young men think of nothing but themselves and getting away from old men.

You really do not want privateer hacker groups. Bad idea.

As far as Chinese espionage, The USA has got to hire Chinese Americans, 2nd & 3rd generation intel officers, prosecutors and judges to bring these cases to make it not racial profiling.They should be the face of the operation, even if you must pay them extra. (except for the judges, paying off the judges looks bad LOL)I think it`s more about money and the Clinton years helped it along with pushing for China to join the WTO.The Chinese know that Americans are always looking to make a quick buck the easiest way. "Free Trade" also hurt our manufacturing base where a lot of middle class jobs flowed to China for the low wages.Now China has Vietnamese and other South East Asian countries building stuff for China to sell to the West because the wages are even lower.

1:19:31 The real top secret stuff is still top secret, and China's big shortcoming is that it still relies on US debt and innovation. It has industrial might, but cannot finance itself anymore because of its continued reliance on financial growth strategies. I warned about China way back in the mid to late 90s, but no one seemed to listen to me. Back then it was about mopping up the Soviets and the Warsaw Pact. But China was and is still a communist state that doesn't understand the pitfalls of its own economic system. It's going to come crashing down pretty soon.

Algorithm.

Did he find Eric Swallows Chinese desert?

Interviewer is knowledgeable but should let Subject talk.

JOHN BRENNAN

Oh man, do you think that it's possible that government interference of civilians, crossing all manner of boundaries over prolonged amounts of time, like at least 43 years, but most certainly longer, past this lifetime and into the last... ww2 time, I'm just saying that I've been experiencing this, and living to tell about it since I'm not an agent, employee, or anything, I'm prevented from generating income actually, many salaries dedicated to that. And when something pokes and stalks in your energy for that long,, you survive things, learn percieve piece together long standing puzzles and sidestep cycles and see the reapers looking dumb. I absolutely blast everything that happens because I have nobody protecting me, nobody believing, isolated and depleted by veterans and hackers, this creates terrorists, and 4th guys, honestly I'm being a pretty good sport I think and literally everything I love has been destroyed or taken. Everything I need or want obstructed, pets killed, and there's family members who aren't family members. And it's still going on, I live in north Carolina, why would someone like me take it laying down? Why would anyone really? I like Biden. I know he gets to be a focus of haters. Other than wanting to protect him, I don't feel safe here, I'm born here. The patriotism, this is a corporation, do you know that,? Dying by stakeholder business plans. Not freedom. So if I survive cycles repeating and there's echoes and voids under lies I then see, those are cyclical generational curses and ghosts I was meant to unbind. That's the kind of stuff a 4th man finds? I maybe wouldn't if everything stops trying to kill me. Kinda in an invisible war

Watch Jack’s face from 02:28 - 02:38, that’s what you look like under James Olson’s trance as he downloads the contents of your brain. Happened right before our eyes.

The same pipe line Oswald on

Whats the difference between your agents trying to kill or bind up and take liberties from a person in your operations and that person defending themselves in whatever way they can? Also privateers and pirates and internal forces colonizing from inside somehow,, all that upon civilians, what about that would make someone expect secrecy or the focus of contempt? That's organized military groups against isolated civilians.

We really should get rid of the FBI and CIA. Especially if, "the world doesn't want to use our money anymore". You should understand that that is the point.

your mic's are still off. voices too much bass1

Hello sir. Please keep our people usa citizens us citizens a citizens of usa safe. Uk doesnt rule me. Okay be smart