Grey Dynamics

Gabriel Fanelli is back on the Grey Dynamics Podcast, and this time as our new Director of Training.

Look, I've been wanting to have this conversation since we first met. Gabe's trajectory is different from most people in the intelligence world. Bronze Star recipient, 14 years in the Army, former SOCOM instructor, fluent in Arabic, and now leading our training programs at Grey Dynamics. But what makes this conversation special isn't just his resume.

We went deep on this one. We talked about what it really means to be a crypto linguist, not the Hollywood version. But the actual work of listening to intercepted communications while sitting in a forward operating base in Syria. We talked about why he hated being stuck in a SCIF and how he found his way to tactical SIGINT work where he could actually connect with people on the ground.

But we also talked about languages in a way I haven't explored on this podcast before. Gabe's father was an archaeologist, and he grew up surrounded by Middle Eastern artifacts and culture. His love for Arabic didn't come from military necessity. It came from genuine fascination. And that makes all the difference when you're trying to connect with people. Whether you're an intelligence collector or just someone trying to understand the world better.

We touched on OSINT and where it sits in the intelligence ecosystem. Gabe's take is refreshing. OSINT isn't better than SIGINT or HUMINT, and those disciplines aren't better than OSINT. They're all sinew connecting different parts of the same body. The gatekeeping and chest-pounding about which INT is superior misses the point entirely.

And then we got philosophical. We talked about AI's role in intelligence work, about writing and how to convey complex ideas without sucking the humanity out of them, about the goal in life not being happiness but usefulness. Gabe wrote a book called The Resilient Dad after losing a friend to suicide, and his perspective on fatherhood, masculinity, and what it means to show up for people hit differently than most self-help nonsense you see online.

This is probably the most introspective conversation I've had on this podcast. Usually I'm just listening and learning from guests, but because Gabe and I are already friends, this felt more like two people thinking out loud together. If you're interested in intelligence tradecraft, if you care about language and cross-cultural communication. Or if you're just trying to figure out how to be a better human being in a world that's increasingly automated and disconnected—this one's for you.

And for those asking: yes, Gabe will be launching our Operational OSINT Fundamentals course soon, along with an open-source SIGINT course for people who want to get their feet wet in that world. More details are coming.

Listen now and see why I'm so excited to have Gabe on the team.

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Even trained intelligence professionals make critical OPSEC mistakes in their personal lives.

In this episode, Ahmed Hassan sits down with Allen Pace, host of the OPSEC Podcast, to discuss the operational security vulnerabilities that compromise even the most experienced officers.

From burner phone misconceptions to the false security of Starlink, they dissect real-world examples of tradecraft failures.

Allen shares insights from his upcoming technical guide for intelligence teams, while Ahmed challenges the erosion of privacy rights in Europe and beyond.

Key topics include:

Why personal life is the widest OPSEC gap for professionals

Common burner phone mistakes that reveal identity

How your phone's sensors track you beyond what you realize

The Know Your Customer law's expansion into communications

Why Starlink isn't the "bulletproof" solution many believe

This is essential listening for intelligence professionals, security teams, and corporate leaders navigating digital vulnerability.

Sign up to the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School (GDIS) for Top Instructors, Practical Skills, and Real-World Application.

We are the first fully online intelligence school helping professionals to achieve their long term goals. Our school with tons of new material is currently under construction and will be out there very soon. Meanwhile, you can sign up and be the first to know when we launch, plus get exclusive tips and offers.

https://school.greydynamics.com/

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Get the Grey Dynamics security clearance to access our intelligence community and critical reports. As a cleared member, you get access to our Top Secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today!

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#Intelligence #OPSEC #Privacy #CyberSecurity #OperationalSecurity #GreyDynamics #Podcast.
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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast. This week, we welcome back Raymond White, a former CIA senior case officer with over 25 years of experience in the field. Raymond spent his entire career as a case officer focusing on counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism, earning the nickname “The Snow Leopard” within the agency. He also served as head of the CIA’s enterprise training program for aspiring case officers. Raymond has now created what he describes as the most comprehensive Human Intelligence (HUMINT) course available anywhere. We spoke about the course structure, the psychology and ethics of espionage, historical case studies like Oleg Gordievsky, for whom the course is designed for, and the potential for in-person training

Find Raymond White:

Grey Dynamics
Human Intelligence Fundamentals Course (coming soon)

Related Links:

Former Senior CIA Officer Raymond White on HUMINT and Training the Next Generation - Episode 56
Former CIA Collection Management Officer with Esther Atwell on Life
Senior CIA Ops Officer John Atwell on Culture Change, Working with Five Eyes and Career Advice
From the Defence Human Intelligence Unit to Recruitment with Mack
Australian Intelligence, Demystifying HUMINT and Mental Health with D. - Episode 35
Former German Military HUMINT Operator Christoph Stegemann - Episode 58
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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast. Today, we kick off season five guest lineup with Scott Ryder, a former operator of the 2nd Commando Regiment with more than twenty years of experience in the Australian Army, including multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as domestic experiences with the Tactical Assault Group - East. Scott is not only a veteran but also an author. Today, we are covering some insights from his book “Forged in Fire: an Australian Commando's Story of Life and Death on the Frontline”, from the right way to write about special forces without compromising techniques and procedures to the real culture in tier one units.

Find Scott Ryder
Instagram
Forged in Fire: an Australian Commando's Story of Life and Death on the Frontline

Related Links:
2nd Commando Regiment: Australia’s Tier 1 Force Application Unit
Grey Dynamics Services: Intelligence Capability Development and Training
Grey Dynamics Services: Intelligence Reports
Grey Dynamics Services: Intelligence Operational Support

Advance Your Intelligence Career Today!
We are the first fully online intelligence school helping professionals to achieve their long term goals. Our school with tons of new material is currently under construction and will be out there very soon. Meanwhile, you can sign up and be the first to know when we launch, plus get exclusive tips and offers.

Get access to exclusive Grey Dynamics Reports
With security clearance, you can take a crucial role in our intelligence community. As a cleared member, you get access to Secret & Top Secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today!

The Grey Dynamics Podcast is available on all major platforms!
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Apple Podcast
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Recording this from a hotel room in Amman because I couldn’t sleep and figured I’d update you all on where we’ve been and where we’re going.

We took a break this summer - mainly because my family comes first, full stop. But Grey Dynamics hasn’t been sitting still. We’ve grown significantly across all three domains:

1) Our reporting (which now includes human sources on every piece)
2) Our online school (which is getting a human intelligence course from Ray White, who ran the CIA’s famous “Farm”)
3) Our bespoke intelligence work

The big shift? We’re doubling down on “ground truth” - the human element that most intelligence work misses, especially in the global south.

I also need to be clear about Gaza. It’s genocide. Period. If that bothers you, don’t listen. There are receipts of what everyone said when it mattered, and I’ll take the professional costs that come with speaking up.

The podcast stays weekly, the company’s breaking records, and family remains the priority. That’s the update.

Find Ahmed Hassan

LinkedIn
Grey Dynamics Podcast

Advance Your Intelligence Career Today!

We are the first fully online intelligence school helping professionals to achieve their long term goals. Our school with tons of new material is currently under construction and will be out there very soon. Meanwhile, you can sign up and be the first to know when we launch, plus get exclusive tips and offers.

Get access to exclusive Grey Dynamics Reports

With security clearance, you can take a crucial role in our intelligence community. As a cleared member, you get access to Secret & Top Secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today!

The Grey Dynamics Podcast is available on all major platforms!

YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcast
Google Podcast
Amazon Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.