Latest Podcasts

15 Minutes is an interview podcast with the biggest names in the global security space. This week The Cipher Brief’s Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to John Nixon, author of “Debriefing The President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein.” John – who spent much of his career profiling Saddam – was the first CIA analyst to question the Iraqi leader after his capture. In the first part of the interview, John describes his thoughts when he finally came face-to-face with the Iraqi leader, what he uncovered about the weapons of mass destruction, and his views on Saddam’s trial and execution.

Click here to listen to Part II. 

15 Minutes is an interview podcast with the biggest names in the global security space. This week The Cipher Brief’s Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Vince Houghton, the curator and historian for The International Spy Museum. With all the intrigue and mystique surrounding the world of spies, the museum attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. But as Vince tells Leone, its main mission is to educate the public about the real-life world of espionage – and how spies have shaped the course of history.

15 Minutes is an interview podcast with the biggest names in the global security space. This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Chris Taylor, who leads a course at Georgetown University called "Hacking for Defense." Despite the name, the course isn't just about cyber threats; it uses unique new methodology to find solutions to pressing challenges in national security, brought directly to the class by U.S. government agencies.

15 Minutes is an interview podcast with the biggest names in the global security space. This week, The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Haras Rafiq, CEO of Quilliam—a UK-based organization whose mission is to counter extremism, in every form. Much of its work surrounds counter-messaging Islamism by creating alternatives and empowering moderate Islamic voices. Leone spoke to Haras about how Quilliam conveys its message.

15 Minutes is an interview podcast with the biggest names in the global security space. This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to David Priess, a former CIA analyst and author of The President's Book of Secrets, which shares the untold stories and historical perspectives of the president's daily intelligence briefing. Press, who served during the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, once worked as a daily intelligence briefer for the CIA himself. He speaks to Leone about the types of details that go into the President's Daily Brief.

15 Minutes is an interview podcast with the biggest names in the global security space. This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Antony Blinken, who served as Deputy Secretary of State under the Obama Administration. As Donald Trump takes office, Leone asks Antony for his views on the diplomatic and security challenges facing this administration—from Russia to North Korea, Syria, and Iraq.

15 Minutes is an interview podcast with the biggest names in the global security space. This week, The Cipher Brief's Executive Editor Fionnuala Sweeney speaks to Mary Aiken, advisor to Interpol and author of The Cyber Effect. Fionnuala talks to Mary to explain cyber-psychology and the impact of the internet on human behavior.

The “In Brief” podcast brings you The Cipher Brief’s take on breaking news stories with leading experts in the global security space. With the Senate confirmation hearings underway for Donald Trump's top government posts, retired Marine Corps General James Mattis is the nominee for Secretary of Defense. The Cipher Brief’s Executive Producer Leone Lakhani caught up with Jack Keane, retired four-star general and former Vice Chief of Army Staff, who recommended Gen. Mattis to the Trump team. She asks him what assets Gen. Mattis would bring to post.

The “In Brief” podcast brings you The Cipher Brief’s take on breaking news stories with leading experts in the global security space. With the Senate confirmation hearings underway for Donald Trump's top government posts, former ExxonMobil chairman Rex Tillerson is the nominee for Secretary of State. The Cipher Brief’s Executive Producer Leone Lakhani talks to Antony Blinken, the current Deputy Secretary of State, to find out what diplomatic challenges he sees as the most pressing for the next administration.