The first podcast by and for women in the US Intelligence Community, The Iron Butterfly Podcast brings you real stories from women in intelligence. Eighty years ago, Eloise Page joined the Office of Strategic Services, trailblazing a path for what ultimately became the United States Intelligence Community. She rose the ranks from secretary to case officer, defying the norms of her time, and eventually became the first female Chief of Station at CIA. Eloise was known among her colleagues to b ...
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This week, Intelligence and National Security Alliance invites Cadie Hopkins to record a live Iron Butterfly Podcast episode at 'The New IC' Conference with Eman Blair. Eman describes her journey from being a ‘triple minority’ in the Middle East — a refugee, a Palestinian, and a woman — to being the Chief Digital Officer at Central Intelligence Age…
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On our Season 6 finale, we are joined by the incredible Sandra Auchter, Director of NGA Denver. A self described foreign policy wonk, she's known to listen to alternate between NPR and Wall Street Journal podcasts and Beyonce's latest music. From discussing the foundational INT to what Sandra's 'walk-out' song would be, tune in for a truly fun epis…
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On this episode we are joined by Caitlin Marsh, an engineer by training but a true social engineer at heart. She is currently VP of Product at SpiderOak and has served in multiple roles across the IC. Empathetic, kind and a little bit spicy, Caitlin is an incredible mentor who isn't afraid to jump at new opportunities or try something new. Hosted o…
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On this episode we are joined by the amazing Maureen "Marty" Fromuth. Marty currently serves in the Air Force Reserves as the Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs at United States Cyber Command. Her career spans nearly 17 years in and out of government and the tech industry. Tune in to hear Marty dive into topics like Housewives, the importance o…
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Special Panel Episode | See Her Be Her
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In this special panel episode titled See Her Be Her, hosted by Marymount University and the Marymount Intelligence Club, Megan and Cadie sit down with butterflies Carmen Medina (Rebel at Work), Arlene Gaylord (Corazón), and Stephanie La Rue (Mija). They dive into the concept if you can see her, you can be her and how they were each other’s “her.” A…
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On this episode we are joined by the amazing Debora Plunkett, former Director of Information Assurance at the National Security Agency (NSA). Tune in to hear Debora discuss her illustrious career within the NSA, her time serving on the National Security Council, and what it was like working as CSI before CSI was cool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com…
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On this episode we are joined by Linda Weissgold, former Deputy Director of Analysis at CIA. Our most requested guest to date, tune in to hear her realistic and candid descriptions of her time in the Intelligence Community. From briefing George W. Bush to her time as an analyst covering the Middle East, there are so many moments you won't want to m…
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On this episode we are joined by Uyen Dinh. Uyen is currently the VP for Government Relations and Strategy at Black Sky and served several years as a Hill Staffer in roles at the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Uyen describes herself as energetic, fun, and positive; we have no doubt you'll ag…
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Welcome to the Season 6 premiere of the Iron Butterfly Podcast. Megan and Cadie sit down with Kristi Scott, a lawyer with over two decades of experience in the intelligence community and national security, specializing in privacy and civil liberties law. This episode is full of laughs, and conversations ranging from reality TV to the whether or not…
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The Iron Butterfly Podcast is back and fiercer than ever! Join Megan and Cadie as they share exciting updates about the team, plans for 2024, and the new Iron Butterfly Studio. Season 6 will premiere on March 3, 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On our Season Finale we are joined by the extraordinary Arlene Gaylord. Arlene has spent 32+ years at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is the Executive Assistant Director (EAD) of the Information and Technology Branch (ITB). She discusses a range of topics from creating effective and lasting change by using your seat at the table to si…
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Episode Summary: This week we are joined by Vinita Fordham, a technology leader working at the cutting edge. Vinita is Chief Innovation Officer for Bridge Core, LLC and previously served as an AI specialist leader at Deloitte focused on delivering and advocating for mission ready AI strategies and solutions. She also served as a senior executive in…
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This episode we are joined by the amazing Tasha Jones, a U.S. Navy Veteran and Founder of Twenty39, a purpose built solutions and services partner leveraging over twenty five years’ experience in the U.S. government market space. Tasha discusses how she transitioned from government into the business world and is an ardent supporter and champion of …
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On this episode we are joined by Colonel (Ret.) Jen Sovada. Jen is the President of SandboxAQ’s Global Public Sector and previously served in the Air Force dedicating 25 years to various positions in operational test, systems interoperability, and requirements definition. Listen in to hear her speak to the importance of building community and lifti…
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Anjuma Goswami Karkera | Fierce Something-or-Another
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On this episode we are joined by the fierce Anjuma Goswami Karkera. Anjuma is the CEO of a non-profit professional services organization and previously excelled in roles at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Tune in to hear her discuss how being bold and authentic paved the way for her journ…
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Special Live Episode | Firefly, Mija, and Simple Patriot
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In this special episode, hosted by Texas A&M University's The Bush School of Government & Public Service, Megan Jaffer and Cadie Hopkins conduct a live panel discussion with butterflies; Laura Thomas, Stephanie La Rue, and the Honorable Sue Gordon. The panel takes an independent look at women in the intelligence community and where they were on his…
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On this episode, we are joined by Sarah Mineiro, a total bad-ass self-proclaimed space nerd and one of the funniest ladies we know. Sarah is the founder and CEO of Tanagra Enterprises, a defense, intelligence, space, science and technology consulting firm based in the DC area. Sarah has worked within the national security and defense sector for ove…
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On our season 5 premiere, we are joined by the incredible Teresa Shea. Teresa has served more than 35 years in intelligence and defense within the public and private sector. She served as Executive Vice President of Technology and director of Cyber-Reboot at In-Q-Tel. She joined In-Q-Tel after a distinguished thirty-two-year career with the Nationa…
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The Iron Butterfly Podcast team is back to share exciting updates and what to expect in the upcoming season premiering September 12th! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Iron Butterfly | Special Episode – Documentary Announcement
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On this special episode, the Iron Butterfly team returns to announce our new project, the first feature film documentary about women in the intelligence community. The team discusses how we got here, why this project matters, and when the podcast will return from hiatus. Tune in for some exciting updates! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for …
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Season Finale: The Iron Butterfly Podcast Team (Beating Falcon, Wise Wisteria, Fierce Fire, & Bulldog)
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We close Season 4 with the Iron Butterfly team: Megan Jaffer, Cadie Naquin Hopkins, Amanda Young, and Liz Herndon. We reflect on the themes of the past 4 seasons, unique moments, funniest memories, and other behind-the-scenes insights. We also share a special message to our listeners about the future of the Iron Butterfly Podcast. We hope you enjoy…
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On this episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are proud to welcome Nazaret Berhane to the show. Nazaret is a program manager on the IC Centers for Academic Excellence team within the IC Human Capital Office at ODNI. She brings years of experience from her time with FBI’s Foreign Language Program in addition to her service as the Directorate of …
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On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly, we are thrilled to welcome Stephanie La Rue, Esq. to the podcast. Stephanie is the chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) where she brings her passion for DEI strategy to the IC. Stephanie also represents the IC in several White Hous…
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On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are thrilled to share the incredible story of Kristin Wood. Kristin brings with her 20 years of career experience from CIA, with service in the analysis, operations, and digital innovation directorates as she pursued transforming and building new capabilities within the agency. She was a Pres…
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On this week's episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are proud to welcome Melissa Smislova, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A). Melissa brings decades of intelligence expertise with her, known for her …
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On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are thrilled to welcome our friend, Janaki Kates. Janaki is a national security consultant with nearly two decades of government experience and is passionate about expanding missions and growing diverse workforces. She began her career at the CIA as an analyst focusing on foreign space progra…
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This week on the Iron Butterfly Podcast, we are proud to welcome Lauren Bean Buitta, founder and CEO of Girl Security, a nonpartisan, non-profit building equitable pathways in national security for girls, women, and gender minorities. Lauren has worked for a think tank and founded a consulting firm prior to Girl Security, and is associated with a n…
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Special Episode: Virginia Hall (The Intrepidus Eagle)
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On this special episode, we open Season 4 featuring Lorna and Brad Catling, family members of the legendary Virginia Hall. Virginia worked with the United Kingdom’s Clandestine Special Operations Executive (SOE) and American Office of Strategic Services (OSS), aiding the French Resistance during WWII. She went on to work with the CIA where she ulti…
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This week on the Iron Butterfly Podcast, we are proud to welcome Suzanne Heckenberg for our Season 3 finale! Suzanne is the President of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), as well as the Intelligence and National Security Foundation. She oversees a host of INSA's strategies ranging from finance, to events, to corporate partners…
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On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are proud to welcome La’Naia Jones, Deputy Chief Information Officer at the National Security Agency. She serves with previous experience as the Acting Chief Information Officer of the Intelligence Community, the Chief of Transformation and Transition in partnership with the Department of Def…
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On this week's episode of the Iron Butterfly, we are joined by Colonel Molly Solsbury, Chief Data Officer for Army intelligence within the 18th Airborne Corps. Molly has over two decades of service in active duty roles, ranging from intelligence and policy, to research and development. She shares her story with us from her experiences at the Nation…
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This week on the Iron Butterfly podcast, we're joined by Jackie Barbieri, the Founder & CEO of Whitespace, a spatial data analytics company. With a history of supporting the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community as an intelligence analyst. Jackie shares her winding path with us through her academ…
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Quiet Bear, Ruski Frog, Sidewinder, and Titanium Shark
1:09:52
1:09:52
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In this very special edition of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we sat down with three incredible individuals whose stories are shaped by the loss of their parents in their service to the United States. We spoke with Marie Mickley, an adventure-loving, adrenaline-junkie turned law student at the University of Wisconsin, Jacob Centeno, a professional st…
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Rachel Grunspan joins us this week on the Iron Butterfly podcast, bringing her over 20 years experience at the CIA. She has impacted the Agency as a cyber-threat analyst, a game and simulation designer, an executive manager, and most recently, as Dean for CIA's Digital University. She believes in increasing the creative capacity of individuals and …
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Jacqueline Tame, former Acting Deputy Director and inaugural Chief Performance Officer for the Department of Defense's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, joins Iron Butterfly to discuss her winding path into the United States Intelligence Community. Jacqueline bravely shares both her professional and personal hurdles, how she overcame them, and …
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Silver Cloud, Jericho, and Water Dragon
1:10:42
1:10:42
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Join us as we conclude our second season of the Iron Butterfly podcast with a very special episode. This week, we are joined by three incredible mentees from Girl Security, a non-profit organization working to forge equity in national security by preparing girls and gender minorities to advance confidently into national security’s many pathways. In…
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This season of the Iron Butterfly is coming to a close but not before a final special episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This week on the Iron Butterfly Podcast, we are joined by Laura Nelson, CEO of the National Cryptologic Foundation. Laura served in the IC for 37 years and has held roles with NSA and CIA. She has supported multiple initiatives including the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and was the first woman to be a senior leader in cryptanalysis at NS…
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Erringer Helbling, Director of Operations at HawkEye 360, joins us this week on the Iron Butterfly. Listen in as Errin discusses her Army service and explains the vital role of geospatial engineers to the intelligence community. In this episode, Errin shares her experiences providing humanitarian assistance through geospatial data, serving troops i…
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Tune in this week as we talk with Chitra Sivanandam, Chief Technology Officer at Reinventing Geospatial Inc (RGI) and recipient of the 2019 AI Industry Executive of the Year award. Chitra discusses what she’s learned over the last 25 years working as an imaging scientist with the IC and DoD and the importance of being comfortable with wacky and unu…
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Join us this week as we sit down with Dr. J’Tia Hart, PhD. J’Tia holds a degree in nuclear engineering and works in nonproliferation at the Argonne National Laboratory with the Department of Energy. Tune in as J’Tia talks about beginning college at the age of 15 and how fainting on a job helped lead her to a career in engineering. She discusses the…
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On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly, we sit down with April Falcon Doss, the Executive Director of the Institute for Technology Law and Policy at Georgetown University. April first joined the IC after watching the events of 9/11 unfold on TV from her hospital bed after giving birth. She spent over a decade at the NSA where she served in ma…
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This week on the Iron Butterfly Podcast we are joined by Laura Thomas, a former case officer at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During her time at the agency, Laura served as Chief of Base and led several sensitive programs. In this episode, Laura shares her view of what makes a good case officer, how a wine tasting with an asset helped to b…
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Special Episode: The Leprechaun, The Jackal, and Envoy
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Join us this week for a special episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, where we host a panel of three amazing men in the IC. Our first panelist, Chairman Mike Rogers, was a former Army Officer and FBI agent, and served as Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). We also welcome LTG Vince Stewart, a Marine veteran an…
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Tune in this week for a powerful new episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast. Join us as we sit down with Janna Scott-Tarman, Senior Intelligence Oversight Officer in the Defense Intelligence Agency's Office of Counterintelligence. Find out why Janna considers herself an “accidental intelligence officer” and how her experience on September 11, 2001 s…
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"I will gladly hold your capes for you,” Joan Dempsey tells our listeners on this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast. Joan served in the federal government for 25 years in a variety of roles with the Office of Naval Intelligence, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Central Intelligence Agency. …
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Listen in to this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly Podcast as we sit down with Jeny Mills, an Africa Analyst at INR who grew up in the Comoros Islands. On this episode, Jeny shares her journey from human rights activist to Presidential Management Fellow at the State Department, and discusses trailblazing new paths for women, decision-making in …
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This week on the Iron Butterfly, we sat down with Dr. Stacey Dixon, Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). In this episode, Stacey takes us along her path from academia to the intelligence community, which included stints on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) staff and as the Director of the …
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On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are joined by Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mary Legere. Mary spent 34 years in the Army, culminating as the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, or G2. She also served as the Commander of the Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) and the Senior Military Intelligence Officer in …
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On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly, we are joined by Lynn Dugle. Lynn has more than 30 years of experience in defense, intelligence, and telecommunications, and most recently served as Engility’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Prior to Engility, she worked as the President of Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information, and S…
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