While Israel Slept: Yaakov Katz on Hamas, Intelligence Failures, and the Future of the Middle East
On this episode, Andy sits down with Yaakov Katz, veteran journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post, to unpack the hard lessons of October 7th and the evolving threats in the Middle East. Katz draws on three decades of reporting on Israeli defense and military affairs to explain how Hamas transformed from a fringe insurgency into a formidable force, the blind spots within Israel’s defense establishment, and the unintended consequences of overreliance on the Iron Dome. He also examines Iran’s deepening ties to Hamas, the intelligence gaps inside Gaza, and the ethical dilemmas of modern warfare in urban environments.
Katz’s forthcoming book, While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East, will be released on September 2, 2025
Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original
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1:03:30
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1:03:30
Former Russian Spy Reveals Confirms Russia’s Secret Brazil Operation Against the U.S
On this episode , Andy talks with Jack Barsky, a former KGB spy, who lived undercover in the United States during the Cold War. Barsky details how the Soviet Union recruited and trained him, the high-stakes challenges of creating a new American identity, and the constant pressure of balancing a normal life with espionage.
He recounts the dramatic moment the FBI caught up with him, the tactics he used to escape the KGB’s grip, and what his story reveals about the hidden world of Russian intelligence.
Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original
Sponsors
Firecracker Farm
Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/
AmmoSquared
Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.
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1:11:54
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1:11:54
Inside Russia’s Spy Factory in Brazil: Deep-Cover Operatives Targeting the U.S.
On today’s episode, Andy sits down with Michael Schwirtz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and national security reporter for The New York Times. They discuss a recent investigation that uncovered a Russian “spy factory” in Brazil, where spies created credible long-term identities under the Illegals program. These operatives are trained to conduct deep-cover missions targeting countries including the U.S. Schwirtz also explains the challenges intelligence agencies face with modern technology, the role of Brazilian authorities in uncovering these spies, and the complexities of international spy swaps.
Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original
Sponsors
Firecracker Farm
Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/
AmmoSquared
Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.
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59:09
Government Efficiency or Authoritarian Overreach? Trump’s Data Strategy with Palantir
On today’s episode, Andy and former Green Beret and CIA operative Scott Mann break down reports that the Trump administration is working with Palantir to build a centralized citizen database. With critics from all sides warning of authoritarian overreach, they explore what this means for privacy, national security, and the future of civil liberties in America.
Focal Point is an IRONCLAD Original
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From Internet Forums to Murder: The Disturbing Rise of the Zizians Cult
On this week’s episode of Change Agents, Andy speaks with journalist Max Read about the evolution of rationalism and the emergence of the Zizians, a splinter group with radical beliefs. The conversation explores the origins of the group, the role of its central figure Ziz, and the intersection of technology, ideology, and identity. They also examine the dynamics of online communities, the influence of militant veganism within the group, and what the rise of the Zizians suggests about the broader rationalist movement and its place in Silicon Valley.
To Visit Max’s substack: https://maxread.substack.com/
Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original
Sponsors:
Firecracker Farm
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-New Episodes Every Wednesday- Find out what takes to solve some of the world's seemingly impossible problems. In each episode, SEAL Team 6 veteran and "Cleared Hot" podcast host Andy Stumpf interviews a new "agent of change" who is enacting real change to understand the scope of their work, how it can be replicated, and the unimaginable stakes of their everyday lives. An IRONCLAD Original.
![Podcast Fundação (FFMS) - [IN] Pertinente](https://www.radio.pt/podcast-images/175/fundacao-ffms-in-pertinente3.jpeg?version=751818fd2ba787c572328b71e4c53d4a)
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