How might someone who worked at the CIA view what’s happening around the world? What can we learn about politics and risk from the intelligence vantage point- past and present? Straight from the Shoulder strives to analyze geopolitical events through the apolitical lens of intelligence officers. The podcast features commentary by Jack Devine, former Acting Deputy Director of Operations at the CIA and President of The Arkin Group in conversation with Julia Stone, former government Intelligence Analyst and Managing Director at The Arkin Group. Listeners can expect non-partisan and lively discussions that seek to cut through the noise and bring clarity to the most pressing global issues we face today.
On this timely episode, Nico Sabogal of The Arkin Group shares an update on the latest happenings in Venezuela and the country's political outlook.
30 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT
Investing in the Gulf: Insights from Andrew Frank
On this special episode, we are joined by Andrew Frank, the Founder and President of KARV, a global strategic advisory firm based in New York City. Andrew's a seasoned expert in communications strategy, including crisis management, and he has longstanding experience operating in the Gulf region of the Middle East. Listen in to hear his insightful take on how the Gulf has evolved and exactly how, and why, it’s worth investing in this unique region right now.
9 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT
Fueling Change in Venezuela
How do we understand what just happened in Venezuela in the greater context of coups and regime change efforts? Will fresh US investment and the revitalization of Venezuela's oil industry be enough to propel the nation forward towards becoming a vibrant democracy once again? And what kind of intelligence will be required along the way? Join us for a discussion of this momentous event.
5 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Business of Peace
Recent peace plans and talks in Moscow are building more momentum towards a deal, but are we there yet? This week, we discuss the current state of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, including the implications of territorial concessions, the role of Europe in the conflict, and the influence of President Trump. We also explore the challenges facing Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and what it might take to ensure a successful future for Ukraine--and for the broader region.
31 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Striking at the Status Quo
The Trump administration has been building up an immense U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and steadily ramping-up attacks on alleged narco-trafficking vessels. But do these strikes aim to tackle the drug trade or to dismantle the Venezuelan regime--or both? Join us as we discuss what's behind the latest U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean and the implications of what might happen next.
29 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
An Intelligence Approach to AI
With partisan-laden media takes and AI slop now flooding the internet, it's more difficult than ever to know what to believe. But time-tested frameworks used by intelligence officers can offer some guidance. On this episode of Straight from the Shoulder, special guest Rollie Flynn—former CIA Executive and President of The Arkin Group—shares her tips from the field on how to best differentiate truth from lies.
3 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Downsizing Up
This week, Jack and Julia unpack the latest U.S. government shutdown and the difference between "essential" and "non-essential" governance functions. How have these definitions evolved, what's the right size for our current government, and are we entering an era where institutions are losing their luster?
19 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT
Down with the Ship: Evolving US Counternarcotics Policy
Tensions are erupting between the United States and Venezuela, and in the first few weeks of September alone, the US military conducted multiple deadly strikes on narcotrafficking-linked boats off the Venezuelan coast. But questions abound pertaining to both the legality and political implications of the strikes, and what the latest developments might mean for national security moving forward. On this episode of Straight from the Shoulder, Jack and Julia discuss the trajectory of Venezuela's ...
29 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT
Cartel Attack
Join us as we discuss Jack Devine’s recent USA Today Op-ed on the narcotrafficking threat, where he argues that Washington should collaborate with Mexico to take down the drug cartels. Jack’s opinion is informed by his time as the CIA Chief of the Latin America Division and Head of the Counter Narcotics Center back in the early 1990s- during which time he was even involved in a collaborative effort to take down Pablo Escobar- the so-called “King of Cocaine.” Listen to what Jack thinks should ...
13 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT
Uncovering Deep Cover
Hosts Jack and Julia uncover the historic and contemporary motivations behind Russia's deep cover operative program, discussing the pros and cons of this espionage tactic in this interview episode.
26 Mar 2025TRANSCRIPT
Warning Signals
Hosts Jack and Julia explore the Signal chat group controversy and the importance of formality in government decision-making
22 Jan 2025TRANSCRIPT
Terrorism: Then and Now/Home and Abroad
2025 began with a tragic, ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New Orleans that serves as a disturbing reminder of the enduring terrorism threat both at home and abroad. Join Jack and Julia as we discuss the evolution of terrorism over the past several decades, and what we should be watching out for today. On this episode, we’ll consider:How the threat to the homeland has evolved since 9/11, and the role of US agencies and citizens in advancing our collective securityThe rise and threat of ISIS-...
25 Nov 2024TRANSCRIPT
Before the Handoff: What to Expect Leading Up to the Presidential Inauguration
Jack and Julia discuss President Trump's second term, its impact on global stability, and the challenges of reestablishing a bipartisan approach to foreign policy amidst the US Department of Government Efficiency and rising global tensions.
4 Nov 2024TRANSCRIPT
A Sprawling Web of War and Peace
On the cusp of the 2024 US presidential election, only one thing looks certain: the next US president is going to inherit two major ongoing wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. And right now, these wars appear to be expanding, not shrinking.Join Jack and Julia for a thoughtful discussion about these ongoing conflicts and what their outcome might mean for the future of global security. On this episode, we’ll consider:The latest status of the fight between Russia and UkraineHow the polit...
26 Jun 2024TRANSCRIPT
Acts of Betrayal, Part One: Hearts and Minds
Betrayal is a complicated act of “deliberate disloyalty” that can shock and unravel the fabric of any relationship. But when an intelligence officer is caught working for the other side, the damage is amplified - shattering the hard-won trust among colleagues and spy agencies that’s essential to doing effective intelligence work. The reasons why an officer might defect, however, can vary widely and have implications of their own.
Join Jack and Julia for a colorful conversation about what motivated historic double agents like Kim Philby and Aldrich “Rick Ames” to defect, and the consequences of their betrayal.
On this episode we’ll discuss:
Why the famous British intelligence officer Kim Philby chose to defect and how he managed to get away with it for so long
Jack’s take on the motivations of fellow CIA officer Rick Ames – including personal insights as to why Ames defected
The dangerous impact of high-level intelligence betrayals on both individual lives and global operations
26 Mar 2024TRANSCRIPT
Screen of Spies
Episode Four: Screen of Spies
Hollywood serves as a powerful recruiting mechanism for spy agencies like the CIA- using the screen to glamorize the work of intelligence operatives worldwide- but it also contributes to some of the biggest misunderstandings of what spies do and how they operate. Join Jack and Julia for a fun and enlightening conversation about what Hollywood gets right- and what it gets wrong- in its portrayal of the spy-world.
On this episode we’ll discuss:
What’s real and fake about James Bond and other famous spy movies – replete with anecdotes of Jack’s fame-studded encounters.
The essential but unglamourous aspect of teamwork in accomplishing real-world intelligence operations.
How Hollywood’s ideas for seemingly unrealistic spy technology can inspire what happens off-screen.
If Hollywood’s portrayal of the spy-world ultimately helps or hurts the work of clandestine organizations.
11 Mar 2024TRANSCRIPT
Disinformed
Many Americans now consider disinformation to be a key national security threat, and disinformation topped the World Economic Forum’s list of short-term global risks for 2024. But what’s the history of disinformation and how is it increasingly interfering in international relations and eroding the trust of civilian populations? Are democratic nations simply more susceptible to disinformation? Whose responsibility is it to limit the influence of disinformation and can we mitigate the threat moving forward?
Join Jack and Julia as we examine the role and challenge of disinformation. On this episode we’ll discuss:
What counts as disinformation and its historic role in intelligence operations
Examples of what makes an effective disinformation campaign and when it might backfire
Personal and political strategies for uncovering disinformation and moving closer to a true understanding of what’s happening in the world
23 Jan 2024TRANSCRIPT
Held Hostage
Given that hostage taking is again in the spotlight after the October 7 Hamas attacks, what is the latest status of Washington’s hostage policy? What can we learn from a review of the past several decades of hostage crises worldwide? And is it possible for Americans to avoid hostage situations in the coming years, even while tensions between democratic and non-democratic countries appear to be on the rise?
Join Jack and Julia for a thoughtful discussion about the recent history of hostage taking, where we grapple with the question of how to best respond to the threat, and what the future might hold. On this episode, we’ll consider:
The evolution of hostage threats to US citizens- from Latin America to the Middle East
How and why the United States has historically decided to respond to hostage takers, and the use of both policy and force in deterrence
Why democratic societies are more susceptible to hostage crises in the first place, and what this means for our collective future
17 Dec 2023
Straight from the Shoulder, Episode 1
“How is the world being reshaped by two active wars involving US allies in Europe and the Middle East? And what will the outcome of these conflicts mean in terms of the world we want to live in? Join us for a thoughtful discussion about these destabilizing global conflicts, where we grapple with the question of what’s really at stake. On this episode, we’ll consider:
The broader implications of supporting Ukraine and what’s currently happening in Washington
Parallels between the wars in Ukraine and Israel
The role of intelligence in mitigating violent outbreaks and how and why intelligence failures have an outsized impact on global stability
Inside a recent episode
Venezuela, What Happens Now?
Published 13 Feb 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] For example, the announcement of a sweeping amnesty bill for political prisoners, the release of all -known detained U .S. citizens, and the planned closure of the notorious Alicoy the Prison in Caracas marks one of the most significant shifts in state behavior over the last decade. […]
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