NSA vs CIA: A Former Analyst Explains the Difference | Alma Katsu

Former NSA and CIA analyst Alma Katsu joins us to discuss her career in intelligence, from the analog era of NSA and early hacking programs to CIA work on social media, disinformation, and emerging technology. She also breaks down how real intelligence work differs from Hollywood spy fiction, and how her experiences shaped novels like Black Vault and her upcoming book on Havana Syndrome.<br />This episode also digs into Iraq War planning, the failure of Phase Four strategy, AI, propaganda, tech regulation, and the challenges women faced inside the intelligence community.<br />Check out Alma's books here:⬇️<br />https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alma-Katsu/author/B004FRX5WO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&amp;qid=1778022974&amp;sr=8-3&amp;shoppingPortalEnabled=true&amp;ccs_id=7dde9421-b9aa-439f-b0ce-7413359f4d42<br />GhostBed ⬇️<br />https://www.ghostbed.com/house<br />FOR 10% off! <br />For ad free video and audio and access to live streams and Eyes On Geopolitics...JOIN OUR PATREON! <br />https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse<br />To help support the show and for all bonus content including:<br />-live shows and asking guest questions <br />-ad free audio and video<br />-early access to shows<br />-Access to ALL bonus segments with our guests<br />Subscribe to our Patreon! ⬇️<br />https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse<br />Support the show here:⬇️<br />https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse<br />___________________________________________________<br />PRE ORDER JACK'S NEW BOOK "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN" <br />⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️<br />https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803651/the-most-dangerous-man-by-jack-murphy/paperback/<br />Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️<br />https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured<br />__________________________________<br />Jack Murphy's new book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️<br />https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/<br />——————————————————————<br />Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️<br />https://ko-fi.com/theteamhouse<br />Social Media: ⬇️<br />The Team House Instagram:<br />https://instagram.com/the.team.house?utm_medium=copy_link<br />The Team House Twitter:<br />https://twitter.com/TheTeamHousePod<br />Jack’s Instagram:<br />https://instagram.com/jackmcmurph?utm_medium=copy_link<br />Jack’s Twitter:<br /> https://twitter.com/jackmurphyrgr?s=21<br />Dave’s Twitter: <br />https://twitter.com/dave_parke?s=21<br />Team House Discord: ⬇️<br />https://discord.gg/wHFHYM6<br />"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"<br />00:00 — Start <br />01:34 — Writing spy fiction after a career at NSA and CIA<br />05:02 — Real spies, “Slow Horses,” and the myth of James Bond<br />07:15 — From aspiring writer to accidentally joining NSA<br />10:56 — Starting as an NSA analyst and learning the intelligence world<br />13:51 — NSA before computers: analog intel, index cards, and the digital transition<br />16:53 — Inside one of NSA’s first hacking teams<br />22:13 — Building the CIA’s early social media intelligence program<br />31:08 — AI, propaganda, and the collapse of trust in open-source information<br />39:44 — Iraq War planning and the failure of Phase Four strategy<br />54:23 — Leaving NSA for CIA after the Patriot Act era<br />01:00:02 — Secret backchannels, Havana Syndrome, and real incidents behind the novels<br />01:21:19 — CIA publishing battles, pre-publication review, and returning to NSA<br />01:36:34 — Substack, viewer questions, NSA vs. CIA culture, and final thoughts<br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support</a>.