The Langley Files: CIA's Podcast

Central Intelligence Agency

You might have heard a thing or two about the CIA, but have you ever heard from the CIA? In the Central Intelligence Agency's first public podcast, you will. Let us be your guides around the corridors of CIA Headquarters in Langley, as you step beyond the Hollywood scripts and shadowed whispers to hear directly from the people serving each day as America's first line of defense. These are their stories. This is The Langley Files. read less

Our Editor's Take

The host of The Langley Files: CIA's Podcast can verify at least one fact about her work. The phrase "we can neither confirm nor deny" was indeed an invention of the Central Intelligence Agency. Other rumors about the American intelligence firm might need to remain confidential. But that shouldn't dissuade people from listening to the podcast. This is an official CIA podcast, straight from its Langley, Virginia headquarters.

In true CIA fashion, the two cohorts of the podcast only use their first names. Dee and Walter don't reveal their actual work in the organization, or even if those are their true names. Which may lead listeners to believe that they aren't. But it doesn't matter. The Langley Files: CIA's Podcast is not about the hosts. They are a mere conduit. They are only there to ask questions and help demystify the work that the Agency does. Dee and Walter do that through interviews with key players in the institution.

Over the years, the media has portrayed the CIA as a mysterious and almost sexy organization. One where spies work alone and go on impossible missions. They usually have cool gadgets and expensive cars, and they're masters in martial arts. They are also attractive, like Jason Bourne or Jack Ryan. But this is not what the podcast is about.

Unlike in the movies, The Langley Files: CIA's Podcast does not have glamorous stories of espionage. But that doesn't make the show any less intriguing. Instead of focusing on the scandalous, it showcases the day-to-day operations. For instance, the agency's CTO talks to the hosts about his background. He explains how he brings his startup experience to advance spy technology. In another episode, disguise specialists explain how they help operatives transform their appearance. They reveal anything that goes into going undercover, from wigs to makeup, masks, and more. Other topics include travel safety, recruitment, and mental health.

The Langley Files: CIA's Podcast might not reveal its most hidden secrets. But it does provide the listeners with insights that they may have never heard before.

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Episodes

FILE 014 - A Conversation with CIA's Spymaster in Chief
Feb 28 2024
FILE 014 - A Conversation with CIA's Spymaster in Chief
From glittering capitals to active warzones, CIA operations officers work across the world to uncover the information needed to keep Americans safe -- and ultimately, they’re all overseen by the Agency’s Deputy Director for Operations at CIA Headquarters. It’s a position traditionally shrouded in secrecy, but on this premiere of The Langley Files Season 3, Dee and Walter sit down with the CIA official who recently assumed that mantle, a veteran CIA operations officer who played a central role in CIA’s efforts to help Ukraine defend itself as Russia’s full-scale invasion commenced. In his first-ever public remarks, you’ll learn what CIA operations officers actually do, what the Agency is looking for in its next generation of them, and why human intelligence remains vital in the era of AI—all straight from the spymaster-in-chief of the world’s premiere foreign intelligence organization.Look Inside FILE 014: Want to dive deeper into today’s episode? Here's a look into more of Langley's (unclassified) files:Want to become one of the CIA operations officers gathering intelligence across the globe to keep Americans and others around the world safe? Follow in Tom’s footsteps and apply here.  Interested in the other high-impact Directorate of Operations roles Tom mentioned? Check out the Collection Management Officer, Targeting Officer, Staff Operations Officer, Directorate of Operations Language Officer positions. Read an overview of CIA’s Directorate of Operations, which conducts human intelligence (or HUMINT) operations and—as directed by the President—covert action, here.*Nothing in this podcast should be construed to be an endorsement by the CIA or the US Government of any particular company, product, or service.*
FILE 013: PART II - The Side of the Argo Mission You’ve Never Heard – Exfiltration
Sep 14 2023
FILE 013: PART II - The Side of the Argo Mission You’ve Never Heard – Exfiltration
PART TWO: EXFILTRATION. In this conclusion to the two-part finale of The Langley Files Season Two, Dee and Walter follow the thread of the “Argo” operation to rescue six Americans stranded in post-1979 Iran to its final moments—because for CIA master of disguise Tony Mendez and the previously-unidentified second CIA officer who undertook this daring mission with him, getting into Iran was just the beginning. Once in Tehran, they’ll have to train six Americans with no background in clandestine operations to impersonate a film crew convincingly enough to get past revolutionary Iranian security forces at the border. An additional twist: they’ll have just one night to do it. Tune in to learn how, and hear about the conclusion of this legendary CIA operation from a perspective that’s never been public until now. Look Inside FILE 013Want to dive deeper into this two-part episode? Here's a look into more of Langley's (unclassified) files:For an overview of the ARGO operation, check out this story. Want to see some of the artifacts from ARGO operation for yourself? Watch The Debrief: Behind the Artifact - ARGO. For additional details on these unique ARGO artifacts, check out what the CIA Museum showcases on our website. Can you find the references to ‘Julio’? Now you know the identity of the previously unidentified second CIA officer who joined Tony Mendez on the Argo operation, chronicled here by Tony himself. The skills of the CIA officers who worked to exfiltrate those six Americans continue to live on in today’s CIA. Check out FILE 012 for an exclusive conversation with two currently serving CIA disguise specialists. Interested in the art of disguise? See a piece of CIA disguise history with this disguise kit. Curious about some of the occupations CIA has to offer? Check out our website CIA.gov for more information.
FILE 013: PART I - The Side of the Argo Mission You’ve Never Heard - Infiltration
Sep 14 2023
FILE 013: PART I - The Side of the Argo Mission You’ve Never Heard - Infiltration
PART ONE: INFILTRATION. In this two-part finale of the second season of The Langley Files, Dee and Walter open up the Agency’s vault on one of the most famous declassified CIA operations in history: the plan to rescue six Americans stranded in hostile post-1979 Iran, under the cover of scouting for a film called “Argo.” The first twist: the most commonly understood version of these events is missing a key piece of the picture. When CIA master of disguise Tony Mendez snuck into Iran to exfiltrate the six Americans, he didn’t go in alone: a second CIA officer went in with him. The officer’s identity and role have never been revealed—until now. On this episode of The Langley Files, you’ll hear the inside story of this mission from a CIA historian, from the director of the CIA museum—and, for the first time ever, from that previously-unknown hero of the Argo operation himself.  Look Inside FILE 013 Want to dive deeper into this two-part episode? Here's a look into more of Langley's (unclassified) files: For an overview of the ARGO operation, check out this story. Want to see some of the artifacts from ARGO operation for yourself? Watch The Debrief: Behind the Artifact - ARGO. For additional details on these unique ARGO artifacts, check out what the CIA Museum showcases on our website. Can you find the references to ‘Julio’? Now you know the identity of the previously unidentified second CIA officer who joined Tony Mendez on the Argo operation, chronicled here by Tony himself. The skills of the CIA officers who worked to exfiltrate those six Americans continue to live on in today’s CIA. Check out FILE 012 for an exclusive conversation with two currently serving CIA disguise specialists. Interested in the art of disguise? See a piece of CIA disguise history with this disguise kit. Curious about some of the occupations CIA has to offer? Check out our website CIA.gov for more information.
FILE 012 - The Art of Deception: CIA’s Disguise Experts Take You Behind the Scenes
Jul 13 2023
FILE 012 - The Art of Deception: CIA’s Disguise Experts Take You Behind the Scenes
You might’ve seen spies use disguises in movies, but for real-life CIA officers, masks, wigs, makeup, and clothing are just the beginning. So what else do Agency officers need to transform themselves into someone else? How do they pull off such sleight of hand under pressure—and under surveillance? And most of all, who makes their disguises and how? On this episode of The Langley Files, Dee and Walter sit down with two of CIA’s disguise specialists to pull back the curtain on those questions and more. Tune in to learn some of the tricks of the disguise trade—and hear how they’ve made all the difference in real-world CIA operations.  Look Inside FILE 012: Want to dive deeper into today’s episode? Here's a look into more of Langley's (unclassified) files:Want to read about the life—and surprising second career—of another CIA master of disguise? Check out this profile. CIA’s disguise technology has had an impact on more than national security—it has also benefitted the world of custom prosthetics. Read about that and other CIA contributions to modern technology. How does CIA test applicants to its disguise team? One way has been to ask them to sculpt an ear. See a piece of CIA disguise history with this disguise kit. Did the CIA really create a fake Hollywood production company to exfiltrate six State Department employees from Tehran? Watch The Debrief: Behind the Artifact - ARGO. For more information about ARGO, check out this story.Are you curious about some of the occupations CIA has to offer? Check out our website CIA.gov for more information.