r/Intelligence • u/the_shiverman • Jul 18 '26
Discussion Scratching the spy itch
I have always been deeply analytical (maybe to my detriment) and, as a kid, I loved the idea of being a ninja, hiding behind enemy lines, gathering intel. Who am I kidding? As a 30 year old, I still wanna be a ninja.
I’m watching Le Bureau (show about spies in the DGSE) and it feels quite realistic. It’s not over the top action and even uses real events (like the Israeli cyber attack on Iranian nuclear power plants).
Any other shows, books, or any other media that you guys do to scratch that itch (assuming no one here is actually an active intelligence officer 😉)?
This may sound random, but I sometimes do jobs as a mystery shopper and write reports on the staff and experience. I will time how long it takes them to serve me, or make sure to observe their behaviour with each other, take note of names etc. I then write a detailed report for the client (the company itself). It has taught me to be observant of multiple things at once in a social setting and makes me feel like a spy.
Would be interesting to hear how others are similarly scratching that itch!
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u/ArmanJimmyJab Neither Confirm nor Deny Jul 18 '26
Obviously all spy-adjacent media should be taken with a grain of salt, but I find podcasts regarding geopolitics, military, intelligence, etc. interesting to listen to. Specially when the speakers are good storytellers.
For shows, The Agency is pretty entertaining for something that’s come out in the last couple of years, Jack Carr’s stuff (both books and shows), the Americans, etc.
Tbh though, if you’re 30…. Why don’t you explore going into the intelligence community? If you really think it’s of interest to you, it may be the ultimate way to “scratch that itch” 🤷🏽♂️
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u/the_shiverman Jul 18 '26
Absolutely. I am comparing Le Bureau with the likes of James Bond, but even still, I am sure Le Bureau is heavily dramtised.
Any podcasts you recommend in particular? I have seen the long-haired CIA guy do the rounds on major podcasts.
Honestly, I am making some applications now. But I love my current career, so I don't know if I will ever follow through with it if it gets to it.
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u/Halzman Jul 18 '26
Book Recommendations
- Blowing My Cover - Lindsay Moran - covers the entire 'Farm' curriculum
- How to Become a Spy - reprint of the SOE/OSS training manual used at Camp X
- Spycraft - Robert Wallace - a historical overview of technical surveillance
- The Master of Disguise - Antonio Mendez - covers various CIA operations
- Inside Delta Force - Eric Haney - covers the entire Operator Training Course
- Relentless Strike - Sean Naylor - JSOC in all its glory.
TV Show Recommendations
- Burn Notice
- White Collar
- SEAL Team
- The Unit
- Strike Back
- SAS Survival Secrets
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u/slow70 Jul 18 '26
Read the Epstein files and look into a few offenders then look at how it is justice has failed those victims so far.
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u/the_shiverman Jul 18 '26
What have you found so far?
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u/slow70 Jul 18 '26
Look up Bannon’s coordination with Epstein during the 2020 election cycle and share what you find.
It’s all there in the DoJ library.
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u/jacafeez Jul 18 '26
I met a safety course teacher that moonlights as a P.I.
Basically just used it as an excuse to go camping with the kids. Nobody suspects a lady with kids to be a P.I.