360 episodes

Everywhere you look these days terrorism and violent extremism dominate the headlines. Whether you follow what is happening in Afghanistan or Iraq, or in the West writ large, we are inundated with news of attacks by groups and individuals fighting for a 'cause'.In a world of multiple voices and opinions it can be very hard to know where to turn. One choice is to look to those who actually worked in counterterrorism in the national security world. In these half-hour podcasts 30-year Canadian intelligence veteran Phil Gurski is joined by a fascinating array of individuals with something meaningful to say about these issues as they provide insight into what they mean and what we need to do about them.

Canadian Intelligence Eh Phil Gurski

    • News
    • 4.6 • 19 Ratings

Everywhere you look these days terrorism and violent extremism dominate the headlines. Whether you follow what is happening in Afghanistan or Iraq, or in the West writ large, we are inundated with news of attacks by groups and individuals fighting for a 'cause'.In a world of multiple voices and opinions it can be very hard to know where to turn. One choice is to look to those who actually worked in counterterrorism in the national security world. In these half-hour podcasts 30-year Canadian intelligence veteran Phil Gurski is joined by a fascinating array of individuals with something meaningful to say about these issues as they provide insight into what they mean and what we need to do about them.

    Quick Hits | So long and thanks for all the fish

    Quick Hits | So long and thanks for all the fish

    Borealis has had a good run since 2015 - podcasts, blogs, media interviews, etc.  not to mention six books on terrorism. It is time, however, to move on.  This is the last podcast... for now.

    About the host Phil Gurski:
    Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
    ►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
    ►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
    ►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
    ►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
    ►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

    • 12 min
    Episode #134 - What keeps French security forces up at night?

    Episode #134 - What keeps French security forces up at night?

    France could be seen as the 'birthplace' of terrorism - think the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution of the 1790s.  The country has seen some catastrophic attacks such as the Stade de France/Bataclan jihadi  one of November 2015.  A new report discusses the state of terrorism in France and Borealis talks to its author Alexandre Rodde from the Gendarmerie Nationale

    Alexandre is a security consultant specialised in terrorism and mass shootings. His work includes risk assessment, threat monitoring, and research on national security subjects.
    Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
    ►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
    ►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
    ►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
    ►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
    ►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

    • 20 min
    Episode #133 - What can ordinary citizens do to stop radicalisation to violence?

    Episode #133 - What can ordinary citizens do to stop radicalisation to violence?

    When an arrest is made in a terrorism case or, worst case scenario, we are doing a post-analysis of an attack, we often read about a person's 'radicalisation process'.  The assumption is that terrorists are made, not born, and that there are signs to look for before it is too late.  Borealis talks to Executive Director Myrieme Churchill of Parents4peace, an organisation that aims to help families identify and deal with these cases
    Myrieme Churchill is the Executive Director of Parents for Peace. She has over 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist, working in variety of settings and with a range of populations in Europe and the U.S. Beginning her career in France, she intervened with first and second-generation North African immigrant sex workers on the streets of Marseille and facilitated group therapy in a juvenile detention center in Nice.

    Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
    ►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
    ►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
    ►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
    ►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
    ►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

    • 23 min
    Episode #132 - Anders Breivik: What to do with terrorist mass murderers behind bars?

    Episode #132 - Anders Breivik: What to do with terrorist mass murderers behind bars?

    There are two types of terrorists: those who die/are killed in their attacks and those who are not.  The latter usually end up in prison for long periods of time.  Then what?  Borealis talks once again with Norwegian CT analyst Atle Mesoy on the infamous Anders Breivik case from 2011.

    ►Listen to my previous podcast with Atle Mesoy: Episode #126 - Is it time to revisit the mental illness/terrorism nexus?

    Atle Mesoy is the founder of U-Turn, an Oslo-based NGO working to prevent violent extremism. U-Turn is based on research and fieldwork within terrorism and political violence and consists of experts from different backgrounds providing a holistic and critical approach to CVE (Countering Violent Extremism).
    Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
    ►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
    ►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
    ►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
    ►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
    ►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

    • 23 min
    Episode #131 - The challenge of running a large domestic security intelligence operation

    Episode #131 - The challenge of running a large domestic security intelligence operation

    Canada's intelligence agency CSIS has a national presence across the country.  That it where the investigations happen and the intel is collected.  What it is like to run such a shop?  Borealis talks to former senior CSIS IO Dan Faughnan.
    Dan Faughnan served for over 30 years with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Canadian Armed Forces, retiring as a senior director general. During his long career Dan served in multiple domestic offices and overseas missions, developing and leading a significant number of operations, as well as transformational projects and programs.
    Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
    ►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
    ►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
    ►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
    ►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
    ►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

    • 25 min
    Episode #130 - Should Canada bring back ISIS fighters for prosecution here?

    Episode #130 - Should Canada bring back ISIS fighters for prosecution here?

    Some 40,000 ISIS terrorists joined the group in the mid-2010s from over 100 nations, including Canada.  Many are still alive, some languishing in prisons or camps, including women and children.  There are those lobbying for their return to their homelands: is this wise?  Borealis has a conversation with Dr. Alexandra Bain, a religious studies prof at St Thomas University in New Brunswick.

    CORRECTION: Dr Bain noted that a returned female ISIS terrorist has been charged and will appear in court in March; In fact she has not yet been charged.
    Dr. Alexandra Bain is an associate professor teaching Islamic studies at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick.  Dr. Bain was co-founder of Families Against Violent Extremism (FAVE) a Canadian non-profit organization whose goal is to help stop the spread of groups such as ISIS by working with their families.

    Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
    ►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
    ►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
    ►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
    ►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
    ►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
19 Ratings

19 Ratings

Alwaysstitchin ,

Sad to see you go

I’ve looked forward to your new podcasts every week. Not much out there on Canadian security. I am not an expert in this field just enjoy hearing about it so thank you.

aynsleyf22 ,

Great podcast

I really like this podcast. Isn’t mainstream but still awesome. Love the Canadian perspective.

Muddy15372 ,

Next episode??

Hi Sir,

I’m currently writing a undergrad thesis on incorporating deterrence into Canada’s counterterrorism strategy. More so, I employ game theory to demonstrate how censoring key elements of an attack in the media can reduce the incentive to attack. Maybe a future episode could be discussing this as a possibly in the future? I’d be curious to hear your opinions!

Regards,

Mads

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