Secret Squirrel Files Podcast

Katie Helbling & Phoebe Wells

In every secret, there’s a story, and we’re here to tell it. Because in a world of secrets the truth always leaves a trail. Welcome to secret squirrel files, where national security meets the shadows of true crime. Powered by ClearanceJobs.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. CIA Double Agent admitted being paid $2.5M + Missing Washington Army Private Case Still Unsolved...

    May 28

    CIA Double Agent admitted being paid $2.5M + Missing Washington Army Private Case Still Unsolved...

    Dive into one of the most devastating espionage betrayals in American history — and one of the strangest unsolved disappearances tied to the military intelligence world. In this episode of Secret Squirrel Files, we unpack the shocking case of CIA officer Aldrich Ames, the Cold War double agent who sold out U.S. intelligence assets to the Soviet Union, compromising more than 100 operations and changing national security vetting forever. From financial red flags and polygraphs that should have failed, to the insider threat lessons that still shape security clearance policy today, this case reveals how one trusted insider caused catastrophic damage from within. Then, we shift to the eerie and unresolved disappearance of Army specialist Justin Burgwinkel. A young soldier fascinated by covert operations, Burgwinkel vanished in 1993 after exhibiting increasingly paranoid behavior, making cryptic references to “missions,” carrying a mysterious briefcase, and warning loved ones that if his dog tags were ever found, it meant he was dead. Was he suffering a psychological breakdown, fabricating a secret identity, or caught up in something far more dangerous? From Cold War espionage to unsolved military mysteries, this episode explores the blurry line between secrecy, paranoia, intelligence culture, and real-world consequences.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  2. The Attacks That Changed America: Inside Operation Bojinka + the Oklahoma City Bombing

    May 15

    The Attacks That Changed America: Inside Operation Bojinka + the Oklahoma City Bombing

    This week on Secret Squirrel Files, Katie and Phoebe explore two terrorism cases that permanently reshaped national security, aviation safety, and America’s understanding of extremism. First, Katie unpacks Operation Bojinka — the terrifying 1995 terror plot that foreshadowed 9/11 and nearly brought down multiple commercial airliners over the Pacific. Then, Phoebe examines the Oklahoma City bombing and the radicalization of Timothy McVeigh, the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history at the time. The conversation dives into the warning signs investigators uncovered, the failures and vulnerabilities exposed by both attacks, and how these events transformed counterterrorism efforts in the United States. From aviation security protocols to the lasting effects of extremist ideology, this episode explores the real-world consequences of terror plots that still shape our lives today. ⚠️ Listener discretion advised: this episode discusses terrorism, mass casualties, and violence involving children.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  3. Federal Investigations: Ghost Stories Successful Takedown + Unsolved Death Near Sheppard AFB

    Apr 28

    Federal Investigations: Ghost Stories Successful Takedown + Unsolved Death Near Sheppard AFB

    Case 1: Operation Ghost Stories was a decade-long FBI counterintelligence investigation that culminated in the June 2010 arrest of 10 "deep-cover" Russian sleeper agents (or "illegals") in the U.S.. These agents, including Anna Chapman, lived in suburban neighborhoods with fake identities, attempting to gather information on U.S. policy for the SVR. Case 2: On September 25, 2000, life at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, took a dark and unexpected turn. Eleven-year-old Christopher Aaron Morris was found dead inside a dishwasher in his home—an unsettling and tragic discovery that defied explanation. What followed was a case marked by confusion, lingering questions, and a deep sense that something wasn’t right. Years later, the mystery surrounding Christopher’s death continues to haunt those who have followed it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  4. The Insiders Next Door: John Walker Spy Ring + Stewart David Nozette MAD Scientist

    Apr 3

    The Insiders Next Door: John Walker Spy Ring + Stewart David Nozette MAD Scientist

    Welcome to our first episode of Secret Squirrel Files, where national security meets the shadows of true crime. Case 1: A trusted U.S. Navy insider quietly fed America’s most sensitive secrets to the Soviets for years—but what made the John Walker spy ring truly devastating wasn’t just what he stole… it was who he brought in with him. Case 2: A brilliant scientist with access to some of America’s most sensitive space secrets thought he was selling information to a foreign power—but the real twist is who was on the other end of the deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

Trailer

About

In every secret, there’s a story, and we’re here to tell it. Because in a world of secrets the truth always leaves a trail. Welcome to secret squirrel files, where national security meets the shadows of true crime. Powered by ClearanceJobs.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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