Hard-hitting stories from what life is truly like on dangerous missions for the ultra-secretive CIA will blow your mind this week. From the attack on the CIA HQ, on the ground during the Black Hawk Down incident in Mogadishu through to other riveting moments in Africa, Latin American, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East…our guest this week has firsthand, direct experience and you get the very rare special privilege to hear all about them. Thomas Pecora served 24 years with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) retiring as a GS 15 Senior Security Manager. Did you know that many US spies are protected by an elite cadre all over the world? Thomas was there right from the birth of this special group of brave Americans in the CIA. He has extensive experience in the best methods to protect the CIA’s personnel in the most harrowing places. This week, he shares some of his hard-earned wisdom, forged in the world’s most hostile environments with you. What serious threats do the nation’s clandestine operators face? How did Thomas and his colleagues protect them and their missions in the face of overwhelming odds? What’s it like being in an armored vehicle hammered by wave after wave of bullets? He covers all that ground and much, much more. Thomas is a fantastic storyteller and takes you along on his real-life Jason Bourne type adventures like escaping a car ambush to more Bond/Indiana Jones type adventures like dining on what ancient Chinese emperors ate. Hear about an enemy that persistently infiltrated and sabotaged their unusual, covert barracks – it will definitely surprise you. Find out the remarkable way Thomas and his team stayed safe from enemy rocket bombardments – (hint: you get to hear what Saddam Hussein’s bunkers were like). Thomas hooks you up with a cheeky sneak peek inside his upcoming book – GUARDIAN: Life in the Crosshairs of the CIA’s War on Terror - three months before publication. You get to hear some of the unforgettable stories way before the rest of the public has access. This episode is a double-header so make sure not to miss the second half where Pecora dives into “getting off the X,” how to escape attacks, the ultimate gear, must haves for a go bag and much, much more.