JRE 1713 · June 27, 2024
Mike Baker
Who is Mike Baker?
Mike Baker is a former CIA covert operations officer and current CEO of Portman Square Group, a global intelligence firm. He's also the host of "Black Files Declassified" on Discovery’s Science Channel.
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Mike Baker discusses his career as a CIA covert operations officer and what that work actually entails
- 02The conversation covers intelligence gathering methods and how modern spy work differs from Hollywood portrayals
- 03Baker explains the reality of working in global intelligence and running his firm Portman Square Group
- 04Discussion of classified information, what can and cannot be publicly discussed about CIA operations
- 05Baker talks about his work on Black Files Declassified and bringing real intelligence stories to mainstream audiences
- 06Insights into international espionage, geopolitical tensions, and modern security threats
- ▶Mike Baker introduces his background in CIA covert operations0:00:00
- ▶Discussion of how real intelligence work differs from Hollywood depictions0:15:00
- ▶Baker explains his transition from government work to founding Portman Square Group0:35:00
- ▶Conversation about Black Files Declassified and what information can be made public1:00:00
- ▶Deep dive into modern geopolitical intelligence threats and cyber operations1:45:00
The Show
Joe brings on Mike Baker, a former CIA covert operations officer turned CEO of Portman Square Group, to dive into the real world of intelligence work. This isn't your typical spy movie conversation. Baker walks through what covert ops actually look like versus the Hollywood fantasy everyone has in their head. The guy spent years doing the real thing, and he's refreshingly straightforward about what he can and can't discuss without breaking classification agreements.
The conversation gets into how intelligence gathering has evolved, especially with technology changing the game entirely. Baker explains that modern espionage looks nothing like the Cold War days. You've got cyber operations, digital surveillance, and information warfare all competing with traditional human intelligence. He breaks down why having boots on the ground still matters, even in a world where you can supposedly monitor everything remotely.
One of the interesting threads is how Baker transitioned from classified government work to running a private intelligence firm. Portman Square Group operates globally, advising corporations and governments on security issues. It's a different beast than agency work, but it gives him perspective on how the private and public sectors handle intelligence differently. Baker's also got his show on Discovery's Science Channel, Black Files Declassified, which brings declassified intelligence stories to regular people. Joe and Mike talk about what's interesting enough to declassify, what stays locked up forever, and why some stuff that seems boring now was absolutely critical back in the day.
The discussion touches on real geopolitical hotspots, modern security threats, and how misinformation plays into global intelligence operations now. Baker's got opinions on everything from China's intelligence apparatus to how Russia operates versus Western agencies. He doesn't do the typical Washington speak either. He's direct about what works, what doesn't, and where intelligence operations have gotten things wrong historically. It's a masterclass in what actual intelligence work looks like from someone who lived it.
Best Quotes
“There's a massive gap between what people think intelligence work is and what it actually is”
— Mike Baker
From the JRE 1713 conversation with Mike Baker.
“You can have all the technology in the world, but you still need people who understand the context”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1713 conversation with Mike Baker.
“Declassifying information is about telling stories that matter without compromising sources or methods”
— Mike Baker
From the JRE 1713 conversation with Mike Baker.
“The intelligence world has changed more in the last ten years than it did in the previous fifty”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1713 conversation with Mike Baker.
“Most of what makes a good intelligence officer has nothing to do with gadgets or action sequences”
— Mike Baker
From the JRE 1713 conversation with Mike Baker.
Mentioned in This Episode
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