JRE 1923 · 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+ and the Science Channel, and author of the new book "Company Rules, Or Everything I Know About Business I Learned from the CIA," available exclusively from Scribd.com on January 18. https://try.scribd.com/baker/
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Mike Baker discusses his transition from CIA covert operations to founding Portman Square Group, a global intelligence firm
- 02Baker explains how CIA tradecraft and operational thinking directly applies to running a successful business
- 03The conversation covers real-world intelligence operations and how misinformation spreads in the modern era
- 04Baker shares insights about corporate security threats and how businesses are targeted by foreign intelligence agencies
- 05Discussion of his new book Company Rules which applies CIA methodology to business strategy and decision-making
- 06Baker talks about his work hosting Black Files Declassified on Discovery+ and breaking down classified intelligence for public consumption
- ▶Baker explains how CIA operations directly apply to business strategy0:10:30
- ▶Discussion of corporate espionage and how foreign intelligence targets American businesses0:25:15
- ▶Baker talks about his new book Company Rules and CIA tradecraft applied to business0:40:00
- ▶Conversation about misinformation, disinformation, and how narratives are weaponized0:55:30
- ▶Baker discusses Black Files Declassified and bringing real intelligence operations to mainstream audiences1:10:45
The Show
Joe brings on Mike Baker, a former CIA covert operations officer turned CEO and media personality, to discuss his unconventional career path from intelligence work to business and entertainment. Baker doesn't just talk about his CIA days as nostalgic war stories. Instead, he frames the entire conversation around how the tradecraft, operational security, and strategic thinking that made him effective in clandestine operations translates directly to running a modern business.
The core of their discussion centers on Baker's new book Company Rules, which takes CIA methodology and applies it to corporate decision-making and strategy. Baker breaks down how intelligence officers approach problems, manage risk, and handle uncertainty in ways that most business schools never teach. He explains that the discipline required to operate in denied areas with incomplete information is basically the same discipline you need to navigate corporate strategy in an unpredictable market.
Baker also dives into how modern businesses are being actively targeted by foreign intelligence agencies. He explains that corporate espionage isn't just a thriller movie concept anymore. Companies are constantly probed, tested, and targeted by state actors looking for competitive advantages or intellectual property. The awareness and defensive posture that Baker advocates for comes from his years understanding how intelligence operations actually work.
The conversation touches on misinformation and how it spreads in the current information landscape. Baker brings the perspective of someone who understands how narratives are constructed, controlled, and weaponized. He talks about the difference between disinformation (intentional falsehoods from organized actors) and the chaos of competing narratives in the age of social media.
Baker discusses his work with Black Files Declassified, where he takes actual declassified intelligence operations and breaks them down for public understanding. He's found that real intelligence work is often stranger and more interesting than the fictional portrayals most people grow up with. The show gives him a platform to educate people about how intelligence actually works versus the Hollywood version.
Best Quotes
“The tradecraft I learned in covert operations is directly applicable to managing risk and uncertainty in business”
— Mike Baker
From the JRE 1923 conversation with Mike Baker.
“Corporate espionage is real and happening right now. Most business leaders are completely unprepared for it”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1923 conversation with Mike Baker.
“Real intelligence operations are often stranger than fiction. Hollywood gets it wrong in almost every way”
— Mike Baker
From the JRE 1923 conversation with Mike Baker.
“The discipline required to operate with incomplete information in denied areas is the same discipline you need in business strategy”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1923 conversation with Mike Baker.
“Understanding how disinformation works means understanding how narratives are constructed and who benefits from them”
— Mike Baker
From the JRE 1923 conversation with Mike Baker.
Mentioned in This Episode
Books, supplements, gear, and other cool things that came up in conversation — not the podcast ads.
Company Rules: Or Everything I Know About Business I Learned from the CIA
AmazonMike Baker's new book applying CIA tradecraft and operational methodology to business strategy and decision-making, available exclusively on Scribd.com starting January 18.
Black Files Declassified
AmazonA television series hosted by Mike Baker on Discovery+ and the Science Channel that breaks down real declassified intelligence operations for public understanding.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
