339: Michele Rigby Assad | My Secret Life in the CIA

Topics covered
Popular Clips
Questions from this episode
- Asked by 13 people
- Asked by 6 people
Episode Highlights
Overcoming Challenges
Michele Rigby Assad faced numerous internal challenges during her time at the CIA, including overcoming imposter syndrome and navigating the complexities of publishing her experiences. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and articulating one's fears to move forward, stating, "There's so much power in understanding what you're doing, just recognizing that you've been doing that first of all, giving it words" 1. Michele also had to contend with the CIA's publication review board, which required her to redact sensitive information from her book, adding another layer of difficulty to her writing process 1. Despite these hurdles, she found strength in her story's potential to inspire others, ultimately deciding that the risk of sharing her experiences was worth the potential impact 1.
Ā Ā Ā
Curiosity and Impact
Michele's curiosity and desire to make an impact were pivotal in shaping her career path. Growing up with limited exposure to the world, she believed that making a significant impact required an Ivy League education or strong connections, but her life proved otherwise 2. Her fascination with the Middle East and Arab culture drove her to pursue opportunities that expanded her understanding, demonstrating that a hunger for knowledge can lead to profound personal and professional growth 2. Michele's story underscores the power of curiosity and the willingness to step outside one's comfort zone to achieve meaningful change 2.
Related Episodes


261: Mubin Shaikh | Up Close with an Undercover Jihadi
Answers 383 questions

1027: Jonna Mendez | A Woman's Life in the CIA
Answers 383 questions

217: Matthew Schrier | How to Survive in a Secret Syrian Terrorist Prison
Answers 383 questions

1064: Andrew Bustamante | The Psychology of Espionage Part One
Answers 383 questions

1065: Andrew Bustamante | The Psychology of Espionage Part Two
Answers 383 questions

1027: Jonna Mendez | A Womanās Life in the CIA
Answers 383 questions

820: Bradley Hope | The Secret Mission to Overthrow North Korea
Answers 383 questions

458: John Brennan | An Undaunted Fight Against America's Enemies
Answers 383 questions

384: Aimen Dean | Nine Lives of a Spy Inside Al-Qaeda Part Two
Answers 383 questions

845: Robert Kerbeck | From Struggling Actor to Corporate Spy
Answers 383 questions

344: Jonna Mendez | The Moscow Rules
Answers 383 questions

572: Tamer Elnoury | Undercover with a Muslim FBI Agent
Answers 383 questions

978: Adam Gamal | My Top-Secret Fight Against Terrorism Part One
Answers 383 questions

1095: Ali Abdaal | The Hidden Economics of Creative Success Part One
Answers 383 questions

749: Yasmine Mohammed | How the West Empowers Radical Islam Part Two
Answers 383 questions
