Open Secret - The power of open-source intelligence

This season we’ve explored open-source intelligence across a broad spectrum – we’ve heard how it’s applied in banking, pharmaceutical companies, journalism and more. We’ve delved into the importance of creativity, communication and tradecraft in OSINT.

While interviewing leading OSINT minds Cameron Mitchell, Alisa Gbiorczyk, Gordon Farrer, Nikki Rutman and Gus Kangas, hosts Jane and Kylie have solidified something that they both already believed – the power and possibility of OSINT is infinite.

Listen to our season finale to hear Jane and Kylie's favourite bits from the season, and reflections on the importance of OSINT.

Content Warning. This episode of Open Secret contains references to themes of human trafficking, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, abuse, and violence which some individuals may find distressing.

Show notes

Open Secret is an OSINT Combine podcast, produced by TributePod.

Open Secret is recorded on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people. OSINT Combine acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Gus Kangas has an innovative approach to getting the most out of intelligence teams – pairing them with creative types. With experience as a child actor, on Broadway, and then as an intelligence officer, Gus recognises the strength that comes from both groups of people.

Listen to find out why Gus wants more divergent thinkers in the room, how it affects intelligence teams’ outputs, and why national security needs a little more showbiz sometimes.

Gus recently retired from almost three decades of federal service, including with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Show notes

RL Leaders: https://www.rlleaders.com/

RL Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rl-leaders/

Open Secret is an OSINT Combine podcast, produced by TributePod.

Open Secret is recorded on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people. OSINT Combine acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

In this episode of Open Secret, we speak to Nikki Rutman. Nikki honed her intelligence skills in government over two decades, including with the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI), then turned her sights to the pharmaceutical industry. But it isn't easy building an intelligence capability from scratch!

Her secret weapon? Good OSINT analysts. Nikki says the ideal intelligence professional is innately curious, versatile, and comfortable with a bit of discomfort because no two days are ever the same.

Listen to find out how you can build intelligence capability in your organisation and communicate with impact (fast!). And how to turn corporate speak into tangible, actionable research problems for your team.

Show notes

Open Secret is an OSINT Combine podcast, produced by TributePod.

Open Secret is recorded on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people. OSINT Combine acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Gordon Farrer had an interesting introduction to open-source intelligence. As a career journalist and checker of facts, he believes whole-heartedly in producing content that is credible, truthful and backed by rigorous methodology.

Luckily for Australia’s young journalistic minds, Gordon is also passionate about education, and teaches a subject on fact checking and verification at RMIT. He was recently awarded the “Outstanding Teaching Award in a Journalism Program” by the Journalism, Education and Research Association of Australia for his work on designing and teaching the subject.

Gordon has He found open-source collection methods helped him build on existing journalistic investigation skills, allowing him to search deeper, find information faster, and uncover things that might otherwise have stayed hidden.

At a time when mis and disinformation spread with ease, and AI-generated content presents more of a challenge than ever, Gordon says his OSINT skills help him to investigate some of the narratives intended to undermine society.

Listen to find out why you should seek out information to challenge your world view, why journalists should learn OSINT skills, and why we often think with our heart (not our head) when we see misinformation.

Show notes

RMIT ABC Fact Check: https://www.abc.net.au/news/factcheck

Truth mass index: https://theconversation.com/when-1-1-1-journalism-and-the-trouble-with-facts-17781

Open Secret is an OSINT Combine podcast, produced by TributePod.

Open Secret is recorded on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people. OSINT Combine acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Content Warning. This episode of Open Secret contains references to themes of human trafficking, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, abuse, and violence which some individuals may find distressing.

Alisa Gbiorczyk is an indomitable figure in the counter-human trafficking world. A self-described “hunter”, she has dedicated her life to tracking down perpetrators and working with law enforcement to disrupt criminal networks.

In this episode of Open Secret, Alisa shares with Kylie and Jane the challenges and triumphs of combating this global issue. As an OSINT practitioner, trainer, and certified human trafficking investigator, she explores the challenges of working with explicit content and offers practical tips for protecting yourself and others online.

Listen to find out why Alisa thinks everyone has a part to play in dismantling human trafficking networks, supporting survivors, and advocating for change. And how OSINT helps her do what she does best – hunting.

Show notes

CYBER NITEWATCH: https://cybernitewatch.com/

CYBER NITEWATCH on X: https://twitter.com/cybernitewatch

CYBER NITEWATCH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyber-nitewatch-llc/

Open Secret is an OSINT Combine podcast, produced by TributePod.

Open Secret is recorded on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people. OSINT Combine acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.