Iron Butterfly

Stories from the most powerful women you've never heard of.Eighty years ago, Eloise Page joined the OSS, trailblazing a path for what ultimately became the United States Intelligence Community. She rose the ranks from secretary to case officer, defying the norms of her time, and eventually became the first female Chief of Station at CIA. Along the way, Eloise earned the code name “Iron Butterfly.”These are the women who have shaped our world, and whose influence continues to ripple through time, space, and generations.

Iron Butterfly is a society podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 97 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Iron Butterfly, a society show with 97 episodes published.

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  Iron Butterfly

  Ellen McCarthy: Big Mac on Leaving Government, Trust in Intelligence, & Thinking Big (pt 2)

  Sep 29, 202653 min

  On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast , we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies . This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts. On this episode, we’re joined by Ellen McCarthy, former Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (INR), who has held senior leadership positions across the intelligence and national security community, including as Chief Operating Officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), President of Noblis NSP, and President of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA). She has also served in senior roles within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and the United States Coast Guard. In this episode, Ellen reflects on some of her favorite roles throughout her career, what inspired her passion for serving and protecting others, and the unexpected paths that can lead to a career in national security. She shares lessons from navigating leadership across the Intelligence Community and offers a candid look at how a career can evolve in ways you never anticipated. Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you! Instagram : @ironbutterflypodcast YouTube : @IronButterflyMedia Spotify : Iron Butterfly Podcast To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/

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  Episode #8

  Ellen McCarthy: Big Mac on Sean Connery, the Coast Guard, Taking Risks, & Finding Her Purpose (pt 1)

  Sep 15, 202647 minS9

  On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast , we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies . This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts. On this episode, we’re joined by Ellen McCarthy, former Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (INR), who has held senior leadership positions across the intelligence and national security community, including as Chief Operating Officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), President of Noblis NSP, and President of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA). She has also served in senior roles within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and the United States Coast Guard. In this episode, Ellen reflects on some of her favorite roles throughout her career, what inspired her passion for serving and protecting others, and the unexpected paths that can lead to a career in national security. She shares lessons from navigating leadership across the Intelligence Community and offers a candid look at how a career can evolve in ways you never anticipated. Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you! Instagram : @ironbutterflypodcast YouTube : @IronButterflyMedia Spotify : Iron Butterfly Podcast To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #7

  J'Tia Hart: Sable Sage—The Future is Fierce

  Aug 18, 202620 minS9

  On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast , we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies . This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts. On this episode, we’re joined by J’Tia Hart, Division Director of Nuclear Nonproliferation at Idaho National Laboratory with the U.S. Department of Energy, and a very special guest host. We explore J’Tia’s journey into nuclear engineering, what inspired her to pursue the field, and the importance of nuclear nonproliferation. We also talk about our documentary, The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies , and the challenge—and opportunity—of explaining intelligence and nuclear nonproliferation to the next generation. It’s a fun and engaging conversation that brings together science, national security, storytelling, and the people working to shape the future. Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you! Instagram : @ironbutterflypodcast YouTube : @IronButterflyMedia Spotify : Iron Butterfly Podcast To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/

  ListenShow Notes
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  Iron Butterfly

  Susan Miller: California Cool

  Jul 22, 20261h 17mS9

  On this very special episode of the Iron Butterfly Podcast, we take a quick break from our documentary series to sit down with retired CIA officer Susan Miller. Susan explores her remarkable journey from growing up in Northern California to building a career in intelligence. She reflects on her path to the CIA, from her college years and application process to the excitement of her first overseas tours in Moscow and communist-era Warsaw, where she experienced the challenges and adventures of Cold War espionage—and even met her future husband through an unexpected twist of fate. Susan also shares some of her favorite memories from her career, the lessons she learned along the way, and how she continues to stay connected to the intelligence community today. She also talks about life beyond the Agency and the unforgettable experiences that have shaped her both in and out of the world of espionage.

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  Iron Butterfly

  Chitra Sivanandam: Maven Gray Pt 2

  Jun 23, 202635 min

  On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast , we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies . This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts. In this episode, we sit down with Chitra Sivanandam, whose path into the national security community is anything but conventional. With more than 25 years supporting the Intelligence and Defense sector, Chitra explores her favorite roles across a career spanning industry giants, startups, and small businesses, as well as the lessons she's learned bridging private-sector technology with government missions. We also discuss her passion for art and creative mediums, and how embracing creativity has helped her approach problems from new angles, challenge assumptions, and think beyond traditional solutions. Along the way, Chitra offers a look into life outside of work, including managing a household with an impressive number of animals, and reflects on how curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to forge an unconventional path have shaped both her career and perspective. Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you! Instagram : @ironbutterflypodcast YouTube : @IronButterflyMedia Spotify : Iron Butterfly Podcast To support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/

  ListenShow Notes

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