Aldrich Ames—How the Soviet Spy Fooled His CIA Colleagues

Aldrich Ames—How the Soviet Spy Fooled His CIA Colleagues

Who was Aldrich Ames? How was he outed as a spy? How was he able to fool the CIA for so long? Aldrich Ames was one of the most senior officers in the CIA’s Soviet Counterintelligence agency during the Cold War. He was also working as a double agent for the Soviet Union. The CIA is supposed to be the most sophisticated intelligence agency in the world. But even some of the best CIA agents have failed to detect liars in their midst. Learn what it means for the rest of us when even CIA agents can’t identify liars like Aldrich

Cortes and Montezuma—The Meeting that Killed 20 Million Aztecs

Cortes and Montezuma—The Meeting that Killed 20 Million Aztecs

What happened when Hernán Cortés sailed from Spain to Mexico and met Montezuma? Why was Cortés able to conquer Montezuma and the Aztecs so easily? How did the meeting of Cortés and Montezuma mark a turning point in the way we think about other people? We’ll cover how Cortés and Montezuma met, and look at how this meeting between two people of completely different backgrounds, mindsets, and assumptions is indicative of misreadings of strangers that are common today.

Florentino Aspillaga’s Revelation About Cuba Shocked the CIA

Florentino Aspillaga’s Revelation About Cuba Shocked the CIA

Who was Florentino Aspillaga? What does his revelation to the CIA say about the problem of how to know when people are lying to us? Florentino Aspillaga was a Cuban intelligence officer disenchanted with Fidel Castro’s regime. In 1987, he defected and fled to the American Embassy in Vienna. Learn why what Florentino Aspillaga told the Americans was so important, and what it can teach the rest of us about how hard it is to know who to trust.

Ana Montes: How Cuba’s Spy Fooled Colleagues for Years

Ana Montes: How Cuba’s Spy Fooled Colleagues for Years

Who is Ana Montes? How did she manage to fool her colleagues in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for so long? Ana Montes was an agent with America’s Defense Intelligence Agency. She was known as the “Queen of Cuba” for her expertise in Cuban intelligence. She was also a spy for Cuba. Learn how Ana Montes fooled her colleagues, and why we’re all vulnerable to missing the signs right in front of us.

Brock Turner Case: Is It More Nuanced Than You Think?

Brock Turner Case: Is It More Nuanced Than You Think?

The Brock Turner case outraged many. Should Brock Turner have received a harsher penalty for sexual assault? More time behind bars? Were there any nuances to the Brock Turner case? While many people have strong opinions about the Brock Turner case, Malcolm Gladwell thinks it’s not so simple. Learn the many ambiguities in the Brock Turner case, according to Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers.

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg’s Mindset Nearly Ruined Her Career

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg’s Mindset Nearly Ruined Her Career

Who is Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg? How did the violinist discover that her talent alone was not going to lead her to a successful career in music? Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg is a highly accomplished violinist and music teacher. But she almost ruined her future as a violinist with her fixed mindset. We’ll cover the dangers of a fixed mindset (Carol Dweck, Mindset) and how Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg turned her early violin career around.

How Anne Mulcahy Transformed Xerox and Its $17 Billion of Debt

How Anne Mulcahy Transformed Xerox and Its $17 Billion of Debt

Who is Anne Mulcahy? How did she turn Xerox from a company with billions in debt and abysmal stock prices to a wildly successful company? Anne Mulcahy was the chairperson and CEO of Xerox from 2001 to 2010. She turned the struggling company around in three years. We’ll cover how Anne Mulcahy of Xerox was so successful in her mission and what made her such a great leader.