Julian Fisher

Absolutely. Even if you can't say why. You know that person who's in the party looking over the shoulder for the next most interesting person to go on and talk to. You just want to avoid them. And they may be flamboyant, they may be charismatic, they may be larger than life, but you just don't feel right about them. So, of course, there has to be a personal connection.

Because if you're going to take that risk, right at the basis of this is trust. You've got to trust that person, that they're going to protect your identity, they're going to protect their dealings with you, they're going to look after you if something goes wrong, to the extent that they can. You have to trust that they are giving something back to you.

Because if you're going to take that risk, right at the basis of this is trust. You've got to trust that person, that they're going to protect your identity, they're going to protect their dealings with you, they're going to look after you if something goes wrong, to the extent that they can. You have to trust that they are giving something back to you.

Because if you're going to take that risk, right at the basis of this is trust. You've got to trust that person, that they're going to protect your identity, they're going to protect their dealings with you, they're going to look after you if something goes wrong, to the extent that they can. You have to trust that they are giving something back to you.

And that's not just material considerations, financial considerations, undoubtedly. But actually, part of what is given back quite often in those relationships is emotional connection. And that has to be genuine. I don't think anybody really can do it without being genuine. This is the paradox at the center of espionage. You have to be an authentic person to do it well.

And that's not just material considerations, financial considerations, undoubtedly. But actually, part of what is given back quite often in those relationships is emotional connection. And that has to be genuine. I don't think anybody really can do it without being genuine. This is the paradox at the center of espionage. You have to be an authentic person to do it well.

And that's not just material considerations, financial considerations, undoubtedly. But actually, part of what is given back quite often in those relationships is emotional connection. And that has to be genuine. I don't think anybody really can do it without being genuine. This is the paradox at the center of espionage. You have to be an authentic person to do it well.

And if you're not, you're soon caught out. But also lie about who you are. Yes, it's a huge paradox, isn't it? You can imagine that moment of unmasking, when you say, okay, you've been talking to me But I've got something to tell you. Actually, I work for the CIA or I work for the Mossad or I work for the IRGC or whatever it is.

And if you're not, you're soon caught out. But also lie about who you are. Yes, it's a huge paradox, isn't it? You can imagine that moment of unmasking, when you say, okay, you've been talking to me But I've got something to tell you. Actually, I work for the CIA or I work for the Mossad or I work for the IRGC or whatever it is.

And if you're not, you're soon caught out. But also lie about who you are. Yes, it's a huge paradox, isn't it? You can imagine that moment of unmasking, when you say, okay, you've been talking to me But I've got something to tell you. Actually, I work for the CIA or I work for the Mossad or I work for the IRGC or whatever it is.

And by the way, having just admitted that I've been lying to you for the past three years, I'm now going to ask you to risk your life by giving me secret intelligence. How about it? It's a tough sell. It's a tough sell, isn't it? So unless you've got a genuine, authentic connection already, I think it's an impossible sell. I've always described it as being about three things.

And by the way, having just admitted that I've been lying to you for the past three years, I'm now going to ask you to risk your life by giving me secret intelligence. How about it? It's a tough sell. It's a tough sell, isn't it? So unless you've got a genuine, authentic connection already, I think it's an impossible sell. I've always described it as being about three things.

And by the way, having just admitted that I've been lying to you for the past three years, I'm now going to ask you to risk your life by giving me secret intelligence. How about it? It's a tough sell. It's a tough sell, isn't it? So unless you've got a genuine, authentic connection already, I think it's an impossible sell. I've always described it as being about three things.

Having self-awareness, others' awareness and situational awareness. And if you can't combine those three things effectively, you won't ever be a good spy.

Having self-awareness, others' awareness and situational awareness. And if you can't combine those three things effectively, you won't ever be a good spy.

Having self-awareness, others' awareness and situational awareness. And if you can't combine those three things effectively, you won't ever be a good spy.

It's in Benin. Oh, okay. It's in West Africa, south coast of Benin. And it's the center of Voodoo, which people often mistake as Hoodoo. I don't even know what Hoodoo is. That's a real thing? Hoodoo is the, in inverted commas, black magic concept. Whereas Voodoo is a legitimate religion, followed by a lot of people in that part of West Africa. Oh, I didn't realize that.

It's in Benin. Oh, okay. It's in West Africa, south coast of Benin. And it's the center of Voodoo, which people often mistake as Hoodoo. I don't even know what Hoodoo is. That's a real thing? Hoodoo is the, in inverted commas, black magic concept. Whereas Voodoo is a legitimate religion, followed by a lot of people in that part of West Africa. Oh, I didn't realize that.

It's in Benin. Oh, okay. It's in West Africa, south coast of Benin. And it's the center of Voodoo, which people often mistake as Hoodoo. I don't even know what Hoodoo is. That's a real thing? Hoodoo is the, in inverted commas, black magic concept. Whereas Voodoo is a legitimate religion, followed by a lot of people in that part of West Africa. Oh, I didn't realize that.

And they worship the python. Eine der Konsequenzen des Worshippens des Pythons ist, dass man es nicht verletzen kann. Man kann es nicht gegen seine Wünsche verletzen. Und sie haben dort einen Tempel in Wiede, den ich vor einiger Zeit auf einem Projekt besucht habe.