John Lisle, a historian of science and the American intelligence community and author of The Dirty Tricks Department, joins the show to talk about the World War Two-era Office of Strategic Services and its Research and Development Branch. ▪️ Times • 01:44 Introduction • 02:10 “Wild Bill” Donovan • 05:54 Donovan’s style • 08:53 Stanley Lovell • 12:35 An unconventional training process • 16:40 Explosive pancake batter • 19:24 Limpet mines and Java Man • 23:33 A meaningful legacy? • 27:34 Target: Werner Heisenberg • 31:51 WMDs • 35:40 Truth Serum • 39:02 From OSS to CIA Follow along on Instagram

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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