The NDS Show - An Intelligence Community Podcast covering Geospatial Intelligence, Open Source Intelligence OSINT, Human Intelligence HUMINT, Military & National Security

MASTERING Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Gathering and Analysis: Enter the OSINT Dragon!

The NDS Show - An Intelligence Community Podcast covering Geospatial Intelligence, Open Source Intelligence OSINT, Human Intelligence HUMINT, Military & National Security

Show Notes

Dive deep into the world of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and the power of publicly available information gathering and analysis. In this podcast we define and explain OSINT and how it differs from traditional intelligence methods. You'll learn how OSINT is used to track Russian spies in Sweden, troop movements in Ukraine, investigate ISIS in Syria, and even predict banking collapses. We also cover the ethics of OSINT and how it can be used to combat disinformation and deep fakes. Plus, we explore the various uses of OSINT and who the customers paying for investigations are. In this podcast Nico Dekens and David Wells join Nick in a masterclass for Open Source Intelligence. Gain insights into everything you ever wanted to know about OSINT and how you can leverage tools and techniques for investigations on your own, to save a few dollars when shopping, or to consume information with healthy skepticism. Nico Dekens is the Director of Intelligence & Collection Innovation at Shadowdragon. Nico has over two decades of experience in OSINT and has worked as an Cyber Intelligence and OSINT professional for organizations like Bellingcat, Police, the OSINT Curious Project, and SANS Institute. Twitter: @dutch_osintguy Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/dutch-osintguy Site : http://dutchosintguy.com David Wells, also at Shadowdragon, is an Intelligence expert and has worked in the Special Operations and Intelligence Communities for nearly two decades with organizations such as USSOCOM, State Department, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Twitter. Awesome OSINT Tools and Training https://shadowdragon.io/ ✅ Subscribe to The NDS Show Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@NDSpodcast?sub_confirmation=1 🎧 Welcome to the official YouTube channel of the NDS Show Podcast 🎧 Join Nick, an Army veteran with expertise in nationally vital geospatial intelligence operations and a successful entrepreneur and business leader, on his journey to unlock valuable insights and engage in thought-provoking discussions. ➡️ With a light-hearted touch, "NDS" is the perfect host for conversations that you will learn from and remember. From science and technology to sports and entertainment, we cover a wide range of topics to challenge your mind and enrich your life. Our guests come from all walks of life, providing a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. As an experienced business leader with success across various industries, including technology, defense, sports, entertainment, real estate, and crypto, Nick has the knowledge and expertise to host thought-provoking topics with guests of all stripes. Our discussions cover current events, entrepreneurship, real estate, technology, and sports, among other topics.

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More from The NDS Show - An Intelligence Community Podcast covering Geospatial Intelligence, Open Source Intelligence OSINT, Human Intelligence HUMINT, Military & National Security

May 29, 2026

In this episode of The NDS Show, Nick Smith sits down with Edward Donaldson, ExxonMobil veteran and quantitative geoscientist with decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, to explore the surprising connections between subsurface intelligence, national security, and the future of artificial intelligence. In this episode they cover:

May 22, 2026

In this episode of The NDS Show, Nick Smith sits down with Mark Galeotti, one of the world's leading experts on Russia, banned indefinitely by the Kremlin in 2022, to break down how Russia's intelligence apparatus really works, what's actually happening inside Putin's inner circle, and where the Ukraine war is really headed. 📘 Order Mark's books: We Need to Talk About Putin: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/439532/we-need-to-talk-about-putin-by-galeotti-mark/9781529981094Homo Criminalus: How Crime Organizes the World: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/445951/homo-criminalis-by-galeotti-mark/9781529148220Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin and the New Fight for the Future of Russia: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/460781/downfall-by-galeotti-anna-arutunyan-and-mark/9781529927382Forged in War: A Military History of Russia from Its Beginnings to Today: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/forged-in-war-9781472862518/ 🎙️ Check out Mark’s podcast: https://inmoscowsshadows.buzzsprout.com/ They dive into:- Why Russia's intelligence community operates on a permanent war footing - The truth behind Russian disinformation, and how much of it is actually hype - What ordinary Russians really think about Putin and the war - The only realistic endgame for the Ukraine war - The dirty secret behind the Russia-China "alliance" - How the Kremlin is outsourcing operations to organized crime - What happens to Russia when Putin is gone This conversation offers a rare glimpse into the forces shaping Russia today, from modern warfare and global power shifts to the inner workings of authoritarian systems behind closed doors.

May 15, 2026

In this episode, Nick sits down with Jonathan B. Smith: Black Swan Group negotiation instructor, author of Fight Less, Win More, and the only entrepreneur on Chris Voss' team of former FBI hostage negotiators. Through his EOS system, Jonathan has helped executives, recruiters, and leaders win rooms they had no business walking into. 📘 Get Jonathan's book: Fight Less, Win More: https://a.co/d/07PMQVRA They cover:

Apr 25, 2026

In this episode of The NDS Show, Nick Smith sits down with Dmitri Alperovitch to break down the AI arms race between the United States and China, the growing threat of cyber warfare, and why we may already be in a new Cold War. Order Dmitri's book! World on the Brink How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century Amazon: https://a.co/d/0aWOAOM2 They dive into: Why AI is being called the “nuclear weapon of our time” Whether the U.S. is accidentally empowering China’s military The real risk of a China-Taiwan conflict Russia’s shocking TP-Link router cyberattack How AI could hack systems, steal data, and change warfare forever What YOU can do to protect yourself from modern cyber threats Is the U.S. giving away its advantage? Are we heading toward World War III? And how does autonomous warfare change everything? This is one of the most important national security conversations happening right now.

Apr 22, 2026

Artificial Intelligence is about to fundamentally change geospatial intelligence, warfare, and decision-making—and few people understand it better than former NGA Chief AI Officer Mark Munsell. In this episode, we break down the real state of AI in GEOINT, why models are rapidly approaching superhuman performance, and what that means for intelligence analysts, national security, and the future of war. From AI-driven targeting myths to the truth behind how military operations actually work, this conversation cuts through the noise and exposes what’s really happening behind the scenes. We dive into: The future of AI in geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) Why large language models still struggle with spatial reasoning How geo-AI, embeddings, and RAG are changing intelligence workflows The reality behind “AI targeting” in modern conflicts Autonomous weapons, decision-making, and human control AI vs humans: when do we trust the machine? The coming shift to real-time AI operating in the physical world Space, satellites, and the next AI arms race Mark also shares insights from leading AI initiatives inside the intelligence community and how classified data, GEOINT, and AI will shape the future of global power.

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