The Illegals was a network of sleeper agents created by KGB, who were sent into western countries, pretending to be ordinary citizens. Jack Barsky was a young German man when he signed up and became one of the few Illegals who sent straight into the belly of the beast - into the US.
We discuss his early life in East Germany, the KGB training he went through in Moscow, his mission in the US, the eventual arrest by the FBI, as well as famous films portraying spying.

00:00 Intro
02:22 Signing up for the KGB
17:57 Training in Moscow
21:57 Skills
28:12 Mission in the US
55:58 The Americans TV show
01:02:26 Getting out
01:19:53 Arrest by the FBI
01:32:03 The Illegals Program today
01:38:00 Spying in the age of the smartphone
01:42:10 Spy movies

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Jack Barsky's website:
https://jackbarsky.com/

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https://open.spotify.com/episode/7prF...

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