Ep. 117: From Cuba to CIA - Ric Prado on Service, Sacrifice, and Black Ops

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On this edition of Passing the Torch, Martin Foster welcomes legendary CIA operations officer and bestselling author Ric Prado to the show. If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in clandestine operations, this episode is an absolute must-listen.

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Quick Episode Summary:

CIA legend Ric Prado shares life, service, sacrifice, and powerful lessons.

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SEO Description:

CIA veteran Ric Prado shares insights on covert operations, resilience, and life lessons with host Martin Foster on Passing The Torch podcast.

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🌟 Torch Takeaways and Key highlights:

You’ll hear Ric reflect on:

• The inspirations and the adversity that shaped him—from Cuba to clandestine combat.
• The real truth about life in the CIA, dispelling Hollywood myths about covert operations and the people behind them.
• Stories behind his book "Black Ops" and the movement to bring it to the screen as a TV series.
• Hard-won lessons about integrity, faith, service, and facing moral grey areas when the stakes are highest.
• His personal legacy, giving back by mentoring the next generation of special operators and intelligence officers.
• Fun anecdotes about baseball, collecting autographs, and memories from Miami to Japan.

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Chapters:

00:00 Victor Frankl: Choosing Growth

06:11 CIA's Stories and Misrepresentation

09:49 CIA Misconceptions and Hollywood

12:19 Flawed Characters Undermine Aspirations

16:59 Espionage Work Under Cover

20:31 Faith, Resilience, and Adversity

21:22 From Cuba to Resilience

24:48 Resilience and Mentorship Reflections

29:02 Friendship and Human Nature

32:53 Faith, Conviction, and Resilience

35:52 Insanely Tough and Polished

37:35 Honoring an Exceptional Connector

41:55 Baseball Memories and Connections

44:27 Baseball, Poverty, and Resilience

48:14 Faith, Gratitude, and Guidance

51:34 Keep Inspiring Positive Influence

53:46 Passing the Torch Impact

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Looking for someone to host your event, emcee, or conduct a live podcast, please email [e-mail]

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