On Episode 122 of The TLB Podcast James speaks with visual artist and former CIA analyst Jessica Elder, and the pair discuss her unique journey from working in the intelligence community to pursuing her passion for art, the realities of life at the CIA, humorous anecdotes about the internal culture, the learning curve of 3D printing, and the importance of maintaining financial stability while pursuing one's passion.
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JESSICA ELDER’s LINKS
Website: https://www.jessicaelderart.com
Instagram: @jesselder.art
TikTok: @jessica.et.cetera
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
01:04 - From CIA Analyst to Visual Artist
02:12 - The CIA’s Application Process
04:15 - Life Inside the CIA
06:03 - Bureaucratic Culture
12:40 - The Overt vs. Covert Roles
14:45 - Sharing Unclassified Facts
15:33 - The CIA’s Food Court
19:20 - Moments of Seriousness
22:05 - Internal Humor
24:51 - Diversity and Age Distribution at the CIA
26:50 - The Hogwarts Comparison
31:35 - Spicy Memes
35:27 - Office Pranks and Shenanigans
39:13 - Transitioning to Art
41:09 - The Learning Curve of 3D Printing
42:39 - Artistic Inspiration and Influences
44:31 - CIA's Influence on the High Art World
48:36 - Art and Money Laundering
55:51 - Navigating the Art World
57:18 - Art Installations in Government Spaces
01:04:40 - Pursuing Your Passion vs. Stability
01:10:00 - Balancing Multiple Passions
01:19:06 - Creating Art for the CIA
#CIA #JessicaElder #visualartist #unclassified #government #art #engineering #TikTok #analysis #bureaucracy #3Dprinting #inspiration #creativity #personalexperience #artworld #moneylaundering #passion #balance
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