The Protectors® Podcast
The Protectors® Podcast is where powerful stories ignite purpose. Hosted by Jason Piccolo—a retired federal agent, former U.S. Army Infantry Captain (Iraq 2006), and author—the show explores the human side of courage, resilience, and leadership.
More than a podcast about service, it’s a platform for storytelling that empowers. Each episode highlights personal journeys of adversity, sacrifice, redemption, and triumph—revealing the mindset, discipline, and heart behind extraordinary lives. From frontline professionals to bestselling authors and acclaimed actors, the conversations uncover how real experiences inspire the stories that move us—and how storytelling itself becomes a force for strength and transformation.
Past guests include Sean Patrick Flanery, Andrews & Wilson, Mark Greaney, Stephen Hunter, Remi Adeleke, Florent Groberg, Clint Emerson, and Travis Mills—voices that inspire listeners to lead with courage, live with purpose, and tell their own stories boldly.
The Protectors® Podcast
#33 | Thomas Pecora | CIA | Author & CIA Protective Ops Veteran
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Peeled back the curtain of the CIA’s protective service operations chatting with Thomas Pecora. Thomas spent 24 years protecting our Nation’s clandestine officers. From 1989 to 210, Thomas served in every hot zone you can imagine. From Somalia during “Black Hawk Down” to Iraq to the Philippines. We also closed talking about the CIA Officers Memorial Fund. Thomas’ book “Guardian: Life in the Crosshairs of the CIA's War on Terror” is out NOW on every major book site.
From the book: Somalia was Pecora’s first deployment as a CIA Protective Operations Cadre (POC) officer, responsible for providing protective operations support in hostile areas of the world. He later headed up a series of the Agency’s undisclosed protective operations teams. From 1989 until his retirement in 2013, he was assigned to multiple war zones across Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, doing the kind of work few are even aware exists.
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-pecora-053b503a
GUARDIAN Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Guardian-561121847691876
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1s8iH1WsQk
Instagram: @GUARDIAN_Novel
CIA Memorial Foundation: https://www.ciamemorialfoundation.org/
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo
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