Iron Butterfly

Today, we’re launching a special Iron Butterfly Podcast season that goes inside our first feature documentary film, The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies.This season is our way of bringing you along for the ride.In these two part episodes, we’re inviting you into deeper conversations with each woman from the film, covering her life, family, career, and the unseen moments that shaped who she is today. These are the parts of the story that don’t all fit into a 70-minute film, but deserve a home.Thank you for walking with us. We’re proud to share this new chapter with you! Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!Instagram: @ironbutterflypodcastYouTube: @IronButterflyMediaSpotify: Iron Butterfly PodcastApple: Iron Butterfly PodcastTo support The Iron Butterfly Podcast, visit our Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/IronButterflyPodcast To learn more about Iron Butterfly Media, check out our website: https://www.ironbutterflymedia.com/

In this special historical episode of the Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re joined by researcher and storyteller Andrea Wallis Aven, whose lifelong passion for genealogy and history has illuminated generations of her family’s extraordinary service. Through meticulous research, Andrea has traced the lives of her Wallis and Stewart ancestors, uncovering a remarkable lineage of veterans who served their country across centuries.Among these stories is that of her aunt, Jane Wallis Burrell—a trailblazing intelligence officer who served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II, later joining the Strategic Services Unit (SSU) and the Central Intelligence Group (CIG), all predecessors to the CIA. Jane’s groundbreaking career was tragically cut short on January 6, 1948, when she died in a plane crash—just months after the CIA’s official formation.Join us as Andrea shares incredible pictures and artifacts from Jane’s time in service, the discoveries, the human stories behind the records, and how uncovering her family’s past deepened her understanding of history, service, and legacy.You can also learn more about Jane through the following article: https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/the-mystery-of-jane-wallis-burrell-the-first-cia-officer-to-die-in-the-agencys-service/

In the powerful Season 8 finale, we sit down with Celia "CC" Durall—CEO of CD Possibilities, leadership coach, and a former force within the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. With a career rooted in human capital and workforce strategy, CC brings a wealth of experience and insight to this closing chapter.She shares her story of growing up as a third culture kid, the daughter of diplomats, navigating multiple languages and cultures from a young age. This upbringing shaped her ability to become a natural translator—not just of language, but of people and systems.We dive into her journey through the world of workforce development, her collaborations with academia, and the critical shifts in strategic workforce planning following 9/11. Through it all, CC speaks candidly about the art of self-reinvention, and how embracing uncertainty led her to a series of fulfilling and impactful roles.Don’t miss this inspiring close to Season 8—packed with lessons on leadership, identity, and following the wave where it takes you.

In this special FVEY episode, we’re joined by Lucy Ferguson, Minister Counsellor for Foreign, Security and Development Policy at the British Embassy in Washington, DC. With a career spanning pivotal global roles—including working directly with the British Foreign Secretary and representing the UK at the G20 (yes, she was the UK’s “yak”)—Lucy brings a unique and candid perspective on diplomacy behind the scenes.Lucy opens up about her educational journey, including her unexpected path to studying theology, and how that potentially shaped her worldview. She shares what it’s like to be in the room during high-stakes negotiations, listening as history unfolds in real time. With her joyful spirit, collaborative mindset, and a great sense of humor, Lucy offers both wisdom and warmth in this conversation that ranges from policy to parenting, and everything in between.

Today’s episode features the remarkable Yolanda, an Associate Partner in Cybersecurity whose career spans everything from scaling antenna towers to exploring the quantum computing horizon. Yolanda takes us through her one-of-a-kind journey—beginning as a high school intern at the NSA, rising through the ranks to become a full-time intelligence professional, and now leading organizations through the complexities of emerging tech threats.We delve into her early days collecting RF signals (yes, complete with rappelling from dizzying heights), her transition from offensive to defensive cybersecurity work, and her current focus on preparing the digital world for the impact of quantum computing. Along the way, Yolanda opens up about her battle with cancer, the strength she drew from her community, and how that experience reshaped her approach to life and leadership.This episode is a masterclass in resilience, intelligence, and humanity. Don’t miss Yolanda’s powerful story—you’ll walk away inspired, informed, and maybe a little braver.