The Unclassified Life | From CIA Agent to Artist w/ Jessica Elder | The TLB Pod 122

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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