Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
What’s the difference between a professor of Criminal Justice and an undercover CIA, and FBI counterintelligence agent? In the case of this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Tracy Walder, the answer is Nothing. They‘re the same person.
Listen in as Marcus & Melanie Luttrell discuss Tracy’s first-hand accounts as a CIA officer and FBI field operative – fascinating stories. She successfully hunted down terrorists around the world using aliases and had face-to-face discussions with President Bush and General Colin Powell. Yet, she shares her experiences in a genuine, unexaggerated, and engaging manner.
Tracy is the author of The Unexpected Spy, and has appeared on numerous national programs, and has written several national security pieces.
In this episode you will hear:
I was born with a developmental disability called Hypotonia. (Low muscle tone). It has no cure. I didn’t roll over until I was 1. I didn’t walk until I was 3.
I attended USC for free since my dad was a professor there.
The CIA polygraph process was annoying. All the questions were very frustrating. One session was 8 hours long and another was 3 hours.
My job was to try to get as much information as possible on terrorist training camps.
I served in 13 countries.
I once had a meeting in the trunk of a car.
Having Bin Laden in our sights at one time and not being able to do anything about it was really upsetting.
My boss at the CIA was the best boss I have ever had in my life.
My target was a guy named Zarqawi who founded ISIS.
Zarqawi became enemy number one. That meant going overseas.
My job was to manipulate people to give me information. It worked well for me.
I worked with SEAL Team 6 a lot.
I left the CIA because I didn’t want to live overseas anymore. I was totally burned out.
As part of the CIA, you are not entitled to the same benefits as veterans, like mental health care.I love the counter-terrorism mission.
—
For More Fun, Follow:
Team Never Quit
Instagram: instagram.com/team_neverquit
Marcus Luttrell
Instagram: instagram.com/marcusluttrell
Morgan Luttrell:
Instagram: instagram.com/mojoluttrell
Andrew Brockenbush:
instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush
—
Support the Show
patreon.com/teamneverquit
—
Special Thanks / Credits
Executive Producer & Artwork - Andrew Brockenbush
Audio Engineer - Joey Garza
Video Editor - John Fritzsching
—
About TNQ Podcast:
Each week join Retired Navy SEAL and Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell, Morgan Luttrell, and Producer Andrew Brockenbush as they’ll take you into the “briefing room” to chat with incredible guests who share their greatest never quit stories. This humorous, heartfelt, and entertaining podcast is changing lives and has become a beacon of hope and resilience to those who are facing the impossible. One of the best ways we can support our community is to share their stories so that we might inspire others to Never Quit.
We’re bringing you real-life stories of men and women who took life’s toughest challenges and met them head-on, radically changing their own lives and inspiring others to do the same.
What’s the difference between a professor of Criminal Justice and an undercover CIA, and FBI counterintelligence agent? In the case of this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Tracy Walder, the answer is Nothing. They‘re the same person.
Listen in as Marcus & Melanie Luttrell discuss Tracy’s first-hand accounts as a CIA officer and FBI field operative – fascinating stories. She successfully hunted down terrorists around the world using aliases and had face-to-face discussions with President Bush and General Colin Powell. Yet, she shares her experiences in a genuine, unexaggerated, and engaging manner.
Tracy is the author of The Unexpected Spy, and has appeared on numerous national programs, and has written several national security pieces.
In this episode you will hear:
I was born with a developmental disability called Hypotonia. (Low muscle tone). It has no cure. I didn’t roll over until I was 1. I didn’t walk until I was 3.
I attended USC for free since my dad was a professor there.
The CIA polygraph process was annoying. All the questions were very frustrating. One session was 8 hours long and another was 3 hours.
My job was to try to get as much information as possible on terrorist training camps.
I served in 13 countries.
I once had a meeting in the trunk of a car.
Having Bin Laden in our sights at one time and not being able to do anything about it was really upsetting.
My boss at the CIA was the best boss I have ever had in my life.
My target was a guy named Zarqawi who founded ISIS.
Zarqawi became enemy number one. That meant going overseas.
My job was to manipulate people to give me information. It worked well for me.
I worked with SEAL Team 6 a lot.
I left the CIA because I didn’t want to live overseas anymore. I was totally burned out.
As part of the CIA, you are not entitled to the same benefits as veterans, like mental health care.I love the counter-terrorism mission.
—
For More Fun, Follow:
Team Never Quit
Instagram: instagram.com/team_neverquit
Marcus Luttrell
Instagram: instagram.com/marcusluttrell
Morgan Luttrell:
Instagram: instagram.com/mojoluttrell
Andrew Brockenbush:
instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush
—
Support the Show
patreon.com/teamneverquit
—
Special Thanks / Credits
Executive Producer & Artwork - Andrew Brockenbush
Audio Engineer - Joey Garza
Video Editor - John Fritzsching
—
About TNQ Podcast:
Each week join Retired Navy SEAL and Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell, Morgan Luttrell, and Producer Andrew Brockenbush as they’ll take you into the “briefing room” to chat with incredible guests who share their greatest never quit stories. This humorous, heartfelt, and entertaining podcast is changing lives and has become a beacon of hope and resilience to those who are facing the impossible. One of the best ways we can support our community is to share their stories so that we might inspire others to Never Quit.
We’re bringing you real-life stories of men and women who took life’s toughest challenges and met them head-on, radically changing their own lives and inspiring others to do the same.
