About this episode

This episode explores the evolution of psychological operations in the U.S. military and their impact on geopolitics through various media figures and events.

PSYOPs are now a critical part of the U.S. military’s defense strategy. But, how did psychological operations evolve – and what happens when they go too far? In this chapter, we look at the origins of American military PSYOPs and examine how cultural figures – ranging from public relations pioneer Edward Bernays to the filmmakers behind the Kony 2012 viral video – have used media to shape geopolitics. Chapters (01:07) - The Story of the ‘Invisible Children’ Project and The Lord’s Resistance Army (09:40) - ‘Kony 2012’ Goes Viral (12:26) - A PSYOP to Take Down Joseph Kony (14:48) - The PSYOPs of WWI & WWII 21:37) - The Ghost Army (26:05) - ‘Propaganda’ The Rise of Edward Bernays (29:25) - White, Gray, and Black Propaganda (33:04) - Operation Wandering Soul (39:44) - The Cold War’s PSYOP ‘Master Plan’ (43:10) - Operation Mockingbird (46:46) - The CIA and The National Endowment for Democracy (56:06) - Edward Bernays and a Coup in Guatemala Sponsors: SBIR Advisors: If you’re serious about selling to the military, visit ⁠https://www.sbiradvisors.com⁠ Mention PSYOP and get your first month free. GHOSTBED Take an extra 15% off sitewide with code PSYOP and that’s on top of their already…

Sponsors

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More episodes of Target Intelligence: PSYOP with Shawn Ryan

• Real Disclosure About UFOs, UAP, Reverse Engineering Programs and Secret Military Black Projects? · June 9, 2026 · 1h 53m
• Chapter 10: Combatting the PSYOPs That Are Trying to Manipulate Your Behavior(with Chase Hughes) · April 8, 2026 · 27 min
• Chapter 9: The PSYOP Wars (with Chase Hughes) · March 31, 2026 · 47 min
• Episode 8: Gray Matters: PSYOPs that Could End the World · March 24, 2026 · 52 min
• Chapter 7: The Uncanny Valley: PSYOPs That Blur Reality Itself · March 17, 2026 · 54 min
• Chapter 5: Are UFOs Government PSYOPs? · March 3, 2026 · 50 min

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