Inside Cold Zero: Brad Thor on Intelligence Operations Gone Wrong

Fred Burton sits down with #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor to discuss his latest thriller, Cold Zero. Centered on a CIA extraction gone wrong in the Arctic Circle, the novel explores the realities of modern intelligence operations, global competition, and high-stakes decision-making under extreme pressure. Thor shares the real-world inspiration behind the book, his collaboration with former fighter pilot Ward Larson to ensure operational accuracy, and how today’s fragmented threat environment shaped the story’s geopolitical tensions. The conversation also examines the human element of intelligence work — from trust between allies to making critical calls without complete information.

You'll learn:

• How real-world intelligence tradecraft and CIA extraction operations inspired Cold Zero
• What happens when intelligence operations go wrong — and how leaders make decisions with incomplete information
• Why trust between partners is the foundation of effective connected intelligence in today’s threat landscape

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