1) The Perfect Weapon

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Warning, the following episode contains explicit language and sexual themes. Listener discretion is advised.

Can we test your mic real quick? Mic test, mic test. Cool. Yeah, good. Yeah, we're good.

Some spies use poisons. Others use guns. But for Lea Rosa, who's sitting in front of me right now, her body was made into a weapon by the Russian military. Her mission? To seduce powerful men for their secrets, or sometimes their lives.

What is sexpionage, actually? This sex becomes like a drug and your target becomes like drug addicted. When a drug dealer wants to put someone on the needle, he gives a little bit. He doesn't give straight away everything. So, the same way you do, you give a little bit sex, you give a little bit taste and you tease, you tease till you make sure that your target becomes addicted to you.

I got you, I tear you apart.

I had to kill you. Was it so much fun?

Episode 1. Chapter 1. The Meeting.

My father actually did go before Robert Kennedy and McClellan.

The interview you're listening to is me many years ago speaking with Johnny Fratto, also known as the Beverly Hills Gangster. His father worked under Al Capone and his brother was killed in the tragic plane crash that also took the life of boxer Rocky Marciano.

I have a question about the mob. Has it changed?

It's all movies. It doesn't exist. Never did.

I was publishing a book with Johnny about his colorful and controversial life. We'd get together and he'd tell stories for hours. And I said, Judge, I don't belong in here. I'm 24 years old. My wife is now pregnant with my son, Johnny.

This kid, my son, he thinks he can write a movie.

Everybody who's written his first movie has never written a movie before. And why couldn't he do it?

Stan Lee says, I look like a writer. I look like one.

Not long after this, Johnny Fratto died of lung cancer at the age of 61.

So I have got a weird thing. Like, it's going to sound fucking strange to you. And I don't even really know how to pitch this to you. Where do I begin? Because you wrote the book, The Game, I met this girl that basically says she knows how to seduce men, pick up men, do whatever, you know.

What Johnny's referring to here is an infamous book I wrote over a decade ago. about two years I spent undercover in a secret society of pickup artists.

And here's the crazy part. She says she was a Russian spy at one time. I mean, it's the craziest shit you ever heard. She told me that there's, like, a school that she had to attend in Russia where she had to, like, literally, like, have sex with her teachers in front of the class and have sex with different students in front of the class and learn how to give perfect blowjobs. And I'm sitting here...

I'd literally never heard of anything like this. And frankly, found it hard to believe. I'm sure the crude way Johnny Jr. was speaking about it wasn't helping any. She was trained by the, like, Russian government to seduce men and, like, get their secrets or whatever.

Yeah, she was trained by Russia, she says, to, you know, fucking, give the perfect blowjob, to fuck a guy. perfectly. And I kind of believe her, man. I mean, I really do think she's telling the truth. And it's a little weird, but I thought, you know, if there's any one guy in the fucking world that it would be up his alley, it's you.

And can I ask the obvious question, which is, how did you meet her?

I met her through an Armenian guy named Art. And Art's, a dapper... probably the most dapper little guy I've ever met. And he said, you know, Johnny, there's somebody that you gotta meet. You gotta come over here, it's very special.

Wow. And then how would you describe, like, her, just as a person in general?

You know, she's very kind of, like, a cool, seductress that looks you straight in the eye all the time and kind of always knows the right thing to say. Every single thing I was saying to her, she just had the perfect retort. Because I was, you know, I'm not trying to be an asshole, but, you know, look, this town is hard.

A couple more questions. How do we know she's not still working for the Russian government?

Hey man, what's going on? How you been?

I really miss you, man. I mean, Jesus, last time I saw you was what, my dad's funeral, or something? What was it? I think it was your dad's funeral. Jesus Christ.

Johnny introduced me to the woman standing next to him. She was tall, with dyed blonde hair, cut short and stylish, and wearing what looked like very expensive designer clothing. This was the reputed former Russian spy, Alia Rosa.

Neil Strauss, I want you guys to meet each other.

Thank you so much for an introduction, Neil.

Thank you. Nice meeting you. I'm telling you, by the end of the night, you guys are going to be best friends.

We sat down for dinner with a few other people. I'd invited to get their take on the situation, including a former top-ranking agent at the CIA. That's what you had both on the spot. If you want to tell a little bit about Alia, and then we'll get to that.

I always have to get permission first because her story's kind of crazy. Do I have permission to basically get fucking crazy with it? Tell the truth.

Okay, fantastic. I'm going to tell the truth.

So, I'm going to say something.

This woman right here, and this is no shit, went through a fucking training thing that she literally—.

Johnny Jr. then repeats much of what he told me earlier in the same crass language.

I know that sounds bad, but I'm just telling the truth.

So, anyway, that's it.

Is that introduction—what are your thoughts on the introduction?

Okay, I'm fine with that.

I mean, it was authentic, right?

It's authentic, right. I'm just saying what I, you know—.

I know. I know.

But there's much more to the story. It's clear that Alia is a little uncomfortable and that there's a lot more to her story.

Never, ever before. I shared this story with anyone, including my parents. Nobody knows. Those people who knew it, they were killed.

After the dinner, I spoke with my source from the CIA, who didn't want his name or voice to be used, and asked what he thought. She seems credible, he replied, but her story is incredible. Anything, but it was a great dinner. Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, it's Andrea Gunning, host of Betrayal. I'm excited to announce that the Betrayal podcast is expanding. We are going to be releasing episodes weekly, every Thursday. Each week, you'll hear brand new stories. First-hand accounts of shocking deception, broken trust, and the trail of destruction left behind.

The love that was so real for me was always just a game for him.

To betrayals in your own family.

When I think about my dad, oh, well, he is a sociopath.

Financial betrayal.

She's practicing how she's going to cry when the police calls her after they kill me.

Listen to Betrayal Weekly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm John Walczak, host of the new podcast, Missing in Arizona.

And I'm, Robert Fisher, one of the most wanted men in the world.

We cloned his voice using AI.

In 2001, police say I killed my family. First mom, then the kids. And rigged my house to explode.

In a quiet suburb.

This is the Beverly Hills of the valley. Before escaping into the wilderness. There was sleet and hail and snow coming down. They found my wife's SUV.

Right on the reservation boundary.

And my dog flew.

All I can think of is he's going to sniper me out of some tree.

But not me.

Police believe he is alive and hiding somewhere.

For two years.

They won't tell you anything.

I've traveled the nation. I'm going down in the cave. Tracking down clues.

They were thinking that I picked him up and took him somewhere. If you keep asking me this, I'm going to call the police and have you removed.

Searching for Robert Fisher.

One of the most dangerous fugitives in the world.

Do you recognize my voice? Join...

An exploding house.

The hunt.

Family annihilation. Today. And a disappearing act.

Listen to Missing in Arizona. Every Wednesday. On the iHeartRadio app. Apple Podcasts. Or wherever you get your favorite shows.

Chapter Two. A Dirty Organization.

We brought you in, and the benefit of what you brought to us was a deep understanding of human psychology. And in our work, where you're developing confidential human sources and recruiting spies, an understanding of how to develop quick rapport and attraction is key and critical. Minus going for romantic interactions. A lot of those other techniques were extremely effective, and you brought a vast amount of personal, real-life experience to that with the book, and you're coming in and training with us.

It's so interesting. So I'll fill you in and get your thoughts. At dinner, Alia said she'd worked for a Russian intelligence agency called the FSB, which I'd never heard of before. So I asked Robin to give me a little background on how Russian spy programs operate.

So, in general, it mirrors ours pretty closely. And it's like, their SVR is the equivalent of our CIA, and their GRU, that's the Russian Military Intelligence, is the equivalent of our DIA, Defense Intelligence Agency. Their FSB is the equivalent of our FBI.

Why, I asked Robin, does Russia have this evidently deserved reputation as the world capital of spying?

The gross domestic product, GDP of Russia, it's like Italy's or Texas. I mean, it's not huge. And when you're a country that relies on hydrocarbons for your economy, and that can fluctuate as much as it's been fluctuating definitely in the last bunch of years, they don't have a huge economy. It's not very strong. And so when you're cash-strapped and you're trying to be the big boy on the world stage, if you don't have the military because you can't support it, you're going to do it in another way, and they do it in intelligence.

I fill in Robin, who spent 22 years recruiting Russian spies, on Aliyah's seduction training with the FSB, and ask him what he thinks.

Anecdotally and totally believable. The FSB, that is a dirty organization. You know, it's an organization that is founded on doing things just like that. I mean, they use honey traps, they use it with Clayton Lonetree, and I know there's been others that just don't hit the news.

We'll get into the story of Clayton Lonetree and some of those others later in this podcast. And we'll also talk more about honey traps. The honey, in this term, is the agent who's seducing a target. And the trap is, now that I have evidence you've slept with me, or now that you've fallen completely in love with me, here's what I want from you.

No one volunteers to the FSB. That's why they have to use honey traps and train people to do that, because they're dicks. If you're a foreign diplomat over in their country, they're going to harass the living hell out of you, and then they're going to try to trap you and coerce you into cooperation. That is not the way to recruit a human being. That does not make anyone feel safe.

I ask if the United States has seduction spies. And Robin claims that they do not. Even taking a source to a strip club and using government money for that, he says, would be a political liability. When she was talking about her experience, you're just there, and you stay there out of fear. There's like, if you leave, your life's going to be destroyed.

I mean, you know this for the world you've been in. That's a broken toy. And broken toys have an unhealthy outlook on the world, unless they've realized it, they've been through counseling.

Define what you mean by broken toy.

First of all, people that are susceptible to being recruited or trafficked, because, basically, she's human. trafficked, is what she is. There was a need in her life that wasn't being fulfilled somewhere else, and the FSB came in and fulfilled that need, to be seen, heard, and valued by others, and then they manipulated that against her.

Keep in mind that I don't know a lot yet about Aaliyah's story or how she was recruited, and neither does Robin. He's basing this analysis on his intelligence experience.

To me, there's no difference between a child predator and what they did to her. Welcome to the world of Russian intelligence.

Aaliyah's Story.

Chapter 3 The Target.

Nice to see you. Thank you so much for your time. Really excited to share it with you.

Awesome. It's a sunny Wednesday afternoon in Malibu, and Aaliyah Rosa has come over to discuss the podcast. When someone says they've been trained their whole life in the art of seduction, you tend to question everything they say and do, and wonder if it's all a manipulation.

I love your shoes. They're so cool. Oh, good. I know. I like your shoes.

There's a controversial and often hurtful technique that the pick-up artists in the game taught, and it's called the neg. You give someone what appears to be a compliment and then say something slightly backhanded, so that they're not quite sure if they're being complimented or insulted. And that's exactly what Aaliyah just did to me.

Cheers. Happy Thanksgiving. Yes.

But did you purposely not open the wine just so you knew I could trust the wine?

You left to check on your son. I could drop something, you know? You know, like, yeah, I know that you have this kind of thoughts. It's normal. You and Putin, you are the same type, believe it or not.

I'm not sure how to feel about that Putin comment. And that's probably just what Aaliyah wants. Another neg. She then shares something else that really messes with my mind. Something that just may be true, given what Robin Drieck from the FBI just shared with me.

Actually, like, you'd, be surprised. There are so many agents working in America.

Like, so many.

Yeah. Even in Malibu, like, you know.

Really?

Seriously. Just be aware. Don't say anything about Putin. I mean, yeah, I sound like, like, kind of like, don't say it's kind of like Putin's some fears. But, like, it's better, not really to.

Hi, it's Andrea Gunning, host of Betrayal. I'm excited to announce that the Betrayal podcast is expanding. We are going to be releasing episodes weekly, every Thursday. Each week, you'll hear brand new stories, firsthand, accounts of shocking deception, broken trust, and the trail of destruction left behind. Stories about regaining a sense of safety, a handle on reality after your entire world is flipped upside down.

The love that was so real for me.

was always just a game for him.

to betrayals in your own family.

This is not even the part where he steals millions of dollars.

and life-or-death deceptions.

She's practicing how she's going to cry.

when the police calls her after they kill me.

Listen to Betrayal Weekly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm John Walczak, host of the new podcast, Missing in Arizona.

And I'm, Robert Fisher, one of the most wanted men in the world.

We cloned his voice using AI.

In 2001, police say I killed my family.

in a quiet suburb.

This is the Beverly Hills of the Valley. ...before escaping into the wilderness. There was sleet and hail and snow coming down. They found my wife's SUV...

Right on the reservation boundary.

and my dog flew.

All I could think of is he was going to sniper me out of some tree.

But not me.

Police believe he is alive and hiding somewhere.

For two years.

They won't tell you anything.

I've traveled the nation.

They were thinking that I picked him up and took him somewhere.

If you keep asking me this, I'm going to call the police and have you removed.

searching for Robert Fisher.

One of the most dangerous fugitives in the world.

Do you recognize my voice? Join...

an exploding house.

the hunt.

family annihilation.

Listen to Missing in Arizona every Wednesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows.

I turn the discussion to the podcast. Even though the period Aaliyah's talking about was many years ago, I assume Putin still wouldn't be happy about her sharing state secrets. Speaking of that, are there... ...are there concerns for your safety in speaking out and telling your story and sharing all this information?

To say I'm not scared, I would lie. Yes, of course. I am a mother of a 13-year-old son. I... Yes, of course I'm scared.

That evil, she explains, is more than just Putin.

Sharing that life events is a proof of how corruptive the whole system is and how the male dominance is just.

The other question is, if we're going to go.

I don't feel comfortable at all, honestly. I don't want people to think that I'm like... I can kill people, I'm a murderer, you know. It's bad. Kind of like, you know, if she could kill people, then maybe she can do it.

I'd asked Johnny when I first spoke to him. Oh, how do I know she's not still working for Russian intelligence?

You know what? I don't know how to answer this question, really.

Looking back on the time you were in Russian intelligence, do you think you were a hero or a victim?

Definitely victim. But brainwashed that I was a hero.

I play Aliyah in my interview with Robin Drake. She pauses and reflects. when he calls her a broken toy. I ask her what she's thinking about it.

I mean, for so many years, I didn't feel that I was broken.

As Aliyah talks further, I'm reminded of the grim reality that the victims in sexpionage are not just the targets, but the seducers themselves.

No, I mean, like, seduction is, I think, yeah, it's a lifestyle. It's definitely a lifestyle. Once you learn it, it's just like a habit. You go everywhere with this. You live like that.

We will continue in Episode 2.

Hi, it's Andrea Gunning, the host of Betrayal. I'm a student at Harvard University and I'm excited to announce that the Betrayal Podcast is expanding. We are going to be releasing episodes weekly, every Thursday. Each week, you'll hear brand new stories, firsthand, accounts of shocking deception, broken trust, and the trail of destruction left behind. Listen to Betrayal Weekly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm John Walczak, host of the new podcast, Missing in Arizona. And I'm Robert Fisher,

one of the most wanted men in the world.

We cloned his voice using AI. In 2001,.

police say I killed my family and rigged my house to explode.

before escaping into the wilderness.

Police believe he is alive and hiding somewhere.

Join me as I track down clues, hunting,