If you’ve spent time in the national security space, you’ve likely seen and heard the work of Iron Butterfly. But if you haven’t yet crossed paths with the powerhouse duo behind the brand, it’s time you did.
I was thrilled to welcome Iron Butterfly Media co-founders Megan Jaffer and Cadie Hopkins to the podcast. What started as a podcast to elevate the voices of women in intelligence has grown into a thriving media company, foundation, and soon, a feature-length documentary.
Founded five years ago during the pandemic, Iron Butterfly was born from a backyard brainstorming session and a shared belief that the world needed to hear the stories of the women behind the badge. While national security podcasts have long covered global issues, Iron Butterfly filled a glaring gap, showcasing the women who serve behind the scenes and in the shadows of the intelligence community.
Now in its eighth season, the Iron Butterfly podcast has become a central storytelling platform within a broader ecosystem. That includes Women in the Arena, highlighting women in uniform, and the upcoming Planeteers Podcast, which will feature women leaders in sustainability. Most notably, the team is putting the finishing touches on the first-ever documentary about women in the intelligence community—an effort entirely funded by private donations.
But the work hasn’t been without its challenges. In a year marked by rollbacks to DEIA initiatives, Iron Butterfly lost key sponsorships. Instead of backing down, they doubled down—pivoting, fundraising, and recommitting to their mission. As Megan and Cadie shared in our conversation, they’re not just amplifying stories—they’re activating change.
Their call to action? Join the movement. Whether through donations, partnerships, or simply sharing the stories, support for Iron Butterfly helps ensure the next generation of women see themselves in national security. Because visibility is the ripple effect to transformation.
Support Iron Butterfly’s documentary on Donorbox here.
