Best SPYSCAPE Podcasts (2024)

151
True Spies Debriefs: James Stejskal in Berlin as The Wall fell 44:33

2d ago44:33

44:33

James Stejskal, ex-special forces, tells of the jubilant and vitriolic scenes, as the Berlin Wall came down. November 9th 1989 - the Iron Curtain descends. Hear how it was on the ground, as both ordinary citizens, and global intelligence services, descend on East Berlin, seeking the vast archives of information meticulously gathered over decades by…

51
Special Forces Kinshasa | Green Berets 48:45

1d ago48:45

48:45

Deep in the African rainforests, how do you hold together a decolonising nation in the wake of mass regional instability? James Stejskal, ex-CIA and former Green Beret, tells the story of his time in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As the nation wrestles with its post-colonial identity, regional instability, and the AIDS crisis, Ja…

1
True Spies Classic: Gray Suit and The Ghost 53:29

8d ago53:29

53:29

In this classic True Spies episode, Eric O'Neill describes the hunt for the infamous FBI mole Robert Hanssen. This entire operation hinges around Eric needing to get Hanssen into a hire car so his own car can be searched for evidence of his betrayal... but the hire car isn’t there. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Seri…

1
True Spies: Debriefs - Eric O'Neill on the frontiers of cyberwarfare 45:28

22d ago45:28

45:28

What will cost the global economy $20 trillion come 2026? In this latest Debrief, hear from author and famed security expert: Eric O'Neill. Eric discusses with Morgan Childs the growing hotbeds for cyber espionage, crime and warfare in the world right now, their consequences. Crucially, they also discuss how individuals and companies alike can safe…

1
Agent Garbo | WW2 52:06

22d ago52:06

52:06

Hear the story of the extraordinary life of the spy with 29 names: Juan Pujol Garcia Born into a tumultuous Spain, Garcia, or Agent Garbo, was a natural spy, seeking out the Allies so strong was his distain for Nazi Germany. Amongst a storied espionage career, learn how his daring actions rescued the Allied invasion of Normandy, from the jaws of de…

1
True Spies Classic: The Rookie and Bin Laden | CIA 51:02

29d ago51:02

51:02

In this classic True Spies episode, Tracy Walder shares what went on during 9/11 inside The Vault, the CIA's top secret bunker. 9/11 was only the second day of Tracy's first real CIA assignment, and she was tasked with hunting the world's most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden, with President George W Bush looking on. From SPYSCAPE, the headquarter…

1101
True Spies Debriefs: Tracy Walder on trauma 31:43

1M ago31:43

31:43

Spying is stressful, often traumatic work - how do they cope? Former FBI and CIA employee Tracy Walder speaks to True Spies producer Morgan Childs about the mental health ramifications of intelligence work, and her personal experiences as a woman in the line of duty. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Jo…

1
The Traitor of Arnhem | WW2 47:53

1M ago47:53

47:53

In the aftermath of D-Day, Hitler's armies were losing the Second World War. But in September of 1944, the Nazis enjoyed one final triumph over the Allied forces - the disastrous failure of Operation Market Garden. Author Robert Verkaik sheds new light on the shadowy figures who betrayed Market Garden to the Germans - including a mysterious codenam…

1
True Spies: Classic - The Spycatcher | FBI 1:01:47

2M ago1:01:47

1:01:47

In this True Spies Classic episode, spy catcher Robert Booth recounts a mission to capture a Cuban agent who had infiltrated the State Department. Robert managed to identify the traitor, but proving Kendall Myers' treachery was another matter entirely. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Producer David Waters. Series prod…

1651
True Spies: Debriefs - Robert Booth on underestimating Cuba's spies 40:42

2M ago40:42

40:42

Does the U.S continue to underestimate the threat the Cuban intelligence services carry? Robert Booth an ex-State Department counterintelligence officer and self described spycatcher, details how penetrative modern Cuban agents are within the United States' highest echelons of power. What information are they looking for? And what do they do with i…

1851
Fringe Diplomacy | Investigation 47:55

2M ago47:55

47:55

How does Mickey Bergman, expert political prisoner and hostage advocate, navigate the increasingly difficult waters of global engagements? Also a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, the CEO of Global Reach and the Vice President of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, Mickey takes us on a deep dive into the complex hostage situation still unfolding …

2001
True Spies: Classic - Fair Game | CIA 53:22

2M ago53:22

53:22

Revisit this timely episode of True Spies, as we dive into the deadly conflict between espionage and politics with former CIA agent Valerie Plame. Valerie was outed in the press as an undercover agent when someone close to her challenged the government's line on Weapons Of Mass Destruction, placing her family and contacts in grave danger. From SPYS…

1
True Spies: Debriefs - Valerie Plame on the future of nuclear Non-Proliferation 29:16

3M ago29:16

29:16

On this week's Debrief, catch up with the famously outed ex-CIA officer Valerie Plame. Hear from Valerie how her career has evolved since then, and the state of the Doomsday Clock, what might happen after the expiry of the New Start treaty, and what steps the world can take to ease nuclear tensions... From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuz…

1
Operation Red Sox | CIA 38:24

3M ago38:24

38:24

Writer, analyst and investigative journalist Casey Michel explores one of the early CIA's darkest moments. At the dawn of the Cold War, the USA sent anti-communist agents into Ukraine, tasked with resisting the Soviets. But Stalin's secret intelligence service had experience on their side - and maybe more. The results? Disastrous. From SPYSCAPE, th…

1
True Spies: Classic - The Illegal | KGB 57:52

3M ago57:52

57:52

Revisit the story of a KGB agent embedded deeply, too deeply, in US life, with Jack Barsky, a.k.a. Albrecht Dittrich. After many years undercover in New York, Barsky got the signal that he was compromised, yet by then he had an American wife and children. From SPYSCAPE, the headquarters of all things spy. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Producer: Davi…

1
True Spies: Debriefs - Jack Barsky on a career after the KGB 42:19

4M ago42:19

42:19

In this True Spies: Debrief, ex-KGB agent Jack Barsky reveals the lessons his espionage career taught him, which have proved fundamental to his later life. Plus, hear details of life beyond the Iron Curtain, in East Germany, and how Jack came to love being an American From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: J…

1
The Gathering | FBI 44:23

4M ago44:23

44:23

Hear how the fantastic FBI undercover agent Dana Ridenour went from not knowing what a vegan was, to infiltrating the most dangerous domestic eco-terrorists the US had ever seen. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Max Bower. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis…

1
True Spies: Classic - Team Alpha 1:17:22

4M ago1:17:22

1:17:22

Welcome back to October 17, 2001. The dust of 9/11 has barely settled. America and the world are reeling. In this True Spies Classic, hear the story of 8 CIA officers - a crack team of linguists, tribal experts and paramilitaries, and the first Americans to infiltrate Taliban territory after the attacks. Their mission is to ensure that Al Qaeda doe…

1
True Spies: Debriefs - David Tyson on life for Afghans after The Taliban won 53:01

4M ago53:01

53:01

New from SPYSCAPE Studios - True Spies: Debriefs. In each of these new episodes, we'll dive back behind the scenes with some of our favourite True Spies, from episodes past. This week, ex-CIA officer David Tyson gives an update on how the return of The Taliban in Afghanistan, and the changing politics of the Middle East more broadly, has affected h…

1
Codename Tinsel Tyrant | FBI 50:48

4M ago50:48

50:48

How does a San Francisco born Silicon Valley entrepreneur, "as American as apple-pie", become a vital intelligence asset for the Soviet Bloc? Hear the chilling tale of one James Harper, from national security reporter and the host of Spy Valley: Zach Dorfman. (Hear more from Zach here: https://brazen.fm/podcasts/spy-valley/) From SPYSCAPE, the HQ o…

1
True Spies: Classic - Allied with Al-Qaeda 41:28

5M ago41:28

41:28

Venture into the True Spies vaults, as we take a look back at the extraordinary story of CIA Operations Officer: Doug London. Doug only has one shot to recruit one of Al-Qaeda's key facilitators. He must find common ground with a man with a vastly different background and belief system. Lives hang in the balance. He has to succeed. From SPYSCAPE, t…

1
True Spies: Debriefs - Douglas London on empathy 42:06

5M ago42:06

42:06

Brand new from SPYSCAPE Studios - True Spies: Debriefs. In each of these new episodes, we'll dive back behind the scenes with some of our favourite True Spies, from episodes past. This week, ex-CIA operations officer Douglas London discusses how empathy, an undervalued tool in the spy's arsenal, played a crucial role in bringing in active Al Qaeda …

1
PO Box 1142 | WW2 47:12

5M ago47:12

47:12

Join chief historian of the National Parks: Robert K Sutton, as he tells the story of Nazis on the Potomac, and those sworn to secrecy at Fort Hunt... From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Max Bower. Music by Nick Ryan. Robert K Sutton is the author of Nazis on the Potomac: The Top-Se…

1
Operation Kronstadt | Historical 50:40

5M ago50:40

50:40

Former MI6 Officer Harry Ferguson tells the nail-biting story of an unlikely British spy in Bolshevik Russia - and the daring naval mission to bring him home. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Louise Sinnerton. Music by Nick Ryan. Harry Ferguson is the author of Operation Kronstad…

1
The Woman Who Rescued Orwell | Historical 45:46

6M ago45:46

45:46

It's 1937. The Spanish Civil War is raging, and author George Orwell is fighting on the Socialist front. But as Orwell lives out his anti-Fascist adventure, his wife, Eileen O'Shaughnessy, is embroiled in a subtler conflict. At the headquarters of the Workers' Party of Marxist Unification in Barcelona, she's dealing with a brutal police force, Stal…

1
The War on Terror, Part Two - From Khost to Compounds | CIA 44:23

6M ago44:23

44:23

Former CIA Operations Officer Aaron Brown joins Rhiannon Neads to discuss his role in two defining moments in the CIA's War on Terror. In Part 2, the aftermath of Khost informs the most dramatic operation in the history of the modern CIA. And Aaron has a seat at the table. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series produc…

1
The War on Terror, Part One - From Cairo to Khost | CIA 37:57

6M ago37:57

37:57

Former CIA Operations Officer Aaron Brown joins Rhiannon Neads to discuss his role in two defining moments in the CIA's War on Terror. In Part 1, we follow Aaron's journey into the Agency's inner sanctum - and its' darkest hour. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Max Bower. Music b…

1
Disinformation Warfare, Part Two - America | Investigation 56:42

6M ago56:42

56:42

Just how influential is the 'white noise' of information, and disinformation, emanating from Russia? In this second and final episode on the phenomenon of modern disinformation, hear from author and former Executive Director of the US Disinformation Governance Board: Nina Jankowicz. She shines a light on how small acts of manipulation, made on the …

1
Disinformation Warfare, Part One - The Troll Farm | Investigation 47:36

7M ago47:36

47:36

Just how influential is the 'white noise' of information, and disinformation, emanating from Russia? In this first of two special episodes on the phenomenon of modern disinformation, Ukrainian-British journalist and author Peter Pomerantsev, reveals the evolution of the dark tactics the modern Russian state uses to cripple both neighbouring countri…

1
Kim Philby, Super Spy: Part Two, The Third Man 52:02

7M ago52:02

52:02

Born to the British upper-crust - devoted to the Revolution. Harold 'Kim' Philby was the ultimate Soviet superspy. For decades, Philby sold secrets to the Russians from inside the upper echelons of MI6. Inspired by an unpublished memoir recently acquired by Spyscape, we bring his fascinating story to life. In Part 2, Rhiannon Neads follows the trai…

1
Jung Chang: Chairman Mao Badge 11:53

7M ago11:53

11:53

Can you ever truly suppress a curious mind? If there was one aim of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, it was that. The lauded writer Jung Chang joins Alice Loxton to revisit a childhood characterized by surveillance and prohibition. But even in Communist China – at a time when pins bearing the face of the great leader were worn on every chest – cur…

1
Kim Philby, Super Spy: Part One, Codename Sonny 52:12

7M ago52:12

52:12

Born to the British upper-crust - devoted to the Revolution. Harold 'Kim' Philby was the ultimate Soviet superspy. For decades, Philby sold secrets to the Russians from inside the upper echelons of MI6. Inspired by an unpublished memoir recently acquired by Spyscape, we bring his fascinating story to life. In Part 1, Rhiannon Neads details Philby's…

1
Manya Kullmann: Castro’s Keepsakes 9:32

7M ago9:32

9:32

Where does a leader like Fidel Castro place his trust? The answer comes in the form of a box of romantic mementos, carried from Cuba to Russia. Print designer Manya Kullman tells Alice Loxton the story of her grandmother, Galina, a KGB spy who won the affections of a revolutionary leader at the height of the Cold War – and who kept his keepsakes cl…

1
Narcotopia, Part Two - Thy Will Be Done | Investigation 46:55

7M ago46:55

46:55

Nestled in the mountains of Myanmar, there's a nation that you won't find on the map. The mysterious, controversial Wa State is what journalist Patrick Winn calls a 'Narcotopia' - a country whose main source of income is the international drugs trade. In Part 2, we learn more about Saw Lu's dangerous entanglement with the US Government. Listener di…

1
Tim Marlow: The Welbike 11:17

7M ago11:17

11:17

What would you need to go it alone behind enemy lines? For the agents of the notoriously brave Special Operations Executive in World War II, a select toolkit of spy gadgets represented the difference between life and death. Design Museum CEO Tim Marlow and host Alex Loxton discuss the groundbreaking folding motorcycle that accompanied SEO operative…

1
Narcotopia, Part One - Agent Superstar | Investigation 50:37

7M ago50:37

50:37

Nestled in the mountains of Myanmar, there's a nation that you won't find on the map. The mysterious, controversial Wa State is what journalist Patrick Winn calls a 'Narcotopia' - a country whose main source of income is the international drugs trade. In Part 1, Patrick tells the story of his journey to Wa State, and his chance meeting with one of …

1
Alexander Cary: Kim Philby Papers 14:26

8M ago14:26

14:26

How does the old spy regard himself, when he’s left alone with his thoughts? The answer to this question can be found in the aborted memoir of one of the most notorious traitors in history: Kim Philby. Screenwriter Alexander Cary and host Alice Loxton unpick the inner workings of a complicated spy. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzz…

1
Agent Sniper | CIA 49:50

8M ago49:50

49:50

Bigamist. Fantasist. Betrayer. Betrayed. Known only as Agent Sniper, Polish double-agent Michal Goleniewski sold secrets to the USA from behind the Iron Curtain. But this complex, ambitious man was no match for his American handlers. In this episode of True Spies, author Tim Tate reveals a life full of romance, tragedy and Cold War intrigue. From S…

1
Episode 061 : Bond in Motion Saratoga (audio only) 7:56

8M ago7:56

7:56

See the video here :

1
Kengo Kuma: Nijo Jinya Hotel 10:32

8M ago10:32

10:32

If Nijo Jinya’s walls could talk, what story would they tell? World-renowned architect Kengo Kuma joins host Alice Loxton to discuss a still-standing Kyoto guest house where, in Japan’s Edo era, power was bought and sold, and silent ninjas stalked the corridors in search of secrets. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. S…

1
The Strike on Saddam | CIA 42:10

8M ago42:10

42:10

It's 2003, and the USA is on the brink of war. Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been issued a deadline - leave the country, or face a full American invasion. In the event of his refusal, the CIA has a plan to strike Saddam's Dora Farms compound - potentially stopping the war in its tracks. The operation is overseen by the head of the Agency's Iraq…

1
Gary Powers Jr: U2 Spy Plane 17:22

8M ago17:22

17:22

What’s it like to be the child of a world-famous spy? Gary Powers Jr. takes his name and his inspiration from his father, Francis Gary Powers – the pilot of the U2 spy plane that was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, sparking a major Cold War crisis. Here, Powers and host Alice Loxton discuss the legendary U2, and the life of its most famous…

1
The King's Secret | Historical 44:01

8M ago44:01

44:01

The Chevalièr d'Éon, was an 18th century war-hero, an indispensable spy and a famous diplomat. But today, they're best known for their pioneering approach to gender boundaries. Historian Gary Kates pulls back the curtains on this fascinating True Spy. Hear the groundbreaking story of d'Éon's life - from undercover geopolitical manipulation in the R…

1
Episode 060: Spyscape (audio only) 10:46

8M ago10:46

10:46

See the video version here : https://youtu.be/0xhtSaox-WU

1
Tom Ayling: Secret Service Payments Book 17:41

8M ago17:41

17:41

Who pays for all the King’s secrets? In between the lines of a tired old accounts ledger, a hidden history of espionage and scandal lies in wait. Antiquarian bookseller Tom Ayling and host Alice Loxton guide us through the secret affairs of King William III – with direct access to the payments that he kept away from prying eyes. From SPYSCAPE, the …

1
The Last Honest Man | Historical 43:24

8M ago43:24

43:24

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winning journalist James Risen, details the life and work of Frank Church - the man who forever changed the US intelligence community. From humble Idaho beginnings, through to his lofty Presidential ambitions, we delve into who Church really was, and his tireless devotion to serving American ideals of transparency and accoun…

1
Trevor Paglen: Skynet 13:28

9M ago13:28

13:28

How dangerous is metadata? According to the artist and author Trevor Paglen, it can be deadly. Paglen joins host Alice Loxton to shine a light on Skynet – a network of all-seeing satellites – and the ominous AI algorithm that farms metadata and gets to decide who lives and who dies. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. S…

1
The Disappeared, Part Two - Mother's Day | Investigation 48:30

9M ago48:30

48:30

No one takes on the cartel and comes away unscathed. Miriam Rodriguez understood that from the start. In the second and final part of this extraordinary True Spies story, The New York Times’ Azam Ahmed picks up the story of the housekeeper who sought revenge on Mexico’s notorious Zetas. Having discovered the grim truth of what happened to her kidna…

1
Episode 059: Spygest! feat. Blake (Bond Life Chicago) (Audio only) 9:04

9M ago9:04

9:04

See the video version here : https://youtu.be/u-liY2B9fm4

1
Simon Menner: The Coffee Pot 12:38

9M ago12:38

12:38

Who keeps on moving the coffee pot? That innocent question plunges one East German woman into a dangerous world of deception and betrayal. Photographer and archivist Simon Menner joins Alice Loxton to unravel a Cold War domestic mystery centered around the most inconspicuous of objects. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle productio…

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