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PODCAST

SpyMasters

Writer and journalist Antonia Senior interviews all the best writers on espionage. Each episode will bring you fascinating stories on spies, covert action and more - delving in to fact and fiction, past and present.

history books

All Episodes

66:35

Spying on Hitler: The Spy and the Devil with Tim...

SpyMasters ·

2025/05/08

Tim Willasey-Wilsey comes on Spymasters to talk about the life and espionage career of Baron Bill de Ropp, a spy who infiltrated the Nazi Party during the rise of Adolf Hitler. The discussion covers his early life, his motivations for espionage, his complex relationships with key figures in the Nazi regime, and the challenges he faced as a spy. The conversation also delves into the historical context of the Baltic Germans, the dynamics of British intelligence during the interwar period, and the

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36:00

Crooks and Spies in WW2 London, with Mark Ellis

SpyMasters ·

2025/04/24

In this episode of the SpyMasters podcast, host Antonia Senior interviews thriller writer Mark Ellis, who discusses his journey into writing, the historical context of his novels set in wartime London, and the intricate plots involving crime and espionage. Ellis shares insights into his research methods, the importance of historical accuracy, and the character development of Frank Merlin, his protagonist. The conversation also touches on the portrayal of progressive views in a historical setting and

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40:38

The Son Who Wasn't - an incredible true story of...

SpyMasters ·

2025/04/10

Antonia Senior talks to David Gardner, journalist and author about A Spy in the Family, the book he co-authored with fellow journalist Paul Henderson. BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.eu/d/5yzY71E keywords espionage, spy stories, Czech spy, betrayal, identity, resilience, historical narrative, true crime, family, Cold War summary An Incredible True Story of Espionage and Betrayal, A Spy in the Family, is the first book to reveal the full, astonishing story of ‘Václav Jelínek’, aka Erwin van Haarlem,

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49:48

The CIA Book Club, with Charlie English

SpyMasters ·

2025/03/27

Summary:In this episode of The Spymasters Podcast, host Antonia Senior is joined by journalist and author Charlie English to discuss his latest book, The CIA Book Club. They dive into the incredible Cold War operation where the CIA secretly distributed banned books behind the Iron Curtain, undermining Soviet censorship and ideological control. Charlie shares gripping stories from his research, the broader impact of literature as a weapon, and how the written word shaped Cold War intelligence

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39:23

Simon Scarrow on A Death in Berlin

SpyMasters ·

2025/03/13

Simon Scarrow, the bestselling novelist, talks to Antonia Senior about his new novel A Death in Berlin. Set in Nazi Germany, this is the third in his series about detective Horst Schenke, an investigator with the Kripo unit. A man has been murdered, and Berlin is flooded with fake ration cards. How does Schenke deal with being a good man within a terrible regime?Simon and Antonia talk about living under the Nazis, about modern parallels and about the art of historical fiction. Buy the book here:

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47:06

Trump and our Intelligence Alliance, with Michael Smith

SpyMasters ·

2025/02/27

Antonia Senior talks to Michael Smith, author of the Real Special Relationship, about the new world order and its impact on the US-UK intelligence alliance. Michael is a journalist and author of a number of books on spies and intelligence. He is a former member of the board of Bletchley Park.Antonia and Michael explore the dynamics of intelligence sharing between the UK and the US, witth historical context, trust issues, and the impact of political leadership on intelligence operations. They look

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37:42

The Oligarch's Daughter, with Joseph Finder

SpyMasters ·

2025/02/13

In this episode of the Spymasters podcast, Antonia Senior interviews bestselling novelist Joseph Finder about his latest thriller, 'The Oligarch's Daughter.' The conversation delves into the book's premise, character dynamics, and the intricate themes of wealth, trust, and the blurred lines between capitalism and intelligence in Russia. Finder shares insights into his writing process, the challenges of creating relatable characters in extraordinary situations, and the cultural nuances that inform

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43:22

The Seventh Floor, with David McCloskey

SpyMasters ·

2025/01/30

Writer and journalist Antonia Senior interviews bestselling author David McCloskey about his latest novel, 'The Seventh Floor.' The conversation delves into the intricacies of espionage, the brutal realities of interrogation, and the complex relationships between characters in the world of intelligence. McCloskey shares insights from his experience as a former CIA analyst, exploring themes of friendship, betrayal, and the moral dilemmas faced by those in the intelligence community. Buy the book:

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36:13

Notes on a Drowning, with Anna Sharpe

SpyMasters ·

2025/01/16

In this episode of the Spymasters podcast, Antonia Senior interviews Anna Sharpe. about her new book, 'Notes on a Drowning.' Sharpe is a pseudonym for the award winning novelist Anna Mazzola. The conversation explores the book's themes of political intrigue, legal drama, and the murky world of espionage. Mazzola discusses her transition from historical fiction to contemporary writing, the influences behind her work, and the social commentary woven throughout her narrative. The discussion also

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49:55

William Boyd on writing Gabriel's Moon

SpyMasters ·

2024/12/19

Join Oliver Webb-Carter as he talks to William Boyd, the best-selling novelist, about his new book Gabriel's Moon. Gabriel Dax is a young man in sixties London who becomes drawn into the murky world of espionage. William and Oliver talk about why literary writers are drawn to writing spy novels. They talk about James Bond, and Graham Greene and the art of writing.Buy the book here. Follow William Boyd here. Thank you for listening to Spymasters. Don't forget to give us a follow and tell your

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66:31

Spymasters Books of the Year 2024

SpyMasters ·

2024/12/05

The inaugural Books of the Year from the Spymasters Podcast. Join your host Antonia Senior as she talks to three special guests about their books of the year. Oliver Webb-Carter is the Editor of Aspects of History, and the host of our sister podcast, the Aspects of History podcast. https://aspectsofhistory.com/ Paul Burke is the host of the brilliant Crimetimefm podcast, and is writing an encyclopedia of spy fiction, due out in 2025.

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46:54

Trump, Foreign Policy and Intelligence, with Michael...

SpyMasters ·

2024/11/21

Michael Smith, intelligence expert, talks to Oliver Webb-Carter, editor of Aspects of History, about Trump, Foreign Policy and Intelligence. Michael talks about how the re-election of Trump will effect the special relationship between British and American intelligence services. Oliver and Michael discuss the prospects for the Middle East, Ukraine and more, under the new Trump administration. Michael is is a British author who specializes in spies and espionage. He is also a former member of the

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63:09

Putin's Spooks. Inside the FSB, with Dr Kevin Riehle

SpyMasters ·

2024/11/07

Kevin Riehle is the author of The Russian FSB, A Concise History of the Federal Security Service. Dr Riehle spent 30 years working for the US Government in various intelligence roles before switching to academia. The Russian FSB is the first English history book to trace the rise of Putin's Security Service. We talk about Putin, corruption and succession. What place does the FSB have in Russian society? How does it install fear? What continuity is there with its famed and feared predecessor, the

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45:50

From Spy to Writer, with IS Berry

SpyMasters ·

2024/10/24

Antonia Senior talks to IS Berry about her debut novel The Peacock and the Sparrow. It has garnered rave reviews, and has won the Edgar Award for best first novel. It's set in Bahrain during the Arab Spring, and follows the misadventures of disillusioned CIA officer Shane Collins.IS Berry was in the CIA for six years, and she writes with thrilling authenticity about life as a spy. we talk about her leap from spy to writer, about her influenced, and the toll that espionage can take on the soul. Buy

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40:35

Spies, Istanbul and the 1930s, with Alec Marsh

SpyMasters ·

2024/10/10

In this episode of the Spymasters podcast, Antonia Senior talks to Alec Marsh, author of the Drabble and Harris series of historical thrillers. The talk ranges from Istanbul, to the peculiar atmosphere of the 1930s, espionage and beyond.Buy the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/eoCm7PZ Follow Alec Marsh: https://www.alecmarsh.co.uk/ on X: @alecmarsh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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65:55

To Catch a Spy. The Spycatcher Affair, with Tim Tate

SpyMasters ·

2024/09/26

The SpyMasters podcasts interviews all the best writers about spying: fact and fiction, historical and contemporary.In this episode, Antonia Senior talks to the brilliant journalist, writer and documentary maker Tim Tate about the Spycatcher Affair. We talk about the culture of secrecy at MI5, about Thatcher's involvement, about Peter Wright, the molecatcher turned whistleblower. Buy the book here. Follow Tim here Find Spymasters on X @spymasterspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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54:24

Midnight in Vienna, with Jane Thynne

SpyMasters ·

2024/09/12

Antonia Senior talks to acclaimed novelist Jane Thynne about her new book Midnight in Vienna. Set in London and Vienna in 1938 it follows a young unemployed English tutor called Stella Fry and a disgraced MI5 watcher called Harry Fox, as they unite to investigate the murder of a celebrated detective novelist.We talk Nazis, the parallels between the 1930s and the present day, and, of course spies. Buy the book here. Follow Jane here. Follow Spymasters on X at @spymasterspod Follow Antonia Senior

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50:58

Spycraft. Tricks and tools of the dangerous trade...

SpyMasters ·

2024/08/29

Antonia Senior interviews Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman about their fascinating new book Spycraft. What did it mean to be a spy in Early Modern England? What tips and tricks of the trade were employed against England's enemies?And who was the mysterious 'Q' of the Elizabethan spy trade? We talk secret ink, cyphers, and much more Buy the book: https://amzn.eu/d/jj62Dzm Follow the authors on x: @elegantfowl @Misswalsingham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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35:26

Honour Among Spies, with Merle Nygate

SpyMasters ·

2024/08/15

Spymasters meets Merle Nygate, the author of Honour Among Spies. The second in Merle's books about Eli Amiram, Mossad's top spy runner, it was a Times thriller of the month. Eli is now chief of Mossad's London operation. He needs an audacious coup to cement his position.Merle and your host, Antonia Senior talk fiction, Mossad and the challenges to writing. Buy the book: https://amzn.eu/d/iZGaR5b Follow Merle: @MerleNygate https://merlenygate.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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59:07

The CIA. An Imperial History. With Hugh Wilford

SpyMasters ·

2024/08/01

Hugh Wilford joins SpyMasters to talk about his brilliant new book: The CIA, An Imperial History. Hugh is Professor of United States History at California State University, and a leading expert on the history of the CIA.His new book is a groundbreaking study of the history of the world's most famous intelligence agency. The book places the history of the CIA into a global context, in which the Cold War is a clash of empires. We talk about the founders of the CIA, the rise of covert action, and

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54 results

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