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PODCAST

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs

Secrets & Spies

Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts. Tune in for balanced, critical perspectives that will expand your understanding of our uncertain world, deciphering the most enigmatic

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All Episodes

54:08

S9 Ep40: God’s Banker, His Death Beneath a London...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/04/16

This week, Matt speaks with Nicolo Majnoni, host of Shadow Kingdom, a gripping new investigative podcast from Crooked Media and Campside Media. The first season explores the mysterious June 1982 death of Roberto Calvi—known as “God’s Banker”—and his ties to the Vatican, organized crime, and secret societies at the height of Italy’s Cold War turmoil. They unpack Calvi’s downfall, the shadowy institutions behind it, and what this story reveals about how power operates in the dark. They also discuss

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61:28

S9 Ep39: Espresso Martini | Trump’s Special Economic...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/04/12

Chris and Matt unpack the surreal ousting of top U.S. national security officials after far-right influencer Laura Loomer walked into the Oval Office with a hit list. They assess the fallout for cyber defenses, the politicization of the FBI, and the broader dismantling of U.S. institutions under Trump’s second term. Then, they turn to Trump’s sweeping trade war, its global blowback, and what Wall Street really thinks. Plus, a respected Chinese-American scientist disappears after an FBI raid, and

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60:05

S9 Ep38: Photographing Area 51 with Michał Rokita

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/04/09

Photographer and field researcher Michał Rokita joins Matt to discuss his rare and meticulous efforts to document one of the world’s most secretive military sites: Area 51. From hiking remote peaks in the Nevada desert to capturing panoramic images from over 20 miles away, Michał shares what it takes to legally photograph Groom Lake from public land. They explore the history of the Dreamland Interceptors, the challenges of desert spotting, and the moments he’s witnessed — stealth fighters,

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94:09

S9 Ep37: Espresso Martini | Signalgate with Shane...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/04/05

The Atlantic’s Shane Harris joins Chris and Matt to unpack Signalgate, the extraordinary national security scandal where top Trump officials coordinated airstrikes over Signal and accidentally included a journalist in the group chat. They discuss the operational fallout, legal implications, and the strain on Five Eyes allies. Then, they dive into the reveal of Boeing’s F-47, the U.S. Air Force’s first sixth-generation fighter and potential final manned combat jet. Finally, Chris remembers legendary

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51:22

S9 Ep36: Sell Like a Spy: What Business Can Learn...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/04/02

What can business leaders learn from spies? In this episode, Chris speaks with Jeremy Hurewitz, author of Sell Like a Spy, to explore how intelligence officers build trust, read people, and influence outcomes. Drawing on years spent working alongside former CIA, FBI, and military professionals in the world of corporate security, Jeremy shares real-world techniques—like mirroring, elicitation, and active listening—that can transform how we sell, lead, and connect. They also discuss the ethics of

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60:45

S9 Ep35: Eric O’Neill on Cybersecurity and Catching...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/03/29

Former FBI counterintelligence specialist Eric O’Neill joins Chris to recount his mission to help capture one of the most damaging spies in American history: Robert Hanssen. They discuss Hanssen’s transformation from a wannabe Bond into a real-life cyber mole, his staggering betrayal of US intelligence, and how O’Neill built trust with a man he knew he had to take down. Eric also shares how the Hanssen case shaped his transition into cybersecurity, explores the rise of cybercrime as a $12 trillion

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49:12

S9 Ep34: Is China’s Military Ready for War? PLA...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/03/26

Is the Chinese military really ready for war? In this episode, Chris and Matt speak with Timothy Heath, a senior international defense researcher at RAND Corporation, about his provocative new report The Chinese Military’s Doubtful Combat Readiness. Heath argues that the PLA remains deeply shaped by its political mission to preserve CCP rule—and is poorly optimized for high-end combat. They discuss how China’s military modernization masks enduring political constraints, why in his view war over

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81:37

S9 Ep33: Espresso Martini | Putin’s Dilemma, Moscow’s...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/03/22

Putin hesitates on Ukraine's ceasefire, Trump plays shuttle diplomacy, and the West braces for Russia’s next move. We break down Mark Galeotti’s take on Putin’s indecisiveness and Trump’s latest call with Moscow. Plus, Russia’s ghost ships in Libya—what’s behind Moscow’s growing influence in North Africa? Then, we tackle listener questions: Is the West retaliating against Russian undersea sabotage? Will NATO stand by Denmark over Greenland? And is Trump trying to pull a “Nixon to China” move with

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60:17

S9 Ep32: Who Will Defend Europe? with Keir Giles

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/03/20

Chris is joined by Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House and author of Who Will Defend Europe?, to discuss the looming threat of Russian aggression and Europe’s unpreparedness for war. They dig into the failure of Western governments to heed repeated warnings about Moscow’s ambitions, the dangerous reliance on outdated post-Cold War assumptions, and the consequences of US disengagement from European security. Keir breaks down Russia’s long-range strike capabilities, its military

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76:18

S9 Ep31: Espresso Martini | A Russian Spy Ring in the...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/03/17

Another Russian spy ring in the UK is exposed—what were they up to, and what does it reveal about Moscow’s intelligence operations? Chris and Matt dive into the details of the case, including a botched plot to track Ukrainian soldiers and bizarre honey trap plans. Then, they break down the latest on the Ukraine ceasefire proposal. Will Putin play ball, or is this just a naive delay tactic? Plus, the US Navy’s new autonomous warship raises big questions about the future of naval warfare, and they

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41:19

S9 Ep30: Mission Iran: Behind the Scenes of Operation...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/03/10

Guest host and spy thriller writer Stephen England sits down with James Stejskal, a former US Army Special Forces soldier, CIA officer, historian, and author. They discuss Stejskal’s journey from special operations and intelligence work to writing both fiction and nonfiction. The conversation focuses on Mission Iran, his latest book, which uncovers Special Forces Detachment A’s covert role in Operation Eagle Claw, the 1980 mission to rescue American hostages in Tehran. Stejskal shares firsthand

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85:38

S9 Ep29: Espresso Martini | The Oval Office Debacle...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/03/08

This week’s Espresso Martini is unlike any other. Chris and Matt take a deep dive into the future of the transatlantic relationship after the disastrous White House meeting between Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy. They unpack the fallout, the shifting US stance on Ukraine, and the broader implications for NATO and European security. A raw, emotional, and unfiltered discussion on a critical moment in world affairs—one where the stakes couldn’t be higher.Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of

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60:21

S9 Ep28: Shane Harris on the US Intelligence...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/03/05

The Trump administration’s national security team is in place, and the intelligence community is feeling the shock. Elon Musk’s "Department of Government Efficiency" has infiltrated federal agencies, intelligence officials are resigning or being purged, and US allies are questioning how much they can still trust Washington. In this episode, The Atlantic’s Shane Harris joins Matt to assess the state of the US intelligence community one month into Trump’s second term. They discuss the FBI shake-up

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89:54

S9 Ep27: Espresso Martini | Trump’s FBI Shake-Up,...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/03/01

Chris and Matt discuss Dan Bongino’s appointment as FBI deputy director, signaling a dramatic shift in federal law enforcement and raising alarms about political loyalty over experience while Trump’s broader FBI purge faces internal resistance. Meanwhile, as the war in Ukraine enters its third year, polling challenges assumptions about the Global South’s stance on the conflict, revealing a divide between government policies and public sentiment. In the Indo-Pacific, a new report warns that China’s

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62:36

S9 Ep26: Dr. Taras Kuzio on Ukraine & Trump Peace...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/02/26

In this conversation, Dr. Taras Cusio provides an in-depth analysis of the ongoing war in Ukraine, discussing the current military status, the technological innovations being utilized by Ukraine, and the geopolitical implications of the conflict. He emphasizes the challenges faced by the Russian military and the evolving dynamics of international support for Ukraine. The discussion also touches on the complexities of peace negotiations and the trust issues surrounding the Trump administration's

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76:15

S9 Ep25: David Neiwert on Authoritarianism, Trump,...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/02/24

In this episode of Secrets and Spies, David Neiwert discussed his reporting on right-wing extremism, focusing on the MAGA movement's authoritarian tendencies, online influence, and the role of masculinity. He analysed the January 6th insurrection as a result of Trump-fuelled extremism and warned about the potential for further political violence, specifically targeting minorities and immigrants, while addressing the mischaracterisation of Antifa. Neiwert emphasised the dangers of extremist

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95:26

S9 Ep24: Espresso Martini | The GRU’s New Black Ops...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/02/22

Russia’s latest covert warfare escalations take center stage in this week’s Espresso Martini. Chris and Matt unpack the emergence of the GRU’s Department of Special Tasks, a new clandestine unit coordinating assassinations, sabotage, and hybrid warfare operations against the West. They also break down an alarming report on a Russia-linked Telegram network inciting terrorism and hate crimes in the UK—just another front in Moscow’s war of destabilization. Plus, listener questions on the dilemmas of

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88:41

S9 Ep23: Espresso Martini | Trump Targets Cartels,...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/02/15

In this episode of Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt unpack the latest intelligence, national security, and espionage stories shaping current affairs. First, they examine Trump’s push to classify Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, the spike in U.S. surveillance flights over Mexico, and whether covert military action is on the table. Then, they break down the NSA’s sweeping deletion of 27 “banned words,” including “bias” and “inclusion,” raising serious concerns about politicized

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87:03

S9 Ep22: Espresso Martini | The Potomac Air Disaster,...

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/02/08

A mid-air collision over the Potomac sheds light on secret doomsday evacuation plans for Washington, Trump’s looming FBI purge sparks major internal pushback, and Syria’s new government wants Russia to extradite Assad—but will Putin give him up? Plus, Iran explores a cruder path to a nuclear weapon.Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/kCOSZCdLbyE Articles discussed in today’s episode "Mid-Air Collision Shines Light on Doomsday Plans for Nation’s Capital" by Joseph Trevithick | The Warzone:

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2:13

Service Announcement - Listener Questions & Adverts

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues... ·

2025/01/31

Hello, everyone. We hope you are well. Matt and I are keen to get listener questions on future Espresso Martini Episodes. So, if you have a question or topic you would like us to discus,s email us here: secretsandspiespodcast@gmail.com In your email, please include: Question or Topic with a relevant news or online publication link How you would like us to read out your name & location online Adverts Adverts are essential to keeping Secrets & Spies running. We have received

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