x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

news news commentary

All Episodes

69:22

S10 Ep11: Reality Winner on the Leak That Changed Her...

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

2025/11/01

In this special conversation, Chris speaks with Reality Winner — the former Air Force linguist and NSA contractor who leaked evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and served the longest prison sentence ever imposed for an unauthorized disclosure. Winner reflects on her decision, the weaponization of the Espionage Act, her years in prison, and the struggle to rebuild her life after release. It’s an unfiltered discussion about truth, power, and the personal cost of dissent in

en

66:10

S10 Ep10: Espresso Martini | Gaza’s Fragile Peace, a...

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

2025/10/25

A fragile ceasefire in Gaza, the collapse of a UK spy trial, and a damning new report on China’s exploitation of U.S. defense research—Chris and Matt unpack a pivotal few weeks in global politics and intelligence. They assess the Trump-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas, the role of Jared Kushner, Qatar, and Tony Blair in the deal, and why Netanyahu’s legal troubles could upend it all. In London, they break down how a high-profile Chinese espionage case unraveled, exposing gaps in the Official

en

46:54

S10 Ep9: John le Carré's Tradecraft with Dr. Jessica...

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

2025/10/18

Chris speaks with historian Dr. Jessica Douthwaite, co-curator of John le Carré: Tradecraft at Oxford’s Bodleian Library. They explore how le Carré—born David Cornwell—approached his extensive research, the selection process for the exhibition, and the political evolution reflected in his works. Jessica emphasizes le Carré’s identity as a writer who was also a spy, the collaborative nature of his writing process with his wife, and the contemporary relevance of his themes. They also discuss his

en

63:57

S10 Ep8: The Grave Robber: Inside the FBI’s Art Crime...

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

2025/10/15

Former FBI agent Tim Carpenter led the Bureau’s Art Crime Team, chasing down everything from stolen masterworks to looted antiquities. In this conversation, he joins Chris to discuss his new book The Grave Robber, a gripping account of the biggest stolen artifacts case in FBI history. Tim recounts the investigation into Don Miller, an amateur collector who raided archaeological sites and kept human remains in his Indiana home, and reflects on how the FBI sought justice and cultural restoration in

en

49:37

S10 Ep7: Race Against Terror with Jake Tapper

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

2025/10/11

CNN’s Jake Tapper joins Matt to discuss his new book Race Against Terror, a gripping true story of the US hunt and prosecution of an al-Qaeda fighter named Spin Ghul. They trace the case’s origins in Italy and Afghanistan, its lessons about justice and accountability after 9/11, and what it reveals about how America wages its “forever war.” Tapper reflects on writing trauma without spectacle, the moral limits of the war on terror, and the investigators who quietly uphold the rule of law amid

en

63:49

S10 Ep6: Espresso Martini | Hegseth’s Lecture, an NYC...

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

2025/10/04

On this week’s Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt break down Pete Hegseth’s speech at Quantico, where he and President Trump summoned 800 generals and admirals for what turned out to be a culture-war lecture on grooming standards and “wokeness.” They examine what it says about civil-military relations in Trump’s second term and the risks in treating the armed forces as a political prop. Then they turn to the Secret Service’s discovery of a massive SIM-card farm in New York linked to swatting threats

en

32:09

S10 Ep5: Train Like a Spy with SpyQ

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

2025/09/29

On todays special podcast, Chris is joined by Gavin Stone and James Foster to discuss “Spy-Q,” a tradecraft-for-civilians training event that turns elicitation, deception detection, influence, behavioural profiling, resilience, and memory techniques into practical tools you can actually use. Find out more information about SpyQ and register: https://www.spyq.co.uk/ Use this discount code for 10% off - SECRETS&SPIES10 Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for

en

58:36

S10 Ep4: Syria After Assad with Aaron Zelin

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

2025/09/27

Nearly a year after Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus, Syria is struggling to chart a path forward. This week, Matt is joined by Aaron Zelin of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who has just returned from a rare trip inside the country where he met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa. They unpack Sharaa’s unlikely rise from jihadist commander to head of state, the sectarian bloodshed testing his grip on power, Israel’s relentless strikes and regional pressure, and the uneasy standoff with

en

64:02

S10 Ep3: Espresso Martini | Five Eyes Fractures,...

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

2025/09/20

In this week’s episode, Chris and Matt take another look at the political assault on the US intelligence community and its strain on Five Eyes, pushing partners to question sharing or holding information back, even as the core bonds endure for now. Chris then previews “Spy-Q,” a tradecraft-for-civilians training event that turns elicitation, deception detection, influence, behavioral profiling, resilience, and memory techniques into practical tools you can actually use. Finally, they unpack Israel’s

en

74:07

S10 Ep2: Uncovering Germany’s Cold War Spy Missions...

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

2025/09/13

On this week’s episode, investigative journalist Florian Flade joins Chris to uncover three little-known German intelligence operations from the Cold War and their aftermath: supporting the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, secretly buying Soviet weapons from demoralized troops in East Germany, and covertly shipping GDR arms to Israel. Florian explains how these missions reflected Germany’s risk-taking intelligence culture, the close ties with allies like the CIA and Mossad, and the lessons they still

en

81:23

S10 Ep1: Espresso Martini | Britain’s Flag Fight,...

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

2025/09/06

Flags are flying across Britain—but behind the bunting lurks a far-right campaign. Chris and Matt kick off Season 10 with a look at "Operation Raise the Colours," the extremist-led push to turn patriotism into intimidation. From there, they move to Ukraine, where the US has signaled willingness to offer critical support to a potential European-led peacekeeping force, even as Trump hedges on a deal with Moscow. Next, Tulsi Gabbard ignites turmoil at the top of the intelligence community, revoking

en

55:09

S9 Ep66: How a Murder in Coal Country Toppled an...

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

2025/08/30

In this episode, Matt speaks with Nicolo Majnoni, creator of The Shadow Kingdom podcast, about his new season investigating the murder of union reformer Jock Yablonski and the battle to reclaim America’s most powerful coal union from corruption and violence. They explore how union boss Tony Boyle turned the United Mine Workers into a personal fiefdom, why Yablonski’s democratic challenge cost him his life, and how, in response, a band of young outsiders helped bring the system down. It’s a story of

en

108:33

S9 Ep65: The Persuasion Game and How Influence...

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

2025/08/23

In this episode, Chris speaks with Chad Lewis, author of The Persuasion Game, about how foreign influence operations exploit Western political vulnerabilities. Chad discusses the rise of Kremlin-backed disinformation campaigns, the use of political operatives and lobbyists to bypass formal institutions using shadow diplomacy. The conversation explores how narratives are seeded, legitimized, and weaponized in US and UK politics, drawing on case studies involving Ukraine, authoritarian networks, and

en

47:48

S9 Ep64: China’s Long Arm: Uyghur Repression From...

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

2025/08/16

Award-winning journalist John Beck joins Chris to discuss Those Who Should Be Seized Should Be Seized, his harrowing account of China’s campaign against Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and other Muslim minorities. Beck traces the lives of four people—from re-education camps in Xinjiang to exile in Turkey, Kazakhstan, and the US—revealing how Beijing’s reach extends far beyond its borders through intimidation, surveillance, and coercion. They explore mass detention, forced labor, and the destruction of

en

58:01

S9 Ep63: How Global Finance Influences Geopolitics...

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

2025/08/09

How does financial architecture shape the global order? Chris is joined by Emmanuel Daniel—author of The Great Transition and founder of TAB Global—for a sweeping look at how banking, capital markets, and emerging technologies are redefining geopolitics. They explore the evolution of the US dollar, the impact of digital currencies, and whether China can build a viable alternative to Western capital markets. Emmanuel explains how the US became a financial superpower, why tariffs may backfire, and how

en

81:02

S9 Ep62: The Information Animal: Humans, Technology,...

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

2025/08/05

How do we make sense of truth in a world saturated with content? This week, Chris speaks with Alicia Wanless—director of the Information Environment Project at the Carnegie Endowment and author of The Information Animal—to explore how humans have always wrestled with information, long before the internet. They unpack the patterns that emerge when new technologies reshape how we communicate, why influence operations aren’t new, and how today’s information warfare fits into a much older story. From

en

66:38

S9 Ep61: Epstein Spy Rumors, Arctic Power Plays, and...

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

2025/07/26

The MAGA movement cracks as Trump’s name surfaces in the Epstein files and his administration fails to deliver the promised disclosures. We unpack the backlash, the conspiracies, and the lingering question of an intelligence connection to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. Plus: a bizarre UK spy case involving Russia, a USB stick, and a bicycle seat; the Arctic emerges as a flashpoint for missile defense, climate competition, and great power rivalry; and Trump’s reversal clears the way for new weapons to

en

47:38

S9 Ep60: QAnon and the Mainstreaming of Extremism...

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

2025/07/19

Author and conspiracy researcher Mike Rothschild joins Chris to unpack the rise, evolution, and enduring influence of QAnon. They explore its blend of old and new conspiracies, its gamified social appeal, and the algorithmic fuel behind its viral spread. Mike explains how QAnon adapted across borders, embedded itself into mainstream politics, and fostered real-world violence—culminating in the January 6 Capitol attack. They also examine QAnon’s psychological grip, its creative and authoritarian

en

1:29

Service Announcement: Chris & Matt on DogShirtTV, no...

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

2025/07/18

Hi eveyone. Chris & Matt will be on Benjamin Wittes & Alicia Wanless's YouTube show "Dog Shirt TV", talking about Secrets & Spies, its origins, our interest in espionage and our thoughts on Spy Fiction. You can watch the show here: https://youtu.be/QVKAQf7p_Fs?si=TruFrM4-jsg0iQMqThere won't be an Espresso Martini this week and instead we will be sharing Chris's interview with author Mike Rothschild and discussing his research on QAnon. That will be released on Saturday 19th. Have a

en

62:57

S9 Ep59: The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century...

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

2025/07/12

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tim Weiner joins Matt to discuss The Mission, his new history of the CIA in the 21st century. They explore the agency’s quiet successes and moral failings, from dismantling the AQ Khan network to abetting torture and losing its way in Iraq. Weiner recounts how the CIA reoriented after the 2016 Russian election interference, played a key role in supporting Ukraine, and tried to hold the line under Trump. Their conversation spans secret wars, agency leadership, and

en

297 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS NewsHour

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci