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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

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

78:51

S10 Ep40: What Hollywood Gets Wrong About the CIA...

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

2026/04/18

John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea, former senior CIA officers and co-founders of Spycraft Entertainment, return to the show for a conversation with Matt and Chris about what Hollywood gets wrong about espionage—and what they're trying to do about it. They dig into the tropes that break the spell (the lone hero, the ditched tail, the torture-porn shortcuts), why real intelligence work is quieter, more bureaucratic, and more character-driven than the screen suggests, and how lazy spy fiction feeds the

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61:38

S10 Ep39: Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks with...

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

2026/04/11

Sean Wiswesser spent three decades in the U.S. intelligence community, much of it running operations against Russia for the CIA. His new book, Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks, dissects of how the FSB, SVR, and GRU actually do their work: dead drops, signal sites, surveillance detection routes, and the street tradecraft that protected agents like Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen for years. Wiswesser explains why Russian services keep returning to Cold War–era methods, breaks down the

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100:26

S10 Ep38: Inside the New Apostolic Reformation:...

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

2026/04/04

Pastor Louis Florio—Lutheran pastor, former military intelligence officer, and police chaplain in Virginia—joins Chris to explain the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR): what it actually is, where it came from, and why it matters beyond the pews. Florio traces the movement's roots in the mid-20th-century Latter Rain revival, unpacks its core doctrines of dominionism and post-millennialism, and explains how its network of self-proclaimed apostles and prophets has embedded itself inside American

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66:18

S10 Ep37: Espresso Martini | Boots in Iran, Putin's...

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

2026/03/28

Chris and Matt are back for Espresso Martini. Nearly a month into Operation Epic Fury, Washington appears to be laying the groundwork for potential ground operations inside Iran—but the two options on the table, seizing Kharg Island or securing Tehran's enriched uranium stockpile, are both far harder to execute than advertised. They dig into what a nuclear material extraction would actually require, and what growing strain on U.S. interceptor stockpiles and carrier availability signals about the

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0:39

No Show This Saturday. Please check out our interview...

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

2026/03/20

Hi everyone, I hope you are well. There will be no show this weekend as we need to take a breather. Our next show will be Saturday 28th March If you haven’t caught up with our latest episode, please check out our interview with Trevor Barnes about the Bulgarian Spy Ring trial via the links below: Audio: https://pod.fo/e/3afd42YouTube: https://youtu.be/VWODfRZZA2oIf you enjoy a show please Buy Us A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspiesSee you next week. Support Secrets and SpiesBecome a

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84:45

S10 Ep36: Inside the Bulgarian Spy Ring Trial with...

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

2026/03/18

Chris speaks with intelligence historian and journalist Trevor Barnes about the Bulgarian spy ring trial at the Old Bailey, one of the most significant espionage cases in the UK since the Cold War. Barnes attended the proceedings and walks Chris through how a network of Bulgarian nationals, allegedly directed remotely by fugitive Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek from Moscow, was tasked with surveilling journalists and dissidents across Europe — including Bellingcat investigator Christo Grozev — in

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60:49

S10 Ep35: How China Steals America’s Secrets with...

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

2026/03/14

David Shedd served as acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; Andrew Badger is a former DIA case officer now teaching state-sponsored espionage at Oxford. Together they've written The Great Heist: China's Epic Campaign to Steal America's Secrets. Matt talks with them about how the Ministry of State Security evolved from a backwater service into what they argue is the world's most powerful intelligence agency; how Beijing replaced Cold War recruitment tradecraft with guanxi-based social

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85:06

S10 Ep34: Iran After Khamenei with Phillip Smyth

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

2026/03/07

Israel has killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The IRGC's senior leadership is decimated. The CIA is reportedly arming Kurdish opposition forces along the Iran-Iraq border. Phillip Smyth — one of the foremost experts on Iran's Shia proxy networks — joins Matt to make sense of what comes next: why Khamenei's succession is far more fraught than most analysis acknowledges; why the proliferation of "new" armed groups on the battlefield is largely a disinformation campaign run by established militias; the

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57:33

S10 Ep33: Plotters: The UK Terrorists Who Failed with...

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

2026/02/28

In this conversation, Lizzie Dearden, a journalist specializing in terrorism reporting, shares her journey into the field, the writing of her book Plotters, and insights into the evolving landscape of terrorism in the UK. She discusses the emotional atmosphere of terrorism trials, the shift in threats post-2017, and the complexities of radicalization. Dearden highlights the challenges of public perception, the role of intelligence agencies, and the significance of case studies like Haroon Syed's

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76:25

S10 Ep32: Ukraine’s Struggle, Four Years On with Ben...

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

2026/02/21

Benjamin Wittes, editor-in-chief of Lawfare, joins Matt and Chris after spending two weeks traveling across Ukraine—from Kyiv to Kharkiv and Odesa—as the war enters its fourth year. What he describes is sobering. Cities that appear functional on the surface are living through freezing temperatures, rolling blackouts, nightly missile strikes, and the constant threat of drone attacks. Families endure shattered infrastructure and relentless uncertainty, while society strains to maintain some semblance

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67:09

S10 Ep31: Jan Marsalek’s Spy Ring and a Telegram...

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

2026/02/14

In this episode, Chris speaks with German investigative journalist Manuel Bewarder about the Jan Marsalek spy network and the landmark UK trial that exposed it. They unpack how the former Wirecard executive allegedly directed a Bulgarian spy ring from Moscow, targeting journalists, dissidents, and even U.S. military facilities in Germany. Drawing on thousands of Telegram messages revealed in court, Manuel explains how the network operated, how close it came to violence, and what the case reveals

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86:13

S10 Ep30: Espresso Martini | Epstein’s Russian...

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

2026/02/07

This week on Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt examine a set of stories pointing to a more volatile intelligence and political landscape. They unpack Poland’s investigation into whether Jeffrey Epstein functioned as a long-running collector of kompromat tied to Russian interests, and what the available evidence does — and does not — tell us about his relationship with Moscow. In Germany, the expulsion of a Russian military attaché and the arrest of an alleged spy accused of mapping defense and drone

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60:41

S10 Ep29: How Russia Protects its Nuclear Submarines...

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

2026/01/31

Investigative journalist Florian Flade returns to discuss Russia's Harmony Undersea Surveillance System, a project aimed at protecting its nuclear submarine fleet. Florian and Chris cover the international collaboration involved in Florian’s investigation, the strategic importance of the Harmony system, and the challenges of reporting on sensitive military topics. Florian also highlights the broader implications of Russia's military activities in the Arctic and the ongoing efforts to counteract

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72:47

S10 Ep28: Global Security in 2026: Conflict, Cyber,...

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

2026/01/24

In this comprehensive discussion, Sam Lichtenstein from RANE (Risk Assistance Network & Exchange) joins Chris to dissect their annual geopolitical and security forecast. Sam provides insights into the geopolitical landscape for 2026, highlighting the challenges of predicting human behavior, the rise of violent conflicts, and the implications of AI and cybersecurity threats. They cover regional dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, emphasizing

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60:04

S10 Ep27: Trump, Greenland, and an Alliance in Crisis...

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

2026/01/17

Shane Harris joins Matt to discuss his latest reporting for The Atlantic on one of the most destabilizing ideas circulating inside the Trump administration: the U.S. acquisition of Greenland. Shane explains how an idea once dismissed as a punchline is now being treated by U.S. and European officials as a real contingency, and why Denmark and Greenland view it as an existential threat. They examine how the proposal took shape inside Trump’s orbit, why political and intelligence pressure campaigns

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53:40

S10 Ep26: Inside Operation Absolute Resolve with Jack...

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

2026/01/14

n this conversation, Jack Murphy discusses his military background and transition into journalism, focusing on his reporting of Operation Absolute Resolve. He shares insights into the planning and execution of the operation, the legal and strategic implications, and the broader context of U.S. foreign policy. Murphy emphasizes the importance of understanding the consequences of military actions and the need for caution in future operations.Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of

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76:50

S10 Ep25: Espresso Martini | Maduro’s Capture,...

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

2026/01/11

The U.S. capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro marks one of the most consequential unilateral actions Washington has taken in the Western Hemisphere in decades. Chris and Matt unpack what actually happened, why it matters, and how this operation tests long-standing assumptions about sovereignty, precedent, and America’s role abroad—especially in a world where rivals are watching closely. They then turn to the death of Aldrich Ames, reflecting on how the CIA’s most damaging traitor reshaped

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0:32

Espresso Martini out on Sunday 11th @ 17:00 GMT

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

2026/01/09

Hi everyone — we hope you’re well.Our latest episode of Espresso Martini, looking at the unfolding events in Venezuela, will be released this Sunday at 17:00 GMT.Apologies for the delay — a few logistical issues held things up.We hope you’ll tune in and join us as we unpack what’s happening in Venezuela and why it matters.

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60:16

S10 Ep24: From CIA to CEO with Rupal Patel

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

2026/01/03

Former CIA analyst-turned-entrepreneur Rupal Patel joins Chris for a candid conversation about reinvention, resilience, and what it takes to build a life that actually fits. Rupal talks about identity shifts after leaving the intelligence world, why self-reflection matters more than motivation, and how community can make or break big transitions. She shares practical frameworks she uses with clients—including her unique approach to time management—and introduces the idea of “tactical ignorance”:

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58:03

S10 Ep23: Watching Putin's Shadow Fleet with Remy Osman

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

2025/12/27

Remy Osman joins Chris to unpack the strange, high-stakes world of Putin’s “shadow fleet”—the tankers and ghost ships helping Russia move oil and dodge sanctions. Remy traces how he got into ship-spotting during quarantine in Singapore, then explains how open-source sleuths identify suspicious vessels: “zombie” identities, odd tracking behavior, evasive paperwork, and patterns that don’t match legitimate trade. They dig into why Singapore sits at the center of global maritime traffic, what makes

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329 results

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