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

Secrets & Spies
Ukraine
Russia
CIA
Iran
Espionage
China
Israel
Hamas
United States
Donald Trump
NATO
Terrorism
Havana Syndrome
Cold War
Area 51
Syria
Disinformation
Qanon
Hezbollah
Conspiracy Theories

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... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes338Founded10 years ago
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Artwork for Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage

Latest Episodes

For most of its history, Germany's foreign intelligence service was built to watch, not to act — a constraint rooted in the country's experience of the Gestapo and the Stasi. A sweeping draft law would change that, letting the BND conduct sabotage, c... more

Britain is changing prime ministers again: Keir Starmer is out after two years, with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham the favourite to replace him — inheriting an underfunded defence plan and the wreckage of Peter Mandelson's Epstein-tainted app... more

For most of her career, Tulsi Gabbard may have been taking direction from a reclusive Hawaii guru — the allegation at the center of a Washington Post investigation that shadowed her out of office as Director of National Intelligence. Her replacement,... more

Chris and Matt dig into the fine print of the U.S.-Iran memorandum signed this week by President Trump in Versailles, separating what Tehran banks immediately — sanctions relief, frozen funds, an open Strait of Hormuz — from what's still contingent o... more

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Recent Guests

Ahana Datta Fasel
Author of Full Stack Spies
Author, Full Stack Spies
Episode: Full Stack Spies: Cyber Espionage in the Age of US China Competition | Ahana Datta Fasel
Ahmed Aboudouh
Senior fellow with the Chatham House Middle Eastern North Africa Program
Chatham House
Episode: Iran, China, and the New Middle East | Ahmed Aboudouh from Chatham House
Stephen Long
Author and scholar on US foreign policy and intelligence history
Author of A Harvest of Bitter Fruit
Episode: A Rich Harvest of Bitter Fruit: CIA, MI6, and Covert Action in Cold War Albania | Stephen Long
Brian Finucane
Senior Advisor, International Crisis Group
International Crisis Group
Episode: America’s War Powers Crisis | Brian Finucane
Charles Beaumont
Author of A Spy at War, former MI6 officer
Author, former MI6
Episode: A Spy at War | Charles Beaumont
Brian J. Morra
Former US Air Force Intelligence Officer; author of The Able Archers
Author, The Able Archers
Episode: Able Archer: The Nuclear War Game That Almost Ended the World | Brian J. Morra
Jerry O'Shea
Former senior CIA officer, co-founder of Spycraft Entertainment
Spycraft Entertainment
Episode: What Hollywood Gets Wrong About the CIA | John Sipher & Jerry O’Shea
Sean Wiswesser
Former CIA officer, espionage expert, author of Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks
Former CIA; Author
Episode: Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks | Sean Wiswesser
Lou Florio
Pastor, New Apostolic Reformation advocate
Pastor Lou VA
Episode: Inside the New Apostolic Reformation: Faith, Power, and American Politics | Pastor Louis Florio

Hosts

Chris Carr
Host of Secrets and Spies Podcast; filmmaker with background in espionage-themed storytelling.
Matt Fulton
Co-host and author/analyst; novelist and screenwriter drawing on spy fiction and real-world geopolitics.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 545 ratings
  • Great show!

    Chris is a professional podcast host and he cares about the content and his guests. He did an excellent job and I was honored on to be on the show… and am avid listener too! -Sean

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wissers73
    United States2 months ago
  • Best level headed show on the subject

    Presenters are well prepared. Points discussed and argued logically and as neutral as possible when covering multiple aspects and sides of current affairs and historic espionage topics. Always insightful! Keep it up!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PabzMaldini
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • False labeling

    I had subscribed to this podcast a while back but was not a regular listener. I tended to put them in the queue but somehow always pushed them back. Finally, I got to listen to a handful of them. The episode descriptions look enticing but when you get down yo listening to them they are crashingly disappointing.

    The host has a nice manner about him but then you realize he’s just a pushover. He needs to give us what’s on the tin. Take this recent episode with John Sipher, apparently ex-CIA, but ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    sidneyhart
    United States5 months ago
  • Shane Harris

    Love to see Shane Harris, formerly of Chatter, on this podcast. Shane, now with The Atlantic, is experienced and well spoken in the Intelligence sector.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pudelmom
    United States6 months ago
  • Fantastic podcast

    I’d say this is one of the best podcasts around. Insightful interviews, interesting guests and it also essentially fills a void in discussions regarding the intelligence space. It’s accessible to those who don’t work in this space, while also being interesting to those who do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Logic_Fan
    Canada7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Hosts are viewed as balanced, thoughtful interviewers by many listeners.
Some criticism notes a perceived bias or repetitive focus in some episodes.
Guests consistently praised for depth and expertise.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Rich Harvest of Bitter Fruit: CIA, MI6, and Covert Action in Cold War Albania | Stephen Long
Q: You mention Apple as the final roll of the dice; could you summarize what went wrong and why this mission became such a turning point?
Apple recruited high-quality agents, but the Sigurimi intercepted them, manipulated communications, and captured key operatives, leading to a cascading collapse of the operation and exposing Western assets, which shifted the entire project into a cautionary tale about risk and sabotage in covert action.
A Rich Harvest of Bitter Fruit: CIA, MI6, and Covert Action in Cold War Albania | Stephen Long
Q: At this stage of the Cold War, how close was Albania to the Soviet Union and what role did Soviet intelligence play inside Albania's security services?
Soviet influence was not initially dominant; Yugoslavia was more important early on, with shifting alignments after the Tito-Stalin split, and the Sigurimi's counterintelligence proved formidable as Soviet and Albanian links evolved and then receded.
A Rich Harvest of Bitter Fruit: CIA, MI6, and Covert Action in Cold War Albania | Stephen Long
Q: Stephen, welcome to Secrets and Spies. So before we dive into your excellent book, could you just tell us a little bit about yourself and what drew you to Cold War intelligence history in this story?
I'm a scholar of US foreign policy and intelligence history focusing on the early Cold War; my interest grew from a combination of archival finds, notably declassified CIA files, and the rich, contested narratives around Albania's role, which offered a clear window into how Western powers attempted covertly to shape the region.
Think Like a Spy: What Intelligence Work Really Teaches About People | Julian Fisher
Q: How do you define and teach the concept of strategic transcendence?
Strategic transcendence is removing oneself from the emotional battlefield to make data-driven decisions, including techniques like taking the knee to pause before reacting, and applying this in leadership and negotiations.
Think Like a Spy: What Intelligence Work Really Teaches About People | Julian Fisher
Q: What is the Think Like a Spy Strategic Relations Workshop about and when does it start?
It's a four-session online program building on the book's themes, focusing on strategic relationship building, with the first online session starting on the 23rd of June at 1900 BST, and later live sessions as the series develops.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage

What is Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two thoughtful hosts digest global events through intelligence, geopolitics, and security analysis, frequently hosting former spies, analysts, and authors. Episodes span Cold War history, modern espionage tradecraft, disinformation campaigns, and contemporary crises, often weaving practical lessons for policy, media, and business audiences. Notable strengths include a balanced, detail-oriented interviewing style, a knack for translating complex topics into accessible stories, and regular deep dives into niche topics like spycraft, space considerations, and the ethics of covert work. A few standout formats include guest-led discussions with distinguished operators and analysts, plus accessible expository episodes that translate current event... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage:

1. SpyCast
2. SPYCRAFT 101
3. True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics
4. SpyTalk
5. Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

How many episodes of Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage are there?

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage launched 10 years ago and published 338 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage?

Recent guests on Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage include:

1. Ahana Datta Fasel
2. Ahmed Aboudouh
3. Stephen Long
4. Brian Finucane
5. Charles Beaumont
6. Brian J. Morra
7. Jerry O'Shea
8. Sean Wiswesser

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