
Join ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou on a very personal deep dive into what makes a spy tick. One of the most famous spies in the whole world, John - a spy with a conscience - blew the whistle on the CIA's torture program after the war on terror and spent 23 months in federal prison for it. As John explains, no spy is ever an "ex-spy". Why is that so? Listen to the podcast and you'll understand why. more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 54 | Founded | a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistoryDocumentarySociety & Culture | |||

IN THIS EPISODE Every whistleblower should know one thing before they step forward with their secrets that demand exposing - at some point, the legal system will engage with you. When that happens, each and every whistleblowerl will need a lawyer. Jo... more
IN THIS EPISODE Welcome to Season 3! As the title of this episode suggests, season 3 will refocus the podcast on spying and, this season, on whistleblowing, too. We may be in a Golden Age of Corruption, but that's a future Golden Age of Whistleblowin... more
IN THIS EPISODE We draw the curtain on season 2 with a preview of season 3 wherein we'll ask "What Makes A Whistleblower Tick?" To get us kicked off, John roundtables with whistleblower Tom Drake. A longtime member of America's intelligence community... more
IN THIS EPISODE We join with another podcast in the Costard & Touchstone Family - The How NOT To Make A Movie Podcast - to explore how NOT to make a SPY movie. John and Alan Katz (he's both the host of The How NOT To Make A Movie Podcast and the co-w... more
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Love love love. I’ve watched every pod on dead drop and briefing room. I can’t get enough. His perspective, so interesting. With his background and knowledge it’s just the perfect amount of intelligence with out pushing a narrative. John is that guy and has taught me a lot. 🥰🫶🏻
John is such a targeted storyteller. I can’t stop listening AB’s will listen to every episode he puts out. Please keep’em coming, Mr. Kiriakou
I would love to hear more of John’s stories but unfortunately the background music is too loud and persistent for me to able to get into this. It’s not needed! Bummer.
I’ve been listening to all things John Kiriakou on YouTube for months. His stories are fascinating. I thought surely I had heard them all, then I listened to Season 1 Episode 1 of Dead Drop. He describes it as more granular storytelling, and man is he right. Even though I have heard him tell his origin story before, this telling is so immersive, even down to mooing cows and clanging pots and pans, that you can’t help but feel like you were there with him. Simply brilliant storytelling. Thanks ... more
John tells his stories in a personable and interesting manner. Love it.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #35 | |
Apple Podcasts | #30 | |
Apple Podcasts | #35 | |
Apple Podcasts | #62 | |
Spotify | #49 | |
Apple Podcasts | #54 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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This program presents intimate, first-person accounts from intelligence professionals, whistleblowers, and authors who have lived through high-stakes government power and secrecy. Episodes often center on imprisonment, torture policy, whistleblowing, and the human impact of national security decisions, with a strong emphasis on ethical questions, accountability, and personal resilience. A standout aspect is the storytelling craft: narrated memoir-style episodes combine granular detail, historical context, and candid reflections, making complex topics accessible and emotionally resonant for listeners who crave deep, character-driven perspectives in espionage and public-interest cases.
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John Kiriakou's Dead Drop launched a year ago and published 54 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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Recent guests on John Kiriakou's Dead Drop include:
1. Jesselyn Radack
2. Tom Drake
3. Paul Wright
4. Joey Casello
5. Marty Gottesfeld
6. Adonis Reynolds
7. Donald Ray Reynolds, Sr.
8. Janice Reynolds
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