Rephonic
Artwork for John Kiriakou's Dead Drop

John Kiriakou's Dead Drop

John Kiriakou & Alan Katz
CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
Espionage
Abu Zubaydah
Sofia
Al Qaeda
Counterterrorism
Pakistan
Iraq
Saddam Hussein
Bulgaria
Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Soviet Union
Loretto Prison
Torture
Bahrain
Prison
NSA
Whistleblowing
George H.W. Bush

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes54Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryDocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for John Kiriakou's Dead Drop

Latest Episodes

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

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Jesselyn Radack
Whistleblower and lawyer, head of Whisper at exposefacts.org
Whistleblower and Source Protection Program at ExposeFacts
Episode: S3E2 The Whistleblower's Tiger Mom
Tom Drake
Former NSA executive and whistleblower
NSA
Episode: S2E18 Whistleblower's Roundtable with Tom Drake
Paul Wright
Founder, executive editor, and publisher of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News
Prison Legal News / Criminal Legal News
Episode: S2E13 The Crusader
Joey Casello
Former prison inmate and chef, later pizza restaurant owner
Former inmate at FCI Loretto; involved in prison cooking operations
Episode: S2E10 Food, Glorious Food!
Marty Gottesfeld
Activist connected to Anonymous, involved in CMU discussions
Unspecified in episode
Episode: S1E27 Prisoner Ex
Adonis Reynolds
Donnie Reynolds Jr.'s son
Family of Donnie Reynolds
Episode: S1E27 Prisoner Ex
Donald Ray Reynolds, Sr.
Donnie Reynolds Sr.
Reynolds family
Episode: S1E27 Prisoner Ex
Janice Reynolds
Donnie Reynolds Sr.'s wife
Reynolds family
Episode: S1E27 Prisoner Ex
Donnie Reynolds, Jr.
Donnie Reynolds Jr.
Individual prisoner
Episode: S1E27 Prisoner Ex

Host

John Kiriakou
Host of Dead Drop; associated with Costard & Touchstone Productions; central narrator and interviewee in many episodes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 4.9k ratings
  • John, ily

    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. 🥰🫶🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emmalayne
    United States15 days ago
  • Addicted

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elvis236
    United States16 days ago
  • John is great but audio experience sucks

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Julie Ann 2020
    United States16 days ago
  • Hooked!

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cerulean_Soul
    United States16 days ago
  • So Interesting!

    John tells his stories in a personable and interesting manner. Love it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OldFartLeftist
    United States18 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the storytelling quality and depth of discussion.
Some critics mention production or pacing quirks but applaud the content and guest quality.
Fans note the host's candid, transparent approach and compelling interviews.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#35
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#30
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#35
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#62
United Kingdom/History
Spotify
#49
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#54
Italy/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S3E2 The Whistleblower's Tiger Mom
Q: And can you please tell our listeners about your own Whistleblowing?
Jesselyn explains that whistleblowing often stems from a conscience-driven impulse to uphold legal and ethical standards, and she recounts how she ended up defending whistleblowers after initially challenging government overreach, highlighting the personal and professional costs involved.
S2E10 Food, Glorious Food!
Q: How did you know what to make and what to do if you were halfway through and you lacked ingredients?
The guest explains they always had supplies and access through a network, relying on a pipeline of real food and cannily using available ingredients to improvise meals.
S1E26 Did John Le Carre Invent The Modern Spy?
Q: May I ask both of you a question about that?
The guests discuss whether Le Carré's portrayal of spies and his character Smiley redefined the modern spy, highlighting the balance between realism and narrative craft as key to his influence.
S1E24 Moment Of Truth
Q: Have you seen waterboarding firsthand, and what was your experience?
Yes, I experienced waterboarding, found it to be a harrowing and inhumane process, and I later concluded it should not be used.
S1E24 Moment Of Truth
Q: So you did not go through the torture training, correct?
Correct, I did not go through the training and ultimately declined to participate in it.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About John Kiriakou's Dead Drop

What is John Kiriakou's Dead Drop about and what kind of topics does it cover?

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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Which podcasts are similar to John Kiriakou's Dead Drop?

These podcasts share a similar audience with John Kiriakou's Dead Drop:

1. DeProgram with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas
2. Julian Dorey Podcast
3. The Jason Jones Show
4. Danny Jones Podcast
5. Julian Dorey Daily

How many episodes of John Kiriakou's Dead Drop are there?

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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What guests have appeared on John Kiriakou's Dead Drop?

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

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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