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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
Whistleblowing
George H.W. Bush
Aldrich Ames

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes51Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryDocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for John Kiriakou's Dead Drop

Latest Episodes

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

IN THIS EPISODE John's time at Loretto finally comes to an end - but not without a near hiccup. Though he's free of Loretto, he's not free from the federal Bureau of Prisons; John must report every day to "Hope Village", a halfway house - a situation... more

IN THIS EPISODE When John first entered the gates of Loretto Federal Prison, his goal was to use all his training as a spy to survive prison. But, just as with spying, prison can be very unpredictable. In fact, John found that he'd been fooled by one... more

IN THIS EPISODE At Loretto Federal Prison, John can almost see the light of his release date in the not-too-distant future. Returning to the Outside World will mean having to shed the prison persona John worked so hard to create - if only for surviva... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
Glenn Carle
Former CIA officer, author
Self/Former CIA officer
Episode: S1E26 Did John Le Carre Invent The Modern Spy?
Alan Katz
Co-writer and producer of Dead Drop
Costart and Touchstone
Episode: S1E26 Did John Le Carre Invent The Modern Spy?

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
  • Awesome content

    I like the really detailed information and genuine quality of the podcast! Love ya John!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarcianneW
    United States24 days ago
  • Great work

    Love what you’re doing John and love the content. Keep it coming 🤙🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TNT Norseman
    United States24 days ago
  • Absolutely enthralled

    John is a brilliant narrator- great podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ajajajclu
    United Kingdom24 days ago
  • Funny, smart and irreverent

    Such a great deep dive into a ratified world. Human and deeply entertaining dark matter. Well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kitty LaFlamme
    Canada25 days ago
  • The Best Storytelling Podcast I’ve Ever Heard

    John is, frankly, a storyteller like no other. Having initially heard of him through the Dalton Fischer podcast, I familiarized myself with his work against torture and his activities in the CIA. I did this through listening to other podcasts where he was the guest, not the host. I always loved these episodes, and looked forward to John’s unique, exciting storytelling. After learning about Dead Drop, I knew I had to tune in. I’ve come to build an immense respect for John as a whistleblower and t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ES0331
    United Statesa month 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
#30
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#31
United States/History
Spotify
#47
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#44
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#53
United Kingdom/History
Spotify
#39
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
S1E11 Have Human Spies Become Obsolete?
Q: Do you believe that there's still a role for human intelligence?
Eisler argues that while human intelligence may seem less relevant with advancements in technology, there is still a vital role it plays in understanding cultural nuances and human behavior.

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 51 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. Paul Wright
2. Joey Casello
3. Marty Gottesfeld
4. Adonis Reynolds
5. Donald Ray Reynolds, Sr.
6. Janice Reynolds
7. Donnie Reynolds, Jr.
8. Glenn Carle

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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