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Artwork for Mission Implausible

Mission Implausible

Jon Stern
Conspiracy Theories
CIA
Donald Trump
Russia
Havana Syndrome
Disinformation
Qanon
Republican Party
Social Media
Russian Intelligence
Tulsi Gabbard
National Security
Deep State
FBI
Mkultra
Politics
Rudy Giuliani
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Covid-19
Trump Administration

Do you want to know the truth behind the world’s wildest conspiracy theories? Former CIA officers John Sipher & Jerry O’Shea try to determine where misinformation is coming from, when we’re being lied to and when a conspiracy theory is an actual real conspiracy. In the world of espionage, they were part of creating conspiracies. Now they and their circle of experts probe what’s true and when we’re... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes131Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Mission Implausible

Latest Episodes

The former Royal Navy officer, war correspondent for the Telegraph and the Sunday Times, and author of the Orwell Prize-winning Dead Men Risen and First Casualty — joins to discuss his new book, his covering of Northern Ireland, and the recent histor... more

The author of The United States of Paranoia and the editor of Reason sees the enemies within, outside, above and below. The true believers and the manipulators. Every religion and political affiliation in American is uniquely credulous. But maybe the... more

Former Science of Identity Foundation insider Rebecca Saltzburg, a source for the Washington Post's investigation into Tulsi Gabbard, goes deeper into how its guru Chris Butler shaped Gabbard's political career. Then, as Director of National Intellig... more

Rebecca Saltzburg spent years living with Tulsi Gabbard’s family, inside the Science of Identity Foundation, and in the inner circle of Chris Butler, the leader of its Hawaiian sect, of which Tulsi and her parents were long-time members. Years after ... more

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Recent Guests

Jesse Walker
Author and editor, Reason magazine; author of The United States of Paranoia
Reason magazine
Episode: Why Americans Are Such Suckers for Conspiracy Theories (with Jesse Walker)
Rebecca Saltzburg
Former insider of the Science of Identity Foundation and witness to documents
Science of Identity Foundation (former)
Episode: Tulsi Gabbard and The Guru: Inside Her Cult (with Rebecca Saltzburg) - Part One
Jason Bell
Historian and professor
University of New Brunswick
Episode: Operation Sparrow: Three Americans Who Wanted to Be Captured by the Nazis (with Jason Bell)
Garrett Graff
Award-winning historian, best-selling author and journalist
Episode: When Did We Lose Faith in Our Institutions? (with Garrett Graff) - ENCORE
Christopher Steele
Former British intelligence officer, Russia specialist, founder of Orbis Business Intelligence
Orbis Business Intelligence
Episode: What the Steele Dossier Got Right—and Why It Still Matters (with Christopher Steele) - ENCORE
Richard Kerbaj
Investigative journalist and author, Bafta-winning filmmaker
Author of The Defector and The Secret History of the Five Eyes
Episode: The Five Eyes: Can It Survive (with Richard Kerbaj)
Julia Curlee
CIA analyst, NSC staff, White House loan
Former CIA analyst; NSC staff; public service fellow at lawfare
Episode: The Corruption of American Intelligence (with Julia Curlee)
Paul Kolbe
Director of Operations at CIA's Clandestine Service; 25 years in senior operational roles; later in private sector and academia
CIA; BP; Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: CIA's Best-Kept Secret: It Was Fun (with Paul Kolbe & Doug Wise)
Gabriel Gatehouse
Award-winning journalist and author, creator of The Coming Storm
BBC / journalist
Episode: Did the CIA Poison the World’s Best Goalkeeper at the 1970 World Cup? (with Gabriel Gatehouse) - Part 1

Hosts

John Sipher
Host with CIA background; co-founder of the show; frequent guest expert on intelligence history and geopolitics
Jerry O'Shea
Co-host with CIA background; journalist; co-host of discussions on intelligence and media narratives

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 735 ratings
  • Interesting and broad perspective

    Good to look around the corners

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    z77r
    United States3 months ago
  • Gabriel Gatehouse

    Love your show, but couldn’t quite wrap my head around the episodes with this guy. He struck me as a weasely fella. Why did you have him on?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fan of Gov Charlie Baker
    United States3 months ago
  • 7 minutes of ads? are you out of your mind? this review brought to you by ads by iheart radio

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Mundicus
    4 months ago
  • Great pod

    Great pod, but I agree with the person who asked that the background sounds and music be dropped. I don’t need to be lulled into feeling a certain way, what you guys talk about is very interesting. Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    XTardis
    United States4 months ago
  • Love the show! Dump the music.

    This is one of the best podcasts, and I can’t wait for the new episode every week. However, the background music drowns out the speakers and really detracts from the show. I know it’s being used for effect, but it’s not needed. The stories are rich enough in content and drama on their own and should be the main focus. Great hosts and great guests!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lolijoi
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are usually top-level experts which keeps conversations rigorous and informative.
Thoughtful, evidence-based discussions rooted in real-world intelligence experience.
High credibility and insider perspectives that enhance understanding of conspiracy talk.
Occasional policy/political stance shifts noted by listeners; some perceive bias in coverage.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#173
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#213
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#233
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#232
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#85
Mexico/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#94
Colombia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Americans Are Such Suckers for Conspiracy Theories (with Jesse Walker)
Q: How do you compare propaganda and misinformation today on social media with how it happened in the past?
Today's landscape is faster and more cross-pollinated due to the internet, making conspiracy narratives more visible and interconnected, but it also creates channels for rapid debunking and correction, which wasn't as straightforward in earlier eras.
Why Americans Are Such Suckers for Conspiracy Theories (with Jesse Walker)
Q: What is your favorite CIA conspiracy theory that we can maybe kick around, or the people that you study, how do they view organizations like CIA, FBI, the three-letter organizations?
The view inside is not rosy; many people who study or work with these agencies acknowledge complex, sometimes adversarial relationships with other bodies, and there's ongoing skepticism about how information is shared or withheld within the government, which in turn feeds public suspicion and conspiracy thinking.
The Five Eyes: Can It Survive (with Richard Kerbaj)
Q: Can you explain what Five Eyes is and why it formed?
Five Eyes originated as a collaboration among the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand to share signals intelligence and counter the Soviet threat, evolving from bilateral ties to a formal alliance with broader membership and mutual trust.
The National Security Council Purge (with Julia Curlee)
Q: Julia, could you explain the difference between inner agency and the principles, and how the NSC should coordinate interagency efforts in a crisis like Iran or Hormuz?
The NSC coordinates through the National Security Advisor and deputies, ensuring that state, CIA, DOD, and other agencies work in a unified manner to plan and execute policy; during crises, the interagency process should bubble up options and consult among departments to present coherent decisions to the president.
The Corruption of American Intelligence (with Julia Curlee)
Q: If you ran into Tulsi Gabbard in public, what would you say to her about her past actions and their impact on the intelligence community?
I would tell her that history will not remember her kindly for actions perceived as undermining or politicizing intelligence, and emphasize the importance of accountability and preserving the integrity of national security institutions for future generations.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mission Implausible

What is Mission Implausible about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Tasc of episodes skews toward deep dives into intelligence history, geopolitics, and the ethics of espionage, blending long-form interviews with veteran CIA officers and investigative journalists. Conversations routinely explore Five Eyes history, the role of defectors, conspiracy narratives, and geopolitics involving Russia, China, Iran, and the Middle East, often framed through historical cases (Curveball, Gordon Banks, WMDs) and current tech implications like AI in intelligence. Notable is the balance between insider perspectives, rigorous context, and a willingness to challenge official narratives, making it appealing to listeners who want rigorous analysis, cautionary tales, and nuanced discussion beyond sensational headlines. The show... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Mission Implausible?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Mission Implausible:

1. Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs
2. SpyCast
3. SpyTalk
4. War on the Rocks
5. The David Frum Show

How many episodes of Mission Implausible are there?

Mission Implausible launched 3 years ago and published 131 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 Mission Implausible?

Recent guests on Mission Implausible include:

1. Jesse Walker
2. Rebecca Saltzburg
3. Jason Bell
4. Garrett Graff
5. Christopher Steele
6. Richard Kerbaj
7. Julia Curlee
8. Paul Kolbe

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