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Spies Like Us

PHIL
Canada
Foreign Interference
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
ISIS
Hamas
Electric Vehicles
Honda Corporation
Terrorism
Hezbollah
Five Eye Alliance
James Bay
Palestine
Omar Khadr
National Security
Paramilitary
Lebanon
Elections
Alberta
Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act
National Security Intelligence Committee Of Parliamentarians

Conversations about all things national security in Canada and globally hosted by three retired Canadian intelligence practitioners with almost a century of experience in SIGINT, HUMINT and other forms of intelligence.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes72Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNews

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Artwork for Spies Like Us

Latest Episodes

As 2025 draws to a close, Al, Phil and Neil look back at what made national security headlines this year, wonder why Gary Anandasangaree is still Canada's Public Safety Minister, and figure out why Neil can't be host of the podcast. Despite a lack of... more

The boys are back - with Al having returned from a Top Secret mission to Casablanca where he ate and drank too much - and just in time to weigh in on a whole bunch of foiled and successful terrorist attacks! With Grizzly Bear's reappearance Phil no l... more

While Al is AWOL - didn't he just get back from vacation? - Neil and Phil fill (!) in ably and are joined by former FBI Agent Lauren Anderson to talk about what the heck if happening at the FBI. No fake guns or challenge coins were harmed in this rec... more

An Al-less trio - which makes Neil and Phil a dynamic duo! - weighs in on CSIS Director Dan Rogers first ?annual? threat overview speech and what Canadians should take away from it. From terrorism to foreign interference to transnational repression t... 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

Lauren Anderson
Former FBI agent with 29 years of service, specializing in national security and counterterrorism.
Former FBI
Episode: For the sake of the FBI and the US, Patel should 'kash' out
Eric von Stackelburg
A fan who has been listening to the podcast since it began, interested in national security issues.
Episode: Fans Like Spies
Mubin Shaikh
Former intelligence asset and RCMP agent involved in the Toronto 18 case
Episode: Spies Like Us: Season 2 Episode 30: Spies Move 'N Shake
David Gioe
Global Professor of Intelligence and International Security at King's College, London, and a former CIA analyst.
King's College, London
Episode: Spies Like Us - Season 2 Episode 27: CIA tells SLU "NO foreign intel collection for Canada? No way!"
Andy Ellis
Former CSIS officer, CEO of Profound Corporation, and president of Ellis Global Risk Assessment
Profound Corporation
Episode: Why Canada says sorry a lot, even when it comes to intelligence
Sam Cooper
Journalist and author of 'Willful Blindness', focusing on Chinese interference in Canada.
Bureau
Episode: Hogus Pocus...Bogus
Ryan Zorn
Former intelligence officer for CSIS with a background in OSINT and cyber investigations
Cyber Analysis Center
Episode: AIAI-oh!
Tim O'Neil
Former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Episode: Spies Like Us is intelligent, evidently

Hosts

Phil Gursky
Co-host and commentator with extensive experience in intelligence operations.
Neil Bisson
Co-host and commentator with a background in law enforcement and intelligence work.
Al Tridentic
Co-host specializing in security analysis and commentary on intelligence issues.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 34 ratings
  • Good content

    I think the latest episode someone actually disagreed with Phil….. wow.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eric or Darla
    Canada3 months ago
  • Good content

    Thanks guys. I’m learning a lot. No need to apologize for being negative, these are facts of current political evolving world. There were a few spots I couldn’t hear due to audio issues.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Eric or Darla
    Canada2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some express concerns over the audio quality at times, suggesting room for improvement.
Overall, many praise the hosts' expertise and relatable style, finding it easy to connect with the topics discussed.
Listeners appreciate the informative and engaging content, noting how it enhances their understanding of complex security issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#88
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#67
Denmark/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#239
Brazil/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#240
Norway/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

For the sake of the FBI and the US, Patel should 'kash' out
Q: How do you see things changing? What do you think needs to change within the FBI in order for this to write the ship?
Anderson believes new principled leadership is crucial to restore focus and morale within the FBI, emphasizing that political neutrality is essential for the agency's integrity.
For the sake of the FBI and the US, Patel should 'kash' out
Q: How do you think this is affecting the FBI's ability to deal with national security threats effectively?
Anderson notes that while there are still agents focused on national security, the diversion of resources is undermining effective threat response and creating vulnerabilities.
For the sake of the FBI and the US, Patel should 'kash' out
Q: What are your greatest concerns right now when it comes to the Bureau, its ability to fulfill its mandate, its ability to attract good people?
Anderson expresses several concerns including the reallocation of agents from national security to ICE enforcement, the dismissal of senior leaders, and the demoralizing environment caused by political pressures.
Canadian politicians SITEless on national security
Q: Have you guys heard anything about national security from any of the leaders of the parties running for office?
Not enough attention has been paid to national security issues during the elections, despite their significance.
Fans Like Spies
Q: How can we improve public understanding of national security issues?
By educating the population and forcing the government to catch up on national security and intelligence issues, making it a ballot issue for upcoming elections.

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 Spies Like Us

What is Spies Like Us about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations center around national security in Canada and globally, often analyzing recent events, intelligence operations, and political dynamics from the perspectives of experienced former intelligence practitioners. Topics include the challenges faced by intelligence agencies, the implications of extremism, and the need for comprehensive security strategies. The hosts provide thoughtful commentary on global security threats, including terrorism, foreign interference, and emerging technologies, often blending serious analysis with humor derived from their extensive backgrounds.

Notably, the discussions not only cover Canadian national security but also explore its intersection with global events, delving into everything from operationa... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Spies Like Us?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Spies Like Us:

1. Pod Save the World
2. The Daily
3. Common Sense with Dan Carlin
4. Global News Podcast
5. Borderlines

How many episodes of Spies Like Us are there?

Spies Like Us launched 2 years ago and published 72 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 Spies Like Us?

Recent guests on Spies Like Us include:

1. Lauren Anderson
2. Eric von Stackelburg
3. Mubin Shaikh
4. David Gioe
5. Andy Ellis
6. Sam Cooper
7. Ryan Zorn
8. Tim O'Neil

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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