Rephonic
Artwork for Spy Craft
Espionage
CIA
China
United States
World War II
North Korea
Russia
Soviet Union
Kim Philby
NATO
Cold War
Ukraine
FBI
MI6
Artificial Intelligence
Room 39
KGB
Nuclear Weapons
Cuba
Situational Awareness

Welcome to “Spy Craft,” the podcast that delves into the gripping world of espionage. Join us as we uncover life-and-death spy stories, dissect covert operations, and explore the news and events that made them possible. Each episode offers a thrilling journey into the clandestine activities of spies, revealing the secrets, strategies, and stakes behind some of the most daring missions in history. ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes419Founded6 years ago
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GovernmentBusiness NewsNews

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Artwork for Spy Craft

Latest Episodes

What happens when the person recruiting you into espionage isn’t a mysterious intelligence officer, but your own father? John Walker built one of the most damaging Soviet spy networks in American history—and eventually brought his own son into the op... more

In 1981, a KGB officer secretly handed French intelligence thousands of documents exposing one of the Soviet Union’s most important technology-theft programs. Instead of simply shutting the operation down, American intelligence reportedly developed a... more

In this episode, we separate the gripping fiction of The Americans from the gritty operational realities of the Cold War. While television depicts undercover Soviet operatives as lethal martial artists outsmarting federal agents at every turn, real e... more

When former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko fell mysteriously ill in London, doctors couldn't explain what was happening to him — until forensic testing revealed polonium-210, an almost unheard-of poison, inside his body. This episode t... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dr. Helen Fry
World War II historian and author
Author and historian
Episode: The Greatest Intelligence Deception of WWII: Helen Fry on How Britain Bugged Hitler's Generals and Won the War from the Inside
Clark Impastato
Former Navy SEAL, served in SEAL Team 5 and later as a private military contractor and police officer
US Navy, Phoenix Police Department, private military contracting
Episode: Denied Areas: How Elite Operators Conduct Recon in Secret Sectors
Dr. Carlos Vazquez
Psychology professor and author (as introduced in the episode)
Episode: Shadow State: The Secret History of North Korea’s Room 39
James Lawler
Author of Living Lies; national security consultant; former CIA officer
MDO Group (Senior Partner)
Episode: Spies, Lies, and Centrifuges: A CIA Case Officer’s Hunt for the World’s Most Dangerous Man
Barry Broman
Former CIA case officer and author
Episode: WE CHAT WITH FORMER CIA CASE OFFICER ON HIS TIME IN CAMBODIA AS A RECRUITER
Robert Baer
Former CIA operative and author
Episode: THE 4TH MAN- THE HUNT FOR A KGB SPY AT THE TOP OF THE CIA
Scott Stewart
Former Army Tactical Intelligence Officer and VP of Protective Intelligence at Torchstone Global.
Torchstone Global
Episode: WE CHAT SITUATIONALAWARENESS WITH FRED BURTON AND SCOTT STEWART
Fred Burton
Co-author of The Protective Intelligence Advantage and former police officer and special agent.
Torchstone Global
Episode: WE CHAT SITUATIONALAWARENESS WITH FRED BURTON AND SCOTT STEWART
Dr. Richard Spence
Emeritus Professor of the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
Episode: THE HISTORY OF SECRET SOCIETIES

Reviews

2.5 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • Oh, to be read to

    It’s not engaging at all, as one of these two guys quickly read a short synopsis of a spy case to you. Spyscape offers much better reports of the same cases. Further, their interviews are chaotic and unprofessional, again subpar compared to those of similar podcast on the same topic. Don’t bother with this one.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Tengu151
    United Statesa year ago
  • Copycat/Stolen Material

    Several of these are just the descriptions from @spycraft101 instagram read almost verbatim

    Go support spycraft101 he’s the guy who did the actual research

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    KmasonNash
    United States3 years ago
  • Plagiarizing SPYCRAFT 101

    Literally just reads his Instagram posts. It’s embarrassing and lazy.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    The Szyb
    United States3 years ago
  • Interesting

    Interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    John John Smith Smith
    United States3 years ago
  • Really wanted to enjoy this podcast

    The host gets really great guests in the show who have fascinating stories to share, but the host’s interviewing style is painful. It shows a real lack in skill. If you made a drinking game out of the number of times he says, “let me ask you this” you’d be drunk by the end of the episode. If the host could spend some time learning to effectively interview and be engaging, this podcast could be great.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Tuulikki720
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are strong but interviewing style can be stiff, which may affect pacing.
Strong historical and technical insights keep listeners coming back despite some delivery issues.
Show generally praised for potential and interesting historical angles but pacing and delivery are areas for improvement.
Some criticisms focus on perceived repetition of Instagram-sourced material.
When the host brings in compelling guests, the episodes shine and feel informative.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#148
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#144
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#184
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#3
Indonesia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#123
China/Government
Apple Podcasts
#131
Norway/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Denied Areas: How Elite Operators Conduct Recon in Secret Sectors
Q: Can you share a story where your training at Buds directly influenced a mission or outcome?
Clark describes a Philippines hostage scenario where the team operated in a difficult, multi-island environment, highlighting the mental and tactical lessons from Buds that helped navigate uncertainty and maintain focus despite setbacks.
Spies, Lies, and Centrifuges: A CIA Case Officer’s Hunt for the World’s Most Dangerous Man
Q: How has social media and modern surveillance changed intelligence work compared to the earlier era of espionage?
Social media and ubiquitous surveillance have increased the amount of public and personal information available, but also the spread of misinformation. This requires spies to adapt—moving faster, leveraging networks, and maintaining source protection amid a flood of data and ubiquitous cameras.
Spies, Lies, and Centrifuges: A CIA Case Officer’s Hunt for the World’s Most Dangerous Man
Q: What are the challenges in distinguishing between peaceful nuclear programs and weapons development, especially in the context of Iran and Libya?
The line is thin and often based on enrichment levels, inventory, and whether enrichment capabilities are kept under strict civilian oversight. The interview emphasizes the need for early warning through penetrations of nuclear establishments and verification mechanisms to prevent covert weaponization while allowing peaceful energy development.
THE 4TH MAN- THE HUNT FOR A KGB SPY AT THE TOP OF THE CIA
Q: Have any of the other individuals, one, two, three, provided any clues to this fourth man?
No, the early spies had no information on the fourth man, and the Russians are compartmentalized, which makes them difficult to identify.
THE 4TH MAN- THE HUNT FOR A KGB SPY AT THE TOP OF THE CIA
Q: Do you think technology has helped him a lot more or is it maybe easier or harder?
Technology helps hide operations in the open; the FBI can't prove anything unless they see direct exchanges between the spy and handlers.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Spy Craft

What is Spy Craft about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A gripping deep-dive series into espionage and covert operations, with episodes spanning classic tradecraft, historical spy networks, cyber intrusions, and state-sponsored shadow wars. Listeners get detailed case studies—from WWII intrigue and Cold War espionage to modern digital recruitment schemes and insider threats—driven by narrative histories, expert testimony, and practical explanations of how spies operate, how intelligence is gathered, and how security ecosystems are challenged by persistent adversaries. The show often highlights human factors, ethical questions, and the evolving technology that shapes modern espionage, making it informative for both history buffs and security professionals seeking actionable context.

Noteworthy a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Spy Craft?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Spy Craft:

1. Conspiracy Theories
2. The Spy Who
3. SpyCast
4. SPYCRAFT 101
5. True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

How many episodes of Spy Craft are there?

Spy Craft launched 6 years ago and published 419 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 Spy Craft?

Recent guests on Spy Craft include:

1. Dr. Helen Fry
2. Clark Impastato
3. Dr. Carlos Vazquez
4. James Lawler
5. Barry Broman
6. Robert Baer
7. Scott Stewart
8. Fred Burton

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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