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Artwork for SpyTalk
CIA
Russia
Ukraine
Donald Trump
Iran
FBI
Trump Administration
China
National Security
Venezuela
United States
Espionage
Syria
Tulsi Gabbard
Antifa
Counterterrorism
NATO
Israel
Domestic Terrorism
Vladimir Putin

SpyTalk lives at the intersection of intelligence operations, foreign policy, homeland security, and military strategy. Hosted by veteran national security journalists Jeff Stein, Michael Isikoff and Karen J. Greenberg, the podcast features exclusives by SpyTalk’s roster of longtime reporters, news and profiles of US and foreign spymasters, and interviews with policymakers and expert authors. Ther... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes223Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for SpyTalk

Latest Episodes

Former CIA Chief Learning Officer Steve Hirsch tells how Russia, China, and Iran exploit the cracks in US intelligence.

More From Stephen Hirsch | stephenhirsch.com/ 

Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | twitter.com/SpyTalker

Follow Mich... more

Joby Warrick joined SpyTalk to talk about “The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World’s First Super-Terrorist.”

Check out the book:

The Jackal

The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World's First

More from Joby Warrick

Advertising Inquiries: h... more

Political pressure on the spy agency is forcing people out, says former senior analyst Julia Curlee. 

More From Julia Curlee at | www.lawfaremedia.org/contributors/jcurlee

Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | twitter.com/SpyTalker

Follow... more

Former FBI executive Lauren Anderson on the Director’s China, Russia outreaches.

Lauren C. Anderson | www.linkedin.com/in/laurencandersonintl/

laurencanderson.substack.com/

Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | twitter.com/SpyTalk... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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

Bojan Pancevski
Wall Street Journal Chief European Correspondent
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: The Nord Stream Conspiracy
Tom LoBianco
Veteran political reporter from Indiana, author of Pence biography
Yahoo News / The Messenger (historical)
Episode: The Reporter and the China Trap
Jeffrey Stern
Award-winning journalist and author
Author of The Warhead
Episode: War-Ender Weapons
Julian Barnes
Intelligence reporter for the New York Times
New York Times
Episode: Trump's Hatchet Man Atop US Intelligence
David Kanin
Former CIA officer, founding Red Cell member
Common Sense Coalition; Johns Hopkins SAIS (adjunct)
Episode: How Trump Broke the ODNI
Michael Lebowitz
Former terrorism prosecutor at Guantanamo
Self (author)
Episode: How a Terror Case Fizzled
Tommy Vietor
Former White House National Security spokesperson; co-founder of Crooked Media; author
Crooked Media / Pod Save America
Episode: Pod Save Our National Security with Tommy Vietor
Jerry Watson
Former CIA covert operative and analyst
CIA (retired)
Episode: The Ultimate Intelligence Fiasco
Bob Drogin
Former Los Angeles Times reporter and Curveball author
Los Angeles Times
Episode: The Ultimate Intelligence Fiasco

Hosts

Jeff Stein
Host of Spy Talk, veteran national security journalist with long-running coverage of intelligence and policy.
Karen Greenberg
Co-host specializing in national security law, terrorism policy, and ethical questions in intelligence.
Michael Isikoff
Co-host and lead investigative journalist, widely known for deep-dive national security reporting.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 318 ratings
  • Where is the UN?

    Good interview but why isn’t anyone talking about the IN?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Democracy is my Religion
    United States3 months ago
  • Isikoff needs to chill

    Isikoff’s voice is shrill, he laughs at inappropriate times and talks too fast.I would much rather listen to Jeff whose ego doesn’t dominate the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Theodora30
    United States8 months ago
  • House of dynamite? Really?

    Pretty much follows “Failsafe” too much to be called “ original”. Suicide, glitch in the system, sacrificing a family member”, general is trying to talk president to attack. At the end of the credits, “Failsafe” used a dial tone. In Dynamite” at the end of the credits, they used explosions. It just can’t be coincidental. I think it’s called plagiarism. Even a happily ever after would’ve changed things! Lol.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J Clam
    United States9 months ago
  • Establishment drivel

    The host and the majority of guests are shills, to the bone, for the establishment intelligence point of view with very little objective analysis or reality. If that is what you are looking for then, you have found it. Enjoy.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MikeJeezy
    United Statesa year ago
  • Edward Snowden

    If the host of a podcast on intelligence cannot recall Edward Snowden’s name while talking to a former CIA officer perhaps he should retire. The fact that you did not even try to edit out the blank memory moment tells me this is not a very tight ship operation.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nora Gregor
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

A subset notes tonal or presentation issues affecting accessibility.
Many applaud the depth of historical and insider context in security matters.
Some critique perceived political bias or partisan framing.
Listeners praise high-quality guests and insightful questions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Who’s Running US Intelligence?
Q: Tell us about the CIA ombudsman survey and what it reveals about objectivity.
Shane Harris explains that the ombudsman survey shows rising concern among analysts about political influence and a perceived lack of objectivity, with particular attention to events during the Trump administration and how it may reflect broader intra-agency pressures.
Trumpworld’s Dystopian World of Terror
Q: What would a more effective counterterrorism strategy look like today?
A robust strategy would involve bipartisan expert input, a clear, data-driven threat assessment, and attention to non-kinetic tools such as recruitment, radicalization prevention, and international cooperation, while avoiding overemphasis on any single ideological threat.
Trumpworld’s Dystopian World of Terror
Q: What do you make of the recent claims about left-wing terrorism as a major national security threat?
Colin Clarke explains that while left-wing violence exists, it is not the dominant threat compared to Sunni jihadist and far-right groups; the risk is in misallocation of resources if politics drive priorities, and a smart approach is to rank threats based on data across regions and time.
War-Ender Weapons
Q: How do the stories of individuals like Luis Rueda and Salman illustrate the broader themes of the book?
Their stories demonstrate how a single tactical decision or intelligence failure can ripple across generations and borders, turning local actions into global consequences, such as inspiring or facilitating extremist activities, while showing the human cost of high-tech warfare.
War-Ender Weapons
Q: What is the central thesis of The Warhead, and why does it matter now?
The book argues that modern warfare increasingly relies on precision weapons that enable conflict without formal declarations or large-scale troop deployments, but this shift does not eliminate political and moral costs; instead, it shifts them onto civilians and decision-makers who must weigh strategic gains against unpredictable consequences.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About SpyTalk

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

The program focuses on intelligence operations, foreign policy, homeland security, and military strategy, featuring deep dives with seasoned reporters, policymakers, and subject-matter experts. Conversations span US and global security dynamics, including counterterrorism, espionage oversight, and the interplay between diplomacy and intelligence, often anchored by insider anecdotes and historical case studies. Noteworthy is the heavy emphasis on accountability, institutional reform, and the human dimension behind strategic decisions, making it valuable for professionals in policy, journalism, defense, and diplomacy who want informed, current perspectives from researchers and practitioners alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for SpyTalk?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for SpyTalk. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to SpyTalk and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does SpyTalk get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for SpyTalk, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for SpyTalk?

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How many subscribers and views does SpyTalk have?

To see how many followers or subscribers SpyTalk has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to SpyTalk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with SpyTalk:

1. Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs
2. SpyCast
3. NatSec Matters
4. SPYCRAFT 101
5. The Lawfare Podcast

How many episodes of SpyTalk are there?

SpyTalk launched 5 years ago and published 223 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact SpyTalk?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for SpyTalk?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for SpyTalk from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on SpyTalk?

Recent guests on SpyTalk include:

1. Bojan Pancevski
2. Tom LoBianco
3. Jeffrey Stern
4. Julian Barnes
5. David Kanin
6. Michael Lebowitz
7. Tommy Vietor
8. Jerry Watson

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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