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CIA
Russia
Iran
Donald Trump
Ukraine
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes232Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for SpyTalk

Latest Episodes

National security reporter for the Washington Post Zachary Dorfman discusses the Pentagon’s plan for a deep-cover spy program.

More from our guest:

Zach Dorfman - The Washington Post

Pentagon looks to build a deep-cover spy program to confront Chi... more

Janet Reitman’s The Inheritance is a portrait of 9/11’s devastating consequences,

More from our guest:

Janet Reitman

x.com/janetreitman 

www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2193929/janet-reitman/

Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | htt... more

Brian Driscoll joins SpyTalk to discuss the circumstances of his dismissal from the FBI and how the Bureau’s current leadership is destroying the institution and making us less safe in the process.

Driscoll was fired from the FBI shortly after he re... more

CNBC’s Eamon Javers weaves a cautionary tale for US officials.

More from Eamon Javers |

www.cnbc.com/eamon-javers/

x.com/EamonJavers

Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | twitter.com/SpyTalker

Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Zachary Dorfman
Washington Post national security reporter covering intelligence and investigative journalism
The Washington Post
Episode: Deep Cover Sergeants
Janet Reitman
Award-winning investigative journalist and author of Inside Scientology.
The New York Times
Episode: How 9/11 Changed America
Brian Driscoll
Acting Director of the FBI at the start of the Trump administration
FBI
Episode: Patel's Partisan Politics Imperils Lives (feat. Brian Driscoll)
Eamon Javers
Senior Washington Correspondent at CNBC; author
CNBC
Episode: Chinese Dupe or Spy?
John Dinges
Investigative journalist and author; noted expert on Chile and Condor
SpyTalk; Columbia University (Professor)
Episode: An Assassination on Embassy Row
Sharon Weinberger
National security journalist, author of Valley of Death
Author, Valley of Death
Episode: The Tech Bro Gods of War
Bruce Hoffman
Renowned scholar on terrorism and political violence
Georgetown University (Walsh School of Foreign Service); Council on Foreign Relations; former FBI 9-11 Review Commissioner
Episode: Terror’s New Faces
Peter Bergen
National security analyst, CNN contributor, author of All the Presidents' Wars
CNN, New America, Arizona State University
Episode: 25 Years of Counterterrorism
Jim Lawler
Former CIA officer, counterproliferation specialist, spy novelist
Central Intelligence Agency (former)
Episode: How to Recruit a Traitor

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 320 ratings
  • Fixated on T

    The host is unable to discuss any matter whatsoever without expressing his myopic fixation on Trump. Leaves the listener less informed than would otherwise be the case.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Newsyguy
    United States2 months ago
  • Where is the UN?

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Democracy is my Religion
    United States5 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 States10 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 Statesa year 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

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.

Deep Cover Sergeants
Q: And I'm just saying, particularly with this administration, where we've seen how, you know, corporate oligarchs suck up to the White House, you know, fund is his ballroom, fund is super PACs. You know, there does seem to be the potential for corruption.
Dorfman says passing intelligence to selected companies would be a major departure from past practice and could raise serious questions about favoritism, corruption and how government decisions affect competition.
Deep Cover Sergeants
Q: So what's up?
Dorfman says the Pentagon has renewed interest in a deep-cover program framed partly as economic warfare against China, but the effort is still under discussion and has not placed new officers in the field.
How 9/11 Changed America
Q: What happened to Terry?
Reitman explains that Terry Albury became disillusioned with FBI surveillance practices and bias, leaked internal documents to The Intercept, pleaded guilty under the Espionage Act, and served prison time before his release in 2020.
How 9/11 Changed America
Q: What happened to Wally Onechuck and his family?
Reitman says Walter Onechuck moved from a peacetime Navy career into military contracting after September 11, helping develop security and surveillance technologies. His son Andrew, who struggled socially and sought connection online, joined Atomwaffen Division and was murdered by another member.
Chinese Dupe or Spy?
Q: Walk us through how the feds get on to Rogers and the prosecution that follows.
The hosts recap the investigation's progression—from initial concerns about Rogers' communications with Hu Minli and the hotel-room activities in China to the IG interview, the two counts of espionage conspiracy and lying to investigators, and the eventual acquittal on the espionage count but conviction on the lying charge.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for SpyTalk, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Mission Implausible
4. NatSec Matters
5. The DSR Network

How many episodes of SpyTalk are there?

SpyTalk launched 6 years ago and published 232 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for SpyTalk?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of SpyTalk. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on SpyTalk?

Recent guests on SpyTalk include:

1. Zachary Dorfman
2. Janet Reitman
3. Brian Driscoll
4. Eamon Javers
5. John Dinges
6. Sharon Weinberger
7. Bruce Hoffman
8. Peter Bergen

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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